Deep Thoughts

Recipe for Success

Fitness Question and Answer

Tip of the Month

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Show Us Your Muscles

Training & Fitness Focus

Deep Thoughts: Charity Events as Motivation

Recently a large corporation hosted a series of events to raise money for charity. Among the numerous events were poker tournaments, silent auctions, dunk tanks and a 5K race. Over 1,300 people participated in this race and raised over $130,000! The money went to different charities like Teen Feed, Northwest Organization for Animal Help, etc. 1,300 people isn’t a lot for a company of their size, but it does show how dedicated people are to helping others. Those few people raised a lot of money and had a good time doing something that is not only good for their health, but benefits an organization they care about.

Corporations aren’t the only ones doing great things for charity. Many organizations and cities host a variety of events throughout the year to raise money for good causes. Sometimes putting energy into something that you know is doing good for someone or something can motivate us to get up and get out or maybe it motivates us to try harder and push our limits further. If you find the change of weather is getting you down, that there’s too much distraction with the Holidays on the horizon then signing up for a charity event may be for you.

Holidays are all about giving and to really get in the fitness game, invite friends to join you. To help colleagues and friends ante up more funds, make some crazy investment in the event, like my friend in the cloud outfit. Training can be fun and have a purpose. If you’ve never trained for anything before, I can help by being your personal coach. Ask me how to get started!

Tip: Make a note to yourself after a successful workout about how great you feel to remind you on those hard to motivate days, why it’s worth heading out.

Fitness Q & A

Cycling is a great way to lose weight. Taking a spin class will make you sweat like you've never sweat before. But, will all of that cycling give you 'thunder legs'? 

No. Cycling will tone your body, including your legs. The muscles will get more shapely and defined as the fat disappears. As the leg muscles firm up, it might feel like they are bulky because there will be more definition to them. But do not fear, the only way to get 'thunder thighs' is to invest in building the muscles by taking the right supplements and pushing the right resistance. Women especially, due to their genetic predisposition, are not going to add mass easily. To be sure that you are going for tone and not mass, make sure you are staying aerobic in your cycling, which means not maxing resistance (use lower gears) and doing more revolutions (spinning more).  Muslce mass doesn't build overnight, it actually takes a long time (weeks) so get on that bike and have a little fun! If you are really worried about it, mix up your routine with an ellipticle workout.

Disclaimer: These tips are for normal, healthy individuals. If you have heart problems, diabetes, or other health concerns, you should consult a physician for personal guidance.

Tip of the Month Traveling for the Holidays

How to maintain sanity during an insane time

The Holidays are upon us and for many it means travel to visit families, friends or just get away from it all.  We're not alone and that means queues, delays, and other unforseen challenges that can compound and make the venture more of an adventure. To navigate the chaos and make it to your destination relativley unscathed, follow these 3 easy steps:

1. Make sure your plan includes lots of time to get to and from the aiport, bus or train station. Give yourself a minimum of an additional hour, especially if traveling with young children. This may seem obvious but in the hustle and bustle of things, timing can make or break your trip. Anticipate the worst and settle in for the journey, even if it means you get to sit in the airport a little longer. At least you won't be stressed about making your flight.

2. Make all home arrangements, pet sitting arrangements, etc now. Don't wait until the last minute because the people you might want to rely on will get busy with their own Holiday plans. Leave a list of contact numbers with your contact person, including an emergency contact in case you are unreachable.

3. Start your list of what you need to pack, today. Even if your trip is for Christmas week, it helps to note those odd packages that need to make the suitcase or require shipping ahead of time. If you wait to the last minute, you might forget that important gift you really wanted to give to that special someone. Also, this list can be used for reference in the event of lost luggage.

Above all, relax. The cogs are in motion, your trip is underway and whatever happens will become part of your journey. At the very least, be ready for some good story telling!

Calendar

Red River Gorge Fitness Retreat November 4-6th, 2011
Slade, Ky.
Fitness retreat inthe Daniel Boone National Forest is this weekend! I can't wait. If you missed the deadline to register, contact us right away to see if there is a space for you.
Learn more.

Lead World Cup November 26-27th, 2011
Barcelona, Spain

Hueco Tanks Bouldering November 28 - December 11, 2011
Hueco Tanks State Park, Texas

Fitness Retreat March 25 - 31, 2012
Kalymnos, Greece
Start training now for this Spring Retreat. Contact us to learn more.

SHOW US YOUR MUSCLES