Friday

My friend Lanse

There is FIT-spiration around us every day.  I'm overwhelmed by people's amazing stories every day in my job as a trainer!  I want to talk about how my friend Lanse is inspiring to me and everyone around him.  When I first met my friend Lanse at the Y, he was just starting his fitness journey.  He was a really de-conditioned guy who was looking to make some changes in his life for the sake of his health and to serve as a FIT role model to his family.  Not only is he living that life of better health now, but HE'S LOST 100 POUNDS!  (The old fashioned way- no pills, no gimmicks, just hard work!)  Lanse brings his kids and wife to the gym so they can practice health and exercise together.  How great is that?!

Over the past several years, Lanse and I have gotten to know each other pretty well.  He is an ever-positive presence at the gym and is ready to light the fire under anyone that wants to get in shape.  Lanse went from "on the couch" to being a cycle class teacher and cycling-guru.  He is an ambassador for the Tour-de-Cure diabetes ride and recently had his story published here:  (It's a MUST READ!)

Lanse will be the first to tell you that living a FIT life doesn't happen overnight.  He will also agree with me when I say that you have to have a FIT mindset to go with the FIT physical self.  His persistence and passion impresses me and his attitude is contagious!  I think he is trying to pull people off their butts one at a time!

Keep going, Lanse!  I'm proud to know you!

Wednesday

Pay it forward

When I train clients, I am striving to be a teacher and a coach....I don't want them to ultimately rely on me or any other trainer to ensure their lifelong health and fitness success.  It is a real delight when I hear clients talk about "ah-ha" moments or show real understanding of change in their lives.

Recently, I've had a few clients pay forward their realizations to other people in their lives... one challenged her co-workers to take on the same veggie challenge that I had proposed to my clientele last month.  She's also talked with her patients about making "small changes" and tackling one thing at a time.  Yes!

Another gal brought a friend to a session recently and that friend said that my client had encouraged her to drink more water during the day.  As a result of carrying a water bottle around instead of grabbing a pop, she lost a few pounds and fit into her clothes better.  Yes!

So.....my clients ARE listening to me!  Ha!  In all seriousness, if someone finishes their time with me with even a small nugget of what to do in a workout and what to eat and they are feeling good about themselves, then I've done my job.  I hope to set them all free to go forward and prosper as their best selves- physically and mentally.

Pay it forward to your loved ones and make a difference.

Tuesday

Just one

Today, I ate a cookie that was as big as my face.  Peanut butter.  It was REALLY good.  I've been thinking about that cookie for a few days now.....it was one of those, "I'm really hungry for _____" moments.  Yes, I get those every now and again just like everyone else.  What may separate my cravings from someone else it that I can be in control.  I can have JUST ONE.  Oh, and I plan it into my week to have something like that.

Call it a "freebie, splurge, cheat," whatever.  If you stick with your tip-top eating for 90% of the time and have a treat 10%, you can still see results.  Sound too hard?  Well, if you break it down like this, it's not so bad:  I eat 5 times per day for 7 days of the week, so 35 times per week.  10% of that is 3.5.  I can technically eat 3.5 treats (small, reasonable portions) per week.  That's how I look at it.  When I do have something that isn't on my plan, I don't pig out to the max....I just eat enough to satisfy what I wanted to taste and move on.  The next meal or snack is back on the plan.

So, today, I was running errands with a hungry stomach and the idea of a cookie was screaming at me.  I didn't want a package of cookies or box of cookies or to even bake a batch of cookies...I wanted A cookie.  Something I could eat once and not be tempted by again.  I knew that the local Co-Op had a small bakery section with delicious looking fresh cookies, so I drove over there and got one.  One.  Then, done.

The lesson there is to make it an effort to go get your treat.  Don't keep it in the house or even buy a whole package of something because you'll have repeat eats.  Go get it-- buy ONE--(or a single serving bag of something)-- be done.