Thursday, April 21, 2011

Egg Hunt and Open House

It's hump day for the open house! Lots of people have come to try the classes and are having a great time! Tonight you can still come and box at 5 and 6 PM, and also Zumba at 7. Tomorrow come and strengthen your core muscles, at 6,7, and 9 AM!

Saturday will be a great day! Come early for a hard work-out at 10:30, then stay for my Adventures in Healthy Eating, where we will be noshing on Clam Chowder, salad, bread and snacks, all in a guilt-free way. Finish off the morning with the chitlins at the Easter Egg Hunt at 1:00.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Open House Week!

We have a really exciting week coming up at the gym. All next week, anyone is welcome to try out the classes for free. Whether you like weights, yoga, or have been itching to try Zumba, we have it all! Then to end the week of right, come see what we have to offer in  Adventures In Healthy Eating, which is an hour of information on small changes that can have big results. It's going to be a great week, and it is all free, so no excuses, just get here!

Monday

Body Blast- Come work your whole body with a combination of weights and cardio.
Class: 6:00, 7:00, and 9:00 AM   then 7:15 PM.

Tuesday

Reflex Bosu Boxing- A fun way to burn some calories and some stress!
Class: 6:00, 7:00, and 9:00 AM   then 5:00, and 6:00 PM

Zumba- Get ready to shake your booty, and everything else, as well.
Class: 7:00 PM

Wednesday

Yoga- An extremely relaxingly way to exercise and clear your mind.
Class: 7:30 PM

Thursday

Reflex Bosu Boxing- A fun way to burn some calories and some stress!
Class: 6:00, 7:00, and 9:00 AM   then 5:00, and 6:00 PM

Zumba- Get ready to shake your booty, and everything else, as well.
Class: 7:00 PM

Friday

Core and More- Awesome strength training exercises to improve everybody's weakest muscle groups!
Class: 6:00, 7:00, and 9:00 AM

Saturday

Adventures In Healthy Eating- The kick-off to a monthly series detailing little changes each of us can make to improve our diets, and gain huge pay-offs.\
Class: 12:00

Friday, March 11, 2011

Buddies

When I first started to exercise, I knew I had to do it, but I didn't necessarily want to do it. The reason I kept going back was the women I first started out with, were hilarious. A couple of years ago there was quite a hodge podge of women in the 6 A.M. class. Some older, some younger, some more conservative, and others without many boundaries at all. It didn't seem to matter, we had a great time and laughed until the hour was over.

A lot of the women have changed, but the dynamic of the class hasn't. We still have all different kinds, which makes it interesting and entertaining. Now that I am fully enjoying the benefits of good exercise, the pull continues to be the camaraderie I feel with the other women.

If you are struggling to enjoy your exercise routine solo, get a friend involved, or go to a class, it is so much better to see others in the same agony as you are in. I know my thigh burn AND my psyche improve when I watch the misery on my friends' faces.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Thursdays are so great. The week is almost over, your legs are sore from Wednesday, (which is good) you get to box out your frustrations, and basically it's almost the weekend. Yeah!

This rotation is fast/slow and has been really great. Leg day was a killer yesterday and with shorts season coming up I am happy to take advantage of it.

Boxing has been great. My new pink gloves don't stink at all and I love hitting things that don't have the capacity to sue. It's a win/win. It is also an exercise anyone can do. No matter your athleticism, or how in or out of shape you are,  it is a fun way to sweat. Everyone is welcome. Come and take a class and see how you like it.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Happy Biz-day To Shauna

Happy Birthday to Shauna! She is officially fif...  much younger looking than her birth certificate states she is! If you see her around today, make sure to tell her how young and vibrant she looks. When I am all grown up like her, I hope to have the same abs.

Friday, February 18, 2011

New Biggest Loser Contest

Now that Laura is all skinny-ed up, we are doing another round of Biggest Loser. Weigh-ins and measurements are now being taken, along with your $20 entrance fee. So far we are looking at another healthy pot, about $300. For those of you who want to go it alone, without a partner, the entrance fee is $40.

So grab a partner, or go it solo, either way jump into this competition and work towards a healthier, richer you!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Biggest Loser/Winner!

Ah, 5 weeks has come and gone, and Laura Ellis emerged the victor. She won by a ways, so if you see her at the gym, at the store, or around town, congratulate her skinny ass! Not only is she a leaner version, she is also $400 richer! Way to go, Girl!

Friday, January 21, 2011

Exciting News

So,  boxing is freaking awesome. It is wonderful to punch something as much, and as hard as you want, and have it be called a work-out. It is very therapeutic, and you can't feel your arms/back/and even legs, for the next 24 hours, (in a good way). So come work on your anger with us, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Just putting on the gloves makes you feel instantly cooler!

Big news for the gym. Shauna is branching out the classes that are offered. Now in addition to boxing and Yoga with Gumby, oh I mean, Tasia, we are working on certifications for Zumba, with Dory, and Pole Dancing, with yours truly.

It is going to be great fun, and even greater for your body and mind and soul!

P.S. Satisfy your winter soup cravings with the new healthy recipe postings.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Million Dollar Baby

If you have been to the gym lately, you might be have noticed the punching bags hanging from the ceiling. Thursday's are going to be extra fun now as we add boxing to our Bosu work-out! Come and get buff and take out any extra aggression you might be holding on to! Hate the winter? Punch it out. Hate the post holiday bulge? Punch it out. Naturally aggressive, and have a problem with road rage, confrontation, social skills, or whatever? Punch it out. I think I am going to love it.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Biggest Loser Contest!

It's time again to start the Biggest Loser Contest! This round will be partners, so find a partner on your own, or let Shauna know you need one. $20 gets you in and the pot is already over $300, which would buy a fabulous spa day, or new clothes for your new body, or whatever you want! The weigh-in and measurements will be Thursday, and then there won't be a weigh-in until the last day. Ready, Sweat, Go!

Happy New Year!

Yea! A new year. This is the first new year that I haven't contemplated chopping off my legs, or donating a kidney, or eating only cabbage for two weeks, in order to drop some weight. Yes, in the past exercise and healthy eating have been a last resort for the dreaded New Years Resolution, but for the first time in eight years, I don't have that heavy weight on my shoulders.......or waist.........or hiney.

In July, I weighed 225 pounds. I had to have a mini physical for my insurance plan at work, and remember at the time, walking out of the office giddy at the thought that I still wasn't morbidly obese. For my height and weight, I still had 6 pounds before I was considered morbidly obese. That thought chills me to the bone now.

I have a medical background and see patients everyday who are suffering from obesity related ailments. For some reason I didn't associate myself with that population because I worked out 4 or so days a week, played rec sports and have been very healthy. It wasn't until my son started to have some health problems that my eyes were really opened.

As soon as I heard the term diabetes in connection with my 6 year old son, I knew something had to change for us. Although he is considered pre diabetic, it is type 1, and his fate cannot be changed with diet and exercise. However, having significant experience with type 1 diabetic patients, especially those who do not have control of their disease, and hence their life, I knew we had to change our relationship with food, so that my babe could have a good shot at  a normal life.

I don't profess to have all the answers, but I don't mind sharing what has worked for me, because it is sustainable, healthy, and has helped me lose 52 pounds in 5 months.

*First of all, I didn't set out on this journey to "drop 20 pounds in two months" or get skinny for swimsuit season. My motivation was to get healthy, and to get my family healthy. I wasn't really even thinking about weight loss when I threw down the nutritional gauntlet at my house. There was no time frame, no goal other than making sure my son could have a full active life, and develop the skills and knowledge to be able to take care of himself if I wasn't around.

*If it is going to be forever, it has got to be do-able. I am not some psycho health nut hovering over my children and monitoring everything they put into their mouths. When they go to school, or to a friends house, there aren't any rules they have to adhere to. But at my house, we eat healthy. No more white stuff, like flour or rice or pasta. We still eat all those things, just healthier versions of them. I still buy crap, just healthier versions, like "baked" or making brownies with black beans instead of oil and eggs, and then a regular portion, not the whole tray. See the recipes, you won't believe how good the brownies are.

*Keep healthy snacks where you can see them, and make them convenient. My kids will take a piece of fruit off the kitchen counter and have it gone before they even think to open the pantry.

*Try something new. This was a real eye opener for me. I didn't know that I love Indian food, or eggplant, or quinoa. And I was pretty sure I didn't even know what real ginger looked like, but now I have the knowledge to add taste, not fat.

 *Put some effort into it. I have worked out with Shauna for a couple of years, but only did my crunches when she was watching me. That doesn't even make sense, if you're working out, do a good job, sweat, and feel good about the time you are putting into it. If you want to  build endurance, have a little fun while you are at it. Do something you love, that makes you feel strong, and do it with fun people so the time flies by.

*Put some effort into figuring out your new lifestyle. Clearly you have access to a computer, I have spent countless hours scouring the Internet for tips and recipes and information to help me succeed.

*Don't be militant. Eat the things you absolutely cannot go without, just do it in moderation, and make great choices in between. Take it a day at a time, and don't beat yourself up. Just keep at it.

Most importantly, if you focus on what you are doing and your health, and less about trying to cram into a bikini in two weeks notice. It's going to come together, you are going to feel better, and that is going to inspire you to keep feeling better.