Monday, December 20th, 2010
Today I look a day over 40. Why? I am! Yesterday was my Big 4-0! Woot! Okay, enough joking around…
I’m more vain than I care to admit. A lot of whether or not I’m happy any given minute depends on how I feel I look physically. I’m not proud of it, but I’m not alone. With time I become much more accepting of my physical self, but I have a long way to go. Part of my problem is that I chose a profession with an element to it wherein my would-be “clients” shop with their eyes. So my love of good health and how to help others attain it has sort of shot me in the foot a little there with regard to where I wrap my self-esteem. I’m dealing with that in many ways. Aging helps and hinders the process, but it seems to be a forward-moving process, thankfully. And most who spend 5 minutes or more with me realize that I know what I’m talking about, thereby (I think) being less concerned with my physical imperfections. Assuming they were in the first place. Most of the time, I get a “Wow, you look great for 40!” so I think most of this is (and was and will be) of my own creation. Ironic considering how many would be surprised to how nonjudgmental I am of that sort of thing when it comes to other folks.
I gave up on perfect a long time ago. If we’re talking just about physical appearance, I looked about as perfect as I was ever going to look just a few years ago. I felt great about myself, much more confident. But that time period also put me in close contact with other women who were SO wrapped up in their physical appearance, that: a) They never looked good enough; b) There was nothing else to them. And how could there be? I know that for that brief blip on my 40 year screen, the extreme effort it took with nutrition and training to (naturally) achieve that extreme of a look felt like a part-time job. It was hard to foster any relationship unless it was with someone who shared the same pursuit at the time, or maintain an interest in something other than asparagus and interval cardio. Needless to say, it was not the time to take up a hobby. Unless you consider trying not to be a social leper at special events a “hobby”.
My first physique show. When I had the thought: "I love you, Honey, but I'd sell you for a cookie right now", I knew this would not be a long-term activity for me.
One thing that has really helped me embrace the “me” that’s more than the meat suit within which my spirit is housed is delving into interests beyond fitness. This year, for example, I’ve taken sewing lessons and I’ve even been painting with friends, something I can’t wait to do again! I’ve been much more social and I’m sinking my teeth into another aspect of my career—segueing it into something that will enable me to help people improve their health on a much deeper level. Not only will that stimulate my brain—something I need—but it will indirectly help me with my own psychosis, reinforcing to me that optimal (dare I say “radical”?) health goes way beyond one’s dress size or eyelash length. So in big and small ways, artsy-craftsy or extra-intellectual, I’m moving beyond what I see in the mirror. And where I work I’m quite literally surrounded by mirrors, so that’s no small feat.
Pillowcase I made for my hubs in sewing class. Hopefully that makes up for the sell-you-for-a-cookie thing...
Does this mean I’m packing it in to search for meaning outside of my bod? No, of course not. Without a really healthy physiology, how in the heck am I going to feel well, think well, function well—all necessary things for having the time, desire, and aptitude to do things outside of fitness activities. It just means I’ll care a little less about how I look while I’m doing them. If you are at all like me, I suggest reaching beyond what’s apparent to the naked eye, and realize that it’s okay to be a dynamic person devoting time and energy to varied interests. And that it’s not ALL about looking good… naked.
Picture I painted at Sips 'n Strokes with some great gal pals. It's "perfectly imperfect". (The "sips" part helps with its appearance. 
)
Tuesday, December 14th, 2010
With the New Year just around the corner – yikes – I’ve been taking stock of the past 12 months, looking at where I was at the start of 2010 and where I am now at the end. For those of you out there, like me, who keep track of your training, I urge you not to fall prey to the comparison game.
I’ve fallen into this trap many times. For example, last year at this time I was doing cardio 4 to 5 days/week. Right now I am lucky if I get in 3 days, sometimes its only 2. This is where the comparison begins and it is easy to want to beat myself up for not doing enough cardio. This is the type of behavior I need to knock off, and you likely do too.
Once I take a step back and look at the bigger training picture I also see that I am lifting 1-2 more days per week than I was last year at this time. But once I realize the switch in what I’m doing, I move onto the next comparison. In years past I would workout twice/day and now, that never happens. But again, there is a simple answer for that. First, I have been putting in more hours at work. Second, I have no desire to go back to the gym after work. Third, not working out twice per day has not negatively affected either my performance or my physique. And fourth, I have much more time to spend with friends and family.
However, regardless of whether I am doing more or less than I was a year ago, I need to stop the comparison. I am not the same person I was a year ago and neither are you. When I take a step back and look at what I want out of my life in this moment, the response is not the same as it was last year. As a result, my training is not going to be what it was a year ago either.
What is my point to all of this you ask? Too often we use our training as a measure of success. However, not in a way that is at all accurate. It would be one thing to set out a six-month goal and once those six months have passed, look to see if we achieved what we set out to. And if you are doing that, I applaud you. That is a rational way to measure your training. But that is not the measuring most of us are doing. Most of us are taking and comparing only one aspect of our lives – ignoring everything else that was going at the times of comparison.
Last year you might have just finished training for a marathon and this year you did not. Last year you might have been working on improving strength and this year you are working on improving speed. Last year you might have been unemployed and this year you might be working 80 hours/week. Regardless of the specifics, you are comparing apples to oranges.
In the end of the day, the best thing to do is sit back and look at where you were, as an entire person, 12 months ago and compare that to where you are now. Once you have that baseline, then you can move down to the specifics of training. Now, and only now, can you say “hey, I’ve been slacking and that’s unacceptable” or “hey, I’ve been slacking but that’s because I am now a part of this great non-profit organization that takes up my time after work so I can only get in my training in the morning, and that is more than acceptable.” But had you not assessed your life as a whole, you never would have been able to realize your charity work is eating into your training time and you are ok with that trade. Only after we assess our lives as a whole can we really make any realistic conclusions.
And in my case, last year I had just come back from the Women’s Tri-Fitness and was on a cardio tear like no other. I am much happier now that I have a more manageable schedule and more balance in my life. Especially when at the end of the day, my level of fitness has not changed and I train just as hard! If you don’t believe me, go do the functional workout I posted right after thanksgiving . This is not a free-for-all excuse for not getting it done. However, if you are reading this blog, you are probably like me and not one slack off and look for excuses. Instead you work hard at every aspect of your life, rarely giving yourself props but constantly finding reasons to cut yourself down. And using your training (or anything else) to do that is not ok, so let’s all (as Jodi would say) knock it off. I’ll try my best to do so and urge you to as well.
Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
What happens when the goal that you choose is far off from completion and very hard to quantify? You find every possible way you can to stay motivated by looking for all the places you can give yourself credit!
I get the whole humility thing (more than you will EVER know) and I understand not wanting to think that you are more than you are. But there comes a point when you really have to knock it off and give yourself some credit.
I had a great time yesterday training a client who I really love but do not get to work with on a consistent basis in the gym. She is an online client who asked if I could come and work with her in person to make sure she was on point. Of course I said, “Sure!” In the 3 months she has been working with us, she has come a long way because she honestly puts everything she has into workouts, her menu choices and so on. She has truly engulfed herself in her program and it shows in how much she can lift now vs. before, the weight she has dropped (7 pounds to date but weight loss is not the primary goal) and her new level of fitness. Her goal is body composition change and out of all the goals–this one is the hardest–because it takes time…and lots of it.
Body composition change, as a goal, means that you are very close to ideal weight range for your frame but you are what some folks might call “skinny fat”. The frustration of this goal is that you do not get to see the scale go down endlessly like a pure weight loss goal, you really rely on pictures and body fat tests. This is hard when you are working like a dog and you have “nothing” to show for it in terms of quatifiable numbers. Yes, you can measure body fat but how many of us get that test done accurately, often? You don’t. So you *hope* your bodyfat is changing favorably and you hope your pictures give you something to be excited about.
But what’s getting her to the point where she is dropping weight, exceeding her original level of fitness and lifting like a champ now? Perseverance. Dedication. Hard work. All kinds of good stuff! But if you had a conversation with her, you would think you just ran into Eyore of Winnie the Pooh: “I can’t do this.” “I’m not strong enough.” “I get so tired.”
WHOA! KNOCK IT OFF!
We are trained to look for the things we cannot do and need to improve so much, we forget about the things we can do and have mastered. In three months alone she now:
Squats 2/3 of her weight
Deads the same amount (THAT is awesome!)
Has QUADRUPLED the amount of push ups she can do
Has increased her cardio capacity by 400%!!!!!
Has these awesome looking delts (seriously, she has some caps showing up)
Lost 7 pounds
Her energy is through the roof
I honestly could go on for days. I almost got her in a head lock and gave her a noogie when she said that she needed to get better. WHAT????????? Needless to say I rolled out the “You need to give yourself credit and change your mindset” lecture that I had stored in the trunk of my car. That lecture is always better than the “You are not serious and you’re wasting my time” lecture I sometimes give but not as good as the “I wish I was you, can I have your babies” lecture I roll out on the all stars. She’s getting there, though. If she changes the way she looks at herself and her progress, this girl will be fierce!
So what is the point of all this? Are you dumping on yourself today? I know you may think you are “positive” because you look forward to your workouts and you don’t grumble in that manner but are you giving yourself credit where it is due? How often do you say job well done? I have become very sensitive to people’s disposition. Mainly because mine is so sunny. Seriously, I am blessed and it is my mission to show you how much you are, too.
Today, stop…and smell the roses! Or in New England, stop…and rake some leaves. Whatever works for you!haha BUT, love where you are and how far you’ve come no matter where you are how far you’ve come. Got me?
You will meet this girl when we roll out our Wall of Fame. Stay tuned for January…{
Thursday, November 4th, 2010
Yes…we are.
There is much going on here behind the scenes. It’s kind of cool.
I had much on my mind when I wrote the Power of Ten article a few weeks ago and much of it is coming to fruition:
Joanna, as you know is going behind the scenes. She is helping us with the much needed re-design of MP4 and the development of our affiliate companies. Who is coming to forefront will be announced tomorrow. Just know, great things come in small packages.
MP4–and the rest of our affiliate companies–are going live in 2011. (Wait for that info…you will like it when you hear it.) And when it does, there will be more MP4 staffers coming out of the wood work! Very excited.
Our blog is getting a face lift and with the addition of our new blogger and MP4 staff member, we will take on a more refined approach to the information we provide for you.
All of the programs mentioned on the blog thus far will be released in 2011. They will enable you to reach your goals, both weight loss and performance, in an organized, affordable manner. Your food will be done for you, your weight training, functional and supplementation schedule laid out for you. Short of it working out for you, it is complete!
Heather is moving to the Northeast. Oh wait, did I say that? Ok…she’s not, but I tried. Haha! Wishful thinking.
The sister company to MP4, for those of you who want what MP4 has to offer but are not prepping for an athletic event, is on the way. This has been the number 1 request of 2010. “I love what you have done for me and my ‘fill in the blank’ is not getting ready for anything, can she still work with you?” Up until now we have said no. But not anymore. Many are hounded when they are in the gym by folks wanting to know ‘who they are training with’ because our programs are so fun and unique. If you are tired of the same old weight routine that looks like it was plucked out the back of a magazine, just know that there is more to working out than a four day split. Or if the power/Olympic lifting thing is not quite for you, just know again that there are options out there that get you to the same place without you having to learn a clean and jerk.
Have patience with us as we unfold everything over the next 3 months. Email us at info@modelper4mance.com because many things will be in place before you see it on the site so keep in touch. Although I will say, there are lots of you who are doing that already and we thank you for your support! Hang tight!
Friday, October 15th, 2010
The ModelPer4mance Athlete of the Week is: Patrizia Prew
If we asked your coach or training partner to list three words that describe you they would be: Healthy-Strong-Motivated
What are you training 4? Amica Half Iron Man 70.3
What is the best nutrition or training tip you’ve ever been given? Nutrition is critical, eating well and hydrating goes a long way to improve your ability to exercise and train.
Tell us about your most memorable athletic achievement? Crossing the finsh line to the RI Amica Ironman at 7 hours and 8 minutes . It was my my first triathlon. In January of 2010 I learned how to swim and iIn 6 months of training I was able to complete a 70.3 mile race. Being an IRONMAN I learned alot about myself and my body.
Describe your perfect workout. Swim Bike Run! I love doing bricks!!
What motivates you on days you don’t feel like working out? I will call up one of my 2 hot mamma friends “Kelly or Case” and they will make me forget about being unmotivated and make me think about getting stronger and tighter!
If you could workout with anyone in the world who would it be and why? That’s easy…. Michael Jordan.
What is your favorite workout accessory? I love my Nike Shocks…they have lot’s of bling and sparkle and are super comfy!
What kitchen gadget can you not live without? There is no greater love than a great set of knives!
What was the last thing you’ve had to eat today? Steamed Chicken and Vegetables
What book or magazine is on your bedside table? Skinny Bitch
What beauty product is always in your purse or gym bag? I can not live without my MAC dazzleglass!!
What is the most played song on your iPod? Black Eye Peas
The first place you go when you log on to your computer is… I check my email.
When you’re not working out where can we find you? On an adventure with my family.
What’s your motto? Yes I can!!!
