Just Curious

I was curious to know what is keeping you from being physically fit? What types of things keep you from working out at least 3 to 4 times a week? I am interested in your answers and would love if you could take the time and e-mail me an answer if you so desire. I don't want to feed you any answers or excuses, but I can't help but wonder what the reasons are for each person.

Is it lack of time or money? Is it lack of motivation? Are you easily distracted by other obligations? Do you just hate to exercise? Is it lack of support from family or friends? Is it something I am doing or not doing to help you in your journey?

One of the many things about this job that I enjoy is that I get to hear all of the excuses. Some are real and can't be avoided. Reasons like a sickness or just plain too sore to work-out today. Other excuses I just have to laugh about them. My beloved husband told me once that the reason his buddy from work got up and worked out everyday was because his buddy was in really good shape already! I thought to myself...duh...how do you think he GOT in such good shape. I am glad to say that my sweet hubby has made the connection and can no longer use the "I am out of shape so I can't work-out" excuse. He is in great shape because he is working out on a regular basis! Go figure!

I have started a list of the best excuses for not coming to class that I have heard over the past 2 years. Some of you will remember telling me that very excuse and others will just shake your head and laugh! I am not going to post them today, but maybe one day I will. Remember I am laughing with you not at you.

Anyway, if you get a minute...really think about what is keeping you from achieving better health through being physically active. I am just curious to know. You may e-mail me your answers to Cindy@EDGE-SP.com.

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Success of Failure

"The most difficult journey is back to the place where you failed" -Max Lucado

I came across this quote today and it really caught my attention. I think so many of us fail and then are fearful to begin again. If you find that you are back to that place where you failed in the past just remember you can always start over. Whatever it might be...weight loss, starting an exercise program, starting a new business after other's have failed, healing a relationship or even recovering from yet another injury. Just remember you can always have a do over, a new beginning or a fresh start!

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The Lineman and The Runner

Arm Burnout from Runner Susan on Vimeo.

Bread and "Butt"er

In a never ending battle to maintain my weight loss I am trying an experiment. I have decided that I have to give up some of my beloved bread. I love bread almost as much as my first born child and at least as much as chips and queso. I have realized in the last 48 hours that bread just might be doing me in. I have been having 2 slices of whole wheat bread with my breakfast each morning. My experiment has been this...I am not eating any more bread during the day...only at breakfast. I know it is early, but in the last 48 hours since doing this I have noticed that I am less bloated and my stomach seems flatter. My "inches" around my waist seem smaller and less noticeable. My jeans feel less tight on my legs and booty. I feel like I am not retaining so much fluid that you could pop me like a water balloon. Remember that it has only been 48 hours. I am hopeful that I am on to something here. I will keep you posted.

I have read many books and some state that you have to watch bread intake when you get into your 40's! I am starting to believe that they just might be on to something. I love bread! Please be clear on this! I think most people are very tolerant of it. I just think that for me the answer is the bread just goes straight to my "BUTT"er!

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Just Give Me the Fat Facts

I continue to have conversations regarding body fat and how to determine it and how to determine what a healthy body weight is for each individual person. I received an article from ACE that is very informative and you may read it by clicking here. My adult fitness client Jill sent me this link and I found it very interesting as well. You may read it by clicking here. I think that sometimes you do have to just do the work. Eat well with a watchful eye on portions and types of food you are eating. Exercise so that you are burning up any additional calories that you might have consumed. A great way to log your exercise and food intake is by signing up with Calorie King. They have a wonderful database for all foods and their nutritional and calorie counts are listed as well and you can add in your exercise for the day to find out an estimate of how many calories you are burning. You may check out their website by going to CalorieKing.com. Other websites that you might find interesting are the My Pyramid which is sponsored by the USDA. This website has a ton of information and is free to use. You may find their information by clicking here.

One of the phrases that they said repeatedly during the nutritional seminar I attended at the Cooper Institute was "Calories in calories out!" The Cooper Institute also has a great website called Stand Up and Eat. You may find their information by going to standupandeat.org.

Finally, I wanted to add something that my sweet husband said the other day. My adult fitness client Jill was feeling disappointed that the scale had not moved but she continued to lose inches. My husband overheard the conversation that Jill and I were having. He told me later that all Jill really needed to do was "Throw out the scale and just look in the mirror!" Jill has lost well over 20 pounds and looks great. I think my husband was right on target with this observation. I think we get caught up in the numbers game with the body fat measurements and the read out on the scale. Sometimes all we really need to do is LOOK IN THE MIRROR! I have found that the mirror can be really honest.

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Runner Susan

This post is dedicated to my client, training partner and friend Runner Susan. She is off to Chicago tomorrow to run the Chicago marathon on Sunday. She has trained hard. She has trained harder than any other time I can remember. We have done leg torture and track torture for weeks now. She has run on her own and with our friend Massoman. I can't think of anything else we could have done to prepare her for this marathon. I would love to see Runner Susan shave 15 minutes off of her marathon time, but part of me doesn't care about that because she is a different athlete now. She knows that she can train and train well. She is stronger, leaner, more buff and faster. Her mind is stronger. I have enjoyed the journey and I know that Runner Susan is prepared.

My thoughts will be with you on Sunday. When you get to mile 16, 21, 25...remember that you are strong and that you can run like the wind! Remember that you are STEALTHY! So with that "Good Luck Runner Susan!"

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For additional information on Runner Susan and to visit her blog and wish her good luck click on her name above.

Fiber One Chewy Bars

I am all about the food and I have found a real gem. Fiber One Chewy Bars are awesome and provide 35% of your daily needs for fiber. They are also lower in sugar than most bars at only 9 grams per serving. They come in 4 different flavors: Chocolate, Caramel, Peanut Butter and Strawberry. I have tried them all and they are GREAT! It is the perfect treat if you need something sweet. One thing I have noticed is that with fiber comes the dreaded flatulence aka GAS!! I would suggest taking a food enzyme diet supplement before such as the product Beano! Like the commercial says...take Beano before and there will be no gas afterward. Spare your loved ones and trust me on this one!

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I Surrender

I love to run, but my knees have turned their back on running. I have grown tired of the constant pain after running only 3 miles. I gave it a year for them to be OK with running after the dreaded knee surgery and they continue to tell me NO RUNNING!! I surrendered to my knees and bought a new bike. I love to ride my bike. I have almost no pain after riding up to 10 miles. This is an awesome feeling indeed. I have one thing to say about the bike riding. It will work your legs like nothing else. As my friend Runner Susan would say...you can't stop and walk when you are tired on your bike or you will fall over!! Lesson learned! It is truly a great leg work-out and your glutes will be screaming as well. When you got a little junk in your trunk like me then that is a good thing.

My first bike rally will be this Saturday the 4th for the http://www.tourdeargyle.com/ bike rally. Runner Susan and I signed up for the 7 mile family ride. Please join us if you feel the desire. I am sure it will be a great feeling to ride with a group at a pace in which I can keep up.

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For additional information on Runner Susan click on her name above.