Hey San Antonio!!

I am excited to say that I am training my first athlete for a production show in Vegas called Le Reve!  She is an amazing athlete to begin with but man watching her go through the strength and conditioning program I have for her is even more amazing!  Our studio has put together a strength and conditioning room complete with a rope to climb, punching bags, and a bar to hang upside down to do sit ups with and several TRX’s!!

I have her out in that room, which has no air conditioning by the way, to help condition her body for the altitude difference which she will experience in Colorado where the audition is held.  She has to go through an incredible battery of exercises and tests which are to climb a 10 foot rope using her arms only (legs in pike position as she climbs up and down the rope, in a controlled arm over arm climb and then ascend), 45 seconds of non stop burpees, hold plank on the exercise ball with her feet on the ball both in the push up position and with her calves towards the ground and belly up, hands behind her, then do the same but a side plank!! She also has to perform 14 pushups 4 ” from the ground, weighted squats with 20% of her total body weight (20 in 30 seconds), Horizontal jump squat which she needs to clear 4 ft…she can do 7!!… hanging ab crunch, hamstring stretch, swimming test,  and a choreography test…all in one day!!

Needless to say even when shes tired she gives it her all and I am so proud to be helping her reach her goals!  I look forward to marketing nationally to help those in need of strength and conditioning training for these types of shows!

I will keep you updated on her progress and soon get a video of her going through the actual test and pictures of the new part of the studio!!!

Have a great day San Antonio!

Functional training is the process of training your body in an unstable environment by using bands, balls, free-weights and plyometric exercises. I use functional training on most women clients who want to stay lean and strong because it keeps the heart rate up and it keeps the client on their toes.

This training process is best done by super-setting exercises – such as a ball squat and a dumbbell shoulder press or bicep curl – keeping the mind and body responding quickly and to keep the heart rate up. Functional training also helps with balance and coordination; as people age they tend to lose these skills slowly, but by mimicking certain skills and activities they have an effective way of maintaining or even surpassing their previous balancing and coordination abilities.

Functional training is also important because these exercises promote core strength which not only helps with stability, but also posture and alignment. The core is an integral part of the body that sometimes gets neglected in exercise programs. Functional training is a double whammy so to speak – it builds strength in your core while in the same movement building strength in the targeted areas. People often hurt themselves by straining to pick up a heavy item, or twisting their backs. Functional training helps train your muscles in these similar movements, constantly working your abdominal muscles to assist with stabilizing your spine – helping to prevent injury!

Most women are not looking for big muscles or to be stage ready; they want to be lean, strong, and healthy.  Functional training provides just that if done correctly and with a sensible, clean eating plan.

If you’re looking to begin this type of personal training, let me know how I can get you started on the right path.

Personal trainers are perfect, right? They eat healthy every day and they have the body you wish you had, right? WRONG! We are human, too, and we struggle with the things you struggle with every day. The difference, though, is our approach to our lifestyle, and our ability to let ourselves slip up sometimes. Accountability gets us back on the wagon.

So, to demonstrate how much I am just like you (and hopefully to motivate you into action), here are 5 things you probably didn’t know about me.

Number One: I despise cardio
I think it is from the devil himself! I will do it if I absolutely have to but if I don’t, I refuse.  Example: When I am prepping for a competition I will do whatever it takes to I look my best, which includes cardio. It is great for the cardiovascular system and fat lose but I like to think that I get my heart worked out enough when I throw heavy weights around.

Number Two: I don’t like vegetables
I force myself to eat them because I know the health benefits of them but I’d rather eat a cardboard box than cooked veggies!

Number Three: I’m pretty much addicted to an energy drink called A.C.T
I ask my clients to stay away from caffeine and those kinds of energy drinks but I justify this one because it is ALL natural and it only costs $1 a day. I basically have to have it or I am a cranky ol’ lady in the gym. It actually makes me smile and get excited when I think about the next time I can drink one!

Number Four: I used to have an eating disorder
I was bulimic and anorexic. My nickname back in ’05 was Mary Kate Olsen (bad, I know)! My awesome personal trainer and mentor (my mom still calls her my second mother) helped save my life would call me that; jokingly and in love of course. I would just shake my head and say, “yep, that’s me..” because I had accepted the fact that I needed help and it didn’t hurt to joke about it because I was on the right track to get my life back in order. I had reached out for help in time and I will never regret being honest with myself about that situation. Now I am healthy and happy for it.

Number Five: I wish I could cook for all of my clients
Some of my clients think they can fib to me about their diets and lifestyles.  Not exactly. I know when they have been eating well and when they haven’t – their bodies tell the story! Most individuals don’t realize how much I do care about their goals. If I could, I would cook and pack all of my client’s meals for them so that they would REALLY know what true clean eating was and how fast it would help them reach their goals. If only there was enough time in the day!

Number One: You don’t know where to start in your fitness journey.
For those that don’t know where to start in their fitness journey, a personal trainer can be very beneficial.  Personal training will help to maximize your workout time while ensuring you don’t over exert or injure yourself.  Personal trainers can also help set realistic goals, coordinating a schedule that helps you to balance and manage your time successfully.

Number Two: You are not seeing results with your current workout.
If you are similar to the millions of people who exercise consistently without achieving the results you desire, hiring a personal trainer is a good idea. A trainer will scrutinize your work out regimen, diet and goals. Changes will then be implemented where needed, helping to build an effective workout and diet plan personalized specifically for you.  This will jump start your body and your motivation.

Number Three: You are in need of motivation and accountability.
Personal trainers come with a built-in motivation system; this is part of the package you receive when you hire a trainer.  Your monetary investment in a personal trainer is coupled with an investment of your time.  The hardest part of beginning a new regimen is personal accountable, but the feeling of accomplishment after a tough personal training session is a worthwhile reward.  Along with increased motivation comes accountability; even on the days you don’t workout, you are well aware of the questions your personal trainer will ask: “What did you eat today? What have you eaten since we last trained? Have you kept up with your schedule?” Knowing these tough questions are waiting will make it tougher for you to become lazy and apathetic.

Number Four: You are bored with the same training routine.
If you are experienced in the gym you probably have not considered working out with a personal trainer.  Hiring a personal trainer is a good idea if you want or need some diversity in your training. A trainer can offer new ideas to challenge your body and will introduce you to new exercises that will move you forward in achieving your goals. Even if you don’t train for three months, but opt for a “refresher” course, you will feel refreshed in your efforts and have a few new “toys” in your bag with which to play in the gym.

Number Five: You need a good Challenge.
This is closely related being bored with the same workouts.  When you get bored, the tendency is to slack off.  Hiring a personal trainer can motivate you to boost your sets and push past those mental blocks.  Personal trainers drive you to challenge yourself by lifting heavier, working out longer and doing exercises you would never do on your own. Many professional athletes hire personal trainers because they know a trainer will challenge them more than they could challenge themselves.

Number Six: You don’t know how to exercise correctly on your own.
Many individuals desire to go into the gym and perform a work out by themselves with the knowledge that they are performing the exercises correctly and effectively.  Hiring a personal trainer for a few sessions can be a good experience for learning the correct way to exercise as well learning more about the muscles used in those exercises.  The trainer will also teach you about correct form in an effort to help prevent exercise-related injuries.  You will be amazed the lessons you learn from a few personal training sessions.

Number Seven: You are an athlete and training for a specific sport.
If you are training for a specific sport such as baseball, a marathon or tennis, a personal trainer can assist you by improving your physical condition without interfering with your training. A personal trainer can create a sport-specific regimen scheduled around your event and other training. The main focus when using a trainer for this purpose is to find one that is experienced in your sport and can train you accordingly. Not all personal trainers do sports-specific training.

Number Eight: You have an illness or specific condition.
Certain illnesses and conditions such as pregnancy, arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, etc. can improve when you exercise.  Hiring an experienced personal trainer who works closely with your doctor can help build a program to help heal, reverse or stop your illness or condition. It is critical, however, to ensure your personal trainer has experience with your condition.

Number Nine: You like support and supervision during your workouts.
You may be knowledgeable with workout posture but require someone to support you for those heavy or partner movements. A personal trainer can help to correct your form if you get out of alignment.  Personal trainers are also able to be that support system you require and help you to maintain your goals with a quality training program.

Number Ten: You would like in-home training.
Personal trainers don’t just work at gyms or studios; they can also come to your home. If you would like to train at your home but don’t know where to start, how to use your equipment, or just don’t like to work out in a gym, a personal trainer is a great choice. The trainer can teach you how to use your equipment and introduce new equipment for additional training options. Your personal trainer will build a goal-oriented program specifically for you that can be done in the comfort of your home.

Time is the only thing that we can’t get back in this fast-paced world in which we live.  From school, work, family, and trying to stay healthy, there never seems to be enough time in a day.  As a full-time, full-load college student with a lot of other activities on my plate,  how is it possible to find time to prep and compete?  It comes down to a delicate balance routine between sleeping, training, eating, working, studying, and playing, but not necessarily in that order.  My time management has to be precise and calculated or I am not able to get everything in, in one day.  I literally live out of my day planner on season, but off season I am a little more lenient.  In this article I will give you tools and advice on how to manage your time as a student, so that you can be more efficient with your time and become more organized in order to accomplish your competition goals easier than you may have before.

So you have picked the date for your competition and it is in the middle of the semester…now what?  Take a deep breath and relax because going to school, working and prepping for competition is possible!  The first thing to do is get a day planner.  You need to write everything down and at what times they need to be started and completed.  This will alleviate some stress about not having to remember everything in addition to prioritizing your daily responsibilities.

The next thing to define and outline are your top priority elements that must be scheduled consistently every week.  The first, and a definite must, is food preparation!  Pick one day out of the week (mine is Sunday) to prepare all of your protein and carbohydrates so that you can pack and go without having to cook every single day.   Also, put your daily food diary on your fridge so that you can refer to it when prepping. Things you might need are Tupperware, a big lunch box, ice packs for the lunch box to keep meals cold, and medicine droppers!  Medicine droppers? Absolutely! Medicine droppers are an awesome way to store your flax oil and fish oil while on the go!  This way you don’t have to carry the whole bottle around and you can just measure how many drops are needed for your daily dosage. Droppers are a quick, easy way to take your fats!  Another suggestion, is to find a microwave on campus that is in the proximity of your classes so that you can heat everything up and still may it to class on time.  Schedule your eating around classes so you can eat every 2.5 to 3 hours, but if you have to eat in class and your professors give you a hard time about it, explain to them why you are doing it and they will likely understand. If you are a trainer, sometimes this can actually lead to their interest in training with you!

Now that you no longer have an excuse for eating poorly, let’s discuss cardio.  Schedule to do your cardio in the morning and in between classes if you have a time slot open.  If you have a break in between classes, I find it easier to just do it then; especially since most campuses have a wellness center or gym.  By doing this, you have time at the end of the day to do homework or study instead of having to worry about cardio.  Or if you are like me and don’t have class at the same time each day, it is definitely worth getting a piece of cardio equipment for your home.  I have an oold, inexpensive Schwinn stationary bike and I often set mylaptop on the handle bars and work on homework while doing cardio.   It’s very important for me to do my cardio at or about the same time everyday in order to ensure I get it into my routine and I am not rushing.
The same idea applied to your training; scheduling around your classes, eating and cardio is necessary.  If you need absolutely must, do your cardio after your complete your training workout..  This works well if you train at a gym and can’t get there 2 to 3 times a day.  Dependant upon on your body, you may be able to cut down on your workout time and actually make more gains; I have found that my body responds better to weight lifting only 30 minutes per workout and just pushing till failure each time.  Really getting in tune with your body and maximizing your time in the gym will not only help give you more time during the day, but may help you achieve more muscle gains!  Find what days and times work best for you and stick to that schedule.. An important sidenote is to make sure you know what muscle groups and what exercises you are doing each day. This will help to ensure you don’t stand around looking at the weights, trying to figure out what to do next; you will already know and are able to save time by moving on to each exercise without hesitation.  Even if you have a trainer, it’s still a good idea to know what you are working on so that you can schedule your eating accordingly.
At the end of the day it is always best to go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time, even on the weekends.  This will keep you on track mentally and physically.  During testing time and high stress days, if you miss a work out, cardio session, or cheat on your meals, don’t fall off the wagon and be too hard on yourself.  Remember that tomorrow is another day and it is all cumulative.  If you stay consistent and keep your head on straight, you will be very successful in your preparation. Be sure to find what works best for you and stick to it. It will all pay off in the end!

Suggestions that help with time management:

• MINUTE Ready to Serve Brown Rice (Easy Recipe: Combine the brown rice and Star-Kist Herb and Garlic tuna, heat and eat!)
• KC Masterpiece Honey Teriyaki marinade! Marinade thirty minutes or over night and bar-b-que or broil.
• If you can’t seem to get all your vegetables in, substitute with a super food such as Green Vibrance.