You Big Fat Butt Is Not My Problem!

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Have a healthy day!

I Am Not The Size Of My Thighs!

I am not the size of my thighs! Nor am I the color of my hair, the car I drive, or the label I wear.

So why do we, as women, equate our worth to the size dress we put on? I will admit it openly that I feel better when my pants are an eight as opposed to a twelve, but why? I am so much more than the sum total of the tags in my wardrobe. I have allowed others to define what beauty is, choosing to accept their definition, but no longer!

We are all so much more than the expectations of the fashion, entertainment, and fitness industries. These corporate creatures have lead us to believe in a specific stigma of beauty, which now is disappearing as the dinosaurs of our past...or so I hope.

I may be writing myself right out of a career, but I feel it is necessary to share my observations of what many women express to me. As a personal fitness trainer, women often ask my for assistance with their so called "problem areas". They point to their abs, grab at their thighs, slap at the underside of their arms, all the while using derogatory remarks about their own bodies, as if separate from the soul. They are seeking to diet and exercise their way to a more perfect body, never seeing how perfect they already are.

For today (and everyday is today in the moment), let us look at ourselves and see what is RIGHT about us. Choose to never forget the beauty already inside of each one of us! Because you are not the size of your thighs either!

Have a healthy day!

America IS Running On Dunkin'

Now understand, I have nothing against Dunkin Donuts. That being said, if "America Is Running on Dunkin" as their advertising campaign says, then America is running on empty.

I was attending a "non-fitness" conference all weekend, so none of my fellow fitness pros were there. I always bring my own food to these classes, and yes, they are healthy foods to give me energy and add to my learning. The other attendees bring their own snacks too, but I was amazed how many people brought in boxes from Dunkin Donuts! The advertising must be working.

What you may not realize is that Dunkin does not make you run, donuts will put you to sleep! The energy you get from eating a donut is going to get into your blood system for a quick boost, but 45 minutes later your body has released insulin to absorb all of that sugar and then your energy will crash! I saw many sleeping heads in the room over 2 days. By the way, where do you think you body then stores all of the sugar it has collected? Bingo! In fat cells.

Snacks such as donuts, candy, cakes or soda rob your ability to remain awake and alert for long durations of time, and if I have paid for a conference I want to get every detail out of it I can. Not only that, but what is the primary activity during conferences? Sitting, not exactly and effective way to burn off those extra stored calories!

So what is a healthy snack? I take almonds, apples or carrots with Peanut Butter, hard boiled eggs, protein bars, and lots of water. That way I am sure I am keeping my body fueled with energy for long days of learning, and I get the biggest bang for my buck!

There was a reason the slogan didn't say America runs on Donuts, and it had nothing to do with the coffee!

Have a healthy day!

True Commitment

"True commitment is continuing to do what you said you would, long after the emotion you declared it in is gone. "

How does this relate to yourself and your life? How does this relate to your fitness program? When you made the commitment to yourself that NOW was the time for you to get in shape, lose weight, or workout, what was the emotion or feeling you were experiencing? Was it hope? Was it excitement? How long did the feeling last, and did it affect your progress? Did you stop progress when the emotions were gone?

Sometimes in life we get stuck, we feel unmotivated or we lose our focus on the goals we have set for ourselves. What do you have to do to keep you commitment alive when you are ready to quit? Have a plan.

Plan out the steps it will take to complete your goal, whether in fitness or otherwise. Start from the end and work your way backward, clearly outlining each milestone and task you need to take so progress can continue. If you find you are lost or unmotivated, refer back to your outline, view it like a road map to your goal. It will guide you along your way to complete any task you want.

Complete this outline when you set your goal. Keep the outline somewhere you can see it everyday so you may be reminded of your goal and the spirit in which it was founded. If it seems to lofty, keep focusing on one step at a time. As long as you keep walking forward on that path you will always achieve anything you want.

Have a healthy day!

SAY IT ISN"T SO!!!!!! :-( 8 LBS!

OH NO!!!! SAY IT ISN'T SO!!!!

I have gained EIGHT POUNDS!!!!

That's it, my life is over! I am going straight to bed and eating anything I want!

I QUIT!!!!!

Have you ever had this conversation with yourself? Felt so terrible about gaining a few pounds that you became frustrated and resigned, creating even a deeper hole to dig out of? I was feeling that way last week...for about 5 hours. I went to my endocrinologist for my annual appointment, already suspecting my thyroid levels were off again, and I got the news: I had gained 8 lbs in the past year! Oy Veh! What was really the shocking to me was that I new I had put that weight on mostly in the past 3 months. And even though she told me my thyroid levels were off, hence attributing to my weight gain, I went to "that place". That place where I feel fat and ultimately unlovable, in some sick way. So I can COMPLETELY relate to anyone who has felt similar feelings.

The question I have for you is: How long do you allow yourself to remain defeated if you have gotten off you fitness track? How long are you saying mean and untrue things to yourself that ultimately hurt you even more? Here is my challenge for you: Get Off The Negative Bus, because it is getting you NOWHERE!

Instead, get present to all of the amazing things about yourself...IMMEDIATELY!!! Write down all of the things you like about yourself and your life, then you will have a fresh pair of eyes to see yourself with, and from there you can create anything you want! You will see, in the scheme of life this is only a minor blip, and may even HELP your weight loss, believe it or not. You just shocked your body, and now it is really for anything, including losing more weight!

Bottom line: remember, it is not about HOW YOU LOOK, it is ALL about HOW YOU FEEL! So FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOU AND YOU CAN CREATE WHATEVER YOU WANT IN YOUR LIFE!

Have a healthy day!

Attention ALL READERS!!!!

I HAVE A HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT, WELL, 2 HUGE ANNOUNCEMENTS!

WOOHOO!!!!

The first is: I am soon going to stop blogging here at Blogspot....but do not fret, because I have a NEW BLOG! And it is on MY WEB SITE!!!! (That is my second announcement!)

WWW.CURVYGIRLFITNESS.COM IS LAUNCHED!!!!

I have not been blogging much in the past week because it took me quite a while to configure everything for the site. (Even though my buddy and mentor Joe Stankowski said it would only take 10 minutes....but he is FAR more technically savvy than I) And while it is still a work in progress, that is where you will be able to read my blogs, as well as see my Vlogs and podcasts, bootcamp video, hear about any products I launch, etc.

It is all SOOOO exciting!

I will continue to post here and there for a few weeks, but I encourage you to hop on over to www.CurvyGirlFitness.com and subscribe to email updates there on my home page!

So click on the link, subscribe to the blog and watch out for more great info!

Thanks for reading!

Have a healthy day!

Tone Those Arms!

My younger sister's wedding is next month, and yes, we are wearing strapless dresses for all the world to see our arms. So what is a girl to do when she is faced with an impending deadline and a lifetime of pictures to look back on? BODY BLADE!

The Body Blade is a funny looking piece of equipment. See for yourself here: http://www.bodyblade.com/

I often take my clients out to local parks to work out, and whenever we use the Body Blade it draws in some attention. To many people it looks as though we are preparing to sword fight and are swinging our way into battle, I have even heard comments like: "those look dangerous." Whatever onlookers are thinking as they watch our sessions, one thing is for certain, the Body Blade produces RESULTS...especially to the arms, shoulders and core.

I train men and women, but the majority of my one on one clientele are women 40 and over, and they all have a similar, chronic complaint: the jiggle on the back of their upper arms. I have been training women for years using many different types of exercise routines, and I have to admit the Body Blade targets the upper body and core and produces fast results. And no, I am not being paid for this endorsement, I just enjoy this product and so do my clients.

The Body Blade is easy to use and most people report it is fun too, and I have to agree. With one simple piece of equipment I can train a client's entire upper body. Throw in some squats, lunges, step ups and intervals and we have a complete training program with one piece of equipment. Now I really do sound like an advertisement.

Remember, it is important to vary your workouts, no one resistance training routine will solve all of your fitness needs, but this product is a simple, efficient and inexpensive piece of the puzzle. I hope you enjoy using it.

Have a healthy day!

I"M STRESSED OUT!!!!!

Well, no I'm not stressed out, but someone very close to me is.

How is your day going? Are you stressed? Tired? Totally done?

Take a minute, sit still, and breathe. Seriously. Taking a minute to yourself and gathering your focus on something as simple as your breath is a huge help to calm your nerves and de-stress.

Now, focus on something you can do to further your recovery: can you take a walk? Can you call a good friend? Maybe you can go take a kick boxing class....preferably the one you actually put gloves on for!

It has been proven that exercise is an amazing antidote to temporarily reduce the effects of stress. Regular exercise can help reduce the health related consequences of stress.

So if you are at work and you feel as if you are going to "lose it", walk up and down the stairs or go outside for a brisk walk. You may feel better equiped to deal with the situation upon your return.

Have a healthy day!

Laughter Is The Best Medicine

I am leaving you today with a joke.

Laughing is a great way to train your abs, so I hope you get a good laugh out of this joke my sister Gigi sent me.

Have a healthy day!

Please note: This is ONLY a joke! Not intended as fitness advice! (Disclaimers are funny sometimes, aren't they)


Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true? A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables? A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system . Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake? A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up! < /FONT>

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio? A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc. &a mp;n bsp;

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program? A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you? A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! .... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more ve getables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle? A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me? A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure? A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle? A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!


Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets. And remember: "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intent ion of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride"

AND......For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies. 1. The Japanese eat very little fatand suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fatand suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.4. The Italians drink a lot of red wineand suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans. CONCLUSIONEat and drink what you like.Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

See, Even The Experts Agree

The Harvard Medical Newsletter today reported that in order to achieve a healthier, fitter you, you must add weight training to your workout.

But don't take my word for it, see for yourself: http://clicks.health.harvard.edu/dm?id=60D81F4AF42FDCD9E1990163302E8A86778F9F64377ED311

There are so many positive reasons to weight train...in addition to the vanity motivators. Let's face it, even if you are lean you may not be fit. If you cannot walk up a flight of stairs without huffing and puffing, then chances are you could benefit from weight training. And let's face it, if your posture is closer to a question mark than an exclamation point, you could use a little weight training...unless the Hunchback look has come into fashion and I didn't notice.

What is most important about weight training is proper form and technique. You can take classes at your local gym, hire a trainer or buy a quality video to help you with this. No matter what you budget, there is an option available for you.

So take a quick gander at the article and let me know what you think. You only have your health and well being to lose.

Have a healthy day.

A Spoon Full Of Sugar

Did you know that being overweight can cost you more? Yesterday's Associated Press reported that some companies are now determining your health insurance premiums based on your life style. You can see the entire article here:
http://health.yahoo.com/news/179186;_ylt=AhdePsYxTu9oOftCkCVGUQqmxbAB

In a nutshell, employers are beginning to feel the burden of the obesity epidemic in their pockets, and they have found a solution: if you weigh more you pay more. Obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are some of the determining factors in how much someone would pay for their share of employer based health benefits.

Luckily, there are bonuses too. Some employers are offering bonuses to employees who practice healthy lifestyles and reduce health risk factors or maintain good health.

So here is the question: Is it fair? Well, let's look at it this way, do you like paying higher premiums for car insurance when you have a spotless driving record, but you neighbor is averaging 1.2 fender benders a year? Doesn't your car insurance policy reward you with a lower rate for your abilities? Is that fair?

We are now living in an era when health insurance is becoming a luxury item. The burden placed upon health insurance costs over the next 15 years are going to sky rocket because of the obesity epidemic we as a nation are facing. So I have to say yes, yes it does seem fair that I would pay less for insurance than someone who eats at McDonald's 3-4 times a week if they are truly basing the premium difference on PROVEN CONTROLLABLE side effects of living an unhealthy or high risk life style.

And please don't blame it on your Thyroid, I have Hoshimoto's Disease and have been treating my hypothyroid disorder since 1996...though THAT disorder is probably going to be protected under the Americans With Disabilities Act....so you will be fine.

Have a healthy day.

A Spoon Full Of Sugar

Did you know that being overweight can cost you more? Yesterday's Associated Press reported that some companies are now determining your health insurance premiums based on your life style. You can see the entire article here:
http://health.yahoo.com/news/179186;_ylt=AhdePsYxTu9oOftCkCVGUQqmxbAB

In a nutshell, employers are beginning to feel the burden of the obesity epidemic in their pockets, and they have found a solution: if you weigh more you pay more. Obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are some of the determining factors in how much someone would pay for their share of employer based health benefits.

Luckily, there are bonuses too. Some employers are offering bonuses to employees who practice healthy lifestyles and reduce health risk factors or maintain good health.

So here is the question: Is it fair? Well, let's look at it this way, do you like paying higher premiums for car insurance when you have a spotless driving record, but you neighbor is averaging 1.2 fender benders a year? Doesn't your car insurance policy reward you with a lower rate for your abilities? Is that fair?

We are now living in an era when health insurance is becoming a luxury item. The burden placed upon health insurance costs over the next 15 years are going to sky rocket because of the obesity epidemic we as a nation are facing. So I have to say yes, yes it does seem fair that I would pay less for insurance than someone who eats at McDonald's 3-4 times a week. If they are truly basing the premium difference on PROVEN CONTROLLABLE side effects of living an unhealthy or high risk life style.

And please don't blame it on your Thyroid, I have Hoshimoto's Disease and have been treating my hypothyroid disorder since 1996...though THAT disorder is probably going to be protected under the Americans With Disabilities Act....so you will be fine.

Have a healthy day.

The Key To Health

Continuing on my healthy lifestyle blog from yesterday, I found a report from the Harvard Medical School Newsletter promoting the virtues of exercise as a critical component to health and longevity. You can read the article for yourself: http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/HEALTHbeat_062107.htm



But here is a quick quote from their June 21, 2007 newsletter:

"In a nutshell, exercise can:
-reduce your chances of getting heart disease. For those who already have heart disease, exercise reduces the chances of dying from it.
-lower your risk of developing hypertension and diabetes.
-reduce your risk for colon cancer and some other forms of cancer.
-improve your mood and mental functioning.
-keep your bones strong and joints healthy.
-help you maintain a healthy weight.

-help you maintain your independence well into your later years."

When you are sick, you do not feel good, you do not want to get out in the world and live life to the fullest. When we are sick life has to slow down until we are better....and some of these illnesses take months or years to recover from, if you can recover at all.



Find time for fitness and exercise, there are more reasons to do it everyday.



What is your motivation?



Have a healthy day!

Health Insurance Headache

WOW!!!

I just got off the phone after applying for medical insurance, and WOW...they ask a ton of questions. All I can say in response to the questions is: THANK GOODNESS I WORKOUT AND LIVE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE!

The questions about past medical history are intense, and it gave me a reason to pause and be thankful. I am thankful I am healthy, and I am thankful I am able to get coverage. If it were not for my current insurance being extremely weak, I would not have taken the time to get new insurance in the first place....so I guess I am also thankful for the terrible, horrible, painful cold I had over a month ago which let me see how bad my insurance was. In a nut shell, it covered ZERO! So onward and upward.

Insurance is meant to be there so you can use it if you need it, but so many people are needing it, and needing it more often. Over the next 15 years, obesity and obesity related illnesses are going to strain our health care system in a way never seen before. It is a simple fact: as you get fat you get ill, and not in one or two small ways, but in multiple system and functions. The joints start to ache, your respiration and circulation are compromised, the hormonal and pituitary systems go out of balance, blood pressure, cholesterol levels and heart disease increase in relation to your body fat percentage. There are almost no positive side effects, if any, to being over weight....but there are many negative ones.

So why not focus in feeling good! Feel good about moving more. Feel good about eating healthy. Feel good about getting enough rest balanced with enough activity....start to focus on feeling good and how living a healthy lifestlye can be amazing! You can refer back to my video blog for more about this, it is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQVaaUadhuk

Curvy Girl Fitness is about ACCEPTING your body, it's size and shape, and then learning to love it and treat it with respect. Respecting your body includes feeding it healthy foods, moving regularly and avoiding unhealthy behaviors. Curvy Girl Fitness is about loving yourself and wanting to live a better, healthier life in the body you were blessed with, not using it as an excuse for gluttony and sloth.

Remember: if you do not make time for health now, you will have to take time for illness in the future.

Do something healthy...one thing.....everyday, then you will be on your way to a healthy lifestyle. Who likes to be sick? Not I.

Have a healthy day!

(Wo)man's Best Friend

I had to say goodbye on Friday to one of my best friends, my nine year old Boxer, Porter. He had been sick for the past month and the time had come not to let him suffer any further. So now I am suffering....it is amazing to me how much I am grieving the loss of my favorite dog. These amazing creatures never hold a conversation with you, but somehow they get right to your heart and soul and literally become one of your best friends.

Porter was a rescue dog, adopted from a local shelter, and I can not believe how lucky I was to have had him in my family.

Dogs add so much to your life: they can be an incredible workout partner, always ready for a run or a walk. Dogs can cheer you up when you are feeling down or lonely (how many times I went out on a bad date, just to come home and find my two boyfriends waiting at the door for me). Dogs can offer you safety by barking or growling when you need to be alerted.

But the most important thing a dog can give you is unconditional love. My dogs never cared if I left them for 2 minutes, 2 hours or 2 days, when I got home they were always there to greet me, wagging their tails waiting to say hi. And isn't that what we all are searching for in this life: someone to love us unconditionally? Well it turns out to not be a myth after all..... :-)

To my dog Porter: I love you, and Preston and I miss you. Thank you for being the world's greatest dog. Thank you for being my dog....you were one of a kind.

Things That Make Me Go HMMM....

As you may already know, I often train my clients at local parks and waterfronts. Being outside allows my clients to have a greater variety of choices in their workouts, while adding a social component to our training routines which would otherwise occur in private homes and gyms.

It also affords us another opportunity: people watching.

During one of the workouts this morning I saw something so ironic it made me laugh. The area in which I live has a relatively large Chinese population, and for months my clients and I have been greeted with warm smiles and waves from our Chinese counterparts. Consistently, we are sharing the park with about 12-15 people working out in various forms: walking, running, callistentics, stretching, Tai Chi, and even pull ups on the local trees. But there is something striking about these fitness enthusiasts: their ages probably go from 70-90+ years old. No Kidding. What is even more facinating is their ease of mobility. These ladies and gentlemen walk at a brisk pace, swing their arms, stretch and rotate freely! They don't limp or shuffle. Their posture is relatively good, and their joints appear to function normally...and I will reiterate...they are no younger than 70!

So what made me laugh? One of the women carries a cane, though her gait (walking pattern) appears to be strong and balanced. I would have to guess she is in her mid 80s, she is one of the regular walkers and Tai Chi participants. Today she was completing her normal morning laps, and she passed someone, not quickly, but she passed him and lapped him around the park. No big deal, except he was 6 feet tall, about 250 lbs and only around 30 years old! She is 80, 4'8" (on a good day) and carrying a cane!!!!

Now, I can guess with some certainty these people are immigrants, as none of them speak English but often attempt pleasant comment on our workouts. As Americans, we are from one of the richest countries in the world, yet our citizens do not place so much emphasis on their own physical well being. My observation of the Chinese athletes (I am calling them athletes) is they see the importance of moving every muscle, every day, and it has increased their longevity and vibrancy in life. They walk through the park swinging their arms in all different directions. They do jumping jacks, clap their hands, twist and turn.....could this be the fountain of youth?

What a concept...just move! No equipment necessary. Just move, and walk and talk with friends at the same time...it really could be that simple!

I don't know about you, but I think that is one of the most positive thoughts....because it is so simple, anyone could do that everyday. We still need quality food and clean water, but WOW! What if being healthy and living a long active life is just THAT simple? I wouldn't mind being out of a job if it meant the world was a healthier, happier place, because that is a world I would love to live in!

Have a healthy day.....get out for a walk!

How Much Is Too Much?

I love tennis, and right now the US Open is in full swing! I will log many hours by my television with my laptop or a book in hand while tennis is on, I just can't seem to get enough of the athleticism and finesse these athletes exude.

This year's tennis tournaments seem to be plagued by their own sports scandal, but it has nothing to do with steroids or gambling. This plague is a simple but deadly demon: over training injuries. Consider this: the tennis season begins in January and runs through September. There are four major events, but many, many additional tournaments all year long to help player ranking as well as income levels.

The US Open Series runs almost CONTINUALLY from July 17Th until September 9Th, with some tournament actually overlapping start and end dates. Now, if you are one of the players on tour you are playing, with very little recovery time, continuously throughout the ENTIRE season....so it is no wonder the athletes are plagued with injury.

The sport of tennis has constant repetitive motion, on various hard, soft or slick surfaces, and the matches last from 90 minutes up till 4 hours or longer, mostly in the heat and humidity of the summer sun.

Some of the top names, if not most, are suffering from chronic stress related injuries, and one top ranked player, Kim Clijsters, has retired because of the exhaustive schedule.

So what is my point to all this? It is a perfect example of what over training or singular (one method) training can do to the human body. So why are you still taking the SAME spinning class you have for the past 3 years???? Your body has to be wearing down physically after so much repetition, not to mention that your body has mastered that motion and does not burn as much fat as it used to. Cross training, in every area of your fitness routine, is crucial. So get out there, try new classes, use new equipment, find out what those huge beach balls and half balls are in the anyway...then use them a few times. (BTW, the half ball is a BOSU and one of my favorite pieces of equipment)

You may be both surprised and relieved by the results. As they say, variety is the spice of life!

Have a healthy day!

Don't Lose Weight, Feel Good

A Little Inspiration

I don't normally blog about spiritual subjects, but today I am.

Click this link http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/

Dax Moy, a personal trainer in the UK, sent me this link a few months ago and I just played it again.

It is quite possibly the most beautiful message I have read in my entire life, and that is not an exaggeration.

See for yourself.

You may just want to share this message with others too, as I am now. And while you are at it, send them a link to www.curvygirlfitness.blogspot.com, and share the gift of fitness inspiration!

Have a healthy day