Posts Tagged ‘nutrition



05
Feb
13

Be Beautiful

For ALL of the beautiful ladies in my life, I write this blog.  You know who you are, you are near and far.  The ones who, at the drop of a hat send a kind word or do a kind deed.  You are the ones that simply place a heart on my FB page.  You are the ones who send a card for no other reason than you want to make someone smile.

With all of the noise surrounding the perfection of  women, be it in the fitness industry, the beauty industry, the clothing industry, remember that we are each in our own way simply beautiful.

Imagine a world with no commercials or billboards bombarding you with thoughts of what you should be, how you should look, or telling you what material thing you should have before you consider yourself beautiful.

Get up tomorrow and let it all fade to black.  Find the beauty you were born with, IT IS IN YOU, I know, I’ve seen it with my own eyes and felt it with my own heart.   Be the beautiful women that you are!

Please take 3 minutes and 20 seconds and watch this video.   A huge shout out to Karen Walrond for posting this on You Tube.  And a huge thanks to my Precision Nutrition coach Jennifer Koslo for sharing this.

Please, please, share this with every beautiful woman that you know!

Beautiful

16
Jan
13

Coaching…Who Needs It?

As I work to better myself along my path as a trainer, I often ask myself “who needs coaching?”.   I firmly believe that everyone could use coaching.

Where am I going with this?  Further down my own path to become a great coach.  After struggling to reach a personal goal that I set for myself two years ago, I’ve decided to get some coaching.   The better my coaching, the better coach I will become.

I began studying for the Precision Nutrition Certification course 5 chapters ago.  As I’ve gone through the information I’ve had that nagging notion that I could use some coaching.

This past Monday I decided to embark upon a path of personal discovery by following Precision Nutrition’s Lean Eating Program.  Dr. Berardi is well-known in the field of nutrition.   I trust that with personal growth I can reach the goal I initially set.

The story starts here.  When Monday morning came, I had this awful discomfort.  That urge to duck and cover.  That told me clearly that I’ve chosen to do exactly what I need to do for ME.

There will be folks out there who know me who will think I’ve lost my ever-loving mind.  Well, perhaps maybe just maybe I will find the remainder of what has kept me from that long desired goal.  But even better, once I conquer this challenge I will be even more equipped to help others reach their goals.

This process is quite humbling.  Stats and measurements have been taken.  Before photo’s are never flattering because as they are being taken I am acknowledging that they are before another big personal change.  With change comes insecurity, with insecurity comes courage and growth.  I’ve got this.

Whatever lingering doubt I have will now be banished.  I am not finished yet.  I will update you guys periodically about my progress as I firmly believe that accountability and consistency above all else are key to successful change.

The journey of getting comfortable with uncomfortable has begun again.

Better than yesterday

 

 

 

 

 

 

09
Jan
13

The Power of Food

This post is dedicated to those who struggle with emotional/stress/OMG it is just so good food issues.

I was born and raised in what is now known as “the deep south”.  I’m not sure when we went from being the south to the deep south, but whatever.

In the south everything is celebrated with food.  Birthday’s, weddings, deaths and everything in between.  It’s just courtesy.  We want folks to feel the love and feeding them has always been the best way to do that.

I used to live by that same thought process.  Food fixed or healed everything.  That is so not true so banish that thought from your excuse list.

For some people there is an illusion that food has power.  BIG power.  They can’t have a small portion, piece or serving.  They end up plowing through multiple servings before they realize what they’ve done.

This is a perfect example of giving food power.  Notice I said giving the food power.

Food is simply food.  It is there for the nourishment of our bodies.  It is not there to defeat us, we do that on our own.

Some how we decide we are not worthy of greatness so we in turn, give over the power of our greatness to food instead.

There is absolutely no food that we can put in our mouth that will fix a broken heart, a broken relationship or broken self-esteem.

How do you break the cycle of giving your greatness over to food?

First there must be the acknowledgement that the fork doesn’t fly in to your mouth without your own assistance.

Secondly, when you start randomly grabbing this or that to eat mindlessly, it is usually because you want to become numb.  You give the food the power to make you forget, even if but for a very brief moment.

Phhhfffttt…that never works.  Food won’t fix anything, in fact it will likely make it worse.  That vicious cycle of eat bad, feel bad so I’ll eat more bad is a very tedious cycle to break.  That being said GET TEDIOUS right back with it.

You will find things that hold you back are often so much greater when you leave them stuck in your head.  Get them out of there.  Write them down and burn them if you don’t want anyone else to know.  Better yet, hold on to that notebook because one day you’ll have the ability to reach another person who may be struggling with what you have already overcome.

Each time you stop yourself from reaching for food to solve your problems, the more empowered you will become.

YES, you may have a set-back or twenty set-backs; just keep asking yourself the hard, painful questions and the result will start showing.

The only power food has is the power that you give it.

backwards

02
Jan
13

It Is Supposed Be Hard

As I got about halfway through an hour of rowing this morning, I started that little mantra in my head “Yes, it IS supposed to be hard and yes, you WILL finish this”…  Funny thing about this cardio thing, I’d rather lift weights all day than to do a cardio workout for an hour.  That being said, personal growth is found in discomfort.

Really, I’ve learned over the years that there is very little in the scheme of being fit that is truly easy.   I have realized though that I get stronger as time goes by.  

In the old days of battling for big losses, doing an hour of any type of cardio was mentally not possible.  I was lucky to get through 20 minutes. 

Who knew that 12 years later the battle for tiny losses would surpass the previous battles.  I love it.  Getting stronger and more fit is my end goal.  Both mentally and physically. 

As I pulled that rower handle over and over all sorts of things went through my mind.  I started out facing my garage door, then I jumped off the rower and turned it so I could face my Vision Wall (a wall in GG107 filled with memorabilia). I realized that it has been quite sometime since I’ve updated it.   It’s time for new motivating pictures and quotes.

Motivation isn’t always available in our endeavors.  Discipline must come in to play at some point.  It’s not always what I want to do and self-discipline is what pushes me to do what must be done.

Looking back over my journey, progress has never come when things are “fun”.  Progress comes after the most challenging discomfort.  Whether it was a personal struggle, work struggle or a fitness struggle there has always been growth during the greatest of challenges.

Hat Tip For Photo: Good Movies List.

Famous words of YODA: 

YODA

 

27
Dec
12

That Space in Between

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

 

21
Nov
12

Holi”DAY”

Ok now is when I keep it real.  I’ve talked about the helpful hints for the holiday and now I want to emphasize the meaning of the DAY in holiday.

So often people use the entire week to celebrate a holiday.  You know what?  That is just another one of those cooky comfortable excuses people like to use for over indulging.   Don’t do it.

Wallowing in several days of poor food choices can set you back by a couple of weeks.  Yes, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.  If you are going to start stuffing your face three days before the holiday and eat leftovers for three days after the holiday, you bet your fine-looking booty you will cost yourself two weeks worth of workouts in the gym.  

It’s a HOLIDAY.  Singular.  One day.  Behave.

That was one of the lessons I learned in the hard-fought battle to get and stay fit.  You don’t need a week to celebrate a day.  Yes, the options will be there, work, multiple family outings, etc.  I do realize that not everyone has the luxury to eat at one place so don’t get all up in a twist. 

Step back and look at your schedule and think about it a little ahead of time.  You can make better choices than to consider each gathering a grubfest.  I love food, I know what a grubfest is.  Remember, no appetizers, no nibbles. 

If you have grown kids, send the leftovers with them.  They will appreciate them more than you will.

Enjoy time spent with your family, even the cooky ones.  Someday you will look around and realize that even the cooky ones make the days special.

Have a blessed holiday!

 

 

16
Nov
12

No One Walks In Your Shoes

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

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.

05
Nov
12

Momentum Is Inside You

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.

 

 

 

05
Nov
12

Flash Cards

Just typing that subject reminds me that some things, no matter how old school, still work.

I spent a couple of hours getting caught up on making the flash cards for the key terms in the introduction and chapters 1 and 2.

Things are progressing along and each time I sit and study I am reminded that you are truly never too old to learn.  I’m also reminded that to pass, you must study.  I truly don’t believe I could fly through this material and nail the test.  It’s going to take hard work and discipline on my part.  It’s worth the work. 

It’s been years since I’ve had writer’s cramp.  Bring it ON!