Mom Bod Transitions and Facing your Fears 2018

Oh hi! Happy New Year and thanks for stopping by my blog that I haven't written in for A YEAR. I seriously didn't even realize it had been that long until I went back to revisit and did the math. Declan was 5 months old when I wrote the last blog and now he's 17 months. 12 months ago?! F'real??! F'real. It's true when "they" say that when you have kids, the days are long but the years are short. I mean sort of true. That first year was a DOOZY. It did not feel short. But there definitely is a time suck of sorts. Okay, Natalie, I think we are done with hearing about the passage of time here....okay, I'm done...

But the passage of time in this post is important because I want to fill you in on the progress I've made physically since my son was born. At 5 months postpartum, I had made a lot of change in what seemed a relatively short period of time. From 2 months pp to 5 months pp I had lost 2 inches in my waist, 2 inches around my belly button and 2 inches in my hips (check out my previous blog post--a year ago--for more details). A year after that,  I have lost 3.75  inches in my waist, 3.75 inches around my belly button and 3.5 inches in my hips. I'm also back to my pre-pregnancy weight, something that seemed like a Herculean task almost 1.5 years ago. My body's measurements have shifted a bit before pregnancy and that's okay with me. I mean, it's not "ideal" but hey! My body made a huge baby and it stretched and made way for A HUMAN BEING. How miraculous is that?!

I'm definitely not the type of person who "bounced back" easily. It took a lot of work for me to feel good in my skin again. I stayed dedicated to my workouts because it wasn't just about the measurements, it was about the control it provided in my life during a chaotic time. It gave me the ability to know I had command over something in my life, even if it was only 30 minutes of my day. It also helped me stay strong in mind and body when I was facing times when there was very little strength left. You guys, having a baby is the hardest thing I have done but I'm lucky I was healthy to be able to turn to my workouts to keep me sane(r).

How many times have you read about mom transitions? Are you bored? Be honest. I just feel like I have to touch on this because going through all of the physical craziness of making a human is so wild. To watch your body change and grow and stretch and shift and live in that...there really are no words. Then you have the mental challenge that follows. And the exhaustion of both the mental and the physical on top of raising a child. How do we do it? Seriously, how do we do it?

I really don't know how I have done it, but I do know that it has made me realize that I am capable of doing things I truly never thought possible. The year after Declan was born, I didn't have a whole lot of space in my mind, body or soul to do much else other than take care of that little baby. I wanted to so badly. I wanted myself back again, but there wasn't really much room for me. My heart and soul shifted to Declan and there it lived for a year. It still does but I'm slowly getting parts of it back.

After all of that soul shifting, and a piece of it forever with Declan, I have decided I need to face my fears to do what I need to do for me. So each day, I'm putting myself out there in ways I normally wouldn't and I've made 2018 "YEAR WITHOUT FEAR." Today it's this blog post and facing the fear of sharing these thoughts in hopes that it resonates with others. It's also facing the fear of sharing pictures of my transition and the judgement that potentially comes with it. Even though my body isn't perfect, I'm proud of the progress I've made and I'm lucky that it supports me in ways I never thought possible. It wakes up at ungodly hours, carries a big, healthy boy around as he wiggles in my embrace (I can't believe the strength that takes over when he is pushing out of my arms but my arms pull him back), it keeps going when I think I'm too tired to push through my extremely long days, and it allows me to exercise through it all--giving me bursts of energy after a HIIT workout, yoga class, or strength training session. It is amazing, and I'm grateful for it. So here I am after losing 11 inches total in just my waist, belly, and hips. Not sure of the total if I had tracked the rest of my body, too.

Here's to you and all of the transitions you want to make and to facing your own fears in 2018. Fingers crossed that I don't let another year slip by without blogging!

Postpartum Fitness Life and My Small Group Fitness Class

Hello from a long time in blog post Siberia! I am currently typing whilst sitting criss-cross applesauce on the floor, with a baby sitting in my lap, drooling all over a rattle. This is my new normal after giving birth to my son 5-months ago. I hope this explains my long hiatus from fitnessbynatalie.com, but I know it's not much of an excuse. I could have written so many posts on pregnancy, pregnancy exercises, prenatal body changes, prenatal nutrition, anything pregnancy related but I just couldn't get it together for some reason.

I guess there was just too much going on in my mind, body and heart for me to adequately document it. It just seemed like way too big of an event to marginalize with something like, "5 Ways to Stay Fit While Pregnant!" Or maybe I was just "pregnant lazy" and sitting on the couch watching "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" seemed more appealing. It's probably a combo of those things. 

So, going from pregnant lazy to postpartum lazy, first I'm going to share this article with you that I really connected with days after giving birth to my son, without having to explain it myself. I think it summed up what I was going through at the time. As far as the rest of this post, I've decided to only share my fitness journey. This is a fitness blog after all! 

Pre-baby, my workouts had just started slowing down a little bit because I was dealing with an injury. But mainly, I was doing HIIT (high intensity interval training) workouts mixed in with some yoga and strength training. I was never lifting heavy weight (maybe 15 lbs max) and focusing on a lot of body weight work. I've also never been "ripped." I'm a girl who loves occasional decadent dining, cocktails, wine, and chocolate. That doesn't lend itself to a ripped physique, but I was happy with myself. Here's me pre-baby. I'll admit that I'm posing a bit here (I know, gross), but it's the most recent photo I had of my body prior to pregnancy so I'm sharing it.  I wish I had a side pic of me so you could compare to the other pictures that follow but I can't find one:

Pre-Pregnancy

Here's me 2 days before my son was born, 40 pounds heavier. I worked out throughout my entire pregnancy. At the beginning I did a lot of the same stuff I had been doing pre-pregnancy. I was still HIIT training, taking yoga class, and lifting weights. As I got further along and bigger, I simply modified until weeks before the baby was born. Then I listened to my body and what it could safely do. It was basically easier weight lifting and walking every day. I remember the day I was doing yoga and tried to do crow and fell over. I realized I was simply too big and off balance to continue doing what I was doing!  I was planning on working out the day I went into labor but it was so hot and I was so huge and tired that it didn't happen (humble brag much?). I am so glad I didn't workout because my labor was 27 hours long. That is the hardest workout I've ever done. (Side note: let's all enjoy my popped knee in this photo):

2 Days Before Giving Birth

And lastly, me at 7-weeks postpartum and 21 weeks postpartum. There is no photoshop or filters on any of it. Just me and my iphone (and my messy bedroom--I do have an infant...EXCUSES!).

7-Weeks Postpartum and 21 Weeks Postpartum

I just deleted a whole paragraph commenting and hating on my body and what it looked like 7-weeks postpartum because, no. That. Ain't. Right. My body went through the biggest and most amazing feat it will ever go through, and I get choked up just thinking about it. No half-marathon, marathon, 100 mile bike ride, or hardest workout in the world can compare to what your body goes through to create a human being, and then what your body goes through to get back to your "normal" self. I guess you could argue that all the training that leads up to any fitness feat could compare, but nope. Just NO. It's an indescribable experience that leads to your body creating and birthing another person at the end of it. WHAT? It is the most beautiful thing in the world and I still cannot believe I did it. I am so grateful that I was able to do it and have a healthy and happy pregnancy. And even better? A happy and healthy baby boy in my life. Ladies, we are so lucky to get to do this. It is so hard on your bones, muscles, skin and mind to create a human in such a short period of time. The changes you experience physically and emotionally are off the charts nutty. Just...I can't. I can't even express what I would like to about the feelings I have about it because I would really just burst into a million pieces and my whole being would be shards on the floor.

Today I am 25 weeks postpartum. So far I have lost 31 pounds and I have 9 more to go. Working out post-baby was really hard at first. I was exhausted, hormonal, weepy, and stretched to my limits emotionally. But working out actually helped me so much. It gave me some energy to get through the day and also made me feel like I had some control over my life, which kept me motivated to continue doing it every day. I have only been exercising about a half-hour (while the baby naps--sometimes when he doesn't), 4-5 days a week but doing higher intensity work to get the most out of my time. It's been mainly body weight work with some weight training mixed in. I've just started doing more weight training because it helps boost metabolism and shapes your body in ways only using your body for resistance can't.

My nutrition has kind of sucked because I'm not focused on myself during the day so I am kind of just snacking and eating when I can. The only good meal I get most days is dinner when my husband makes it. I know if my nutrition was better, I would feel better and look better, too. I have lost a lot of muscle mass/toning and I hope to see that again.

The workouts have gotten so much easier. I do look better but the most important thing is that I am strong again. I was so weak the first few weeks that it surprised me. But I'm on my way. And you know what? If I don't totally get back to where I was physically pre-baby, that's okay. I will never, ever be the same anyway. But you can doooo eeeet! I promise you that working out, as hard as it is to get going, will not only make you stronger physically, it will make you stronger mentally to get through those really tough, "I-can't-do-this-mom'ing-thing-today" days. A little bit of sweat really does go a long way!

Which leads me to announcing the inching of my way back into the workforce with my 6-Week Shape Up for New Moms. 45 minutes, 2 times a week at Hyatt Training in Northwest Portland, starting February 7th. It's small group fitness and there will be a max of 4 women in the class. I am keeping the time shorter than an hour because as you can see, you don't need a full hour to get in shape. Enjoy the benefits of working alongside a personal trainer with the support of other new moms who are going through the trenches of motherhood with you. We will push to our limits while modifying as needed. As someone who recently went through childbirth, I understand what your body (and mind) might be going through during this delicate time. That doesn't mean these workouts will be easy! Get ready to work on increasing strength, cardiovascular fitness, balance, and endurance. We will track your progress and at the end of 6-weeks, you will get to see hard evidence of how far you've come! Contact me to get started! I can't wait! And contact me if you just want to talk being a mom and incorporating fitness into your life. It's not easy, but I know you can do it!

Taking a (gulp) Break

So the day came. The day when those scary 6 words were uttered...You Have To Take A Break. 

Last week I was sitting in my chiropractor's office when she broke the 'taking the break news' and as sad as it was, I agreed with her. I am still surprised at myself for even having a chiropractor. After a bad experience with one at 15 years old, following a (not so) tragic backwards flip-flop/neck incident, I vowed to never return. However, some  back pain that I had been enduring for too long prompted the first visit about 6 months back and I'm still in pain, but the pain is moving now to the front of my hip. (Wow, I sound like an old lady! The pain is moving to my hip! I never realized that in my early 30's I could utter those words, but I am!) My chiropractor has really helped, but I think that now as my skeleton is being re-adjusted, so is my movement. My body was taking a path of movement that it shouldn't have been, and through my muscle imbalances, I continued to push. Finally my body said, "nope, you can't do this anymore." So pain ensued and now I have to make a change. 

I LOVE High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts. I love that I can get a workout done in a shorter amount of time just by pushing myself to my max in each exercise; I love how it gives me a rush of endorphins; I love being able to work every muscle in my body at once, making me feel like I'm getting the most out of my workout. I usually incorporate HIIT training into my workouts 3, maybe even 4 times a week (and I teach a 30-minute HIIT class at Nourish Northwest on Tuesdays!) and what I'm realizing is that this type of training could be the culprit to my consistent pain. Oh, and running as well. I can't forget that joint pounding workout, too. Unfortunately I need to push these hard on your joints exercises to the curb for a while as my bod realigns. 

I never thought the day would come that I would have to take a break because I thought I was being really diligent in switching my workouts up. I strength train, take yoga, run, do pilates every once in a while, and make sure to stretch and foam roll. But the thing is, if you are performing exercises with a body that is misaligned or has muscle imbalances, no matter what type of workout you are doing, it will eventually catch up to you. My muscles on the left side of my body have clearly had enough and now a change needs to be made. Maybe not forever, but definitely until I can get it in check again. 

So what are the next steps? Back to basics. If you ever find yourself in the situation I am finding myself, "take a break" doesn't necessarily mean quit working out. Maybe you need to take a different approach. Maybe you need to remind yourself where you started and begin again. Start focusing on core work and stability. Lower your weight load and re-connect with the smaller, stabilizing muscles to get you back on track. Meet with a personal trainer who can spot your muscle imbalances (me!) and work on foam rolling the over-active, tight muscles and strengthening the muscles that are weak. Maybe even just moving your runs to the elliptical or walking instead of running for a while will help do the trick. Maybe you are simply doing too much of one thing and you need to switch things up.

 I have decided that I will not be discouraged by this news, but excited to take my workouts to a new and different place for a while. I see it as a chance to reconnect to my body again in a way that I have neglected for a while. Sometimes it just takes some slowing down to get back on track. It doesn't mean that your workouts will be any "less than" it just means that they will be different. I'm sure on my journey back to stability I will still feel very challenged and I'm excited to see where this route takes me.  Be well!

Men's Fitness

Hey Fitness Friends! I created 4 workouts for Men's Fitness  that were featured last week. Check it out HERE! These programs are specifically tailored for working out in your apartment or any other small space because creating workouts that can be done anywhere is my specialty. After training clients at home in NYC for 9 years, small spaces became my gym. Woo! Enjoy the workouts and please let me know if you have any questions. I will be happy to answer any and all! BE WELL!

Portland

So...I moved. I moved out of New York. It was just the next step. It's hard to leave New York. It really is. Especially when you spent 9 years of your life there. I still can't believe that much time passed, but it did and for the last couple years of living in NYC, I was done with it. New York is a great city and a huge part of me will always be there, but I just couldn't live there anymore. I started to feel like there was no room to breathe, no room to live, no room to exist. Each time I yelled in a stranger's face for no apparent reason; stood so close to someone I didn't know on the subway, closer than I would stand to my best friend; got pushed or pushed someone else while walking down the street; trudged through the snow and ice to get to clients; or endured a moment where I felt so claustrophobic a panic attack was sure to ensue; I was one step closer to losing my mind. I knew it wasn't healthy there for me anymore. I felt in my heart that it was time to leave.

After getting hitched in June 2014, my husband Scott and I started to seriously think about other cities we would want to live in.  Our place in New York was small and cramped. It was cozy, but we wanted more. We knew that as normal humans and  non-millionaires, we couldn't get ahead the way we wanted in New York and moving further and further out of the city just to have to trudge back in every day to save money was exhausting to us. We decided to start taking trips to places we might want to live to see how we felt there. We visited North Carolina in August where Scott is from and spent a weekend there; we headed to LA one week in October when Scott was speaking at a conference and I got to tag along;  and in November, we headed to my hometown, Chicago. None of these places felt right. It just wasn't where we were supposed to be right now. So where? Where could we go? Then one day, Scott got a call from a recruiter looking for a position in Portland, OR, a place that was never on our radar. Why not check it out? we thought. So we did. And while we were there in January as he was interviewing I thought, this is it. This is what feels right. I just knew that we were meant to spend any sort of time in Portland, whether it was a year or 10. And luckily enough, we both agreed on that.

It took a long while before the job offer was settled, but when it came through for Scott, although I went back and forth in my head about it, my heart knew it was the right choice. So, he decided to take the job, we raised our champagne glasses to Portland, and packed up the East Village apartment that I spent 4 years out of the 9 in. It was the place where I turned 30, where Scott and I started our relationship and planned a wedding, but most importantly, it was my first and only lease in NYC that I didn't sublet or share with a roommate. It was a place where I felt like, yeah, New York, I got this. It meant a lot to me,  and I expected to feel some sort of loss about it. But I really didn't. It was time to pass the torch and start a new adventure. And away we went.

Two friends of ours, Dan and Leslie, were getting married in San Diego and it was right around the time we planned to move in March. We decided the best way to start our West Coast lives was to take an adventure and plan to rent a car to drive up the coast as our belongings were moved across the country on a truck. We'd have to wait for the moving company to get there anyway, so why not use this time to really explore where we would be laying down new roots?  We would start in San Diego and take our time over 5 days to explore California into Oregon, ending in Portland. We were also excited that the road trip would start on Scott's birthday and end on mine just 5 days later.  It really felt like we were starting our new lives literally at a time of (re) birth.  We rented our car, booked mainly airbnb homes in 5 different cities up the coast, and hopped on a plane to the other side of the country, never return to our apartment! I couldn't believe it was happening. No more subway rides, no more shitty cold NYC winters and hot and humid summers, no more feeling like I could never get ahead no matter how hard I tried...It was time to get some fresh air!

Me, doing a handstand in our empty apartment in New York.

The wedding was fabulous.  My New York Urban Family-- a group of friends who garnered the name because we all became each other's family when we had none in the city--rented a house together to share in an "Urban Family Vacation." Most of these friends have since moved out of New York, so it was a treat to be reunited. When we first started our vacation, I was still having anxiety issues, and I didn't know why. Was it PTSD from New York? Okay, so maybe a little dramatic, but I honestly got to that point. I knew that I really needed the space and time to heal from a lot of heartache I suffered in my relationship with NYC. And now was the time I got to heal with my "family."

Urban Family

At the wedding, I was honored to be invited to sing a duet with one of my best friends, Josh, accompanied by Dan's brother Tom.

We played bags. 

And we danced.

Then we said our good-byes and started our 5 day long road trip up the coast. Which was unreal.  Now I'm going to share our trip with you via photographs. 

Off we go!

Pismo Beach

Morro Bay

Limekiln State Park

Monterey Bay

Santa Cruz

San Francisco 

Running through a Redwood! 

Scott amongst the Redwoods. 

Elk--Just outside of Eureka, CA

Me on the Northern Coast

And then we got to Portland! 

I did not take this photo. It is borrowed from travelportland.com

We arrived late-ish on March 27th and my birthday was the next day. All of our belongings that were on the moving truck hadn't arrived yet so we had to kick it in a hotel for a couple days. On the 28th, we said good-bye to the rental car that we shared an amazing journey in and celebrated my birthday. We enjoyed a run along the water to explore more of the city and at the end of the day, a delicious dinner followed by a gift from the Hotel Lucia: Portland's famous Salt and Straw Ice Cream. 

So now I'm here. In Portland. It's been 6 weeks and I'm trying to figure out my new life. As you might know, I'm also an actress and I've been lucky enough to continue to pursue that passion here. I secured a talent agent and I've auditioned for some theaters. I've been working hard on a digital series I co-created called Kid Friendly*, back in New York. I've been taking yoga, exploring new workouts, running along the Willamette River, hiking with my husband every weekend in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, meeting new folks, reconnecting with an old friend from 10 years ago who lives here (and her wonderful husband) and generally trying to slow down a bit. I haven't been too successful at it, but I'm trying. Oh and I'm also training some clients back in New York via Skype (which has been great) and I'm trying to find some new clients here in Portland. If you need one, please contact me!

I was hoping to write about what I've learned so far as I've been out of New York for almost 2 months, but there's not too much to share yet. I guess I still need some more time. But I can share one vital gem that I've learned and it's this: when you feel like you need a change in your life and you're lucky enough to get the opportunity to do it, do it. Make the change. I think that we know in our hearts what we really need. Always. And if you're willing to listen to your heart, it will tell you things you've been trying to ignore because you've been too scared. Your heart never lies to you and it will push you in directions your head isn't willing to take you. I knew I needed fresh air and some space to grow. I needed new opportunities and a place for our little family of two to experience less stress. I'm so grateful each day that I get to be here in the Pacific Northwest to grow and experience new adventures. I hope I can share some new ones with you soon. XO and Be Well.

I Like to Eat

As a traveling, independent personal trainer, I get the opportunity to visit a lot of different gyms here in New York City. I train clients in their apartment building gyms, office gyms, and specialized training gyms. I tend to overhear conversations other trainers have with their clients not because I'm nosy (okay, maybe I'm kind of nosy), but because these gyms tend to be small enough where at times, I feel like I'm on top of someone else's session. A reoccurring statement I often hear is "I don't know, I just like to eat! So I'm never gonna be that thin." "I like to eat!" What???? You like to eat?!?!? Wow, me too! I like eating! I like not feeling hungry because being hungry means I get hangry, and tired, and low on energy, and weak, and snippy, and my stomach hurts, and my workouts suck. I like delicious meals that aren't always considered the most healthy calorie wise, but they are healthy for my soul because they taste so delicious and I can't be a robotic healthy eater all the time. I like to eat things like fresh fruits and veggies, but I also like to eat pizza and drink a great glass of wine with it.

Listen, guys, we are human. Humans are supposed to eat. Humans are supposed to LIKE to eat. This is because we need to nourish our bodies to stay fit, healthy, energetic, and happy. We (especially women) are supposed to have some fat on our bodies because it's healthy! Our bodies store some fat because our bodies want to make sure that in case you aren't eating due to some massive famine or nuclear holocaust, it can survive for longer. For women, the extra fat is there not only in case food isn't always available, but also to help support a baby should you get pregnant and there is a famine and it needs something to feed the human that is growing inside of you.

That's the realness right there! That is the the most basic reasoning for hunger--sustaining human life. The crazy thing about needing to eat is now that we have magazines, television shows, movies, and internet telling us what is appealing visually at the moment (I say at the moment because you know the trends change over time--i.e. Marilyn Monroe to Twiggy, "Twiggy" butt to "Anaconda" butt), and that's generally not very human attainable. We see flat, 6-pack abs on a magazine cover, then look at our own midsection and we might think that not eating is what we should be doing. We might think that eating is bad. That "I like to eat" is a statement that is farfetched or taboo. Guys, it. is. NOT.

When you see those muscles that pop out of someone's stomach on a magazine cover, a lot of times, it is because the model has dehydrated themselves to the point where their skin looks tighter on their muscles and more appealing for the cover. Or let's face it, it's just plain photoshopped! Body builders often take the dehydration approach as well, so that in competition, they look as defined as possible. Google "body builder dehydration" and the Google at the bottom of the page will extend several 'o's.' I.e. there are a lot of resources that will help you learn how to get super defined for a competition and not drinking water is one of ways to do that. What?!?! That's crazy talk. The human body is around 60% water. So how is dehydrating a good thing for you? Also, what happens when that model drinks water again??? Those 6-pack abs become an illusion. AN ILLUSSSIIOOONNN!!!!!

You can be lean and not dehydrate and not starve yourself. You should never do either of those things. You should be drinking lots of water to flush your system of toxins. You should be eating lean proteins, fruits, veggies, and whole grains to support your muscle mass. If you aren't eating enough, your body tends to hold on to fat and start to cannibalize muscle just in case that famine/nuclear holocaust happens and you need the fat as a last resort/last ditch effort for your body to to save itself. It's true! Isn't that horrible? So eat!!! Your body wants you to reassure it that the next meal is coming and it doesn't need to store fat, just in case...

Stay tuned for the Part II of this blog post for great ideas and options to stay lean and mean and EAT!!!! And you don't have to have 6-pack abs to be lean. Being healthy means a lot of different things for a lot of different people. Some people will hold on to more fat than others and that's okay. That's life. That's YOU.

BE WELL!!!!

P90x3

Welp. Here I am. 90 days since my last blog post after promising I would check in. Whoops. For those of you who care, I'm sorry about that. I've learned that planning a wedding is pretty time consuming after all. It's not necessarily the planning that can be the most time consuming. It's the events that surround it; the extra hours spent on the internet researching stuff like the most comfy heels to wear on your wedding day; the family drama that get's conjured up...Things that take energy that drained me unknowingly so that when the day was over, instead of blogging, I watched an extra episode of Mad Men or just hit they hay early. I will also say that this winter, as you all know, was the worst in the history of time. Some days it was just so draining to traverse New York City, there was energy for nothing else.

So here I am today after a long winter, a long 90 days, and 33 days before my wedding, ready to tell you about my P90x3 journey!

I started P90x3 because my former University of Arizona college roommate, Rosi Reeves, Beachbody Coach, fitness blogger, and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, was posting about forming a P90x3 challenge group on Facebook on the regular around the holidays. I was looking for something new, something to do in my apartment (no gym required--my favorite way to workout), and something that would require minimal time but maximal effort. Because of P90x's stellar reputation, I thought it would be a great challenge. I also wanted to do the research on P90x3 by doing it myself for my clients and anyone reading this blog to let you know what I thought of this program. I'm not usually into workout programs like this (I'll go into why later) and wanted to give you my thoughts as a fitness professional. So off I went. I bought the package and at the end of January, I began.

P90x has 3 different programs to follow: Classic, Lean, and Mass. I started with Lean because I want to be lean. Done, right? But after 3 weeks of doing it, I realized I missed using weights and really wanted to get stronger. Prior to starting P90x I was doing a program through Fitness Blender (if you don't know about Fitness Blender, click on this link immediately to get started with free workouts from married personal trainer team, Kelli and Daniel--such great workouts and again, FREE). In this program that sort of resembles P90x, I started using weights again after a hiatus of doing HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workouts only, like Insanity. Although just using your body weight is a great way to train, I started to see a little more results using weights again so I wanted to explore that more with P90x. So after week 4, I switched to the classic program. Here's what I discovered:

1) 30 minutes really does get it done. Recent research shows that if you keep the intensity of your workouts high and/or very focused, you really don't need more than 30 minutes. This is because you usually work your hardest in the first 30 minutes of your workout, and if you know you only have to do 30 minutes and not an hour or more, you will push your hardest to get the most out of your time.

2) A varied workout plan really is the way to go. It's best to switch up your workouts between weight training, yoga, pilates, HIIT training, upper body days, lower body days, recovery days, and stretching. P90x likes to call it "muscle confusion" I like to call it smart training. You never want your body to get used to any exercise because our bodies are smart and they will always take the path of least resistance. Once your bod gets used to an exercise, it will exert the least amount of energy to keep energy in reserve for later. You need to do the work to tell your body to push harder to see and feel change.

3) Doing exercise plans like Insanity might be good in the short term to see results, but they will never be a long lasting routine in your life. This is because you will get burnt out doing the same kinds of workouts day after day. Also, doing HIIT training every day is not good for your body. Your body needs time to recover from such high intensity work so you should really only use HIIT 2-3 times per week.

4) You can still get a great yoga or pilates workout in 30 minutes. Recently I've been heading back to my 60/90 minute yoga classes with Yoga Works  and although the benefits of the meditation time, a class environment and a live instructor are invaluable, I noticed I got just as good of a yoga workout in my 30 minutes using P90x. This is because P90x just cuts right to the chase so there isn't a lot of time to ease into the workout or relax afterward--something I definitely missed early on in the program, but got used to as time went on. If I needed that time, I just gave it to myself before or afterward on my own.

5) Programs like this aren't best for everyone. I don't always think that workout programs that Beachbody provides are the way to go for a couple reasons:
A) If you aren't a personal trainer or you haven't been to a personal trainer to know how your body should be moving the correct way, you can really get injured by any in-home program. This is because Tony Horton (the creator and instructor of P90x) isn't there to see how you're moving in the moment to help you adjust your body to perform the exercise correctly. You might not know that you're doing something wrong and it can cause potential problems or injuries. Also, because P90x3 goes so quickly, there's not a lot of time for proper instruction and in trying to get through it, you might not know what you're really supposed to be doing and repeat improper form again and again.
B) You start to believe that you need to do this program and nothing else to see results. When you're done with the program, you might feel lost and either let exercise go completely or keep moving from program to program, never really knowing how to simply live your life and keep your fitness going on your own. Even as a trainer who creates several different workouts for my clients every day, since finishing the program, I feel a bit out of it. I find myself going back to the program and pulling workouts from the DVD sleeve instead of doing something different on my own. It's liberating to have the freedom to do what I want, but I also feel like a child who has lost her mommy. Not a feeling I want to have!

6) That being said, programs like this can be great motivators. I loved having my P90x group, led by Rosi, to check in with every day. Every single day for 90 days we all wrote about our workout for the day on the group Facebook page. On days that I just didn't want to do my workout, I did it anyway because I didn't want to write to the group that I failed to get my butt in gear. I also loved being able to cheer on my fellow P90x'ers when they were having a bad day. It felt like we were all in it together and really wanted everyone to succeed.

7) P90x3 is a great program that you won't get too burnt out with in the end. When I finished Insanity, I was burnt out. Done. Toast. And that was only 60 days. With P90x3, after 90 days I didn't feel too crazed. Yes, I was really ready to be done and excited to finish, but I probably could have kept going if the plan was longer. This is because the workouts are so different from day to day and week to week so boredom isn't really ever an issue. Sure, there are workouts you would prefer not to do and workouts you don't like, but there are also a lot of workouts you're excited to do and try. I really loved that.

As far as results go...I don't really know that P90x got me where I am now or if it was just a combo of cutting calories since August/September of last year and adding weight training back in. I do feel much stronger and fitter, that's for sure. Since starting P90x3 my fit test results say it all--I am more flexible, I'm now up to 45 pushups before failure from 33, I can do a couple chin-ups (with maybe a little bit of cheating) and I went from doing 27 bicep curls to 40 bicep curls with 10lb weights to failure. My upper body hasn't always been my strongest so I can say I'm proud of that.

I don't usually share pics of my bod, but I thought it was worth sharing me after doing Insanity 6 days a week for either 40 minutes to an hour and kind of eating what I wanted in June of last year, to me keeping a closer eye on my diet and doing more focused training for only 30 minutes a day.

 

Diet and exercise as a combo is key. And so is focused exercise. You don't need to spend hours at the gym to get fit. I'm not perfect but I think you can probably see that although the results aren't crazy, they are there.

Go ahead and give P90x3 a try! If you need help, you can always ask for it from me and I will be happy to answer your questions. Or you can contact Rosi, my beachbody coach and I promise she will help you through it!

BE WELL!

Happy New Year, Weddings, and Accountability!

Well hello there after a long hiatus! Happy New Year! Yes, I know we are days away from February so I'm a little late to the "Happy New Year" party. I've been settling into my 2014 joyful, excited, elated, overwhelmed, nervous, stressed and the list of adjectives could go on. In June I will be getting married. It's pretty much the biggest thing that's happened in my life thus far so let's let this pressure cooker begin! We got engaged in November and decided on a location in December so we are doing the 6 months out as opposed to a year, thing. I guess things are supposed to feel rushed but...they don't. I mean, I've never done this before so I don't know how it's supposed to feel but I wouldn't say rushed is one of my main feelings. When I tell people that 6/14/14 is our wedding date, reactions are something along the lines of "wow, that's so soon! Why the rush?" Honestly, all of the parties I've ever planned I started planning maybe 2 weeks out AT MOST, so 6 months seems pretty reasonable to me.  It's a lot, for sure. Even as I write this blog I'm going back and forth on gchat with my fiance about wedding photographers and getting distracted by random stuff on Wedding Wire. But rushed isn't the feeling. Maybe because we are getting married on St. John in the US Virgin Islands things are a little easier. We didn't need to book a venue 18 months out (that I couldn't find an available and affordable venue in New York or North Carolina 11 months out was shocking to me as I first started looking) and everything seems to be on "Island Time." My type-A, New York "getitdonerightnowandaswerallmyemailsrightnowandallmyphonecallsrightnow" mentality is seriously being tested, but it's good for me. I'm slowing down when I didn't even know that slowing down was a challenge I faced because fast is the norm for me in daily life. The only thing that is making me anxious are the people around me questioning how we are going to get it all done in time. Or even reading wedding magazines that always have this arbitrary countdown at the beginning of every issue. 3 months out I must order [insert random wedding thing here] and if I don't, it will all fall apart!  My rational self knows everything will come together and we will have a beautiful wedding with no rush at all. But sometimes it's hard to trust when others question me or I let myself get sucked in to worry for no reason at all.

So to bring things full circle, what I'm realizing is, feeling a certain way because others question me or feeling rushed to be somewhere in my life physically, mentally, emotionally, because I'm "supposed" to be there, always comes up for me. To bring it in the physical realm of things,  it's easy to feel pressured to look a certain way because of what we see on a magazine cover or because of someone we know in our lives who we allow to become the standard of how we should look. I mean, good god! At this time in my life, I'm supposed to look the best I've ever looked because I'm the bride. Hello, pressure! I hate that the standard has become, "diet, exercise, diet before your wedding because you'll never look this good ever again!" Why does that have to be true for everyone? I get it. I do. You're being professionally photographed and it's one of the most important days of your life where all of your friends and family are looking at you and you want to look and feel great. Understood. But don't let all of that just surround an event. Hold onto that feeling all the time! Feel and look your best and your healthiest every day of your life. Do you really want to look back at wedding photos and think "well, that was it! I hit my peak and it's all downhill from there!" Don't let a wedding, 10 year reunion, ex-boyfriend/girlfriend, or anything else dictate why you are pursuing healthy living. Let your every day dictate your health and well being. Or let whatever that event/person is, be a motivation to start and keep going.  Don't abandon the wellness you created for yourself when it's all over. Like I always say, when you're healthy the direct side effect is that you'll look great too. Just carry that feeling with you always!

As for where I am on my fitness "journey," I just started P90x3 two days ago. It's P90x's newest program that launched in December and it's only 30 minutes a day! I didn't start this program specifically because I'm getting married (although, yes, I most definitely want to feel beautiful and fit on my wedding day) but because personal trainers need trainers, too! I need to shake it up a bit and I'm excited to research something new for myself and my clients. Also, since planning a wedding feels like a part-time job that requires so much attention, 30 minutes a day of intense, focused exercise seems the way to go when my extra time has vanished.  Also, ALSO, my dear friend and former college roommate Rosi Reeves--a certified strength and conditioning specialist and the most motivating trainer I know (check out her amazing website here)-- got me excited about P90x's newest program. She started this awesome accountability group via facebook to help a few of us stay on track and check in daily about our workouts. Although I'm usually a lone wolf when it comes to working out, I do love having a community to check in with to help motivate and encourage me on days when I would rather be doing anything but working out. You don't have to join an accountability group to stay on track, either. Something like group fitness classes, signing up for a 5K race, or meeting with a personal trainer (heeeyyyy!) are also wonderful ways to help keep you on track. We can't always do it on our own nor would we want to, so make it a challenge to yourself to find a community, (or start one!) big or small, of fellow fitness encouragers!

Okay, back to wedding stuff and then onto my 3rd day of P90x3. I promise to check in on this blog more often to let you know about my progress and I promise I won't talk wedding too much. Geeze! Stop yelling at me! ;-) BE WELL!!!

INSANITY.

I've been waiting a little while to write this blog post, because I needed the post-INSANITY feelings to set in. I wracked my body for over 60 days and I needed to see how I would feel after pushing myself 6 days a week (most weeks) and trying a new workout that I never thought I would do. So here it is, my thoughts on the ever so popular Insanity workout....

There are a few reasons why I've been avoiding writing about Insanity. 1) It's a workout that I did and honestly, who cares? (well, while I was in the throes of it, I cared. I cared a lot so that's why I am actually writing this post for all of you wanting to get some insight). 2) I was burnt out. It took over my life for over two months and for a while, it felt exhausting thinking about it let alone writing about it. 3) I wanted to be out of it for a bit to get back into a regular routine of varied workouts like I'm used to doing on a daily basis. You know, running, weight lifting, kickboxing, circuit training, etc. That way I would have a better view of how my body is feeling and working post-Insanity.

For those of you who haven't seen those ever so popular Insanity infomercials and didn't get sucked into the "before and after" photos like I did several times, I'll fill you in on what this workout, touted "the hardest workout ever put on DVD," is all about. It was created by Shaun T, a "fitness expert"/personal trainer who put together this high intensity program that is supposed to burn fat and increase strength and endurance. It uses various bodyweight exercises that usually focus on plyometric movements such as plyo-push-ups, jump-squats and power lunges. The first month, the workout is 3 sets of HIIT exercises, 3 minutes per set, twice. So you are doing 6 sets of HIIT exercises, with a few "recovery exercises" thrown in there as well (think dips and v-pushups). Each exercise lasts for 30 seconds. In between each set, you have 30 seconds of rest. The total time per workout for the first month is about 40 minutes. The second month, the workouts are about an hour long each and Shaun T bumps it up to 45 seconds per exercise.

In the infomercial and online advertisments, the workouts look nothing less than intimidating. People are seen dripping in sweat, working their butts off, and Shaun T is yelling into the television to "DIG DEEPER," (a common catch phrase of his he shouts at you each and every workout). The people behind the camera who claim to have lost several inches and dropped many pounds share that this workout is the hardest they've ever done. They are now "in the best shape of their lives!" Somehow, amidst the magic of television, I got pulled in, and decided that after the holidays were over and the hustle and bustle of that crazy time of year, I too was going to be in the best shape of my life!

I really decided to embark on this Insanity journey because I felt like I was in a bit of a workout rut. I create several workouts that I do with my clients daily but doing those workouts on my own bored me. I loved my weekly kickboxing class, my runs outside, and some fitness dvds I was cycling through, but I needed something different. I wanted to commit to something so I thought, why not. This Insanity thing would be an experiment of sorts. One I could experience for myself and then take to my clients and write about on this blog. So, Janurary 5th, I opened up my Insanity dvd package and started with the fit test.

The fit test is something you do every 2 weeks to see how you are progressing. It's a 25 minute workout with 8 different exercises you have to do for 1 minute each. The fit test left me gasping for breath. This was going to be hard, but I was excited to see where this would take me.

Off I went into month one of the workouts. They were hard. I hadn't pushed myself or been pushed this hard in a long while. After the first day of the first real workout, I was wiped.  I questioned what kind of workout this was going to be for me. I knew I would stick with it because that's just my nature, but I almost questioned whether it was healthy for me to do this or not. Now when I look back, I see that thought was silly. I just wasn't as conditioned for this workout yet. As time went on, I got more and more conditioned and the workouts became easier. Those days of feeling wiped after my workouts were over. It was pretty cool to feel myself adapting. But even though it was exciting to be progressing, I was annoyed that I had to stick to this workout program 6 days a week. Even with a small commitment of 40 minutes a day, I felt myself craving my kickboxing classes at the gym and lifting weights Also, my quads were so sore, I wondered if I shouldn't be giving them a bit of a rest. Some weeks, I didn't do the "Cardio Abs" workout you're supposed to add on to the "Pure Cardio" workout (even though every workout is cardio--come on!) because I was just done. My body was done and I didn't feel like doing another 20 minutes of work. I also thought the recovery day workout should have been a true recovery day--a day off to rest your muscles, not push it even more. Some weeks I did give myself a day off since I'm running around the city and demonstrating exercises with each client. My body felt pushed to the max and I thought it was smart to rest so my muscles could rebuild.

After month one, Shaun T grants you a "recovery week" in which you are still doing a workout every day, but it's less intense. In my recovery week I took a couple classes at the gym instead of doing the "Core Cardio and Balance" workout every day that you are supposed to do (every day? Really?). I expected the workouts at the gym to be beyond easy. If I was pushing myself this hard--harder than I had before--everything would feel like a breeze. But I made the mistake of taking a super hard boot camp class early in the week and things went down hill from there. I needed time to recover and get ready for month 2, but I didn't really give myself that time. The workouts I did at the gym were just as hard as before.

Month 2 starts with a bang. Now your workouts are about an hour long and instead of doing 2 circuts of 3 sets, you are doing 3. Ouch. But one thing I found refreshing, helpful, and different from month 1 was the opportunity for more recovery time throughout the hour. This is because Shaun T takes more time to demonstrate the exercises which gives you a bit more of a breather. The workout is harder, but I felt like I had these extra moments to recover that weren't offered to me in the first bundle of workouts. I still have to say though, I like just pushing through it and getting it over with. Shaun T consistently mentions that these workouts are about endurance, and with anything requiring more endurance, you need to take more time and bring down the intensity a bit. Oh it's still, there, don't you worry, but these workouts are just a bit less fast and furious than month 1.

So, I pushed through month two and when I was done, I was elated that it was over. Being finished meant that I wouldn't have to be chained to my television and my living room to workout anymore. I could hit the pavement, head to the gym, and maybe even a yoga studio whenever I wanted. Yay! So psyched! The first run I went on after I finished Insanity was not fun. In fact, I was pissed. I thought I was going to be "in the best shape of my life!" and since I had been pushing myself so hard in my workouts with Insanity, everything would be so easy! Nope. What I was doing was conditioning myself to do Insanity. Not to run. Not to weight lift. Not to do yoga. I mean, yes, I was in better shape than when I started. My fit test numbers had improved from day one (check out my Fit Test results at the end of the post if you're interested) and when I tried out some workouts from month 1 of Insanity, they were easier. But I was reminded that if you don't do a variety of work and you're just focusing on one type of workout, you really only condition yourself for that kind of workout. Insanity is definitely a workout that will get you in shape, but if you are the kind of person that likes to do a variety of activities, this workout is not for you. I do feel stronger in some ways. I do feel more conditioned in others. But now that I've had time to get back to running a couple times a week, lifting weights and getting to my kickboxing class, I feel more well rounded and happier.

As for my physique? Well, I'm not sure...I took before and after photos and comparing them side by side, I gotta say, the difference is kinda marginal. I think this is because I didn't follow the diet plan provided or really change too much about my diet. In fact, I don't think I was eating enough. I've realized recently through getting a Fitbit One (check it out here--it's kind of changed my life and I will be blogging about this next) I burn a lot more calories in a day than I thought I was burning. With my lifestyle as a traveling trainer, I'm moving a lot, thus burning a lot. By adding Insanity to the mix, I was pushing harder and burning more. I'm sure if I added more calories daily, I would have seen more of a change. After having some time off of Insanity, I've noticed that I'm digging my physique a bit more. Maybe this is because I am pushing myself harder in my interval workouts or I am more conditioned than I think? Not sure...

Nevertheless, that new knowledge isn't enough to have me go through the process again. As much as I do enjoy some of the workouts and still dig them out from time to time to add to my weekly routine, I don't want to do this program again. I'm just not a program kind of gal, even if Shaun T is kind of awesome. He really is! A great trainer and a great motivator in a very safe way. He's tough, yes, but he encourages you to take breaks if you aren't doing the exercises with proper form (VERY important). If you like programs and you have a good fitness base (beginners, this is NOT for you--I see injuries written all over this thing if you don't know what you're doing), give it a try. It will push you to your max and help you to see HIIT (high intensity interval training) in a new way. But, I also thought of it kind of like a diet program, and diets never work. It's the whole, "do this program in this exact way and if you do it perfectly, you'll see results!" So you do what you're told and you see the results but then when you are in your real life and not on the program anymore, you don't know what to do so you start going back to your old habits. The weight comes back on and before you know it, you are back where you started. Fitness needs to be a well rounded affair. You need to do a variety of things, eat a variety of things, and  be happy. There is no quick fix. Fitness is a lifestyle where you eat good food (meaning organic when you can, fruits, veggies, whole grains, natural kind of stuff), move a lot, and enjoy your life. You best think of it that way and BE WELL!

---FIT TEST RESULTS---

SWITCH KICKS:        Day 1--115  Day 63--152
POWER JACKS:         Day 1--56    Day 63--66
POWER KNEES:        Day 1--95    Day 63--116
POWER JUMPS:        Day 1--37    Day 63--54
GLOBE JUMPS:         Day 1--7     Day 63--12
SUICIDE JUMPS:       Day 1--18   Day 63--20
PUSH-UP JACKS:      Day1--26   Day 63--35
LOW PLANK OBLIQUE: Day 1--52 Day 63--90

Don't Let the Weather Get in Your Way!

Today I'm sitting in my apartment due to what, at this point, seems like nothing. There is talk of "Noreaster Nemo" heading our way, but all I see when I look out my window is a bit of rain. All of my clients canceled their sessions today because of kids at home due to school closures, early drives out of town to make, or forgotten gym clothes due to over preparation for what is forecasted to be a crazy weather day. Today is actually my day off from working out from the 6 days I put in on the Insanity program I'm currently doing, so trying to get a workout in for me on day like today isn't presenting an issue, but for many, workouts today will go to the wayside when the weather is this bad (they already have for my 5 clients scheduled for today). But hey there! They don't have to! The great thing about working out is that you don't need a gym or fancy equipment to get you in shape. Even a program like Insanity that touts being "the hardest fitness program ever put on DVD" doesn't use any equipment at all. I just throw my DVD in the player, clear away my coffee table and I'm ready to go. I've created a program that you can do at home with just your body weight that you can find here (it reads "outdoor workout" but you'll read that it can be done indoors as well). Or if you want to check out my Next Fitness Star submission that offers a different version of this workout, head to this amazing video. This workout can be done with no equipment at all and in 30 minutes if you have a small window of time between say, a child's nap time or conference calls. You can also check out my list of my favorite fitness DVD's to pop in for a great in-home workout here.
Don't you dare make excuses when the weather is bad and you can't get to the gym or out on the jogging trail! All you need is you when it comes to fitness. Rock it out with your workout and BE WELL!

Brace yourself for motivational speaking and Women's Health's Next Fitness Star

Today I entered myself in Women's Health's Next Fitness Star competition.  My boyfriend helped me create a video audition last night, and this morning I filled out my application. As I entered the different fields explaining why I should be the "Next Fitness Star," I did a bit of soul searching. The application asked me why I thought I should be named the Next Fitness Star. What made me think I should earn that title? It brought me back to why I started personal training, but more importantly, why I started Be Well, this blog you are currently reading and the business I now run myself.

The reason I started personal training is no real touching story. I got certified never really thinking I would use my NASM certification. It started out as a potentially safe job to fall back on so that I didn't have to waitress while I auditioned. To be totally honest, in a way, personal training is still that for me. I do enjoy being a trainer and more importantly, I love my clients, but counting reps and isn't what makes me like my job. Many of my clients have been working with me for years. They are amazing people who I am happy to know and spend a couple hours a week with every week. They are my true motivators when I'm struggling through a workout of my own as I remember how hard they push and how hard they work through every workout I take them through. My workouts aren't easy, and they really rock them out.
But I digress, like I was saying, the reason I started personal training wasn't because I really wanted to help people lose weight or help them fight through their personal struggles. A lot of the people I work with in NYC are pretty fit already. They really do take care of themselves and work with me to get that extra push or to help them keep an appointment for a workout because they live such busy lives. What matters more  is why I started Be Well because I have become that person who has wanted to help people lose weight and fight through personal struggles. Before I started, I never knew that this was part of what I was meant to do in this lifetime. Even if it's just for now.

I started writing Be Well because of some internal struggles I face and also what I noticed a lot of other people struggle with. And that struggle was not about losing weight, but truly feeling good in your own skin. I wanted to get the word out that being well is about creating a healthy lifestyle and to accept yourself as you are (something I still struggle with). It's not about constantly working to have those washboard abs with deprivation, but about the realization that being well is about being happy inside and out. To not compare and despair. To make being well a state of mind and a joy in life. I needed to write about this and get the word out, and that's what I really enjoy about being a trainer.

So to come full circle, the reason I want to be the the Next Fitness Star is to get the idea out there that being well is not just working out and dieting, but to truly make it a state of mind. I learned through this job that I pretty much fell into. I learned that I am passionate about living and loving life in a healthy and balanced way. I love this part of my life and I love sharing reasons to be healthy and tips to make it happen. I'm not perfect, and I want to get the word out there that it's okay not to be.

I surprise myself constantly with the things my body is capable of doing that I never thought it would be. I never thought I would run a 5k,10k, two half marathons, workout 6 days a week, get through the Insanity workout (as I write this, I'm almost halfway through the program!) like I'm doing now. I feel proud that I have become as strong as I am and know I can motivate others to push just as hard.

Being well is: Lacing up your sneakers because you want to feel good and live longer; making your diet about eating well and eating happy; eating good for you foods daily and to cheat too; enjoying your glass(es) of wine and chocolate without beating yourself up for it the next day; LIVING YOUR LIFE! LOVING your life! What is this life about if we don't enjoy it? What is this life about if all we are doing is worrying about what the scale reads or how many calories you have eaten? Yes, it's important to enjoy in moderation, but the key word there is to ENJOY. Not to deprive. All in all, get your workout in to make your heart work better, achieve a goal, and make your body feel great by reaping the rewards of your hard work. If you want washboard abs, there's no shame in that, but don't become a miserable person because of it. If you love food, eat it but don't go overboard! Don't fill your body with crap (processed foods like cheetos and cookies that can stay "fresh" on the shelf for years) every day.
LIVE IT, LOVE IT, AND BE WELL!

Year of Success: Part Deux

If you know me, you know that I don't make resolutions, I make a new years theme. It's an overarching idea to live by to keep me going throughout the year, rather than something small that I know will only hold steadfast for maybe a month or two. For example, instead of making a resolution such as "in 2013, I will lose 5 pounds" my theme is "2013: The Year of Success." In fact, that was my theme last year. I wanted 2012 to be the year of success. I wanted it to be the year I became what I had been putting out into the universe for so long. I wanted to achieve all of my wildest dreams and put the drive I had been sitting on for so long into action. But now when I look back when hindsight is 20/20, I realize I needed to get rid of all of the stuff that was holding me back to truly make my life successful in a way that I felt good about. I wasn't ready to be as successful in all areas of my life in the way I know I can be, because I had to clear the old to make way for the new.  So, now 2012 has become the "Year of Closure" and 2013 has turned into "The Year of Success: Part Deux."

Remember how the world was supposed to end according to the Mayans this December? Of course you do! I really think a part of it did end for a lot of people. I know it did for me. I have been in this 6 year cycle where I have been learning, I've been humbled, and I've grown. I believe that 2012 was the end of the shoveling crap phase of my life, and now it's time for me to bloom. It's time for success. And it's time for joy!  I have a feeling that the Mayans knew what they were going for when the calendar ended and it didn't involve meteorite showers or giant locusts taking us away--they saw it as a time of the death of the current collective subconscious and a time for rebirth in 2013. Or they were just tired and 2012 seemed as good a time as any to shut calendar counting down. Either way, I'm feeling refreshed and renewed this year, coincidence or not.

As far as my fitness goes, I just started doing the INSANITY workout plan and I cut out alcohol for the entire month of January.  I'm already feeling a little slimmer and a more fit with each day that passes. Even if it's just mental, that's all I need for now! In the non-fitness parts of my life, I have decided to really push the acting part of my career and give it one more go to commit to making my dreams come true. My 2011 theme, "Year Without Fear" is still kicking in the background and I'm making strides where I haven't before. I challenge you to do the same. If you can't think of a theme of your own, take mine and make 2013 the most successful one yet. Try a new workout program; cut crap from your diet that you know isn't doing you any favors; add more nutritious foods into your diet to help your body work better; and as cheesy as it sounds, believe in yourself to make the changes you haven't made due to fear, insecurity, or whatever else, so that you can be a better you. But most of all, BE WELL!