fitness

That Bullshit, Non-Existent, Right Time

/ Sloan / 1 Comment

Come on Sloan, get your shit together. 

I’ve avoided wordpress for some time now. I haven’t completely avoided writing, or speaking, or life, I’ve just avoided this particular site due to wanting to do it right. You would think that I’d have learned by now, there is no RIGHT way to do things. Things aren’t just going to happen, We have to work for them. And right never really comes. If we can do something perfectly the first time, why bother?

I worked hard on a couple essays last month and actually read them. In front of people. Those hours I spent in front of the screen prove that work pays off, I didn’t wait to work, I just did it. We get applause and encouragement when we make that effort and not only that, we get results.

Right now I’ve started back in school. I did school once, graduated with a BA, learned some stuff, had a few jobs, learned what I DON’T want. This school is not traditional school, not at a college or university. I’m spending the next six months (minus 2 weeks) in the basement of a big office building, in the gym. These past two weeks I have learned what the Rectus Abdominus is, and what a joint action is and which direction they go with what movement.

I finally pulled the trigger to learn how to be a personal trainer. I have wanted to do this for close to eight years. When I look back at myself eight years ago I was in college, I was running 30 miles a week, I looked fit and healthy. Probably weighed a few dozen pounds less than I do now. Why didn’t I do it then? Fear, lack of confidence and knowing I wasn’t practicing what I would be preaching…

Why am I doing it now??! Not because I had an epiphany, not because the time is right. my life has never really lacked direction–it’s always pointed me in the ways of: Writing, Travel, Fitness, Education, a direction I just didn’t really know how to harness. A direction that I lacked confidence in.

I’m not skinny. I USED to be, I USED to be REALLY skinny. Well, kinda too skinny thinking back. So skinny that I was proud of myself on days that I was under my allotted 900 calorie goal. PROUD of starvation. Gross. I knew I was doing it wrong but I got results, as a former fat-girl every pound lost was a victory. This was not the mentality of a successful trainer and I knew that. So I held off.

As years and pounds added up I wanted to wait until it was the ‘right time’. When I could fit back into those smaller jeans, when I could run a faster mile, and like the reflection a bitmore–those goals haven’t happened and I finally decided that I was sick of waiting for that bullshit, non-existent, right time. The time is now.

I’m not skinny, but I’m healthy. I’m healthy and excited about making other people healthy and excited. Honestly, my body confidence is low right now, but in the past two weeks I’m learning, I’m studying, I took a test today and I think (I HOPE) I did well. I’m going through a program that is going to boost my knowledge and by having that knowledge I can only imagine that my confidence will grow.

What’s held you back? What propelled you forward when you knew you needed to make that move? Where are you now?

The Battle

/ Sloan / Leave a comment

I start to sweat. My normally low blood pressure rises and my heart pounds even when my body is not working that hard. I get anxious and stressed out. Running, swimming and hitting the gym don’t do that.

I have such a love hate relationship with mountain biking. It’s a battle. A battle with Logic. Logic is the cautious side of my brain. The side that generally wins because she’s in control, she calm and cool. Logic fights with Competition, the side that peaks her evil head out rarely, but when she does she makes me uneasy. But that side also tells me to push harder, faster, further and makes me do things out of my comfort zone.

Logic tells me to stay on the easy double track; no rocks, roots or puddles to trip me up and knock me down. Then Competition chimes in and yells for her to shut the eff up, to go for it, to get uncomfortable and challenge not only my body, but my mind—basically my entire body: Mind, Body and Soul are put on edge during a ride.

 

I love and hate this so much. But yet I continue to do it—so it must be good.

             

Chicago. Margs. Fitness.

/ Sloan / 3 Comments

Mixing it up is one of the best things to do when you’re trying to get in shape, see a new place and have fun. I, for one, like to combine all of these things to bring joy and fun in my life. I just spent the Fourth of July weekend in Chicago with a good friend of mine and on top of seeing the sites of the city, tasting the delicious food it has to offer and drinking the syrup of the gods (aka: Margaritas) we also took part in an awesome work out with Kira, from Comfy Fitness, in the park outside her studio. This way we were able to get outside, enjoy the beautiful sunshine of the morning and not feel as guilty when we indulged in the evening.

 

Kira’s bubbly personality and itty bitty frame was deceiving, this lady kicked our asses and took a few names while doing it. The only equipment we used were our bodies and a 5 pound weight, this makes the workout super easy to mimic at home where you don’t have lots of fancy studio equipment.

 

Bursts of cardio in one-minute intervals that were partnered with strength building exercises got my booty moving and sweating. While we skipped through the park, did net jumps in place and did jumping jack punches we had a bit of an audience, but the calorie burn and beautiful sunshine-y day was worth the bit of attention we got from random people driving by.

 

One thing that Kira said during the work out that stuck with me and will continue to haunt my workouts when I just don’t think I can keep going was: “You’re only cheating yourself if you don’t do each exercise fully.” Think about that next time you want to half ass a jumping jack or a push up—it’s bad enough letting other people down in other parts of your life, but one thing that you can truly prevent is letting yourself down—do it to it to it’s fullest! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

 

If you’re ever in Chicago, or live there now I encourage you to check out Comfy Fitness—Kira is truly passionate about fitness and enabling her clients to reach their full potential!