Confessions 2.0...

1. We had some Crystal Light Pomtini mix in our house... and I was drinking it. But don't worry. It's GONE now.

Trashed!!!

2. Something in the sun room smells like cat pee. I can't tell what it is, but I've been sitting in this exact spot on the couch for over an hour now and I get a small whiff of it about every ten minutes. My solution? Candles!


3. I don't make my piano students play to a metronome because if they were to not stick with the clicking noise, my brain would explode! (I still make them play on a steady beat, I just have other means of getting them to do that other than a metronome!)

4. This is what I wore on my run last Sunday. It was freezing, and my Under Armour pants were in the wash.

5. I didn't study at ALL over Thanksgiving break. But I think I needed a break to let all the info "simmer" before a charge ahead...

6. We only turned our heat on a few days ago. Why use heat when we can just wear layers!?

7. I'm starting to feel very overwhelmed with everything on my plate, and everything life has been throwing me lately. All my Christmas shopping is done, so that's not a bother. It's just work has been CRAZY, I took on some more piano students, I have to fit in 3 physical therapy sessions a week, we are probably going to have to end up traveling over the holiday... it's just all SO MUCH. I need some strategies to cope these next few weeks because my brain just can't relax. What do you do to calm down when you're stressed/anxious/busy?

Confess something to me! I'll put it in the vault...

Fitness Sins!

I started doing something on Saturday. 

Maybe you have heard of it. 

It's called stretching.

I seriously think not stretching is one of the BIGGEST Fitness Sins I commit. I have lost massive amounts of flexibility over the past 12 years. I could blame it on getting old, but obviously I could have maintained my flexibility into my 30s had I just incorporated stretching into my workouts.

Stretching is boring. I like to move. This is why I never stretch. But I am at the point where I realize I NEED to stretch. And a few minutes of post workout stretching will be so beneficial and worth the boredom. I even asked for a foam roller for Christmas! I am super serious about taking care of my body and starting some new habits!

Benefits of Flexibility Training:

1. Releases muscle tension and soreness

2. Allows for greater freedom of movement and improved posture.

3. Increases physical and mental relaxation.

4. Reduces the risk of injury.

(Source: American Council on Exercise)

Here's an in depth list of ACE's Top 10 Reasons to Stretch

So I mentioned not stretching is my biggest Fitness Sin. Here is a list of some Fitness Sins you should not commit!!!

1. Not taking a rest day. (Guilty!)

2. Not performing a proper warm up.

3. Not performing a proper cool down. (Guilty!)

4. Not stretching.

5. Not drinking enough water.

6. Not properly fueling your body before and after your workout.

7. Doing too much too soon.

8. Having an all or nothing attitude. (Guilty!)

9. Ignoring an injury.

10. Only doing cardio and never weight training.

So how about you? Are there any fitness sins you commit???

Running Through The Elements: Cold Weather Edition!

I hate being cold. I'd much rather be really stinking hot than cold. And honestly, unless it's really hot outside, I'm usually cold! Like right now. I'm laying on my couch, typing my blog, wearing thick socks, flannel pajama pants, a long sleeve thermal shirt, a hoodie, a bathrobe, and a blanket. (I know, I know, we need to turn our heat on one of these days...)

Even though I hate being cold, I can still run in super freezing temperatures. If I can do it, you can do it. Here's the secret. It's going to blow your mind...

WEAR WARM CLOTHES.

Shocking, right? 

What I Wear In The Cold

But seriously, there is no reason you can't be all toasty and warm on your run. There is awesome cold weather gear out there. Yes, it's expensive. But the $100 I spent on an Under Armour shirt and pants was some of the best running money I spent. I've had these pieces for over 4 years and they still work well. I can't wear these pieces unless it is REALLY cold out, or else I'm way too hot.

The same goes for this jacket. It's a Denali. It's super warm and waterproof. I got it at Marshall's for $30. It's a $130 jacket. Marshall's usually has jackets like this that you can get for around $30! Go look for some. However, even if I had to pay full price for this jacket, knowing what I know about it now, it would still worth it.

If wear an Under Armour long sleeve, a fleece vest, 

and this jacket, I am TOASTY, even when the temperatures are below 10 degrees.

One thing I still have not found yet are the perfect pair of gloves. They are either too thin and my hands are frozen after 2 miles, or they're too thick and my hands sweat and THEN freeze. Please share any gloves you have found for really, really, really cold temperatures, because I still have not found a good pair.

A Word About Wind...

Wind sucks. Actually, it blows. But it also SUCKS. If you can find something to cover your face, that is good. If not, I guess you just have to suck it up and take some wind to the face! Remember, when tears stream down your face, it builds character.

Some Closing Remarks

Another thing to remember... It's rarely as cold as you think it's going to be. Yes, sometimes it's just as horrible as you imagine would be, but most of the time, if you're dressed right, it ends up being fine.

However, don't be stupid. Last winter, there were two mornings where I stopped after 4 miles because I knew if I kept going, it would be dangerous. I should have doubled up on the pants, but I didn't, so I ended up being way too cold. So STOP if your discomfort is dangerous.

I wrote about running in the scorching HEAT too. Check that out here!

Have any cold running tips for the readers?

What about help finding the perfect REALLY COLD weather gloves???

Oy Vey... (I'm getting on my high horse!!!)

It seems that with anything that requires hard work and dedication, there are always people that want to take the easy way out.

Like becoming a personal trainer.

One can't assume, "Oh, I workout, I exercise, I know some stuff... I can take the personal training test and pass it without much studying. No problem."

Someone with that attitude is going to fail the test, guaranteed.

I am almost done reading the two required books: ACE Personal Trainer Manual 4th edition & ACE's Essentials of Exercise Science for Fitness Professionals. I stress that I am done reading them. I am nowhere near done studying them. There are some things I simply have to go back and review... particularly the actions of the different muscles, information on correcting postures, all of the fitness math, and apparently there is A LOT of information on the test about exercise and pregnancy, so I have to review that as well. That's just my short list of things to go back and review. I will not bore you with the longer list... (You're probably already bored!!)

One of the things I like to do to study is find online practice tests and flash cards. When searching for these things, I often stumble across message boards where people post questions about the test and what to study. On every message board, there are a handful of people looking for the easy way out... They ask if they can skip reading certain books (There's only two!!!), study old editions of the book, and other crazy corner-cutting tactics they have to earn their personal training certification by doing the least amount of work possible.

Wow, I bet they are going to be awesome trainers. Wouldn't you like a trainer who cut all the corners possible in trying to pass their exam??? I hope you sense my sarcasm.

I can't imagine skipping chapters in the book or only studying certain things. I take the certification very seriously. Clients will be paying me for my expertise, and while I know that when I pass the test I won't be an "expert", but I certainly want to be QUALIFIED. How can one be qualified if they take shortcuts???

Now I'm Going to Get on my High Horse...

You thought I was already on it, didn't you?

Below are some Jaw Dropping Message Board Comments I have come across and My Snarky Answers. (Don't worry, I did not ACTUALLY reply to these comments with snark. I am saving all of my snarkiness for you lovely readers of my blog!!!

Jaw Dropping Message Board Comment: "I have the 3rd edition of the Personal Training Manual. Does anyone know if this is much different from the 4th edition? I would hate to purchase another manual with the same information."

My Snarky Answer: Okay, well, the 3rd edition is from 2003. So if you want information that's outdated by 10 years, go ahead! I am sure your clients would love to pay you money to give them outdated instructions that could be ineffective and dangerous.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jaw Dropping Message Board Comment: "Is it necessary to read the ACE's Essentials of Exercise Science book in order to pass the test? I am just overwhelmed and would like to narrow things down to what is necessary."

My Snarky Answer: Well, there are two required books to study, and the book you just mentioned is one of them. So unless you have a degree, or have taken classes in human anatomy, exercise physiology, kinesiology, nutrition, and the physiology of training, then read the book. THERE ARE ONLY TWO BOOKS for crying out loud!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jaw Dropping Message Board Comment: I am 2 weeks into my studies of the ACE Personal Training Manual 4th edition. At the end of each chapter is a study guide. Can anyone shed some light on if I were to only study the study guides, would that be enough to pass the exam?

My Snarky Answer: Why doesn't anyone want to read the freaking books!? But congratulations on at least buying the newest edition of the book! My advice is to read each chapter and then fill out the study guide. Again, unless you have a degree in a related field, you are probably going to have to spend hours filling out the study guide because you will have to look up each answer anyway. Why not READ the material and THEN fill out the study guide? The study guide will probably make much more sense to you that way. You have to do more than just memorize formulas, definitions, and information. You have to be able to APPLY it.

I know I am really being high-horsey, guys, so I'm sorry if this post is too much of a downer for you. I just take being a trainer very seriously. I've paid for bad advice/no advice before and it sucks. I want my clients to be able to put their trust in me. I want to be capable and qualified to help them. That's the whole point. I don't want to take short cuts. Fitness and training and changing your lifestyle is not about shortcuts. It's about the journey. The long haul. The LONG ASS HAUL.

I realize that once I am certified, I will know the MINIMUM required to be a personal trainer. I will have no experience in training someone. I will have still have A LOT to learn. But I fully intend to continue studying, learning, and keeping up to date so I can be an awesome trainer and help people reach their fitness goals.

It reminds me of teaching. Ask any teacher, and they will tell you they had no clue how to teach until they were ACTUALLY teaching. That is why student teaching is a requirement to become a certified teacher. But even with 3 months of student teaching, I still had no clue what it was like to have my own classroom until I actually had one. I have now been teaching 9 years, and I can confidently say, "I KNOW how to teach." But, I do NOT know everything! I learn something new every single day. Because every day is different, every kid is different, every lesson is different in some way.

I suspect that is what training will be like. I will eventually get to the point where I will feel EXTREMELY confident in my abilities, yet I will still be learning every day I'm on the job.

I am so excited to get started!!! But I must be patient and be sure I am prepared, first! Which means there is more work and studying to be done.

Now get up on your high horse and tell me something that makes you go "Oy Vey"....

Weekend Wrap Up! (Meg Go Decorate!)

Happy Monday! It sure is a happy Monday for me since I am still on Thanksgiving Vacation. Tonight I will be depressed for sure because tomorrow it is back to work I go. I love my job, but I also love laying around the house and spending time with Paul and the cats! Anyway, here is what I was up to this weekend...

On Friday, I hosted my running group's semi annual Black Friday Big House Big Hill Run. What is a Big House Big Hill Run, you ask? Well, it's a run on Black Friday, and the course includes lots of big houses and big hills. It was an opportunity to use that Thanksgiving dinner food for fuel!

I managed to run 10.3 very windy, very hilly miles at a pretty fast clip. I ran with my running pal Charlie, who is an excellent person to try to keep up with! Oh, and my knee felt fabulous, too and I haven't even started PT yet.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing. Later in the evening, Paul and I made a trip up to my hometown (Millersburg) for their Candlelight Christmas and dinner with my parents.

Then we walked around town. All the Christmas lights were on, there was live music on the bandstand, and it was just so Christmas-y and lovely. We even got some Christmas shopping done! Woo hoo! It was a great night!!

The best part of the night was 45 minute drive to and from Millersburg. Paul and I blasted Christmas music and sang 2 part harmony to every song. Our favorite? Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You". We made the mistake of listening to her version of the same song with Justin Beiber. Augh, he is terrible! He sounds like a whiny little emo kid. I never really heard him sing before, and now I know why. Every time I think of him, I think of this stupid picture and how douchey it was:

Source

My workout schedule was off due to hosting the run on Friday (normally I lift Fridays), so Saturday was a day to hit the gym for legs, back, biceps, and then some plyos. I don't normally post my workouts at length, but since I'm fooling around with Pic Monkey and need some practice making unique pictures for my blog, I shall see what I can come up with...

I hope you enjoyed this. It took over a half hour to create! Hey, it's Thanksgiving Break, I've got some time on my hands! By the way, yes, I am SORE!!! (my back and ass)

After my workout, Paul and I cleaned the house. I love a clean house! This was quite an important clean because it was the pre-Christmas-decorating-clean. That's right, I started decorating for Christmas yesterday! I say started because in my house, decorating is at LEAST a two day process! I have so many decorations that it's too overwhelming to do it all in one day!

Chrissy just has to be up in everyone's business.

I sort of had a small breakdown when getting out our stockings. When I saw Basic's stocking, I lost it. We hung it up. I couldn't bare to not hang it. She was part of our family. Questions for others who have lost a pet: Do you still hang their stocking? How do you know when it is considered creepy to keep hanging their stocking? Or is it already creepy of me to hang it?

That night, we hosted a game night with some of our friends! I failed to take any pictures, so you must trust that we had a blast.

     

     

Oh, and my friend Randy surprised me and showed up! I haven't seen him in OVER TWO AND A HALF MONTHS. I know. It's crazy. We had some major catching up to do.

I was up until 3am that night. Wow.






Well, I slept forever on Sunday morning! I got up at 11am, and that's only because Paul's alarm woke me up!

I went for a beautiful, cold eight mile run. I pushed myself and started thinking about my upcoming training for Boston. It's time to put a plan together so I know when I have to start seriously training and not just running for "fun".

The rest of the day was spent fooling around with Pic Monkey. Paul was watching football, so I had lots of time to "fiddle". I thought I would finish decorating, but I guess I will do that tomorrow.


Hope you had a fab weekend!
Did you decorate for Christmas?
How did you burn off your Thanksgiving Meal?

My Favorite Pictures of my Cats

I know, this is supposed to be a blog about running and fitness. But I can't resist posting about my fur babies from time to time!

I've been going through some old pictures. You may have seen some of them before. But without further ado, I would like to show you my FAVORITE pictures of my cats!!! They are in no particular order. (Ps. You are sure to see some more posts that claim to be my favorite pictures of my cats. In all honesty, I have too many favorites to put in one post. My cats are so gorgeous that they will have several blog posts dedicated to their loveliness.)

This is Jelly on his blue blanket. He LOVES blue blanket.

Jelly poses in the  '12 snowstorm.

Jelly got in the mini Christmas Tree.

One of Christmas's rituals is carrying his sock around whilst crying. 

Then he will hop up on the bed and purr as he kneads the sock or the blanket. 
This is a rare shot of him in action.

Jelly is a PLAYA!

Chrissy and Jelly. This is an old pic- way back when we lived in my apartment.

Another old picture from my apartment. 

Even back then, Christmas would do anything for milk.

Jelly has the cutest bum.

Baby Christmas.

I was sick and had all 3 kitties to take care of me!

"PAY ATTENTION TO ME!!!!"

Peekaboo!

Staredown #1

A rare outdoor picture of Christmas and Jelly. 

We used to take them out in the backyard to play.

Until Jelly decided to climb the neighbor's tree and Paul had to save him, fireman style.

Basey is sooooo pretty!

Staredown #2
Basic is guarding her technology.

I still remember what her fur feels like.

Little Buddha Jelly.

Jelly was a baby!!

Jelly and Baser.

Chrissy was a baby.

Remember, it took a long time for Basic to warm up to me, but once she did,

she was on my lap every chance she got! This was a typical Saturday morning.

Pretty Basic.

Life is good when you have cats!