Enjoy The Journey!

Running and I have had a long on and off again relationship. I remember my first run; recently quit smoking and still mourning the death of an incredibly close friend. I was 18 years old and desperately yearning to feel something other than the usual swing between apathy and despair. Mind you, at this point I had never run in my life. Truly, I hadn’t even run the mile in high school. They let us walk it. My only physical activity was gained from my waitressing job. Fortunately I was easily working 40 hours a week, so I wasn’t unfamiliar with movement. But I certainly wasn’t familiar with the beast known as cardio. I stepped onto the treadmill of the YMCA and wondered what all the buttons do. I decided to stick with “start”, it seemed the most straightforward. It took me over 12 minutes to run a single mile. I was destroyed afterwards. My heart was pumping frantically to return oxygen into my body and regain a normal heart rate. I felt nauseous, exhausted, exhilarated and for a...

There is a place in my world where dreams manifest and plans are made, where hope is strong and motivation is created. It is a humble and simple place. It is here, the empty lot. Earlier this summer one of my members asked me why I always mow the lot beside the gym. He said “You have people for that. Couldn’t you spend your time better?" It really made me think. I like to mow my lot… but I didn’t really think about the why until then. Each time I have mowed this summer those words return to me and I think of all of the reasons why I like to mow my own lot. When I mow I imagine the future of our business.  Kids going through sports programs, a bigger group exercise room. I think about how cool it would be for us to have more space, more offices, more people helping other people to improve their lives through health and fitness. I don’t think of it as time wasted doing a menial task, because to me it isn’t menial, it is creative. Every great mentor I have ever w...

CONNECTING WITH OUR ‘WHY’ The other morning when my alarm clock went off at 4:10am I found myself feeling irritable and resentful.  I remember saying to myself “Why do I have to get up and go to the gym?  Why can’t I just be one of those naturally skinny people who can eat whatever they want and not have to exercise?  I’m not losing any weight anyway…what’s the point?”   After about 5 minutes of this ongoing dialogue I had to have a "Come to Jesus" meeting with myself.  You see, I’m a therapist and I know that the way we talk to ourselves dictates our mood and can set the tone for our whole day.   At that moment I said to myself “self, remember, nobody is making you go to the gym!  You go because you choose to go.  You go because you want to be healthy physically, emotionally and spiritually.  You go because you have been blessed with good health and you want to protect what you have and prevent illness…after all, ...

Smart Switches for your Caffeine Fix As summer ends and the crisp air of fall glides in, it’s time to put down the iced drink for a hot cup of your favorite latte. The Pumpkin Spice Latte has built up a serious following as the fall drink of choice, but at 380 calories for a 16oz Grande with 2% milk and whipped cream, it’s more of a decadent dessert than a caffeine pick-me-up. As a general rule, the more that’s added to your coffee drink, the more calories you’re going to get. Espresso, drip coffee, and the various teas are more trustworthy sources for your daily caffeine, while specialty lattes, frappuccinos and mochas are drinks to beware of. These will give you the caffeine boost you need, but expect a load of sugar and the calories of a small meal. Look below to find a list of Starbucks Grande drinks that weigh in under 150 calories. Smart switches to make to your drinks: You are craving that fall-flavored PSL, but trying to be conscious of the extra calor...

I've been thinking recently about self-care, more specifically the self-care I learned as a child and later as a teenager. My parents taught me how brush my teeth, to scrub in-between my toes, and how to put on sunscreen. Overall, I think they did an pretty good job teaching me about how to take care of myself. For the past seven years, I've done alright for myself, minus a sunburn or two. One aspect of self-care that went largely undiscussed by my family was personal fitness. I am not naturally athletically inclined, and I was predictably picked last for teams in gym class. Aside from not being a star athlete (or any kind, really), my lack of physical activities didn’t seem to impact my life greatly. It’s hard to miss something you’ve had very little experience with.  This generally apathetic view of personal fitness might very well have continued for me, but a month ago, I started working at PURENERGY Fitness. I am now surrounded by people who get up at 5 a.m. an...

  Fall . it’s a great time to celebrate the change of season and cooler weather. It’s the time for pumpkin flavored everything and apple baked goodies. It’s also when we pull out the comfortable sweaters and yoga pants and ditch the shorts and tank tops. With the cooler, shorter days and less outdoor activity, it is easy to reduce your exercise level and increase your food intake without realizing it. This is one of the biggest attributes to pre-holiday weight gain . https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov I know what you are thinking… you thought there was only holiday weight gain, and now there is PRE holiday weight gain? But there is a way to avoid both, and it is all about setting yourself up for success as the days get shorter and colder. Take a look back: What did you do to stay active this summer? Was it gardening and yard work? Hiking, biking and running? Chasing the kids at the reservoir? Did you train for a race that had you following a specific program to keep you fo...

Lose 20 pounds in 20 days if you follow these simple rules!   Never eat this food!  Who else has followed these intriguing links online? Have you heard of an outlandish diet or diet pill from a friend that is guaranteed to help you lose 30 pounds or more? You are not alone. With so much information at our fingertips, it’s difficult to tell what is true and what is a ploy to take your money. The one person you can rely on for the truth about you and weight loss is your Registered Dietitian. Registered Dietitians or Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (abbreviated RD or RDN), are leading experts on all things food and nutrition. There is no regulation on the term ‘nutritionist’ so anyone can call themselves one, but the RDN credential is awarded to individuals who spend years studying food and nutrition science and have earned an accredited Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in nutrition. A rigorous internship, a nationally recognized registration exam, and continuing e...