Running in Circles

I enjoy looking at the stats on my blog.  I can see where people are reading from, their traffic source, and key words they used to search through Google.  Yesterday, someone typed in "mooning figure" into google and were redirected to my page.  Mooning figure?  Seriously, what were you actually looking for?  Were you sober?  That's bizarre,...but no judgment,...welcome.

After a long Monday, Tuesday hits me like a ton of bricks.  I was able to sleep in about 20 extra minutes, which didn't really matter in the scheme of things since I didn't go to bed until after 10.  Might as well have been 1am.  I woke up face-down in the pillow nearly suffocating and yet completely content to stay in the position for another couple hours.  No such luck.  Scarfed down some egg whites, grabbed my coffee, and was out the door like the bright and chipper morning glory I am.  That's crap......I was just out the door.

So let me finish the thought I started last night before my arthritis flared and I needed to hit the bed...

Two clients pulled me aside after their workout, and I immediately noticed a somewhat discouraged look on their faces.  To make a long story short, they wanted to know why they still suck wind, struggle, and cannot breeze through a workout even after months of training.  HA.  I did have to chuckle a little bit.  (Chuckle is a creepy word by the way).  They explained that they look around the gym and feel like they're the only ones looking like ultimate fighting victims, and wanted to know WHY.
Ok,...first, stop watching others.  Period.  Two people can be doing the exact same workout or work with the same trainer, but you truly will get out of it what YOU put in it.  Yes, there are people that go through the motions and are "working out" but not really pushing themselves.  Their choice.  Not your concern.  Secondly, as you get stronger, recover quicker, become leaner, etc.., you have to make it harder and change the intensity.  The body is very adaptive and you'll stop seeing changes if you do the same 'ol thing time after time.
I've seen dozens of people who come in saying "I've done the same routine for the past 2 years, but I'm not seeing results like I did the first 2 months."  Yeah, no kidding.  That's because you're body knows the routine, and has become so efficient doing it that you're now burning less calories and recruiting less muscle fibers during the workout.
The reason the ladies feel "out of shape", as they put it, is because I'm constantly changing the routine and making it harder as they improve.  I do wish they would have said something earlier because it was simply a maker of perspective and expectations.  They associated struggle as a bad thing during a workout.  News flash, if you don't want to curse and crawl into fetal position at least once in your workout you're not working hard enough.  Its not meant to be a walk in the park.
I think they left there with a new outlook on the whole gym experience and how it truly is a personal journey,...one day at a time,...one workout at a time.

My own workout today was definitely painful at times.  I hit shoulders and quads.  I was ready for a day off from cardio, so that's why I decided to hit quads today, but then there I was on the treadmill after my weights.  I have no clue what my rationale was, except that I couldn't feel why quads by that point, so what was a little treadmill-mountain-climb, right?!  Boo.  I got it done, but I would be lying if I said it was both easy and fun....ha, hardly.

Its 10 minutes til 9 and I look and feel like I was beat with a croquet mallet.  I say that because I honestly was hit in the mouth with one when I was about 7.  My brother decided to swing it like a 9i, and I decided to stand directly behind him to watch.  Idiots.  I bled, he laughed.


Before I sign off, its officially my dear niece's birthday!!  That bundle of Parker love turns 1 today, and I am a proud, spoiling, totally-nuts-about-her aunt :)  Happy Birthday lil peanut!

Google Chaos and Juvenile Bootcamp

I hate it when I sit down to blog and out of nowhere Google pops up to tell me the entire format of my blog/site has changed and all of a sudden I'm the blind kid playing dodgeball.  I have no clue what's going on and spend the next 15 minutes wandering like an internet nomad.  Yes, it took me about that long to get to this point right here.....so I will marinate in my bitterness for a moment....

But seriously, this must be what my dad feels like every time he turns on a computer.  His inbox has been full for over 7 years.  Doesn't matter,...there's a 98% chance he doesn't remember the password.
On to other things...

My day was fairly typical for a Tuesday.
I had a client this afternoon who I constantly have to challenge this whole notion of "good enough."  When it comes to fitness and health, he is the epitome of settling for mediocre.  He has good genetics, is fairly active but nothing over the top, and is not challenged physically in his job on a daily basis.  Thus, average health has actually allowed him to live the life he desires because weight and hereditary health concerns have never been a major issue.  Ahh!  Why do we settle for anything less than our optimal health?!  He jokingly said "I'm not going to be a professional athlete Meredith."  No, definitely not, BUT why would you not strive to just lay it all out there for that hour knowing that you will only benefit from it - far beyond the actual gym setting?!  What is it within us that is OK with less than our best?  And what's worse, is when we want the results of giving everything we have, but are only willing to give 50%.  Give me a break.  Genetics will only get you so far, and at some point we're all faced with the reality that when it comes to your health, you get what you put in.  And if you give nothing, expect nothing but the consequences of your choice to do so.
For my client, it was another workout in the books and another opportunity to improve and fight his own tendency to give less than 100 percent.

My own workout today felt pretty brutal.  I'm still battling this fatigue.  I was that weird tired-drunk by 9am.  Its the strangest thing,...you're exhausted...sober...but feel 3 sheets to the wind and longing to pass out somewhere.  I just needed to start my workout and not think about it.  I did shoulders, triceps, and quads today.  It was the first time in about 5-6 weeks that I've done back squats.  I've certainly worked my quads, but I've really worked to streamline my legs and unfortunately I get a little squat-happy sometimes.  Sooo, I needed to back off for a few weeks.  My legs will probably be killing me tomorrow.  My strength has decreased pretty significantly on that lift, and by the 4th set I wanted to crawl in a corner and mourn the loss of my quad strength like a true meathead would.  Eh,...I got through it....and no cardio today.  Awesome.

I had a 7 year old evaluation this afternoon.
I never know what to expect with these.  I'll get kids whose parents firmly believe they are pro-bound at the age of 9, and I have to break the news that little Johnny has 2 left feet and the body-awareness of someone on speed.  I couch it a little differently, but you get the point.  Then, I'll get kids who practically came sprinting out of the womb, jumped to the floor, and whipped umbilical cord pull-ups like Rocky.  Today, I was pleasantly surprised.  At first glance, I was a little skeptical.  47" tall...47 pounds.  I could have shot-put that kid.  But as he got warmed up and I started testing his foot work, mechanics, and power I was pretty amazed.  He held his own.  Then it came time for push-ups.  That bugger rocked 30 legit push-ups like it was nothing.  Little Rudy's apparently been practicing in the basement.  It was great, and truly made my day.  Some of you better step up your game.  He may have wet the bed within the last 2 weeks and still believes in the tooth fairy, but he pumped out more push-ups than the average man.  FACT.

Ah, its about that time.  I can't see straight.  Have a great night folks....hump day here we go...

360mg of caffeine...yessss

After a restless night, I started my Wednesday with 4 cups of coffee.  You can only imagine how much I was sweating.  I was literally wiping sweat from my brow as I was putting on my make-up.  I might have to start wearing one of those spray bottles with a fan around my neck.  (Only socially acceptable in Disney World and at baseball games), but I may have to break a few rules for the sake of hygiene.  Might as well give me a matching fanny pack...

I had a fun morning with clients.  It began when a man I train responded to a few of my exercise instructions with "that's what she said"...how do you not laugh at that?  Made my morning quite entertaining to say the least.  A couple hours later I was working with two women and we started sharing ideas for white-elephant gifts.  If you've never played that game at Christmas you need to google it asap. Its always best to do it with funny gifts, and believe me the ideas were flying at 9:30 in the morning.  We're playing it with my mom's side of the family for the first time in 2 weeks and between my brothers and I, this will get interesting.  Odds are it will leave my mom shaking her head and then later calling me to say "there are moments when I question if my children are truly mine".  (I've heard this speech before and that is the basic thesis statement).  Anyway, it should be fun.

On to workout stuff.  Ah yes, leg day.  I started with leg press from a narrow foot position.  My quads were on fire and performing 4 sets before back squats is always brutal.  I was hurting.  It was a hard, but great workout.  It always amazes me how deflated I feel after a workout.  Glycogen stores are shot, muscles are fatigued, and generally I am mentally drained.  Its a weird, awesome feeling.  Ha.  On some level though, I do like knowing I don't have to run on leg day...mainly because I can hardly move much faster than 3mph.  It would be comical to watch if I tried though.

Long rainy day.
I am stuck in the recliner looking at my bowl of cabbage/chicken and not sure I can finish.  I am tired and ready to go to bed.  Sadly, I may force myself to stay awake for Modern Family...I need to end my day with a good laugh.  We all do.
Night folks!