Protecting your positive thoughts, and attitude....

My friend always makes me laugh hysterically.......enchante!!!!!!!!

When I walk into the gym in the morning, or shall I say breeze in......I'm usually very focused.  It's the first thing I do (after eating breakfast, walking the dogs, and writing my blog) and I don't do anything before my workout to compromise it....for example phone calls, emails, or making small talk in the locker room.  Usually I am very short on time, and I need to get my workout done to make sure that I can get the whole thing in......but I also try to avoid anyone, and anything who could possibly throw off my mood.  There are one or two women in my locker room who are very motivated like I am, and they are always great to say hello to, but there are quite a few, who are clearly mood downers, and every time I make the mistake of taking off my headphones, they complain about the weather, or that they are at the gym at all, or question me about "always being at the gym".  I'm actually at the gym for no more than an hour three times a week, so I'm not clear about where they get the always....but either way...I've learned to just keep my headphones in place, and to say hello in passing.  It's okay to protect your personal time and space, and to have a little bit of time all to yourself.  I need to be in a certain mood to have a great workout, and to be honest.....I don't particularly want to hear someone complain....so I don't!  There's plenty of time for that....after I train!

Stay healthy and gorgeous!

Megan

Look good for the clothes you have, instead of looking for more clothes!

Me, in action....shopping....

I love shopping, I really do!  The smell of new clothes wrapped in tissue paper, a flawless and crisp new blouse that hasn't been worn once, but there is something that looks even better than new clothes.....you, in your clothes that you already have, just languishing in your closet, if your body isn't feeling so great.  When you put your time, and resources into your fitness, and nutrition, it's amazing how just about anything in your closet will suddenly look great on you.  Have you ever noticed that when you are really in shape you get tons of compliments on the clothes that you are wearing?  It's because you make them look great!  Save some money on new clothes, and instead spend it on produce......and the time you would have spent finding a black dress that makes you "look" skinny, going to the gym, and making your lunches.....so you actually are!  Your credit card, and the clothes in your closet will thank you!

Steaming at the gym:)

I love to steam at the gym, once a week. you can find me there.....I make it into a bit of a spa treatment, and put conditioner or hair oil in my hair, and a masque on my face.  It feels great, and hello.....totally multitasking!  It's a great option for the day after a big dinner at a restaurant, when you feel awful from all of the sodium in the food that they prepared.   I also love it to loosen up my muscles a bit if I am a little sore from a workout......

When I was in California recently, and I went for a steam the morning of a photo shoot, I couldn't believe how many women were in the steam room to "lose weight".  You may lose a few pounds of water weight immediately in the steam room, but that's all.  A little bit of steam isn't going to "melt away the pounds".   Yes, it would be nice, but no.......it just isn't happening.  That said, enjoy it for what it is.....just be ready to sweat from actually working out to lose Lbs.  On a final note:  someone was wearing one of those shiny jogging suits in the steam?  Oh my goodness nooooooooooo!

Have an beautiful, happy, healthy day!  xoxo

Jumping rope, and getting out of the gym fast.

Today I had a conversation with my sweet friend Maria.  She talked about wanting to jump rope, and was asking me for some tips after seeing a video of me doing a workout with a jumprope.  There is so much to say about jumping rope, and I will get into more detail in posts to come.....but here are some things that I think are important:

1.  It's a fast workout, that you can do (almost) anywhere.  I pack my rope when I go on vacation, or to visit my family.  When I train at the gym, I often jump for 30-60 seconds in between sets.  It's so nice to fit in a little cardio during the workout so you can be in and out...fast!

2.  It takes practice to jump rope, and it's important to be patient with yourself and know that it's not easy!  When I picked it back up a few years ago it felt so awkward!   I was tripping over the rope left and right, but with practice....I'm like a little Rocky now:)

3.  The equipment (rope) you use makes a huge difference.  If the length is off, or the quality is not great....you are making things much harder on yourself.

I'm going to break things down in future posts, and hopefully you guys will have some fun with jumping rope too.  I take mine out by the water when it's nice, or blast the music in the boxing room at the gym when it's cold.  Once you get the hang of it, it's great.  Give yourself some time to learn and I bet you will too!

Slow and steady wins the race

Over the years, I have realized that doing too much, can be almost as bad as doing nothing at all.  Everyone seems to join a gym right after the winter holidays, working out like crazy, only to disappear within the month.   As I walk through the locker room, I'm a little baffled by how many times I hear the phrase:  I was so sore I couldn't move!  To me, it's not necessary, nor is it healthy to feel this way.....and it would definitely hurt my motivation if this was how I felt the day after a workout.

Here's the thing:  If you want to be able to make a real, solid, lasting change in life...say, adding working out on a permanent basis....be reasonable.  I workout 4 times a week, but usually for between forty five minutes to an hour maximum.  Some days when I'm really pressed for time I get a quick, total body workout in within twenty minutes.  I look at my long term goals and commitment instead of beating myself up for cutting a workout short.  Getting in shape involves losing one layer, and slowly adding in another.....having patience, and realizing that it takes time, commitment and diligence is the most important thing.

When clients tell me they don't have the time to work out, I remind them that to start, they just need to get their foot in the door and begin a program.  Even if it's 20 minutes three times a week....that"s a great start!  Something IS better than nothing......consistency.  As my mother always said:  Slow and steady wins the race.

Miss Manners visits the gym

Things at the gym would be so much easier if everyone had a touch of gym etiquette... I thought I'd write down a few things that I think are important to do at the gym, to allow others (and myself) to have a great, and ummmmmm, uninterrupted workout.  Please comment on this and tell me things that you would add:)

1.  Leave things the way you found them.  It's not someone else's job to clean up your mess.

2.  Allow at least six feet between you, and the mirror if there are dumbells beneath it.  Other people need these, and if you're too close, they aren't accessible.

3.  If someone is working, and using a mirror, don't pick up your weights and work out right in front of them.  People try to do this all the time to me, I just nicely tell them to move.  For some reason people tend to be unaware spatially.  Also try not to walk right in front of them while they are using the mirror.  Standing on one leg doing a deadlift takes some major concentration, and you breezing by them with two inches of space is enough to throw them off.

4.  If someone has headphones on, don't talk to them unless it is super important.  Any guy who tries to hit on me, and makes me take off my headphones gets a pretty evil stare!   Working, stuff to do!

5.  If someone is in the middle of a set, under no circumstances interrupt them.  They need to concentrate, and focus on the task at hand.  This one is major........

6.  If someone asks you for your help, be nice and give a few words of advice.  Going to the gym can be a little overwhelming and stressful for people.  A friendly face and a few kind words go a long way.

These are just a few of the things that I try to do when I'm at the gym.  Write in to tell me yours!