Uh oh! You said the "C" words...

So I have decided that I need a team of clones to get everything I need to get done in a day.  As you have read in Chelle’s blog the last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind for us.  We are talking crazy hectic schedules.  From Halloween to business to program to case study to butt kicking class (yes…..mine is sore today too) planning and execution, to say we are going a million miles an hour does not even begin to cover it. Oh, and just a side note,  did I mention that I am also currently learning how to play the piano on top of it all?  I actually just started not too long ago.  It is something that I have ALWAYS wanted to do and just recently decided to pursue it.  (Let it be known, that my goal is to be able to play the entire Billy Joel anthology) 

But, with all of the craziness, I have to say………Chelle and I are LOVING it!!!  I had no idea that in January of 2007, walking into the trainer’s office at Bally’s and meeting my new client, that I was meeting the person with which I would build a business, share my passion for health to others, and oh yeah….and also share my brain.   We are so grateful and appreciative of your support and input, without you all, we wouldn't be able to do what we do.  We are here for you and though it might be challenging, we are finding that it is the challenge that we thrive on to make us better.  We know that if we consistently push past the boundaries of our comfort zone we will adapt to the new boundaries of that zone getting us to where we want to ultimately be. 

CHALLENGE AND CONSISTENCY…These are great words aren’t they???  And they can be applied to so many different aspects in our lives.  In my mind they are two big keys to success in getting to a goal…especially a fitness goal.  First, you focus creating a realistic physical challenge for yourself as a step towards the overall goal….something that is going to force you a bit outside of what you are comfortable doing.  Our bodies, being extremely adaptable machines, are going to adjust to changes and challenges that we place on them.   Some examples of challenges we may set could include…..choosing different exercises for a workout, increasing the intensity of a workout, or increasing the duration of a workout.  By forcing the body to face a new challenge, you are going to invoke change! 

Consistency becomes important when you set out to conquer the challenge.  The nature of any challenge is, of course, meant to be hard at first.  It would not be called a challenge if it wasn’t.  Also, keep in mind that any new challenges presented in your program are inherently going to invoke change from the inside out.  You may not see immediate differences, but that does not mean that something is not working.  You have to stay consistent on your path for the adaptation process to happen.  The more consistent you are with the challenges you are trying to conquer the quicker you are to see the progress you desire.   Sometimes it takes time to see the changes you want. 

If you don’t stay consistent with working towards conquering your challenge, you run the risk of pacing back and forth on the same path without ever truly moving forward.  Don’t let this be the ingredient that allows you to deviate off of your path or stop you from moving completely.   Pay attention to the not so obvious signs that things are working…… These things may include feeling better, having more energy, lifting more weight, doing more pushups, and noticing that your clothes may be looser.  Acknowledge these signs as victories and allow them to further feed your drive to stay motivated and to continue to be even more consistent.   Eventually, without even blinking an eye, the challenge that was sooooooo hard before will be conquered.   Finally, and most importantly…..when you have conquered a challenge you have set for yourself….GET STARTED ON A NEW ONE!  HA!  Consistently set enough of these challenges and eventually it will only add up to one thing…….YOUR GOAL!

HOMEWORK.....Set up a new challenge for yourself today and let us know what it is!!!!!

Have a Great Thursday everyone!

When Your Body Betrays You (Pt. 2)...A Trainer’s Perspective

Before you read this post, I invite you to take a look at Part 1of this entry on Chelle's blog from today:

Recipe for Fitness:  When Your Body Betrays You - Part 1

This is not a hard post for me to write, and I dedicate it to EVERYONE that has ever had to fight through pain, fight through injury, been faced with physical challenges, and has had a perceived “bad” workout as a result. 

SCENARIO:  You go to the gym…ready and determined to give it your all…the mind is ready to push the body physically and then BAM!!!!!!!  The body says, “NO WAY!  FORGET IT! I am not on board for this today!”   You try and try, you modify, you stop and rest while running a through a gamut of emotions:  frustration, anger, disappointment, and sadness.  Through sheer mental determination and exhaustion you meagerly finish, hang your head and leave ticked off while mentally beating yourself up and feeling like you just wasted your time.  (I am not far off here am I???)

Now, what originally may seem like a bad workout may, in fact, turn out to be the workout of your life in disguise.  It all depends on how you focus your perspective and mindset.  Workouts are more than training and challenging the body.  You see, they also train and challenge the mind.  Every workout we experience involves a mind-body connection.  Regardless of whether or not the physical can keep up with the mental, by keeping your mental perspective focused and positive, you can’t lose.  Out of our weaknesses (both physical and mental) springs strength (if you let it).  The nature of a workout is to break our bodies down so that they when it repairs itself it can adapt and come back stronger, ready for the next challenge.  You cannot lose if you come out of a workout knowing in your mind, heart, and soul that you have given it everything you could that day.  If you can walk out of a workout and say to yourself….”Today I may not have been as strong as I have in the past, but I did not give up, I did everything I possibly could, and I left NOTHING on the table” I repeat…..YOU CANNOT LOSE.  You are still aloud to walk away from that workout with your held high, because in your heart you know you that even though it was not the physical exhaustion you were looking for, you have also just had one of the most mentally challenging workouts you could face.  Sometimes, this kind of workout is the best kind.  By having a day like this you have just helped condition and strengthen the mind.  As a result, the next time you are faced with these same challenges you are going to be even MORE prepared BOTH physically and mentally to charge forward and face it head on with even more determination and persistence.

Make no mistake about it….when it comes to working out, some days you are going to be the windshield, and some days you are going to be the bug….but regardless of what you are that day, there is ALWAYS something positive to take away. 

Don’t allow the mental game of one workout get you down and keep you from your dreams and your goals.  Use the challenge of that workout to fuel the fire for the next one.  Stay positive, stay strong, and stay focused.  LEAVE NOTHING ON THE TABLE TODAY!