“I want to get into a bit better shape before I come to see you.” I’ve actually heard this statement, from more than one person. Perhaps this is some sort of “blow-off”, perhaps some fanciful delusions…whatever the reason, if you’re not taking steps to get into, or maintain, a decent level of fitness…chances are, without the proper guidance, you never will.
With the Spring coming upon us quickly, and the summer months not too far behind, everyone is hitting that point. The point of yearning for a six pack, satisfied with a losing five pounds. While you may not find that six pack, why settle for less than what you’re capable of? Why settle for less than what you know you can achieve?
If it would surprise you to hear that what you eat is more important than how much you workout, it might benefit you to meet with a Fit2You Wellness Professional. If it would surprise you that resistance training is equally important for men and women; it might benefit you to meet with a Fit2You Wellness Professional. If it would surprise you that you don’t have to exercise every day; it might benefit you to meet with a Fit2You Wellness Professional.
First, six pack abs have very little to do with exercise. Of course, only a dedicated weight and cardio trainer can achieve that much coveted six pack, it’s their diet not their sit ups that clear the way for those abs to pop. You see, so many of us carry extra weight around our midsection; and for good reason. Many of our most vital organs are located in our midsection; from bodily functions to reproduction. This fat around our bellies protects those organs. Eating properly is the long road to the six pack abs.
Second, resistance training provides the same benefits to men and women alike. The benefits of resistance training are so vast, so numerous, I wouldn’t presume to list them all here. But know this: Weight training boosts metabolism, metabolism eats calories, calorie burning means weight loss. Additionally, resistance training aides in the development of a lean and muscular frame, whereas cardio alone can not develop this muscular definition. I know some of you out there will say “I know this guy, who runs all the time, and never lifts weights and he’s super lean and you can see all his muscles”. Well, this is true. However, his muscle definition results more from low body fat than it does from the presence of high quality lean muscle mass.
For those of you out there who fear putting on “too much muscle”, I assure you resistance training alone will not create muscles that make a woman look like a man, or make a man look like a martian freak. For those kinds of freakish muscles, you’ll need to stick a needle in tush…so, no worries there.
Third, you do not need to workout every day. Too often, someone new to exercise hits the gym for 2 hours, every day. Performing cardio back to back with resistance training. Training like this, from the start is a guaranteed short, painful ride to burn out. Everyone should start slowly, 30 minutes a day for most days – working your way up.
Finally, and I know this one is going to generate an INSANE amount of debate and argument, perhaps even a few nasty emails, but I do not recommend cardiovascular exercise (IE: Running, rowing, biking) for weight management. I encourage my clients to use cardio training for heart health only. Weight management starts in the kitchen with a clean and healthy diet, and is further supported by a balanced, and structured resistance training regiment. Not only does resistnace training burn calories while engaged in the activity, resistance training burns calories during the “repair phase” ,when the body is rehabilitating the muscle trauma caused by resistance training. The development of lean muscle requires the devotion of bodily resources to maintain that muscle. This maintenance burns calories…hundreds of them.
If you don’t know what you’re doing, contact Fit2You. If you’d like to enhance what you’re already doing contact Fit2You. Fit2You Fitness provides commercial, residential, in-home, and corporate health and wellness. Contact us about putting together your next corporate or residential wellness fair.
Now get up, get out, and get fit.
-BA
Fit2You Fitness, LLC
“If you’ve got it, flaunt it. If you don’t, get it with us.”
Monday, March 9, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
A note from a client...
Katrina has trained with Fit2You for over a year now. She has seen tremendous gains while working with her trainer, Andie. Katrina sent this message to me, to let me know just how much progress she has made.
--
Just wanted to send a quick note....
As you know weight loss is one of the reasons for working with Andie, but strengthening my core to help with my back pain is too. As an event manager, my travel for work is spent standing on my feet for large amounts of the day -usually 12+ hours. I typically would end my day in pain because of the stress on my back from standing.
I had a trip the first week of January for work (our national sales kick off) in which I spent 6 10-12 hour days on my feet my. I have to tell you I had no back pain until the very last day and that pain was minimal. Working with Andie has help my so much. I rarely have pain and when I do it the severity and duration are dramatically significant!!
I wanted to share with you what a great job Andie is doing!!! Not only is back so much better, but I am beginning to lose the weight I want.
Thank you.
Katrina
--
You too can find the same success, whether your goal is pain reduction, weight loss, muscle gain, or specific training. Contact Fit2You Fitness today - Info@fit2youfitness.com
--Fit2You, Fitness LLC
Philadelphia and Main Line Individual, Corporate, and Residential Personal Fitness Training, Nutrition, Massage, Yoga and Pilates.
--
Just wanted to send a quick note....
As you know weight loss is one of the reasons for working with Andie, but strengthening my core to help with my back pain is too. As an event manager, my travel for work is spent standing on my feet for large amounts of the day -usually 12+ hours. I typically would end my day in pain because of the stress on my back from standing.
I had a trip the first week of January for work (our national sales kick off) in which I spent 6 10-12 hour days on my feet my. I have to tell you I had no back pain until the very last day and that pain was minimal. Working with Andie has help my so much. I rarely have pain and when I do it the severity and duration are dramatically significant!!
I wanted to share with you what a great job Andie is doing!!! Not only is back so much better, but I am beginning to lose the weight I want.
Thank you.
Katrina
--
You too can find the same success, whether your goal is pain reduction, weight loss, muscle gain, or specific training. Contact Fit2You Fitness today - Info@fit2youfitness.com
--Fit2You, Fitness LLC
Philadelphia and Main Line Individual, Corporate, and Residential Personal Fitness Training, Nutrition, Massage, Yoga and Pilates.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Getting started...the right way.
I watch people at the gym enter through the door, beeline for a treadmill, run or walk for a half an hour and than shoot back out the door. This behavior is especially so during the fist few weeks of January. These individuals, who have resolved to get fit, skip into the gym, run, walk, row, bike...and then skip on back out. The skipping tends to taper off a few weeks into January when these same individuals aren't seeing the results they were hoping for, and are finding that exercise takes discipline, scheduling, and dedication.
Then we have the beginners in the weight room. They're easy to spot. Typically these guys do a lot of bicep curls, strut around the gym with their chests puffed out (probably in some sort of cro-magnon effort to demonstrate their power, while ultimately just flouting their own insecurity), and use weights so heavy you're left wondering how on earth their arms haven't stretched to the ground like silly-putty.
When given the opportunity to chat with someone who is new to the sport, I stress to them the importance of resistance training. And by "stress" I mean I look you in the eye, and I tell you that without weight training you will not succeed. And without weight training properly, not only will you fail, you'll hurt yourself, you'll look stupid, and people will laugh at you...a lot. Bottom line is this: you will not lose the weight you want to lose, and shape the body you want to shape, without resistance training.
The importance of resistance training is too often ignored. Perhaps it's because cardio equipment provides a nice "calories burned" read out, or perhaps it's because the weight room is too intimidating. Whatever the reason, know this, weight training a the keystone to the body most of us want.
That being said, how many of you have walked into the gym, picked up some dumbbells or sat down at a weight machine and moved the weight around? Many, I'm sure. I'm willing to bet you also used a weight that was either too light or too heavy, or performed a routine that lacked proper order or balance. My response to that is "it's ok". We all have to start somewhere. Just make sure you start the right way.
To provide a bit of guidance, below you'll find a beginners exercise program. I make no promises. I make no guarantees. This program is designed to demonstrate the proper order and balance a workout should have.
Shoot for 3 sets of around 12-15 reps for each of these activities. A good rule of thumb: If you can't make it to 12 the weight is too heavy, if you can make it past 15 the weight is too light.
1. Incline Leg Press
2. Leg Curl
3. Chest Press
4. Cable Pull Down
5. Shoulder Press
6. Biceps Curl
7. Triceps Extension
8. Crunches.
If you're wondering what some of those activities are, or how to properly perform those activities, then it's time to call Fit2You for some instructional sessions to get you on your way.
Our nationally certified fitness trainers will provide you with detailed instruction, and supervision as well as exercise program creation.
--BA
Fit2You Fitness, LLC
Philadelphia Area corporate, residential, and individual personal training, yoga, pilatse, and health and wellness.
Then we have the beginners in the weight room. They're easy to spot. Typically these guys do a lot of bicep curls, strut around the gym with their chests puffed out (probably in some sort of cro-magnon effort to demonstrate their power, while ultimately just flouting their own insecurity), and use weights so heavy you're left wondering how on earth their arms haven't stretched to the ground like silly-putty.
When given the opportunity to chat with someone who is new to the sport, I stress to them the importance of resistance training. And by "stress" I mean I look you in the eye, and I tell you that without weight training you will not succeed. And without weight training properly, not only will you fail, you'll hurt yourself, you'll look stupid, and people will laugh at you...a lot. Bottom line is this: you will not lose the weight you want to lose, and shape the body you want to shape, without resistance training.
The importance of resistance training is too often ignored. Perhaps it's because cardio equipment provides a nice "calories burned" read out, or perhaps it's because the weight room is too intimidating. Whatever the reason, know this, weight training a the keystone to the body most of us want.
That being said, how many of you have walked into the gym, picked up some dumbbells or sat down at a weight machine and moved the weight around? Many, I'm sure. I'm willing to bet you also used a weight that was either too light or too heavy, or performed a routine that lacked proper order or balance. My response to that is "it's ok". We all have to start somewhere. Just make sure you start the right way.
To provide a bit of guidance, below you'll find a beginners exercise program. I make no promises. I make no guarantees. This program is designed to demonstrate the proper order and balance a workout should have.
Shoot for 3 sets of around 12-15 reps for each of these activities. A good rule of thumb: If you can't make it to 12 the weight is too heavy, if you can make it past 15 the weight is too light.
1. Incline Leg Press
2. Leg Curl
3. Chest Press
4. Cable Pull Down
5. Shoulder Press
6. Biceps Curl
7. Triceps Extension
8. Crunches.
If you're wondering what some of those activities are, or how to properly perform those activities, then it's time to call Fit2You for some instructional sessions to get you on your way.
Our nationally certified fitness trainers will provide you with detailed instruction, and supervision as well as exercise program creation.
--BA
Fit2You Fitness, LLC
Philadelphia Area corporate, residential, and individual personal training, yoga, pilatse, and health and wellness.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
STOP DRINKING!!
I'm not referring to beer, or wine, or liquor either. Although alcohol is nothing more than empty calories and a lubricant for the "adventurous spirit", I'm talking about juice, and soda, and sugary, sweet, creamy drinks.
For a proper explanation, we need to go back in time...about 200,000 years. For 199,950 years humans drank water. That's it. As we evolved, our bodies developed systems for thirst and hunger. These systems are not mutually exclusive, but they are sufficiently sophisticated to prevent water consumption from interfering with food consumption. If we felt full after we drank water, we would suffer from a calorie deficiency. So, when we drink calories, our bodies don't respond the same as when we eat food. In short: After drinking high calorie beverages, we still feel hungry.
What does all this mean? Well, the next time you order a peppermint frappe with extra sugar, syrup, whip cream, chocolate cake, pepperoni, and a honey...you'll consumer roughly 1,000 calories. Guess what? These calories will leave you completely unsatisfied. You will remain hungry, you'll continue to eat, you'll continue to gain weight, you'll end up fat.
A study was recently released. Two groups. Each group was given the same 2,500 calorie, per day, diet. Group one was permitted to drink only water. Group two was permitted to drink anything they wanted. The results were as predictable as a Vince Vaughn romantic comedy. Those who could drink whatever they wanted consumed over 500 additional calories per day!
This is unfathomable...at that rate, the average person will gain 1 pound per week, every week. So at the end of 2009...you could very well be FIFTY POUNDS heavier!
So, the next time you pick a regular soda, sugary juice drink, calorie dense sports drink, or excessively sweetened coffees and teas, stop and ask yourself this "Self, would I look better or worse with an extra 50 pounds of blubber?". If the answer if "Heck yeah, I'd look great with pillow folds of flab!", then by all means drink up. But if you're answer is the more realistic, "You know, I'm carrying some extra weight already...what easy step can I take to slim down?", then drop the drink, and pick up water.
Just in case there are some of you out there who need help determining what is a sugary, "leading you down the path to blubber-town", drink...here is a list of drinks that won't add calories to your diet, and in turn won't add inches to your waist.
1. Water
2. Black Coffee
3. Regular Tea
What about artificial sweeteners, you may ask. Artificial sweeteners have a peculiar effect on the body. These little guys are like the David Copperfield's of the nutritional world...they get in your body and trick your body into thinking it's hungry; even when it's not. So these artificial sweeteners, they're bad...so bad. They don't help you, the make your life worse.
You don't need soda, or sugary drinks. They're nutritionally void. Make a good choice, drink water.
If all this information wasn't enough to convince you...try this: A grande, barista prepared beverage, is about $5. that $25 a week, which is $100 a month. (you see where I'm going with this?). $100 a month, is $1200 a year. What can you do with an EXTRA $1200 per year? $1200...it's a nice vacation, or a few car payments, or a new TV, or a new bed, or a nice investment in your own health.
Get up, get out, and get fit.
--BA
Fit2Youfitness.com
Philadelphia and Main Line premier provider of personal training, yoga, health and wellness services.
For a proper explanation, we need to go back in time...about 200,000 years. For 199,950 years humans drank water. That's it. As we evolved, our bodies developed systems for thirst and hunger. These systems are not mutually exclusive, but they are sufficiently sophisticated to prevent water consumption from interfering with food consumption. If we felt full after we drank water, we would suffer from a calorie deficiency. So, when we drink calories, our bodies don't respond the same as when we eat food. In short: After drinking high calorie beverages, we still feel hungry.
What does all this mean? Well, the next time you order a peppermint frappe with extra sugar, syrup, whip cream, chocolate cake, pepperoni, and a honey...you'll consumer roughly 1,000 calories. Guess what? These calories will leave you completely unsatisfied. You will remain hungry, you'll continue to eat, you'll continue to gain weight, you'll end up fat.
A study was recently released. Two groups. Each group was given the same 2,500 calorie, per day, diet. Group one was permitted to drink only water. Group two was permitted to drink anything they wanted. The results were as predictable as a Vince Vaughn romantic comedy. Those who could drink whatever they wanted consumed over 500 additional calories per day!
This is unfathomable...at that rate, the average person will gain 1 pound per week, every week. So at the end of 2009...you could very well be FIFTY POUNDS heavier!
So, the next time you pick a regular soda, sugary juice drink, calorie dense sports drink, or excessively sweetened coffees and teas, stop and ask yourself this "Self, would I look better or worse with an extra 50 pounds of blubber?". If the answer if "Heck yeah, I'd look great with pillow folds of flab!", then by all means drink up. But if you're answer is the more realistic, "You know, I'm carrying some extra weight already...what easy step can I take to slim down?", then drop the drink, and pick up water.
Just in case there are some of you out there who need help determining what is a sugary, "leading you down the path to blubber-town", drink...here is a list of drinks that won't add calories to your diet, and in turn won't add inches to your waist.
1. Water
2. Black Coffee
3. Regular Tea
What about artificial sweeteners, you may ask. Artificial sweeteners have a peculiar effect on the body. These little guys are like the David Copperfield's of the nutritional world...they get in your body and trick your body into thinking it's hungry; even when it's not. So these artificial sweeteners, they're bad...so bad. They don't help you, the make your life worse.
You don't need soda, or sugary drinks. They're nutritionally void. Make a good choice, drink water.
If all this information wasn't enough to convince you...try this: A grande, barista prepared beverage, is about $5. that $25 a week, which is $100 a month. (you see where I'm going with this?). $100 a month, is $1200 a year. What can you do with an EXTRA $1200 per year? $1200...it's a nice vacation, or a few car payments, or a new TV, or a new bed, or a nice investment in your own health.
Get up, get out, and get fit.
--BA
Fit2Youfitness.com
Philadelphia and Main Line premier provider of personal training, yoga, health and wellness services.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The Value of Financial Planning
These are trying economic times. Stock portfolios are losing value at an exponential rate. Retirement accounts are shrinking. Home values are deteriorating. What are you doing to maximize your earnings?
Understandably American's harbor negative feelings towards the financial industry; and rightly so. From bank failures, to mortgage disasters, to financial fraud...Americans are jaded by the rich getting richer, while the rest of us work harder and harder for less and less. It's time for you to take back control.
Financial planners are generally not members of the subset of the financial industry that engaged in fraud, and dishonesty. Good financial planners are the ones who help you put your money where it needs to be, where it should be, and where it can work the hardest for you.
Financial planning isn't only for the wealthy, it's for everyone. Those of you out there who are having a hard time making ends meet are likely going to benefit even more from sound financial advice.
The key to planning effectively is an old and accepted concept: diversification. Diversifying your portfolio among mutual funds, a wide variety of stocks and index funds, bonds, and liquid cash. The percentage of each depends on a variety of factors, including age, marital status, income, location, and personal preferences. A seasoned financial planner can examine all of your financial information and variables. This examination will help your financial planner determine the most effective plan, tailored to your needs.
Contact the Fit2You Financial Wellness team today, and get started on your path to financial freedom.
Happy Holidays!
--The Fit2You Fitness Financial Wellness Team
www.fit2youfitness.com
Philadephia and Main Line Corporate and Personal Health and Wellness.
Understandably American's harbor negative feelings towards the financial industry; and rightly so. From bank failures, to mortgage disasters, to financial fraud...Americans are jaded by the rich getting richer, while the rest of us work harder and harder for less and less. It's time for you to take back control.
Financial planners are generally not members of the subset of the financial industry that engaged in fraud, and dishonesty. Good financial planners are the ones who help you put your money where it needs to be, where it should be, and where it can work the hardest for you.
Financial planning isn't only for the wealthy, it's for everyone. Those of you out there who are having a hard time making ends meet are likely going to benefit even more from sound financial advice.
The key to planning effectively is an old and accepted concept: diversification. Diversifying your portfolio among mutual funds, a wide variety of stocks and index funds, bonds, and liquid cash. The percentage of each depends on a variety of factors, including age, marital status, income, location, and personal preferences. A seasoned financial planner can examine all of your financial information and variables. This examination will help your financial planner determine the most effective plan, tailored to your needs.
Contact the Fit2You Financial Wellness team today, and get started on your path to financial freedom.
Happy Holidays!
--The Fit2You Fitness Financial Wellness Team
www.fit2youfitness.com
Philadephia and Main Line Corporate and Personal Health and Wellness.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
My day of jubilee...pictures coming soon.
So my day of jubilee has come and gone; and now the countdown begins…363 days to go.
Just to bring you up to speed, my “day of jubilee” is what others, likely lay people, refer to as “thanksgiving day”.
As you all likely imagined, my day of jubilee was all I had hoped. I began planning during the week leading up to that whimsical day. I would wake up around 6a…wash my face, brush my teeth and we’re off to the races.
It all begins:
By 7a I was seated at the local diner…anxiously awaiting the chance to regurgitate what I had practiced over and over in my mind for so many moments leading up to this one. The waitress approached. I could feel my mouth watering; my stomach began to gurgle in anticipation. I stumbled over my words as they raced out of my mouth, all trying their best to be the win, place, or show. “Pancakes, egg sandwich with bacon on a bagel, home fries, fried eggs, coffee, grapefruit juice, extra syrups, and wheat toast.” As you likely already guessed, the words that spilled forth on the first try were not quite so poetic, oratorical, or concise. Rather I fumbled my words, mixing up the order in such a way as to necessitate the waitress’s full and complete review of them before walking away.
I tapped my feet in anxious anticipation of the gloriousness to accompany this meal. That anticipation, building all year long, makes this entire event all the more enjoyable. Sip of coffee, sip of juice…tap tap tap.
The kitchen door swung open with a bang, and there she was…In all her majestic glory; my meal. The waitress set each plate down slowly and cautiously. I couldn’t wait…as I grabbed my fork and dug into the pancakes. I chewed fast, but not too fast, savoring every delightful morsel.
Onto the bagel sandwich; the bacon, cheese, and egg dancing in a seemingly forbidden cadence, yet thoroughly perfect in every step. Life was good.
With my belly swollen and satisfied I struggled through a workout (Even on my day of jubilee my compulsions come into play).
A brief foray into reality:
After the gym, Stef and I jumped in the car to begin our voyage to my parent’s house. Exactly 90 miles West. Of course, using the highway lends itself to rest stops; each of which has pretzels, available for purchase and deliciousness. I can barely contain myself. My subconscious is gently applying an every increasing amount of pressure to the gas pedal in a subtle, and all to underappreciated, effort to get me to my next feast as quickly as possible.
Rest Stop:
People everywhere…I see none of them, as evidenced by my bumping into more than a few on my way to the “SUPERPRETZEL” stand. No one is there…I glance around nervously, a bead of sweat forms on my brow. I wonder if a piece of this day just might not fall into place. Alas, my worry was unfounded. There she appeared, a messenger of refined carbs, a deliverywoman of all that is baked golden brown and lightly salted. I bought one. Let’s be serious here, the chance of this delectable treat making it to the parking lot is about as likely as me finding an autographed picture of Confucius.
As predicted, the pretzel is gone before I get back in the car. Granted, I moseyed slowly, allowing myself time to enjoy each freshly oven-baked bite.
Grocery Store:
We get off the highway. We drive into the grocery store parking lot. Beeline for the Cheetos (crunchy, real mean eat crunchy, not that puffy garbage), Easy-Cheez (that’s right…with a “z”), crackers, and O-R-E-O’s…In passing, as I race furiously through the aisles searching for my bullion, Stef says “I LOVE you on your day of jubilee…so fun!”
Check Out:
I love to use that self-checkout thing. The only problem, is it makes you feel as if you want to steal. The reasoning going through my head is “Hey, I’m saving you money by doing this myself, what’s a few free yogurts?” I fight the urge, ring up all my purchases (including flowers for my mom…I know, I’m a sweetie) and off we go.
Arrival:
We leave the bags in the car. Head inside. Everyone is already there. We’re the last ones to arrive. Although we’re last, we certainly carry with us prizes and goodies surely worth the wait. I can’t wait to sit down, start eating all of this goodness.
Pre-Dinner:
At this point I’ve gone through a half a bag of Cheetos, a third of a bag of Oreo’s, and copious amounts of Easy-Cheez (that’s right, with a “z”). The wine is now flowing like the falls of Niagra, and me…I’m in a semi-conscious, blissfully unaware, sugar induced, alcohol supported fugue. Life is so good.
Dinner:
I’m not sure where to begin here. Dinner was not a buffet, at least not originally conceived as a buffet. It turned into a sort of round-robin, hot potato, gluttonous feast. Pass, dump, ask, pass, dump, ask. Sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, turkey, sprouts, cornbread…on and on it goes. A bit of this, a dab of that…more wine, a spoonful of this, a forkful of that…more wine. (Note: I love turkey legs, so I had two).
Desert:
More Oreo’s. That’s right. In the face of pumpkin pie, ice cream, pecan pie, cookies, and other sweets…I choose the Oreo’s. You know why? Because I love them. Because I yearn for them. I ache for them. And for your own edification, I ate about 1,700 calories worth. (Yes, that’s seventeen-hundred).
I spent the rest of the evening in a catatonic sugar crash. Others asked me if it was worth it. A resounding yes is the answer. It’s the best day. Yet others ask why I do this to myself, why I don’t just spread this out over the year. The answer, because I like it this way. Plain and simple. I enjoy working hard for a huge reward, and based on my other posts, most of you know that I cheat here and there. My day of jubilee is my ultimate reward for what is otherwise a rather strictly regimented diet. I like it.
So, like I said, my day of jubilee has come and gone; and now the countdown begins…363 days to go.
Just to bring you up to speed, my “day of jubilee” is what others, likely lay people, refer to as “thanksgiving day”.
As you all likely imagined, my day of jubilee was all I had hoped. I began planning during the week leading up to that whimsical day. I would wake up around 6a…wash my face, brush my teeth and we’re off to the races.
It all begins:
By 7a I was seated at the local diner…anxiously awaiting the chance to regurgitate what I had practiced over and over in my mind for so many moments leading up to this one. The waitress approached. I could feel my mouth watering; my stomach began to gurgle in anticipation. I stumbled over my words as they raced out of my mouth, all trying their best to be the win, place, or show. “Pancakes, egg sandwich with bacon on a bagel, home fries, fried eggs, coffee, grapefruit juice, extra syrups, and wheat toast.” As you likely already guessed, the words that spilled forth on the first try were not quite so poetic, oratorical, or concise. Rather I fumbled my words, mixing up the order in such a way as to necessitate the waitress’s full and complete review of them before walking away.
I tapped my feet in anxious anticipation of the gloriousness to accompany this meal. That anticipation, building all year long, makes this entire event all the more enjoyable. Sip of coffee, sip of juice…tap tap tap.
The kitchen door swung open with a bang, and there she was…In all her majestic glory; my meal. The waitress set each plate down slowly and cautiously. I couldn’t wait…as I grabbed my fork and dug into the pancakes. I chewed fast, but not too fast, savoring every delightful morsel.
Onto the bagel sandwich; the bacon, cheese, and egg dancing in a seemingly forbidden cadence, yet thoroughly perfect in every step. Life was good.
With my belly swollen and satisfied I struggled through a workout (Even on my day of jubilee my compulsions come into play).
A brief foray into reality:
After the gym, Stef and I jumped in the car to begin our voyage to my parent’s house. Exactly 90 miles West. Of course, using the highway lends itself to rest stops; each of which has pretzels, available for purchase and deliciousness. I can barely contain myself. My subconscious is gently applying an every increasing amount of pressure to the gas pedal in a subtle, and all to underappreciated, effort to get me to my next feast as quickly as possible.
Rest Stop:
People everywhere…I see none of them, as evidenced by my bumping into more than a few on my way to the “SUPERPRETZEL” stand. No one is there…I glance around nervously, a bead of sweat forms on my brow. I wonder if a piece of this day just might not fall into place. Alas, my worry was unfounded. There she appeared, a messenger of refined carbs, a deliverywoman of all that is baked golden brown and lightly salted. I bought one. Let’s be serious here, the chance of this delectable treat making it to the parking lot is about as likely as me finding an autographed picture of Confucius.
As predicted, the pretzel is gone before I get back in the car. Granted, I moseyed slowly, allowing myself time to enjoy each freshly oven-baked bite.
Grocery Store:
We get off the highway. We drive into the grocery store parking lot. Beeline for the Cheetos (crunchy, real mean eat crunchy, not that puffy garbage), Easy-Cheez (that’s right…with a “z”), crackers, and O-R-E-O’s…In passing, as I race furiously through the aisles searching for my bullion, Stef says “I LOVE you on your day of jubilee…so fun!”
Check Out:
I love to use that self-checkout thing. The only problem, is it makes you feel as if you want to steal. The reasoning going through my head is “Hey, I’m saving you money by doing this myself, what’s a few free yogurts?” I fight the urge, ring up all my purchases (including flowers for my mom…I know, I’m a sweetie) and off we go.
Arrival:
We leave the bags in the car. Head inside. Everyone is already there. We’re the last ones to arrive. Although we’re last, we certainly carry with us prizes and goodies surely worth the wait. I can’t wait to sit down, start eating all of this goodness.
Pre-Dinner:
At this point I’ve gone through a half a bag of Cheetos, a third of a bag of Oreo’s, and copious amounts of Easy-Cheez (that’s right, with a “z”). The wine is now flowing like the falls of Niagra, and me…I’m in a semi-conscious, blissfully unaware, sugar induced, alcohol supported fugue. Life is so good.
Dinner:
I’m not sure where to begin here. Dinner was not a buffet, at least not originally conceived as a buffet. It turned into a sort of round-robin, hot potato, gluttonous feast. Pass, dump, ask, pass, dump, ask. Sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, turkey, sprouts, cornbread…on and on it goes. A bit of this, a dab of that…more wine, a spoonful of this, a forkful of that…more wine. (Note: I love turkey legs, so I had two).
Desert:
More Oreo’s. That’s right. In the face of pumpkin pie, ice cream, pecan pie, cookies, and other sweets…I choose the Oreo’s. You know why? Because I love them. Because I yearn for them. I ache for them. And for your own edification, I ate about 1,700 calories worth. (Yes, that’s seventeen-hundred).
I spent the rest of the evening in a catatonic sugar crash. Others asked me if it was worth it. A resounding yes is the answer. It’s the best day. Yet others ask why I do this to myself, why I don’t just spread this out over the year. The answer, because I like it this way. Plain and simple. I enjoy working hard for a huge reward, and based on my other posts, most of you know that I cheat here and there. My day of jubilee is my ultimate reward for what is otherwise a rather strictly regimented diet. I like it.
So, like I said, my day of jubilee has come and gone; and now the countdown begins…363 days to go.
Monday, November 10, 2008
I ate alligator...
I'm in New Orleans for the week. I arrived yesterday. I ate alligator; alligator sausage. No it doesn't taste like chicken, or beef, or pork, it has a distinct taste all its own.
Recently, I met with a nutritional consultant, Mike, regarding my diet. I had made some adjustments that were, let's just say...no agreeing with me. Around 300p every afternoon, my stomach rebelled. This rebellion came in the form of churning, gurgling, pain, and the (not so occasional) explosive burst.
Mike instantly zeroed in on one glaring detail, the lack of variety. I eat pretty much the same thing everyday. The variety just wasn't there. I ate some fruit, I ate some vegetables - but the problem was that I ate the same thing, day in, day out.
Let's take a step back, in time. I was the chubby kid in high school. I was the kid who couldn't do a pull-up, couldn't run a mile, couldn't wear "cool-kids" clothes. I lost the weight through a combination of heart-breack and hard work. I kept it off through hard work and dedication. Mike noticed, without a missed beat, that this diet is a result of desperation to maintain control over myself. I measured food out meticulously...which leads to consistency, but not variety. The consistency gave me control. I bought the same things, I ate the same things, I always knew exactly what was going in to my body.
Consider that the key to success is consistency, intensity, and VARIETY. I vary my workouts, I vary my training, but I never varied my eatin? I never realized I was missing one of the key components of success.
Mike gave helped me see the problem, and helped me work through a solution. Eggs with veggies in the morning, rather than cereal everyday. I was over supplementing, too many shakes, and pills, and not nearly enough real food.
I'll to spare you the complexities of the rest of our conversation.
Here's what I want all of you to take away from this little story: My mind got in the way. I fear falling back into the "high-school me", so much so that I've given up enjoying one of the most enjoyable parts of every day...food. I ate the same thing day in day out, so I could be in control.
What Mike realized was that I really wasn't in control. I was a slave to those same meals, those same nutrients. Mike is helping me put together less restrictive diet. I've never had problem making good food choices, but when faced with the option of eating "the usual" over something different, I'd always choose the usual. Mike's helping me change
Granted, I'm not going to change over night. I still eat relatively the same things, but I look for ways to change it up. Salad with lunch, V8 at breakfast, fish instead of chicken. I'm working on it...i'll probably always be working on it, but at least I'm getting somewhere now.
That was probable more than you all needed to know; but I thought it was a valuable story. No one knows everything, as much as we like to think we do. I've always believed in being an expert in your field, and surrounding yourself with experts in the others. I've got a great accountant, a great financial planner, a great lawyer, a great massage therapist, and a great doctor. I do what I do, and look to others for everything else. Mike was one of these people. He's not a nutritionist, but he knows me, and he knows what I need. Let Fit2You Fitness find that person for you. Whether you need help exercising, eating, working through emotional troubles...we can help you, we can find you that person that does what they do best, so you can focus on doing what you do best.
--BA
Fit2You Fitness, LLC
Philadelphia and Main Line in-home personal training, wellness, massage, nutrition, and corporate wellness.
Recently, I met with a nutritional consultant, Mike, regarding my diet. I had made some adjustments that were, let's just say...no agreeing with me. Around 300p every afternoon, my stomach rebelled. This rebellion came in the form of churning, gurgling, pain, and the (not so occasional) explosive burst.
Mike instantly zeroed in on one glaring detail, the lack of variety. I eat pretty much the same thing everyday. The variety just wasn't there. I ate some fruit, I ate some vegetables - but the problem was that I ate the same thing, day in, day out.
Let's take a step back, in time. I was the chubby kid in high school. I was the kid who couldn't do a pull-up, couldn't run a mile, couldn't wear "cool-kids" clothes. I lost the weight through a combination of heart-breack and hard work. I kept it off through hard work and dedication. Mike noticed, without a missed beat, that this diet is a result of desperation to maintain control over myself. I measured food out meticulously...which leads to consistency, but not variety. The consistency gave me control. I bought the same things, I ate the same things, I always knew exactly what was going in to my body.
Consider that the key to success is consistency, intensity, and VARIETY. I vary my workouts, I vary my training, but I never varied my eatin? I never realized I was missing one of the key components of success.
Mike gave helped me see the problem, and helped me work through a solution. Eggs with veggies in the morning, rather than cereal everyday. I was over supplementing, too many shakes, and pills, and not nearly enough real food.
I'll to spare you the complexities of the rest of our conversation.
Here's what I want all of you to take away from this little story: My mind got in the way. I fear falling back into the "high-school me", so much so that I've given up enjoying one of the most enjoyable parts of every day...food. I ate the same thing day in day out, so I could be in control.
What Mike realized was that I really wasn't in control. I was a slave to those same meals, those same nutrients. Mike is helping me put together less restrictive diet. I've never had problem making good food choices, but when faced with the option of eating "the usual" over something different, I'd always choose the usual. Mike's helping me change
Granted, I'm not going to change over night. I still eat relatively the same things, but I look for ways to change it up. Salad with lunch, V8 at breakfast, fish instead of chicken. I'm working on it...i'll probably always be working on it, but at least I'm getting somewhere now.
That was probable more than you all needed to know; but I thought it was a valuable story. No one knows everything, as much as we like to think we do. I've always believed in being an expert in your field, and surrounding yourself with experts in the others. I've got a great accountant, a great financial planner, a great lawyer, a great massage therapist, and a great doctor. I do what I do, and look to others for everything else. Mike was one of these people. He's not a nutritionist, but he knows me, and he knows what I need. Let Fit2You Fitness find that person for you. Whether you need help exercising, eating, working through emotional troubles...we can help you, we can find you that person that does what they do best, so you can focus on doing what you do best.
--BA
Fit2You Fitness, LLC
Philadelphia and Main Line in-home personal training, wellness, massage, nutrition, and corporate wellness.
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