Showing posts with label wellness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wellness. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Finding Inspiration

Finding inspiration can be tricky business.  Sometimes it's all around you and it feels impossible to keep up with all the opportunities.  Other times you have to dig deep, use discipline  and work through even if you feel less than inspired.  The other tricky bit with inspiration is that you can find it sometimes quite unexpectedly.

I've been working with my Serious Weight Loss Clinic since November of 2012.  I have a few long timers who have come back to the clinic over and over again and we've all formed a strong relationship.  Our relationship is based on respect, honesty, and time working towards the same goals.  We've had disappointments, successes, tears, and cheers.  Leading this group of women has been an honor for me.

One of my ladies came to me feeling quite poorly about herself, though everyone around her saw her inner strength and determination.  During the class she struggled to look at herself in the mirror, eat on track, and to find a sustainable balance between eating and exercise.  Overcoming multiple struggles, difficulties, and a low self image she has emerged a changed woman.

Every day to session she has worn dark, over sized clothing that as much hid her as covered her.  Often in the beginning she wouldn't make eye contact with me.  When I would see her outside of the class, her eyes would be downcast, and she hurried along as though she was avoiding being seen, hiding in plain sight.  The woman today, I almost don't recognize when I think of how she came to me.

Now she comes to session early, gives feedback, support, shares struggles and solutions with her classmates.  She shares recipes, resources, and laughs out loud. She makes eye contact with every person.  At the beginning of our time together she would apologized for having poor form or made an excuse if she made a choreography mis-step.  Not so today.  Today she just laughs and says "at least I'm moving right."  She encourages her classmates when one lags behind.  She accepts correction on form and adjusts immediately attempting to perfect her form and get the most from her workout.

She is an inspiration to me, she inspires me to develop new workouts, to give of myself, and to trust the process.  Nothing inspired me more then her last day in session with us.  Instead of the over sized men's t-shirt and baggy shorts, she wore a tank top.  She wore a tight hot pink tank that is a specialized workout garment.  She has given herself over to her new body and her new self identity.  She is investing in clothing to wear to the gym.  Her clothing investment isn't in dark drab easily to overlook colors.  She's wearing HOT pink, LOOK AT ME pink, she is walking in with her head held high and ready to participate in whatever the gym has.  Nothing could have inspired me more than that hot pink tank top.

Congratulations on your new confidence, on your new lifestyle, and your dedication to you!  It's been an honor to work with you.  You will continue to inspire me from now until forever.  Healthy lifestyle is medicine.  We get better when we live healthier.  I'm terribly sad to see you graduate, but I'm incredibly grateful for our time together.

With love,
Jen


Tuesday, January 22, 2013

No more sNOw!

I want to preface this blog by saying:  I grew up in Wyoming where we still have glaciers.  I know cold.  I know bone aching cold.  I don't like it.  It's one of the reasons I moved to Tucson Az after I graduated from college.  It's also why I moved to the Caribbean when I was 30.  I don't like cold.

(Jackson Hole Wyoming)


Living in Germany has been a challenge for my poor bones, my arthritic knees, and my sunny disposition.  It's dark here, it's cloudy here, and it's rainy and windy here.  A lot!  Recently though we've gotten snow.  Beautiful big piles of snow.  My dog, loves the snow.  Loves to run, dash, play, and roll in the snow.  I don't really mind the snow: so long as I'm curled up on the sofa under a blanket drinking a hot toddy.  In truth, I do enjoy outdoor activities that you can do in the snow: skiing, sledding, winter treks, and whatnot.  I do not enjoy driving in the snow, trying to park in the snow, scraping the ice off my car, or loading a ton of boot camp equipment in and out of the car in the snow. YUK!


A huge part of me wishes I could be a super cheery aerobics girl and shout about how wonderful it all is and wow, how many calories I burnt shoveling snow.  But guess what, I hate shoveling snow.

I sound like a grouch don't I?

Well, I am a grouch sometimes.  I don't always feel like getting up early and going to workout, or spin, or be positive.  Sometimes, a lot of times, I want to grouch and grump and feel sorry for myself.  I want to whine about missing the sunshine and remember good things like having a barbecue in February  or laying out by the pool in December.  I want to stick out my lip, stomp my feet, and feel sorry for myself.



And sometimes I do.

Then I talk myself out of it.  I look at myself in the mirror and say "Self, you have every reason not to.  You have every reason to give up, stop trying, and let yourself be comfortable.  Most people do just that.  You are not most people.  You are working on yourself.  You are a work in progress.  Get up, get out, leave your stinky whiny feeling sorry for yourself thoughts and move forward.  Don't let the old unhappy Jen win this.  Be strong, have faith in yourself, and lift something heavy."



You know what, usually it works.  Today, I did a hard hour in the gym.  It was just me, the weights, and a Glee soundtrack.  I worked back and biceps.  I lifted heavier then I did last week, and I liked the sweat running down the small of my back.  Maybe it was Rachel and Finn singing goofy upbeat love songs, maybe it was seeing those 2.5 pound plates on the barbell row.

Whatever it was.  It fed the strong confident part of me.  I'm closer to my goals now then I was a few hours ago.  I'm proud of me.

Take that snow!

Monday, January 14, 2013

Affirmation

Personal Affirmations are one of the most powerful ways we can take care of ourselves.  An affirmation is a tool I've used with many counseling and training clients.  To develop your own affirmation think about what it is you are trying to achieve then create a short statement that sums up those goals.

For instance, I am struggling with a knee injury.  I injured my knee for the first time when I was 17 years old.  It was a horrible accident and I had to have surgery and a LOT of physical therapy to gain full range of motion in that knee.  My father was only able to come to one physical therapy session.  He couldn't watch me go through so much pain.  I've dealt with the injury for the past 18 years of my life and haven't let it hold me back.  I've climbed to 16,000 feet in the Andes, I've hiked the Grand Canyon, and I've made being fit a part of my life.

Unfortunately on January 2nd I hyper-extended my knee.  It's been a few weeks and I have not healed.  I've rested my knee.  I haven't done any lower body workouts, I haven't run and I haven't been to spin class.  I'm starting to feel frustrated and angry.  

I'm going to create an affirmation to help me refocus that frustration and anger.  I want to be healed up, strong, able to squat my big wheels (180 pounds of plates)!  I want to run with my friends and my dog.  I want to go to spin class and sweat it out while imagining I'm cycling through the sunshine!  My affirmation is:

"I will heal.  I give myself permission to rest until my body is ready to train!"

What are your goals?  What is your affirmation?  Are you working on your resolutions?  Have you gotten off track?  It's ok; I promise.  Take a moment re-evaluate and create an affirmation to use every morning when you wake up, every time you get off track, and every night before you go to bed.  Keeping your affirmation goal specific will help to motivate you to get back on track, keep working hard and change your life.

I believe in you!
Jen

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Enjoy Your Journey Challenge!

While looking through the January inspiration ideas this morning I came across one that totally inspired me.  So here it is!

January Enjoy Your Journey Challenge!

How to play:

  • Post a picture of yourself “enjoying your journey” of wellness on my Facebook page Cherry Wellness
  • Your picture should show your journey & hopefully getting out of your comfort zone, or doing something non-traditional.  For example take a picture of you enjoying fitness at work!
  • The more creative & inspired the better!
  • The challenge will last through January & a winner will be announced Jan 31st!
  • Share my page with your friends & tag yourself in photos!


This picture is of me while at cooking school in Italy!  Our tour group went to some medieval ruins.  I think I surprised all of my classmates by turning cartwheels, planking, and doing handstands!  I was just so HAPPY I needed to express it physically!


Thursday, December 27, 2012

Post Christmas Workout!

Well yesterday was the first day after Christmas and I got right back on the fitness horse!  I did a total body workout right in my garage!  I did a 6 station TABATA style workout.  A TABATA is an interval training method.  

Each TABATA station is one exercise and takes only 4 minutes.  You work as hard as you possibly can; giving 100% effort for 20 seconds then rest for 10 seconds.  That's one round.  Complete 8 rounds and I promise you'll be huffing and puffing.  

There are lots of free interval training apps you can download to your phone, ipad, or computer to help you keep track of your rounds.

My workout Dec 26, 2012
Warm up 2 mile brisk walk with my new Christmas Puppy Oskar!
Shoulder rolls, Hi Jacks/Hi Jills, leg swings forward/back and side to side!
  • Station  One
  • kettle bell swings
  • Station Two
  • push up with row
  • Station Three
  • jump rope
  • Station Four
  • alternating lunge w/ lateral raise
  • Stations Five
  • mt climbers
  • Station six
  • wall sit w/ Arnold press.

The whole workout only took about 24 minutes.

To cool down I did a slow half mile jog with the dog, stretched and added a 3 sets of 20 second planks.  

It felt GREAT!


Friday, December 21, 2012

Serious Weight Loss Clinic-January


I'm so excited to offer the Serious Weight Loss Clinic again in January!  The November session as very successful with every single member losing at least 5 pounds!  Everyone provided positive feedback and reports feeling healthier, sleeping better, and has new habits that will help keep her moving in the right direction.

This program is appropriate for women who meet the criteria for obesity or want to lose at least 30 lbs.  We do 10 low impact workouts together and I provide 10 at home workouts to do on your own.  That means you walk away with 20 workouts!  

You also get 20 healthy recipes and 20 healthy snack recipes for about 100 calories each!  We also visit the commissary to find where the healthiest options are hiding!  You will also receive a weekly newsletter with nutrition tips, an at home workout, a healthy recipe, and some positive motivation.

We give each other positive support and have check-ins weekly.  We weigh in every Monday to track progress.  Each member also completes a food journal that is reviewed weekly for tips and suggestions to eat for your personal goals.

I'm so looking forward to my January group!  The sign up is now available at the front desk of the gym.  

Jen Cherry 
Certified Personal Trainer
Licensed Counselor
Health and Wellness Lifestyle Coach

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Boot Camp Homecoming!

I just want to take a moment and say thank you to everyone who has welcomed me home to Tucson.  I've  enjoyed so many laughs, hugs, and conversations with friends.  I'm always so grateful for all of the wonderful people in my life.  

I had an opportunity to workout with Cooper Boot Camp today.  This is the program that changed my life.  I lost 40 lbs and gained incredible friends, confidence, and a new passion; fitness.  It was so much fun to be outside and huffing and puffing with a group.  I can't wait to make MY Boot Campers do 4 minutes of 1 leg deadlifts!

Alternating 1 leg deadlifts are a great exercise to focus on lower body while still engaging your core AND improving balance.  You can do them with no weights at all.  To advance the exercise add weights in one hand to increase the balance challenge. 

From standing position hinge at your waist bringing one leg off the ground behind you slowly and evenly.  Keep your core engaged with a neutral back. Allow your arms to move comfortably.  Complete 30 seconds on each leg, 4 reps!
Jen Cherry & Kirsten Cooper 






Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Healthy Pumpkin Oatmeal Shake



Pumpkin in the winter makes me happy!  This is another great breakfast solution; quick and easy to eat on the go.  I usually make an entire batch and keep it in the refrigerator to grab in the morning   I use one of the shaker bottles and add about 4 oz of fat free milk to my serving of the shake.  That way I don't have to dirty my blender everyday! It's a delicious way to start my day and I don't even have to feel guilty. I hope you enjoy.  
I generally eat this shake as my morning meal.  It has enough calories to keep me going through a tough workout. To make this a recovery shake you can add your protein supplement (vanilla works best).  If you want the benefits of added protein without adding a supplement substitute the fat free milk for low fat natural Greek yogurt and add water or milk to thin to the desired consistency. 

Healthy Pumpkin Oatmeal Shake
Servings: 4 • Size: 1/4th of recipe
Calories: 160.7 • Fat: 2.2g • Protein: 5.8 g • Carb: 34 g • Fiber: 6.6 g
Ingredients:

1/2 cup quick oats 
2 cups water 
1 cup fat free milk 
1 cup ice 
1/2 cup pumpkin puree 
3 tbsp brown sugar 
1-2 tsp cinnamon 
pumpkin pie spice to taste
Directions:
Cook oats and water in a small pot for about a minute or two, stirring often until it becomes thick and bubbly. Remove from heat and let it cool a few minutes.
In a blender add milk, pumpkin, sugar, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice. Add oats and ice. Blend on high until very smooth. Chill in refrigerator or pour in a glass over ice. Enjoy!! 

recipe from skinnytaste.com

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Spinning Welcome!

I had such a great experience at Spin today at O2 Modern Fitness in Tucson!  I haven't been to the studio in years, but I walked in and immediately spied a friendly face!  It's a wonderful experience to walk into a gym or studio and feel welcome!  It's not so many years ago, stepping into a gym would have intimidated me so much, I would have stayed home.  I hope I bring that same welcoming feel to Cherry Wellness and 360 Fit.

I had a great endurance ride and it was very challenging.  Recently I've been doing a lot of interval rides  this was a welcome change and reminded me how beneficial an endurance cardio workout can be.  As many of us focus on HIIT, TABATA, and other interval training style methods we may forget the benefits of tempo or endurance workouts.  Tempo workouts can increase your overall speed.  They also help to condition your entire cardiovascular system.  I really appreciated the workout as it's been over a week since my last spin and this was a super way to return to the bike without feeling overwhelmed.

I'm planning to bring some endurance rides as well as other cardio skills back with me for my clients as well as my own training!


Friday, December 14, 2012

Be Nice!

I've always been an extrovert.  That is, I gain my energy from outside sources rather than an introvert who finds energy within.  As I have had the opportunity to be 'home' for a few days in Tucson AZ, I've been seeing those that mean the most to me.  I've been surrounded by thoughtful, compassionate, intelligent, people.  I've laughed, shed some tears, and received lots of hugs.

I like nice people who do nice things, and I want to make a commitment to be a nicer person... and do nicer things!  I want to actively create stronger relationships with my clients and friends back in Germany.  I've been very lucky that I get to follow my dreams and build a business that reflects my passions and beliefs.  I'm so grateful to everyone that supports me.

I'm thinking about how I can make not only myself but also Cherry Wellness and 360 Fit better.  I hope to express in this blog my personal as well as my professional journey to wellness.  Not every day is easy, but I'm going to try to reflect the best of me.