Typical Amercia?

I saw this photo the other days as I was scrolling through my news feed. For a second I smirked inside because I thought that is true for many Americans. However, I continued scrolling and then I decided I wanted to take a closer look at the picture. I really don't care who posted it or shared the picture, but after looking at the picture it really irritated me. As I thought about it, I thought how much time has changed.

One morning while training one of my clients, we started discussing her diet and how several months back she had purchased the whole NutraSystem meals and how she felt it has personally helped her. She didn't have a ton of weight to lose by any means, but after losing about 20 pounds she is now maintaining a healthy weight for her. She is off NutraSystem now, but maintains her weight by continuing to practice the same things that the program taught her. She learned and practiced eating more protein, consuming more veggies, getting active EACH day for AT LEASY 30 minutes, and lastly it taught her to eat several small meals a day WITH portion control.

Years ago typical Americans lived or worked on farms and had to work for their food. Typically, the mother stayed home and made 3 main meals. I find stories of how things were 50-60 years ago quite interesting and I have to process what has been the game changer for so many people now days. So much research going on and proving that people are more unhealthy now than they ever have been. Number one reasoning being that it's true, we move less. We aren't farming, we're walking less, riding our bikes less, and sit in front of screens several hours a day. Our TYPICAL 3 meals have turned into 3 buffet meals from a restaurant from down the street and you're told to eat as much as possible to make sure your getting your moneys worth. Upon thinking about all the factors, I asked my client if retirement played a roll in it all as well. She explained that when you retire, sure you think you are or will work as hard as you were previously, but you don't. One gets lazy sleeping in, reading paper, coffee dates, vacations, baking, cooking, and or whatever and you let your health slip up.

It is my understanding, that you can make a VARIETY of reasons (AKA excuses) of why you don't have to get active or eat right. No matter what age your at. Everyone wants to put in off! I've heard it numerous times, "When my kids leave the house, I'll start working out again", "I just don't have time", "I deserve this cake because I had a bad day" Or "I'm just going to sit here and veg out all night because you don't know what my day was like!"

My response, no I don't, but your day shouldn't be the basis of whether or not your going to have a good attitude, eat right, exercise, or treat people kindly. WE are in charge of our day to day grind. We are in charge of our habits, and we can change the poor ones. Bottom line, WE ARE IN CHARGE. And I hate to think that America equals being "Over the Hill" and unhealthy. I think the change needs to be in our thinking, that being Barbie isn't ideal either. However, what I PERSONALLY feel IS IDEAL, is that you make the goal to be a better person when it comes to your mental, spiritual, emotional, bodily wellbeing. Constantly begin each day asking how can I be a better person and end your day answering that question.



I wish you all an awesome week, stay focused on your goals.

BeBlessed
A

"Your weight loss doesn't make you a personal trainer or coach."

 

Just recently I had a friend post a status on facebook that said, "Your weight loss doesn't make you a personal trainer or coach." I liked the status, but as he is also a fitness guru himself, I wondered how others would respond to his post. 16 comments later, I saw a good majority of his facebook family agreeing with his statement. However, the one comment that caught my eye was the one that said, "True, not everyone can teach and coach, it's a calling from God".

I thought about that statement a lot as this week. My schedule changes a lot from season to season depending on what my clients have going on. As a trainer, I do my absolute very best to be the most flexible and understanding with rescheduling and scheduling clients so everyone is getting their workouts in. Now that school has begun, another change and more craziness of figuring out when everyone can train. (It's like a level 5 puzzle)

However, this last week beat me up as a trainer/coach/friend. I spend hours and hours on end with clients not only exercising, but texting to check up on them, emailing, helping to send out family friendly recipe ideas, family meal planning tips... and have gotten to know client's husbands, wives, children, and coworkers. In an hour of working out, clients will cover a multitude of things that's on their heart. Clients face family issues, work issues, money issues, personal self issues, death, stress, anxiety, guilt, or numerous other things. And besides the fact that I'm there to tell them the exercises that they are to do and how many, for how long, make sure they're safe, and mainly listen to them. I hear what's on their heart. I listen to what's going on in their lives, and sometimes I'm the voice or reason, or alternative perspective.

However my clients may view me, I'm not sure. Yes, I have my degree and my certifications. But I also have established RELATIONSHIPS. For example, the other day I had a woman come up to me just to thank me for always being encouraging, always smiling, and always challenging her. She informed me that the hour with me is the best time of her week. WHEW! I was HUMBLED. There are days when I FEEL like not smiling, and I FEEL like telling people to stop making excuses, and I DON'T FEEL like getting up at 4 am, and I don't FEEL like teaching another class, and I don't FEEL like talking, I'm reminded that God has allowed me to go through what I have not for my personal glory, but to glorify Him. That my struggles and triumphs are to help others so they may love and appreciate themselves. And I'm humbled because I KNOW that I couldn't do the crazy day to day hours with out his strength. So to everyone who asks me how do I do the early mornings, evenings, split days, my own personal workouts, and teach class... I DON'T DO it, God does.

BeBlessed
A

Who Me?

Couple weeks ago when the gym I work for released their new quarterly music for Group Kick (mixture of kickboxing), I fell in love. The music, moves, intensity, and energy is fun and motivating. Anyone at any fitness level can walk into the class, participate, and leave feeling like they might need to wring out their shirt.

But last week, I actually had the opportunity to sleep in. I slept in till the very last second and then had to hurry up and pack my gym bag, get dressed, and make a quick protein shake. I wanted to do kickboxing because I knew I would work a lot harder and I was just feeling like I needed a 'GOOD' intense cardio workout before lifting a little later.

The class had just started and was packed so I slipped in the back. I knew the warm up pretty well and as we kicked and punched our way through song two, I noticed two new ladies beside me. I figured they were new to the class, but not knew to fitness. Both of them (in my eyes) were quite fit. Sure they didn't know the routine super well, but they picked up fast. I moved in front of them for song three since we do a lot of moving and traveling on the floor. As we finished the forth song, one of the ladies pointed her finger from my bottom half to my upper half and said, "CLEARLY, you have this fitness thing figured out. Can you leave, your making the rest of us look bad!" I laughed and explained to her that I had taken the class several times and was getting the choreography down. She said, "NOOO, YOUR BODY THOUGH!!!" (Need I remind you this is a woman that 4 years ago I would have killed to have her body. Bikini PERFECT!) I laughed and awkwardly grabbed my shoulders and said, "ohhh, you mean muscle?!"
Her response, "yes, whatever your doing, your doing it well because your body looks amazing!"
I thanked her with doubt in my mind because I wondered if we were looking at the same person.

Her comments made me think though. I later went back into my pictures on my phone where I had initially lost my weight. I wasn't lifting nearly the weight I was then, mainly doing cardio. I was a tiny 134 lbs and looking back now, think I had reached a moment of a sickly "too small" trying to reach a specific number on the scale. Sure I'm bigger now after squatting, pressing, and pulling more weight, but we see ourselves bigger or smaller than what we really our. When I was 134 pounds I thought I needed to lose another 10 pounds. But now I know I needed to gain some muscle! It's a hard concept and balance to understand. This lady saw me as perfect, when I saw everything BUT perfect.

And that's where I encourage each of you. Set goals, share them with others, and encourage each other. . Surround yourself with like minded people who are working on being a better them with mind, body, and soul. Surround yourself with people who see you for you. Surround yourself with people who want to see you be better. This woman didn't know my journey, but her words definely encouraged me. I was encouraged by the fact that she saw muscles as a positive. I was encouraged by her words. Not because I'm conceded, but because she saw being beauty in fitness. Don't keep looking at the mirror and hoping for a change. Get after your change and challenge yourself. One of my friends always says, "If it doesn't CHALLENGE you, it doesn't CHANGE you".  Start challenging yourself to lift more, do more, eat healthier. Each day is a journey!

What are you waiting for? Today is your tomorrow, start now and start bettering yourself one activity and meal at a time.

Be Blessed
A

Men Vs. Women

Being in a gym setting the majority of my week, I see both men and women coming and going from the gym. I would like to say I'm not a creep, so I'll call myself a "People Watcher". And I'm viewing from the majority here...

I watch men walk into the gym with what I would consider their "game face" on. They have a one set mind as if they have been at work thinking of this workout all day long. They get right to work, and unless they are Mr. Social, they get their workout in, done, and they're out.

Then there are the women.  WOMEN are just COMPLEX! (Sigh) :)

However, the biggest difference I've concluded between men and women is how hard women are on themselves verses men. I've had a couple conversations with men where I've really had to take a step back and try to see things through their lenses (as scary as that sounds). Women, in general are their own worst enemy. We'll stand in the mirror for HOURS and criticize ourselves for ANY or EVERY imperfection. We judge ourselves before anyone else does. And most of the time we put ourselves down before anyone else does.

BUT MEN, on the other hand, they are their own personal cheerleader for the most part. Couple weeks back, I was talking to this guy about past sports and his exercise history. He told me he used to play football and so forth. He then asked me how old I thought he was. I said probably 30ish. He said 37 and I told him he was in really good shape. Definitely didn't look 37 at all. He smiled and said, good. But then after hearing about how active he was in his past and how his dad taught him the importance of being fit, it made me curious what his current fitness goals were. I guess that's just the trainer in me! His response though was one that I've heard several men tell me when I ask what their fitness goal is. He said, "to be the fittest 50 year old I can be!"

As I thought about that, I've come to the conclusion not that I want to BE a man. But that I would like to develop some of the same like-minded thinking. That I need to focus on being the best me, no matter my age. That I'm not here to impress anyone by how I look, and that I do what I do because I want to help others. It's so easy to get caught up in things that don't matter and that's the perspective I was able to see from this gentlemen's story. We're all on this journey and it should be for no one but for our own betterment.

I'm challenging myself to think less about why I'm doing something or how I look doing it and just DO IT. Don't overthink and just enjoy the process of becoming the best Alison that I can be.

I challenge and encourage you to do the same.

BeBlessed
A

Runners Supporting Movers

This last weekend was the Smokey Hills River Festival in Salina, Kansas. Since I've moved to Salina a few years ago, all I hear about is the festival around this time. It's as if the city shuts down for the event. Until this year, I truly never understood it t all. The festival is really geared towards fine arts and I can truly say the displays were neat to see. The vendors make some really interesting and amazing things as well. But the one thing that is cool about the festival is the 2 mile walk/run or the 5 mile run. It's every Saturday morning of the festival before the rest of the park opens up.

This year particularly, I decided I WASN'T going to run. I knew of a couple people who were runners or individuals who have walked in the past that decided they were going to do it long before Saturday rolled around. But as the weekend approached, I had more clients and gym-goers ask me why I wasn't running the race. I really had no reason to give them besides the fact that I just didn't want to. Thursday approached and a couple clients of mine who I never would have expected to sign up for a walk/run informed me they were, I began feeling bad. My 1st thought was, "I better get up and go cheer them on". But Thursday night before the race I laid in my bed debating about running the 5 miles. Then I remembered a vow I said to myself when I was training for the Oklahoma City 1/2 marathon. I vowed that as long as I have breath, and as long as I'm able to move, I will keep moving no matter how fast or how slow I am. (Besides, I'm an example to my clients! NO EXCUSES!) And so it was decided. I was going to run the race. I debated about just doing the 2 mile, but then after thinking about it some more, I realized I'm FULLY capable of the 5 mile run.

I showed up Saturday morning, registered, and saw each and everyone of my clients and/or gym-going friends. Everyone huddled together at the starting line. People were smiling, jumping around, stretching, and just full of excitement. As the gun went off, everyone took off down the road. I looked to my right and then my left, watched people of all shapes, sizes, and ages... all of which were moving. And I thought to myself,
"Look at him go!" and,
"that lady is killin it!" and,
"look at that dad pushing his daughter in that stroller, geezzz, I never want to push a stroller running!"
But I was just filled with excitement to see so many people moving. And I was reminded WHY I started running a few years ago.

I remember back to the days when I would get up to run anywhere from 5-10 miles before school. I remember running with a running team in my hometown. I remember always talking with other runners and how many miles they did that day. I remember the blistered and bloody toes. But most of all, I REMEMBER THE FINISH LINE! This year as I ran into the finish line, several of my clients shouted, clapped, and cheered me on. They could see how red my face was and as I passed by them, I took one earphone out and pointed at them saying, "I did this because of you"! They all laughed and it was a great time, but as I looked back at that morning, I was filled with joy. I was filled with joy to see a community of people supporting people who were moving.

So many times people don't do  5K walks or runs because they think they are for the "ATHLETE"... but guess what, if your moving, YOU'RE AN ATHLETE! That is why I love the running community, and that is why I love this community. True runners aren't prideful. True runners have all had a bad run. True runners have felt like they were going to die. True runners are humble. And lastly, TRUE runners acknowledge and support NEW (runners, movers, walkers, joggers, sloggers, plodder... or whatever else you consider yourself!)

Thank you to my clients and gymrat friends for the encouragement. I actually PR-ed at the race, shaving 2 minutes off my last years time. But ultimately, THANK YOU for holding me ACCOUNTABLE as well as being so supportive.

Surround yourself with positive and encouraging people.
BeBlessed
A

If FIT where EASY

Being a trainer, and once being in my clients shoes, I can honestly say the HARDEST part about my job is starting clients on a program.

I can remember when I finally made up my mind to get fit and sat down to look over my first program. I was SO excited! I was excited just like when I bought all the endless "weight loss gimmicks" off the T.V. and online. I was excited just like when I started the Atkins diet and bought endless diet pills. Everything I purchased, was instant gratification. I thought because I had purchased it, it was a done deal. Weight would magically come off and I would be skinny like all the magazine models. However, everything I purchased was full of promises, but not very effective. The one difference with my weight training and diet program was it took WORK on my end.

Weight loss was/is work and for me it looked like early mornings and late evenings. Weight loss looked like blistered feet, aching muscles and joints, growling stomach, and a desire to just jump in my bed and sleep off my soreness! I truly and honestly have been there! I hated trainers who I've trained with who were brutally honest to the point that they made me cry. I literally have been in the middle of a workout, eyeballs full of tears and fighting through every single set and rep. I've been there where I've laid down in the middle of the track bawling and praying to God that I could JUST GET THROUGH this workout! I GET IT, I'VE BEEN THERE!

And that's WHY I hate starting out new clients. I hate to tell people who sit in front of me full of smiles and excitement that this NEW lifestyle isn't that much fun. That this *ISH is REAL and this is going to take EVERYTHING within you to do. If weight loss were EASY, EVERYONE would do it. That changing a lifestyle that one has had for the last 10, 15, 20+ years is going to change more than just your body. That a lifestyle change might just mean losing friends who try to sabotage you and that the old habits you maybe used to have, might just need to cease. But tell someone who is investing in you as their trainer all of that up front. It's HARD. And that's usually EXACTLY how I wrap up our conversation. I tell my newbie clients, "this is going to be different, it's a lifestyle change, and it takes work! Be ready, I'm going to push you outside your comfort zone."

One client in particular has begun to open up as she has been training for 3 months. This was her recent facebook post that I was tagged in.

I love this post because the woman is real! There's nothing fake about her journey to get fit. There's been pain, tears, anger, bitterness, but from a trainers perspective and most importantly... GROWTH! This has to be the most rewarding part of my job. It's what makes it not a job... My job is about creating relationships where the individual gets to the point of trusting me enough to listen and take my advice. I can honestly say, most clients I start with, I swear they hate me. They come in with this poker like face that says "TRY ME". And with each client, I have to prove myself to them. Some don't take long, others are like a rock. I have to prove that I'm not full of empty promises and hat I will be there- that I'm not going to give up on them. Some move towards their goals like flowing water, while others... we have more white waters and waves. But either way, we're on this journey together. We're here to do this and I'm here for them. I'm not a trainer full BS or scientific talk that is unable to relate to people. I'm a trainer that truly cares and it's my desire that I can inspire, encourage, and empower my clients. To each their own on how they go about training, but my style is my own and I will meet each client at their level so we can grow together. It is my desire to help others.

BeBlessed
Alison

Emma Creek 5K

Saturday, April 26th several women from Genesis Health Clubs gathered in Heston, Kansas for the Emma Creek 5K walk/jog/run. The significance of this race is to celebrate Women's Health and Fitness. It was my 2nd year of participating and it was my goal to get as many women that I know to participate. Several of my clients were able to go and I couldn't have been more excited.

We arrived early so we could pick up our packets, take pictures, talk (and drink coffee)... Right before the race, people split up with a partner or in groups of people who were walking, jogging, or running about their pace. Those running were right up front of the starting line. All of us took off at the pop of the gun and push forward through the Kansas wind. People were all over the race path encouraging all the participants. Cop cars and race workers lined the roads so that no one got lost. It was absolutely one of the best 5K races I've done as far as being professionally done and no confusion.

Of course I had my own personal goals, it was my goal to actually run the race. For those of you who know me, know that my fitness journey actually started with running. When I started to make healthy choices for myself 3 1/2 years ago, I was embarrassed to do any activity and that's why I started jogging. I was embarrassed to go to a gym. I was embarrassed to walk, jog, slog, run outside because I imagined cars driving by would be making fun of me. However, the more I did it, the more comfortable I became in my own skin. With becoming comfortable in me, the healthier I became, and the more confidence I gained. I ended up running 2 half marathons and numerous 5 and 10 K's... HOWEVER, my last 5K was June 2013. I had changed my cardio to HIIT and teaching spin last fall. I knew my biggest challenge for this race was that I've spent the last 8 months in the weight room lifting my tail off, and not running. I had no idea HOW my legs would react to running a little bit longer distance. Let's just say during the race, it wasn't too bad, my quads were burning... BUT the day after the race... MY CALVES! Holy crap! I honestly can say I've NEVER been this sore after a run. But ALSO, my lifting partner and I lifted legs right after we got back from our run. The pain,
possibly a combo of everything, but I'm definitely paying for it today.

So what did I gain from the whole race day experience beside being completely sore?

A sense of EMPOWERMENT. I've preached since day one that my ultimate goal as a trainer is to EMPOWER individuals. And truthfully, nothing meant more to me than watching people who did the race last year to do it again this year as well watching those who have NEVER done a race. The women yesterday did the race I'm sure for several personal reasons, but to me, watching so many women come together for a common interest, to CELEBRATE THEM, means the world. Taking control of my health was the best thing I did for myself. And that's what I pray for all the individuals that were apart of yesterday. I pray that they all see themselves as strong, beautiful women with nothing holding them back. We are the only ones to hold ourselves back, and so with that said, I hope more will participate next year for the Emma Creek 26th 5K Walk/Jog/Run to celebrate being WHO they are and LOVING themselves.

BeBlessed
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