FitFeat

Posts Tagged motivation

One Great Reason to Exercise Early

Sep 14

Posted by Shari B. in Keeping Fit | 5 Comments

Hi FitFeat friends!

Just popping in to say good morning and show you a few pics I snapped with my phone this morning on my way to (and during) the early morning client run.

On the way to the meet-up point, I was grumbling to myself about it being dark and feeling not quite awake enough for a run.  The view as I arrive in the parking lot:

But at the end of a session of fast downhill running and uphill sprint intervals, we were rewarded with this beautiful sight, which made it all worthwhile:

This is why working out first thing in the morning is AMAZING!  It works wonders on one’s attitude!

Tony Robbins tweeted this last night, which I had to share:

“When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry..show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile.” via Leo, a friend & a villager in Fiji

Hope you have a thousand reasons to smile today!

Back later with the Spicy Cheeseless Cheese Enchiladas recipe!

– Shari B. =)

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One for the Ladies…

Apr 8

Posted by Shari B. in FitFeature | 7 Comments

Good morning FitFeat friends!  Happy Friday-Eve!

Has anyone else had a weird week this week?  Mine has been just been “off”.   Is there a full moon or something?

I got some feedback that some of you ladies wanted me to proceed with a “You Know You’re PMS-ing When…” post.  Fellas out there, hope you don’t mind. Maybe this will shed some light on the female(s) in your life.  But if you men want to sign off now for this one, I don’t blame you!  ;)

I’ll tell ya right now, this post falls under the “TMI” category, but I think it will be helpful to create a discussion where we can all feel comfortable sharing our experiences and symptoms.

We all know the standard symptoms like the emotional rollercoaster and chocolate cravings.   But I get some other weird ones in addition.  Here is the list of the “other” PMS symptoms I’ve kept track of and now know to expect.

1.) Digestion and elimination: these slow way down for almost a full week leading up to the first day of my cycle.  The two days before we are talking serious traffic jam.  Almost ZERO movement. Then on the first day of my period, exact opposite.  We’re talking Audobon now in lieu of traffic jam.  Bizarre.  I know now to expect it and that’s a part of why in the Spring Slimdown I haven’t been bothered this past week by the lack of ‘weight loss’ because I knew what the ‘hold-up’ was.

2.) Sleep: usually one or two nights during my PMS I either have trouble falling asleep or trouble staying asleep.

3.) Creativity:I tend to have two or three days prior to my cycle where my mind is just GOING.  Tons of ideas running through my head, many of which seem to come to my during that night that I can’t get to sleep!

4.) Motivation swings: along with the creative juices, I get a HUGE motivation boost where I want to ACT on all those great ideas and I feel like I am superwoman and can conquer the world.  (Hmm, did I agree to marathon training during a PMS phase?)  Unfortunately this boost is followed by a dip where I feel like getting out of bed is just tough, let alone tackling things like exercise, cooking or implementing great ideas.  This usually is a day or two, and doesn’t necessarily always coincide with the night or two of poor sleep.  But I have to be really careful about making decisions during this ‘cycle’.  I think I’ve quit a few jobs during this ‘timeframe’ in the past, not to mention taken on new crazy projects.

5.) Body temperature swings: normally I run really cold anyway but I’m especially cold the day before and 2-3 days into my cycle.  During PMS time though, I experience a few moments where I’m actually WARM (and this month even had a few nights where I woke up REALLY hot and sweaty… which got me wondering if I’m headed toward hot flashes soon.)  I rather like the WARMTH after being so cold all the time.

6.) Hollow-leg syndrome: this is less about cravings and more about just being plain ol’ HUNGRY!  Sometimes during PMS it’s like my ‘full-switch’ is broken.  I can eat a bunch and still not feel hungry.  Hopefully what I’ve heard about the body burning around 100 more calories a day during our periods is true, because I could use the help burning off all the excess calories I must be consuming!

How about you?  I’d love to know if others have some of the same (or different) issues I run into.  If you don’t feel comfortable posting directly to the comments section about this topic, feel free to email me and I’ll put out an “anonymous” post for you. I think we can all benefit from sharing our experiences.

Also how long does your PMS last?  Mine is a whopping 9 days like clockwork!  Luckily my actual cycle is MUCH shorter – usually only 3-4 days.

Thanks for giving me the green light to run this post!  I really appreciate the input I receive from you all!

Let the conversation begin!

***

Spring Slimdown is updated with Day 16 and Day 17.  Check out the yummy vegan burrito MSP brought home for me last night!  And the weight is finally past the 2 lb loss mark!  YAY!

Have a TERRIFIC Thursday!  See you next time!

– Shari B.  =)

PS:  Have you watched FOOD REVOLUTION yet?  Signed Jamie’s petition for better school lunches?



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Turning the Tables on Naysayers

Nov 2

Posted by Shari B. in FitFeature, Keeping Fit | 10 Comments

Good morning FitFeat friends!

I’m feeling ready to hit the reset button and get back to my regular routine.  Between hosting houseguests and then getting snowed in, I feel like it’s been 2 weeks since I’ve had a routine day.  Vacation is over.  Back to reality!  :)

MSP and I did get out yesterday for a great 5 mile interval session.  Intervals of any sort are my favorite, which is why I love to hike.  Hiking to me is basically one big interval session.  Higher intensity on the uphill portion, recovery on the downhill.  We did something similar on our run yesterday, as where we live is pretty hilly.  We speedwalked the uphills and raced on the downhills.  It was so fun and the miles flew by in a hurry.

The sun was shining  and the sky was clear blue.  A big thanks to our Recreation Association for taking a snowplow to the trail system, because they were in great shape despite all the snow that fell.

I fueled up about an hour prior to the run with a Larabar Coconut Cream Pie.

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And a post-run green smoothie (that I almost forgot to photograph, so it’s almost gone).

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On to a new FitFeature topic that I’ve been wanting to cover for some time:  using naysayers to propel you to success.

Through the years, I have tried many different nutrition plans and fitness routines as I enjoy experimenting to determine what works best for me.

When you are eating healthy and exercising, chances are you are going to bump into people who want to rain on your parade.  I could do a whole series on the reasons WHY and HOW people will do this to you, but for today I’d like to focus on YOU turning naysaying into motivation.

Many years back, before I became a personal trainer and while I was still new in my fitness journey I was working as a consultant and had been assigned to a project with a fairly large company.  Over time, people got used to the fact that I packed my own food and ate healthy most of the time.

I had a 3-ring binder in which I kept my food and exercise logs.  On the cover of the binder was an “Avia” fitness ad I’d torn out of a magazine as motivation.

One of the women that worked in the department I’d been assigned to saw my motivation photo and actually told me that I could “never look like that”.

Now I am sure she didn’t mean it maliciously.  I like to think she was implying that she figured only a select genetically gifted few looked that way and that I’d only be wasting my time or setting myself up for failure.

Ten years later, I STILL remember that comment. And boy did I prove her wrong.  Not that she knows it – my contract there ended and I moved on to the next consulting gig and then ultimately became a full-time personal trainer.  But just knowing that I reached my goal and THEN SOME, gives me satisfaction that she could not diminish my excitement or drive with her negativity. 

In fact she PROPELLED me further.

I am one who responds when you tell me I can’t do something.  When you tell me I CAN’T do something, I will move mountains to show you I just how well I CAN. 

When I first embarked on my journey to better fitness I looked like this (~150 lbs, 5’4″) – geez I look unhappy don’t I?

Before
After a couple of rounds of “Body for Life” I’d improved to this (this is where I was when I was working the consulting job) – cheesy pose due to entering the BFL contest :)

before mid

This is the ad I’d referred to for motivation:

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And then at my first NPC figure competition:

BW fit show
Now I won’t kid you – getting ready for figure competitions was no easy feat.  I worked my tail off and I endured ridiculously strict diets for each one.  But it was something that I chose to experience.  I’d moved on from my AVIA model and soon her pic was replaced with that of NPC and IFBB figure competitors.

What I want you to take away from this is:

Never let naysayers talk you down from your goals.  Use it as fuel for your motivational fire.  You CAN accomplish what you want when you put your mind to it and really dial-in  your focus.  

Don’t let it hurt when people say you can’t do something, or shouldn’t do something.  And when it comes from people close to you, I know it can sting even more.  Often times, people just don’t quite grasp what you are aiming for and that’s OK.  Let it get under your skin to ENCOURAGE you, rather than allowing it to cause doubt.

Here is the body “I live in daily” now, eating foods I ENJOY and doing exercise that I look forward to (and obviously in dire need of a tan, but hey it’s November!)

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So today I would like to say thank youto all the naysayers out there who help propel THE REST OF US to kick a$$, take names and show ‘em how we roll.

***

Today’s discussion:  Have you experienced people attempting to rain on your parade or make you feel that you can’t achieve a certain goal?  Get picked on for eating healthy?  (That’s a big one for me.)  Please drop a comment and share your experiences with us.

Make it a great Monday friends, and a great week as well!

See you next time!

– Shari B. =)

If you know someone embarking on their own fitness journey (or could use some help battling the naysayers!) please feel free to send them my way. I offer fitness consulting by phone nationwide and in-person in the South Denver area.

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