Comments (27)

By kilax, January 22, 2016 4:31 am

Last year I wanted to focus on doing more strength training at home and not just rely on getting it in 2-3 times a week teaching class.

That was a bit of a fail.

I did 18 strength workouts at home last year. Compared to teaching 117 classes. Better than nothing, for sure, but I didn’t put in the effort I could have.

But! I can already tell this year will be different!

Something about having a designated space in the basement, where all the weights are set up together, near the bikes, makes me more likely to use them. I get off the bike (or home from a run), and head right over to the weights. And I enjoy it.

We had this weight rack and bench in our bedroom at our townhome, but it felt inconvenient to use, and we definitely didn’t have this much space. I am getting stoked about setting our equipment up in the basement at the new house! We have a decent size unfinished basement to use (this is just part of it):

And I am also stoked to show you guys more house pictures when we close (maybe in a week?!).

Anyway. I think this is a case of setting myself up for success. I didn’t last year, but I’m going to this year!

Comments (16)

By kilax, January 21, 2016 6:23 am

• Hmm, so much for a no chip manicure. My thumbnail chipped on the fourth day. It has a crack in it though, so maybe that’s why? The other nails are still doing great.

• Ha ha, I am such a liar!!! I wanted to give the MBP bracelet to Mom or Christina when I saw them last weekend, but I didn’t want them to suspect it, so I asked Bobbi to text me when she was checking in on Data that she saw him playing with the bracelet at the house. Only, I sent her that photo and actually had the bracelet with me the whole time. Ha! My mom and snis were totally tricked when I showed them the text from Bobbi, and I laughed really hard when I got a text from my snister when she found the bracelet in her purse on Monday at work. Buah ha ha. Ha. Ha.

• Still no close date on the house! It’s all dependent on when the appraisal comes back, if it requires any repairs, the seller signing some clause, then a request for clear to close. And all those timelines are up in the air. I kind of feel like we’re just going to get an email that says “Your close date is tomorrow!” and I am going to respond with “I can’t go tomorrow, I’m in training/with a client!” Sigh. But we’re moving forward with some stuff, like deciding on appliances. And getting quotes from movers. Whatever. I am chill about it. It is what it is.

• This tiny little pink hat didn’t even fit Bobbi’s youngest daughter’s head! Gosh, I really messed that hat up. Bobbi’s daughter said she’d like a hat, in purple, if possible, so I made her one, in hopefully the right size. Look how fun the yarn pattern turned out!

• The super awesome thing about our new house is that it’s 5 miles/a 10 minute drive from Bobbi’s house. We’re practically neighbors!!! YAY!
• Did you guys see this article (pdf here) about the new Mio trackers that will track your steps, as well as your heart rate and give you a combined score they call PAI – Personal Activity Intelligence? The idea is that people need more than a goal of 10,000 steps a day (did you know that goal is from a campaign from Japan… from the 1960s?!) – they need to focus on getting their heart rate up, too. So these Mio wearables track both and give you the PAI score, which you want to keep above 100. It’s cool that you’ll actually get credit for things that don’t include steps (like riding a bike). I am not surprised to see something new from the wearable/trackable industry. I see so many people wearing these things, it makes me wonder when the bubble is going to burst, and people will lose interest. Gotta come up with something new to track, to keep people engaged!

Link to Random Thoughts Thursday 82

Comments (15)

By kilax, January 8, 2016 12:45 pm

For the entire year, but especially January:

To all the friends/family/acquaintances/strangers you see beginning or restarting their fitness journey – BE ENCOURAGING. BE KIND. BE PATIENT.

People succeed when they’re part of a supportive group of people sharing a similar goal (in this case, becoming healthier). Be part of that group for them. It’s hard enough to be consistent with a fitness routine. Don’t make it more intimidating for beginners.

If you’re working out for the first time, starting up again, or trying to ramp intensity up – BE ENCOURAGING, BE KIND, BE PATIENT – with yourself.

It will be hard at first. Know that with consistency, it becomes easier. Don’t dwell on what you could do in the past. Life is static and we change. How boring would life be if we didn’t have continual hiccups giving us an opportunity to demonstrate our resilience?!

I’ll never forget the January a few years ago when I decided to redeem a Groupon for a few classes at a local kickboxing studio. I was stoked – I love kickboxing. I ended up being disappointed.

The instructors made a judgment on my abilities before they spoke to me and put me in a group below my abilities and left me there. No effort was made on their part to find out I’d done this before – although I think they quickly realized I had, yet they still didn’t challenge me, reach out to me, or communicate effectively with me. Did they not want to put any effort in me, because they thought I was some “resolutioner” who wouldn’t take classes again? They certainly made me feel that way.

As someone regularly attending fitness classes and on the heavier side, I was frustrated with their judgment, but it encouraged me to work harder (and yeah, I never went back, because the atmosphere was obviously not right for me).

And they can suck it, cause now I teach my own fitness boxing class. Nope, not bitter. Ha!

I doubt it would have that effect (to work harder) on everyone, though. What about the people who were starting out there for the first time, as their first workout, in a long time? How would it make them feel? How about some communication with the new students? How about making people feel welcomed? How about asking them about their goals, strengths, weaknesses and contraindications?

I’m grateful for that experience, because it taught me to never be that way as a personal trainer. To never judge someone new, no matter the time of year.

It also made me realize one of the coolest parts of my personal trainer job – being a cheerleader! I get to see my students work hard, grow, accomplish their goals and set new ones, and I get to cheer them along. How cool is that?! Rah rah!

But you don’t have to be a personal trainer to be a cheerleader. You can CHEER and be ENTHUSIASTIC for anyone and yourself! Remember that friend who mentioned starting a fitness routine? Inquire about it. Feeling frustrated with how hard your workout was? Be enthusiastic that you gave it a go, anyway. It WILL get better.

And please, PLEASE, keep in mind that there is something different for everyone. Don’t brush off the fitness program someone decides to do because it’s never what you’d choose, or because it wouldn’t be challenging for you. Don’t be pushy about what you do, or judge people for not being able to do what you do. How boring would life be if we all did the same thing?!

Ok, preaching over.

But one more time: rah, rah!

Comments (31)

By kilax, November 5, 2014 5:03 am

From last December to May of this year, one of my Monday night Efit students (and friends!), Dawn, also brought her oldest son (a high school junior) to class – to take the class, as well!

From last May – Dawn and her older son two in from the right

Dawn’s older son left the class in the summer and has now “graduated” (hee hee) to one-on-one sessions. But this Monday, her younger son started taking the class with us!

From Monday – Dawn and her younger son three in from the right

I have to say, I think it’s pretty darn cool for high school students to be taking strength classes with a parent. I mean, it’s one thing to know that your parent works out, and to simply be encouraged to do it because they do as well, but to see them in action? And workout side-by-side? Neat-o! I think that is so fantastic!

Oh, and let’s note, to like your parent enough to work out with them (and in public! ha ha) says some awesome things about your relationship, too!

In high school, would you have worked out with your mom or dad?

I actually did in high school – my dad played volleyball with friends one night a week, and I went with him several times. I really enjoyed that one-on-one time… and learning lots of colorful language!

Comments (19)

By kilax, October 30, 2014 6:44 am

Would you feel more comfortable teaching something to a group of people you know or don’t know?

I saw this post pop up on my Facebook feed and was excited – they’re talking about a new class I’ll be teaching!

Then I was like, “holy crap that class starts this Monday,” and “ahhhhh, I’ll be teaching a bunch of strangers!!!

But hey – they’re only strangers the first time I meet them, right?

The unique thing about the studio where I teach strength class is that people sign up for classes for the month, and may take the same “night” of class for a long time. It ends up being a close-knit family cause you see your group every week for months on end! Drop-ins happen, but not often.

Sooooo… I end up knowing most of the people I teach really well, which gives me lots of advantages – I know their strengths and weaknesses (and can plan workouts focusing on them), I know their injuries (and can modify for them), I know their weight range (so I can tell them safely which weights to use), and I know their likes and dislikes and personalities. AND… they know me and what to expect. And I know I can get away with cheesy jokes and bad dance moves and a bit (oops) of swearing.

I don’t have that with a class full of brand new people, but! I’ll figure it out quickly enough and make class fun for them. Ha, and if not fun, at least challenging/worth their time!

Comments (28)

By kilax, October 18, 2014 6:30 am

What do you think of the statement highlighted below?

I read it in an article (pdf here) from the October issue of SELF, about a woman who thought she hated group exercise classes, but just had to find the right one – the Tracy Anderson Method. And as the paragraph above mentions, she was partially encouraged to try it by the way the trainer’s body looked. 

I’ve been thinking about that statement a lot. I am a certified personal trainer. I teach a strength class. I think if people decided to take my class based on that criteria, no one would take it.

Don’t get me wrong – I want the strong, muscular body I have, but I don’t really expect many else too. I am just not your typical trainer build – mostly of my own doing, and partially genetics. I will always have a larger, more muscular frame. And there are so many different body types in the classes I teach… I think it would be odd if we all had the same ideals for our body. 

But you do want a trainer with a body you can admire. One who works hard for results, and has a workout routine you get excited about. 

Hmm. 

Comments (33)

By kilax, October 15, 2014 11:55 am

In April I decided I wanted to get some blood work done. I had never had it done before, and thought it would be a good idea for several reasons: to get a health baseline, because I follow a specialized diet and wanted to see how that was affecting me, and most importantly, because I had been recently been feeling very fatigued in the sun and sweating out a lot more salt than normal. 

Per my health insurance, I had to get a physical in order to do this. When I called to make the appointment, I found out my regular doctor no longer practiced at the office I go to. I decided to try a new doctor in that office, because I had liked the first one so much, and because the office location is so convenient for me. 

This ended up not working out very well. The new doctor and I did not mesh. At all. 

He teased me about my paperwork. “It says here you are divorced and remarried!” Um… what? Why would you joke about that?

He teased me about my vegan diet, and asked ignorant questions that a doctor should know the answer to. “So, you eat fish, right?” Really, dude?!

He told me I needed to lose weight – which is fine – I did. I told him I was aware of that, and that I work out a lot (running 30+ miles a week, teaching strength classes, etc.), but struggle with binge eating. He recommended walking after dinner. “Oh,” I asked, “because that would be a good distraction from sitting on the couch eating snacks?” “No,” he responded,” because Europeans do that and they’re thin. You need to exercise more.” Um… did you listen to me AT ALL?!

Sigh. I was so frustrated. I’m not a super serious person, but apparently, I don’t want a sarcastic doctor (who is not a very good listener). 

It’s not like me to put up with “service” like this and not say something. But I was really there for a means to an end – to get my blood results and to ask about the salt issue (which, by the way, I had to ask him as he was trying to leave the room – he never asked if I had any questions – and which he blew off). So I didn’t say anything. I just knew I would be looking for a different doctor, or maybe clinic, the next time I need that sort of assistance. 

Why share this now? Eh, I’ve been thinking about this since April. It’s not my intention to share this to complain, but to say that while it put a bad taste in my mouth for that particular doctor, it didn’t for the healthcare system. I know quite a few people who are anti-doctor and I don’t want to be like that… I am just anti-bad fit (and that doctor could be just the right fit for someone else!).  Finding the right fit is hard (gah, especially with therapists!), but, it’s worth it. So my pep talk is… don’t give up!

Oh! And the blood work looked good! I was just low on vitamin B12, which is very common for vegans, and treatable with a vitamin supplement. 

Comments (24)

By kilax, April 8, 2014 3:30 pm

Dang, someone with iOS 7.0, help a sister out!

Ha ha. So I stumbled across this Shape Magazine opinion article in my newsfeed – Worst App Ever Makes You Look Skinnier in Selfies (pdf here), and had to laugh, for several reasons:

1. It’s a bit hypocritical. Um… I realize this is an opinion piece, and I see why the author said “an app that serves to make you look thinner just reinforces the ages-old idea that you should be striving to live up to an idealized version of women that doesn’t exist.” But really – the next article in my feed from Shape was called “7 Foolproof Fitness Tips to Reshape your Figure” with a picture of a fitness model that I doubt many of us will ever look like and… was probably touched up. Come on. Be yourself! Wait, change your body! Ha ha. I know, it’s not the same, but, like I said, it made me laugh. 
2. That seriously can’t be the worst app ever. How about this one?
3. The article shames women who post selfies. “A recent British study shows that people who post a lot of photos on social media networks like Facebook have less supportive bonds with friends and family than those who don’t.” How much is a lot? Should I be worried?! Is there a BuzzFeed test I can take to see if I have more or less supportive bonds with family and friends than other people in my Facebook circle. Seriously. I am worried. Okay, not really. 
4. If anything, doesn’t this give us more of an even playing field with those “idealized” pictures?! 

The sad thing about this app, is that I cannot even download it to try it out. I have to have iOS 7.0, and my phone just isn’t letting that happen. Sigh. In the meantime, I looked at these pictures from the app that show what this nice looking woman could look like, 10 pounds lighter. I made this gif to show you where they are making the changes. 

What the heck. If I am paying 99 cents for an app to make me look skinnier, you better make my body smaller, too! Grrr. Guess I will just stick with my old tricks:

Ha ha. I don’t alter my body. The #1 thing I change on pictures before sharing them?! Removing zits! Someone tell me their favorite app for that! It would be great if I didn’t have to edit photos like this before sending them to friends:

Oh, or I could just put makeup on over it? Hmm, that’s a novel idea. 

As you can tell, I am not one to do much with my make-up, hair, or clothes, and am pretty happy with myself the way I am. But all joking aside (yes, this entire post is a joke, except me saying I am happy with how I am – that is true) I do see how someone who has self-image issues might further them in using this app, but to me… it’s just another silly app to play with (if you have iOS 7.0). Another time waster!

Do you have any image altering apps on your phone? I just have a bunch of photo editing ones, none specific for people, but I have altered lighting to help photos look better!

Comments (39)

By kilax, March 3, 2014 4:31 pm

Woo hoo! Tonight marks a year that I have been teaching the Monday night strength class at Essential Fitness LLC (Efit)! The first class I taught was March 4, 2013. 

Ha ha ha! Very funny that the March chalkboard from last year said “goodbye snow!” on it! We just got dumped on with snow this Saturday. Love me some snow. 

And now, for a recap of each month of teaching and what I have learned, including many, many pictures…

Just kidding! no1curr!

A lot has changed in a year though (gah, I hope, right?). I got my ACE personal trainer certification in July. I continue to study each week (Data is still “Study Cat”!) and take continuing education.

I’ve expanded my music horizons a lot to try to find good tunes for class (I still prefer 80s tunes and classic rock the most, it seems!).

I started teaching the Friday 5:00 am class in September. And I taught my first cycling class this weekend!

I sport my Efit gear for as many things as possible! Ha ha! As I’ve mentioned – Efit is my workout family!

And two very important things:

1. I’ve made awesome connections with the people who take Efit classes. I sometimes feel odd calling them “students,” because we teach one another! And it’s really cool, with so many classes offered (every weekday), I’ve gotten to workout with many different people – whether they are taking my class as a make-up class or switching to Monday nights for awhile. 
2. I’ve had so much support from family and friends. Several family members and many friends have taken my classes, sometimes driving from over an hour to come. That means a lot to me. As it does when they check in to ask “how class  is going.” Thanks for all your support!

And the most awesome thing about teaching? GETTING TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO!!!! Ha ha ha. That is about the only area in life I get to do that. It’s fun. Heh. 

So tell me, what do you like about the group fitness classes you take? I am always looking for tips and ideas!

Comments (42)

By kilax, January 23, 2014 12:26 pm

… from my earlier post. Ha ha. Because three more bullets would have been RIDICULOUS.

• It’s always nice to get a response to a comment you leave on a blog! I’ve been trying to reply to the comments I receive more quickly, to encourage interaction. Do you like it when blog authors comment in a more timely fashion so you can keep the conversation going, while the post is still “current”? Or do you not give a crap? 
• So, how annoying is it to have an instructor in a fitness class who tells stories/makes bad jokes? Sometimes I am soooo hyper when I teach, and little stories/jokes just come out. I try to keep it to a minimum. But I also don’t want to teach a silent class. Besides the music playing, I am usually counting (including missing numbers), reminding what the proper form is, and telling people where they should be feeling the exercise. 

• One of my BIGGEST pet peeves is when people pluralize/make possessive proper nouns/names that are singular. Ha. I am sure I messed up a ton of English rules in how I wrote that (and probably didn’t even get it right), so let me know if I bug YOU! But anyway, some examples would be calling Aldi Aldi’s, or Panera Panera’s, or JCPenney Penney’s. Why does this make me bonkers?! Grr! Anyway, dear readers, please let me know if you have any incorrectly pluralized/made possessive instances like this for me to add to my list. I am doing research on it, and am going to write a book. Just kidding*. But I was wondering if there are any others I should watch out for and correct people on**. <— me so nice

*But I would be curious to know what is up with that. I understand an older generation doing that, as they may be more accustomed to stores being owned by someone, and the store name being a possessive name. Maybe. But why do younger people do it?! WHY DOES IT BOTHER ME SO?!?!
**Ha ha. So I called my mom’s mom*** out on this, saying “You don’t make things singular that already are possessive, so why do the opposite?!” And she is so funny, she called to tell me, she was going to “Kohl.” Not Kohl’s, but Kohl. So now we call it Kohl. 
***She also calls a sandwich at Subway, a subway, not a sub. So I tease her about this, too. She finds it amusing. Thankfully. Ha ha. Because I HAVE to tease. IT’S MY ONLY WAY OF COPING.****
****Note: I am trying to be funny with most of this. Trying.