Today I was told that "working out at home doesn't give you any results". I beg to differ! I began working out at home 6 years ago. I workout at home because I live in a very rural area and don't have access to a gym. Since I began working out, I've lost (and kept off!) 40 pounds and 18% body fat. So don't tell me home workouts don't yield results.
Let's talk about the differences in working out at home and working out at the gym. Remember, this is my blog so these are simply my opinions...with many truths thrown in. Here we go!
Working out at home - Pros and Cons
Pros:
1. No one cares what you look like when you are working out because no one sees you.
2. Your house is ALWAYS open so you can workout whenever you'd like to. And you don't even have to brush your teeth or comb your hair.
3. No drive time or traffic.
4. Cheaper than a gym. Example: $40/month membership x 12 months/year = $480. This is to walk in the door and use their equipment only. This doesn't include sessions with a personal trainer. 4 Beachbody 90 day programs: $480 (upper end programs). WAIT! That's the same amount of money. True....but you'll get nutrition plans with the programs AND you'll own them for life. So, say you do two rounds of each program, that covers TWO YEARS. WOW! It's 1/2 the price of two years at the gym.
5. Not everyone has a gym in their area but everyone lives somewhere.
Cons:
1. If you're a social butterfly and need to be around people, you might get lonely.
2. Takes willpower and dedication, which some people just don't have.
Working out at the Gym - Pros and Cons
Pros:
1. Lots of equipment to choose from.
2. Hot bodies to ogle while you're there.
3. Variety of group fitness classes offered.
Cons:
1. The drive time it takes to get there. For the amount of time you spend in traffic, you could have your workout done at home.
2. Not everyone racks their weights and cleans off the equipment.
3. Wait time to use the machine/weights if occupied by someone else.
4. Did I mention $$$?
5. Closed on holidays, for maintenance, etc.
I know this by no means covers all pros and cons of both. I'm just throwing things out there to think about. I've seen amazing results of people who have exclusively worked out at home and those who've exclusively gone to the gym. It truly is a personal preference. But PLEASE don't make a lump sum statement about how people who workout at home don't get results. Like I tell people when we are choosing a fitness program for them, find what you like so you'll STICK WITH IT!
Feel free to throw some of your favorite pros and cons at me in the comment section below. And don't forget to follow me on Facebook at Get Up Get Movin (https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Get-Up-Get-Movin/311185528896644).
Your Fit and Frantic Mom,
Ann
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
I just don't have time!
I just don't have time. There are not enough hours in the day. You're just not as busy as I am (oh, I love that one!). I need a clone. These are comments I hear all the time. Most of them are in regards to having time to workout. The main reason people don't have time to workout is because it's not important to them so they make excuses, not time. Not to toot my own horn, but I am a wife, a mother, owner of two businesses, a group fitness instructor, a basketball coach, and a host of other things. I get 24 hours a day, just like everyone else. What it boils down to is how you use those 24 hours.
Let me ask you this - Are you productive or are you just busy? BIG difference! If you are running around like a chicken with your head cut off, you are busy busy. If you are checking things off your to do list in an orderly fashion, you are productive. So...which one are you?
Here are some of my tips for being more productive, more fit and less frantic. Keep in mind I'm not an expert or a professional, just a real gal making it through life by getting things done.
PLAN! PLAN! PLAN!
1. Plan your day - hour by hour if you have to. Write down everything you need to do - even your workouts! I get up early to get my workout in and a few business items taken care of before the kids even wake up. See? Not taking anytime away from my kids. They don't even know what I'm doing. This is also my time to write out my to do list and mentally prepare for the day.
2. Plan your meals. Sit down and plan out your meals for 7 days, 14 days, whatever works around your shopping schedule. This will not only save you time, but money. Hitting the grocery store each day causes you to spend more money by buying unnecessary things just because they look tempting at the time. You should be eating 5-6 small meals per day. Plan these. Set an alarm on your phone to remind you to eat, if you have to.
3. Plan your finances. Time needs to be budgeted as well as money. If you plan your finances you won't be spending extra time trying to figure out (and stress over!) how to pay bills...or even forgetting to pay a bill.
It truly is all about planning. As I heard Dave Ramsey say, "IF YOU FAIL TO PLAN, YOU PLAN TO FAIL". Kind of hits home, doesn't it?
Wishing you a fantastic and FIT week!
Your Fit and Frantic Mom,
Ann
Let me ask you this - Are you productive or are you just busy? BIG difference! If you are running around like a chicken with your head cut off, you are busy busy. If you are checking things off your to do list in an orderly fashion, you are productive. So...which one are you?
Here are some of my tips for being more productive, more fit and less frantic. Keep in mind I'm not an expert or a professional, just a real gal making it through life by getting things done.
PLAN! PLAN! PLAN!
1. Plan your day - hour by hour if you have to. Write down everything you need to do - even your workouts! I get up early to get my workout in and a few business items taken care of before the kids even wake up. See? Not taking anytime away from my kids. They don't even know what I'm doing. This is also my time to write out my to do list and mentally prepare for the day.
2. Plan your meals. Sit down and plan out your meals for 7 days, 14 days, whatever works around your shopping schedule. This will not only save you time, but money. Hitting the grocery store each day causes you to spend more money by buying unnecessary things just because they look tempting at the time. You should be eating 5-6 small meals per day. Plan these. Set an alarm on your phone to remind you to eat, if you have to.
3. Plan your finances. Time needs to be budgeted as well as money. If you plan your finances you won't be spending extra time trying to figure out (and stress over!) how to pay bills...or even forgetting to pay a bill.
It truly is all about planning. As I heard Dave Ramsey say, "IF YOU FAIL TO PLAN, YOU PLAN TO FAIL". Kind of hits home, doesn't it?
Wishing you a fantastic and FIT week!
Your Fit and Frantic Mom,
Ann
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Eating - A Simple Concept!
OK, time to get serious. I've had the best intentions of blogging regularly and haven't done it for months. NO more procrastinating. So...today's topic is something I've been asked about alot lately. Eating. Seems simple and fairly straight forward, right? It's not for some people. Let me start by posting this small disclaimer: I am not a doctor or nutritionist. I am just a gal who wants to be healthy and fit. I'm still learning every day what to do and what not to do. I'm real...just like you. So, here's a few things to keep in mind about eating and eating right.
1. Eat 5-6 small meals a day. Oh, stop rolling your eyes. I'm not talking about chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy 5-6 times a day. I'm talking about a healthy breakfast, a healthy snack midmorning, a healthy lunch, healthy midafternoon snack and a healthy dinner/supper. Wow - notice the overusage of the word healthy? Subliminal thinking there. :) You should eat every 3 hours. Set a timer if you have to. Your body will thank you!
2. Do NOT skip meals. So many people think if they take in less calories they will lose weight. Oh, you will. For awhile. Then your body will turn on you and go into starvation mode. It'll store whatever you eat next as fat. Did you know that's a major way Sumo wrestlers gain weight? Yes, they eat alot but they also skip meals to help them gain weight. And who wants to look like a Sumo wrestler?? Stop skipping meals. Your body will thank you!
3. Cut out the crap. Yes, I said crap. When I mentioned healthy snacks earlier, that doesn't include soda and a candy bar. No matter what the Snickers commercial says, it won't satisfy you or your hunger. It's simply a marketing ploy. Really? Yes, really. Do not sit in front of the TV with a bag of chips or a carton of ice cream. Mindless eating. Stop it. Your body will thank you!
4. Set an example. If you have young children, or are regularly around young children, show them how it's done. Eat right and get moving. So many people say "My kids won't eat that." Really? Have you made it for them? I personally like the "You get what you get and don't throw a fit" mantra. Your children won't starve. If they are truly hungry they will try it...and most likely, they'll like it! Start with substituting things they'll never even notice. Ground turkey for hamburger. Fruit for junk food. (Tip on the fruit: clean it, cut it up and have it at eye level in the fridge. It's the first thing they'll see and I'm pretty sure they'll be interested.) Another note, YOU are buying the groceries...right? Then YOU are in control. You buy it, they eat it. Simple concept. Your body (and your kids!) will thank you!
5. Plan, plan, plan! Start off your eating right journey with planning it out. Make your dinner menu for a week at a time, or whatever matches your shopping trips. Do NOT go to the store every day. That gets expensive and is too tempting when you see the junk food. Google healthy recipes. "Like" healthy sites on Facebook. Everyone is busy. Ballgames, practices, work, etc but that's no excuse for not eating right. If you are going to go out of town for a ballgame, take a cooler. I've spent many Saturdays sitting in high school gyms eating out of a cooler. People may look at me funny (of course, they're so used to it by now!) but I don't care. I know I'm doing my best and what's best for my family. You can do it too. Plan ahead. Fail to plan, plan to fail. And btw, you'll save a fortune by not hitting the concession stand for atomic chili covered in nuclear cheese. Just sayin. Oh, and your body will thank you!
I'm sure I've rambled on long enough but wanted to point out a few things. If you have any questions, ASK! I'm always happy to talk about health and fitness and the chaos of it all while raising a family. Feel free to come over, check things out and like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Get-Up-Get-Movin/311185528896644.
Wishing you a FIT day!
Your Fit and Frantic Mom,
Ann
1. Eat 5-6 small meals a day. Oh, stop rolling your eyes. I'm not talking about chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy 5-6 times a day. I'm talking about a healthy breakfast, a healthy snack midmorning, a healthy lunch, healthy midafternoon snack and a healthy dinner/supper. Wow - notice the overusage of the word healthy? Subliminal thinking there. :) You should eat every 3 hours. Set a timer if you have to. Your body will thank you!
2. Do NOT skip meals. So many people think if they take in less calories they will lose weight. Oh, you will. For awhile. Then your body will turn on you and go into starvation mode. It'll store whatever you eat next as fat. Did you know that's a major way Sumo wrestlers gain weight? Yes, they eat alot but they also skip meals to help them gain weight. And who wants to look like a Sumo wrestler?? Stop skipping meals. Your body will thank you!
3. Cut out the crap. Yes, I said crap. When I mentioned healthy snacks earlier, that doesn't include soda and a candy bar. No matter what the Snickers commercial says, it won't satisfy you or your hunger. It's simply a marketing ploy. Really? Yes, really. Do not sit in front of the TV with a bag of chips or a carton of ice cream. Mindless eating. Stop it. Your body will thank you!
4. Set an example. If you have young children, or are regularly around young children, show them how it's done. Eat right and get moving. So many people say "My kids won't eat that." Really? Have you made it for them? I personally like the "You get what you get and don't throw a fit" mantra. Your children won't starve. If they are truly hungry they will try it...and most likely, they'll like it! Start with substituting things they'll never even notice. Ground turkey for hamburger. Fruit for junk food. (Tip on the fruit: clean it, cut it up and have it at eye level in the fridge. It's the first thing they'll see and I'm pretty sure they'll be interested.) Another note, YOU are buying the groceries...right? Then YOU are in control. You buy it, they eat it. Simple concept. Your body (and your kids!) will thank you!
5. Plan, plan, plan! Start off your eating right journey with planning it out. Make your dinner menu for a week at a time, or whatever matches your shopping trips. Do NOT go to the store every day. That gets expensive and is too tempting when you see the junk food. Google healthy recipes. "Like" healthy sites on Facebook. Everyone is busy. Ballgames, practices, work, etc but that's no excuse for not eating right. If you are going to go out of town for a ballgame, take a cooler. I've spent many Saturdays sitting in high school gyms eating out of a cooler. People may look at me funny (of course, they're so used to it by now!) but I don't care. I know I'm doing my best and what's best for my family. You can do it too. Plan ahead. Fail to plan, plan to fail. And btw, you'll save a fortune by not hitting the concession stand for atomic chili covered in nuclear cheese. Just sayin. Oh, and your body will thank you!
I'm sure I've rambled on long enough but wanted to point out a few things. If you have any questions, ASK! I'm always happy to talk about health and fitness and the chaos of it all while raising a family. Feel free to come over, check things out and like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Get-Up-Get-Movin/311185528896644.
Wishing you a FIT day!
Your Fit and Frantic Mom,
Ann
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Change
Do not be afraid of change. Change is an opportunity to better yourself, try something different, experience a new way of life. I simply don't understand why people are hesitant to change. Why are people so stagnant? No one wants to change but they sure like to gripe about how crappy their life is. Um...you're the only one who can change your life! Grab the bull by the horns and do it! Stop complaining about hating your job, being overweight, not liking your house...whatever. MAKE THE CHANGE! There are so many resources out there for everything. You're in control of this. Want a different job? Look for one. Take classes to help advance your career. Want to lose weight? Get off the damn couch, put down the crap food. Eat right and exercise. It's not rocket science for pete's sake. Don't like your neighbor? Bite the bullet. Make a peace offering. Talk about things and hopefully the issues will be resolved. Don't think God is listening? Well, are you truly talking to him or just sitting around expecting him to perform a miracle? Stop blaming others for your problems and make a promise to yourself that YOU will get active and MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN! Do it!
Monday, May 14, 2012
Letter to my Mom
Yesterday was Mother's Day and I so wanted to write about my mom but knew that I wouldn't be able to see through the tears. So, today I'm going to write a letter to my mom.
Dear Mom - I miss you so much. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about you. I wish I could talk to you daily like I used to. I would love your advice about parenting. I struggle so much lately and would love to be able to ask your advice, even though you'd say "You get what you pay for when you get my advice." :) You were always there for me and were nothing but honest and factual with me. Guess that's where I get it from, isn't it? Scott told me yesterday that he's so thankful for all that you taught me - how to cook, keep a nice house, how to be a loving mother and wife and being genuine. Definitely all good traits. I couldn't have asked for a better mom, just wish we would've had more time together. I love you and miss you so much. I could go on and on but the tears are close. Thank you for everything!
Love, Annie
Dear Mom - I miss you so much. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about you. I wish I could talk to you daily like I used to. I would love your advice about parenting. I struggle so much lately and would love to be able to ask your advice, even though you'd say "You get what you pay for when you get my advice." :) You were always there for me and were nothing but honest and factual with me. Guess that's where I get it from, isn't it? Scott told me yesterday that he's so thankful for all that you taught me - how to cook, keep a nice house, how to be a loving mother and wife and being genuine. Definitely all good traits. I couldn't have asked for a better mom, just wish we would've had more time together. I love you and miss you so much. I could go on and on but the tears are close. Thank you for everything!
Love, Annie
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Heartbreak
I created this blog to be able to be open and honest about my life, my feelings, anything and everything. Little did I know that one day after creating it, my heart would break when we had to put my dog to sleep. Harley was almost 11 and was definitely my baby. Got her when she was 8 weeks old. At that time, Jarrod was 2 and Hailey was almost 3 months old. I was NOT going to potty train a 2 year old, have a baby in diapers and house train a puppy. I was wrong. That's exactly what I did. While Harley was supposed to be Scott's dog, she quickly turned into mine since I was home all day. Best dog EVER! Talk about unconditional love - even when Hailey would grab her, climb on top of her and jump up and down. I think both of them loved every minute of it. Harley loved to go for walks and ride in the pickup. She got along with everyone. She even tolerated Chloe who about killed her 4 times. Patience of a saint for sure. Tonight (27 hours after saying goodbye) Hailey brought out a photo album of pics of Harley. While she was trying to bring me joy with the memories, it broke my heart to see her again. It's definitely going to take some time to ease the pain. I doubt I'll ever "get over it". She was too precious and the memories I have of her are priceless. I miss you so much Chubbles. Love, Mom
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
First Attempt!
My first blog post! Why am I doing this?? Honestly, I've always wanted to but kept putting it off. Lately, things have gotten so hectic that I knew I wanted to start writing to help me relieve some stress and get some things off my mind. To anyone who reads this, just know that I'm as real as you can get. I don't sugar coat much (if anything) and you'll always know where you stand with me. Here are some details about me in case you're curious. I've been married to my soulmate, Scott, for almost 20 years. We have 2 great kids - Jarrod, 13, and Hailey, 10. Scott is a chiropractor and together we own Miller Chiropractic. Been in business for almost 15 years. WOW! In addition to that business, I am also an Independent Team Beachbody Coach. With that, I am able to help people begin/continue their journey with health and fitness. I love helping people find a great workout and start implementing better nutrition into their lives. When I'm not busy with either business (that's rare!), I'm busy being super mom (yeah, right). Jarrod just finished track where he did the distance races - 1600 and 800 meters. He did incredible this year and set several PRs. Think running is definitely his niche. He struggles with a very restricted diet and ASD so running helps him relieve stress and improves his mood dramatically. I'll touch more on that later. These issues are one of the main reasons I decided to start blogging as I have so many frustrations that I need to vent sometimes. Hailey participates in band, choir, volleyball and basketball. Our social butterfly for sure. She is a mini me and I'm not sure that's such a good thing sometimes but I wouldn't change her for the world.
I've got so much I want to post on here but figure it's better to keep things short and sweet...at least for awhile. I can be very long winded so consider yourself warned! I'm very passionate about alot of things and don't hold back very often.
I've got so much I want to post on here but figure it's better to keep things short and sweet...at least for awhile. I can be very long winded so consider yourself warned! I'm very passionate about alot of things and don't hold back very often.
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