"I Wanna Quit the __________"

Many know this famous line from Friends... I wanna quit the gym!

Well I did quit the gym... and before I get the question "isn't that the opposite of what a personal trainer does?" let me explain.

Being a new mom challenged my old routine of wake up at 4AM get to the gym by 5AM work out for an hour and go about my day - work, wife stuff, etc. Once sweet KJ came into this world - I kept my gym membership, which I had frozen during pregnancy because I had 0 energy to get to the gym, but found I rarely had time to get out of the house and go. Schedules had to change - and I could keep the gym membership and work around my schedule and find some spare time - but then I was missing my sweet girl's bed time - and to me - that is when I pour into her the most... playing while winding down, reading, and being there to say goodnight before she falls asleep... that became priority!

I spent about 2 months going back and forth on the idea of quitting the gym... then I looked at my numbers - how many times did I get to the gym? How long were those workouts at the gym? Those two things told me that the money I was spending for my membership was not worth it. I would go to the gym maybe twice a month and spend collectively maybe 2 hours at the gym - it was time to go. 

Do I love the gym - yes! But I look at it this way - did I love the actual gym or the idea of going to the gym and did I need the gym to reach my personal goals. NO. I love the idea of the gym because of all of the different modalities to use to work and reach my goals - but honestly - I don't need them to reach the goals that I have. I have built a little bit of a hodge podge of workout modalities at home - some free weights, a stability ball, resistance bands... etc. I told myself if I made the commitment to start working out and getting healthy consistently again then I would one day return to the gym. BUT I'M NOT STRESSING! I should also mention there is a small workout cable machine at the office and an air bike that I use - but even if these were not available to me - I would not let that deter me from my goals!

I want to be a personal trainer who can work with anyone's situation. No gym? no biggie - no free weights... we can use body weight... getting healthy should be just as versatile as the individual! If someone wants to use the gym that is great too - anyone can start from anywhere and do anything... 

This month I take my exam. Studying has been a major time consumer in my evenings (generally after KJ is in bed - maybe not asleep - but in her crib) - however I have still made it a priority to get sweaty for 30+ min 5 days a week. I am not perfect - but I am working on being a better me. It is a process and it takes one day at a time. 

Next month - new and exciting things are happening!

If you would like to follow and learn about the journey that is coming soon be sure to check me out on instagram and facebook! I will be GIVING AWAY a 4 week personalized workout program to 5 people once I pass my exam! to be entered into the drawing - comment with your email below and I will put you into the drawing and will update you when that is going to take place!

Can I do this? Battling Self Doubt

I try and be a positive person for the most part. When it comes to encouraging others and lifting them up - I consider it a passion. Why should anyone be filled with sadness and feel bad about themselves when that is not what our Creator designed us for? Yet when it comes to myself and my own body and my own happiness - I "shame" myself every I pass a mirror.

Being my own worst critic is an understatement... I nit pick at parts of my body that I assume others stare at, and then I think to myself, "when did you allow yourself to become such a narcissist? People are not looking at you. Why would anyone want to listen to you and what you have to say?"

One of my best friends who also happens to be my personal trainer told me in 2015 that she thought I should consider being a personal trainer online and should think about becoming certified. I told her that I was not sure that it was for me and in my head thought she was just shy of riding on the crazy train for thinking such a thing. I blew the idea off and thought that she was just being kind and nice to me because she and I have been friends for a very long time. She had mentioned it again some time later and I, again, blew off the comment as something she was just saying in the moment but not really anything that she meant. Then again a while later she said something about it again - and this time it got me thinking. Thinking enough to come up with some ideas in my head... would I actually consider joining the crazy train? This was not a multi level marketing ploy she wanted me to sign up for. I know her well enough to know by now she would never encourage something she did not stand behind 100%.

Here is why I am

- I've personally been the victim of just being another dollar sign to someone. Personal training plans that people pay for should be PERSONALIZED, and too many times they are just made for the masses. People who have not been trained themselves, who have not been certified and taken courses to be knowledgeable about how to train other people is wrong. There is a science behind the human body musculature system and without that knowledge you are bound to hurt someone.

- The industry is growing yes - but it is getting away from the food and movement aspect and more into the quick fix of supplements, waist shapers, diet pills, meal replacements, boxed processed meals. Bottom line - a person with normal health (being no medical conditions that hinder the person from digesting normally) should be able to lose weight consistently and effectively by eating healthy and moving... period. The word supplement means just that to supplement your HEALTHY lifestyle. I should not have to BUY things other than food to effectively start losing weight... To be honest you don't HAVE to be a member of a gym to start moving and changing your habits...

- Diets don't work... sure they make you think that they do, but never is a diet sustainable for the rest of your life. It will fail you. If you stuck to strict dietary restraints forever you would become bored, plateau, retain water, and in the end get frustrated and quit - which could result in gaining your weight back, and start you on the cycle all over again. NOT HEALTHY!

My goal with becoming certified with NASM within the next 2 months to be a personal trainer is to make others realize that living a healthy lifestyle is not unattainable, easier than you realize, and can be maintain
ed for life by living life in moderation and moving more.  Notice I said EASIER - no easy... sacrifices and changes do have to be made to an extent... but I will dive into that as I meet with individuals in the future. Another goal is to help new moms, like myself, feel confident and strong by starting with basics and building upon strength and stability to conquer their health goals. Giving birth is hard no matter what - but the body is amazing and being a mom proves that. If I can do this - so can you!

Life is meant to be lived. We are not designed to be sedentary.

Eat. Move. Live.