All posts by madgemidgely

Mandie Shattuck is hidden in plain sight. She is self taught painter, writer and performer currently living in Cheyenne, Wy. Her art is a response to our shifting consciousness in our ever evolving world. Her topics revolve around self awareness and empowerment. Sometimes it is goofy- there are links to other media platforms if you seek supplementary mental entertainment.
Fit Body Boot Camp

Fit Body Boot Camp~ Week 8- Meet your Trainer, Ashley

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The consistency and energy of our trainers at FBBC Cheyenne, is one of the reasons Fitters truely enjoy, and look forward to the grueling half hour we spend getting our asses in shape. One of the biggest draw backs of going to any old gym, is the lack of personality and connection one feels when going to work out. Out of shape gym newbies, can feel put off by the need to self motivate in a guideless envioronment. There is also a higher risk of injury for newbies who may not be educated on how the equipment should be properly handled.

Fit Body and it’s Trainers are aware of these issues, and when you step through the doors of their gym, you will immediately notice a difference between a “normal” gym, and boot camp. Firstly, FBBC, is primarily women! Yes! Women of all shapes, sizes and ages, socioeconomic back grounds and cultural blending. Secondly, men do boot camp too! Not as many as you see at a “normal” gym, and in fact, most of them are married to another boot camper, so there is never that letcherous feeling you may get at other gyms, with uncomfortable stares, and inappropriate comments.

Today, I was able to sit down and talk with Ashley Richards, one of the fantastic trainers at FBBC Cheyenne.

Ashley is like a contained ball of fire. At first, she can be quite unassuming at how much energy flies out of her when the class get’s going. I talked for a while with her about her fitness journey leading up to being a Fit Body Boot Camp trainer… Let me have the pleasure of introducing her to you; WORLD meet Ashley Richards!

STATS:

Name : Ashley Richards

Age: 29

Current measurements : Arms- 11 1/2 in.

Chest- 32 in

Waist- 26 1/2 in

Hips- 37 in

Thigh- 22 1/4 in

Total Body Fat- 19.8%

Height: 5’5″

Weight: 140 lbs

Weight at peak of unhealthy lifestyle : approx. 165lbs

Favorite Exercise: Dead Lifts, and Push Ups

Max-Out on Deadlift: 215 lbs (!!!!)

Ashley-May 2014
Ashley-May 2014

I don’t know about you, but when I look at Ashley, I see a strong, well porportioned woman, a woman who can easily exicute all exercises with a sense of finesse and ease. She makes everything look effortless; and for her, it is funny to think that just 7 or 8 years ago, she never would have dreamed of being a fitness trainer.

Ashley is a Cheyenne, Wyoming native and you may recognize her face from graduating from East High School. As a child, she participated in intermural sports, and she enjoyed the games of basket ball and volley ball. She even gave track a try, only to realize running is the worst sport out there.

When I asked Ashley about her diet growing up, she recollects that is wasn’t healthy; which plays heavily in to her mentality and current life style in tandem with her larger goals as a trainer. By the time Ashley had entered high school, she gave up sports, primarily due to the rather short shorts and revealing uniforms required by female High School sports participants. It would be almost a decade before Ashley’s attention would turn to physical fitness.

Anyone who has grown up in Cheyenne, will profess that there is little to do outside of school activities for the youth. Ashley was no exception, and since she was disinterested in school sponsored sports, she was on her own to find entertainment and fun. She readily admits to standard bored teenage behavior; parties, and lots of alcohol.

Ashley-July 2014
Ashley-July 2014

Ashley: I am pretty lucky. I probably should have died more than once from bad decisions.

Upon retrospect, she is thankful to be alive today, and fully conscious of some of her youthful, selfish decision making. Ashley realizes that she wouldn’t be where she is today, with out some of those mistakes.

Flash foward to around 2008. Ashley meets the man of her dreams, who happens to also be a former State Wrestler, football player and currently certified gym rat. Billy grew up in Hulett, Wyoming, and didn’t leave his athletesism behind after graduation. So, like any strange new date and the way relationships go, Billy took Ashley to the gym to work out with him.

Me: So what did you think of the gym, when he took you to work out?

Ashley: I was like, “why are you doing this? What is the point?”

This would be the beginning of two love affairs, one that would lead to marriage, and the other, a complete life style over haul.

Ashley: I started taking classes like Zumba, and Hot Yoga, a few times, but I didn’t like them; so I quit, and tried something else. I was going to a women’s gym, and I had the same mentalities as most people who start working out, ” I’m working out, I can eat whatever I want.”

Ashley- December 2014
Ashley- December 2014

Me: So was there any focus or teaching about nutrition at the women’s gym?

Ashley: No. Not unless you paid for a personal trainer. I later found out that the trainer at (the womens) gym, had only gone through, like an 8 hour weekend training certification in Colorado over a weekend. That disturbed me.

Me: So how did you come to Fit Body?

Ashley: I saw it on Facebook, and I was working for the County, and one of the girls I worked with was also interested in checking it out. We came to a class during lunch, and I the first day I tried it I freakin’ loved it. I freakin’ loved it! So I signed up. But my sincere fitness journey, didn’t start until about a year and a half ago.

Ashley started training part time, while holding down three other jobs. She credits Owner and Operator of Fit Body Boot Camp, Cheyenne, Sara Goossen, to be her biggest inspiration and influence.

Ashely: I learn from Sara, I watch Sara, I grow from Sara. She is the reason I do, what I do. Had it not been for her, I wouldn’t be where I am at.

Ashley-January 2015
Ashley-January 2015

With Ashley’s new found determination, she jumped head first into getting her certifications to train. She is currently certified through the International Sports Science Association; the Center of Health and Fitness. Ashley has studied nutrition and training, while keeping up with her continuing education credits and is working on becoming versed in Strength Training for Kids.

Me: Where would you like to see this (training) go?

Ashley: I want to see kids get healthier. I hate seeing obese kids. I think kids deserve a chance, ya know? I grew up, eating crap; I grew up not knowing anything about working out. I played sports, but it wasn’t teaching me anything I would take with me.

Me: So what is your vision?

Ashley: I just want more classes. I want it to be something that is “us” at Fitbody. I don’t want to take it out on my own. And why? Because I feel almost like I owe the payback. I want to pay it forward. I feel like, if we can do it through Fit Body, then it’s more like “Fit Families;” Mom’s and Dad’s and kids, you know, that would just be better… becoming something ‘more’ than we already are, and incorporate what we already have into something bigger.

Me: So like a 4:30 kids class upstairs, that would be cool.

Ashley: Yeah, something like that, or just to start out, a summer program. As it grows we would have to grow with it, but to start from there, we (would do the summer program and) see where it goes.

No interview about fitness would be complete with out hearing about the struggles a person faces in making such a drastic life style change; especially when the person is interested in helping others change their lives as well. Empathy and comisseration are part of the job, and Ashley is no stranger to personal struggle.

Me: So what would you say, has been your biggest struggle in this journey?

Ashley: The goddamn eating! (laughter)

Me: Keeping up with your nutrition?

Ashley: Yes! Like I tell everybody, our bodies are our grown up science fair project. And we all work so different. What may work for me, isn’t going to work for everybody. What works for you, may not work for me. That has been my biggest struggle, figuring out how my body wants to be fed, not the way some one else wants to feed my body.

Me: Are you finding balance with that?

Ashley: Yes. I piece together my program from all the things I have tried, and what has worked for me.

Me: Where do you feel your greatest advances have come through this.

Ashley: My biggest advance, is that even on a bad day I love myself more now, than I ever have. I have been through a lot of stuff in my childhood, as has everyone. It’s the love for myself. I couldn’t be happier. Of course there are those things you nit pick about yourself, but I think at some point, it is better to embrace what you have, and love what you have been given. To Love YOURSELF! If you don’t love yourself, how are you going to love anyone else? Another struggle I have is practicing what I preach. We preach so much as trainers, sometimes we forget to practice what we preach. Who are we to give advice if we can’t take our own advice.

Ashley- February 2015
Ashley- February 2015

Though Ashley has only been a trainer for a relatively short time, she is obviously dedicated to it. She has had to make some comprimises and adjustments to her life, to embody this as not only a life style, but a carreer path; and she isn’t looking back. Her desire to impact families in this community is inspiring, and I wish her well with the task of building interest and participation.

If you attend Fit Body Boot Camp in Cheyenne, and/or you have kids, make sure to express interest in seeing a summer kids program. The more interest shown, the more potential of getting the program up and running, sooner than later.

If you don’t attend Fit Body Boot Camp- Cheyenne, but you would like to see what we do here; contact Sara Goossen or Tristen Williams at (307) 421-7387, or on FaceBook at Fit Body Boot Camp Cheyenne. Set up a consult, come do a class, and make that life style change you have been thinking about.

If you would like to read more about my first hand experience with Fit Body, you can check out my past blogs here.

Fit Body Boot Camp

Fit Body Boot Camp~ Your body, Love it or Leave it

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Perhaps you feel how many people feel. Fitness is daunting. It can be hard to figure out where to start. Maybe you get bored with walking, and running just isn’t a possibility right now. Perhaps you watch entertainment, and see ads online, wishing you looked like the models and actors that grace our screens and pages. Perhaps you feel ashamed of your body, and have become a bit of a hermit; unwilling to show yourself in public. Perhaps you feel incredibly alone in your struggle.

We live in a society where media is saturated with unrealistic images, photoshop, and cosmetic body augmentation; sometimes it is hard to accept the natural part of having a biological system that does not conform to the examples of what we admire. And as we know that we can be our own worst critic, sometimes it is hard taking that first step into redefinition.

Fitness advertisements are unavoidable, as health and fitness have themselves become big business. Where does a newbie start?

Sit down in a quiet place and assess your goals. What can you do, to make your transition into fitness as comfortable and engaging as possible?

First, figure out what you would like your body to be able to do. Maybe to start out, you would like to be able to do a full push up, or to be able to stretch far enough to touch your toes. It doesn’t matter how small the goal may seem, when our bodies are out of shape, it takes consistent hard work to adapt and overcome.

Figure out what you need to do, to achieve that goal. How many days a week are you willing to commit to reaching your goal? As our bodies age, our metabolism slows down; making it harder to shed unwanted pounds. Bad nutrition can aid in the bodies struggle to feel good. Be honest with yourself and what you are willing to give to reach your goal.

Do your research of gyms and classes in your area. Do you like to dance? Are you curious about lifting weights? If you are completely new to fitness, find a couple of enticing options and commit to going to a class or consulting with a personal trainer to see how you can reach your fitness goals with out injury. In this day and age, there is something for everyone. If you find you get bored easily, switch things up often to keep yourself challenged and motivated.

Find an accountability group, and become accountable to yourself. This key move can assist those of us who find it hard to keep up our own motivation. It is a great way to feel involved with a group of like minded/ similarly goaled individuals. Accountability groups can have all skill levels, and the more skilled members can impart some very important insights into the fitness journey. It can be very motivating to talk to people who have triumphed over the same struggles you may be having in your current journey. The support and encouragement of accountability can be a life saver, especially when you feel down and out or like giving up.

Reframe your attitudes toward exercise. Instead of viewing fitness as a burden or a pain in the ass; look at it as a gift to yourself. Taking steps toward your health can help prevent future illness, and each and every one of us deserves a healthy existence.

Get your family and friends involved. Talk to your family and friends about their fitness goals. Make an effort to support each other by participating in activities that encourage team work. Get involved in community events that foster Health and Wellness. Get a team together and run/walk a 5k.

Push yourself a little further everyday. Time seems to be flying by so quickly, and it can feel like there just isn’t enough time in the day to fit everything in. True as it may be, it is imperative to keep the body active, to keep from later atrophy. Keep with it, your body five years in the future, will thank you. As little as 30 minutes a day of high intensity interval training can boost your metabolism for 28 hours after a work out; and that 30 minute work out CAN be the most rewarding part of your day.

Believe in yourself! Make your health a priority. If you have children, they are watching you. The example you set for yourself can have a huge impact on their future, and the future of your grand children. Encourage yourself and your family into health.

Fit Body Boot Camp

Fit Body Boot Camp: 6 Weeks are Up, Now, What?

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I did it!  I pushed my way through my six week commitment to challenge my body and mind.  I was hoping I would have some awesome before/after pictures, and measurements that would inspire you to sign up for FBBC.  Alas, I am definitely “not there yet,”  and I didn’t make the significant aesthetic strides I had hoped for.

This six weeks has made me question my nutrition on levels beyond the norm, as I am sure any Fitter will tell you… it’s like a science experiment and your body is the laboratory.  All of us are essentially the same, until we start looking at the nitty gritty details of nutrition that make up  our individual selves.

For instance, I have suffered with Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome for the majority of my “womanhood.”  I hadn’t much thought about it or how I could lessen the effects of PCOS through food. However, while discussing my concerns with Trainer Sara, she brought up the discussion that PCOS sufferers need to eat like a diabetic, because the sugars in foods are not being metabolized efficiently in the body, directly effecting insulin levels leading to weight gain and struggling for weight loss.

Given that I hadn’t every really identified myself with PCOS, even though I have had the diagnosis since the age of 19, I went through the standard medical rigamaroo for a few years trying various birth control pills to regulate my hormones.  Despite the brand, or style of hormone regulating I tried; I continued to feel “off”

I sacked the BC after about 5 years of feeling even more miserable.  I took to visualizing my cysts shrinking, which eliminated the pain I was having, but it wasn’t helping my irregular hormonal output/ assimilation.

Some of the symptoms of PCOS are lethargy; weigh gain, carb/sugar cravings, and depression.

Uncontrollable depression has been my biggest side effect.  I have struggled with it for as long as I can remember.  However, it is only recently while researching PCOS, that I realize the depression isn’t in my mind, it is a by product of an imbalanced system.  And the systems being effected are my endocrine and reproductive systems.

The best thing I can do for myself, is to become more aware of what I put in my body that is causing these insulin spikes.  Eating like a diabetic basically means saying “goodbye “to some of my favorite things to consume.  Most notably, beer, whisky and wine; all of which contain phytoestrogens that mimic the bodies natural estrogen.  Being PCOS means being estrogen dominate, which means the body is already over loaded with more of the hormone than it knows what to do with.

It can be frustrating to not see results as quickly as we desire, or as quickly as our peers.  Surprisingly it is estimated that 1 in 10 women has PCOS, some are misdiagnosed with other issues, and some aren’t diagnosed at all.  I suggest visiting a doctor and getting some blood tests if you feel that you are dealing with a bigger hormonal issue than just weight gain.

PCOS Challenge Website, has a lot of information and podcasts with doctors, naturopaths, and specialists that speak about diet and biology.  There is also a forum for support with other PCOS sufferers.

By taking the 6 week Fit Body Challenge, I began a lifestyle of taking control of my body; Week 7 is the beginning of optimizing this amazing machine, I call a meat suit.

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Fit Body Boot Camp

Dem Bones

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“Get up ya bag o’ bones!”

Today my attention was brought to an article about the importance of allowing each person to squat differently based off of their physical build.  The point of the article is the important reminder that every one performs even the most standard posture with their own flair.

Noticeably, in Yoga, there is a focus on form, but also on awareness of natural body structure.  People who may not be very physically active may have no idea about various skeletal builds and how they can effect our range of motion and activity.

Due to the wonderful photos in this aforementioned article in tandem with my interest in anatomy, my mind  sparked about bone structure; and how, just like our finger prints, our bone structures are unique to each and every one of us.

Some of us have small bones, some of us have big bones… some of us are a mix of both.  Everyone has had their own injuries, and some people have birth defects and handicaps.  Each of our individual stories are written in the make up of our bones, they carry traits of our forefathers and foremothers.  They show the workman ship of doctors, they inhabit details of our health and nutrition.

It got me thinking.  I would like a full scale, 3D model of my unique skeleton.  And I think every one should have one.

Thinking about squats, I was drawn to the beauty and uniqueness of the skeletal structures they used in comparison.  I imagined each and everyone bare boned.  It was really delightful, it says so much with out words.

Think of those people who lug 300 pounds of fat upon a short but big boned frame. Think about the 200 pound woman who is 2% body fat and all muscle, but tall and lean. Think how though one isn’t healthy, you can see how they both, can maintain.  Admire the length of that Leggy Blondes’ femur, the delicate nature of her wrist; or the strong skeletal structure of a man who knows hard labor and has broken a few bones in his youth and is stronger from it.  Notice the fragility of the elderly, their lack in bone density from sedentary lives.

If you take away the external physical aesthetics, all you have are bones.  And they are beautiful, resilient, and one of a kind… They are built to carry you for a life time… admire them and take care of them just as you would anything precious.  They are your structure and foundation.  Condition them to be strong, so they can carry you for as long as you need them.

Fit Body Boot Camp

Fit Body Boot Camp: Week Three Wrap Up and Weigh In

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Woop, Woop!  I have made it 14 days, and finished up week three of Fit Body Boot Camp.  This is the official half way point through the 6 week program.  Here is my weekly wrap up and my first official weigh in/ measurements:

I missed the first day of week 3, due to unavoidable circumstances with my grandmother.  It was a bit frustrating, and I didn’t get a work out in, but instead of stressing about it (raising my cortisol levels) I just made the commitment to go the next day.  I would have to say overall week 3 has really put the work into my upper body and arms.

Wednesday, I pulled a muscle in the last 15 seconds of our Heisman’s… I was not impressed and didn’t sleep well that night.  Still I got right back into it Thursday.  Thursday required some modification because the tightness in my shoulders wasn’t allowing me to lift much in resistance; by the end of the work out I felt significantly looser, but by bed time the tightness had doubled up on itself, and I was again tossing and turning.

Friday I stretched for about forty-five minutes in the morning before class, focusing mostly on several sets of various spine flexor exercises used in yoga, and by the end of Friday, I almost feel normal.

Now for the part I was most anxious for: weigh in/ measurements.  My weight went up by 1.7lbs.  Which isn’t what I want to hear, but the measurements made up for it.  Arms were down 1.5 inches; Chest down 2 inches, Waist was down 3.5 inches (YAY), Hips 1.75 inches, Thighs 1.5 inches for a over all total of 10.25 inches, and a 2% reduction of body fat.

Here are some things I know;  I need to get back to the food journal, it has been a hectic week of being in and out of the hospital at very inopportune times and my eating has been off, and  I need to figure out how to work in working out EVERYDAY of the week, with rest days every other week.  I like the consistency of having that in my day, and I do feel far more calm when it gets done.

I am starting to ache, to ache.  I want a soreness in my body, it brings my self awareness back to reality, and I can use a reminder of being grounded on a daily basis.  Working out daily helps me to remember to drink more water.  I notice on the days I haven’t gotten a work out, it is easy to be lackadaisical with fluid consumption.  Three days in a row of not working out makes me feel pretty unaccomplished.  On these days I try and get some beneficial visualization in, preparing my mind for my next work out and the eventual outcomes of persistence.

Over the last three weeks I have really tried to figure out what body type I have, and I think it is sort of a hybrid considered Ectomorph Mesomorph .  I have a naturally strong body, but not quite a bulky as a Mesomorph.  I build muscle easy, and once I get active with consistency, progress is obvious.  If you are having a hard time pinpointing your body type, look back through pictures at different active times in your life and compare them to the descriptions and pictures found online.  It is inspiring to see the differences in bodies, and how they are so malleable when we put the work in to changing them.

Over all I am very excited to get into week four and progress some more.  I am thankful to the Fit Body Family for their ongoing support and their fantastic attitudes!  Aho!

Fit Body Boot Camp

Fit Body Boot Camp: Week Two, Day Three (90% of Failure, is lack of support)

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Yesterday I touched on the subject, that motivation is easier to grasp when there is support along the way.  Life style shifts are more smooth with like minded individuals.

Later I happened upon an article posted to one of my friends pages, The Likely Cause of Addiction.

Rarely do I read such a lengthy article, and agree with the whole thing, while simultaneously changing my beliefs and admitting I have been doing things wrong.

Johann Hari uses this article to explore that “.. the opposite of addiction is not sobriety. It is human connection. ”

Our Culture has a distorted view on what addiction is, and sometimes it can seem that what is “repetitive” or “habitual” is actually classified to be addictive behavior.

In our current culture, addiction is mutually exclusive and associated to “unhealthy behavior.”

As Johann Hari had his own reasons to explore the truths behind addiction, I was enthralled at how he was able to empathetically articulate the single reason which leads to addictive behavior; environmental loneliness.  Lack of support.

He mentions a study on rats.  Rats that lived in healthy social environments chose not to ingest drug laced water, where as isolated rats chose to spend much of their time intoxicated; however when the sad isolated rat was returned to the healthy social environment, the rats avoided the laced water.

Additionally Hari mentions that 95% of opiate addicted Vietnam vets, were able to return to America and live productive lives, drug free with out rehab.

He poses the hypothesis that when people feel happy, supported and safe, they have no need to externally stimulate their opiate receptors, which inherently block pain… emotional or physical.

The propaganda and programming we have toward addicts, is that they need to be isolated, and cut off, until they can “get their shit in order.”  And by the hypothesis of Hari, this leads to counter productive results, and actually enables an addict to continue their use, in order to avoid facing their isolation.

Our outdated views on addiction, do not take into (enough) account how unique each individual is, in their own chemistry and motivating life experience.

This begs to ask the question, is there such a thing as a “healthy” addiction?

Take for instance endorphins.  Also known as endogenous morphine, which actually means “morphine like substance, naturally released within the body.”  We all have opiate receptors in our brain, and things like sex, running, chocolate and extreme physical exertion can cause a natural flood of endorphins in to the blood and brain.

If you have ever heard of “runners high,” it is the point where the body becomes so infused with endorphins that  begins to  feel damn near invincible.  The habit of running and naturally releasing the “feel good” hormone can become addicting; yet have you ever heard of Runners Anonymous?  You never hear about runners needing to go to support groups for running too much.

Groups of runners are actually quite supportive of one another, regardless of level.

Addictions are often micro analyzed from the aspect of external introduction of chemicals, however it appears addiction has more to do with an individuals own chemistry and environment mixed with repetitive behavior, than it does with drugs.

Ask yourself this;  Do you pick at your face in the mirror while talking shit to yourself?

Do you constantly self deprecate?

Do you cut yourself?

Do you compulsively gamble?

Do you binge and then purge?

Do you eat to console yourself?

Do you throw up after you eat?

Do you bite your finger nails, or click a pen?

This, along with a bunch of other drugless activities can be seen as addictive, depending on the individual (to others it could just be seen as annoying or burdensome.)

Depending on the individual, each of these activities can be soothing, and depending on how it all came about, can stimulate the brain to release endorphins.  Numbing and soothing the “addict.”

Endorphins are not mutually exclusive to positive triggers.  Endorphins are also released in when the brain when we take risks or go into “fight or flight mode.”

It can almost be deduced that all of us suffer from one addiction or another; if we do anything repetitively and find it comforting or get high from it.  It is the brains response to seeking balance and to avoid pain.

And while, those of us who are struggling to get in shape, may not consider our previous stagnant lifestyles as “addictions;” there is something to say about the levels of our own hormones and chemistry which can mirror addiction which led to being unhappy with the self.  This is how couch potatoes become athletes… they find a new way to trigger natural  stimulation, that is easily attained.  The perception pain shifts, and physical aches become worth the natural chemical rush.

If you find yourself, unhappy with your current state of things, and filling the void or blocking the pain; I encourage you to find a supportive activity to get those  healthy triggered endorphins running through you.  Start viewing your own body as a natural pharmacy that can be adapt genic.

Realize if you are being drawn to dissociative behaviors, something needs to change in your life, because that behavior is born from a lack of feeling supported and uncomfortable in your environment.  Lucky for you, change always comes from within, and this may be just the reminder you needed…You CAN do this

Can you become addicted to hating on yourself?  Yes, you can, especially if you live an unsupported lifestyle.  Does it have to be permanent?  No.  You just have to find the courage to take the first step.

Art

I Make Hats.

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elfhatI make hats.

WIN_20141121_145656

I make hats, like masters of clay, sculpt. I pick up a skein of yarn, and it speaks to me. I don’t over think it. I let the colors mash themselves into masterpieces. I make hats.

pinkbowfuzz

I make hats for those people who love a splash of color against the Pacific Northwest sky. I make hats warm enough for a cold night in Vail. I make unique hats, no one else will have.

I make hats, with out patterns. I make hats by accident. I make hats with the same sincere carefree nature, that I do with my paintings, or my writing.

blueberet hat

I make soft hats. Warm hats. Hats for any time of the year. I make hats because the head is a nice place for accessories, especially when they have a function… or two, or three.

Some of my hats can be worn more than one way, or serve more than one purpose. It depends on the hat. I only make one of a kind hats. No two will ever be exactly the same.

I make hats as a warm expression. A bold statement on a dreary day, or a compliment to a colorful sky; my hats speak to the uniqueness of the individual wearing it. My hats are pretty rad.

bearhat

Fit Body Boot Camp

Fit Body Boot Camp: Week Two, Day Two (What if I am the only one?)

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It’s only week two.  It is only day two.

And then the paranoia sets in…

Laying in bed, feeling the soreness in my muscles; my brain wanders, unattended to dark recesses of fear.

“What if nothing changes, with all this work?”

“What if I am the only one; who loses nothing, and still can’t do a full modified push up, after 6 weeks?”

“What if this program has the opposite intended effect on my body… and I look worse at the end of 6 weeks.”

All these “What if’s” rattling around in my brain.

Do you have them too?

Logically, it can’t get worse.  My muscles are sore, that is a sign of progress; but it is a sign, that is at times, easily ignored.

Our brains are amazing muscles.  Sometimes we flex it in counterproductive ways, like excessive worry, and unfounded suspicion.

Our brains want to keep us safe from pain, which can translate into it creating elaborate, and highly unlikely situations; which can be emotionally warping.  Wrapping us up in it’s fantasy, it is easy to get carried away with the self and “worst case scenario” syndrome.

As I lay in bed, frightfully imagining that in six weeks, I will be exactly the same; I have to force my logical mind into action.  I need my common sense to over ride my unfounded fears.

Everyday is a new one, and some are more mentally taxing than others.

For this reason, it is great to have friends or accountability partners.  People who are empathetic, and supportive, when the mind feels weak, and the top of the mountain is out of view.   How many of us just quit something because we felt alone and unsupported in our pursuit?  The diet that didn’t last a week, or the early morning walks that never continued after the first few?  Quitting as quickly as we started because of how lonely the journey seems. In the beginning of every new change, there are feelings of anxiety and excitement, but those feelings quickly change into struggle as one attempts to keep their own motivation high.

The mental downside of any new program, is how to keep your self involved with the desire to show up and do the work.  We want to see and experience results quickly in order to KNOW with out a doubt, that it is working.  The beginning is hard because you are basically breaking yourself down on  several levels, and it is painful, not just physically, but mentally as well. We learned during week one that there are a plethora of excuses to stop, and only one REAL reason to continue.

If you are anything like me, you may need help redirecting those thoughts back to the One Real Reason.  You may need to be reminded, All is not in Vain.

I encourage you to reach out when you feel like you may be the only one who feels like they aren’t going anywhere, fast enough.  You are not alone.  Be gentle with yourself; remind yourself that you are worth the risk, and only You can decide and work from that truth.

Think about it as systematically breaking down an old program that no longer suits you. Think of it as adopting a new philosophy and work ethic.  Think of it as a personal Spring Cleaning; sweeping out the old cob webs, for a new and cleaner You.

When you feel too down and out to keep going, know that you have been sweating out your old excuses, purging the self deprecation from each muscle fiber; you are sculpting the You, You want to see and be.  Know you are not alone;  I want You to be the best You can be for You, and You want the same for me.  We know, we will be better for it.

Keep going , You’ve got this.

Fit Body Boot Camp

Fit Body Boot Camp: Week Two, Day 1~ The form in focus

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Okay, the first week of badassery has been laid to rest… On to week two.
The mind wants to be over congratulatory, and the body is like “really? you are doing THIS again?”

Propriety says, “We are getting in a groove,” and ADHD says “But what about this over here?”

The first week, is the hardest. It is the hardest because, taking that first step, is really hard. Admitting you are discontent with yourself, and DOING something about it, is hard. Working muscles sat dormant for who knows how long, is brutal.

Why is it so brutal? Change happens in life all the time. It doesn’t seem like people put nearly as much thought, time or effort, into some of life’s other changes; as they do body improvement. I mean, really, think about how life changing and easy it is for some people to get pregnant. And for those, it comes easy to… rarely is there much forethought or planning.

Getting out of shape is easy. It literally takes no thought at all, just reaction. When laziness or sedentary-ness become habitual reaction, shit get’s out of control. You may remember sitting down as a size five, and when you finally get up, you realize you are a sloppy size 20.

A great quote, from some name I do not remember, said “If you want to know how you will feel tomorrow; pay attention to what you are thinking and feeling today. If you want to know why you feel the way you do today; look closely at what was going through your mind yesterday.”

Our bodies are a reflection of our internal state of being. A person can say they care about health, and wellness… and their body can tell you what they really think.

Each and everyone of us, have lives that we live; involving other people. And as much as we feel, our world revolves around us; as main players…the realization is, we are all truly equal and deserving of attention and love.

You know who never gets enough attention; appreciation and love for the hard work they do? Moms. Caretakers.

They worry their little heads off and run themselves to empty for the sake and welfare of those they love. Rarely asking for much in return, but sighing relief when everyone gets along and the domestic seas are calm for a few hours.

We have all seen that lady, who could use a couple extra hours of sleep; but forgoes it to stay up, and put the finishing touches on that science experiment, or that costume for the play. We see how she dismisses her own needs for the sake of others, with out complaint; knowing deep down, there is something she wants, but feels there is no time or energy to ask for.

Everyone has their jobs, and their home life, and that secret and often times silent part of themselves that SCREAMS for attention, but is often times drowned out by the impending nature of the needs of those around them.

All the while, that voice screeches “WHAT ABOUT ME?”

Maybe one day, when it is just quiet enough, and a nap seems enticing, that screech becomes unbearable; and you listen. You listen so hard, you can’t help but repeat what you hear; to anyone that will listen.

And what sounds like a demand, falling from your lips; twists itself into a plead.

Going from a solid “I need this,” to a whimpering “Can I please?”

Waiting for some sort of external validation, that your desires are worthy enough to address.

And, if you aren’t squashed immediately, a seed starts to grow, saying “I will, no matter what.”
Then you see the opportunity for your “will” to become a “do,” and you think… “yeah, it’s on.”

So you pummel through the doubt, and you go that first day, a bit hesitant, but determined; and you get through that first week, and think “yeah, I made a life style change! I am proud of myself!”

But, then, all of a sudden it is the weekend. A holiday weekend. And you have kids, and things to do. You slip your empowered self, back into the closet in order to fulfill the many roles and demands presented to you by anyone and everyone, but you. And it seems daunting. And you wonder if they actually SEE you, the YOU, you want to be. The YOU, you are, with out them. And then you feel guilty… because it feels selfish to honor the part of yourself, which is separate from those who rely so heavily upon you.

Maybe, you wonder, “is it worth it?” Maybe, you think, “do I really have time for this?” Maybe, you keep showing up with some sort of guilt on your shoulders.

Admittedly, I am not a mother. But I am a care taker… and I have already mulled some of this over in my mind.

On prediction, I am sensing that week two is going to be brutal, in a new mental way. It is the absolution of making a decision and sticking with it, with out excuses. It is the psychological fuckery, of admitting to yourself, that you HAVE TO, NEED TO do something for yourself.

Class is ONLY a half hour. Sticking to the dietary changes is an ongoing job, and life continues it’s path around all of that.

It will be easy to stumble. However, stumbling isn’t the end of the world.

Keeping focus may be hard, because life keeps going the 23.5 hours you aren’t “working” yourself out. But that one half hour, every day… is priceless and all about you. It is so deeply about you, that it is bound to knock emotional boundaries loose; emotions and feelings you may not realize you had stored in the recesses of the folds in your brain, and those atrophied hamstrings.

The work you are doing at Fit Body Boot Camp is hard, hard enough to allow you a half hour to readjust your thinking; back to the moment that includes you and your body, and not the impending laundry.  Maybe by week two, you are potentially arguing with yourself, that even a half hour a day is too much time to spend on yourself… “I mean after all, it ends up being approximately 3 hours a week, I could be ironing pleats into pants that do not require pleats.”

You haven’t yet made it to the 21 day mark… that place where “new habits and routines” reside.

Day 6 is closer to day one, than day 6 is to day 21.  And day six is still so far away from 6 weeks.

It can seem daunting, and almost unreachable.

I ask you, what are you trying to reach?

If it is to be a centerfold in Fitness Magazine… I say, “GO for it.”  If it is just to have more energy, and to feel better about yourself while trotting through the normalcy of life..”GO for it.”

For every valid reason to move forward with the excitement and mystery of life; there are a million excuses not to, and most of them revolve around some martyrdom for the sake of some one else.  What makes you think, that you don’t deserve the same treatment?

We live in a world where self worth is rated on a scale of superficiality.  And it can seem as though, taking a route to a healthier body may be placed in that category; somehow making it frivolous and easily dismissible.  The superficial aspect denies the whole person, that wants more out of life.  The person that would rather worry about the form and the focus in function, than just impressing lookers on.

It isn’t superficial to want to love your body.  It isn’t superficial to want to feel sexy for your partner.  It isn’t superficial to want to wear a smaller pair of jeans; all the while living and playing the many roles we all have.  In fact, to attain that comfort, is one less thing to worry about.

Week two isn’t just about showing up; it is the first step in asking the self a bunch of “why’s” sat dormant.  Lucky for you; you are not alone.  And yes, YOU are WORTH IT!

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“Relativity” – Spray Paint on Canvas by Me….

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This guy does all this art with spray paint and stencils… it’s pretty epic. He even does commissions and ships world wide… get some art up on your wall

urbanwallart's avatarRay Ferrer - Emotion on Canvas

“Relativity“ – An Albert Einstein Tribute.

Spray Paint on Canvas by Me.

20″ x 16″
Original / One of a Kind / Signed

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Ferrer - Relativity

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