NEVER GIVE UP ON YOURSELF. You can do anything you put your heart and mind to....
"One Step Than Two" By Ruthie Bowman
The intimidation in me ran through
It started with one step than two.
I started to walk than to run.
Tired and sweating I had to be done.
Stopping the treadmill I looked down.
And my face fell to a frown!
Humiliation floods over me
When 7 minutes was all that I see.
"You can't do this!" My mind screams.
"What's the point? Only in your dreams."
But as I looked up, something kicked in
And I knew this battle, I would win.
Through all the tears, sweat and pain
I know my work was not in vain.
It started with one step than two.
Look at me now....I made it through!
One step, than two all the way to a marathon finish line! Congrats Ruthie B!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
CANDY season is upon us..... Try this healthy recipe provided by Jenny Porter instead!
Protein Bars
Preparation Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 30 minutes Makes: 12 servings
These bars are a great alternative to the store-bought protein bar varieties and offer natural rather than processed ingredients. They are portable and fit well with an active lifestyle.
Ingredients
low-fat granola cereal 500 mL 2 cups
whole-wheat flour 125 mL ½ cup
dried cranberries 125 mL ½ cup
raisins 125 mL ½ cup
natural peanut butter 75 mL 1/3 cup
plain, non fat yogurt 125 mL ½ cup
low-fat silken tofu 150 mL 2/3 cup
1 egg
1 egg white
brown sugar, not packed 50 mL ¼ cup
Cooking Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375º F (190º C). Line a glass 8x8 inch square baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine granola, flour, cranberries and raisins.
3. In a second bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients. Add to the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Pour into the prepared
baking dish.
4. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool.
5. Loosen the bars from the edge of the pan and place the entire square on a cutting board. Cut into 6 equal long thin strips and then cut
in half to make 12 bars.
6. Store in an air tight container for up to 2 days or wrap individually and freeze.
© – Reproduced with permission of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, 2008.
For more heart-healthy recipes delivered free to your inbox every month, subscribe to Healthline, the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s free e-newsletter.
Nutritional Information (1 bar): Calories: 201 Protein: 7 g Total fat: 6 g Saturated fat: 1 g Dietary cholesterol: 16 mg Carbohydrate: 33 g Dietary fibre: 4 g Sodium: 57 mg Potassium: 269 mg
* The EatRight Ontario dietitian service is provided free of charge to residents of Ontario.
Open 9am - 5pm ET Monday to Friday; evening hours Tuesday and Thursday to 9pm ET.
Provided by the Ministry of Health Promotion. © Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2009
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
New Heights Welcomes Jamie Emberley to the TEAM!
NOW PERSONAL TRAINING AT NEW HEIGHTS!
Jamie Emberley
As you can see in the picture, he's not your typical man, in fact, he's a STRONG MAN....LITERALLY!
Jamie is a certified Kinesiologist and Pedorthist and is now taking clients at New Heights. He's looking to work with people who are ready to take fitness to the next level! His coaching and powerlifting experience along with his Kinesiology background will help you get STRONGER, FASTER, BIGGER and LEANER!
Jamie is available Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. To hire him you can book your consultation at the club desk. Limited space.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Kinesiology (BKin)
- Certified Kinesiologist CK
- Certified Pedorthist Canada C.Ped (C)
- NCCP level 1 and 2 coaching certification for Powerlifting
Accomlishments:
- 5 Time Canadian Powerlifting Champion with Multiple Canadian Records, best lifts 804 squat, 567 Bench Press, 718 Deadlift.
- Represented Canada at 4 IPF World Powerlifting Championships at Countries such as Bulgaria, Austria, Miami, USA, Newfoundland, Canada placing high as 7th. Coached the Canadian Junior Team in 2002 in Russia.
- Placed 7th and 8th in Ontario’s Strongest Man Competition in 2007 and 2009.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
YOU'RE INVITED....
JOIN US Sat. OCT 23rd from 10 AM - 4 PM!
FITNESS OPEN HOUSE - includes FREE classes, complete gym access & guest speakers: Ruthie Bowman: how I lost 90 pounds! Dr. Chad Conaway: how to get a strong back. Dr. Susan Boron: living an active life.
Open to the public.
BE Inspired. GET motivated. HAVE fun!
50% OFF registration fee 1 DAY ONLY!
$25 Personal Training Voucher to the first 200 people in attendance.
Great Givaways from Bodi Bronze, Finishing Touches Spa, Hanover Flight Academy & MORE!
Members who bring friends and family get their name in the draw for a chance to WIN leafs tickets!
Fitness classes on this day must be signed up for in advance. EVERYONE is welcome to participate. Simply call us at 364-2224 to get your name on the class list.
Classes include: KICKBOXING, ZUMBA, Core, Yoga, Pilates, YOGALATES, Indoor Cycling & Body Blast.
For more details give us a call at 519-364-2224 or email info@mynewheightsfitness.com
19-16th ave. Hanover Business Park, Hanover Ontario
FITNESS OPEN HOUSE - includes FREE classes, complete gym access & guest speakers: Ruthie Bowman: how I lost 90 pounds! Dr. Chad Conaway: how to get a strong back. Dr. Susan Boron: living an active life.
Open to the public.
BE Inspired. GET motivated. HAVE fun!
50% OFF registration fee 1 DAY ONLY!
$25 Personal Training Voucher to the first 200 people in attendance.
Great Givaways from Bodi Bronze, Finishing Touches Spa, Hanover Flight Academy & MORE!
Members who bring friends and family get their name in the draw for a chance to WIN leafs tickets!
Fitness classes on this day must be signed up for in advance. EVERYONE is welcome to participate. Simply call us at 364-2224 to get your name on the class list.
Classes include: KICKBOXING, ZUMBA, Core, Yoga, Pilates, YOGALATES, Indoor Cycling & Body Blast.
For more details give us a call at 519-364-2224 or email info@mynewheightsfitness.com
19-16th ave. Hanover Business Park, Hanover Ontario
Friday, October 1, 2010
The Secrets Out and New Heights Has it!
By Alison Wells BJ / CPTN-CPT
If there was a way to exercise that required LESS time, was proven the most effective way to lose fat, burn more calories for longer and make you stronger and leaner than you've ever been, would you try it?
There is a way and we’ve got it!
IT has many names: HITT (high intensity interval training), OBLA (onset blood lactate activation) or Lactic Acid Training, Explosive Strength Training, but all that really matters is this: EPOC (Excess Post Exercise Oxygen Consumption).
Trainers call it the 'after burn'. To put it simply, EPOC is the recovery period after exercise where there is elevated oxygen consumption which basically translates to calorie and fat burning. FAT can only burn in the presence of oxygen. The more oxygen present post exercise, the more FAT and calories burned and the longer they burn for.
There is a way and we’ve got it!
IT has many names: HITT (high intensity interval training), OBLA (onset blood lactate activation) or Lactic Acid Training, Explosive Strength Training, but all that really matters is this: EPOC (Excess Post Exercise Oxygen Consumption).
Trainers call it the 'after burn'. To put it simply, EPOC is the recovery period after exercise where there is elevated oxygen consumption which basically translates to calorie and fat burning. FAT can only burn in the presence of oxygen. The more oxygen present post exercise, the more FAT and calories burned and the longer they burn for.
So, the question needing answered is this: How do we increase the EPOC Effect?
It's simple.....It’s HARD.
I'll give you the GOOD NEWS first, then bad news and we’ll end on a high note with the GREAT news last.
It goes like this, less workout time, plus higher intensity during workout time equals maximum RESULTS. Translation? You experience better recovery time, increased fat loss and caloric expenditure, increased strength and muscle tone, and increased energy (more energy than any other form of training).
The Bad News: 'Are you comfortable?' isn’t the question you should be asking during this type of training. It goes more like this, "Are you uncomfortable?" If you answer YES with an exclamation mark (!) you're doing it right. It's very uncomfortable. But we do call it a 'work out' for a reason.
Some examples….Going as FAST as you can on the stepper until you feel really, really uncomfortable and then recovering and doing it again and again. It can be sprinting up a hill, recovering on the way back down and then sprinting up the hill again and again until you can’t because you're too tired. It's lifting really heavy weights (with good form of course) for as long as you can and then recovering and repeating it again and again up to 5-8 -15 times if that’s what it takes to fully exhaust the working muscles. It's doing as many burpies as you possibly can and then taking a break and repeating the misery!! You get my point.
So why am I telling you about this?
It's simple.....It’s HARD.
I'll give you the GOOD NEWS first, then bad news and we’ll end on a high note with the GREAT news last.
It goes like this, less workout time, plus higher intensity during workout time equals maximum RESULTS. Translation? You experience better recovery time, increased fat loss and caloric expenditure, increased strength and muscle tone, and increased energy (more energy than any other form of training).
The Bad News: 'Are you comfortable?' isn’t the question you should be asking during this type of training. It goes more like this, "Are you uncomfortable?" If you answer YES with an exclamation mark (!) you're doing it right. It's very uncomfortable. But we do call it a 'work out' for a reason.
Some examples….Going as FAST as you can on the stepper until you feel really, really uncomfortable and then recovering and doing it again and again. It can be sprinting up a hill, recovering on the way back down and then sprinting up the hill again and again until you can’t because you're too tired. It's lifting really heavy weights (with good form of course) for as long as you can and then recovering and repeating it again and again up to 5-8 -15 times if that’s what it takes to fully exhaust the working muscles. It's doing as many burpies as you possibly can and then taking a break and repeating the misery!! You get my point.
So why am I telling you about this?
Because I'm frustrated, maybe not as much as some of you are but I am. Many people exercise but don't get results. They put their valuable time and money into the gym but don’t experience as many benefits as they could. Sometimes they will even throw in the yellow towel and say that fitness “didn’t work” but the truth is, they didn’t WORK. ALOT of people just aren't working hard enough to get the results they hope for because they don't like to feel uncomfortable. Instead, they do a comfortable workout, with comfortable weights for a comfortable amount of time on a comfortable machine and setting and never get results.
Comfort and Exercise simply CANNOT co-exist if you wish to GET RESULTS!
Reality? You will be very uncomfortable. You will feel a burn in your muscles, you may be slightly out of breath, you will feel VERY tired during the work phase and you’ll likely sweat BUT you’ll be finished your workout sooner and then you'll stretch, go home, re-fuel with some healthy food and water and put your feet up, after all, you've earned the relaxation, you worked HARD at the gym. And, while you relax, your bodies oxygen levels will be elevated and you’ll be burning more calories and FAT for up to 48 hours- that’s right, 48 hours! That's 47 hours more than those who do their comfortable workouts. You will get results and FAST!
The GREAT NEWS? New Heights Fitness has implemented this form of training to ALL of our fitness classes, personal training sessions and programs. Our spin instructors have been leading classes with this type of training incorporated for several years (as all of you spinners may have noticed). The Body Blast class is based on this type of training, as is the Faster, step, core and all mind body class.
The KICKBOXING program starting Oct 25th (early bird OCT 4th) will have this kind of training in it as well as the Kickboxing class included in your membership. The Fitness Boot Camps have also been programmed to fit this type of training in, as well to ensure our Boot Campers have the best shot at Fat loss.
Why? Because we want you getting results and we don't want you wasting your time!
What I like about this training is that there are no limits. It’s up to you how hard you work and the harder you do, the quicker your results occur. Good luck and please drop me a line if you have any questions or need support, advice or help with achieving your goals! That's why I am here!
Why? Because we want you getting results and we don't want you wasting your time!
What I like about this training is that there are no limits. It’s up to you how hard you work and the harder you do, the quicker your results occur. Good luck and please drop me a line if you have any questions or need support, advice or help with achieving your goals! That's why I am here!
HAPPY, UNCOMFORTABLE EXERCISING EVERYONE!
Email me at: askalison@hotmail.com
copyright2009 New Heights Fitness & Wellness Centre
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Try April's Granola Recipe! It's AWESOME!
Healthy Granola
6 cups rolled oats
1 cup bran
1 cup quinoa
2 teaspoons cinnamon
¼ to 1/3 cup of blackstrap molasses and/or honey (or both if you want it sweeter)
¼ cup canola oil
Mix above ingredients together and place on bake sheet. Bake at 275 degrees for 45 minutes. After cooling: Add ½ to ¾ cup of any combination of (sesame, sunflower, pumpkin, ground flax), walnuts, raisins, dried cranberries etc.
Best enjoyed with low fat vanilla yogurt!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Inspired
By Alison Wells
Over the past few days I've been interviewing our staff and writing their bios for the revamping of the New Heights web page. I never anticipated learning what I've learned...
I am so grateful to be a part of the team we have at New Heights. I am inspired by their personal journeys with fitness, their ability to overcome adversity in their own lives and their desire to help others. Though I knew it before, I was reminded of what an accomplished and inspiring team of fitness professionals we have.
Ruthie has battled depression and lost almost 100 pounds with healthy eating and exercise. I will never know that kind of determination but I do know she has it and I'm proud to simply know her.
Rob's experienced a childhood of ridicule and hurt. I will never know what he went through but I do know he had the courage to overcome all of it, lose 100 pounds and now help others do the same. He inspires me.
April had no self confidence and was so shy that she hid in the very back of her fitness classes and feared being in front of other people. Now, she's amazing at teaching classes! Have you seen that girl move?! And she doesn't care who's looking. When she gets up in front of the class, I know she's inspiring others to be free and confident in who they are, including myself.
Melissa's passion for life makes me want to be around her more often. Her smile is beautifully contagious and I know she is helping our clients feel good about who they are. She has such an amazing work ethic, not only personally with her own fitness goals, but professionally working 2 jobs and fitting in workouts and life on top of it all. I'm so proud of the career she's started in this industry and even more proud of who she's become.
Kourtney was 50 pounds heavier and so down on herself when she joined the gym that she actually feared coming to classes. She was afraid people would look at her and that she would be the slowest and weakest person in the group. She has overcome so much! Now she's so strong and confident and have you seen her?The girl is beautiful! She's a great indoor cycling instructor and I know she's helping to change peoples lives.
Verna always wanted to be a teacher. It hurt her to give this dream up. She was burnt out and working as a waitress when the owner of a fitness centre told her she should get into this industry. She says it saved her life. What she may not know is that her dream came true in the process. I see her teaching every day. She teaches fitness to our members and she's great at it. She makes them feel good about who they are and what they're doing and she teaches them how to be even better. Verna is a teacher.
Lisa used exercise to get through some really hard times in her life. Now she's helping others de-stress with kickboxing classes and cycling. She has such a fire in her that comes out when she's got the headset on or the focus pads in her hands. She has a way of getting people to work hard and feel good doing it. Under her tough exterior, I know she has a heart for helping others and I also know she's doing it.
Jenny is an accomplished power lifter. She's won gold, silver and bronze medals in the sport. And have you seen how small she is! The girl can squat and bench press most people. She's also one of the sweetest most genuine people I know. She's easy to get along with and has such a positive, uplifting personality that people want to be around her, including myself.
Sarah is dedicated and determined and it shows. She's worked very hard to be in the kind of shape she's in and continues to work hard every day. Although she's fairly new to the fitness industry, she is a fantastic cycling instructor with an intensity that makes her class attendants work hard and get the most out of their class. If she chooses to pursue it, I know she'll make a great fitness instructor.
Mandy is selfless. I ask her about herself and she tells me how inspiring the members at New Heights are. She tells me how they inspire and motivate her to be better. She says their dedication is "nothing but inspirational". She's so sweet and so positive and really wants to see people succeed in fitness. It's refreshing to have someone so uplifting greeting our members and helping them feel comfortable in the gym.
All I can say is that it's a privilege to work with such a great team of professionals and it's been awesome getting to know them better. They inspire me.
Over the past few days I've been interviewing our staff and writing their bios for the revamping of the New Heights web page. I never anticipated learning what I've learned...
I am so grateful to be a part of the team we have at New Heights. I am inspired by their personal journeys with fitness, their ability to overcome adversity in their own lives and their desire to help others. Though I knew it before, I was reminded of what an accomplished and inspiring team of fitness professionals we have.
Ruthie has battled depression and lost almost 100 pounds with healthy eating and exercise. I will never know that kind of determination but I do know she has it and I'm proud to simply know her.
Rob's experienced a childhood of ridicule and hurt. I will never know what he went through but I do know he had the courage to overcome all of it, lose 100 pounds and now help others do the same. He inspires me.
April had no self confidence and was so shy that she hid in the very back of her fitness classes and feared being in front of other people. Now, she's amazing at teaching classes! Have you seen that girl move?! And she doesn't care who's looking. When she gets up in front of the class, I know she's inspiring others to be free and confident in who they are, including myself.
Melissa's passion for life makes me want to be around her more often. Her smile is beautifully contagious and I know she is helping our clients feel good about who they are. She has such an amazing work ethic, not only personally with her own fitness goals, but professionally working 2 jobs and fitting in workouts and life on top of it all. I'm so proud of the career she's started in this industry and even more proud of who she's become.
Kourtney was 50 pounds heavier and so down on herself when she joined the gym that she actually feared coming to classes. She was afraid people would look at her and that she would be the slowest and weakest person in the group. She has overcome so much! Now she's so strong and confident and have you seen her?The girl is beautiful! She's a great indoor cycling instructor and I know she's helping to change peoples lives.
Verna always wanted to be a teacher. It hurt her to give this dream up. She was burnt out and working as a waitress when the owner of a fitness centre told her she should get into this industry. She says it saved her life. What she may not know is that her dream came true in the process. I see her teaching every day. She teaches fitness to our members and she's great at it. She makes them feel good about who they are and what they're doing and she teaches them how to be even better. Verna is a teacher.
Lisa used exercise to get through some really hard times in her life. Now she's helping others de-stress with kickboxing classes and cycling. She has such a fire in her that comes out when she's got the headset on or the focus pads in her hands. She has a way of getting people to work hard and feel good doing it. Under her tough exterior, I know she has a heart for helping others and I also know she's doing it.
Jenny is an accomplished power lifter. She's won gold, silver and bronze medals in the sport. And have you seen how small she is! The girl can squat and bench press most people. She's also one of the sweetest most genuine people I know. She's easy to get along with and has such a positive, uplifting personality that people want to be around her, including myself.
Sarah is dedicated and determined and it shows. She's worked very hard to be in the kind of shape she's in and continues to work hard every day. Although she's fairly new to the fitness industry, she is a fantastic cycling instructor with an intensity that makes her class attendants work hard and get the most out of their class. If she chooses to pursue it, I know she'll make a great fitness instructor.
Mandy is selfless. I ask her about herself and she tells me how inspiring the members at New Heights are. She tells me how they inspire and motivate her to be better. She says their dedication is "nothing but inspirational". She's so sweet and so positive and really wants to see people succeed in fitness. It's refreshing to have someone so uplifting greeting our members and helping them feel comfortable in the gym.
All I can say is that it's a privilege to work with such a great team of professionals and it's been awesome getting to know them better. They inspire me.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Mmmm Try these Healthy, Energy Chunks!
1 cup of honey
1 cup natural peanut butter
1 cup carob powder or coco powder (or 1 scoop of whey protein powder)
1 cup sesame seeds
1 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup dried cranberries (optional)
1/2 cup slivered almonds (optional)
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
Heat honey until warm. Add natural peanut butter slowly. Once it mixes with the honey stir in the rest of the ingredients. Place in 8-inch square pan and cool in fridge. Cut into Squares & Enjoy!
1 cup natural peanut butter
1 cup carob powder or coco powder (or 1 scoop of whey protein powder)
1 cup sesame seeds
1 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup dried cranberries (optional)
1/2 cup slivered almonds (optional)
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
Heat honey until warm. Add natural peanut butter slowly. Once it mixes with the honey stir in the rest of the ingredients. Place in 8-inch square pan and cool in fridge. Cut into Squares & Enjoy!
Warm Up For MAXIMUM Fat Loss!
If you're an exerciser, chances are you know it's important to do a warm up before starting your workout. The warm up prevents injury, lubricates the joints, increases circulation to the working muscles and prepares the body and mind for what's to come.
But did you know that you can actually burn more calories and more fat during your workout if your warm up is longer and more intense?
It's true! Short duration, low intensity warm ups (less than 5 minutes) are simply not effective if your goal is to shed excess body fat. The reason is simple; it takes about 15-20 minutes for the body to begin utilizing fat stores as it's primary fuel source. If the warm up is short, the body will still be using blood sugar and glycogen stores to provide fuel for the start of the workout, limiting the amount of fat burning and caloric burn during the workout.
However, a warm up that lasts about 15-20 minutes and gets the heart rate up and the body warm enough to begin sweating will increase the caloric burn and have the body using fat storage for fuel as soon as you begin the intense workout. Basically you'll get more caloric burn during your workout than you would have if you started with a shorter warm up and, you'll burn calories for a longer period after the workout as well.
Even if you only have 40 minutes, you're better off using the first 15-20 to warm up and the next 20 for the workout, than you are to have more time devoted to the main workout.
So, give it a try. Not only will you burn more fat during your workout but you'll also get the added bonus of 20 minutes of cardio to help strengthen your heart and lungs. It's a WIN WIN!
Try this warm up...choose whichever type of cardio equipment you'd like. The first 2 minutes take it light, then for the next 3 minutes increase your intensity (speed or incline) to a moderate intensity. Then for the next 15 minutes perform intervals with a 1:1 work to rest ratio. 1 minute work as hard as you possibly can / 1 minute recover then repeat. HAVE FUN!
But did you know that you can actually burn more calories and more fat during your workout if your warm up is longer and more intense?
It's true! Short duration, low intensity warm ups (less than 5 minutes) are simply not effective if your goal is to shed excess body fat. The reason is simple; it takes about 15-20 minutes for the body to begin utilizing fat stores as it's primary fuel source. If the warm up is short, the body will still be using blood sugar and glycogen stores to provide fuel for the start of the workout, limiting the amount of fat burning and caloric burn during the workout.
However, a warm up that lasts about 15-20 minutes and gets the heart rate up and the body warm enough to begin sweating will increase the caloric burn and have the body using fat storage for fuel as soon as you begin the intense workout. Basically you'll get more caloric burn during your workout than you would have if you started with a shorter warm up and, you'll burn calories for a longer period after the workout as well.
Even if you only have 40 minutes, you're better off using the first 15-20 to warm up and the next 20 for the workout, than you are to have more time devoted to the main workout.
So, give it a try. Not only will you burn more fat during your workout but you'll also get the added bonus of 20 minutes of cardio to help strengthen your heart and lungs. It's a WIN WIN!
Try this warm up...choose whichever type of cardio equipment you'd like. The first 2 minutes take it light, then for the next 3 minutes increase your intensity (speed or incline) to a moderate intensity. Then for the next 15 minutes perform intervals with a 1:1 work to rest ratio. 1 minute work as hard as you possibly can / 1 minute recover then repeat. HAVE FUN!
Monday, September 13, 2010
The Finish Line
It's way to early to be awake but not only are we awake, we're on our way to the start line of a duathalon we entered on a whim, "JUST FOR FUN". Some days I really do think my clients are right when they say my husband and I have a messed up version of "FUN". Yes, we're probably crazy.
It's freezing cold for early September and my stomachs in knots. I'm nervous and excited and ready to get this over with. As I shiver and yawn, I ask myself WHY am I doing this?! I really don't have an answer but here I am nonetheless.
We line up with our ages on our calves and numbers on our arms, and we wait in the crowd of eager athletes. Waiting is the worst part. This is when you try your best not to compare yourself to the others. The girl in front of me is in my age category, she looks like she's in amazing shape. So does the girl beside her. My husband sees me losing focus and tells me to stop. So I take a deep breath and remember that I am doing this against myself and no one else.
Finally, the horn goes off and so do we. A shot of adrenaline makes me breathless and my muscles tighten up as I start to accelerate. Soon I'm exhausted and the mental battle begins. Why am I putting myself through this misery? I'd much rather be in my warm bed right now. Why do I do this to myself? This is crazy.
Then I remember what I heard on Dr.Phil the other day (YES I watch Dr. Phil!) He said, "WINNERS DO WHAT LOSERS DON'T WANT TO DO." So there I was, repeating this line over and over in my head hoping it would give me some kind of focus. Still, I didn't have an answer for why I was doing this, but I certainly knew I was doing what losers wouldn't want to do.
After the run, I got on my bike and endured 20 kilometres of burning legs, all the while telling myself I may never do this again. I felt strong on the bike despite the mental battle and severe muscle burn. Even though I was tired, I was feeling confident and starting to enjoy the race.
Then came the 2.5 kilometre run. This is by far the hardest part of a duathalon. The legs have already worked so hard and now that they feel like noodles, they have to run. It takes a few minutes for my legs to relax and get into the groove of running but when they do I start to feel good. Knowing the race is soon over is enough to keep me going.
Then I see the finish line just up ahead. I can hear the crowd cheering and I can see that this is almost over. I start to speed up to finish the race as strong as I can and I fly across the finish line with a smile on my face. The answer to why I put myself through this rushes over me like a wave. I do it for the finish line.
Nothing compares to the feeling of accomplishment that comes with finishing what you started. Nothing feels better than crossing that finish line. I can't put it into words but somehow it's worth all of the training, it's worth the early morning, it's worth the muscle burning, the nervous stomach, the exhaustion and wobbly legs. Somehow that finish line makes me want to do it all over again.
They say racing is much like child birth. Once you forget the pain, you'll want to do it again. Today the muscles are recovered and I'm itching for the next race. It may be crazy but at least I know why I'm doing it. For me, finishing is winning. So on that note, I'll let you know how the next one goes!
It's freezing cold for early September and my stomachs in knots. I'm nervous and excited and ready to get this over with. As I shiver and yawn, I ask myself WHY am I doing this?! I really don't have an answer but here I am nonetheless.
We line up with our ages on our calves and numbers on our arms, and we wait in the crowd of eager athletes. Waiting is the worst part. This is when you try your best not to compare yourself to the others. The girl in front of me is in my age category, she looks like she's in amazing shape. So does the girl beside her. My husband sees me losing focus and tells me to stop. So I take a deep breath and remember that I am doing this against myself and no one else.
Finally, the horn goes off and so do we. A shot of adrenaline makes me breathless and my muscles tighten up as I start to accelerate. Soon I'm exhausted and the mental battle begins. Why am I putting myself through this misery? I'd much rather be in my warm bed right now. Why do I do this to myself? This is crazy.
Then I remember what I heard on Dr.Phil the other day (YES I watch Dr. Phil!) He said, "WINNERS DO WHAT LOSERS DON'T WANT TO DO." So there I was, repeating this line over and over in my head hoping it would give me some kind of focus. Still, I didn't have an answer for why I was doing this, but I certainly knew I was doing what losers wouldn't want to do.
After the run, I got on my bike and endured 20 kilometres of burning legs, all the while telling myself I may never do this again. I felt strong on the bike despite the mental battle and severe muscle burn. Even though I was tired, I was feeling confident and starting to enjoy the race.
Then came the 2.5 kilometre run. This is by far the hardest part of a duathalon. The legs have already worked so hard and now that they feel like noodles, they have to run. It takes a few minutes for my legs to relax and get into the groove of running but when they do I start to feel good. Knowing the race is soon over is enough to keep me going.
Then I see the finish line just up ahead. I can hear the crowd cheering and I can see that this is almost over. I start to speed up to finish the race as strong as I can and I fly across the finish line with a smile on my face. The answer to why I put myself through this rushes over me like a wave. I do it for the finish line.
Nothing compares to the feeling of accomplishment that comes with finishing what you started. Nothing feels better than crossing that finish line. I can't put it into words but somehow it's worth all of the training, it's worth the early morning, it's worth the muscle burning, the nervous stomach, the exhaustion and wobbly legs. Somehow that finish line makes me want to do it all over again.
They say racing is much like child birth. Once you forget the pain, you'll want to do it again. Today the muscles are recovered and I'm itching for the next race. It may be crazy but at least I know why I'm doing it. For me, finishing is winning. So on that note, I'll let you know how the next one goes!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Accept Yourself As You Are Today!
By Alison Wells
If my words could cause bodily harm, my legs would need some serious protection! Without it, they'd be bruised, scraped and cut. They'd likely have a few dislocations, sprains and even breaks; probably in several places.
It sounds brutal but it's true. You see, until very recently, and no secret to them, I've HATED my legs. If they could talk, they'd tell you they've been verbally abused their whole life and want a new owner.
I've called them "hideous," "tree trunks," "sausages", "heffer thighs", and "fatty boombas." I've hidden them with long pants and avoided every fashion statement that involves showing them off (don't even get me started on skinny jeans!) I've exercised them until they couldn't move, I've poked and prodded them hoping they'd shrink, and I've even dreamt of re-shaping them with invasive surgery.
The fact is, I was born with legs that are not slender and long. Instead, my legs are muscular and short. Up until a few months ago, I viewed these muscular legs as a genetic curse. However, in recent months, they've proven to be quite the opposite. My legs carried me across several finish lines this year, including a 42.2 k marathon and most recently they've assisted in a 3rd place finish in a duathalon that involved a 10 k run into a 40 k bike into a 5 k run.
This epiphany came when the bronze medallion was placed around my neck. I thought to myself, "all this time I've hated my legs and they just put me on the podium. All this time I've focused on how they look and what they are not, rather than how well they function. From now on, I will be thankful for the legs I've got!"
The truth is, I've worked hard for these strong, athletic legs and I should be happy with how I've shaped and sculpted them. I've ran, biked, kickboxed, lunged, squated and skipped and my legs have improved because of these efforts.
Despite the years of verbal abuse, they clearly haven't held a grudge. I can now say with complete sincerity that I love my short, muscular legs. I love how they look and how they function and I wouldn't trade them for anyone else's.
Now I wear shorts and mini skirts.
Before I go, I'll leave you with an interesting bit of information. The very day I changed my mind about my legs, so did others. I received several compliments on how beautifully athletic my legs are. My hair dresser even mentioned she wanted to trade legs with me! It's funny how the world around you changes, when you change.
So, I'm telling you right now to accept yourself as you are today! Don't beat your body up because of its bulges, imperfections, limitations, weaknesses, or pains. Don't resent your body for what it IS not, instead, celebrate it for what it IS. Then, find the balance between accepting your body today and inspiring it to move further, improve and become stronger and healthier. It's okay to want to change the way your body looks and feels but you need to first STOP beating yourself up with your words, you deserve better treatment. You are AWESOME! Those who love you, already know it, those who don't, don't matter anyway.
Please let me know how I can help! Visit New Heights Fitness & Wellness Centre in Hanover
If my words could cause bodily harm, my legs would need some serious protection! Without it, they'd be bruised, scraped and cut. They'd likely have a few dislocations, sprains and even breaks; probably in several places.
It sounds brutal but it's true. You see, until very recently, and no secret to them, I've HATED my legs. If they could talk, they'd tell you they've been verbally abused their whole life and want a new owner.
I've called them "hideous," "tree trunks," "sausages", "heffer thighs", and "fatty boombas." I've hidden them with long pants and avoided every fashion statement that involves showing them off (don't even get me started on skinny jeans!) I've exercised them until they couldn't move, I've poked and prodded them hoping they'd shrink, and I've even dreamt of re-shaping them with invasive surgery.
The fact is, I was born with legs that are not slender and long. Instead, my legs are muscular and short. Up until a few months ago, I viewed these muscular legs as a genetic curse. However, in recent months, they've proven to be quite the opposite. My legs carried me across several finish lines this year, including a 42.2 k marathon and most recently they've assisted in a 3rd place finish in a duathalon that involved a 10 k run into a 40 k bike into a 5 k run.
This epiphany came when the bronze medallion was placed around my neck. I thought to myself, "all this time I've hated my legs and they just put me on the podium. All this time I've focused on how they look and what they are not, rather than how well they function. From now on, I will be thankful for the legs I've got!"
The truth is, I've worked hard for these strong, athletic legs and I should be happy with how I've shaped and sculpted them. I've ran, biked, kickboxed, lunged, squated and skipped and my legs have improved because of these efforts.
Despite the years of verbal abuse, they clearly haven't held a grudge. I can now say with complete sincerity that I love my short, muscular legs. I love how they look and how they function and I wouldn't trade them for anyone else's.
Now I wear shorts and mini skirts.
Before I go, I'll leave you with an interesting bit of information. The very day I changed my mind about my legs, so did others. I received several compliments on how beautifully athletic my legs are. My hair dresser even mentioned she wanted to trade legs with me! It's funny how the world around you changes, when you change.
So, I'm telling you right now to accept yourself as you are today! Don't beat your body up because of its bulges, imperfections, limitations, weaknesses, or pains. Don't resent your body for what it IS not, instead, celebrate it for what it IS. Then, find the balance between accepting your body today and inspiring it to move further, improve and become stronger and healthier. It's okay to want to change the way your body looks and feels but you need to first STOP beating yourself up with your words, you deserve better treatment. You are AWESOME! Those who love you, already know it, those who don't, don't matter anyway.
Please let me know how I can help! Visit New Heights Fitness & Wellness Centre in Hanover
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