After reading and researching and thinking and talking to hubby, I've made my decision. I've got a bunch of new things headed down the pike in the next six months.
The first thing that is happening with me is in July. I'll be taking a class to get certified to teach Turbo Kick. This will allow me to get in front of a group (once the mountain inside myself is either blown up or conquered) and use choreography and music to help others get moving in an awesome and fun and funky way. This will also allow me to reach more people and help them lose weight--this I've learned, with the help of a few key people, is my niche and calling.
The second thing, I will be honest, I'm more excited about. I will be studying to receive my Lifestyle and Weight Management certification from ACEfitness. I cannot wait to do the necessary studying for this. I haven't decided when I'm going to be taking the test, but it'll either be in August (the 8th) or November (the 7th). This will allow me to work with folks, discussing nutrition and a balanced new life so that they can manage their weight and change their lives. I CANNOT wait to earn this certification and help people reach their goals with what I learn.
In a currently undecided amount of time, I pray and hope to be fully into the fitness field doing....I'm not exactly certain what yet...but making it not just a lifestyle of working out...but a career of helping people do it--dedicating my life to helping others reach their goals of healthier lives.
I'm excited already to learn what updates I might be able to add to this post. :) I hope you join me for the ride!!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
INSANITY--let me tell you it fits its name!
So, as a One on One with Tony Horton subscriber, I received a sneak peak workout to Shaun T's INSANITY.
When I first heard that Shaun T was doing another workout program, I was chatting with my wonderful coach and friend Michelle. I thought that it would probably be as 'insane' as his Hip Hop Abs, which I'll say is just not really my cup of tea (sorry....I don't have anything against it, but I have two left feet, I'm not a dancer, and I don't have a lot of favor for the music in those workouts.) I told her it was probably nothing to write home about, not much of a killer workout. Then I found some teaser videos online for it. (You know....one of these day's I'll stop running my mouth before I learn more about the new up-and-coming product from BeachBody.....)
I have to say.....those teasers. I could watch each and every one that I stumble on every time I find it. I learned that May would be the eagerly anticipated One on One to arrive on everyone's doorstep, because it was being accompanied by a full workout (not just a teaser ad on dvd a FULL 40 MINUTE workout!!!)
So on Saturday, May 9th, I saw a BeachBodyBuddy's facebook status state that he was shaking from his first go around with the Insanity sneak peak. I was already counting down the days until I'd have the workout in my hot little hands and hawking over my bank account to find out when BeachBody would be charging me for the One on One--that would mean that my new favorite cardio workout would be on it's way.
So Monday, May 11th, I power walk to my apartment door and, much to my glee, the dvd is waiting for me. Happy as a kid on Christmas morning, I tear open the package, turn on the tv, the dvd player and take my first look. I stood there in front of my tv with all my things from work still in my hands, just watching. 'Hmmmm this doesn't look too hard' was my first thought, but I kept watching knowing that more was on it's way. At the end, I thought 'I can handle this. It won't be too bad.' I finally set my things down and flew into my workout clothes. I sent one quick text to my coach saying 'If you don't hear a review from me in about an hour or so, I'll see you on the other side of the pearly white gates :) I'll try to survive :)'
I was breathing heavy after the first series. He does 5 (I think it's 5, it could be 6) different moves for the warm up set. Then he picks up the pace for ... more of a warm up or something. By 10 minutes into it, you're stretching (don't want to stretch cold muscles you know...) and wiping sweat off your brow and your nose, trying to catch it before it creates a puddle on the carpet. After a wonderful 6 minute stretch, you get right back into rounds with a 'Suicide drill' (yes...you do this three times through) then 'Level 1' drills (and you do this three times through). Don't think that Level 1 means it's easy.
Shaun T kicks your butt and your legs with the Suicide Drills and then, in the Level 1 drills, you hit your upper body with alot of plank work and pushups. It's hard. By the time you get to the first set of Level 1 drills, your body is going "Uhmmmmmm....Is it over yet?!?!" I was wiped out by the time I hit the second last exercise of Level 1 drills--ski abs. I dropped to my knees to look up at the tv in dismay, thinking 'He must be crazy if he thinks I'm gunna do this all the way through....' I caught on the tv a bunch of people stopping, mid-set. I've never seen the cast stop mid-set in any workout dvd I've ever owned (that's alot!)
In this workout, no one person makes it through without an extra, mid-set break...or two or five or six.
What makes this workout so much different? You push and you push and you push your lower body. That's all well and good--most cardio workouts use primarily your lower body--I can handle that. And then you get down on the ground and when you're just about out of gas, you expect to push harder using your arms and core...but your legs are done and can't offer much help.
This workout was wonderful. I did it a second time on Thursday the 14th....It was a bit more..together this time around, but don't let that fool you. It was a good, hard, heart-pumping, sweaty workout that was intense.
Don't be scared....but this workout isn't for the faint-hearted or those who don't want to work hard. I can NOT wait till June when it comes out--what an awesome birthday present to myself!!!!
When I first heard that Shaun T was doing another workout program, I was chatting with my wonderful coach and friend Michelle. I thought that it would probably be as 'insane' as his Hip Hop Abs, which I'll say is just not really my cup of tea (sorry....I don't have anything against it, but I have two left feet, I'm not a dancer, and I don't have a lot of favor for the music in those workouts.) I told her it was probably nothing to write home about, not much of a killer workout. Then I found some teaser videos online for it. (You know....one of these day's I'll stop running my mouth before I learn more about the new up-and-coming product from BeachBody.....)
I have to say.....those teasers. I could watch each and every one that I stumble on every time I find it. I learned that May would be the eagerly anticipated One on One to arrive on everyone's doorstep, because it was being accompanied by a full workout (not just a teaser ad on dvd a FULL 40 MINUTE workout!!!)
So on Saturday, May 9th, I saw a BeachBodyBuddy's facebook status state that he was shaking from his first go around with the Insanity sneak peak. I was already counting down the days until I'd have the workout in my hot little hands and hawking over my bank account to find out when BeachBody would be charging me for the One on One--that would mean that my new favorite cardio workout would be on it's way.
So Monday, May 11th, I power walk to my apartment door and, much to my glee, the dvd is waiting for me. Happy as a kid on Christmas morning, I tear open the package, turn on the tv, the dvd player and take my first look. I stood there in front of my tv with all my things from work still in my hands, just watching. 'Hmmmm this doesn't look too hard' was my first thought, but I kept watching knowing that more was on it's way. At the end, I thought 'I can handle this. It won't be too bad.' I finally set my things down and flew into my workout clothes. I sent one quick text to my coach saying 'If you don't hear a review from me in about an hour or so, I'll see you on the other side of the pearly white gates :) I'll try to survive :)'
I was breathing heavy after the first series. He does 5 (I think it's 5, it could be 6) different moves for the warm up set. Then he picks up the pace for ... more of a warm up or something. By 10 minutes into it, you're stretching (don't want to stretch cold muscles you know...) and wiping sweat off your brow and your nose, trying to catch it before it creates a puddle on the carpet. After a wonderful 6 minute stretch, you get right back into rounds with a 'Suicide drill' (yes...you do this three times through) then 'Level 1' drills (and you do this three times through). Don't think that Level 1 means it's easy.
Shaun T kicks your butt and your legs with the Suicide Drills and then, in the Level 1 drills, you hit your upper body with alot of plank work and pushups. It's hard. By the time you get to the first set of Level 1 drills, your body is going "Uhmmmmmm....Is it over yet?!?!" I was wiped out by the time I hit the second last exercise of Level 1 drills--ski abs. I dropped to my knees to look up at the tv in dismay, thinking 'He must be crazy if he thinks I'm gunna do this all the way through....' I caught on the tv a bunch of people stopping, mid-set. I've never seen the cast stop mid-set in any workout dvd I've ever owned (that's alot!)
In this workout, no one person makes it through without an extra, mid-set break...or two or five or six.
What makes this workout so much different? You push and you push and you push your lower body. That's all well and good--most cardio workouts use primarily your lower body--I can handle that. And then you get down on the ground and when you're just about out of gas, you expect to push harder using your arms and core...but your legs are done and can't offer much help.
This workout was wonderful. I did it a second time on Thursday the 14th....It was a bit more..together this time around, but don't let that fool you. It was a good, hard, heart-pumping, sweaty workout that was intense.
Don't be scared....but this workout isn't for the faint-hearted or those who don't want to work hard. I can NOT wait till June when it comes out--what an awesome birthday present to myself!!!!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Be Careful
I write this in light of a recent happening to a coach with whom I’m familiar. I do not care to share details of such event, because the fact that this event happened, honestly piss me off (not to mention the fact that this event should never have happened), but I will share my thoughts about it.
BeachBody® is extremely gracious and generous to those who are absolutely passionate about fitness and sharing the love for working out because they do not require any one of those ‘sharers’ to have certifications stating that they are ‘professional’ and ‘know what they’re talking about’. “Ok so what’s so bad about that, Lisa?” Because people aren’t required to have read textbooks full of information from the tip of the iceberg and pass tests, the information that they pass along could pose a dangerous situation for some, if not many. For instance, I was perusing the P90X forums as I do from time to time. Someone asked what to do if they had back pain during Ab Ripper X. That’s it the question was actually more like “What should I do? I have leg and back pain during ab ripper.” A person came on the thread and said “Just do what you can to push through it.” This may or may not seem like an obvious answer to disregard, but to me it had an alarm going off in my head. And this is not the only reply I’ve seen like this.
Answers that offer you ‘just push through the pain’ could end up like a friend of mine had—a very serious back injury (2 herniated lumbar discs that now require surgery). He was complaining for at least a month of back pain during his runs and ab workouts, but in the meantime he continued pushing through his runs and every other workout. He finally went to the doctor who ordered an MRI and sidelined him until further notice.
Why do I say all that? If you are going through the threads, or anywhere else—facebook, myspace, anywhere--and looking for general help, you HAVE TO be careful who you accept that help from. They could share with you words that you’d follow, not knowing any different, and lead you straight to the sidelines. I don’t want to see that happen. You need to be careful where you get your advice. Some people speak from textbook knowledge and years of studied experience. Some people speak from what worked/works for them. Some people, quite blatantly, speak out their butts. Be sure you know what person you’re talking to before you take the advice to heart.
BeachBody® is extremely gracious and generous to those who are absolutely passionate about fitness and sharing the love for working out because they do not require any one of those ‘sharers’ to have certifications stating that they are ‘professional’ and ‘know what they’re talking about’. “Ok so what’s so bad about that, Lisa?” Because people aren’t required to have read textbooks full of information from the tip of the iceberg and pass tests, the information that they pass along could pose a dangerous situation for some, if not many. For instance, I was perusing the P90X forums as I do from time to time. Someone asked what to do if they had back pain during Ab Ripper X. That’s it the question was actually more like “What should I do? I have leg and back pain during ab ripper.” A person came on the thread and said “Just do what you can to push through it.” This may or may not seem like an obvious answer to disregard, but to me it had an alarm going off in my head. And this is not the only reply I’ve seen like this.
Answers that offer you ‘just push through the pain’ could end up like a friend of mine had—a very serious back injury (2 herniated lumbar discs that now require surgery). He was complaining for at least a month of back pain during his runs and ab workouts, but in the meantime he continued pushing through his runs and every other workout. He finally went to the doctor who ordered an MRI and sidelined him until further notice.
Why do I say all that? If you are going through the threads, or anywhere else—facebook, myspace, anywhere--and looking for general help, you HAVE TO be careful who you accept that help from. They could share with you words that you’d follow, not knowing any different, and lead you straight to the sidelines. I don’t want to see that happen. You need to be careful where you get your advice. Some people speak from textbook knowledge and years of studied experience. Some people speak from what worked/works for them. Some people, quite blatantly, speak out their butts. Be sure you know what person you’re talking to before you take the advice to heart.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
The Biggest Loser--my review
I know that this is going to upset some readers, especially since I know quite a few people involved with BeachBody and other fitness regimens are fanatical about The Biggest Loser, but it really is the bain of this personal trainer's existence.
I sat down to eat dinner last night and instead of surfing the web, I decided to channel surf (a rarity for me, I know!). I stumbled on The Biggest Loser. Now even though I'm such a health and fitness NUT, I've NEVER been a big fan of this show. I'm not a fan of either of the trainers; I'm not a fan of the methods they go about teaching the people what to do and how to do it. I actually cringe most times I see this show. Don't get me wrong. Kudos to the people who manage to turn their lives around from the show....but as a TRAINER observing and evaluating it, I would NOT go about it this way.
But, for some reason last night, I stopped on it. I wish I hadn't. I turned it on right in time to hear the final challenge--to train for and run a marathon in 26 days. Are you friggin kidding me?!?!?! (First of all one of the contestants said that people train a year out from a marathon.....no not really) What the....What in heaven's name is this company trying to do to these people?!?!? I CERTAINLY do not think like Mike did where 'fat people don't run marathons'. But you know who doesn't successfully run marathons? Untrained people. Over-trained people. Non-runners. I've trained for two marathons--successfully finished one--and let me tell you the way to train for it is NOT like Jillian Michaels said run and run and run and run and run some more. No that's the way to hurt yourself. That's stupid. That's a great way to get (*gasp*) hip injuries, knee injuries, foot injuries, shin splints. You name it that is your risk. 26 days. I wanted to bark at someone. What ever-loving IDIOTS those people are. I turned it off before I saw who (if any) finished. I think that the trainers did not boycott this idea altogether because of the ABSURDITY of it is ridiculous and careless on their parts. I am a believer that anyone who wants a marathon finisher's medal badly enough will make it theirs....but not in the way that they were going about it.
The next MAJOR issue I had is Jillian Michaels (I'm not a fan of this chick can you tell?). She sat down with one of her contestants to hear from her that she was in the gym one day working out for 6 hours. WHAT?!?!?!?! SIX HOURS?!?!?!?!?! For the edification of everyone watching who might think that what they are doing is right and the person who said she did this, I want to know why Jillian did not, right then and there ask what in heaven's name was she in the gym for six hours for!!!!! I have no idea how long Jillian and whatever the other trainer's name is have their clients working out for....but seriously SIX HOURS?!?!?! And for a FITNESS PROFESSIONAL to say NOTHING!?!?!?! That's neglect in my mind.
I have to say this: Like I said I have no idea how long the trainers have their contestants working out for, but last night's show sealed the deal for me that I will NEVER watch that show. I will NEVER support a show that doesn't TRULY teach people to CHANGE their lives--not bring them to a deserted ranch and then send them on their way with fingers crossed that they won't crash and burn. No....teach them to fish and they'll fish for a lifetime. Show them how and expect them to get it?!?!?! Stupid absurd ridiculous foolish crazy insane.
More power to the contestants.....a smack upside the head to the producers with the stupid ideas and the trainers who go along with it. Jillian may know her fitness stuff or not.....but she's hollywood. All hollywood. Being led by the $$$$$$$ not doing much good for everyone around though, viewers and contestants alike.
I sat down to eat dinner last night and instead of surfing the web, I decided to channel surf (a rarity for me, I know!). I stumbled on The Biggest Loser. Now even though I'm such a health and fitness NUT, I've NEVER been a big fan of this show. I'm not a fan of either of the trainers; I'm not a fan of the methods they go about teaching the people what to do and how to do it. I actually cringe most times I see this show. Don't get me wrong. Kudos to the people who manage to turn their lives around from the show....but as a TRAINER observing and evaluating it, I would NOT go about it this way.
But, for some reason last night, I stopped on it. I wish I hadn't. I turned it on right in time to hear the final challenge--to train for and run a marathon in 26 days. Are you friggin kidding me?!?!?! (First of all one of the contestants said that people train a year out from a marathon.....no not really) What the....What in heaven's name is this company trying to do to these people?!?!? I CERTAINLY do not think like Mike did where 'fat people don't run marathons'. But you know who doesn't successfully run marathons? Untrained people. Over-trained people. Non-runners. I've trained for two marathons--successfully finished one--and let me tell you the way to train for it is NOT like Jillian Michaels said run and run and run and run and run some more. No that's the way to hurt yourself. That's stupid. That's a great way to get (*gasp*) hip injuries, knee injuries, foot injuries, shin splints. You name it that is your risk. 26 days. I wanted to bark at someone. What ever-loving IDIOTS those people are. I turned it off before I saw who (if any) finished. I think that the trainers did not boycott this idea altogether because of the ABSURDITY of it is ridiculous and careless on their parts. I am a believer that anyone who wants a marathon finisher's medal badly enough will make it theirs....but not in the way that they were going about it.
The next MAJOR issue I had is Jillian Michaels (I'm not a fan of this chick can you tell?). She sat down with one of her contestants to hear from her that she was in the gym one day working out for 6 hours. WHAT?!?!?!?! SIX HOURS?!?!?!?!?! For the edification of everyone watching who might think that what they are doing is right and the person who said she did this, I want to know why Jillian did not, right then and there ask what in heaven's name was she in the gym for six hours for!!!!! I have no idea how long Jillian and whatever the other trainer's name is have their clients working out for....but seriously SIX HOURS?!?!?! And for a FITNESS PROFESSIONAL to say NOTHING!?!?!?! That's neglect in my mind.
I have to say this: Like I said I have no idea how long the trainers have their contestants working out for, but last night's show sealed the deal for me that I will NEVER watch that show. I will NEVER support a show that doesn't TRULY teach people to CHANGE their lives--not bring them to a deserted ranch and then send them on their way with fingers crossed that they won't crash and burn. No....teach them to fish and they'll fish for a lifetime. Show them how and expect them to get it?!?!?! Stupid absurd ridiculous foolish crazy insane.
More power to the contestants.....a smack upside the head to the producers with the stupid ideas and the trainers who go along with it. Jillian may know her fitness stuff or not.....but she's hollywood. All hollywood. Being led by the $$$$$$$ not doing much good for everyone around though, viewers and contestants alike.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Hydroxycut recall and my response
I wanted to post this note to remind everyone of our personal responsibility to our bodies. This is in response to the recent news of Hydroxycut's recall.
For the past two years, I have learned an extensive amount about clinical trials (I hope so, being a clinical research coordinator and all!!) and the stages in which medications need to go through in order to get the stamp of approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be marketed.
Yes yes yes, I know that there are many faults in the system, but there are many more benefits in the system.
Let me just explain:
When the pharmaceutical companies create a compound, they do know a bit from the door about what part of the body it will affect, what part of the brain it will work on (I work in the field specifically of anti-depressants, anxiolitics aka anti-anxiety meds, and anti-psychotics). They know which organ will be metabolizing the medication, and thus, what organ the medication will be hardest on (I.e. a drug called depakote, a mood stabilizer, is metabolized by the liver....it's potentially hardest on the liver if it's not monitored with simple routine bloodwork to track the liver enzymes.)
Phase 1 trials are where the drug is tested on people that don't have whatever diagnoses it's targeted to treat. This is very important so that they learn the 'pharmacology' of the drug--how long it takes to peak in someone's system after it's taken. Some medications (xanax and ativan) are insanely quick acting but wash out very quickly. Some medications take longer to peak and stay in the system longer (prozac). This is also where they learn about the amount of medication someone should take for the best effect, pharmacologically.
Phase 2 and 3 trials are where they study if the medication works (this means that the people with the diagnosis take it and see if it relieves the symptoms of the diagnosis, treat the diagnosis, etc). Also in these two phases, they continue to learn about the safety of the medications.
My company does phase 2 and 3 trials. Through those trials, we do many many many blood draws and ecgs. We learn MUCH about the medication by what it could effect....not just the routine blood sugar and cholesterol. Some studies have pages and pages of labwork results that we compare to the person's 'baseline' labwork and evaluate any changes.....liver tests, complete blood count, urinalysis. It's extensive. The ecgs tell us the way that the person's electricity is flowing through their heart (I think!! Hey I'm a coordinator not a cardiologist!!) We do multiple rounds of blood work and multiple ecgs to make sure that the person is still safe on the medications. If anything goes out of range and is clinically significant, often the person is taken off the new medication, that is monitored and treated.
For things like Hydroxycut that are never tested, the answer of what it effects in the body remains unknown. At least to us.....the companies may know, but if it's bad news, do you think they'll tell us?? If it effects the liver negatively (to the point of death or need of a liver transplant) do you really think that the creating company will reveal that willingly?!?!?!
Clinical trials cost millions of dollars. It *is* in the best interest of the pharmaceutical company to push their compounds through to be approved so that they can make the money back. Pharmaceutical companies lose alot of money for a compound being 'canned', not ever getting approved. This remains a drive in the faulty side of things....but the clinical trials are where it is learned what the full effect (or mostly full effect) of the compound has on the human body.
I type all that so that you can think long and hard about what you put in your bodies. The things like Hydroxycut, NO explode, vitamins, even our beloved Shakeology don't go through clinical trials. It's not required for them to (still haven't figured out why)....but I urge you to do your homework before you take something that you read about and hear great stories about. It could be doing something to any one of your organs that you don't feel at first and you have no idea about. Do your homework.
For the past two years, I have learned an extensive amount about clinical trials (I hope so, being a clinical research coordinator and all!!) and the stages in which medications need to go through in order to get the stamp of approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be marketed.
Yes yes yes, I know that there are many faults in the system, but there are many more benefits in the system.
Let me just explain:
When the pharmaceutical companies create a compound, they do know a bit from the door about what part of the body it will affect, what part of the brain it will work on (I work in the field specifically of anti-depressants, anxiolitics aka anti-anxiety meds, and anti-psychotics). They know which organ will be metabolizing the medication, and thus, what organ the medication will be hardest on (I.e. a drug called depakote, a mood stabilizer, is metabolized by the liver....it's potentially hardest on the liver if it's not monitored with simple routine bloodwork to track the liver enzymes.)
Phase 1 trials are where the drug is tested on people that don't have whatever diagnoses it's targeted to treat. This is very important so that they learn the 'pharmacology' of the drug--how long it takes to peak in someone's system after it's taken. Some medications (xanax and ativan) are insanely quick acting but wash out very quickly. Some medications take longer to peak and stay in the system longer (prozac). This is also where they learn about the amount of medication someone should take for the best effect, pharmacologically.
Phase 2 and 3 trials are where they study if the medication works (this means that the people with the diagnosis take it and see if it relieves the symptoms of the diagnosis, treat the diagnosis, etc). Also in these two phases, they continue to learn about the safety of the medications.
My company does phase 2 and 3 trials. Through those trials, we do many many many blood draws and ecgs. We learn MUCH about the medication by what it could effect....not just the routine blood sugar and cholesterol. Some studies have pages and pages of labwork results that we compare to the person's 'baseline' labwork and evaluate any changes.....liver tests, complete blood count, urinalysis. It's extensive. The ecgs tell us the way that the person's electricity is flowing through their heart (I think!! Hey I'm a coordinator not a cardiologist!!) We do multiple rounds of blood work and multiple ecgs to make sure that the person is still safe on the medications. If anything goes out of range and is clinically significant, often the person is taken off the new medication, that is monitored and treated.
For things like Hydroxycut that are never tested, the answer of what it effects in the body remains unknown. At least to us.....the companies may know, but if it's bad news, do you think they'll tell us?? If it effects the liver negatively (to the point of death or need of a liver transplant) do you really think that the creating company will reveal that willingly?!?!?!
Clinical trials cost millions of dollars. It *is* in the best interest of the pharmaceutical company to push their compounds through to be approved so that they can make the money back. Pharmaceutical companies lose alot of money for a compound being 'canned', not ever getting approved. This remains a drive in the faulty side of things....but the clinical trials are where it is learned what the full effect (or mostly full effect) of the compound has on the human body.
I type all that so that you can think long and hard about what you put in your bodies. The things like Hydroxycut, NO explode, vitamins, even our beloved Shakeology don't go through clinical trials. It's not required for them to (still haven't figured out why)....but I urge you to do your homework before you take something that you read about and hear great stories about. It could be doing something to any one of your organs that you don't feel at first and you have no idea about. Do your homework.
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