I want you all to know I am writing some posts about food. I haven't posted anything truly diet related yet because talking about food is complicated (not in general, just sometimes explaining it can be). I'm trying to be very thoughtful of the content of the posts so for right now they are still unfinished.
I mention this because I've gotten some inquires on my diet and I think it's just as important to talk about eating in general before going into what is working for me. So I just want to say, I'm in the process of writing some diet entries, just sit tight :)
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Today's post is about goal setting.
Goals are something we use to measure success and failure in our lives. In fitness, however, as long as you are still participating, you really can't fail. It's the great thing about it. The only way you can fail at fitness goals is to stop being active.
That might sound strange, because most people's fitness goals are related to body image, which has stronger roots in nutrition. They think if they can't lose 10lbs in a month they've failed a fitness goal. Because of the instantaneous nature of everything in our lives, people will take time out the equation to reaching their accomplishments.
Our bodies are not instant. It took your mother 9 months alone just to create you, changing yourself takes time too!
The other thing about body related fitness goals, specifically weight related ones, are they are temporary. No matter how long it takes you, once you've lost your X amount of weight you've reached that goal. What else is there? This is why once you start an exercise regiment it's important to be more open minded about your goals then just reaching a certain weight.
I had tunnel vision when I started my new lifestyle. The scale was all that mattered to me. I wasn't even thinking about all the other things I was accomplishing. Then once I started losing weight I realized the scale wasn't always parallel to how I felt. Most women would tell you 140lbs is huge, but here I was fitting into a size 4 pair of jeans that was loose in the waist!
I really started changing my fitness goals after I lost 20lbs. I realized body fat % was more important then what the scale said. I started wanting to be stronger and wanting to accomplish harder exercises.
The great thing about fitness is while you get healthier and stronger, you might be accomplishing feats you're not even aware of. Mostly because you don't know you can do them until you try!
Perfect example: I am not a runner, in fact I dislike it. I find it boring in comparison to forms of exercise and I've never been very good at it. When I first started to exercise I could maybe, on a good day, run non-stop at a decent pace for 10 mins. About a month ago I was really tired, it was a week where I had hit the gym once. That night when I got home I felt terrible, but was going to force my body to do some cardio. I stepped on the treadmill for the 1st time probably 5 months and was shocked. Not only could I run at almost 6 mph, I did it for 40 mins without stopping.
That is a goal I never had, but because of my training in general it's something I know I can do now.
This is probably the most exciting thing about fitness. You become less afraid. I've gained so much confidence just from training I'm less afraid to try new things. I started to want to try things I could never do.
When I meet people's who only fitness goal is to lose weight for a certain time of year or a special event I worry they won't keep it up. It's not like once you lose weight it's gone forever, keeping up with nutrition & exercise means you don't have to go through that grueling first month ever again. Your life will have ups & downs, but if you work to at least try to keep your body stable when nothing else in your life is, getting through those times will be so much less stressful.
So if you're thinking the only thing that matters to you right now is what the scale is it's ok. It's natural (especially for us ladies) to try to fit our bodies it to this perception of perfect. All I can tell you is that the scale does not tell you how far you can run, or how much weight you can curl. It doesn't tell you what size jeans you are fitting into or how healthy you are. So don't place all your hopes and dreams into it.
Every day you decided to take care of yourself, you are coming closer to being a person you may never imagined you could be. I know, I still amaze myself every day :)
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Bulky Schmulky - Ladies have no fear!
bulk·y
adj. bulk·i·er, bulk·i·est
1. Having considerable bulk; massive.
2. Of large size for its weight: a bulky knit.
3. Clumsy to manage; unwieldy.
I can't even begin to tell you know much this word drives me crazy. How much I hear women express concern and fear with this word in relation to lifting weights.
Today I'm going to set some misconceptions straight solely based on personal experience.
I'll admit I'm pretty unconventional for a woman. I don't like shoe shopping, getting my nails done and dumbbells do not scare me. This doesn't mean I'm a total butch either. I love feeling feminine and sexy, and having someone tell me how beautiful I am. I mean what women doesn't. To me curves as that defining point of womanliness.
This is why I never understood the draw to runway models, ever. They are sticks. Tall straight lines, which really doesn't define a sexy woman at all, at least not to me. When most women think about losing weight, they look at some of the most sickly definitions of women out there.
So what is the bizarre conception that picking up a dumbbell is going to make you look like Arnold Schwarzenegger?
First off men are larger then women hence they have to eat a much larger quantity of food. Men who are serious bodybuilders have to eat an insane amounts of food to keep those muscles not to mention are in the gym most of their waking life. When they aren't working out they are eating or sleeping, are you that way?
I know many women who don't think about working out in this way. I'm not sure what they signify as "tone". A tone lean body is one that has an ideal body fat percentage for that person's height. The reason you see muscle definition is because of lack of body fat. The way you lose fat is to build muscle. Eating right and exercising are all a part of that. It's why eating protein is important, it makes you feel fuller longer and fuels your muscles.
I've done nothing but shrink my body size by lifting weights. I've gotten smaller not larger, in every single part of my body and I'm stronger then I've ever been! We all want to be smaller, leaner and more compact. That' muscle. Fat makes you big, it takes up more space, hence making you, in essence, more bulky.
So when women ask me about lifting weights I always ask them if I look bulky. I weight train at my max least 3 days a week by myself, not counting what I do in Terri's A.R.T Bootcamp sessions which are an amazing combination of intense cardio and weight training.
Sure your muscles get what's called "a pump" after you finish lifting with them, but all it is is blood rushing to your muscles. You just worked them hard after all! Once you rest it goes away and you're left with your normal muscles again.
The combination of great cardio along with challenging weightlifting sessions keeps my body working hard in all areas. Cardio for training my endurance, heart and burning excess calories and weightlifting for developing muscles so I look tone and become stronger. It also keeps me from getting insanely bored. If all I did was run on a treadmill I'd give up my workout regimen too.
So to all the ladies out there, the next time you go to the gym don't be afraid of the weight racks. Look at that as another key to reaching your body's potential. It feels immensely empowering to know your inner strength.
If you're new to weights and afraid that you could hurt yourself, start small. You don't have to kill yourself. Don't be afraid to ask the staff at your gym about form and technique, they should be educated enough to help you. Also a great website that I use to understand certain types of lifting is Exercise & Muscle Directory it not only breaks the body down by parts, exercises and machine usage, it's a great website all around to educated yourself about the body and different types of training and exercise.
I hopes this puts some of your minds at ease about weights. I'm not a pro, I don't do competition and I don't look like a man! If anything I've gained a much more pleasing feminine shape from lifting. I'm sure my boyfriend would be willing to testify :)
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Life & Taxes
Had my taxes done this weekend and it's time for a little venting.
I don't want to really bring in politics into this blog because that's not what it's about. That being said this is a blog about exercise, taking care of yourself, etc. and I think it's really strange that there are no incentives for Americans to be healthy.
I'd argue myself in saying, healthy means you live longer and you feel better physically and mentally. That should be enough of an incentive, but it also means you are less of burden on the rest of the nation. You won't have to see the doctor as much, or have as many tests done. The odds of you having to take tons of medicine are lowered because your body functions the way it's suppose to.
Americans being the most out of shape, overweight and sickly of the great nations you'd think the government would offer tax breaks to people who actually take care of themselves. You can write off anything medical, you can use pre-taxed money to pay for it using flex spending. Yet when it comes to gym memberships, training, classes, buying workout equipment (all which are an added expenses) there is no relief for being able to keep it up.
"But Diane you can't PROVE that because someone has a gym membership they are using it."
It's true. You can't prove that because a person buys the treadmill that they use it. Tons of people feel motivated at first and then the feeling dies out. Though if there was a way to measure physical fitness by a test, against yourself - say an end of the year physical to prove you're making improvements. I think a lot of people would be willing to do this for a nice write of on their taxes.
My job actually started something just like this for lowering the rate I have to pay on my insurance. I take a blood test once a year and if all my levels stay within a certain range OR improve I don't have to pay as much into my insurance for staying healthy. Also it's a good way to possibly catch something if I need to really be concerned. It's a simple blood test and it's totally optional. You don't have to do it and even if you do you aren't penalized if your don't improve.
I'm not into government controlling everything, but I think if you get write-offs for having children, or buying a house, or even being on tons of medication, you should also be rewarded for taking care of yourself. Taking care of yourself does effect others, you're setting a really great example to the people around you. I know many people that started changing their lifestyles once they saw the progress I was making (my mom included).
We talk about nutrition and our workout routines. We keep each other motivated. Exercise and good nutrition is contagious. Not for everyone, but the more people are against the community candy bowl the less it's likely to get filled. People don't want to be the only ones, it's a lot easier if they know others around them are also on their side.
If America was really seriously about getting people to be healthy, they'd stop trying to ban bad food and start rewarding for good behavior. We all have to make that choice and no one can force you not to eat Twinkies. The thing is I bet that sprig of asparagus would look a lot more appetizing with the notion that you'd be able to get something back from Uncle Sam.
People would know that actually using their gym membership wouldn't just benefit their bodies but their pocketbooks. This also helps out the private sector a lot. More people would be buying workout gear, paying trainers and participating local events. Also it would lower the count in the emergency rooms which hurts everyone in wallet.
All I'm saying is it's something the American government should think about. Michelle Obama is all for children's health, it's her cause so to speak. It shouldn't just be for children's health, but the health of all Americans. If it takes money to get people excited about being healthy it will only be the catalyst, once they realize how they feel and how great they look, they'll want to keep it up. Least in my perfect world :)
I don't want to really bring in politics into this blog because that's not what it's about. That being said this is a blog about exercise, taking care of yourself, etc. and I think it's really strange that there are no incentives for Americans to be healthy.
I'd argue myself in saying, healthy means you live longer and you feel better physically and mentally. That should be enough of an incentive, but it also means you are less of burden on the rest of the nation. You won't have to see the doctor as much, or have as many tests done. The odds of you having to take tons of medicine are lowered because your body functions the way it's suppose to.
Americans being the most out of shape, overweight and sickly of the great nations you'd think the government would offer tax breaks to people who actually take care of themselves. You can write off anything medical, you can use pre-taxed money to pay for it using flex spending. Yet when it comes to gym memberships, training, classes, buying workout equipment (all which are an added expenses) there is no relief for being able to keep it up.
"But Diane you can't PROVE that because someone has a gym membership they are using it."
It's true. You can't prove that because a person buys the treadmill that they use it. Tons of people feel motivated at first and then the feeling dies out. Though if there was a way to measure physical fitness by a test, against yourself - say an end of the year physical to prove you're making improvements. I think a lot of people would be willing to do this for a nice write of on their taxes.
My job actually started something just like this for lowering the rate I have to pay on my insurance. I take a blood test once a year and if all my levels stay within a certain range OR improve I don't have to pay as much into my insurance for staying healthy. Also it's a good way to possibly catch something if I need to really be concerned. It's a simple blood test and it's totally optional. You don't have to do it and even if you do you aren't penalized if your don't improve.
I'm not into government controlling everything, but I think if you get write-offs for having children, or buying a house, or even being on tons of medication, you should also be rewarded for taking care of yourself. Taking care of yourself does effect others, you're setting a really great example to the people around you. I know many people that started changing their lifestyles once they saw the progress I was making (my mom included).
We talk about nutrition and our workout routines. We keep each other motivated. Exercise and good nutrition is contagious. Not for everyone, but the more people are against the community candy bowl the less it's likely to get filled. People don't want to be the only ones, it's a lot easier if they know others around them are also on their side.
If America was really seriously about getting people to be healthy, they'd stop trying to ban bad food and start rewarding for good behavior. We all have to make that choice and no one can force you not to eat Twinkies. The thing is I bet that sprig of asparagus would look a lot more appetizing with the notion that you'd be able to get something back from Uncle Sam.
People would know that actually using their gym membership wouldn't just benefit their bodies but their pocketbooks. This also helps out the private sector a lot. More people would be buying workout gear, paying trainers and participating local events. Also it would lower the count in the emergency rooms which hurts everyone in wallet.
All I'm saying is it's something the American government should think about. Michelle Obama is all for children's health, it's her cause so to speak. It shouldn't just be for children's health, but the health of all Americans. If it takes money to get people excited about being healthy it will only be the catalyst, once they realize how they feel and how great they look, they'll want to keep it up. Least in my perfect world :)
Friday, March 25, 2011
Misfits & Gymscapades
I'm totally convinced I could write a book solely based on experiences and characters from my gym. It's a very small gym that's located in my building, for use only by the tenants and their guests. Even though I know almost nothing personal about most of the people I see there, I've named them according to personal traits & quirks. Sometimes I feel like I live in an episode of Seinfeld.
Let me start of by saying - no matter how quirky these people are, they are a least getting in a workout, well most of them....
Bear Man: I see this guy often, he's a regular and in fairly decent shape. He's of smaller stature which I think for some guys means they feel they need to over compensate on everything. This guy's form is terrible. He goes insanely heavy with crap form and tries to do every set as fast as humanly possible (probably because his limbs are going to rip off.) I'm actually waiting for this guy to hurt himself really badly, he's just asking for a serious muscle tear somewhere. If that wasn't amusing enough he makes these horrendously loud and guttural bear like scream/moan sounds. So loud I've actually seen the girl at the front desk jump out of her chair. I know that getting through the last few reps is hard, bodies are being taxed to their limit and if you're doing max weight of course your pushing yourself, making sounds is totally normal. However, Bear Man is crazy and wants attention. He has to show everyone how heavy he's lifting and how hard he's working, and has no problem making the sounds of someone being tortured & pleasured beyond their wildest dreams as loud as his lungs will let him. I try really hard to workout before Bear Man, it's very hard to concentrate and sort of uncomfortable with him around.
The Dudes: These guys only workout in the evening, which I'm really really thankful for. I do go to the gym at night on occasion but it's very rare. I'm usually to burnt to go at night and if I do it's mostly for cardio because a million people are there and I couldn't get any lifting done if I wanted to. The Dudes are 2 friends who go to the gym for guy bonding time. These guys don't really workout. They carry weights from one side of the gym to the other or half ass some other moves for a while, but really all they do is talk nonstop. If they used their inside voices it would be fine, but the gym is much louder at night because of all the machines running and sound system going. All these guys talk about is how much they gotten laid and how much they still are going after. Their sex conquests stories are as lame as you might imagine, one just trying to top the other over and over until they both feel it's time to leave the gym. They have no problem blatantly ogling fit female members of the gym and are just all around guys I'd like to sock in the face. While they're both probably mid 30's or older they sound like Beavis and Butthead mixed with the cast of the Jersey Shore and act just as lame.
Mr. Laptop: I love seeing old folks at the gym. It really makes me feel good to know there are still people that age caring about their bodies, but Mr. Laptop is a conundrum to me. He's 60+, thick glasses and wispy white hair and always comes to the gym looking like he's ready for an extended airline flight. Coffee tumbler, laptop case, the New York times, and sometimes multiple books. He sets up everything in back corner of the gym and then gets on a stationary bike. Now I've seen multiple who read while "working out", but working on a laptop?! While I totally give this guy credit for adding movement to his day however little effort he puts into cycling I can't help but crack up. It takes a lot of effort to lug all that stuff in every morning to make it his own little office.
The Annoying Girlfriend: I've only seen this couple a few times, so I'm assuming by now this guy must have broken it off. He use to come to the gym to, you know, workout. Completely average, nothing crazy about him. The twist was his psychotic girlfriend use to show up with him only interested in hanging all over him and making a scene. She would complain he's was taking too long, text and call all her friends and repeat the same information to all of them and the best part..... she would sit in his lap while he was trying to lift. I kid you not, this girl was like a little monkey. Hanging on his back, tugging at his clothes, and sitting on top of him whenever possible. She would whine and whimper, until finally he'd give up and leave, dragging her behind him.
The Dedicated (yet ill-informed) Mom: I actually really like this woman, but she's dense as hell. I'm hoping after another month or two she'll really warm up and listen to me about a few things. I'm not an expert and I don't like telling people how they should work out, but when I see someone super dedicated and doing things wrong I want to help them. She's the only person who is there and opening up the gym with me every morning I'm there. She's really dead set on loosing the weight she gained from having two kids and I really admire her dedication to showing up that early each morning. She suffers however from misinformation. Draped over the treadmill hugging it for dear life, at a 90 degree incline, going much faster then anyone should at that steepness. I so want to tell her she's not really helping herself. While I'm sure her heart rate is up from nothing short of just getting pulled by your arms from the back of a pick-up truck, she's not getting a great workout. She's also terrified of lifting anything over a 3lb weight and can't understand that your shouldn't be eating McDonald's, ever. She's a super sweet woman, but so lost.
The Family of 5: I'm sort of a stickler for rules, especially when it comes to safety. I know this is a gym in a building that's all residence, but seriously who brings their 5 year old to the gym? There isn't a babysitting facility in our building, the gym has equipment and a small lap pool. While it might seem like a good idea to let your kids run around a gym while you workout, it's dangerous and annoying for the others there trying to exercise. To be honest I can't believe management has never said anything to these people, they must be friends or the building is just plain stupid and wants a lawsuit. They have a 5 yr old, a 7/8 yr old and a older child who could possible be 14 or 15 yrs old. Why the older child couldn't watch the younger ones or why both parents have to be there at the same time is unknown, but anyone comfortable with a 5 yr old running around a weight room shouldn't be allowed to procreate. They do go to the pool a lot, but it isn't a community pool, it's for training. I'd say with proper supervision (no lifeguard) if the pool was vacant, sure let your kids swim for awhile. But bringing them and letting them think they can crawl around on everything and run wild, no way. I haven't said anything to management yet about them because I'm holding my tongue but next time there will be words.
The Stretcher: This guy believes in stretching, so much I want to tell him he should just do yoga. He's the guy that only jogs on the treadmill for 15 mins, but stretches a half hour or more before hand. I'm not by any means making fun of this guy I just always find it strange and his whole workout is stretching his hamstrings. Also instead of using the area of the gym dedicated to stretching, he uses the opposing treadmills so that no one on either side of him can use them, which I just find a little selfish.
The Habitually Injured Runner: I feel for this girl. She's in great shape, but she's always talking about parts of her that are broken. I have a feeling at one time she actually did marathons or trained to, but this girl's body just doesn't like her. I always hope she'll take up a less joint impacting activity. Her knees, ankles and hips just don't like her running, but she does it anyway. I admire her gusto, she really must love running and not care what her body is trying to tell her. I just hope she doesn't do any permanent damage.
Depressed Desk Girl: There a quite of few girls who run the front desk at our little gym and they are in constant rotation, but Depressed Desk Girl seems to be there the most. You can tell this girl hates her job, or maybe just the location of it. She's pretty overweight for her height and is in a place where the whole point is to take care of yourself. I always wondered why she would choose to work there, even understanding it might be the only thing she could get, and not take advantage of the facility herself. I guess I feel a little sorry for her. The only thing that bothers be about DDG is the fact that sometimes she brings in fast food into the gym and makes the whole place smell like grease. You know that smell of just "fried stuff". I'm really sensitive to smells and a number of times I've felt very ill. Nothing like taking a deep breathe for your last rep and getting the odor of fry grease.
The Hog: Every gym has one, every single one. A person that was probably an only child and never learned to share. Out of all the crazy people at my gym, this dude pisses me off. If he was just an ill mannered, entitled, equipment hog it would be one thing. But the fact that he's a chauvinistic pig makes it worse. This is the only person who has ever said anything negative to me at the gym. I'm glad this guy doesn't workout too much, or has a different schedule then I do, because if I had to see him everyday I'd be a mess. I believe in being flexible with your routine. When you're in a communal space you can't have everything to yourself or use a piece of equipment any time. This guy doesn't understand this. Not only will he bark at people that even come close to him, he's pulls out everything and leaves his stuff everywhere (I can only imagine what his apt. looks like). He also never has plan, often choosing to do 1 set of very random exercises or deciding in the middle of a set to just abruptly drop the weights on the floor. The one time I confronted him on when he'd be finished using the decline bench he gruffly told me "that women shouldn't bench press anyway because they'll loose their tits." To which I merely asked again when he'd be finished with it. I haven't seen this guy since that little incident, which is probably a good thing for both of us.
Let me start of by saying - no matter how quirky these people are, they are a least getting in a workout, well most of them....
Bear Man: I see this guy often, he's a regular and in fairly decent shape. He's of smaller stature which I think for some guys means they feel they need to over compensate on everything. This guy's form is terrible. He goes insanely heavy with crap form and tries to do every set as fast as humanly possible (probably because his limbs are going to rip off.) I'm actually waiting for this guy to hurt himself really badly, he's just asking for a serious muscle tear somewhere. If that wasn't amusing enough he makes these horrendously loud and guttural bear like scream/moan sounds. So loud I've actually seen the girl at the front desk jump out of her chair. I know that getting through the last few reps is hard, bodies are being taxed to their limit and if you're doing max weight of course your pushing yourself, making sounds is totally normal. However, Bear Man is crazy and wants attention. He has to show everyone how heavy he's lifting and how hard he's working, and has no problem making the sounds of someone being tortured & pleasured beyond their wildest dreams as loud as his lungs will let him. I try really hard to workout before Bear Man, it's very hard to concentrate and sort of uncomfortable with him around.
The Dudes: These guys only workout in the evening, which I'm really really thankful for. I do go to the gym at night on occasion but it's very rare. I'm usually to burnt to go at night and if I do it's mostly for cardio because a million people are there and I couldn't get any lifting done if I wanted to. The Dudes are 2 friends who go to the gym for guy bonding time. These guys don't really workout. They carry weights from one side of the gym to the other or half ass some other moves for a while, but really all they do is talk nonstop. If they used their inside voices it would be fine, but the gym is much louder at night because of all the machines running and sound system going. All these guys talk about is how much they gotten laid and how much they still are going after. Their sex conquests stories are as lame as you might imagine, one just trying to top the other over and over until they both feel it's time to leave the gym. They have no problem blatantly ogling fit female members of the gym and are just all around guys I'd like to sock in the face. While they're both probably mid 30's or older they sound like Beavis and Butthead mixed with the cast of the Jersey Shore and act just as lame.
Mr. Laptop: I love seeing old folks at the gym. It really makes me feel good to know there are still people that age caring about their bodies, but Mr. Laptop is a conundrum to me. He's 60+, thick glasses and wispy white hair and always comes to the gym looking like he's ready for an extended airline flight. Coffee tumbler, laptop case, the New York times, and sometimes multiple books. He sets up everything in back corner of the gym and then gets on a stationary bike. Now I've seen multiple who read while "working out", but working on a laptop?! While I totally give this guy credit for adding movement to his day however little effort he puts into cycling I can't help but crack up. It takes a lot of effort to lug all that stuff in every morning to make it his own little office.
The Annoying Girlfriend: I've only seen this couple a few times, so I'm assuming by now this guy must have broken it off. He use to come to the gym to, you know, workout. Completely average, nothing crazy about him. The twist was his psychotic girlfriend use to show up with him only interested in hanging all over him and making a scene. She would complain he's was taking too long, text and call all her friends and repeat the same information to all of them and the best part..... she would sit in his lap while he was trying to lift. I kid you not, this girl was like a little monkey. Hanging on his back, tugging at his clothes, and sitting on top of him whenever possible. She would whine and whimper, until finally he'd give up and leave, dragging her behind him.
The Dedicated (yet ill-informed) Mom: I actually really like this woman, but she's dense as hell. I'm hoping after another month or two she'll really warm up and listen to me about a few things. I'm not an expert and I don't like telling people how they should work out, but when I see someone super dedicated and doing things wrong I want to help them. She's the only person who is there and opening up the gym with me every morning I'm there. She's really dead set on loosing the weight she gained from having two kids and I really admire her dedication to showing up that early each morning. She suffers however from misinformation. Draped over the treadmill hugging it for dear life, at a 90 degree incline, going much faster then anyone should at that steepness. I so want to tell her she's not really helping herself. While I'm sure her heart rate is up from nothing short of just getting pulled by your arms from the back of a pick-up truck, she's not getting a great workout. She's also terrified of lifting anything over a 3lb weight and can't understand that your shouldn't be eating McDonald's, ever. She's a super sweet woman, but so lost.
The Family of 5: I'm sort of a stickler for rules, especially when it comes to safety. I know this is a gym in a building that's all residence, but seriously who brings their 5 year old to the gym? There isn't a babysitting facility in our building, the gym has equipment and a small lap pool. While it might seem like a good idea to let your kids run around a gym while you workout, it's dangerous and annoying for the others there trying to exercise. To be honest I can't believe management has never said anything to these people, they must be friends or the building is just plain stupid and wants a lawsuit. They have a 5 yr old, a 7/8 yr old and a older child who could possible be 14 or 15 yrs old. Why the older child couldn't watch the younger ones or why both parents have to be there at the same time is unknown, but anyone comfortable with a 5 yr old running around a weight room shouldn't be allowed to procreate. They do go to the pool a lot, but it isn't a community pool, it's for training. I'd say with proper supervision (no lifeguard) if the pool was vacant, sure let your kids swim for awhile. But bringing them and letting them think they can crawl around on everything and run wild, no way. I haven't said anything to management yet about them because I'm holding my tongue but next time there will be words.
The Stretcher: This guy believes in stretching, so much I want to tell him he should just do yoga. He's the guy that only jogs on the treadmill for 15 mins, but stretches a half hour or more before hand. I'm not by any means making fun of this guy I just always find it strange and his whole workout is stretching his hamstrings. Also instead of using the area of the gym dedicated to stretching, he uses the opposing treadmills so that no one on either side of him can use them, which I just find a little selfish.
The Habitually Injured Runner: I feel for this girl. She's in great shape, but she's always talking about parts of her that are broken. I have a feeling at one time she actually did marathons or trained to, but this girl's body just doesn't like her. I always hope she'll take up a less joint impacting activity. Her knees, ankles and hips just don't like her running, but she does it anyway. I admire her gusto, she really must love running and not care what her body is trying to tell her. I just hope she doesn't do any permanent damage.
Depressed Desk Girl: There a quite of few girls who run the front desk at our little gym and they are in constant rotation, but Depressed Desk Girl seems to be there the most. You can tell this girl hates her job, or maybe just the location of it. She's pretty overweight for her height and is in a place where the whole point is to take care of yourself. I always wondered why she would choose to work there, even understanding it might be the only thing she could get, and not take advantage of the facility herself. I guess I feel a little sorry for her. The only thing that bothers be about DDG is the fact that sometimes she brings in fast food into the gym and makes the whole place smell like grease. You know that smell of just "fried stuff". I'm really sensitive to smells and a number of times I've felt very ill. Nothing like taking a deep breathe for your last rep and getting the odor of fry grease.
The Hog: Every gym has one, every single one. A person that was probably an only child and never learned to share. Out of all the crazy people at my gym, this dude pisses me off. If he was just an ill mannered, entitled, equipment hog it would be one thing. But the fact that he's a chauvinistic pig makes it worse. This is the only person who has ever said anything negative to me at the gym. I'm glad this guy doesn't workout too much, or has a different schedule then I do, because if I had to see him everyday I'd be a mess. I believe in being flexible with your routine. When you're in a communal space you can't have everything to yourself or use a piece of equipment any time. This guy doesn't understand this. Not only will he bark at people that even come close to him, he's pulls out everything and leaves his stuff everywhere (I can only imagine what his apt. looks like). He also never has plan, often choosing to do 1 set of very random exercises or deciding in the middle of a set to just abruptly drop the weights on the floor. The one time I confronted him on when he'd be finished using the decline bench he gruffly told me "that women shouldn't bench press anyway because they'll loose their tits." To which I merely asked again when he'd be finished with it. I haven't seen this guy since that little incident, which is probably a good thing for both of us.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Haters gonna hate, walk proud
You can't always rely on others to motivate you or give you confidence. If you've made the decision to change your ways and start building a healthy lifestyle it has to be a personal choice. It's always great to know you have family and friends supporting you, even trying to help you reach the goals you set for yourself, but in the end you are the only person who can reach them.
Not all people are truly confident in themselves, it's hard because sometimes we feel it's being vain or boastful. Were taught not to be prideful, but there is a clear distinction between being proud of who you are and thinking you're some sort of god.
I've really had to learn to be proud of myself and not compare myself to others accomplishments. There is only one of me, therefore I can only compare achievements against what I've already done. If people stopped comparing themselves to others I think we'd all have a little more self confidence, especially when it comes to fitness!
Even I'm guilty of wanting to look like certain fitness models and I aspire to reach a point where I can bare all with a smile being completely happy in my skin. It's work and every day I get closer to NOT hating my body.
The reason I bring up self confidence today is because I've gotten my share or two of haters hating. Guys at the gym hassling me about weightlifting, people I work with telling me I'm crazy for getting up as early as I do to workout. Even friends who are generally interested in what I'm doing and how I'm changing my body are very quick to tell me that trying to get a six-pack is a pipe dream and I should just be happy that I'm not obese.
I want those washboard abs, that's something I want and if I actually listened to everyone who told me it was impossible or how miserable I was going to be not eating chocolate I'd never be as far as I am.
People are naturally resentful. Sounds a bit pessimistic, I agree, but I've found this to be fairly accurate. While others will be happy for you (or say so), they always compare to what they have or don't have. This is why some of my friends find it hard to stick with a workout routine or nutrition plan. Peer pressure drives them to think wanting to be healthy and look amazing and fit is vain. That you're not fun if you don't want to go binge drinking or lame for going to bed at 10pm.
I've turned down many things I knew might either lead me to unnecessary temptation OR put me in a position to be ridiculed. Reaching your goals is inspiring to most people, but the path is filled with rough spots.
You have to believe in yourself to be truly happy and healthy. It takes more time with some people and I've learned that it's okay to want to look good and feel great. Everyone on this planet should want that for themselves. It's pure choice, for most of us, that makes things otherwise.
So don't get discouraged if you can't bench as much as another member of your gym or if someone tells you you're crazy for giving up lattes. It's also really important to keep track of the mini milestones as well! Knowing you've gone 2 weeks without caffeine, or that you can do 3 more push-ups is just as important as finally losing that first 10lbs.
Never ever ever let anyone tell you, you CAN'T do something. Whatever it is. This doesn't just go for fitness, but everything in your life. If you listen to everyone (even yourself) say "you can't" you never will. That's why even though I can't do a pull-up on my own, I can do many assisted ones. The more I practice the closer I get. I know if I keep trying eventually I will, that's why I never give up.
Always try, the most important things are worth working for. And while I might have to remind myself every now and again, that I'm doing a good job I'll never lie and say it's easy.
Something to practice is for every flaw you think you have, counter your thought with a positive attribute about yourself. If I'm hating on my legs I try to think about how much I love my shoulders and then I try to have the best lower body workout and feel 1000 times better about everything.
You can't change everything about yourself in a split second, but with perseverance and confidence in yourself you will see change. This is coming from someone that had no self-esteem about a year ago. The more you work the better you feel and the stronger you become the more you want to achieve.
Take each day one at a time and try to do something that makes you feel good about yourself. Trust me, it gets easier :)
Not all people are truly confident in themselves, it's hard because sometimes we feel it's being vain or boastful. Were taught not to be prideful, but there is a clear distinction between being proud of who you are and thinking you're some sort of god.
I've really had to learn to be proud of myself and not compare myself to others accomplishments. There is only one of me, therefore I can only compare achievements against what I've already done. If people stopped comparing themselves to others I think we'd all have a little more self confidence, especially when it comes to fitness!
Even I'm guilty of wanting to look like certain fitness models and I aspire to reach a point where I can bare all with a smile being completely happy in my skin. It's work and every day I get closer to NOT hating my body.
The reason I bring up self confidence today is because I've gotten my share or two of haters hating. Guys at the gym hassling me about weightlifting, people I work with telling me I'm crazy for getting up as early as I do to workout. Even friends who are generally interested in what I'm doing and how I'm changing my body are very quick to tell me that trying to get a six-pack is a pipe dream and I should just be happy that I'm not obese.
I want those washboard abs, that's something I want and if I actually listened to everyone who told me it was impossible or how miserable I was going to be not eating chocolate I'd never be as far as I am.
People are naturally resentful. Sounds a bit pessimistic, I agree, but I've found this to be fairly accurate. While others will be happy for you (or say so), they always compare to what they have or don't have. This is why some of my friends find it hard to stick with a workout routine or nutrition plan. Peer pressure drives them to think wanting to be healthy and look amazing and fit is vain. That you're not fun if you don't want to go binge drinking or lame for going to bed at 10pm.
I've turned down many things I knew might either lead me to unnecessary temptation OR put me in a position to be ridiculed. Reaching your goals is inspiring to most people, but the path is filled with rough spots.
You have to believe in yourself to be truly happy and healthy. It takes more time with some people and I've learned that it's okay to want to look good and feel great. Everyone on this planet should want that for themselves. It's pure choice, for most of us, that makes things otherwise.
So don't get discouraged if you can't bench as much as another member of your gym or if someone tells you you're crazy for giving up lattes. It's also really important to keep track of the mini milestones as well! Knowing you've gone 2 weeks without caffeine, or that you can do 3 more push-ups is just as important as finally losing that first 10lbs.
Never ever ever let anyone tell you, you CAN'T do something. Whatever it is. This doesn't just go for fitness, but everything in your life. If you listen to everyone (even yourself) say "you can't" you never will. That's why even though I can't do a pull-up on my own, I can do many assisted ones. The more I practice the closer I get. I know if I keep trying eventually I will, that's why I never give up.
Always try, the most important things are worth working for. And while I might have to remind myself every now and again, that I'm doing a good job I'll never lie and say it's easy.
Something to practice is for every flaw you think you have, counter your thought with a positive attribute about yourself. If I'm hating on my legs I try to think about how much I love my shoulders and then I try to have the best lower body workout and feel 1000 times better about everything.
You can't change everything about yourself in a split second, but with perseverance and confidence in yourself you will see change. This is coming from someone that had no self-esteem about a year ago. The more you work the better you feel and the stronger you become the more you want to achieve.
Take each day one at a time and try to do something that makes you feel good about yourself. Trust me, it gets easier :)
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
My 1st A.R.T Bootcamp Class with Terri Walsh
While I've already showered, dressed and my heart rate is back to it's normal hum, my bum & legs are still on fire!
Today was my first A.R.T Bootcamp class with Terri Walsh and it did not disappoint. Now I know bootcamp might first draw visions of a hard as nails grizzled drill sergeant and lacklustre faced participants but this was quite the opposite.
The small group is filled with super friendly people of all ages and skill levels, which just goes to show anyone can participate in this class and work at their level for a kick butt session. I really felt that in itself was a great motivator. You get really pumped when you see someone performing not giving up and it helps push you to keep going.
The instructor Terri Walsh is funny and upbeat without being cheerleader annoying. She's very encouraging and helps you push yourself rather then being commanding. This is such a wonderful atmosphere for quite a challenging class! Resistance training, aerobics, weightlifting & stretching all in one. The hour flew by, my super sweaty clothing the proof of a hard worked hour.
For all you crazy counters out there, just as a test I wore my heart rate monitor to class, an easy 600 cals burned in no time!
Terri runs the class on a month schedule, 3 classes a week (Tues, Thurs & Sat) - every time something different. This is perfect for people who find themselves easily bored with attending a class with the same moves in the same rotation. There is also a great network through facebook, with everyone posting results, questions and pics. The community Terri has built really has a supportive group of people who all really care about helping one another and driving each other.
I really encourage anyone in the NYC area to participate and give the A.R.T Bootcamp class a try. Spaces are limited to keep the groups smaller so everyone gets equal attention, but there are always announcements being posted toward the beginning of each month as the new classes start.
I'm really looking forward to the next class and it's already making my week day mornings more fun. Switching up your training routine keeps it interesting and keeps your body guessing :)
I'm ready to tackle the day and probably pamper myself with a nice hot bath tonight, my glutes and quads are cooked!
Today was my first A.R.T Bootcamp class with Terri Walsh and it did not disappoint. Now I know bootcamp might first draw visions of a hard as nails grizzled drill sergeant and lacklustre faced participants but this was quite the opposite.
The small group is filled with super friendly people of all ages and skill levels, which just goes to show anyone can participate in this class and work at their level for a kick butt session. I really felt that in itself was a great motivator. You get really pumped when you see someone performing not giving up and it helps push you to keep going.
The instructor Terri Walsh is funny and upbeat without being cheerleader annoying. She's very encouraging and helps you push yourself rather then being commanding. This is such a wonderful atmosphere for quite a challenging class! Resistance training, aerobics, weightlifting & stretching all in one. The hour flew by, my super sweaty clothing the proof of a hard worked hour.
For all you crazy counters out there, just as a test I wore my heart rate monitor to class, an easy 600 cals burned in no time!
Terri runs the class on a month schedule, 3 classes a week (Tues, Thurs & Sat) - every time something different. This is perfect for people who find themselves easily bored with attending a class with the same moves in the same rotation. There is also a great network through facebook, with everyone posting results, questions and pics. The community Terri has built really has a supportive group of people who all really care about helping one another and driving each other.
I really encourage anyone in the NYC area to participate and give the A.R.T Bootcamp class a try. Spaces are limited to keep the groups smaller so everyone gets equal attention, but there are always announcements being posted toward the beginning of each month as the new classes start.
I'm really looking forward to the next class and it's already making my week day mornings more fun. Switching up your training routine keeps it interesting and keeps your body guessing :)
I'm ready to tackle the day and probably pamper myself with a nice hot bath tonight, my glutes and quads are cooked!
Monday, March 21, 2011
A New Love for Leg Day
I've haven't always loved days that I train lower body. It's by far the most difficult and has the largest muscle groups which in my case means tons of soreness.
In general I like feeling sore the day after a workout, it's a nice reminder that my body is repairing and I know I've gotten a decent workout. However, I also like walking. Being a resident of NYC means it's something I do a lot every day. So when I can't walk or go up and down steps with ease, it's a pain just to get around.
I also use to dislike leg day because I sit at a desk for most of my week. It's terrible and makes me very stiff; which in turn just makes me feel old and cranky. However my research and discovery of powder amino acids & L-glutamine tabs has turned me into a lower body workout lover. It's helped me leaps and bounds with on set muscle soreness and made so I'm regular sore and not walking like someone who has ridden a horse for 3 days.
I'm appreciating the connection I feel with the ground, sounds strange, but doing squats is so satisfying now I wish I didn't have to wait for muscle repair to do them. I enjoy cardio on the stair machine and as hard as walking lunges and step-ups are I'm actual get excited about them.
Here is what my workout was today, what are your favs on leg day?
• Super set (3 sets of):
Squats 75lbs/12reps * Barbell Deadlift 70lbs/12reps * Step-ups (each leg) 30lbs/12reps
• Super set (3 sets of):
Cable leg raise 31lbs/12reps * Cable Abduct 18.75lbs/12reps * Cable Adduct 18.75lbs/12reps
• Leg Extension Machine (3 Sets) 50lbs/12reps
• Leg Curl Machine (3sets) 35lbs/12reps
• Super set (3 sets of):
Bridge 25lb/25reps * Plié Squat 20lbs/20reps * Lunge (each leg) 30lbs/12reps
• End workout with 20mins of cardio on stair machine.
In general I like feeling sore the day after a workout, it's a nice reminder that my body is repairing and I know I've gotten a decent workout. However, I also like walking. Being a resident of NYC means it's something I do a lot every day. So when I can't walk or go up and down steps with ease, it's a pain just to get around.
I also use to dislike leg day because I sit at a desk for most of my week. It's terrible and makes me very stiff; which in turn just makes me feel old and cranky. However my research and discovery of powder amino acids & L-glutamine tabs has turned me into a lower body workout lover. It's helped me leaps and bounds with on set muscle soreness and made so I'm regular sore and not walking like someone who has ridden a horse for 3 days.
I'm appreciating the connection I feel with the ground, sounds strange, but doing squats is so satisfying now I wish I didn't have to wait for muscle repair to do them. I enjoy cardio on the stair machine and as hard as walking lunges and step-ups are I'm actual get excited about them.
Here is what my workout was today, what are your favs on leg day?
• Super set (3 sets of):
Squats 75lbs/12reps * Barbell Deadlift 70lbs/12reps * Step-ups (each leg) 30lbs/12reps
• Super set (3 sets of):
Cable leg raise 31lbs/12reps * Cable Abduct 18.75lbs/12reps * Cable Adduct 18.75lbs/12reps
• Leg Extension Machine (3 Sets) 50lbs/12reps
• Leg Curl Machine (3sets) 35lbs/12reps
• Super set (3 sets of):
Bridge 25lb/25reps * Plié Squat 20lbs/20reps * Lunge (each leg) 30lbs/12reps
• End workout with 20mins of cardio on stair machine.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
I live on facebook...again
Remember when facebook was a website where you had to have a college email to belong to it? That's when I was on facebook.
I remember belonging to a protest group that wanted to make it public like myspace (you know before people shuttered at that word). Anyway, I deactivated my account in 2007 because of a horrible fight that an ex boyfriend and I had gotten into over a private message. He hacked into my account read things out of context and boom we were fighting about something else.
Anyway to avoid fights altogether I got rid of every social network site I was on at the time. I even started to enjoy that no one could find me, like I didn't exist on the internet (except for my resumé and portfolio).
Until this year I hadn't really thought about facebook again. I've had a ton of people ask me a million times if I'm on there and I always just use to smile and say "nope". Unfortunately to truly be held to my LMBM goals I thought it might be a good idea to set up an account again.
Here comes the scary part.
When I typed in my email address into facebook it told me there was already an account that existed under that email. I immediately panicked. How was that possible?! I had deleted the account over 4 years ago.
I was able to reset the password to the account and once I enabled it again it remember everything just how I left it in 2007. All my comments, post, pictures, tags, friends. EVERYTHING!
I spent the first 2 hour going through trying to deleted the old me, the college & first year in NYC me - I'm not that person anymore.
There were some things I could never ever hope to fully get rid of, like wall posts. I still haven't gone through my whole friends list to see if I even want these people knowing anything personal about me.
While it's nice to see some old faces and learn that everyone I know is married and/or has kids it's sort of scary to me. I feel like I never had a connection to these people, we just when to the same school or were in the same clubs. It seems so trivial now.
I moved out of Florida the second I could. I hated living there and knew I was meant for better things. It's really true though, the more things change the more things stay the same.
You'll have to give me time to ease into facebook again. I'm just that way sometimes with new things, if you really want to be friends or send me a message please do. I'd like people to follow me and see progress. I actually have so new pics up of the bathing suit I'm using for this little experiment, well at least what I like to call bikini ZERO.
I remember belonging to a protest group that wanted to make it public like myspace (you know before people shuttered at that word). Anyway, I deactivated my account in 2007 because of a horrible fight that an ex boyfriend and I had gotten into over a private message. He hacked into my account read things out of context and boom we were fighting about something else.
Anyway to avoid fights altogether I got rid of every social network site I was on at the time. I even started to enjoy that no one could find me, like I didn't exist on the internet (except for my resumé and portfolio).
Until this year I hadn't really thought about facebook again. I've had a ton of people ask me a million times if I'm on there and I always just use to smile and say "nope". Unfortunately to truly be held to my LMBM goals I thought it might be a good idea to set up an account again.
Here comes the scary part.
When I typed in my email address into facebook it told me there was already an account that existed under that email. I immediately panicked. How was that possible?! I had deleted the account over 4 years ago.
I was able to reset the password to the account and once I enabled it again it remember everything just how I left it in 2007. All my comments, post, pictures, tags, friends. EVERYTHING!
I spent the first 2 hour going through trying to deleted the old me, the college & first year in NYC me - I'm not that person anymore.
There were some things I could never ever hope to fully get rid of, like wall posts. I still haven't gone through my whole friends list to see if I even want these people knowing anything personal about me.
While it's nice to see some old faces and learn that everyone I know is married and/or has kids it's sort of scary to me. I feel like I never had a connection to these people, we just when to the same school or were in the same clubs. It seems so trivial now.
I moved out of Florida the second I could. I hated living there and knew I was meant for better things. It's really true though, the more things change the more things stay the same.
 |
| Bikini ZERO: better pics to come this is just a taste |
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Prologue
From my short intro you know what to expect, but you don't know how I got here.
"If this is the second chapter, what happened in the first?"
It's worth going into a bit of a back story so it doesn't seem like magic or plastic surgery was involved in the progression from then till right now.
In July of 2010 I had hit what most people would consider "rock bottom" in a body sense. I was tired all the time, depressed and irritable. I hated shopping for clothes or looking in a mirror. I was paranoid that my boyfriend wasn't attracted to me anymore and absolutely would never ever walk in around in a bathing suit without covering up.
I had to do something, but I was really unsure what. I went through all the emotions one might expect, but anger was really a turning point. I was terribly angry at myself for letting my health and body be in such a state. I got to the point of actually considering plastic surgery, something I'm really against. I had money saved and said to myself "I can use this to do things the easy way or the hard way."
Plastic surgery seems like the easy way until you read about it. The pain and the amount of recovery really didn't seem worth it to me. I also knew that having a lipo procedure done wasn't going to give me muscle. I still wouldn't be healthy or tone.
With all my research online I actually started looking up personal training. I was never a gym junkie and I knew very little about form or technique. The whole thought of working out by myself was completely overwhelming. I had tried before with little success and felt I probably could really benefit from sitting down with someone who could set me straight.
After hours of reading and googling, I found a trainer by the name of Terri Walsh. She wasn't far from where I worked in the city and said that she worked not just on training but the teaching of proper nutrition. I was really excited to find someone practicing both of these things in tandem so I decided to call her and go in for a consultation.
Mentally for me, this was very brutal. You really are forced to face yourself and your situation when someone else is laying it all out before you. You can't turn away or hide, you're asking this person for help. In actuality I was begging for Terri's help. I could feel the lump in my throat talking to her about how unhappy I was with my body and how I felt.
She looked at me and said "I don't know if I can help you, you have to be willing to change."
This strong beautiful woman sitting across from me was giving me an ultimatum. I wanted to change, I was ready. I was scared, but I knew I had to jump in full force or thing were only going to get worse for me.
"I want to change, I'll do whatever it takes. I swear I'll work very hard and do everything you say."
The look on her face told me she didn't entirely trust me. Like she had tried very hard to help others who had lamented to her in the same way I just had and didn't have the drive to follow through. People looking for quick fixes who were easily discouraged.
She asked me if I was willing to commit and told me I was out of shape, but not a lost cause. "I can help you, you will feel and look amazing, you just have to want it."
Hearing that filled me with something, this total stranger was telling me it was possible to reach the goal I had set for myself (which by the way was getting down from 161 to 130lbs).
She then proposed a question I had never been asked.
"How long did it take you to get like this?"
I was stunned, I actually never thought about how long it took me to not be the cute and chipper 120lb I was in college.
"About 5 years I think?" was all I could mutter.
"It won't take you nearly that long to lose what you want if you stay focused," she said.
I was blow away and crazy relieved all at the same time. Terri and I agreed to start my training the very next week.
It was hard starting a routine, but I knew I had made a promise to myself and also I wanted to prove to Terri I wasn't going to give up. She started teaching me form and basic exercises. We talked constantly about food and keeping a diary. I started to gain confidence in myself and started working out in my building's small gym on the day's I didn't work with Terri. I asked a million questions and she answered them all with very concise and thoughtful explanation. We built on moved up and started setting small goals.
It's really these little goals that was kept me so motivate. Losing weight is beyond elating, but it was proving my strength that became intoxicating. The first time I did 30 push-ups I jumped up and down in excitement. The first time I did 50 I felt upstoppable and what pushed me to do 100 was Terri's promise that she would let me hit a punching bag and start real kickboxing.
The more weight I lost the less it became about pounds and more about definition and strength. I'd bring in magazines of amazing toned and ripped women and say "I want to look like this some day!" The more I talked the more Terri worked out routines to tailor to my goals. I started working with her an her apprentice as the money I has once saved was slowly starting to dwindle. She never once gave up on me even when I'd email her crying on how I spent a week eating nothing but chocolate and pizza on a depressed hormonal binge.
She's been there every step from July of 2010 when I promised to change.
Here are the stats:
From July 2010 to January 20th 2011
I'm getting measured again tomorrow and starting Terri's group boot-camp class instead of private personal training hence the start of chapter 2.
I hope this prologue helps better illustrate where I was and where I'm going and any other questions you may have I'm always willing to answer the best I can.
"If this is the second chapter, what happened in the first?"
It's worth going into a bit of a back story so it doesn't seem like magic or plastic surgery was involved in the progression from then till right now.
In July of 2010 I had hit what most people would consider "rock bottom" in a body sense. I was tired all the time, depressed and irritable. I hated shopping for clothes or looking in a mirror. I was paranoid that my boyfriend wasn't attracted to me anymore and absolutely would never ever walk in around in a bathing suit without covering up.
I had to do something, but I was really unsure what. I went through all the emotions one might expect, but anger was really a turning point. I was terribly angry at myself for letting my health and body be in such a state. I got to the point of actually considering plastic surgery, something I'm really against. I had money saved and said to myself "I can use this to do things the easy way or the hard way."
Plastic surgery seems like the easy way until you read about it. The pain and the amount of recovery really didn't seem worth it to me. I also knew that having a lipo procedure done wasn't going to give me muscle. I still wouldn't be healthy or tone.
With all my research online I actually started looking up personal training. I was never a gym junkie and I knew very little about form or technique. The whole thought of working out by myself was completely overwhelming. I had tried before with little success and felt I probably could really benefit from sitting down with someone who could set me straight.
After hours of reading and googling, I found a trainer by the name of Terri Walsh. She wasn't far from where I worked in the city and said that she worked not just on training but the teaching of proper nutrition. I was really excited to find someone practicing both of these things in tandem so I decided to call her and go in for a consultation.
Mentally for me, this was very brutal. You really are forced to face yourself and your situation when someone else is laying it all out before you. You can't turn away or hide, you're asking this person for help. In actuality I was begging for Terri's help. I could feel the lump in my throat talking to her about how unhappy I was with my body and how I felt.
She looked at me and said "I don't know if I can help you, you have to be willing to change."
This strong beautiful woman sitting across from me was giving me an ultimatum. I wanted to change, I was ready. I was scared, but I knew I had to jump in full force or thing were only going to get worse for me.
"I want to change, I'll do whatever it takes. I swear I'll work very hard and do everything you say."
The look on her face told me she didn't entirely trust me. Like she had tried very hard to help others who had lamented to her in the same way I just had and didn't have the drive to follow through. People looking for quick fixes who were easily discouraged.
She asked me if I was willing to commit and told me I was out of shape, but not a lost cause. "I can help you, you will feel and look amazing, you just have to want it."
Hearing that filled me with something, this total stranger was telling me it was possible to reach the goal I had set for myself (which by the way was getting down from 161 to 130lbs).
She then proposed a question I had never been asked.
"How long did it take you to get like this?"
I was stunned, I actually never thought about how long it took me to not be the cute and chipper 120lb I was in college.
"About 5 years I think?" was all I could mutter.
"It won't take you nearly that long to lose what you want if you stay focused," she said.
I was blow away and crazy relieved all at the same time. Terri and I agreed to start my training the very next week.
It was hard starting a routine, but I knew I had made a promise to myself and also I wanted to prove to Terri I wasn't going to give up. She started teaching me form and basic exercises. We talked constantly about food and keeping a diary. I started to gain confidence in myself and started working out in my building's small gym on the day's I didn't work with Terri. I asked a million questions and she answered them all with very concise and thoughtful explanation. We built on moved up and started setting small goals.
It's really these little goals that was kept me so motivate. Losing weight is beyond elating, but it was proving my strength that became intoxicating. The first time I did 30 push-ups I jumped up and down in excitement. The first time I did 50 I felt upstoppable and what pushed me to do 100 was Terri's promise that she would let me hit a punching bag and start real kickboxing.
The more weight I lost the less it became about pounds and more about definition and strength. I'd bring in magazines of amazing toned and ripped women and say "I want to look like this some day!" The more I talked the more Terri worked out routines to tailor to my goals. I started working with her an her apprentice as the money I has once saved was slowly starting to dwindle. She never once gave up on me even when I'd email her crying on how I spent a week eating nothing but chocolate and pizza on a depressed hormonal binge.
She's been there every step from July of 2010 when I promised to change.
Here are the stats:
From July 2010 to January 20th 2011
- Weight from: 160.75 to 141
- Body Fat from: 34% to 22.65%
- Chest from: 38.5" to 35"
- Waist from: 33.75" to 28.75"
- Hips from: 43" to 37.75"
- Thigh from: 26" to 21"
- Calf from: 16" to 14"
- Arm from: 11.5" to 11"
- Forearm from: 9" to 9.25"
I'm getting measured again tomorrow and starting Terri's group boot-camp class instead of private personal training hence the start of chapter 2.
I hope this prologue helps better illustrate where I was and where I'm going and any other questions you may have I'm always willing to answer the best I can.
An Introduction
It seems every great story starts off with a seemingly impossible task. The end resolve is never the interesting part because most times people believe they already knew the outcome. It's the struggles, the set-backs and the small gains that we remember most.
Most people start what's commonly known as a "transformation" blog at the beginning of their journey. In this instance I'm starting from the second chapter. This is because my challenge has just begun on a different scale.
I can already hear the disappointment.
"But Diane we wanted to see pictures of your ultra out of shape body, how will this be interesting now?!"
It's true that the most dramatic changes seem to happen right at the start of anything. This is because you went from doing absolutely nothing to completely changing your lifestyle. This was at least true for the 1st chapter in new life.
The thing that people sometimes don't understand is the 1st chapter is easy. Far more easy in comparison to the rest of the chapters in the story. The real trials are in the middle and that's where am starting off this documentation.
Welcome to Lean Mean Bikini Machine, my journey to the ultimate bathing suit body.
Most people start what's commonly known as a "transformation" blog at the beginning of their journey. In this instance I'm starting from the second chapter. This is because my challenge has just begun on a different scale.
I can already hear the disappointment.
"But Diane we wanted to see pictures of your ultra out of shape body, how will this be interesting now?!"
It's true that the most dramatic changes seem to happen right at the start of anything. This is because you went from doing absolutely nothing to completely changing your lifestyle. This was at least true for the 1st chapter in new life.
The thing that people sometimes don't understand is the 1st chapter is easy. Far more easy in comparison to the rest of the chapters in the story. The real trials are in the middle and that's where am starting off this documentation.
Welcome to Lean Mean Bikini Machine, my journey to the ultimate bathing suit body.
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