Every so often a new "study" comes out that people can be fit and fat at the same time. This inevitably leads to a lot of arguments both publicly and behind closed doors. Usually when an article is published like that, I get a barrage of emails about it asking how that can be possible? Why do they do this sort of thing to the public and confuse them like this? Why?? Why??? Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
It's actually not that confusing, but perhaps we need to break it down a little bit. Can you be fit and overweight at the same time? Well, consider this; I ran an entire marathon when I was technically overweight by every standard. More than that, I saw even heavier people go the distance too. Would you say a person who can run 26.2 miles in one go, after months of training and running close to that distance multiple times is fit? How about with fabulous blood/physical tests too, minus the body fat test?
Yes, you can be fit and be fat. I think it is really important to understand that while exercise and nutrition go hand in hand, and overlap in many areas, in the overall sense they're about different things.
Generally speaking, being fit means your body can go the distance when you need it to without freaking out on you.
Being thin means many things, but we're going to go with "looks pleasing to the eye, in regards to being of appropriate size" (as judged by society, with a little but of numerical input by the authorities that be.) Sometimes this is too low, and we need to adjust that to the realistically thin, rather than just thin. After all, it seems like no one is ever thin enough if we let society have a voice.
Most importantly we need to add a third to the equation; being healthy means being fit and maintaining a healthy level of body fat (amongst other issues as well, such as cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.) This is a more complete concept, combining a strong body with a strong support system.
In order to lose weight people are told to focus on diet and exercise. This is absolutely true... but it's rather lacking in some important details. This is where the overlap and the confusion rests.
Fit is a matter of training and cultivation of your body and its abilities. Thin(er) is about taking in less energy (food/calories) than required to force your body to use up its stores of fat. However, eating the wrong things will make getting fit really tough because your body needs to be supported in its efforts. Eating too much of the right things will support the efforts, but allow the body to retain its precious fat stores.... thus you fuel the training without forcing the reduction.
Further, you need to understand that exercise isn't about being thin. This is really important! Have you ever heard the term "skinny-fat"? You can be thin and absolutely lost in the realm of fitness. You can literally be too fat when you are thin, because you aren't fit. This doesn't just apply to those naturally thin people who can eat ice cream all day and stay a size 2. This applies to anyone who is not physically active. Exercise is about USING YOUR BODY. Exercise is about making your body stronger, better at what it does, a fine tuned machine to get you through your life. Exercise is NOT about losing weight.
A side effect of exercise is that it just so happens to burn calories a little faster than if you were pretending to be a sloth for the day. It's irrelevant to the fitness side of the equation, save for the consideration of eating appropriately so you are able to do what you need to do, and create a stronger you. The side effect of a higher caloric burn is seriously over played. It is not the end all, be all answer to your weight woes. It's a side effect of one of the components of a healthy you, not the reason you aren't in the size jeans you wish you were because you skipped it. Well, not exactly anyway.
A thinner body is made in the kitchen. You stop eating, you die. That isn't the answer, no matter how hard Hollywood tries to push that angle. Eating too little teaches your body you are starving, and how to live on even less calories to maintain its equilibrium. Not really a good idea... although, the way the economy is going...
The answer is to feed yourself. Frequently. Not huge servings, not tiny servings... think Goldilocks! Juuuuuuust right. It needs to be healthy things. This does not mean that you eat burlap for the rest of your life. Things taste good to you for a reason! Your body is programmed to identify what you need - and that stuff actually tastes good to you! The problem is that human beings got themselves a science kit and screwed around with everything. Added chemicals are in foods to trick your body into thinking that those chips are exactly what you want! The bad news is that all that junk that tastes so great is... JUNK!!!!!
The good news is that the stuff you are supposed to eat will actually taste good to you after a little bit of time without the chemical nonsense interfering. And if you find you just HATE oatmeal, well guess what? You don't have to eat it. There is a huge variety of healthy foods out there. THOUSANDS. You have options, and I promise you it doesn't include liquefying sardines, yogurt and raw eggs for breakfast... unless you're freaky like that.
The other good news is that you can still have the junk. Occasionally. Being healthy isn't an all or nothing proposition. Even better, eating healthy and then getting to indulge in the junk makes the junk taste even better. You are more sensitive to the intensified flavors, so it's more enjoyable for that short term indulgence. No one really talks about that, but it really is true. Another bonus if, like me, you refuse to write a Dear John letter to the chocolate industry.
Now, do eating healthy and exercising go hand in hand? Yes, they do - but not the way that it's played off to people. I really feel that this image of exercising just so someone can fit into their pants is a nightmare. It's the wrong message, because what happens when you can fit in them? Do you stop? Do you sit on your couch and see how long it takes daisies to sprout out your ears?
Exercise will make you firmer, give you more energy, protect you from injury, contribute to helping your health from the inside out, relieve stress, help boost your metabolism, increase muscle mass, and so on.
Eating correctly will make you feel better, have more energy, protect your body from the inside out, even keep stress at bay (see a pattern yet?), and so on. But here is where a reduction in body fat comes in.
You can have one without the other, but both of them are hollow when isolated. Eating correctly is great, but if you don't move your body you can end up "skinny-fat", and not having the level of energy you should.... among other things. Exercising but not eating healthy can enable you to do many things, but you'll NEVER be as good as you could be, or reach the highest levels without eating correctly. You'll always be that "almost good enough" athlete until you add in the nutritional component.
So one makes you smaller, and the other makes you better. Diet and exercise are tied together, but not the way they're pitched in the media. Losing weight is a big priority for most of us. That's fine, as long as we realize that the way to do that is to be smart about how we treat our bodies overall.
Weightloss is a side effect of doing the right things for our body, overall. It is not the prize at the end of the race, it's just one of the things that happens during it... like a tan during a marathon. No one runs 26.2 miles to get a tan, it just sort of happens during all the training you spend running outside. Weightloss is that tan that happens while you are learning how to treat your body right so it will return the favor for the rest of your life.
The number one piece of advice I give to people is this: Stop weighing yourself, and start working on your life. Those numbers wont help you, but grabbing an apple and going for a walk surely will.
Showing posts with label Exercise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Exercise. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Review: Tony Horton's 10 Minute Trainer Workout
I've been asked to look at Tony Horton's 10 Minute Trainer and to review it. What this really means is that I get to play. I have a lot of things that I do, but the only thing that can truly be counted as a hobby would probably be fitness. I'm dedicated, and slightly addicted to getting into anything new in the industry, as long as it isn't stupid like "lose 10 lbs with this amazing tooth brush!" or any other magic-in-a-bottle dangerous lies. I'm addicted to real fitness, not false promises. I just don't have time to waste on nonsense.
Now, my review of P90X is still dead on in my opinion. I still have the DVD set, and I still go through it here and there when the mood strikes me. However, the one big problem with P90X for most people is that while the idea of it sparks fire (not to mention the images people see in the infomercials), the body is often not at that point yet. They just cannot physically do it. P90X is not an "off the couch into a lunge" kind of program.
But you know what? Tony Horton's 10 Minute Trainer is, and I think that is why I'm actually impressed with the system. I didn't expect to be. I have a lot of respect for Tony Horton, but let's be honest - saying only 10 minutes to someone like me does not inspire confidence in a program. I'm a personal trainer, and in the end 10 minutes is NOT enough, and everyone pretty much knows that... but let me back up for a minute here.
The 10 Minute Trainer is another set of DVDs (mine came with two DVDs that contained a 10 minute routine for Cardio, Total Body, Lower Body, Yoga, and Abs) as well as a resistance band, and a belt kit (I'll explain this in a bit) and several little pamphlets of information. There was also a cool little flash-card set of a 10 minute workout you could take with you in your purse on business trips and easily do in your hotel room.
Breaking it down further the DVD workouts are 10 minutes of ACTUAL working out, so technically when there is a switch from one exercise to another the clock stops for a moment - and it should. I mention this because you need to plan for the time involved which is about 12-14 minutes per 10 minute workout (depending on how long it takes to swap workouts and get them loaded on your DVD player.) This is important to note because the program highly encourages "stacking" of the workouts. The schedule included has three listed per day, one day off a week (that's six days of working out, 30 minutes per day - suddenly it sounds a lot more realistic.) Now, you don't have to do the extra workouts - but they're there. They're encouraged.
I was highly relieved when I saw that schedule stacking line-up. After doing the workouts, I have to say that I was impressed because this program is really accessible to everyone. This can absolutely be the ice breaker for you to get into shape, or back into shape - whichever.
If you can only do a half-energy 10 minutes per day, that's fine! Because you have room to work up to the next level, and you will improve. If you need to split it up, you can do that too. If you are so busy you can only find time to pop one in and no others, well at least you did that! Breaking down a 30 minute workout into 10 minute increments means that people who need a place to start have it, and those who fall out of sync easily can stay on track in just a few minutes without starting down that path of "well I missed my workout, all is lost, lets pitch it all out the window... where are my cupcakes?" It gives you a place to hold on to your plan - even if it's only that 10 minutes.
Now, on to the equipment. There is a belt-kit in the box. What this does is allow you to tether yourself to a wall, with a resistance band (included) pulling you back. I cannot tell you how much fun I had with this. It's not at the level I want to try it (as seen in the 300 movie training videos), but I probably spent an extra 40 minutes bouncing around my basement, just playing, jogging out and letting it pull me back (and laughing myself silly the whole time. My husband kept demanding his turn, and thought it was fun too.) A word of caution here, be careful. Sometimes you get that forward momentum going and then realize the backward stabilization you thought would kick in...doesn't. If you're imaging me sling-shotting across the room right now, you aren't far off.
I started with the included resistance band, but I am glad I had my own set here (I got from a sporting goods store eons ago.) I just needed a heavier resistance level, and you will find as your fitness increases you will too. The band included is decent quality though, and there is an upgrade called the 10 minute Trainer Deluxe Workout. I did not have this, so I can't speak on the additional workouts (but I was glad to see they had an upper body focused one there. It's a shame all of them weren't combined into one package.)
The plan does come with an eating layout. It is not anything like P90X, which came with a whole layout of a major dietary program with recipes and everything. But it does have some general guidelines which are all good.
There is also a 10-day Lean Jean plan in there. This... well, quite frankly, this annoyed me. Basically it's 1,000 calories per day for women, 1,200 for men, for 10 days. I suppose if you are only doing 10 minutes per day, you could manage to do your workout and not pass out into a complete coma with only 1,000 calories a day, but seriously!
Look, the key to fitness is to find balance and health within yourself. This means treating your body with respect. Respect means eating healthy, eating the correct amount at reasonable times, and supporting the activities your body faces day in and day out. This "Lean Jean" program is a gimmick to inspire you - a quick fix, and fast weight loss so you are "hooked", instead of focusing on long-term weightloss with establishing a good solid plan. But I really think that everyone is smarter than that. Everyone knows that if you only ate 1,000-1,200 calories a day we'd lose weight - and that 1,000 calories a day isn't enough.
Maybe I'm delusional, and the public just really wants that miracle in a moment treatment still, after all these decades of stupid stunts. But anyone who is SERIOUS about their health, whether they're just starting into it or have gone round and round with it - you know deep down that it isn't about instant fixes. It's about doing the right thing, right now, for today. Not lowering your calories to stupidly low levels in order to satisfy your instant gratification.
If you are into your health, then you know that true instant gratification comes from the charge you get in doing the right thing in all those little moments scattered throughout the day. Picking an apple over the apple tart, taking that walk instead of lounging around doing nothing. Instant gratification fades. It ends, and then we're searching for our next fix. Doing the right thing creates a solid, real long term gratification. A place where you can wake up every day without regret about what you ate or workout you skipped yesterday - and a strong, lean, healthy body, because YOU MADE IT THAT WAY.
My life, my health, my fitness is longer than 10 days.
So, do I recommend that 10 day "Lean Jean" plan? No. But I DO recommend the healthy eating guidelines included with the main program (multiple smaller meals - 5-6 a day, broken up. Healthy choices.) Both are in the box.
Overall, the program is a PERFECT starting point for beginners (who are cleared by their doctor to workout.) It lets you start with as little or as much as you think you can take and work within your own limitations. The band is good, the belt is fun... er, I mean it provides additional exercise benefits (this is also true.) The workouts are shot in a well lighted studio with Tony Horton "training" a woman (just one for each workout.) Everything is explained and easy to follow. Tony Horton is upbeat and kind, not annoying and arrogant.
Is it a good long term program for the consumer already working out at a more than average level? No. It's a good filler, though. It lets you shake things up and maintain a level of fitness on a lighter level for a little while; but, if you are used to hitting the iron (like me) it's light. However, for the average person out there? It's a a well placed, nicely done program with everything you need in one box to get started.
Now, my review of P90X is still dead on in my opinion. I still have the DVD set, and I still go through it here and there when the mood strikes me. However, the one big problem with P90X for most people is that while the idea of it sparks fire (not to mention the images people see in the infomercials), the body is often not at that point yet. They just cannot physically do it. P90X is not an "off the couch into a lunge" kind of program.
But you know what? Tony Horton's 10 Minute Trainer is, and I think that is why I'm actually impressed with the system. I didn't expect to be. I have a lot of respect for Tony Horton, but let's be honest - saying only 10 minutes to someone like me does not inspire confidence in a program. I'm a personal trainer, and in the end 10 minutes is NOT enough, and everyone pretty much knows that... but let me back up for a minute here.
The 10 Minute Trainer is another set of DVDs (mine came with two DVDs that contained a 10 minute routine for Cardio, Total Body, Lower Body, Yoga, and Abs) as well as a resistance band, and a belt kit (I'll explain this in a bit) and several little pamphlets of information. There was also a cool little flash-card set of a 10 minute workout you could take with you in your purse on business trips and easily do in your hotel room.
Breaking it down further the DVD workouts are 10 minutes of ACTUAL working out, so technically when there is a switch from one exercise to another the clock stops for a moment - and it should. I mention this because you need to plan for the time involved which is about 12-14 minutes per 10 minute workout (depending on how long it takes to swap workouts and get them loaded on your DVD player.) This is important to note because the program highly encourages "stacking" of the workouts. The schedule included has three listed per day, one day off a week (that's six days of working out, 30 minutes per day - suddenly it sounds a lot more realistic.) Now, you don't have to do the extra workouts - but they're there. They're encouraged.
I was highly relieved when I saw that schedule stacking line-up. After doing the workouts, I have to say that I was impressed because this program is really accessible to everyone. This can absolutely be the ice breaker for you to get into shape, or back into shape - whichever.
If you can only do a half-energy 10 minutes per day, that's fine! Because you have room to work up to the next level, and you will improve. If you need to split it up, you can do that too. If you are so busy you can only find time to pop one in and no others, well at least you did that! Breaking down a 30 minute workout into 10 minute increments means that people who need a place to start have it, and those who fall out of sync easily can stay on track in just a few minutes without starting down that path of "well I missed my workout, all is lost, lets pitch it all out the window... where are my cupcakes?" It gives you a place to hold on to your plan - even if it's only that 10 minutes.
Now, on to the equipment. There is a belt-kit in the box. What this does is allow you to tether yourself to a wall, with a resistance band (included) pulling you back. I cannot tell you how much fun I had with this. It's not at the level I want to try it (as seen in the 300 movie training videos), but I probably spent an extra 40 minutes bouncing around my basement, just playing, jogging out and letting it pull me back (and laughing myself silly the whole time. My husband kept demanding his turn, and thought it was fun too.) A word of caution here, be careful. Sometimes you get that forward momentum going and then realize the backward stabilization you thought would kick in...doesn't. If you're imaging me sling-shotting across the room right now, you aren't far off.
I started with the included resistance band, but I am glad I had my own set here (I got from a sporting goods store eons ago.) I just needed a heavier resistance level, and you will find as your fitness increases you will too. The band included is decent quality though, and there is an upgrade called the 10 minute Trainer Deluxe Workout. I did not have this, so I can't speak on the additional workouts (but I was glad to see they had an upper body focused one there. It's a shame all of them weren't combined into one package.)
The plan does come with an eating layout. It is not anything like P90X, which came with a whole layout of a major dietary program with recipes and everything. But it does have some general guidelines which are all good.
There is also a 10-day Lean Jean plan in there. This... well, quite frankly, this annoyed me. Basically it's 1,000 calories per day for women, 1,200 for men, for 10 days. I suppose if you are only doing 10 minutes per day, you could manage to do your workout and not pass out into a complete coma with only 1,000 calories a day, but seriously!
Look, the key to fitness is to find balance and health within yourself. This means treating your body with respect. Respect means eating healthy, eating the correct amount at reasonable times, and supporting the activities your body faces day in and day out. This "Lean Jean" program is a gimmick to inspire you - a quick fix, and fast weight loss so you are "hooked", instead of focusing on long-term weightloss with establishing a good solid plan. But I really think that everyone is smarter than that. Everyone knows that if you only ate 1,000-1,200 calories a day we'd lose weight - and that 1,000 calories a day isn't enough.
Maybe I'm delusional, and the public just really wants that miracle in a moment treatment still, after all these decades of stupid stunts. But anyone who is SERIOUS about their health, whether they're just starting into it or have gone round and round with it - you know deep down that it isn't about instant fixes. It's about doing the right thing, right now, for today. Not lowering your calories to stupidly low levels in order to satisfy your instant gratification.
If you are into your health, then you know that true instant gratification comes from the charge you get in doing the right thing in all those little moments scattered throughout the day. Picking an apple over the apple tart, taking that walk instead of lounging around doing nothing. Instant gratification fades. It ends, and then we're searching for our next fix. Doing the right thing creates a solid, real long term gratification. A place where you can wake up every day without regret about what you ate or workout you skipped yesterday - and a strong, lean, healthy body, because YOU MADE IT THAT WAY.
My life, my health, my fitness is longer than 10 days.
So, do I recommend that 10 day "Lean Jean" plan? No. But I DO recommend the healthy eating guidelines included with the main program (multiple smaller meals - 5-6 a day, broken up. Healthy choices.) Both are in the box.
Overall, the program is a PERFECT starting point for beginners (who are cleared by their doctor to workout.) It lets you start with as little or as much as you think you can take and work within your own limitations. The band is good, the belt is fun... er, I mean it provides additional exercise benefits (this is also true.) The workouts are shot in a well lighted studio with Tony Horton "training" a woman (just one for each workout.) Everything is explained and easy to follow. Tony Horton is upbeat and kind, not annoying and arrogant.
Is it a good long term program for the consumer already working out at a more than average level? No. It's a good filler, though. It lets you shake things up and maintain a level of fitness on a lighter level for a little while; but, if you are used to hitting the iron (like me) it's light. However, for the average person out there? It's a a well placed, nicely done program with everything you need in one box to get started.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
P90X Plus Review
As anyone who has used P90X for the full plan... and then some, you know that after a while you are just bored with exercise again. You probably thought that wasn't likely to happen when you first started P90X, but suddenly there you were. I was there.
There are just so many times you can watch the same thing over and over. I had even gone to just popping in my iPod, and going through it that way for more entertainment, even after months and months break from the program (and on to custom ones designed for myself.) It's not that I am being down on the original P90X, I'm not. I just get bored after a while. I will say that P90X took me longer than other programs to get bored with, so it's still ahead of other DVDs in my opinion.
I was able to go through the P90X Plus routines, much like I did with the original P90X. So, I'm reviewing it. Many have asked me about it, from my earlier review of P90X (and no, I still haven't done Power 90, aka P90. I've had three people ask me this week alone about the regular Power 90. I don't have it yet, and I'm buried under life right now. When I do get it, I'll review it as well.)
One important point to make to everyone: you must have the original P90X to put this P90X Plus program together. It's set up to basically be additional DVDs to go with the P90X original set. You still incorporate lots of the original workouts with the new ones. You also need to have completed P90X. The reason for this is that the workouts are generally shorter, rely on you having already pretty much mastered a few things with resulting mechanical ability... and to be blunt, I felt like they were sort of a maintenance routine more than a "change everything!" kind of set up. But then, it would be if you had gone through the whole P90X program once... or twice... or six times. It's not a program for newbies, even more so than the original program for that reason. As a newbie, you wouldn't be able to do some of the more advanced moves and simply miss out, and thus get little benefit out of the new routines.
There is a saying "it's harder to maintain than to change." I used to apply that as "it's harder to maintain than to be actively losing weight." This is 100% true. I remember doubting this rather strongly, thinking I'd just like the opportunity to maintain. When you are 70 lbs from where you are suppose to be, and you just want to slap those "it's haaaard to maintain" people upside the head. You would just be so grateful to be strong and healthy and look it, that it would NOT be hard to maintain. Those people just didn't understand.
It turns out that those people are right. It is incredibly hard to maintain after you make dramatic changes. You work hard, you see these new results developing, and it's easy and exciting to keep going. But once you are fit and healthy the changes are very small and you realize that you still have to keep working out hard. That's where most people fall off the side of the mountain and lose a lot of their results along with their motivation.
So, what do you do? The answer is that you have to keep the actual activity interesting, and you have to find a way to use your newly fit body that isn't about creating changes. That really is the key. Find exercise that you think is fun (or at least fairly tolerable on a permanent level) and find activities that you can use the strong body for that make it all worth it (take up rock climbing, join a soccer league, start running races, take up kayaking or rowing, whatever.) P90X Plus is not the rock-climbing-activity type purpose you are looking for. But it could be the "tolerable exercise" routine that you need after you have your results from the original program and are sort of hitting a wall, as long as you really love P90X.
P90X Plus consists of four new routines (interval, total body, kenpo, upper body), and just to torture everyone there is a new extra ab routine too. Because the first one wasn't bad enough to have to do three times a week. *ahem* Alright, I know. I just loath doing abs. Not because I have some sort of belief that you shouldn't... just because I don't like doing them. (Hey, I'm human. I don't like going to the dentist either, but I do that too.)
I call P90X Plus more of a maintenance routine because it has a shorter, more cardio kind of feel to it. It just seems... well, "lighter" for lack of a better word. Many of the moves incorporated are more advanced, but they're fast, and you run through them quickly. Even the production is different, with a brighter feel. I have to be completely honest here, I was rather underwhelmed with it. I didn't have that "wow, they did a really great job with this whole set" as I did with the original program. In their defense, this isn't a whole program. It's just a supplement to the other one.
What I did like was the intervals being incorporated. I'm a big harper on the intervals. I believe in them. I have personally seen what they can do for my physical results and abilities, as well as for clients I train. Interval training is generally hard, and people whine about it, but seriously you are hard pressed to get a bigger bang for your buck (invested time.) The intervals in P90X Plus are not as intense as I am used to working out when I do them, but the workout lasts a little longer than my normal interval training does, too.
My favorite of the original P90X workouts has always been the Kenpo, and P90X Plus has a new one. This felt more like an aerobics/kick boxing/peppy-class than the feel of the Kenpo from the first one. Not entirely... but the impression was there. Still, I did enjoy it. There are moves in the other workouts that I completely get a kick out of too.
In particular there is a move called the Gladiator. Now, maybe everyone has done this before in other classes or workouts, or maybe you were just seriously obsessed with the Russell Crow movie and were pretending you were fighting gilded warriors in your back yard. But, I am not someone who has done this before. If you don't know me, let me say this: coordination with all four limbs at once is not my strong suit. I'm the woman who would take out the entire back section of a dance line or aerobics class tripping over my own feet. I sooth my ego by rationalizing that as an artist I am exceptionally right hand dominate, and all my coordination has gone there (don't burst my delusional bubble, it works for me.)
Still, I was determined to do this Gladiator move. It just looks like fun, and well... I admit it just looks cool. Alright, when they do it, it looks cool. I am highly embarrassed to admit that the first time I tried it, in mid-air, my son came around the door with a "mommy?" and time seemed to slow. It was like something out of a spoof of the Matrix. I contorted, my head turning in his direction, my body clearly going another, and somehow I had gotten good air on my leap too... right into the toy box. Well, one foot anyway.
"Mommy, whatcha doing? Were you trying to jump into the toy box? Can I do that too? Oh please??!?!"
It occurs to me that while I will have many a story to embarrass my son with when he starts dating, that the moment he realizes he has just as many about me and thus fantastic blackmail material, I am in serious trouble.
Oh, another thing about the toy boxes (the only place for me to workout with DVDs is my basement living/toy room area) - they worked great for another of my favorite moves. In one of the workouts you need two chairs. You have to do a slanted push-up between them, then swing your legs through and into a dip, then back again. I love this move, but I don't have two normal sized chairs. What I did have was two Fischer Price toy boxes, one blue and one pink. I have to tell you, those worked out perfectly for the move... even if I probably did look a little (a lot) silly swinging like George of the Jungle between them.
I may be uncoordinated, but I'm resourceful!
I found it interesting that the DVDs prominently featured Bow-Flex interchangeable dumbbells in the routines. As I had said in my original review of P90X, the timing was difficult with my standard plates (it's even worse with P90X Plus now that they've caught on to swift-changing weights.) I recommended a set called Power Blocks (which I still don't own, because I cannot afford them, but I have used them in a gym and love them), and it seems that the group over at P90X has teamed up with Bow-Flex. As a matter of fact, the ads for Bow-Flex on the new DVDs (including during workout pitching of them) were rather annoying. But in the end, this is a business for them and they're partners with Bow-Flex for the quick change dumbbells. The only thing I have to say about that is that hopefully Bow-Flex has improved their design.
You see, I would love to have a set of dumbbells that I could quickly shift through the various weights with. I have spent years with my set of plates with a screw on lock at each end. I have sliced open my foot with that lock at least four times (sharp edges, heavy lock, dropped it.) I have dropped plates countless times on my feet (luckily not my head.) I just have your standard kind of set, with lots of different sized plates that can be rather big and bulky. Basically, I have the caveman equipment, but I just don't have a lot of money to invest in these gadgets even though I may want to.
I was able to check out Power Blocks and the Bow-Flex version a long while back in a store. The Bow-Flex dumbbells were fine, and then suddenly it just released one of the plates, out of nowhere - Right onto my FOOT! One of the problems I was looking to avoid in the first place! I looked closer to see if it was operator error (very high probably with me involved.) I got the store involved in it, and Mr. Savy. Unfortunately, the only thing we discovered was that we were able to make the error happen repeatedly, and that it wasn't me. So, I steered clear of them.
I don't know if Bow-Flex has updated them or not. I sincerely hope so, but due to my experience with them I cannot recommend them. I need to know when I hold a weight over my head that it isn't suddenly going to decide to drop a 20 lbs segment, because that is just the sort of thing that would happen to me. I'm superior at injuring myself all on my own, I don't need any help in that department.
I'm sure people are going to come out of the woodwork to yell at me how much they disagree with something in this review. That they love Bow-Flex, or something else. That's fine, because here is the thing: I don't work for Beachbody, I don't work for Power Blocks, and I have had no contact with Bow-Flex as a company at all. So, this is simply my opinion. I link to an online store which sells the P90X programs because they offered a savings to those looking for one, and were nice to me when Beachbody (a representative that emailed me and identified themselves as such, I believe the person was just an operator that took orders) took the time to be incredibly rude. And that is something else to consider: I am not particularly impressed with the Beachbody company as a whole. So, if I like one of the routines, it's because I genuinely like it and would recommend it - even though I was treated as I was (and believe me, I tend to stew and hold grudges. It would be a lot easier if the products were just worthless, because then I wouldn't have to temper my irritation with them while trying to give an honest review.)
So, bottom line: did I like P90X Plus? Once I adjusted my mental mind-set to categorizing it as "additions" and more of a "maintenance" kind of set-up, I think it's good for that purpose IF you really like P90X. If you are looking for the "wow" of a whole new program, this just isn't it. But then, it's not advertised as that anyway. I'm not sure where my brain was with my expectations, or why - but once I adjusted, it makes sense. So, I'm not raving about it, but it's not bad either. I think it's a good option for those fit people who want to stick with P90X style workouts but are simply bogged down with the amount of time that goes into it (these routines are shorter, averaging around 40 minutes,) and just need something to liven up the monotony without shifting gears entirely.
Is it going to solve the long term dedication problem? No, because you need to find an active pursuit that you enjoy that puts that strong body of yours to use. Being healthy is about living your life healthy. You are not a hamster on a wheel, so don't expect yourself to be thrilled with just DVDs for the rest of your life. Get out there! Go ride a bike! Go for a hike! Surf! Swim! Whatever!!! But go DO IT! Be that person who is envied by your friends because you are showing off your pictures from the weekend where you suddenly decided to climb to the top of a mountain just because.
You'll never look back once you put all the pieces into place, and then you'll finally be wondering why anyone thinks that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is hard. It isn't, you simply have to learn to live first.
There are just so many times you can watch the same thing over and over. I had even gone to just popping in my iPod, and going through it that way for more entertainment, even after months and months break from the program (and on to custom ones designed for myself.) It's not that I am being down on the original P90X, I'm not. I just get bored after a while. I will say that P90X took me longer than other programs to get bored with, so it's still ahead of other DVDs in my opinion.
I was able to go through the P90X Plus routines, much like I did with the original P90X. So, I'm reviewing it. Many have asked me about it, from my earlier review of P90X (and no, I still haven't done Power 90, aka P90. I've had three people ask me this week alone about the regular Power 90. I don't have it yet, and I'm buried under life right now. When I do get it, I'll review it as well.)
One important point to make to everyone: you must have the original P90X to put this P90X Plus program together. It's set up to basically be additional DVDs to go with the P90X original set. You still incorporate lots of the original workouts with the new ones. You also need to have completed P90X. The reason for this is that the workouts are generally shorter, rely on you having already pretty much mastered a few things with resulting mechanical ability... and to be blunt, I felt like they were sort of a maintenance routine more than a "change everything!" kind of set up. But then, it would be if you had gone through the whole P90X program once... or twice... or six times. It's not a program for newbies, even more so than the original program for that reason. As a newbie, you wouldn't be able to do some of the more advanced moves and simply miss out, and thus get little benefit out of the new routines.
There is a saying "it's harder to maintain than to change." I used to apply that as "it's harder to maintain than to be actively losing weight." This is 100% true. I remember doubting this rather strongly, thinking I'd just like the opportunity to maintain. When you are 70 lbs from where you are suppose to be, and you just want to slap those "it's haaaard to maintain" people upside the head. You would just be so grateful to be strong and healthy and look it, that it would NOT be hard to maintain. Those people just didn't understand.
It turns out that those people are right. It is incredibly hard to maintain after you make dramatic changes. You work hard, you see these new results developing, and it's easy and exciting to keep going. But once you are fit and healthy the changes are very small and you realize that you still have to keep working out hard. That's where most people fall off the side of the mountain and lose a lot of their results along with their motivation.
So, what do you do? The answer is that you have to keep the actual activity interesting, and you have to find a way to use your newly fit body that isn't about creating changes. That really is the key. Find exercise that you think is fun (or at least fairly tolerable on a permanent level) and find activities that you can use the strong body for that make it all worth it (take up rock climbing, join a soccer league, start running races, take up kayaking or rowing, whatever.) P90X Plus is not the rock-climbing-activity type purpose you are looking for. But it could be the "tolerable exercise" routine that you need after you have your results from the original program and are sort of hitting a wall, as long as you really love P90X.
P90X Plus consists of four new routines (interval, total body, kenpo, upper body), and just to torture everyone there is a new extra ab routine too. Because the first one wasn't bad enough to have to do three times a week. *ahem* Alright, I know. I just loath doing abs. Not because I have some sort of belief that you shouldn't... just because I don't like doing them. (Hey, I'm human. I don't like going to the dentist either, but I do that too.)
I call P90X Plus more of a maintenance routine because it has a shorter, more cardio kind of feel to it. It just seems... well, "lighter" for lack of a better word. Many of the moves incorporated are more advanced, but they're fast, and you run through them quickly. Even the production is different, with a brighter feel. I have to be completely honest here, I was rather underwhelmed with it. I didn't have that "wow, they did a really great job with this whole set" as I did with the original program. In their defense, this isn't a whole program. It's just a supplement to the other one.
What I did like was the intervals being incorporated. I'm a big harper on the intervals. I believe in them. I have personally seen what they can do for my physical results and abilities, as well as for clients I train. Interval training is generally hard, and people whine about it, but seriously you are hard pressed to get a bigger bang for your buck (invested time.) The intervals in P90X Plus are not as intense as I am used to working out when I do them, but the workout lasts a little longer than my normal interval training does, too.
My favorite of the original P90X workouts has always been the Kenpo, and P90X Plus has a new one. This felt more like an aerobics/kick boxing/peppy-class than the feel of the Kenpo from the first one. Not entirely... but the impression was there. Still, I did enjoy it. There are moves in the other workouts that I completely get a kick out of too.
In particular there is a move called the Gladiator. Now, maybe everyone has done this before in other classes or workouts, or maybe you were just seriously obsessed with the Russell Crow movie and were pretending you were fighting gilded warriors in your back yard. But, I am not someone who has done this before. If you don't know me, let me say this: coordination with all four limbs at once is not my strong suit. I'm the woman who would take out the entire back section of a dance line or aerobics class tripping over my own feet. I sooth my ego by rationalizing that as an artist I am exceptionally right hand dominate, and all my coordination has gone there (don't burst my delusional bubble, it works for me.)
Still, I was determined to do this Gladiator move. It just looks like fun, and well... I admit it just looks cool. Alright, when they do it, it looks cool. I am highly embarrassed to admit that the first time I tried it, in mid-air, my son came around the door with a "mommy?" and time seemed to slow. It was like something out of a spoof of the Matrix. I contorted, my head turning in his direction, my body clearly going another, and somehow I had gotten good air on my leap too... right into the toy box. Well, one foot anyway.
"Mommy, whatcha doing? Were you trying to jump into the toy box? Can I do that too? Oh please??!?!"
It occurs to me that while I will have many a story to embarrass my son with when he starts dating, that the moment he realizes he has just as many about me and thus fantastic blackmail material, I am in serious trouble.
Oh, another thing about the toy boxes (the only place for me to workout with DVDs is my basement living/toy room area) - they worked great for another of my favorite moves. In one of the workouts you need two chairs. You have to do a slanted push-up between them, then swing your legs through and into a dip, then back again. I love this move, but I don't have two normal sized chairs. What I did have was two Fischer Price toy boxes, one blue and one pink. I have to tell you, those worked out perfectly for the move... even if I probably did look a little (a lot) silly swinging like George of the Jungle between them.
I may be uncoordinated, but I'm resourceful!
I found it interesting that the DVDs prominently featured Bow-Flex interchangeable dumbbells in the routines. As I had said in my original review of P90X, the timing was difficult with my standard plates (it's even worse with P90X Plus now that they've caught on to swift-changing weights.) I recommended a set called Power Blocks (which I still don't own, because I cannot afford them, but I have used them in a gym and love them), and it seems that the group over at P90X has teamed up with Bow-Flex. As a matter of fact, the ads for Bow-Flex on the new DVDs (including during workout pitching of them) were rather annoying. But in the end, this is a business for them and they're partners with Bow-Flex for the quick change dumbbells. The only thing I have to say about that is that hopefully Bow-Flex has improved their design.
You see, I would love to have a set of dumbbells that I could quickly shift through the various weights with. I have spent years with my set of plates with a screw on lock at each end. I have sliced open my foot with that lock at least four times (sharp edges, heavy lock, dropped it.) I have dropped plates countless times on my feet (luckily not my head.) I just have your standard kind of set, with lots of different sized plates that can be rather big and bulky. Basically, I have the caveman equipment, but I just don't have a lot of money to invest in these gadgets even though I may want to.
I was able to check out Power Blocks and the Bow-Flex version a long while back in a store. The Bow-Flex dumbbells were fine, and then suddenly it just released one of the plates, out of nowhere - Right onto my FOOT! One of the problems I was looking to avoid in the first place! I looked closer to see if it was operator error (very high probably with me involved.) I got the store involved in it, and Mr. Savy. Unfortunately, the only thing we discovered was that we were able to make the error happen repeatedly, and that it wasn't me. So, I steered clear of them.
I don't know if Bow-Flex has updated them or not. I sincerely hope so, but due to my experience with them I cannot recommend them. I need to know when I hold a weight over my head that it isn't suddenly going to decide to drop a 20 lbs segment, because that is just the sort of thing that would happen to me. I'm superior at injuring myself all on my own, I don't need any help in that department.
I'm sure people are going to come out of the woodwork to yell at me how much they disagree with something in this review. That they love Bow-Flex, or something else. That's fine, because here is the thing: I don't work for Beachbody, I don't work for Power Blocks, and I have had no contact with Bow-Flex as a company at all. So, this is simply my opinion. I link to an online store which sells the P90X programs because they offered a savings to those looking for one, and were nice to me when Beachbody (a representative that emailed me and identified themselves as such, I believe the person was just an operator that took orders) took the time to be incredibly rude. And that is something else to consider: I am not particularly impressed with the Beachbody company as a whole. So, if I like one of the routines, it's because I genuinely like it and would recommend it - even though I was treated as I was (and believe me, I tend to stew and hold grudges. It would be a lot easier if the products were just worthless, because then I wouldn't have to temper my irritation with them while trying to give an honest review.)
So, bottom line: did I like P90X Plus? Once I adjusted my mental mind-set to categorizing it as "additions" and more of a "maintenance" kind of set-up, I think it's good for that purpose IF you really like P90X. If you are looking for the "wow" of a whole new program, this just isn't it. But then, it's not advertised as that anyway. I'm not sure where my brain was with my expectations, or why - but once I adjusted, it makes sense. So, I'm not raving about it, but it's not bad either. I think it's a good option for those fit people who want to stick with P90X style workouts but are simply bogged down with the amount of time that goes into it (these routines are shorter, averaging around 40 minutes,) and just need something to liven up the monotony without shifting gears entirely.
Is it going to solve the long term dedication problem? No, because you need to find an active pursuit that you enjoy that puts that strong body of yours to use. Being healthy is about living your life healthy. You are not a hamster on a wheel, so don't expect yourself to be thrilled with just DVDs for the rest of your life. Get out there! Go ride a bike! Go for a hike! Surf! Swim! Whatever!!! But go DO IT! Be that person who is envied by your friends because you are showing off your pictures from the weekend where you suddenly decided to climb to the top of a mountain just because.
You'll never look back once you put all the pieces into place, and then you'll finally be wondering why anyone thinks that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is hard. It isn't, you simply have to learn to live first.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Trackers
I get a lot of emails about tracking programs. This is good, because tracking what you eat will help you see what you are actually taking in and make you realize that every crumb counts (including those taste tests while cooking.) There are a lot out there, and they all have their advantages and disadvantages. You have to pick what will work best for you. Some people need portable versions for the blackberry-type-devices, and others just want something they can check in fast with online or on their home computer.
There are a lot of tools that people can use to track their food intake, recipe ingredient breakdowns, and fitness routines. One of my favorites had been Diet Power. I hadn't used it in a while (since my computer crashed, but we installed it on the new one here) but I thought I would take it out and dust it off and use it again. However, it turns out my edition (4.0) doesn't jive with Vista (even though Vista is supposed to work with the old windows working programs too - Microsoft, you are NOT impressing me.)
The diet industry is competitive and constantly shifting. So, whatever program you go with, make sure you look at how they run their business. The free ones might only be free for a short time, or only give you access to half the stuff you need and then you'll have to pay through the nose to have total access. The paid ones might keep updating editions and requiring you to pay to update even to fix bugs in their systems. Some of the systems are subscriptions and you think you are paying one price for the software, and it turns out it's a recurring fee instead.
So, what's good, and what does it cost? Let me preface this with the fact that I am not selling any of these programs and make NO commission or anything else from you clicking through or buying. In other words, my only bias is my own.
Online Programs:
Fit Day : The program I originally began with. Online, free. There is a paid version for $20 (Fit Day PC) but I haven't tried it. It's a good basic tracker, but I have found that a lot of foods are missing from the database. It can over estimate calories burned (by a LOT) for exercise. Also, some people go off-track by inputting everything they did as calorie burning activities - like doing dishes, etc. The thing you need to understand is that your daily recommendations are for daily activities as well. You don't need to add the activity in for your daily totals unless it's real physical exercise - this goes for ALL programs out there.
The Daily Plate: has a free version, with a good selection of food and activities. There is a paid version (upgrade, subscription $45 for the year right now.) I've been playing around with this free version and I have to say I really like it. It has a smoother layout and good database, superior over Fit Day. Out of the free ones out there, this is my favorite so far that I have come across.
My Calorie Counter: Online, Free. There is a premium version for $5 a month. I've done some exploring with this one (free version only) and they seem to have a nice set up with charts and layouts. They have a better food database than Fit Day, but showing things like food totals is a "premium service" so in some ways you are restricted from the whole reason you need a tracker to begin with, without paying the subscription service. They do offer support boards, a blog page, and so on for members - so for those who want access to everything and are willing to pay $5 a month, it isn't a bad choice.
In the $5 a month range, there are a lot of options from many sites, so I won't go into them all.
iVillage: has a free online diet/fitness tracker. iVillage also has a lot of forums and more if you feel the need to be involved in a lot of groups and have access to a lot of articles. It's VERY simplistic, and not detailed. But if all you want is a tiny basic check in more than a tracker it's a decent way to go.
My Pyramid Tracker: The USDA launched this a while ago. It's free, but not as detailed as most of the programs offered out there.
Programs to Use on Your Computer:
As stated above, Fit Day has a PC upgraded version. I do not have any experience with this, but I have heard from others who like it.
Diet Organizer: There are portable versions like the one that runs on Blackberrys, mobil phones, other PDAs, etc. Pretty simplistic, (portable is excel-like program), but it gets the job done. Journal, charts, tracking, etc. (DietOrganizer PC runs on Microsoft Windows Vista, XP and 2000.)
On the Blackberry front, there are a LOT of food tracking programs out there for the portables. As I don't have a portable anything, I'm not going to go into them.
Protrak 2008: This program has intrigued me for a little while now. I have not used it personally, but I have played with a friend's version. In addition to all the normal tracking stuff, it also monitors your personal fitness goals. It allows you to track weights, reps, and so on, and apparently comes with pre-designed workouts (with instructions) you can take with you to the gym, as well as compiling your own workouts and totals. I like this because of the ease of use, as well as a focus on FITNESS. Yes, weight loss is everyone's main goal for the most part, but being fit is the real prize. The food tracking portion also allows for creation of your own recipes, etc. System requirements: Windows XP or Windows Vista. (Sorry, there is no version of ProTrack available for the Macintosh.) Hard disk with at least 65 MB free disk space.Works with printers supported by Windows. $34.95 (this program has "upgrades" which cost money, so be aware.)
Diet Power : Has a good program. Diet Power tracks food, exercise, has recipes included and have a section for you to input your own recipes for a break down of the values, and save it for you to input it in your diary. They also have a metabolism tracker which is decent once it has enough data on you, including adjustments for water shifts. $49.99. It is a wonderful program at it's heart - I cannot really say anything bad about it.
**(update on Diet Power: The CEO has been emailing and working with me. I'm switching over to the 4.4 version and seeing how that works. I'll post a better review of it, once I get a good grasp of the changes.)
On your own:
And remember, you can always use the Nutritional Values (this is one of the best sites for it, NutritionData.com), and just track your food yourself with excel or just some scratch paper. It's really the calculating you are after, the work of inputting is up to you. There are a lot of homemade excel programs you can download to make it easier on yourself. I believe Maggie (my partner in Pink Dumbbells, free women's fitness site) has designed several herself (some of which might be up for downloading if you explore her blog site.)
Bottom line? Find the one that has everything you need, costs what you are willing to pay, and suits you. What am I going to use? Right now I have downloaded the trial of Diet Power 4.4 after talking with the company. I'll let you know how it goes.
There are a lot of tools that people can use to track their food intake, recipe ingredient breakdowns, and fitness routines. One of my favorites had been Diet Power. I hadn't used it in a while (since my computer crashed, but we installed it on the new one here) but I thought I would take it out and dust it off and use it again. However, it turns out my edition (4.0) doesn't jive with Vista (even though Vista is supposed to work with the old windows working programs too - Microsoft, you are NOT impressing me.)
The diet industry is competitive and constantly shifting. So, whatever program you go with, make sure you look at how they run their business. The free ones might only be free for a short time, or only give you access to half the stuff you need and then you'll have to pay through the nose to have total access. The paid ones might keep updating editions and requiring you to pay to update even to fix bugs in their systems. Some of the systems are subscriptions and you think you are paying one price for the software, and it turns out it's a recurring fee instead.
So, what's good, and what does it cost? Let me preface this with the fact that I am not selling any of these programs and make NO commission or anything else from you clicking through or buying. In other words, my only bias is my own.
Online Programs:
Fit Day : The program I originally began with. Online, free. There is a paid version for $20 (Fit Day PC) but I haven't tried it. It's a good basic tracker, but I have found that a lot of foods are missing from the database. It can over estimate calories burned (by a LOT) for exercise. Also, some people go off-track by inputting everything they did as calorie burning activities - like doing dishes, etc. The thing you need to understand is that your daily recommendations are for daily activities as well. You don't need to add the activity in for your daily totals unless it's real physical exercise - this goes for ALL programs out there.
The Daily Plate: has a free version, with a good selection of food and activities. There is a paid version (upgrade, subscription $45 for the year right now.) I've been playing around with this free version and I have to say I really like it. It has a smoother layout and good database, superior over Fit Day. Out of the free ones out there, this is my favorite so far that I have come across.
My Calorie Counter: Online, Free. There is a premium version for $5 a month. I've done some exploring with this one (free version only) and they seem to have a nice set up with charts and layouts. They have a better food database than Fit Day, but showing things like food totals is a "premium service" so in some ways you are restricted from the whole reason you need a tracker to begin with, without paying the subscription service. They do offer support boards, a blog page, and so on for members - so for those who want access to everything and are willing to pay $5 a month, it isn't a bad choice.
In the $5 a month range, there are a lot of options from many sites, so I won't go into them all.
iVillage: has a free online diet/fitness tracker. iVillage also has a lot of forums and more if you feel the need to be involved in a lot of groups and have access to a lot of articles. It's VERY simplistic, and not detailed. But if all you want is a tiny basic check in more than a tracker it's a decent way to go.
My Pyramid Tracker: The USDA launched this a while ago. It's free, but not as detailed as most of the programs offered out there.
Programs to Use on Your Computer:
As stated above, Fit Day has a PC upgraded version. I do not have any experience with this, but I have heard from others who like it.
Diet Organizer: There are portable versions like the one that runs on Blackberrys, mobil phones, other PDAs, etc. Pretty simplistic, (portable is excel-like program), but it gets the job done. Journal, charts, tracking, etc. (DietOrganizer PC runs on Microsoft Windows Vista, XP and 2000.)
On the Blackberry front, there are a LOT of food tracking programs out there for the portables. As I don't have a portable anything, I'm not going to go into them.
Protrak 2008: This program has intrigued me for a little while now. I have not used it personally, but I have played with a friend's version. In addition to all the normal tracking stuff, it also monitors your personal fitness goals. It allows you to track weights, reps, and so on, and apparently comes with pre-designed workouts (with instructions) you can take with you to the gym, as well as compiling your own workouts and totals. I like this because of the ease of use, as well as a focus on FITNESS. Yes, weight loss is everyone's main goal for the most part, but being fit is the real prize. The food tracking portion also allows for creation of your own recipes, etc. System requirements: Windows XP or Windows Vista. (Sorry, there is no version of ProTrack available for the Macintosh.) Hard disk with at least 65 MB free disk space.Works with printers supported by Windows. $34.95 (this program has "upgrades" which cost money, so be aware.)
Diet Power : Has a good program. Diet Power tracks food, exercise, has recipes included and have a section for you to input your own recipes for a break down of the values, and save it for you to input it in your diary. They also have a metabolism tracker which is decent once it has enough data on you, including adjustments for water shifts. $49.99. It is a wonderful program at it's heart - I cannot really say anything bad about it.
**(update on Diet Power: The CEO has been emailing and working with me. I'm switching over to the 4.4 version and seeing how that works. I'll post a better review of it, once I get a good grasp of the changes.)
On your own:
And remember, you can always use the Nutritional Values (this is one of the best sites for it, NutritionData.com), and just track your food yourself with excel or just some scratch paper. It's really the calculating you are after, the work of inputting is up to you. There are a lot of homemade excel programs you can download to make it easier on yourself. I believe Maggie (my partner in Pink Dumbbells, free women's fitness site) has designed several herself (some of which might be up for downloading if you explore her blog site.)
Bottom line? Find the one that has everything you need, costs what you are willing to pay, and suits you. What am I going to use? Right now I have downloaded the trial of Diet Power 4.4 after talking with the company. I'll let you know how it goes.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
New Year Newbies
Every regular gym-goer out there is trying for a level of patience right now. The traditional swamping of the gym began yesterday, by all those people who made a New Year's Resolution to lose weight or get into shape. By next week, 25% or so will be gone. By the end of January closer to around 80%. And by Valentines Day, when the chocolate is packing every aisle in every store (including the ones that don't push the holiday), and the message is that there is just more of you to love - not excess weight - so eat eat eat eat!!!! 99.9999% of these people will be gone.
But until then, it's a matter of patience over gym-rage. Really, I think that these people should be extra wary - some of those regulars are abusing certain "supplements" (re: steroids) and could be quite dangerous. If you think a priest caught in an LA traffic jam is lethal, try getting in the way of a power lifter and then strewing the weights all around the room as you go. Excellent way to commit suicide though (or have a broken leg as an easy excuse for not keeping that resolution.)
You can't really blame the droves of people flooding the gym. It's tradition, after all to:
Fortunately, I calmed down a bit. I know it's about balance. I didn't get to around 230 lbs by behaving myself or a single month of not behaving myself - it took real effort! I did NOT lose all that weight by going psycho-strict and eating three grains of rice per day while exercising 14 hours nine times a week. I think that is the part that most people miss. They get as freaked out by their weight as I did, as well as what they see on television with every other commercial telling them to regret their indulgences of the past month (or more.) They think that eating only grapefruit and shoelaces is suddenly the holy grail, and the only way to dig themselves out of the hole they're in - and they need a size six body by yesterday! But the key problem is that reality and sanity never sets back in to moderate all of this before people decide they just can't lead a so called "healthy lifestyle" and dive back into their pantries.
If you ran a business manufacturing something that took real time, lets say hand carved furniture, and someone walked in the door and said "Well, damn it! You should have KNOWN I was coming. I want a special order, hand carved, elaborate chair right this very minute! It needs to meet all these requirements, and it must be free! NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!" How would you treat that customer?
So why act that way with your body just because the marketing media machine tells you to? Would she get that chair? Nope. Will you get that perfect body? Nope. Will freaking out help anyone? Well, yes. You'll probably buy a diet book or four, packaged diet foods that cost ten times more than they should, and maybe a piece of exercise equipment you only plan on using to hang laundry on. You'll feed all those marketers children for them, and give them an extra trip to the islands, thank you so much. But in the end, you will lose your misguided battle and feel like a failure for doing so.
I'm tired of feeling like a failure, even when I succeed. I don't need any help in that department from the psycho-gym traditional marketing blitz. Neither does anyone else. You want to lose weight? OK, fine - but do BETTER than that. Make sure you want to feel better, stronger, more awake. Make sure this is about making a more efficient machine out of your body, and not a flashier hanger for your fashion labels. If you are aspiring to be a coat rack and you aren't a model getting paid to be one, I PROMISE you that you will fail. So why even bother, then? If all you want is smaller designer clothing, go back to your chocolate and get out of the gym - you are in everyone else's way.
But if you want something better for yourself, you want to be strong, healthy, efficient. You want to wake up without regrets, and with energy. You want to live a longer life, and to throw the media machine into the abyss. Well then, that's a horse of a different color, now isn't it?
It's true that the gym-goers hate this time of year. I remember contemplating dropping a dumbbell or two on some people's heads myself. But deep down there are a lot of die hard optimists in the lot, and we're hoping that some of the flood figures out the reality behind the hype. We're hoping that someone accepts that this is hard work, but realizes it is worth it. We like those people, no matter HOW FAR they have to go to achieve their goals. You could be 800 lbs from your goal weight, but if you have a good grasp or at least a willingness to learn about how to do it the right way with a commitment to the hard work and yourself long term, the hard core gym-goers will adore you. (Well, except for those gym rats seeped in steroids, to be honest the kinda scare all of us.)
So if you are flooding the gym, make sure you are there for a good reason. Make sure you get it, ALL OF IT, and commit. Otherwise, I'd ask for a refund of your membership now, before the trial period expires. Your life isn't a trial period - get in, or get out of the way, but realize that there is no short-cut.
But until then, it's a matter of patience over gym-rage. Really, I think that these people should be extra wary - some of those regulars are abusing certain "supplements" (re: steroids) and could be quite dangerous. If you think a priest caught in an LA traffic jam is lethal, try getting in the way of a power lifter and then strewing the weights all around the room as you go. Excellent way to commit suicide though (or have a broken leg as an easy excuse for not keeping that resolution.)
You can't really blame the droves of people flooding the gym. It's tradition, after all to:
- * Talk about holiday chocolates (Octoberish)
- * Buy holidays chocolates and indulge with some restraint (Mid-December usually)
- * Visit the after-holiday sales on chocolates and buy six times your body weight in Reese's for 75% off, eat all but three pieces by December 31st... then drink to forget you did that.
- * Wake up on January 1st and realize you can't even get into your underwear until you drop 10 lbs that you gained last night alone, never mind the past month.
- * Wear a sheet from your bed all day, while you call around to gyms and find the most interesting membership package.
- * Squeeze into some spandex, and hit the gym with the other groupies emerging from their sheet cocoons to do penance on the treadmill.
Fortunately, I calmed down a bit. I know it's about balance. I didn't get to around 230 lbs by behaving myself or a single month of not behaving myself - it took real effort! I did NOT lose all that weight by going psycho-strict and eating three grains of rice per day while exercising 14 hours nine times a week. I think that is the part that most people miss. They get as freaked out by their weight as I did, as well as what they see on television with every other commercial telling them to regret their indulgences of the past month (or more.) They think that eating only grapefruit and shoelaces is suddenly the holy grail, and the only way to dig themselves out of the hole they're in - and they need a size six body by yesterday! But the key problem is that reality and sanity never sets back in to moderate all of this before people decide they just can't lead a so called "healthy lifestyle" and dive back into their pantries.
If you ran a business manufacturing something that took real time, lets say hand carved furniture, and someone walked in the door and said "Well, damn it! You should have KNOWN I was coming. I want a special order, hand carved, elaborate chair right this very minute! It needs to meet all these requirements, and it must be free! NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!" How would you treat that customer?
So why act that way with your body just because the marketing media machine tells you to? Would she get that chair? Nope. Will you get that perfect body? Nope. Will freaking out help anyone? Well, yes. You'll probably buy a diet book or four, packaged diet foods that cost ten times more than they should, and maybe a piece of exercise equipment you only plan on using to hang laundry on. You'll feed all those marketers children for them, and give them an extra trip to the islands, thank you so much. But in the end, you will lose your misguided battle and feel like a failure for doing so.
I'm tired of feeling like a failure, even when I succeed. I don't need any help in that department from the psycho-gym traditional marketing blitz. Neither does anyone else. You want to lose weight? OK, fine - but do BETTER than that. Make sure you want to feel better, stronger, more awake. Make sure this is about making a more efficient machine out of your body, and not a flashier hanger for your fashion labels. If you are aspiring to be a coat rack and you aren't a model getting paid to be one, I PROMISE you that you will fail. So why even bother, then? If all you want is smaller designer clothing, go back to your chocolate and get out of the gym - you are in everyone else's way.
But if you want something better for yourself, you want to be strong, healthy, efficient. You want to wake up without regrets, and with energy. You want to live a longer life, and to throw the media machine into the abyss. Well then, that's a horse of a different color, now isn't it?
It's true that the gym-goers hate this time of year. I remember contemplating dropping a dumbbell or two on some people's heads myself. But deep down there are a lot of die hard optimists in the lot, and we're hoping that some of the flood figures out the reality behind the hype. We're hoping that someone accepts that this is hard work, but realizes it is worth it. We like those people, no matter HOW FAR they have to go to achieve their goals. You could be 800 lbs from your goal weight, but if you have a good grasp or at least a willingness to learn about how to do it the right way with a commitment to the hard work and yourself long term, the hard core gym-goers will adore you. (Well, except for those gym rats seeped in steroids, to be honest the kinda scare all of us.)
So if you are flooding the gym, make sure you are there for a good reason. Make sure you get it, ALL OF IT, and commit. Otherwise, I'd ask for a refund of your membership now, before the trial period expires. Your life isn't a trial period - get in, or get out of the way, but realize that there is no short-cut.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Because It Won't Be Perfect
A lot of people are annoyed by fitness. If a fit person goes jogging by, many will tend to make snarky comments devaluing the person or the activity (out loud, or just internally.) I have found that what the attitude really is about is that they feel deep down they should be the person out there jogging, and that the person jogging by them is somehow a judgment of their failure to exercise.
Beyond being a professional artist and now a full time student (again *sigh* almost done!) I'm also a personal trainer. I mostly deal with out of shape people who want to lose weight, because they're my favorite. I have been there, and I know what it is like. I love watching people discover their own strengths and power over themselves.
Unfortunately, these people also have tailored concerns and excuses that continue to hold them back. Some of them will fight you to the death over the excuse, because they really don't want to be there. They don't want to give up whatever benefit they are getting from their current lifestyle in exchange for the new one. The worst part is, what holds them back in fitness is most certainly holding them back in the rest of their lives. I know, because I have been there too.
Some of the excuses make me want to tear my hair out. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I was training a woman, and a man came over and started explaining how women shouldn't lift weights because no man wants a strong woman, and we might turn all masculine, and then where would we be? A few years ago this would have simply shocked me into silence, but not now. I've heard it so many times, yet I am always amazed. How do these kinds of prejudicial lies keep perpetuating, and why?
Only a very few women with a hormone issue or using steroids need to worry about packing it on, and frankly - the ones on steroids are after that on purpose. And about the part about women are not supposed to be strong? Bite me. I will open jars, move boxes, lift heavy objects, and move furniture myself, thank you very much. If I need help, it will be in partnership with someone else, without me standing there like useless fluff directing traffic. Strength trumps weak and frail any day, and it is NOT ugly. As a matter of fact, in the personal training realm there is a big difference in training for strength verses bulk in muscle. They are NOT the same thing. Now go pass that TRUTH on for a few rounds, would you?
I have heard from numerous people who don't want to set foot in a gym simply because they believe everyone already judges them every waking minute of the day, the last thing they want to do is get on a bike in front of some fit person lifting weights and have them judge that too. These are usually my online clients, who I can't show up on their doorstep and drag them into the gym personally. Want to know a secret? If someone is able to pay attention to YOU in the gym while working out, they're the ones who are being wimps. There is not a single real workout I have done where I paid attention to other people. Why? Because you must focus to workout effectively. You lose focus, you drop a barbell on your foot, or twist your ankle, or fall out a window (it could happen.) The only thing real people working out are thinking about is "I want a shower. step one, two... lift three four... I don't care what they say, these shorts do SO ride up, dammit!"
And lastly (though really, there are so many excuses I could write a book on them,) the biggie... *drum roll*.... "Why bother? I won't look like *insert famous person/or person standing by you with perfect body* no matter what I do. What is the point? I'll never look like that."
So that's it? Without perfection, you just give up? Seriously?
People are NOT perfect. Yes, there are some people who live charmed lives. They have hit the genetic jackpot and risk going down in the history books as the best specimen of womanhood or manhood in the universe. They have million dollar paychecks, drive fancy cars, and have people hanging onto every word they say, hoping for a crumb of acknowledgment in return. The moon waxes and wanes for them, and sun shines just a little bit brighter through their windows.
But that isn't you, so why bother doing anything? Why workout, you'll never have perfect thighs, or be three inches taller. Why write that book, you'll never be a best seller. Why try at all? Why not just go home, bury yourself in your bed and wait for reincarnation to occur so you can file an appeal for better selection the next time around?
Is that really how you want to go through your life? There is no real judgment in the gym, but I promise you that there will be judgment about leading a life in a "if it's not perfect it's not worth it" manner. It is actually insulting to everyone around you. We're not perfect, are we not worthy of existence either?
Perfection is overrated. Perfection is the end of the line, what do you do after perfection? There is nothing left, because you can't improve upon perfection. There is no growth, there is no change, and stasis does not exist in real life.
You are NOT perfect. I don't care who you are, you are not perfect. But your imperfections are the best traits you have. Imperfections give you the opportunity to grow and develop who you want to be. When I sculpt, an imperfection in the stone can be very aggravating at first. You had a plan, a vision, and now that vision will never be realized. This is often the point where the artist must walk away (and cuss a blue streak for an hour or two.) But they come back, do you know why? Because the imperfections in the stone are like a voice, the voice that is trying to tell you who it wants to be in spite of itself. And so you begin carving again, allowing for the imperfection to guide you in a new direction. By the end, you have something new. Something you never saw coming, and yet here it is. Not just beauty despite the imperfection, but beauty because of it.
We all have imperfections, but they are a boon not a curse. They are the elements that make you who you are, and if you listen to them and work with them you can create your own special brand of perfection that no one else can match. It isn't where you set out to go, but it is where you are meant to be.
So stop holding yourself back. Put the excuses away, to laugh at when you have accomplished so much more. No more excuses, because they are the real failures, not you. Go out without fear of judgment, without influence via lies, and be your perfect imperfect self.
Beyond being a professional artist and now a full time student (again *sigh* almost done!) I'm also a personal trainer. I mostly deal with out of shape people who want to lose weight, because they're my favorite. I have been there, and I know what it is like. I love watching people discover their own strengths and power over themselves.
Unfortunately, these people also have tailored concerns and excuses that continue to hold them back. Some of them will fight you to the death over the excuse, because they really don't want to be there. They don't want to give up whatever benefit they are getting from their current lifestyle in exchange for the new one. The worst part is, what holds them back in fitness is most certainly holding them back in the rest of their lives. I know, because I have been there too.
Some of the excuses make me want to tear my hair out. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I was training a woman, and a man came over and started explaining how women shouldn't lift weights because no man wants a strong woman, and we might turn all masculine, and then where would we be? A few years ago this would have simply shocked me into silence, but not now. I've heard it so many times, yet I am always amazed. How do these kinds of prejudicial lies keep perpetuating, and why?
Only a very few women with a hormone issue or using steroids need to worry about packing it on, and frankly - the ones on steroids are after that on purpose. And about the part about women are not supposed to be strong? Bite me. I will open jars, move boxes, lift heavy objects, and move furniture myself, thank you very much. If I need help, it will be in partnership with someone else, without me standing there like useless fluff directing traffic. Strength trumps weak and frail any day, and it is NOT ugly. As a matter of fact, in the personal training realm there is a big difference in training for strength verses bulk in muscle. They are NOT the same thing. Now go pass that TRUTH on for a few rounds, would you?
I have heard from numerous people who don't want to set foot in a gym simply because they believe everyone already judges them every waking minute of the day, the last thing they want to do is get on a bike in front of some fit person lifting weights and have them judge that too. These are usually my online clients, who I can't show up on their doorstep and drag them into the gym personally. Want to know a secret? If someone is able to pay attention to YOU in the gym while working out, they're the ones who are being wimps. There is not a single real workout I have done where I paid attention to other people. Why? Because you must focus to workout effectively. You lose focus, you drop a barbell on your foot, or twist your ankle, or fall out a window (it could happen.) The only thing real people working out are thinking about is "I want a shower. step one, two... lift three four... I don't care what they say, these shorts do SO ride up, dammit!"
And lastly (though really, there are so many excuses I could write a book on them,) the biggie... *drum roll*.... "Why bother? I won't look like *insert famous person/or person standing by you with perfect body* no matter what I do. What is the point? I'll never look like that."
So that's it? Without perfection, you just give up? Seriously?
People are NOT perfect. Yes, there are some people who live charmed lives. They have hit the genetic jackpot and risk going down in the history books as the best specimen of womanhood or manhood in the universe. They have million dollar paychecks, drive fancy cars, and have people hanging onto every word they say, hoping for a crumb of acknowledgment in return. The moon waxes and wanes for them, and sun shines just a little bit brighter through their windows.
But that isn't you, so why bother doing anything? Why workout, you'll never have perfect thighs, or be three inches taller. Why write that book, you'll never be a best seller. Why try at all? Why not just go home, bury yourself in your bed and wait for reincarnation to occur so you can file an appeal for better selection the next time around?
Is that really how you want to go through your life? There is no real judgment in the gym, but I promise you that there will be judgment about leading a life in a "if it's not perfect it's not worth it" manner. It is actually insulting to everyone around you. We're not perfect, are we not worthy of existence either?
Perfection is overrated. Perfection is the end of the line, what do you do after perfection? There is nothing left, because you can't improve upon perfection. There is no growth, there is no change, and stasis does not exist in real life.
You are NOT perfect. I don't care who you are, you are not perfect. But your imperfections are the best traits you have. Imperfections give you the opportunity to grow and develop who you want to be. When I sculpt, an imperfection in the stone can be very aggravating at first. You had a plan, a vision, and now that vision will never be realized. This is often the point where the artist must walk away (and cuss a blue streak for an hour or two.) But they come back, do you know why? Because the imperfections in the stone are like a voice, the voice that is trying to tell you who it wants to be in spite of itself. And so you begin carving again, allowing for the imperfection to guide you in a new direction. By the end, you have something new. Something you never saw coming, and yet here it is. Not just beauty despite the imperfection, but beauty because of it.
We all have imperfections, but they are a boon not a curse. They are the elements that make you who you are, and if you listen to them and work with them you can create your own special brand of perfection that no one else can match. It isn't where you set out to go, but it is where you are meant to be.
So stop holding yourself back. Put the excuses away, to laugh at when you have accomplished so much more. No more excuses, because they are the real failures, not you. Go out without fear of judgment, without influence via lies, and be your perfect imperfect self.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Wrapping It Up
I've noticed that my titles all come out with a double holiday meaning lately. That wasn't my intention with this post, but I'm always up for a double-bonus pun as much as the next Christmas freak. What I was actually going to refer to was that I finished my last huge project in my class from Hades. I slaved over it yesterday and today until my derriere went numb, and I started babbling about competitive intelligence and strategic alliances with wreaths and candy canes and Mr. Savy pulled me away from the computer and forced me to watch a double-header of Reaper to clear my mind.
I'm down to just one class with any homework in it, and three finals (I already finished two other classes early.) By next Tuesday I will be free from all of it! And then I'll be bogged down with Christmas cards and gift wrapping with the additional hazards of paper cuts, ribbon entanglements, and shameful scotch-tape incidents.
Tis the season, right?
I took a break when I finished and played DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) with my nine year old on the Playstation. I have only played it a couple of times, while my daughter has been toiling at it for months, and I was so proud I did well on a song until my daughter said "Well, of COURSE you did good mom.... it's on BEGINNER."
Gee, thanks.
No, really.
I was just happy I didn't fall over and put my head through the wall. I can spar, I can bench more than my own body weight, I can run a marathon... I CAN NOT COORDINATE MY BODY IN DANCE. I don't care if it's aerobics or doing the tango, you are barking up the wrong tree with me. I think I was born with magnets in various joints, and sometimes they repel one another, and other times they attract, adding up to the most graceless woman that you read before you today.
What can I say, Barnum & Bailey's would hire me in an instant for their clown troop... assuming they had the insurance to cover the tent falling down on everyone while I danced, causing the elephants to rampage and the trapeze artists to revolt. Fortunately the only real dancing I do is on my own where no one can see me and call the police. The cat might alternate between scandalized and terrorized, but he's close to the only casualty if you ignore the self-inflicted injuries I end up with. It's all good.
The last random thing I just had to share was from one of my eavesdropping sessions. As a parent, one of the major perks is listening in on the kid-convo. It's not only a right, it's a requirement. Sure, they're young, but someday I'll be able to seriously disrupt their lives with things I have heard. It's an important skill to develop.
Tonight I was listening to my kids as they were brushing their teeth before bed. At first I wasn't sure that I had heard them right, and then they got louder...
"brababababpabaaaaa! I am.... T-H-E........... FLOSSINATOR!!!"
"Save my molars, Flossinator! The evil cavity forces are attacking! Toothpastinator was damaged and went down the drain! Whatever shall we do?"
"NO one beats Flossinator! Flossinator beat everyone. Flossinator powerful, stomp evil cavity.... stompstompstomp.... HERE! Take this floss and fight back!"
"All teeth-kind are so grateful Flossinator!"
".... I'm OFF to save the dog!!!!!....ummm hold on Sis.... HEY MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!"
*choking on laughter, tears streaming down my face, trying to compose myself...* "Uh yeah?"
"Do dogs floss? Cause they have teeth.... and bad breath. They floss right?"
Uhhhhhhhhhhhh..... do dogs floss... This is a trick question, isn't it? Shoot! Thinkthinkthinkthink... "Uh, dogs have teeth, and flossing is beneficial whenever you have teeth!" HA! I rock. That was a good answer, you KNOW it was. If I said no, he might have pretended to be the dog and not floss anymore.
"Oh! Right! Thanks mom!...... BAHAHAH! I am the FLOSSINATOR! Saving all the teeth, in all the mouths! I fly now! WooooooooOOOOOOOooooooooooooSHHHHH!"
"Bye Flossinator! We'll miss you!"
I'm not kidding. That actually happened. I laughed so hard I still have a stomach ache.
I'm down to just one class with any homework in it, and three finals (I already finished two other classes early.) By next Tuesday I will be free from all of it! And then I'll be bogged down with Christmas cards and gift wrapping with the additional hazards of paper cuts, ribbon entanglements, and shameful scotch-tape incidents.
Tis the season, right?
I took a break when I finished and played DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) with my nine year old on the Playstation. I have only played it a couple of times, while my daughter has been toiling at it for months, and I was so proud I did well on a song until my daughter said "Well, of COURSE you did good mom.... it's on BEGINNER."
Gee, thanks.
No, really.
I was just happy I didn't fall over and put my head through the wall. I can spar, I can bench more than my own body weight, I can run a marathon... I CAN NOT COORDINATE MY BODY IN DANCE. I don't care if it's aerobics or doing the tango, you are barking up the wrong tree with me. I think I was born with magnets in various joints, and sometimes they repel one another, and other times they attract, adding up to the most graceless woman that you read before you today.
What can I say, Barnum & Bailey's would hire me in an instant for their clown troop... assuming they had the insurance to cover the tent falling down on everyone while I danced, causing the elephants to rampage and the trapeze artists to revolt. Fortunately the only real dancing I do is on my own where no one can see me and call the police. The cat might alternate between scandalized and terrorized, but he's close to the only casualty if you ignore the self-inflicted injuries I end up with. It's all good.
The last random thing I just had to share was from one of my eavesdropping sessions. As a parent, one of the major perks is listening in on the kid-convo. It's not only a right, it's a requirement. Sure, they're young, but someday I'll be able to seriously disrupt their lives with things I have heard. It's an important skill to develop.
Tonight I was listening to my kids as they were brushing their teeth before bed. At first I wasn't sure that I had heard them right, and then they got louder...
"brababababpabaaaaa! I am.... T-H-E........... FLOSSINATOR!!!"
"Save my molars, Flossinator! The evil cavity forces are attacking! Toothpastinator was damaged and went down the drain! Whatever shall we do?"
"NO one beats Flossinator! Flossinator beat everyone. Flossinator powerful, stomp evil cavity.... stompstompstomp.... HERE! Take this floss and fight back!"
"All teeth-kind are so grateful Flossinator!"
".... I'm OFF to save the dog!!!!!....ummm hold on Sis.... HEY MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!"
*choking on laughter, tears streaming down my face, trying to compose myself...* "Uh yeah?"
"Do dogs floss? Cause they have teeth.... and bad breath. They floss right?"
Uhhhhhhhhhhhh..... do dogs floss... This is a trick question, isn't it? Shoot! Thinkthinkthinkthink... "Uh, dogs have teeth, and flossing is beneficial whenever you have teeth!" HA! I rock. That was a good answer, you KNOW it was. If I said no, he might have pretended to be the dog and not floss anymore.
"Oh! Right! Thanks mom!...... BAHAHAH! I am the FLOSSINATOR! Saving all the teeth, in all the mouths! I fly now! WooooooooOOOOOOOooooooooooooSHHHHH!"
"Bye Flossinator! We'll miss you!"
I'm not kidding. That actually happened. I laughed so hard I still have a stomach ache.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Weird Winter Wonderland
The day before last I actually did end up painting. I didn't get into the studio when I wanted to, instead getting side-tracked by homework all day. Eventually, I made it there after the kids were in bed, finished a new painting (which you can see on Color Me Kyra) and then finally got to sleep well after 1 AM, only to get up at 5:45 AM to get the day rolling yesterday.
Tuesday was a marathon shopping event, with me trying to get my Christmas-Son's birthday-business suit shopping DONE. I woke up to a blizzard of snow outside and just wanted to bang my head on the wall. Of all the days to need to go out, I get the perfect one for staying IN! Still, I braved the roads and made it to the mall. I got my business suit (which I now have to return because once at home in natural light, the black is in two different shades,) and managed to waste a rather large amount of time at the mall looking at nothing in particular while trying to figure out what to get my husband this year.
Why do men make shopping for them SO HARD? Do you take a class in it? Plot with your friends on how best to drive the woman in your life over the edge? Just curious.
We went to the Christmas Tree Shops next (if you haven't heard of this store, it's hard to describe but has very little to do with Christmas except during that season. It's a bargain store, but a lot of their stuff isn't total junk. That's the best way to put it.) While checking out, the cashier eyed the baseball bat I was purchasing for my son and said in a rather angry tone "Gee, I could use one of these for my husband!"
Er... Ok. There isn't much you say to that except sort of laugh uncomfortably and move on. But SHE didn't move on. Instead she immediately launched into how she has been married for 25 years, four kids, grandkids, dogs, cats, and used to live in Texas until her husband moved them up here in Vermont just this year, bought a house, and then just a few days ago decided the marriage was over and not only walked out of the marriage but flat out just LEFT - as in they have no idea where he is. And so that day was one of her first working, ever.
I was speechless, and that is really saying something for a blabbermouth like me. The story was so involved, I seriously considered glancing around to look for cameras on the off chance I was on a hidden video show of some sort. I didn't know what else to say except that I was so sorry and that I hoped things worked out for her. Kinda lame, but what else do you say to something like that? "Have a good Thanksgiving!" seemed kinda cruel.
Eventually, we made our way to Wal-Mart where the local television station was filming a story on holiday shopping and the lead dangers in toys combined with tight budgets this year. Before anyone says that I shouldn't BE at a Wal-Mart in the first place, you need to remember that Target (the preferred box store) doesn't EXIST in my state. They refuse to open a store here, so it's Wal-Mart or nothing. Anyway, the television crew cornered me in the Star Wars aisle and tried to get me to do an interview on camera "to be on the news tonight!" (so said the giddy, cute little reporter, next to the cynical tubby camera man who looked like he needed a cigarette so bad he was ready to mug the next blue-haired lady who wandered by with the slightest hint of tobacco about her. I wanted to laugh at the stereo-type come to life, but I figured the camera man might actually take me out if I did so.)
I know some people say they don't want to be on television, and then jump at the chance when presented because deep-down most people do want to be on television even if they have to look like morons when they are. I am NOT that person. I have never secretly nurtured the hope that someone would see me and make me a star. I do not enjoy having my picture taken, I do not enjoy being in front of people. Blogs are easy, none of you hear me stutter or say the wrong thing. Blogs don't count for the best reason of all - being heard and being seen are two completely different things, and blogs are all about being heard.
So I said no. They didn't like that, so they tried the most blatant manipulation right from the book that I have ever seen. Seriously, it was reporter-101; give the target a compliment to get them talking, then switch to the topic you want to talk about to get them comfortable with both you and the subject to make them see how little you want from them and how easy it'll be to talk to you with the camera on. I answered their questions (probably smirking at the time, because it really was so transparent that my companion actually went around the end-cap to have a good laugh,) but then said a firm "no, I honestly really am not comfortable being on camera. But I wish you luck with your story!" I was nice, I know I was being a pain in the butt for them by being difficult and I feel bad about that, but the store was packed with people. It can't be that hard to find someone else to interview - someone who wants to be on the news.
Mr. Savy was very disappointed in me. He is the type who would have jumped at the chance for an interview, and has for his company a couple of times. He likes the spotlight, and felt that I had somehow let him down by not appearing on the news and even felt that having an interview with a "local" that actually sounded coherent would have been a public service. The lead story on Monday was a man who had cut a peep hole from one port-a-potty to another and was spying on another man and making rude gestures at him, I kid you not. The interview with "eye witnesses" was priceless, so I can kind of see Mr. Savy's point... but I still don't care.
I finished my shopping in a hurry, and finally made it home after dark. I worked on more homework (I think my professors are trying to kill me) and then fell asleep and couldn't get out of bed this morning. Seriously, I am exhausted. I'm trying to round up the energy to go for a run, but so far... I got nuthin'.
Lastly, speaking of exercise; for those trying to figure out how to fit exercise in on those Holiday trips, or maybe just anytime if you need to spice things up check this out. The idea is on Vita Juice Daily, and all you need is a deck of cards. Just in time for Thanksgiving!
Tuesday was a marathon shopping event, with me trying to get my Christmas-Son's birthday-business suit shopping DONE. I woke up to a blizzard of snow outside and just wanted to bang my head on the wall. Of all the days to need to go out, I get the perfect one for staying IN! Still, I braved the roads and made it to the mall. I got my business suit (which I now have to return because once at home in natural light, the black is in two different shades,) and managed to waste a rather large amount of time at the mall looking at nothing in particular while trying to figure out what to get my husband this year.
Why do men make shopping for them SO HARD? Do you take a class in it? Plot with your friends on how best to drive the woman in your life over the edge? Just curious.
We went to the Christmas Tree Shops next (if you haven't heard of this store, it's hard to describe but has very little to do with Christmas except during that season. It's a bargain store, but a lot of their stuff isn't total junk. That's the best way to put it.) While checking out, the cashier eyed the baseball bat I was purchasing for my son and said in a rather angry tone "Gee, I could use one of these for my husband!"
Er... Ok. There isn't much you say to that except sort of laugh uncomfortably and move on. But SHE didn't move on. Instead she immediately launched into how she has been married for 25 years, four kids, grandkids, dogs, cats, and used to live in Texas until her husband moved them up here in Vermont just this year, bought a house, and then just a few days ago decided the marriage was over and not only walked out of the marriage but flat out just LEFT - as in they have no idea where he is. And so that day was one of her first working, ever.
I was speechless, and that is really saying something for a blabbermouth like me. The story was so involved, I seriously considered glancing around to look for cameras on the off chance I was on a hidden video show of some sort. I didn't know what else to say except that I was so sorry and that I hoped things worked out for her. Kinda lame, but what else do you say to something like that? "Have a good Thanksgiving!" seemed kinda cruel.
Eventually, we made our way to Wal-Mart where the local television station was filming a story on holiday shopping and the lead dangers in toys combined with tight budgets this year. Before anyone says that I shouldn't BE at a Wal-Mart in the first place, you need to remember that Target (the preferred box store) doesn't EXIST in my state. They refuse to open a store here, so it's Wal-Mart or nothing. Anyway, the television crew cornered me in the Star Wars aisle and tried to get me to do an interview on camera "to be on the news tonight!" (so said the giddy, cute little reporter, next to the cynical tubby camera man who looked like he needed a cigarette so bad he was ready to mug the next blue-haired lady who wandered by with the slightest hint of tobacco about her. I wanted to laugh at the stereo-type come to life, but I figured the camera man might actually take me out if I did so.)
I know some people say they don't want to be on television, and then jump at the chance when presented because deep-down most people do want to be on television even if they have to look like morons when they are. I am NOT that person. I have never secretly nurtured the hope that someone would see me and make me a star. I do not enjoy having my picture taken, I do not enjoy being in front of people. Blogs are easy, none of you hear me stutter or say the wrong thing. Blogs don't count for the best reason of all - being heard and being seen are two completely different things, and blogs are all about being heard.
So I said no. They didn't like that, so they tried the most blatant manipulation right from the book that I have ever seen. Seriously, it was reporter-101; give the target a compliment to get them talking, then switch to the topic you want to talk about to get them comfortable with both you and the subject to make them see how little you want from them and how easy it'll be to talk to you with the camera on. I answered their questions (probably smirking at the time, because it really was so transparent that my companion actually went around the end-cap to have a good laugh,) but then said a firm "no, I honestly really am not comfortable being on camera. But I wish you luck with your story!" I was nice, I know I was being a pain in the butt for them by being difficult and I feel bad about that, but the store was packed with people. It can't be that hard to find someone else to interview - someone who wants to be on the news.
Mr. Savy was very disappointed in me. He is the type who would have jumped at the chance for an interview, and has for his company a couple of times. He likes the spotlight, and felt that I had somehow let him down by not appearing on the news and even felt that having an interview with a "local" that actually sounded coherent would have been a public service. The lead story on Monday was a man who had cut a peep hole from one port-a-potty to another and was spying on another man and making rude gestures at him, I kid you not. The interview with "eye witnesses" was priceless, so I can kind of see Mr. Savy's point... but I still don't care.
I finished my shopping in a hurry, and finally made it home after dark. I worked on more homework (I think my professors are trying to kill me) and then fell asleep and couldn't get out of bed this morning. Seriously, I am exhausted. I'm trying to round up the energy to go for a run, but so far... I got nuthin'.
Lastly, speaking of exercise; for those trying to figure out how to fit exercise in on those Holiday trips, or maybe just anytime if you need to spice things up check this out. The idea is on Vita Juice Daily, and all you need is a deck of cards. Just in time for Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 05, 2007
A Dash Of Success
I debated posting about this for a while, but I figured what the hell. It's my blog, right?
For those who have tracked me for a while (as in years) you know that I had hit my goal weight (of about 150lbs) many years ago and maintained. I then trained for a marathon for an excessively long time because the dates got moved around, and mysteriously gained 34lbs by the time I ran it. The why's had to do with my body reacting to what it considered extreme circumstances and changing it's metabolism in a sort of metabolic panic. I gained eating next to nothing and running 20+ miles in one shot. Truly a mathematical impossibility to many, but it was true.
I saw many doctors, talked to many people, and eventually found some information. I found a supplement which halted the gain (plus I stopped running that far) and eventually, over a couple years, turned the nightmare back around. At first it simply halted and I couldn't lose no matter what I did for over a year. This was very emotional for me, a sort of trapped feeling. For someone who used weight as a control mechanism, this was NOT a happy place to be.
Eventually it started releasing some weight, but then it stuck at my once-upon-a-time old set-point. Sure, I weighed what I weighed in high school, and technically it wasn't considered over-weight by the charts, but it was overweight for me by about 20+ lbs (us tall folks have a huge weight range to play with on the BMI charts.) But I couldn't budge the set-point. The best I got was a few pounds below it, and then something would happen - usually being ME. I would get tired, frustrated, chuck it all when nothing changed for months on end of hard work (even though I could lose, it wasn't at a normal rate like everyone else and my metabolism would have mini-freakouts where it would gain again for no reason before chilling out.) I then became the problem, not my metabolism issue. Ironic, eh?
So, that is what I have struggled with since my marathon in 2004. It's been a pain in the butt, to say the least. So, why am I rehashing this? Because I wanted to share that I have well and truly broken through that old set point. I'm the lowest I have been since months before my marathon, and I am continuing to go down - finally. I'm sharing because I feel like I am finally in the last leg of my own personal marathon, and it's a damn good feeling to finally cross over.
We make a lot of noise on the blogosphere about things that aren't going our way. I thought I would share about something in my life that finally IS going my way. It's such a good feeling, and what is more is that I am at a completely different point in my head than I was even four years ago. I have a balance and peace I didn't have then, and it is such that one day (at goal, of course) I might even be able to look back and say that this struggle was worth it.
Oh, not yet, of course. But maybe someday.
Oh, and last night at midnight I registered for my LAST semester in college. I graduate in May! I had to stay up that late to register as soon as I was allowed because I have no choice about my classes and I would hate to have to resort to ugly tactics to get in what I need. Midnight was a much more peaceful solution. I have one more hurdle tomorrow with a class that has to be registered separately, but then I am done with registering! No more registering again! No more classes after one more semester. Can you believe it? Yay!
For those who have tracked me for a while (as in years) you know that I had hit my goal weight (of about 150lbs) many years ago and maintained. I then trained for a marathon for an excessively long time because the dates got moved around, and mysteriously gained 34lbs by the time I ran it. The why's had to do with my body reacting to what it considered extreme circumstances and changing it's metabolism in a sort of metabolic panic. I gained eating next to nothing and running 20+ miles in one shot. Truly a mathematical impossibility to many, but it was true.
I saw many doctors, talked to many people, and eventually found some information. I found a supplement which halted the gain (plus I stopped running that far) and eventually, over a couple years, turned the nightmare back around. At first it simply halted and I couldn't lose no matter what I did for over a year. This was very emotional for me, a sort of trapped feeling. For someone who used weight as a control mechanism, this was NOT a happy place to be.
Eventually it started releasing some weight, but then it stuck at my once-upon-a-time old set-point. Sure, I weighed what I weighed in high school, and technically it wasn't considered over-weight by the charts, but it was overweight for me by about 20+ lbs (us tall folks have a huge weight range to play with on the BMI charts.) But I couldn't budge the set-point. The best I got was a few pounds below it, and then something would happen - usually being ME. I would get tired, frustrated, chuck it all when nothing changed for months on end of hard work (even though I could lose, it wasn't at a normal rate like everyone else and my metabolism would have mini-freakouts where it would gain again for no reason before chilling out.) I then became the problem, not my metabolism issue. Ironic, eh?
So, that is what I have struggled with since my marathon in 2004. It's been a pain in the butt, to say the least. So, why am I rehashing this? Because I wanted to share that I have well and truly broken through that old set point. I'm the lowest I have been since months before my marathon, and I am continuing to go down - finally. I'm sharing because I feel like I am finally in the last leg of my own personal marathon, and it's a damn good feeling to finally cross over.
We make a lot of noise on the blogosphere about things that aren't going our way. I thought I would share about something in my life that finally IS going my way. It's such a good feeling, and what is more is that I am at a completely different point in my head than I was even four years ago. I have a balance and peace I didn't have then, and it is such that one day (at goal, of course) I might even be able to look back and say that this struggle was worth it.
Oh, not yet, of course. But maybe someday.
Oh, and last night at midnight I registered for my LAST semester in college. I graduate in May! I had to stay up that late to register as soon as I was allowed because I have no choice about my classes and I would hate to have to resort to ugly tactics to get in what I need. Midnight was a much more peaceful solution. I have one more hurdle tomorrow with a class that has to be registered separately, but then I am done with registering! No more registering again! No more classes after one more semester. Can you believe it? Yay!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Calling All Challengers
I'm putting a shout out to anyone interested in losing weight, toning up, running a race, or whatever fitness goal you have. Pink Dumbbells, www.PinkDumbbells.com (a fitness site that Maggie and I run together) is hosting a Mega Challenge! You can follow whatever plan you want to reach whatever goal you have in mind, and have all of us to support you and cheer you along the way!
It's free (the site and the challenge.) No strings. No catches. Nothing.
All levels welcome, from fit to just thinking about it.
So, if you have been looking for an opportunity to improve yourself - we're knocking! Come and join us!
It's free (the site and the challenge.) No strings. No catches. Nothing.
All levels welcome, from fit to just thinking about it.
So, if you have been looking for an opportunity to improve yourself - we're knocking! Come and join us!
Monday, May 28, 2007
Motion Sick
I know that most people afflicted with motion sickness as children grow out of it. At least that is what they say. I never did, and I had it bad. I remember going to the grocery store and having to tell my mom to pull over so I could be sick on the side of the road. Back then, I thought the grocery store was really far away - turns out it was only about three miles. It's funny how being miserable can make anything seem longer.
Nothing has really changed, except that sitting in the front is better than the back, driving is better than being a passenger, and avoiding the car is the way to go if at all possible (which makes living 40+ miles from the amenities like Walmart or anything else totally ironic.) The thing is that other things make me sick now that never did when I was a kid. You would think that being so prone to motion sickness as a kid meant I couldn't go on things that spin around like amusement park rides, but that was not the case. As a matter of fact my favorite ride at theme parks was this standing thing where it spun you round so fast you stuck to the wall and then it raised into the air. I could ride it continuously without issue. The tilt-a-whirl was no problem!
Last year I went to the New York (upstate) Six-Flags, and let me tell you - I don't like those spinning rides anymore. I went on a kids one that hardly moved in comparison to what I used to love, and I was sick for two hours afterwards (but the roller coasters are still my thing, thank goodness!) That's an extreme example of something new developing, but here is another; I have problems looking about, or repeatedly getting up and down resulting in becoming motion sick. I can't garden like a normal person because of all the bending-weeding-standing-do it again motion.
Who gets carsick in a garden? Seriously!
I also have problems with certain exercises. In the P90X group, there are a couple moves I struggle with - not because they're hard, but because I have to keep turning my head. They have one called a steam engine where you lock your hands behind your head - look forward, and bring each elbow to the opposing raised knee. This doesn't cause a lot of head turning, but enough that I start turning ever so slightly green. In the Kenpo workout, they have a sequence of moves with simultaneous front and back strikes, front kick, then back kick. Following the line of sight on those also makes me want to grab my waste basket and turn my stomach inside out.
Maybe that's why running was is appealing to me - you pretty much just focus on going forward. It's a wonder my painting style doesn't make me nauseous. (I know, someone will jump in and say my art makes them sick... yeah, yeah, get over it.) Does anyone else have this problem? Ugh, I'm going to go and try not to throw up (both moves in the Cardio X workout today. Blah.)
Nothing has really changed, except that sitting in the front is better than the back, driving is better than being a passenger, and avoiding the car is the way to go if at all possible (which makes living 40+ miles from the amenities like Walmart or anything else totally ironic.) The thing is that other things make me sick now that never did when I was a kid. You would think that being so prone to motion sickness as a kid meant I couldn't go on things that spin around like amusement park rides, but that was not the case. As a matter of fact my favorite ride at theme parks was this standing thing where it spun you round so fast you stuck to the wall and then it raised into the air. I could ride it continuously without issue. The tilt-a-whirl was no problem!
Last year I went to the New York (upstate) Six-Flags, and let me tell you - I don't like those spinning rides anymore. I went on a kids one that hardly moved in comparison to what I used to love, and I was sick for two hours afterwards (but the roller coasters are still my thing, thank goodness!) That's an extreme example of something new developing, but here is another; I have problems looking about, or repeatedly getting up and down resulting in becoming motion sick. I can't garden like a normal person because of all the bending-weeding-standing-do it again motion.
Who gets carsick in a garden? Seriously!
I also have problems with certain exercises. In the P90X group, there are a couple moves I struggle with - not because they're hard, but because I have to keep turning my head. They have one called a steam engine where you lock your hands behind your head - look forward, and bring each elbow to the opposing raised knee. This doesn't cause a lot of head turning, but enough that I start turning ever so slightly green. In the Kenpo workout, they have a sequence of moves with simultaneous front and back strikes, front kick, then back kick. Following the line of sight on those also makes me want to grab my waste basket and turn my stomach inside out.
Maybe that's why running was is appealing to me - you pretty much just focus on going forward. It's a wonder my painting style doesn't make me nauseous. (I know, someone will jump in and say my art makes them sick... yeah, yeah, get over it.) Does anyone else have this problem? Ugh, I'm going to go and try not to throw up (both moves in the Cardio X workout today. Blah.)
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Twisty
Yoga is strange. To a logical person, it seems silly. To most people, it's something they can't be bothered with. To me it's something that I don't want to do, but I know actually helps. (Which I suppose means I am not logical or most people, but I guess I already knew that.)
While training for the marathon in 2004 I experienced extreme tightening of my muscles, to the point that I was really suffering. Stretching (your normal runner's stretching) didn't help. Eventually, the doctors believed it helped contribute to my plantar fasciitis. I'm sure it did. I'm sure everything I did contributed to me ending up hobbling around like a 190 year old woman who felt like she was constantly stepping on glass, because I'm good at stuff like that. As I have said before, I am not physically built to be a runner. My mechanics just don't support the actual action, so I messed myself up pretty good by running the marathon. But I run anyway, even now - because every time I do it's like shouting "HA!!!!! You can't keep me down!"
I suppose I'm a wee bit aggressive sometimes, even to my inner self.
Even though it's several years later, I still have lingering effects from the marathon training. But you know what actually helps? Yoga. I kid you not. I can only reason that it's all the bizarre stretching involved, because I can't see any other reason why pulling my ankles up over my head could possibly be a good thing. Sometimes I'm in these yoga positions and the thought runs through my mind "You know, I bet this is how I would land if I was in a car crash and thrown from the vehicle." Or "A little further and it'll have gone all the way around... we can't actually be striving for that, can we?"
Obviously, I'm not a true yoga convert. I honestly believe that for those who make a connection with a certain exercise (like I did with running and weight training) on a personal level, that it is wonderful. It's just not something that appeals deeply to me. It could be that while I am actually very flexible, when I do yoga I find out how pitiful that statement actually is when I look around the room at the other people and see things that normally only emergency room doctors or homicide detectives witness.
Whatever the case, I know it helps. I cannot do yoga in a gym-class. I can do yoga in the right kind of yoga studio - but I can't afford it. So, I do yoga in my basement. With my cat. With the 22 lbs cat who sees the position of downward dog as a fun time to go nose to nose with me and express his disapproval with the meals I have been serving him lately. It'd be cute if it wasn't so consistent.
And I suppose I should stop procrastinating. I'm like a kid who doesn't want to take the medicine. But seriously, 90 MINUTES! 90 minutes of my life trying to make parts of my body go in ways they'd really rather not...
OK I'm done complaining. I'm off to do yoga. Yes I am. Really. Any minute now...
While training for the marathon in 2004 I experienced extreme tightening of my muscles, to the point that I was really suffering. Stretching (your normal runner's stretching) didn't help. Eventually, the doctors believed it helped contribute to my plantar fasciitis. I'm sure it did. I'm sure everything I did contributed to me ending up hobbling around like a 190 year old woman who felt like she was constantly stepping on glass, because I'm good at stuff like that. As I have said before, I am not physically built to be a runner. My mechanics just don't support the actual action, so I messed myself up pretty good by running the marathon. But I run anyway, even now - because every time I do it's like shouting "HA!!!!! You can't keep me down!"
I suppose I'm a wee bit aggressive sometimes, even to my inner self.
Even though it's several years later, I still have lingering effects from the marathon training. But you know what actually helps? Yoga. I kid you not. I can only reason that it's all the bizarre stretching involved, because I can't see any other reason why pulling my ankles up over my head could possibly be a good thing. Sometimes I'm in these yoga positions and the thought runs through my mind "You know, I bet this is how I would land if I was in a car crash and thrown from the vehicle." Or "A little further and it'll have gone all the way around... we can't actually be striving for that, can we?"
Obviously, I'm not a true yoga convert. I honestly believe that for those who make a connection with a certain exercise (like I did with running and weight training) on a personal level, that it is wonderful. It's just not something that appeals deeply to me. It could be that while I am actually very flexible, when I do yoga I find out how pitiful that statement actually is when I look around the room at the other people and see things that normally only emergency room doctors or homicide detectives witness.
Whatever the case, I know it helps. I cannot do yoga in a gym-class. I can do yoga in the right kind of yoga studio - but I can't afford it. So, I do yoga in my basement. With my cat. With the 22 lbs cat who sees the position of downward dog as a fun time to go nose to nose with me and express his disapproval with the meals I have been serving him lately. It'd be cute if it wasn't so consistent.
And I suppose I should stop procrastinating. I'm like a kid who doesn't want to take the medicine. But seriously, 90 MINUTES! 90 minutes of my life trying to make parts of my body go in ways they'd really rather not...
OK I'm done complaining. I'm off to do yoga. Yes I am. Really. Any minute now...
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Because We're Human
I get a LOT of traffic from my P90X review I did about a year ago. A lot of people are looking for unbiased reviews of systems and plans out there for fitness and weightloss (especially weightloss.) Some of the people, when they see I've engaged in multiple plans, have lost a lot of weight, and am a certified personal trainer expect a certain level of... perfection from me.
It's funny really, because I'm probably the most imperfect person I know. What seems to have tipped the scales of expectation is becoming a personal trainer. I'm not sure what I thought about personal trainers back when I was obese. They were kind of like unicorns or fairies to me - mythical creatures that I wasn't sure if I believed in (and they kind of scared me. There was no one I felt more like a failure around than a personal trainer when I was obese.)
I ended up becoming a personal trainer because I was searching for information. I found weightloss and fitness, nutrition and balance such elusive concepts in the mass media - well, it ticked me off. I felt like the world was dancing around with various carrots in front of my face, making promises, and then jerking the prize out of my reach with a "for only 100 payments of 19.95!"
WHY? Why does fitness and health have to be held hostage with a price tag? Why was it so hard to find the answer? Why were there SO MANY answers, and so many of them that disagreed with the others? Which ones were right? And was it only for the perfect fit people, or the ones who had been athletes "back in the day"? Because I am not one of them.
I was on a jump-rope team when I was 11, and that was it. In Jr. High they banned girls from sports except cheerleading (and lets face it, me as a cheerleader is frightening on so many levels.) In high school they DID allow girls into sports - but only if you had played it in Jr. High, otherwise you weren't even allowed to try out. Yes, totally unfair. No, I didn't grow up in the 50's (I'm 32,) I just had jerks for instructors.
By that time, though - I had accepted that athletically I was decidedly UNgifted. This is still true to this day. Yes, I ran a WHOLE marathon (26.2 miles, to prove to myself it could be done) but I was S-L-O-W, we're talking six hours of slow. My feet often go in opposite directions. I can trip over invisible flecks of dust. If I was in an aerobics class, I always made sure I was not by a window just in case I ended up grapevining my way through it. Thank goodness coordination is not a requirement for being fit!
I was doing really stupid things early on in my "fitness journey." Of course, back then it was only a "weight-loss journey." Skipping meals, because I thought that eating as little as possible was what women were supposed to do. Working out way too much (we're talking hours and hours) because that was supposed to be key - and not weightlifting, but cardio. They always tell fat people that it's about the cardio. cardio cardio cardio cardiocardiocardaio.... GAH!
It's not about the cardio.
I did Weight Watchers, Slimfast, a couple I don't even remember the names of, not eating, cardio out my ears, personal trainers - who each had a different take and lots of cardio to prescribe, and even tae-bo (which isn't horrible or anything, but it was just more exercise that I dumped in and couldn't take me all the way to my goals.) Finally, desperate, skipping meals, working out like a fiend, and honestly not feeling all that great, I spoke with someone who pointed me towards the book Body For Life. Do I think it's the end all and be all of programs? No, I don't. But I credit it with showing me that women can and should be lifting weights. Not little pink dumbbells weighing the same as your toothbrush, but heavy weights. It also showed me that not only could I eat, I MUST EAT.
Guys probably don't understand this at all, but to most women - finding out that you must eat enough and lift heavy weights is earth-shaking. So, I figured if that was true, what else was and what wasn't? I hit the books. I did the library circuit, read medical texts, nutritional textbooks (I went for the university textbooks, not the fads out there on the shelves.) It was important to me that I know WHY something is, because I'd had enough of people telling me what their opinions were. I figured out the nutritional aspects of it - no I'm not a dietitian or a nutritionist, but I do understand how different nutrients and foods work within the body, as well as understanding that it works differently for everyone as well (on a smaller level.) I then wanted to figure out the fitness side, so I found a good personal training program - there are many - and studied for six months, learned a lot, and passed my certification.
My intention wasn't to train others, it was to learn. If people wanted me to train them, I had no problem with that - though I didn't charge very much for two reasons. The first is that I don't like that fitness seems accessible only through money, because I don't have excess cash and neither do most people. The second is that while I enjoy health and fitness, it's not my career. My career is an artist. Fitness is an aspect of who I am, but it is not the whole. You cannot be healthy without paying attention to the whole of who you are. Your fitness is important, but so is everything else. It's part of why I pretty much stopped training people for a while, I decided that school was more important and returned to get a different degree - this is being fit on a different level.
It's that everything else that can trip you up. EVEN personal trainers. We all have bad days. Bad weeks. Bad months. Bad years. As much as I may have wished it, I didn't become plastic when I received my certification. My emotions didn't evaporate. My bad coping habits didn't fade into non-existence. I have never smoked, but I have heard others speak about how 20 years after quiting, every now and then they still want to smoke. Well, no matter how much knowledge I gain, there are times I still want to swim in a vat of Ben & Jerry's cookie dough ice cream. And lets face it, you must eat to survive which puts you in dangerous territory all the time that without the right skills, you succumb to the easy instead of the healthy.
All those carrots being dangled, ignore them. The truth is that you have building blocks to work with. You have to decide what your goals are and stack them up block by block. I want to be strong and healthy, I want to feel good. Whatever. So you stack your blocks of nutrition, exercise, alternative coping strategies, and so on. But once in place they can be knocked down. The person who can call themselves truly fit isn't the one with the highest tower of blocks, it's the one who can RE-stack them after they have fallen down, over and over again. Because they WILL fall down, even for personal trainers and exercise gurus.
So, when you see me trying to fight off that 10 lbs I gained back - it's not because I don't have the knowledge. It's because I let my bad coping skills (I'm a stress-eater, sometimes I fall back into the habit) get in the way of immediately restacking the blocks. When you see me ticked off about having to go exercise, it isn't because I'm giving up or letting anyone down. It's because I'm human, and I'd rather be reading a book or watching television just like anyone else.
What makes me fit is the fact that I keep trying. I work out six days a week without fail (except when ill, or on vacation.) I can honestly tell you that while you probably won't like it any more than you do now, you DO become used to exercise. It becomes part of your day, part of who you are. It is not hard to go and exercise, not really. But it doesn't mean you will sit there saying "this is just the best thing ever!" But you are better for it every day, and you know it. There is a moment that comes when you are sweaty and tired and breathing hard afterwards when you sit in perfect silence and know that you have done well. That is what makes it worth it. That is what makes you fit.
Likewise, with food - the longer you eat healthy, the more accustomed to it you become. What starts out as not tasting all that great becomes preferred. Yes, really. Will you pick those perfect foods over your favorites every time? Nope. But I will tell you this: those favorites taste EVEN better when you are eating healthy and treat them as the indulgences they truly are. Do you fall back into old (easy, not the best choices) eating habits? Yes, they always lurk, because our society is stuffed to the seams with easy choices. It will always be up to you to make the right one, and that won't always happen. But it doesn't have to be the end of everything.
Being human is about two things. It's about messing up, absolutely. But it's also about picking yourself back up and moving forward. I don't know who made the quote, and it's not accurate either as I'm just spouting it off, but I like it: "It's OK to fall, just make sure you fall forward."
I'm a personal trainer. But I am also a human being. I fall down, all the time. I'm simply working on falling forward just like everyone else.
It's funny really, because I'm probably the most imperfect person I know. What seems to have tipped the scales of expectation is becoming a personal trainer. I'm not sure what I thought about personal trainers back when I was obese. They were kind of like unicorns or fairies to me - mythical creatures that I wasn't sure if I believed in (and they kind of scared me. There was no one I felt more like a failure around than a personal trainer when I was obese.)
I ended up becoming a personal trainer because I was searching for information. I found weightloss and fitness, nutrition and balance such elusive concepts in the mass media - well, it ticked me off. I felt like the world was dancing around with various carrots in front of my face, making promises, and then jerking the prize out of my reach with a "for only 100 payments of 19.95!"
WHY? Why does fitness and health have to be held hostage with a price tag? Why was it so hard to find the answer? Why were there SO MANY answers, and so many of them that disagreed with the others? Which ones were right? And was it only for the perfect fit people, or the ones who had been athletes "back in the day"? Because I am not one of them.
I was on a jump-rope team when I was 11, and that was it. In Jr. High they banned girls from sports except cheerleading (and lets face it, me as a cheerleader is frightening on so many levels.) In high school they DID allow girls into sports - but only if you had played it in Jr. High, otherwise you weren't even allowed to try out. Yes, totally unfair. No, I didn't grow up in the 50's (I'm 32,) I just had jerks for instructors.
By that time, though - I had accepted that athletically I was decidedly UNgifted. This is still true to this day. Yes, I ran a WHOLE marathon (26.2 miles, to prove to myself it could be done) but I was S-L-O-W, we're talking six hours of slow. My feet often go in opposite directions. I can trip over invisible flecks of dust. If I was in an aerobics class, I always made sure I was not by a window just in case I ended up grapevining my way through it. Thank goodness coordination is not a requirement for being fit!
I was doing really stupid things early on in my "fitness journey." Of course, back then it was only a "weight-loss journey." Skipping meals, because I thought that eating as little as possible was what women were supposed to do. Working out way too much (we're talking hours and hours) because that was supposed to be key - and not weightlifting, but cardio. They always tell fat people that it's about the cardio. cardio cardio cardio cardiocardiocardaio.... GAH!
It's not about the cardio.
I did Weight Watchers, Slimfast, a couple I don't even remember the names of, not eating, cardio out my ears, personal trainers - who each had a different take and lots of cardio to prescribe, and even tae-bo (which isn't horrible or anything, but it was just more exercise that I dumped in and couldn't take me all the way to my goals.) Finally, desperate, skipping meals, working out like a fiend, and honestly not feeling all that great, I spoke with someone who pointed me towards the book Body For Life. Do I think it's the end all and be all of programs? No, I don't. But I credit it with showing me that women can and should be lifting weights. Not little pink dumbbells weighing the same as your toothbrush, but heavy weights. It also showed me that not only could I eat, I MUST EAT.
Guys probably don't understand this at all, but to most women - finding out that you must eat enough and lift heavy weights is earth-shaking. So, I figured if that was true, what else was and what wasn't? I hit the books. I did the library circuit, read medical texts, nutritional textbooks (I went for the university textbooks, not the fads out there on the shelves.) It was important to me that I know WHY something is, because I'd had enough of people telling me what their opinions were. I figured out the nutritional aspects of it - no I'm not a dietitian or a nutritionist, but I do understand how different nutrients and foods work within the body, as well as understanding that it works differently for everyone as well (on a smaller level.) I then wanted to figure out the fitness side, so I found a good personal training program - there are many - and studied for six months, learned a lot, and passed my certification.
My intention wasn't to train others, it was to learn. If people wanted me to train them, I had no problem with that - though I didn't charge very much for two reasons. The first is that I don't like that fitness seems accessible only through money, because I don't have excess cash and neither do most people. The second is that while I enjoy health and fitness, it's not my career. My career is an artist. Fitness is an aspect of who I am, but it is not the whole. You cannot be healthy without paying attention to the whole of who you are. Your fitness is important, but so is everything else. It's part of why I pretty much stopped training people for a while, I decided that school was more important and returned to get a different degree - this is being fit on a different level.
It's that everything else that can trip you up. EVEN personal trainers. We all have bad days. Bad weeks. Bad months. Bad years. As much as I may have wished it, I didn't become plastic when I received my certification. My emotions didn't evaporate. My bad coping habits didn't fade into non-existence. I have never smoked, but I have heard others speak about how 20 years after quiting, every now and then they still want to smoke. Well, no matter how much knowledge I gain, there are times I still want to swim in a vat of Ben & Jerry's cookie dough ice cream. And lets face it, you must eat to survive which puts you in dangerous territory all the time that without the right skills, you succumb to the easy instead of the healthy.
All those carrots being dangled, ignore them. The truth is that you have building blocks to work with. You have to decide what your goals are and stack them up block by block. I want to be strong and healthy, I want to feel good. Whatever. So you stack your blocks of nutrition, exercise, alternative coping strategies, and so on. But once in place they can be knocked down. The person who can call themselves truly fit isn't the one with the highest tower of blocks, it's the one who can RE-stack them after they have fallen down, over and over again. Because they WILL fall down, even for personal trainers and exercise gurus.
So, when you see me trying to fight off that 10 lbs I gained back - it's not because I don't have the knowledge. It's because I let my bad coping skills (I'm a stress-eater, sometimes I fall back into the habit) get in the way of immediately restacking the blocks. When you see me ticked off about having to go exercise, it isn't because I'm giving up or letting anyone down. It's because I'm human, and I'd rather be reading a book or watching television just like anyone else.
What makes me fit is the fact that I keep trying. I work out six days a week without fail (except when ill, or on vacation.) I can honestly tell you that while you probably won't like it any more than you do now, you DO become used to exercise. It becomes part of your day, part of who you are. It is not hard to go and exercise, not really. But it doesn't mean you will sit there saying "this is just the best thing ever!" But you are better for it every day, and you know it. There is a moment that comes when you are sweaty and tired and breathing hard afterwards when you sit in perfect silence and know that you have done well. That is what makes it worth it. That is what makes you fit.
Likewise, with food - the longer you eat healthy, the more accustomed to it you become. What starts out as not tasting all that great becomes preferred. Yes, really. Will you pick those perfect foods over your favorites every time? Nope. But I will tell you this: those favorites taste EVEN better when you are eating healthy and treat them as the indulgences they truly are. Do you fall back into old (easy, not the best choices) eating habits? Yes, they always lurk, because our society is stuffed to the seams with easy choices. It will always be up to you to make the right one, and that won't always happen. But it doesn't have to be the end of everything.
Being human is about two things. It's about messing up, absolutely. But it's also about picking yourself back up and moving forward. I don't know who made the quote, and it's not accurate either as I'm just spouting it off, but I like it: "It's OK to fall, just make sure you fall forward."
I'm a personal trainer. But I am also a human being. I fall down, all the time. I'm simply working on falling forward just like everyone else.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Change of Plans
I have changed my mind. I'm going to do another round of P90X starting Sunday. However, I'm going to probably NOT do it for the three weeks I am in AZ, and actually BE on vacation. Then again... I'll be at my parents, and I might be bored out of my mind. Heck, I may end up doing doubles at that rate...
Nah. I'll be in the swimming pool. Who am I kidding? So that's six solid weeks (a smidgen more) until I head out. We'll see what happens. I'm just in the mood to buckle down, and I'll have more time to spend on it after today. Still planning on my adventurous walks as well.
Will I take photos? No, because my STUPID camera is broken. But I'll track other things for the masses of the curious. ;)
Nah. I'll be in the swimming pool. Who am I kidding? So that's six solid weeks (a smidgen more) until I head out. We'll see what happens. I'm just in the mood to buckle down, and I'll have more time to spend on it after today. Still planning on my adventurous walks as well.
Will I take photos? No, because my STUPID camera is broken. But I'll track other things for the masses of the curious. ;)
Friday, May 04, 2007
Stumbling To Keep Up
I missed my workout this morning, because everything has just been insane. I had two of my finals today, which I took - but blah. I had to race back home to take my son to the doctor (which you can read about on my other blog) and it turns out he has strep and scarlet fever.
My daughter also has her big play performance tonight. I feel like I have way too much on my plate. I didn't sleep well last night, and I went in early this morning to get in review time for the big final (which didn't work out so well owing to the smelly traffic jam,) and I even forgot to bring anything to eat.
I think it's official. I have lost my very last marble. The upside? Nothing is rattling around in there anymore. Without that marble there is peaceful silence.
I'm really looking forward to being out of school. I decided that I'm going to put off P90X for a bit. I'm going to stick with my HIIT and weight training, and add in a multi-mile walk as many days as it's not raining until the kids are out of school (it gives me about a month.) Then, we'll see.
I have also decided to dive into my paintings and finish everything I can. Including the new one I started without finishing the others. Maybe this doesn't sound fitness oriented, but for me it's one more string that is untied and bugs me. It adds to the imbalance I feel, which throws everything off. It helps lower my resistance to buying discounted bread on Wednesdays. OK, not rea
My daughter also has her big play performance tonight. I feel like I have way too much on my plate. I didn't sleep well last night, and I went in early this morning to get in review time for the big final (which didn't work out so well owing to the smelly traffic jam,) and I even forgot to bring anything to eat.
I think it's official. I have lost my very last marble. The upside? Nothing is rattling around in there anymore. Without that marble there is peaceful silence.
I'm really looking forward to being out of school. I decided that I'm going to put off P90X for a bit. I'm going to stick with my HIIT and weight training, and add in a multi-mile walk as many days as it's not raining until the kids are out of school (it gives me about a month.) Then, we'll see.
I have also decided to dive into my paintings and finish everything I can. Including the new one I started without finishing the others. Maybe this doesn't sound fitness oriented, but for me it's one more string that is untied and bugs me. It adds to the imbalance I feel, which throws everything off. It helps lower my resistance to buying discounted bread on Wednesdays. OK, not rea