Personal Training NYC ClientA

So this past Thursday I ran in the JPM Corporate Challenge. I have never actually participated in a race before, and I never run. To say I hate running would be generous. I was definitely nervous; and not just because it was like 85% humidity. I really wanted to finish and try to run as much as I possibly could.

Having never done a race before I actually lined up at the pace I thought I would run-between the 10 and 12 minute mile. For the record- no one else does this. Even the self-professed walkers were starting at the 7 minute mile so 6 minutes after the starting gun, when I actually got to the starting line, it was more about dodging and weaving through walkers than running. However, as more and more runners turned in to walkers, things started to thin out a bit. There were many times I was getting tired, but instead of resorting to a walk I would just slow down my pace quite a bit, especially for the hills. I’m proud to say I only walked once, and I limited it to only 30 seconds. I finished with a decent time, in my book anyway, and just felt extremely proud to have pretty much run the whole way and not given up.

Three days later, however, I am not so proud of my performance. I went out of town this weekend and basically ate every bad food imaginable. Thinking about it, I realize I haven’t fully committed my time and more important, my energy towards my fitness goals since January. In January, I promised myself that I would be as close to “perfect” as I possibly could. I would make sure I worked out 5 times a week and be very conscious when it came to healthy eating. I also promised myself that if I didn’t see results, I was done. I mean, if I did most everything right and still didn’t see progress, what was the point? However, sure enough, not only did I get my best results to date, but I also felt great. I felt empowered and in control and so happy about my body and my choices. I feel now, that I have slacked off bit by bit since then. One thing it to have a period where I don’t make any forward progress. Another thing is to actually take a step back and start undoing all the hard work I’ve done.

So basically, I need another January. I feel myself getting back into old habits and old mindsets that didn’t make me happy. I need to get back to the gameplan that worked and was working before I started to slack off. For the next four weeks I commit to working out 5 days a week. I commit to eating healthy and making the right choices. I know that this is going to be a lot harder in July than January though. WIth nice weather, more BBQs, more going out, more everything, it is going to take a lot more discipline to make it this time. But, right now, I feel like I’m at a crossroads. I can push through and continue to head towards something I really want or I can continue to slack and get back to where I was, which is a place I don’t want to be. I realize it is not too late. I’ve finally reached the point that in the past I’ve given up, but this time I won’t. Now I know what it takes, I know that it works and I know I have to keep trying.

So I went to a work event last night and got a rocket size load of inspiration and motivation by the ridiculously flat and toned abs of Beyonce. I was standing about three feet away from her during her entire concert at this charity event and all I have to say is that she looked amazing. Her legs were completely toned and when she did her signature booty shake, let’s just say, there wasn’t much shaking. Her stomach looked rock hard, but still looked feminine and sexy. All I can really say is, “wow!”

However, pretty much all celebrities have pretty fantastic figures, but for some reason seeing Beyonce looking so fit really inspired me. I think she comes across as a person that isn’t just genetically blessed (I mean aside from a beautiful face and incredible voice, that is). It looks like she really does have to work out and made the right choices to have a body like that. As fit and toned as she looked on stage, there is no way she has achieved that without many long, hard hours in the gym. Sure, it is almost her job to look good, but the point is that she has to work at it and she has been working at it. It is by far the best I think she’s ever looked. Just by seeing her, it made me really want to push myself harder and start getting closer to my best. I know that I have improved my body and my overall fitness a bunch over this past year, but there is so much more I can do. There is so much more progress I can make. Sometimes you just need a very visual and blatant reminder of what it is you are working toward.

So basically, I want those killer abs and I realize that now, thanks to these months training with Terri, I can asnwer the How? Thanks to Beyonce, though, I can remember the Why?

So I have returned from Mexico.

It was so great to be on vacation, but I really do feel ready to get back to work and working out. While I was there I worked out three times! I did cardio all three days and then I also did weights with arms one day and worked my legs with the ball a different day. I am very proud of myself for going, though I will say that my hotel made it pretty easy with such a great gym.

I have Terri tonight and I definitely feel ready to get back into the swing of things and really start pushing myself again. After a week basically living in a bikini, I feel good about my body, but also ready to push to the next level. I know that I have a ton of things to still work on, but I feel that I will be coming at it from a much more positive place.

I’m not mentally exhausted right now, I’m not stressed, so I don’t have those excuses for not working out and I really don’t even feel any need to use an excuse. I feel ready to put in the time and am excited for new progress.

When I was lifting weights at the hotel I definitely saw a bunch of the other guys checking out the amount of weight I was lifting, my exercises and my reps. I could tell they were impressed and once I starting thinking about it, I realized I was too! I’ve definitely come a long way and am so much stronger than I was before and than I’ve been giving myself credit for. Taking a break from “life” definitely helped motivate me again. I was on vacation, a time when I didn’t have to do anything I didn’t want to, so the fact that I did choose to work out and that I’m coming back excited to start again just drove home the fact that this really is something that is important to me and that I’m willing to fully commit to.

So I had a workout with Terri this morning. I’m really not a morning person so these morning sessions have not been fun, but since I’ve been so busy after work I’ve had to make the sacrifice. The thing is, though, that I really feel so much better heading into my day after working out. I have a ton more energy and am really awake and seem to miss my mid-afternoon crash. With that said, however, I will be happy to go back to my evening times.

So tomorrow I leave for Acapulco. I am so excited because I desperately need a vacation and I’m almost glad I had the worst day ever today at work becuase now I’ll appreciate the break even more (is that possible). I’ve worked out hte last three days, two days with Terri and one on my own, and I kind of feel like I’m on a roll. Sure its only three days, but mentally I feel like I’m getting back into things. So, with vacation coming up I really would like to work out while I’m down there. I’m setting a goal of hitting the gym a minimum of three times while I’m down there. I think that if I can make that happen, while on vacation no less, I will really have mentally gotten back to where I need to be.

Also, I’m not dreading being in a bikini and summer is really just starting so I have every incentive to keep focused and make this work.

So, last post for a little while. I guess we’ll see how I did when I get back. posted by Flab to Fab

So at work today, one of my colleagues said I was looked thin and wanted to know what I’d been doing. Yesterday I got a similar comment. Sure, flattery is always nice and compliments are always welcome, but this time I wasn’t just flattered or even pleased but suprised. Mainly by the fact that I’ve completely lost my perspective.

When you are working towards a larger, long term goal it is so easy to get caught up in the the day to day and harp on small mistakes. For instance today- I have on a pair of khaki pants and all morning all I could think about was how fat I thought I looked. The only thing that saved me from being totally unhappy with my look is a great pair of gold shoes I got on sale, but I digress. Basically, I’ve been thinking about this all morning, that I look fat, especially going outside and seeing all these “thin” people in their “tiny” outfits. I’ve been thinking about the times I didn’t go to the gym, and that extra cookie I ate on this day, the second helping on that day, etc.

But then I get a reality check from an unexpected source. One sincerely given compliment made me shake myself and step back a bit. Instead of thinking about all the things I’ve done wrong and didn’t do I should be congratulating myself on the progress I’ve made and all the positive things. Or, even better, maybe I should just stop thinking about it altogether!

I mean, every morning as I get dressed I pass by my full length mirror and inevitably I start to take things in with a critical eye. Does my thigh look bigger, does my back seem to have more fat, didn’t my butt look smaller a couple of weeks ago and on and on. Basically it is driving me crazy. I’m constantly checking myself and watching for lack of progress or setbacks. The thing is, I know that by expecting these things I will probably end up making them happen. So, starting today, I’m shutting off the INSANE girl part of my brain. Yes, this is easier said than done, but as a fairly well adjusted person (usually), I have confidence that I can quiet, if not completely silence that insecure, annoying, about to drive me crazy little voice in my head that is almost waiting for me to fail.

They always that “you” are your worst opponent. I guess I’m just finally deciding that my opponent is a bitch and it’s about time she shut up. posted by Flab to Fab