fitness

The Journey Does Not End

First off, I just love this song. Secondly, because I don’t really watch much TV any more and I didn’t know anyone still made videos, I had no idea that this existed. I also don’t watch movies so I don’t even know what, if any, movie this is from. Plus, it just went along with today’s theme.

And what is today’s theme, ladies and gentlemen? Why, fitness, of course. And I don’t mean fitness this whole slice of pizza in my mouth. I’ve been active ever since childhood. I come from that generation where in the summer, you got up early, ran around the neighborhood playing hard all day, probably stopped for a snack at some point but maybe not because there was just too much playing to do, and went home before the streetlights came on. Weight wasn’t something I ever thought about and that’s a good thing. Flexibility is also something I never thought about. That is not a good thing.

In early adulthood, I worked in a lot of jobs that kept me on my feet, be it working outside or working in a restaurant. That was in the days before Fitbit. I can only imagine how many Fitbits restaurant warriors are going through these days (or pre/post pandemic). Again, never thought about exercise. When I moved on from restaurants but stayed within hospitality, I did slip up for a little bit and put on some pounds, but I lost it all again and kept it off because we were hella active in our roles.

Once I left hospitality and ventured into, eww, corporate America, I stopped moving around as much. There were work lunches and snacks and all kinds of crap. I slipped again. It was the fact that I was going to meet up with some old hospitality buddies that had me look at myself and say, “Oh girl, we better do something with *points to my body* all of this.” And so I did. I saw an infomercial for a program that looked like fun. It said that it was full of dance. I didn’t have to get on the floor. It didn’t take super long per workout. I pulled the trigger and ordered it. That program was Hip Hop Abs. And that was thirteen years ago.

Fast forward a couple years and I’m still doing the corporate America thing. I haven’t fallen off the deep end by any means, but I’m getting married soon and of course I want to be on top of my game. I was willing to do what it took. And what that took was a 12 week program called P90X. I looked fan-fucking-TASTIC on my wedding day. It’s true!

Hawt

For a while I rotated between the programs I had. Then I joined a gym because it was SUPER cheap through my job for a REALLY nice gym. I stopped lifting weights and instead went to Zumba twice a week in the evenings and did yoga for 75 minutes three times a week. And pole, and trapeze, and hike in the summer and snowboard in the winter. Right, I was a little active.

I think it was about this time that I was introduced to Beachbody On Demand. I already knew that they had churned out a couple programs that I had already done. I saw that there were more programs by the people that I already had done their programs. That made it a pretty easy decision to go ahead and sign up. All of the signs were there: the per year cost was less than the gym even with the steep discount, no travel left a few more morning minutes, my favorite yoga instructor was leaving, I was already set up for a home gym that was collecting dust. It’s early 2017.

There is literally a plethora of programs that fit everyone and I’ve been running through them. I think I’ve gone through a total of 20 at this point, and they keep releasing programs. I’ll never be bored.

Over the time that I’ve been doing these programs, I’ve been on social media. Now and then I would post about doing one of the programs, and, inevitably, a Beachbody coach would reach out and ask me if I was interested in becoming a Beachbody coach too. Four years of no thank you to whomever asked, but I kept doing the programs.

Well, after all those asks, I finally said yes recently and now, I am a Beachbody coach. But what does that even mean? Truthfully, it means different things to different people. Some folks get in to have play money, some work at it to make it their full time job. I’ve heard people are making 6 figures at this. But that’s not it for me. I don’t care if I don’t make any money at all. I really don’t. I have a 9-5 that takes care of that. What I do want is to keep exercising and reaching my goals and I want to walk alongside you in your journey to do the same. I want to encourage you. I’ll kick you in the ass (virtually) if needed. You want me to nag you? I can. But none of it happens if you don’t take the first step and sign up.

Is it free? No, it isn’t. But it also isn’t over-the-top expensive. I bet that you go to Starbucks or McDonald’s or even WaWa twice a month. Yeah, so for the cost of that twice a month over the course of a year, you could be working out with me and a whole bunch of other people. You could be getting into the best shape you’ve been in for a while. You could be putting yourself into a position where, when you do go into Starbucks or McDonald’s, you won’t feel bad about it at all because it’s a treat from the work you’ve been putting in. And you’ll see results. You don’t need to be a slave to the scale. Your clothes will fit differently. You’ll have more energy. But you know, that’s just me talking after doing this for more than ten years.

Ok, last bit because I’ve gone and gotten long-winded. I just started as a coach and already, I have had an insanely cool opportunity. I got to chat with Shaun T, who created that first program I started with, Hip Hop Abs, and his hubby on their weekly Wine Night IG live. The fun levels are off the charts. So yeah, you could join me at the Virtual Fit Inn. Cuz the Fit Inn is where we get it in. And maybe one day you’ll be talking to a Beachbody trainer on IG live. Til then, lemme know if you’re ready to sweat. And here’s a chat screenshot.

Happy New Year….Yesterday

Hi there, 2013, you sexy beast.

Glad to be out of 2012.  The end of the year, by far, is the worst for me.  Not simply because I don’t actually enjoy the end-of-year holiday madness, but because I tend to get strapped for time and therefore lazy about my working out.  Inevitably, I start the year with the November/December fat pooch.  Ugh. 

BUT, that pooch can’t slow me down.  I’m going to punch it with cardio and ab work until it gives up and slinks away, oh I don’t know, maybe into my ass although probably not, but away from my midsection.  I might even have to attend a CrossFit class (you know who you are) although probably not because it doesn’t look 100% safe to me and I don’t want to look like a CrossFit chick.  I have enough problems with bulking up.  Anywho, this week has been a success so far.  This is blog post 2 of 3.  I’ve handled 1 of 2 weights days and 2 of 3 cardio days.  Still lots to do and lots to look forward to, but I’m feeling good.

I’m on a financial diet, even though the Hubby likes to remind me that we aren’t poor, to make up for the fact that I’m not on a food diet.  Screw that.  I’m not trying to be in a bodybuilding competition, I just want to be fit.  So fuck yeah, I’m having that cookie.  And I might eat its best friend also.  That’s how I do.  But in the realm of that financial diet (read: budget), I try considerably harder not to cheat.  I guess I’m a hoarder.  A money hoarder.  Just call me Scrooge McDuck.  (Duck Tales.  Woo Oooh.)

I’m turning over a new leaf.  I’m not going spending crazy by any means, but I am going to institute S4 or Second Saturday Spa Sessions.  One delicious, deep tissue, trigger point, get deeper, use your friggin elbow, if I’m not grunting you’re not deep enough massage per month.  A little treat to keep me focused on working out since this is my reward for staying on track.  This month, I’ll be trying a local place that has a chiropractor (although I already have one of those that I like) and masseuses that are more focused on rehabbing from injuries.  Hopefully they’ll be “the ones”.  If not, I have a couple of other places lined up to try.

In other news, part of the reason I’m fighting this pooch is the breadmaker that I got.  So far, I’m 4 loaves in and have yet to get one to come out that didn’t fall.  Fortunately, even when they do fall, they’re still yummy.  Or maybe that’s unfortunately.  Either way, I’m gonna keep trying until I get it right.  And when I do, I’ll be stoked to make all kinds of crazy yummy concoctions in there.  This is why I work out.  So I can eat bread and lots of it.

Hey, somebody remind me to post a picture or something of where I am with my splits progress, ok?  How else am I going to know if I’m getting anywhere or if I’m stuck in the same place I’ve been?  Thanks.  I knew I could count on you.

Well, I hate to write and run, but…actually I just hate to run.  See you Friday when I may bring back the ROCO Friday tradition.  Peace!

Walking Is Apparently Overrated

Or at least that’s what the instructor at the gym thought this evening.  He figured I didn’t need to use my legs to drive home (manual transmission), nor did I need my arms for the same.  And that’s why he beat the living hell out of us this evening.  And you know what?  It was awesome.

Have you ever gotten to that point when you’re working out where your brain says, “NO!”, but if you can just get that arm moving, that leg moving, then the rest of the body will override what the mind is thinking?  That’s where he took us.  No joke, people, I was almost crying in class – I was pushing that hard.  I may need to bathe myself in either you-bet-your-sweet-aspercreme or the blue emu oil after stretching and just hope for the best tomorrow.  Thank goodness for elevators.

But will I stop?  Will I rest tomorrow?  Oh, no, of course not because tomorrow is a day for flying.  Maybe Friday?  Nope.  Back to the gym.  What doesn’t kill me can only make me more sore.

Do you believe in signs?  That some greater force is trying to tell you something?  If there’s something out there, it slapped me in the face.  After I started thinking about needing to get into fitness as a possible source of income, the next day I was shown three different opportunities that were nice and close to the house.  Something else cool happened as well, but that’s not up for discussion right now.

This stretching isn’t going to handle itself, so I’m out.

The space-time continuum

Well then, happy Monday Voxers.

I feel as though I may have stepped into some time portal as it's already 2pm and I feel as though I've just recently arrived to work.  Now, this would be normal on a day where I was swamped with work, but today is not that day.  Time just keeps disappearing.  The time between meals evaporates like it wasn't there at all.  And on a non-related note, bouts of lightheadedness while sitting are just plain weird.

Weekends are just delicious, aren't they?  Yesterday, Lovey, Kiddo and I went over to the home of the new bride and groom for slideshows and videos (and burgers and beers and snacks, oh my tummy).  Great times had by all and we're going to work on having the get-together monthly.  Hooray!

Talks of the Park City vacation were in full swing, even though it's still 9 months away.  We all feel like it's been forever since we were there but it's only been 3 months.  We have more folks joining us this year which will make it either way more fun or a super pain in the ass, lol.

I found it rather amusing when, joking with another guest, she called me a bad mommy.  Kiddo got pretty pissed and said that I'm not a bad mommy, I'm a great mommy.  The other guest noted that she was just joking but Kiddo wasn't having any of that.  I guess I'm not doing such a bad job after all.

The 8th grade dance is on Friday.  I will post pictures later of Kiddo in her self-designed, MommaShyner-made dress.  Let me warn you now that the color scheme is rather outrageous.  The design itself is cute though.  Yet Kiddo has no desire to do anything in fashion.  Go figure.

The fitness bug is about to hit me again.  I know it's all about how my clothes fit and feeling healthy, but 136 pounds on a 5'1" frame just doesn't sound right.  I've got a lot of muscle mass that I can't get rid of. (If anyone knows a safe way to lose muscle mass, please let me know.)  So, it's Zumba mornings and once a week of LEM the Workout over at Body and Soul.  I got the most rockin deal ever on a Mother's Day promotion to get back to pole classes.  Regular price for the once a week, 90 minute class for 6 weeks and for free I got the punch card that allows me to go to as many classes as my body can take for 6 weeks.  AWESOME!  Now, if I could just find time for the trapeze and aerial classes, I'd be set.  Yeah, well, if I could find the money too.

Anywho, I've rambled enough.  Have a wonderful day everyone!

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