Fitness Cure

I won’t say that it’s ALL parents that have overweight kids (or potentially overweight kids) but I have spoken with some parents (all who are not in my middle school program btw) who seem to be completely unaware of the child’s activity levels or eating habits. If they ARE aware, they usually don’t want to do anything about it in fear of:

- hurting the child’s feelings

- fear of creating a weight disorder

- not wanting to “rock the boat” and create more effort in their own life

- not wanting to change their habits (since the poor habits usually began with them)

I have to honestly say that my family is TERRIBLE for going to buffets at least once a week. Not only do we eat out often, but there’s always something to celebrate. Whether it be a birthday, a graduation, etc. It’s also terrible to see young children eating HEFTY portions and lots of desserts in a buffet environment.  I’ve even talked to my nieces and nephew (who eat out with us) to recognize when they are full and to just ‘taste’ desserts and not eat a full bowl. (I can tell my sister is uncomfortable when I talk to them) BUT someone has to! I’ve been accused of people telling me “it’s not place” to talk to a child about their eating habits, or their behavior (which I recently did with a neighbor’s child when they were bullying) but to me, if you CARE then you would say something. Not in a mean way – but in a nice way. A CARING way.

I also feel that if parents really loved their child – they would talk to them. They would prohibit them from eating bad foods – they would BECOME the role model. Because the fact is, is that their child is going to have a VERY hard future ahead of them. I just read an article on Acid Reflux and how it’s becoming more prevalent in young children...this is a condition (just like Diabetes) that usually effects only adults.

We need to become more active in our child’s life and start making change first WITHIN US. Because we ARE the role model and they do what we do…they eat what we eat…

SO make that your motivation for today!

Have you seen these people at your gym?

Miss Aromatherapy. You know her; she walks in holding her cell phone to her head in one hand and a cup of Jasmine Tea (or gourmet coffee) in the other. Her LV shoulder bag is loaded with Cosmo, Mademoiselle and People magazines. The aroma of her tea (or gourmet coffee) will permeate the entire gym about a half a minute after her arrival. As she strides to the cross trainer or stair stepper a fragrant mist of her body lotion/perfume/patchouli hazily drifts into the cardio section for the duration of her “workout” which consists of picking a magazine to page through while continuing her 30 minute telephone conversation at volume. For example; “OMG! It was totally creepers! This dude was totally hitting on my friends and me last night at Sharkeez. We totally had to move away from him. OMG! I am so hungover right now and I have to be at work in like an hour. OMG! Did you really go home with him? Creepers! Did you like my top? I know, I totally want to get new boobs!”

Don’t be that girl

Captain Cologne. Imagine that you are 20 minutes into a cardio session or maybe midway through a heavy set of squats, presses or pull downs and without warning, your eyes start to burn and your sinuses begin to run from a megaton dose of cologne  (Old Spice, CK1, etc). You just caught a lethal whiff of Captain Cologne (he is usually found on a recumbent bike or in front of the dumbbell rack).  Yes, Captain Cologne, you are the prettiest smelling man in the gym, unfortunately for you, that’s NEVER a positive attribute.

Don’t be that guy!

The Flexaholic. You know these guys and girls. They are always in front of a mirror (or any reflective surface) flexing various muscles. Unless you are one of the current top 10 contenders for the Mr. Olympia or Miss Olympia pageants, posing in the mirror is really lame (and even then, it is sort of lame). Seriously, professional bodybuilders and fitness girls at the highest level don’t stand around gyms and pose. Only a person that is desperate for attention would do that.

Don’t be that person!

Here are some ways that each individual can make the gym environment better for everyone:

1.       Don’t wear cologne/perfume/body lotion. Yes, we agree that you should not smell like sweat (please bathe or shower daily) but fragrances can be lethal in an enclosed exercise area.

2.       Please don’t have loud cell phone conversations. Actually, if at all possible, please avoid all talking in the exercise areas. Some people really are there to train not hear about your drunken exploits or how pissed you are at your spouse/significant other or your opinion on politics, sports and the food network.

3.       Please do not bring coffee, tea and newspapers into the exercise areas. There is no excuse for this behavior.  You would hate me if I did dumbbell laterals while in line at Starbucks, so please, don’t bring your Starbucks into the dumbbell area (or the cardio area, etc.).

4.       Train! Exercise! Workout! Yes, you are at the gym and it is OK to sweat a lot! Carry a towel and wipe up your sweat. Train hard, be considerate of others and when you are finished training, GO HOME!

Space yourself people!

I don’t really MIND crowded group exercise classes as the people add to the energy of the room. HOWEVER, when it’s so crowded that people shove their way to the front, and THEN you can’t even see yourself in the mirror (even when you are standing in the second row) then the crowd get’s pretty ridiculous.

I think what annoys me more than anything is how people don’t understand the concept of standing in ‘windows.’  If you are unfamiliar with this concept, basically it means this: you need to space yourself out so everyone can SEE themselves. I use this concept in cheerleading, in baking cookies and with group exercise classes!

Here is an example:

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Yesterday I was at a group exercise class and while I was standing in the second row, I was behind a HUGE guy. Now, I’m not going to blame him for my inability to see myself …I blame all the people standing in my row. ALL of them were standing directly behind the person in front of them. ugh!

Usually I DO say something. But I wasn’t in the mood to talk.

The line up ended up looking like this:

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Just ugly!

So if you are in a group exercise class…PLEASE space yourself accordingly!

 
don’t compare yourself with others…
Francisca Dennis had 6 kids!

Now I KNOW I am in great shape after having a child 6.5 months ago. My fitness success comes from eating, exercising and knowing my body well enough to break through plateaus and alter my routine weekly. Before I was pregnant, people (mostly women) would tell me: “Wait until you have a kid and see how your body will look like.”

Well…I had a kid! But that’s still not going to make the person next to me compare her physique against mine from a neutral standpoint. NOW it’s: “Wait until you get my age and see how your body will look like.”

MY response? “When I’m your age, I’m still going to be working it…”

Seriously! It’s very, very, very, (did I say VERY) annoying when people make lame excuses like:

- I had three kids

- I have 40 hour work days

- I am ten years older

- I don’t have all day to spend working out

WHEN the fact is:

I work A LOT. I started training at a very young age. I make fitness a priority even if it’s at 4am in the morning and I guarantee you my next two pregnancies will be even better than my first!

Read more pet peeves here.

I personally don’t use it. ESPECIALLY not now, but David swims at the gym all the time and complains OFTEN about a couple things regarding gym pools.

- TOO much Chlorine.

- Dirty Jacuzzi’s

This is a result of possibly too much usage AND BECAUSE people don’t take showers BEFORE they get into the water.

Gyms should clean their pools without over-toxicating them and ENFORCE all users to take showers prior.

Read opinions on: ARE GYM POOLS SAFE?? CLICK HERE.