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27
Dec
12

That Space in Between

By garagegym107 8 Comments
Categories: Nutritional Cleanse Experiment
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Today I find myself sitting in that space between Christmas and New Year’s.  You know, that space where most people sit around nibbling on the goodness left over from Christmas while in wait for the celebration of New Year’s.

For some folks, that space in between is the black hole of every excuse under the sun for throwing months of hard work away with that “I might as well wait (weight) until the new year starts”. 

How about committing to yourself to not waste (waist) these next few days with that mindset.  You know who you are.  Especially those who are totally out of the normal routine.  Trust me, your routine is calling you just as loudly as those left-over treats.  In fact your routine is probably calling you just a tad bit louder.

You know you want to feel good.  So get up and moving.  Throw that crap out, in the trash can, down the disposal, whatever it takes. 

We are brought up not to waste food.  If someone gave it to you, throw it out.  If the person that gave it to you truly knows you and knows what your goals are, they won’t care if you throw it out.  If they get upset, then ask yourself what their true intentions are.   Because trust me, it is your goal at stake.  Not theirs.

This two-week sprint through the holidays is not about moderation.  If you ate treats in moderation for two solid weeks, then really, is moderation truly the ultimate goal?

Get your food cleaned up and get on with your goals.   Goals, you know, those things you set long before the treats of the season started showing up in every nook and cranny.

Get on with bringing your mojo back!  You know you want it!

go after it

 

28
Nov
12

A Set Back Is Not An Obstacle

By garagegym107 5 Comments
Categories: Morphing of a Fit Woman
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I’ve read a lot of posts over the Thanksgiving weekend and on in to this week.  So much so that I felt the need to hold off on posting a new blog until I could really say something.

You see, I’ve been where so many people are today.  The holiday season becomes such an obstacle for people who struggle with food.  They tend to lose all sight of their personal goals and simply exist through the holiday season almost as if they have no control over the outcome.  Phhhfffttt. 

Having a work function one day, a group of friends celebrating another day, a holiday party on the weekend, not to mention the blended family chaos that comes for some of us.  Kids can’t be here then so we will celebrate again with them, etc.  These all turn in to excuses to forget your commitment to self.

It’s so easy to get caught up and just throw in the towel at the first tiny set-back.  That little set-back snowballs out of control and becomes the obstacle.  The daily effort now becomes a huge mental hurdle so the average or uncommitted person will say “well the damage is going to be horrible so just forget it until the new year”.  

First off, don’t allow your small set-back to grow.  Isolate the incident, remember your goals and keep yourself on the clean rails the remainder of the day.

Secondly, remember that it truly is ok to say no, whether its to a drink, an appetizer, a fancy schmancy dinner or that tin full of goodness someone dropped off at your desk.    Live this season guilt free.  You didn’t ask for that tin of goodies, so don’t feel guilty for putting it in the break room at work, just do it.

I’m not saying you should go without a treat or two.  There is a huge difference between a treat or two and throwing in towel for the whole holiday season. 

It is much easier to stay conscious of where you are and what your goals are than it is to back slide and then be faced with re-digging the whole you’ve already cleared. 

Stay the course and don’t let a set-back become your obstacle!

 

19
Nov
12

Helpful Hints For The Holidays

By garagegym107 4 Comments
Categories: Living Fit Daily
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

The following is a blog of things I’ve learned over the course of my journey that keep me mostly on task over the holidays.

At the close of December 2009 I had been eating clean 6 days on 1 meal off for the entire year.  As the holidays closed in I was doing really well. 

Then I found myself sitting in my office listening.  My office is literally 5 feet from the department kitchen.  I work in procurement, suppliers love to bring holiday fare in to the procurement department.

I sat there one day after listening to people ohh and ahh over the delectable treats that had been brought in.  Back then I wasn’t to the point I am today, back then I still straddled the “why me” fence.

I got up from my desk and walked in to my male co-workers office.  He knew I was not having the treats, but he had no idea how difficult that particular day was.  I quietly cried as I explained to him how difficult it was to listen to all of the exclamations of delight.  He looked at me with a brotherly affection and winked and said “just remember why you are doing what you are doing” and I got up and headed back to my office and as I passed the kitchen, I reminded myself of my goals.

That very same holiday season I was sitting in the chair on New Year’s Eve and realized that I wasn’t frantically cleaning things out in an effort to pave the way for a new diet resolution.  I realized that finally I had truly changed.

Helpful Hints:

Keep yourself in check the days leading up to and the days after the event.  Holidays are generally only for one given day.  You know  if I’m talking to you…   😉

Why not run a local Turkey Trot?  Most cities have them early on Thanksgiving morning and you can run and go home and be done with fitness for the day.  If not, do some push-ups, sit-ups and air squats for 20 minutes first thing in the morning and then you are finished.

Wear your tightest blue jeans or dress pants to whatever dinner you attend.  You’ll get this mid-meal.

Drink more water than you usually do.

Don’t use the words “I’m on a diet” to your friends and family. It’s the holiday season, they don’t need to be bored with your superstar goals.  Eat the way you should and don’t profess your awesomeness to anyone other than yourself in the mirror.

Don’t nibble.  You don’t need the extra calories.  Eat clean at ALL meals you are in full control of.

Try having soup for dinner the night after your festivities or lunch if your family does the evening meal.

Remember these meals are not your last supper.  Eat and enjoy but there really is no need to gorge yourself.

 

 

 

 

 

16
Nov
12

No One Walks In Your Shoes

By garagegym107 21 Comments
Categories: Morphing of a Fit Woman
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Friday Fun!  Now dance like a Boss!

Yesterday I found myself rather overcome with emotion the minute I set foot in Garagegym107.  There is powerful MOJO associated with this place.  I don’t question things in life that bring me joy and helping others surely does that.

Highlights from this week:

Two people commented on the progress one of the ladies that works out with me on the parking deck at work.  Progress being noted by people not working out.  Love.

One of the ladies that works out said “I see definition in my legs and I like it”.  Small pleasures!

The old man in the gym who now waves at me every morning after I commented to him that I missed him this last few days.  Just being noticed that you’ve been missed motivates some.

My friend said to me “treat yourself as good as you do your best friends”.

I got to speak to a group of women about nutrition.  Now they realize we all struggle at some point.  Realize that your journey is only about you.  What’s right for you may not be right for another.  Do not criticize their way because it’s not your way.  Respect our differences.

 

 

 

 

12
Nov
12

The Fat Chick In My Head

By garagegym107 5 Comments
Categories: Morphing of a Fit Woman
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Today I had a visit from my old friend, the fat chick in my head.  The old me.  As I stood in the gym during my lunch hour she decided to pay me a visit.  She doesn’t come around as often as she used to.    As I stood there looking in the mirror, she said to me “I know you can see me” and in all honesty she was right.  I could see images of the old me flash in my mind.  Times when I wasn’t so comfortable in the gym, times that I wept thinking I would never get the weight off.

The fat chick in my head will always be a part of me, but she will never again be all of me. 

The days she shows up in the gym are few and far between.  It’s doubt that I might not get where I want to be.  It’s a reminder that in order to achieve what I want there must be sacrifice willingly given.  It’s a status check above all else.

Perhaps it’s just the fat chick looking for the long-awaited gratitude for looking out for me and keeping me safe all of those years.   So thank you for that.

I’ve got it from here, I promise you can trust me now.

08
Nov
12

Body Image

By garagegym107 Leave a Comment
Categories: Morphing of a Fit Woman
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I talk to a lot of women.  Both young and a little further along in their young.  Women who are fit and some who are just starting their journey.  The most common thread I find that intertwines all of us are body image issues.  Seriously, I have some BEAUTIFUL friends that allow themselves to see only their own perceived flaws.

Having traveled the journey I’ve traveled I have a whole bunch of stuff that I could go on about.  Sure, some of them I’m darned tempted to surgically change, I mean really.  You don’t go from 328 down to 165 without a thing or two hanging around.  But that’s not what I’m talking about today.

Today I want to talk about embracing your body for the things you don’t see…yet.

Over the past 12 years there have been numerous things I’ve wanted to change about my body.  I’ve worked really hard to change them.  Some have changed, some have not.  Ironically, the one thing I wanted to change the most still hasn’t really changed much at all. 

I have a friend who suggested that instead of constantly focusing on what I want to change, that perhaps I should focus on what is good about my body instead. 

Great things happened over the course of the following months.  Each day I would write down 5 things that I appreciated about my body with the one rule that I couldn’t repeat the same thing.

For example I have very wide clavicles.  I had someone say to me “I’d love to have your clavicles”.  Hmm who knew.

This exercise taught me to love things I’d never even paid any attention to and to not be so very critical of my own flaws.  You can bet there is someone out there right now that wishes they could be where you are today.

So start that little exercise today.  Write down 5 things you truly appreciate about your body.  If you can’t think of 5 try harder.  The way you look isn’t all that matters.

On a completely different topic, here is my friend Caroline rockin’ the GG107 sweat shirt.  She lives in Washington state and reads my blog and talks to me on FB and lets me send her son cotton fresh from the fields of Alabama.  Thank you Caroline!

aka RockStar

07
Nov
12

Getting Lost To Find Yourself

By garagegym107 4 Comments
Categories: Morphing of a Fit Woman
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Funny how folks allow an event to alter their daily lives even when it is totally out of their own control.  I’ve seen more morose faces today than I care to.  But this is life and I’m going to live it.

There are several highlights already happening in my day.

I watched a beautiful sunrise this morning after successfully hang squat cleaning 100# for 5 sets of 5 reps. 

I worked out with a group of ladies at lunch that are all showing improvement.  They are happy about it.

I closed my office door and buried myself in my work while listening to music.  Thankfully I have a boss that understands on occasion I need to tune out interruption and focus.  Getting lost in music today was a blessing.

This song reminds me of when I was a young mother of three rambunctious little boys.  In fact this reminded me of the day the youngest got a Nerd candy stuck up his nose.

There are greater things in our lives happening everyday.  Choose to see the greatness.

05
Nov
12

Momentum Is Inside You

By garagegym107 2 Comments
Categories: Morphing of a Fit Woman
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

There are days in my fitness and nutrition where momentum is non-existent.  I mean literally, picking up a barbell and going through the movement with no momentum is hard, mentally.  

This morning I ran a few  minutes late getting to the gym.  Big deal, I was still there by 5:30am.   But my mental momentum wasn’t there the second I stepped in front of the barbell.  In fact it took a good ten minutes to warm up to the barbell.

As I got a little looser, the momentum started changing too.

The barbell seemed lighter, my badonkadonk seemed to go lower and the balance seemed to level out.

Squat snatching.  It is such a technical movement. 

A movement that has humbled me over and over again over the past 2.5 years.  Just when I thought I had it, I realized I was training in the realm of power snatch far more often than the squat snatch.  To the point I had literally begun to stop myself from squatting under the bar.  Needless to say, a very poor habit to develop.

This morning I did something that I rarely ever do anymore.  I put my ear buds in and listened to music while I was lifting.  Just me, the barbell, and the music. 

There is always music playing in the gym so it’s not like that part is new.  But this morning I literally closed my mind from distraction and lifted.  Over and over I lifted that barbell, slowly increasing the weight.   It felt good.  Really good.

Today I remembered why I love lifting a barbell.  Because I am able to.  For no other reason than that I am capable.

I have two friends who are injured and can’t lift.  Today I lifted for them as much as for myself.  Thinking each time I pulled that bar high against the front of my body that they would each do the same for me.  

Carol and Caroline…for you.

 

 

 

02
Nov
12

You Just Never Know

By garagegym107 4 Comments
Categories: Living Fit Daily
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I have a very small personal training business with only out-of-pocket money for equipment and so on.  That being said, I recently put together an order for some cool Garagegym107 sweat shirts (special order only).   I must say I have been very humbled by the ladies who have gotten shirts.  Just the sheer fact that they are wearing my blog name on their back is humbling.

This morning in the gym, I was asked to order more shirts.  When I stop and think of the fact that my friends and family are willing to wear them I get all teary-eyed.  It is a very special thing for me.  You just never know who’s reading or who might be hearing a much needed message.

My little brother would probably laugh at me for being sappy.  But deep down he remembers how unhappy I was before I started my weight-loss journey. 

I want people to look at those shirts and google this blog from those fancy smart phones everyone has now-a-days and I want them to see the about tab.

I want people to know that this is me keeping it real and spreading the message that if you want to get fit YOU can.

If you want to beat the odds, YOU can.

If you want to take a step to a healthier life, YOU can. 

But the real kicker here  is YOU.

There are days that this journey isn’t easy, but it is always doable.  The statement “how bad do you want it?” is often used. 

For me it’s “How good do you want to feel today?”. 

For me that feeling good comes from doing the right things for me.  Whether that’s clean food, a hard workout, a free meal or a rest day.  Getting to the point of even understanding what your body needs takes time and patience.  But it’s so worth every single second and every tear you may shed.  Anything worth having is worth working for.

Everyday we go through this life just trying to live through it.  I ask you, what are you doing to really LIVE?

For now just keep moving forward.

 

 

 

26
Oct
12

Haters Gonna Hate

By garagegym107 6 Comments
Categories: Morphing of a Fit Woman
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I think too much.  Yes I do. 

Strange things happen that poke at me.  They also make me go hmmm.

Today while out on the parking deck working out with the crew someone left an anabolic steroid catalog in my desk chair.  I’m sure they were just being funny because that what’s people do when they think they will get your goat.

I’ve got my own goats, I don’t need their help with them. 

I posted that little quote “I’m not strong for my age. I’m just strong” evidently there’s a bit of truth to that.  🙂

Good for me.

Over the course of changing my life from being just a total train wreck to being a fit woman, there have been many haters along the way.

The funny thing about that is I didn’t realize that those haters could come in the form of people who I thought really mattered in my life.  So keep this in mind if your journey is just beginning.

It wasn’t until I began saying no to the buffet lunches, the weekly happy hours, the business lunches of pizza and the monthly birthday cake club did the original haters first appear.  I don’t hesitate to take my own food in to any training session now.  Once people got used to me being different, it became a non-issue.  This goes back many years and even a past job.  I am not the food police, I don’t criticize what others are doing.  That is not my place.

It took me a very long time to realize that choosing to be healthy has a tendency to make those who choose not to feel guilty.  Whether they ever admit it or not.  At first it bothered me but not any more.  Let ’em hate. 

I eat clean food, I work out 5-6 six times per week and I’m perfectly happy with it.  Not to mention that I am a much better wife, mother and employee.  Does that mean I hate on peeps who choose not to?  Absolutely not.  Remember I’m married to the Junk Food King.  He was that way when I married him, I changed.  I don’t expect him to, if he wants to he will.  He’s a grown man.

Back to the catalog left in my chair.  What most people I work with don’t realize is that I get up at 4:30am Monday thru Friday and I march myself in to the gym and I devote time to working hard on my body.  Whether it is Olympic lifting, body building or metabolic condition, I’m working HARD while most of my peers are sleeping, both male and female.

That’s a choice.  I’ve made mine and my choice is clean eating and working my butt off. Literally.

 

 

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