Morning spin

When I'm lucky I pop into one of my fellow group exercise instructor's spin classes and just ride. It was so nice to work hard and not have to really think about 'what comes next.' Although I am primarily a runner, I like to to mix up my workouts and give my body something new to work on... and trust me, spinning is different than running! :)

Keep this basic training principle in mind the next time you hit the gym, the more you surprise your body with new exercises, the harder it will work and therefore the more calories you will burn. Plus, variety keeps your mind fresh and your soul renewed.

Rev it up!

Trying to rev up your metabolism? Consider this... the key to a higher metabolism is increasing general physical activity (the things we do outside of the gym). So take an extra lap around the office building, walk up and down the stairs 5 times before your next meeting, or add a few squats into your day. The more we stay physically active, the higher our metabolism stays and therefore, the more calories we will burn throughout the day.

So try this... the next time you come back to your desk, almost sit in your chair 10 times. The proper form for a squat simulates sitting in a chair, just don't sit all the way down. Your knees should be behind your toes and your weight pushed into your heels. If you need more stability, hold onto the sides of the chair as you lower down, but use your legs to stand back up. Set a goal of three sets of 10 throughout the day. Happy squatting!

Recovery... day 3

Well things are still going well and I am enjoying my lukewarm coffee (nothing too hot or too cold yet) on this snowy Sunday morning. My swelling is still quite minimal and I am looking forward to a restful day of football and grocery shopping. Just thought I would keep you updated!

Wisdom teeth...

I finally did it, I made the commitment to face my fears and have my wisdom teeth out. Let's be honest, about 3 months ago I had two options, I could keep avoiding the dentist which I did for five years, or I could face my ultimate fear and have my three wisdom teeth extracted.

I'm not entirely sure why I fear the dentist so much but I do. You could cut open my leg, my arm, my stomach, etc. and I would ask for the video to watch the surgery afterwards, but even mention a teeth cleaning, and I shutter, whimper and whine the week before my appointment. So a few months back I made the decision to have my wisdom teeth out because the three that I had were crooked and painful. The day finally came (yesterday) and I had to face one of my biggest fears. I was encouraged by the oral surgeon's words "Don't worry dear, it will be quick and easy" right before I drifted of to dreamland. I do remember waking up half-way through to feel them tugging on my lower right jaw, but they swiftly refilled my IV and I returned to dreamland.

The body is an amazing machine... at this point in time, about 24 hours after the procedure I am up moving around, taking care of my son with little discomfort. I am truly in awe of how this body of mine recovers and am so thankful to have the procedure over with! What a blessing it is that wisdom teeth don't grow back! :)

Inspiration

A little inspiration from Oprah...

Another thing I know for sure now is that you’ve got to ask yourself, What kind of life do you want and how close are you to living it? You cannot ever live the life of your dreams without coming face to face with the truth. Every unwanted pound creates another layer of lies. It’s only when you peel back those layers that you will be set free: Free to work out, free to eat responsibly, free to live the life you want and deserve to live. Tell the truth and you’ll learn to eat to satisfy your physical hunger and stop burying your hopes and dreams beneath layers of fat.

Man, Oprah is so real and right on! "Losing weight" isn't just about cutting calories and exercising more. In fact, lifetime weight loss is about understanding what makes you 'tick'... why do you crave that doughnut when work gets stressful? It is not until we peel back the layers and start getting real with ourselves that we can make a lifetime change. So I send you encouragement and lots of courage... today is the day to peel back the layers and live free!

Warm weather is so nice!

This mild/moderate weather we are having right now is so wonderful and makes me pine for spring and summer. I must remind myself that we haven't even finished the first full week of January, so I must be patient and enjoy the snow when it returns.

Mild weather also reminds me of my favorite time of year... early spring when it is still a bit breezy, but warm enough to be able to run outside and not have to run our 'long runs' (when training for half-marathons) on the treadmill. Oh that time will come! But for now, enjoy the mild weather and get ready for the snow that is coming at the end of the week!

Happy 2008!

I always find the start of the new year to be refreshing and exciting. It's fun to dream of the happenings and possibilities that lie ahead, however it can be a bit daunting sometimes.

Instead of using January 1 to make a "New Year's" resolution, what if we used it to make a "New Year's DAY resolution?" That sounds so much more feasible! Why not break the year into weeks and then break each week into days. So if your resolution is to get healthy this year and shed a few pounds, ask yourself each day what you are doing to move towards that goal.

Do you need just a little push to get going? Can I help you reach that goal? I offer program consultations both in my home studio or at your home, in addition to one-on-one (or group) personal training, as well as nutritional counseling and meal planning. I would be honored to help you reach your goals this year. Use this day, the start of the new year to dream big, but tackle it one day at a time.