A Fit Perspective

This week's exercise suggestion:

Body Change: 4-5 days, 45-70 minutes, combining both cardiovascular and resistance training
Body Maintenance: 2-4 days, 30-60 minutes, combining both cardiovascular and resistance training

*Fat burning Challenge: Begin or finish each cardio and strength workout with 5-15 minutes of speed intervals on the stair master.
*Strength Challenge: Take a Sculpt, Pump, Dynamic Strength, Kickboxing, or Blackout class this week. check out www.pureaustin.com for the schedule.
*Nutrition Challenge: Determine what your ultimate weakness is as far as food and reduce intake by 70% for 7 days. See what small changes occur.


A Fit Perspective:

On Thursday I walked over to Whole Foods, bought a Cherry Cheese Danish, sat down at a table, and proceeded to enjoy every sticky, gooey bite of the decadence that melted all over my fingers. I hadn't worked out all week. Not one run, nor one Spin, not even one swim. I spent most of last week beside myself or inside of the clutter that raged loudly in my head. Honestly, exercise was the last thing on my mind. As I changed into my sports bra and short shorts to teach pump I took a look at myself in the mirror, I then snickered, eyes filled up with tears, my shoulders slouched, and I gave myself one heck of a pep talk in order to pull it together and motivate 28 class members through a 60 minute high intensity workout. Ahh, the beauty of sucking it up!

After class, though pumped up with adrenaline and the excitement of teaching a fun class, I slipped right back into my head once in the car and on my way home. Not even a workout could help me find peace within the chaos. I felt as though I was losing my touch.

The phone rang and it was my mother and oh how happy I was to hear her voice. Though, after a few minutes of small talk, knew her phone call had an intense agenda. "Aunt Donna has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer."

I had nothing to say. Mom continued to ask if I was still there. Mouth wide open, shoulder's tense, legs numb, and stomach sick, I told my mother that I was fine and I hung up the phone. Aunt Donna is working on her Nutrition Masters. She is 46. She works out 6 days a week, and has done so since her 20's. I was sickened with sadness and frustration. Why her?

I spoke with her the next day. She spoke with fear, something I wasn't use to hearing in her voice. The entire week I had been buried within my own personal worries, concerns, heartache, and moments of poor me. Shame had begun to overwhelm me.

I am a fit, healthy, successful woman. I am living my dream. Each day I am surrounded by beautiful, supportive, and helpful individuals. I make a difference in someones life daily. I am able to walk, breath, and eat without trouble. Though my heart ached and the unknown of relationship cross roads caused restless slumber, my life is fit and joyful.

What did I learn that day? It's all about perspective. Bottom line. I share this with you because each day I have the pleasure to guide you along on your fitness journey, and in each of you I am able to discover a small part of myself. Fitness and exercise may not have a clear direction all of the time, and at times you feel as though you may be yielding for days or at a complete stop for weeks. Progress can be slow moving and just when you are becoming consistent with your workouts and productive with your fitness game plan, life jumps right out in front of you and you are left wondering if you will ever achieve your goals.

I have said it many times, and I do have to remind myself more often than usual these days, but there is no absolute to anything. Aunt Donna's diagnosis proved this.

What does being fit mean to you? What is your definition of healthy?

I will admit to you that until Thursday, my own personal health and fitness did weigh heavily on the appearance of abs, how fast I can run a 5k, and how strong my shoulders looked. Honestly, I hadn't thought about TRUE health for some time now.

I do understand that fitting into a particular size is an important goal for each one of us and has been listed on our to do list for some time now. I am right there with you when it comes to burning the fat off of your stomach. I sympathize with the frustrating number on the scale. However, as I learned this week, in order for our bodies to be holistically fit and healthy, our perspective requires the same qualities and attention. We live in a busy world. There never seems to be enough time. We live, breath, and move most of the time without thought, and this is a shame.

Fitness has to be more than the estetic value of a six-pack or a lifted bum. And this my friends, I am just learning. What a difference a phone call can make.

Make fitness a lifestyle. Think healthy and fit. Clarify your perspective. Regain an understanding of what exercise can do for you. Move with thought. Act with focus and intention. Know your goals and what it will take to achieve them.
And call a special loved one and let them know that you are thinking of them......

See you in the gym.