BIKRAHM YOGA - BARKING YOGA More Like It

I have to admit it! As much as they annoy me, especially Kourtney Kardashian's lazy worn out Valley Girl voice, I am so hooked on the Kardashian's.  The new Miami serious just came out and I'm addicted.  I need serious help! Who else is addicted and can't seem to stop watching these people? 

I dare you to count how many times Kourtney Kardashian smiles in the next episode! She comes across as so uptight, she is the one that is hard for me to watch and NOT ENJOY!



Anyway, enough about the Kardashians.  I have to share my Bikrahm yoga experiences with you!

A while back, I attempted Bikrahm Yoga.  I lasted 10 minutes in the room and I had to get the hell out of there.  It was over 90 degrees in the room and I couldn't breathe.  But this time, I told myself I was going to stay the entire class, even if that meant laying on my mat and just meditating while feeling as though I was going to have a heart attack! LOL..YES!  I mean I am fit but this is whole different ball game folks!  Have you tried it?

One of the things I didn't like was that the instructor basically barked the poses instead of actually doing them with the class (that by the way was wall to wall people, the woman to my left, guy to my right was so close that if I extend my arms, I'd knock them upside the head on accident).  She didn't have a soft soothing voice the cue, something I'm use to.  It was very militant since she has the poses memorized.  They are always the same and never different. 

When we began the warm up, there was a breathing warm up.  I have to tell you something, this part REALLY freaked me out.  As soon as she commanded everyone to tilt their heads back and breath their air out, it was if I was in a horror movie.  It scared the crap out of me.  It sounded so scary and WEIRD!  I didn't like it!

I was trying to enjoy myself.  I tried to focus on what I was doing, my breathing, holding poses what have you.  It was a bit difficult when I had men that had no shirts on and hairy backs facing me.  To make matters worse hairy backs, with sweat just rolling down their backs making the hair look more like a wet dog.  Men that take yoga and that's it, Bikrahm develop an odd stomach.  It sticks way out and is a solid odd look.  This is why you can't just do ONE THING when it comes to fitness, you must mix it up!

 The smell in the room was gross, someone kept farting to my right.  I just don't know about this! It was one guy's first time, he wore SWEATS! He was so hot in those things, he needed to get out of the room.  The instructor literally wouldn't let him leave and talked him into staying in her militant voice. 

There was nothing Zen like about this experience for me.  I think there would've been had the instructor use more SOOTH / SOFTNESS in her voice.  So next I will try HOT yoga.  Temperature is a little lower than Bikrahm and I'm hoping the instructor will actually do the class and have a ZEN LIKE voice.

And there you have it! (hope you got a slight chuckle).
 

Why did today, Tuesday, feel like Monday? Boy, it was a long day.  Although my weigh in is next Sunday, I thought I'd take a picture, my obliques are really coming in and my body fat is down which is pretty good for being in the 22nd day of January.
Please excuse all the female products on the counter, typical self-bathroom portrait (DISCLAIMER - That is BIKINI TOP not a bra):

 

I know that no matter what I won't have a flat lower abdominal wall due to two kids and losing over 100 pounds.  That's just life.

I was really looking forward to the gym today.  I LOVE teaching R.I.P.P.E.D.!  We did some new stuff today that was pretty intense.  Our microphone was broken at the gym, so I had to yell to the entire class.  Thank GOD I was a cheerleader in my earlier life! HA HA HA.

I loved my lunch.  I bought two rotisserie chickens and shredded them up.  I had 4oz of chicken, quinoa, mushrooms, bell peppers, green onions and tomatoes.  Clean and YUMMY, wanna see?

Boy did that fill me up!

After teaching a strong class, I was so mad at myself today.  I forgot my gym jacket. Lord was it cold outside and I was drenched.  I had to put my dress from work on over my gym clothes.  I looked ridiculous! HA HA HA. So glad it was dark out. 

So famished tonight, yet pooped working 12 hours.  Rotisserie chicken is absolutely convenient! I made a salad with spinach and arugula, sliced almonds, raspberries and 4 oz of chicken. Look how gorgeous my salad looks (before I dig in!):

 

 

One of the things that I wanted to remind my students tonight and remind you is this powerful statement: EXCUSES ARE LIKE PUTTING NAILS INTO YOUR COFFIN.  I know that is rough, but it's true.  Each time we get away from working out and we make excuses, the next excuse becomes even easier to fall into. 

 

View working out/eating healthy a privilege and something you are gifting to yourself.  Our souls and our actual bodies are two different things.  Without our soul/thoughts our body wouldn't move.  Are you going to make your body move?  Are you going to tell it to, or, are you going to keep talking yourself out of it?

 

Love you, love the gift that was given to you - your body. 

 

I hope you had a wonderful day and smiled a lot today.

 

That Gym Girl

 

 

Something To Think About...

Rarely, does anyone accidentally end up where they want to be. We can accidentally fail, but we probably will not accidentally succeed – you must succeed on purpose.

 

YOU CAN DO THIS!



Party On A Bike

Yesterday was the first class I taught for 2103.  I was super excited since I worked for a couple of hours on a great play list for my cycle/spin class.  I was so pleasantly surprised to see new faces.  Wait, hold up, stop the music, that's right, the gym was packed due to those that makes those new year's resolutions to work out more.  Although sure, many do not uphold their promise to themselves, it is still nice to see new faces and those that haven't been in the gym for sometime.  I'll take it, a packed class noooo problem.

Anytime I play the song, "Love Game," with Gaga and Manson, you know we are gonna have one sweaty class.  It was fantastic! That's me on my Schwinn bike getting ready to teach class.

I did pretty good yesterday, considering it's my last day of vacation from my daytime job.  I ate clean and kept it real!

Lunch: Chicken, Kale, 1 tblspn of 100% of Extra Virgin Olive Oil for my dressing, 1/2 a carrot, blueberries and organic green tea. Yummy!

I wasn't too hungry when I got home after class, but thankfully, I had cooked a ton of chicken yesterday so I could just heat something up.  Dinner was a clean sweep too, I'M ON A ROLL!

Dinner: Chicken and 1 cup of quinoa

Did you make a new year's resolution?  If so, what was it?  Have you stuck with it so far? Let me hear from you out there in the internet world!

New YEARS ...NEW YEAR

Good afternoon fitness peeps! I have been a little absent, I apologize.  With the holidays and teens out of school for Christmas break, it's been busy.....We have 3 days left of 2012.  I'm sure a lot of you have been looking forward to a brand new year.  A lot of times, the reason why we have NOT hit our fitness goals is due to NO ACCOUNTABILITY.  When you can find ways to be held accountable for your fitness/weight loss goals, you have a HIGHER rate of achieving them.  This page YOU can use to hold yourself accountable.  I am very proud that all of my clients have hit their 2012 goals and actually went above and beyond them on the scale.  We have one that has lost over 120 lbs in 2012.  Her Summer, she's gonna be looking sexy in her bathing suit (2 piece ) she has NEVER been able to wear.  All it takes is work, constant change up in your workouts, understanding how to eat and when and what to eat.  So if you would like to try something new, be held accountable....Which IF YOU list your 3 goals for fitness/weight loss I WILL BE CHECKING IN ON YOU to make sure you are hitting them.  It's up to you. You can think the same which will make you stay the same, OR you can take my hand (so to speak) of 25 years of experience and DO THIS once and for all.  Your turn, you list your 3....

 

COCONUT WATER

I'm sure you have heard all about the buzz of PURE coconut water.

Yep, of course I did too.  I have to be honest.  The first brand of PURE coconut water I drank, it for some reason, reminded me of wet dog.  I couldn't even take a third sip.

But, the brand I'm holding in the picture, now this one I can handle.  I'm getting use to it now.  Not so bad guys!

So what is up with this coconut water thing?  Let me explain.

Coconut water is EXCELLENT for hydration!  In fact in some countries, if they were not able to get someone to a hospital to hydrate them, they would use PURE coconut milk w/ water to hydrate the patient.  So this isn't something new.  It's been around for years.

PURE coconut water is a great sports drink if you have sweat heavily.  I recommend this over any other sports drink out there.  Especially due to all of the nutrients it carries.

PURE coconut water does have other benefits.  A recent study in rats found it to be just as effective as a stating drug for lowering cholesterol and its potassium is a key nutrient for controlling blood pressure (and yes also for alleviating hangover symptoms!). So if you have the terrible hangover, slam a can!  It also helps with aging. 

Why do I keep stressing PURE, read your ingredient label, some out there are not PURE and have other additives that you don't need.

PURE Coconut water also helps with WEIGHT LOSS!  Pure coconut water can helps with controlling your cravings, and help suppress your appetite.

Several studies have found that  PURE coconut water and the oil  may help reduce body weight and belly fat and increase metabolism. Coconut oil has also been shown to raise "good" HDL cholesterol to improve your heart's health and provide antioxidants similar to those in berries, grapes and dark chocolate.

However, you do not want to go overboard on this drink.     Yes it's lower in calories than soda, all natural and good for you, but any calories you take in that your body doesn't need make a go straight to  your fat cells. I'm not stating cutting it out but drink PURE coconut water or even the oil in moderation.  Take this approach to PURE coconut water = use it when you are active. 

Give it a try!

CHEERS!
THAT GYM GIRL
p.s. for those that keep coming back to read my fitness blog...On the right side of the page, you'll see the word, "FOLLOWERS" PLEASE PLEASE follow my blog! Click and get on board (FREE)... I AM THANKFUL YOU COME TO READ! I'm not the BEST writer, but I'm passionate about health & fitness, & in  helping others!

I had to motivate myself before I started my day today. 

Home gym'n it...off I go....

Today is a day I normally don't teach a group exercise class.  So, I put on my brand new workout pants, went out to the garage and did a half treadmill and half spin bike workout for 45 minutes. I followed that with some stand and flow moves for my core and lower body, then stretched.  Later it's YOGA! (no make up I'm a mess right there )

Yep, I have a mini gym in my garage and I am so thankful that I do, saves gas driving to the gym on my off days.

Even for fitness professionals, yes we too have our moments where we don't feel motivated.  But, this time of year my body weight just LOVES to fluctuate.  UGH! You have that problem?  So, I figure I need to get on top of this now. 

This time of year, it's so easy to get cozy on the couch with your blankie and become sedentary.  Make sure you remember your goals.  I mean it's so easy to catch a good movie on cable and get cozy and lay around all day long.  But do you find that you snack more while doing this?   I know I've caught myself many times. Sometimes, I find myself eating  a snack and I'm really not hungry!  Don't do that kids!  Ha ha ha.

I know weight loss can be frustrating and sometimes ya just want to throw your hands in the air. 

I will share that my body is NOT perfect.  Well nobodies is. But, I have my problem areas where my body wants to hold onto fat.   So, I've incorporated yoga into my fitness regiment. 

Yoga not only reduces stress, but it also helps burn STORED stubborn fat. So if you have some stubborn fat too, keep reading.

Through many of the yoga poses, they actually stimulate many organs in the body like the thyroid gland.  A properly functioning thyroid gland helps the processes that convert food into energy. When food is converted into energy efficiently there is less accumulation of body fat. The yoga postures also improve and balance blood circulation in the body which makes the person healthier and more energetic. This helps to reduce calorie intake and start providing the necessary energy by burning the fat cells.

So, if you are like me and you'll try just about anything to raise your metabolism, GET YOUR YOGA ON!



 

I CAN'T KEEP THIS A SECRET ANYMORE I MUST SHARE

If you look to the very TOP RIGHT side of my page ..You will see my ad for the METRX 180 program!

THIS PROGRAM IS AMAZING!  I have put each of my clients on this and THEY LOVE IT!

It's COMPLETELY LAID OUT FOR YOU TO FOLLOW!!!!!!!!!!!! and it INCLUDES NUTRITION!

TAKE THE GUESS WORK ON HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT, TONE UP AND EAT RIGHT.  

Check it out, click on the link there on the upper right YOU CAN'T MISS OUT ON THE FREE SHIPPING EITHER!

GREAT FOR A CHRISTMAS GIFT!  WHEN YOU CLICK ON IT, IF JUST THE PHOTO COMES UP, CLICK ON THE PHOTO AGAIN TO TAKE YOU TO GET MORE INFORMATION!

90 days and you will be a whole new person!

That Gym Girl

STRONGER

 

I really like this saying and believe in it whole heatedly. To go through a weight loss journey, what's going to keep you on the right path is how strong you are on the inside, not outside.  What do you think?  I believe by and through my own experience, if I weren't strong on the inside FIRST, I am not sure if or how long it would've taken me to lose 100 pounds. 

If you have been there or are there, you know what I'm talking about.  I have blogged about this a few times, getting your mind right.  It's really is so very important folks.  When your mind is strong, and you truly believe in yourself, you can REALLY DO ANYTHING.  The journey is no longer "HARD."  You don't see it that way.  Thoughts are EVERYTHING, it's just so true.  Your own thoughts are either going to make you or break you when it comes to THIS. 

Let me ask you, I hope I can get some conversation/forum going here, but let me ask a few questions, love to hear from you:

1.  Have you began this weight loss journey without considering this, and noticed that it's super difficult? Nothing "SEEMS TO WORK?"

2. Have you given up because, nothing "SEEMS TO WORK?"

3. Have you considered that YOU are the number one cause of what's holding YOU back?

4. If you have aligned your mind and body through this journey what have you learned?

DO YOU KNOW?

Do you REALLY know how many calories you are burning? Did you know it's IMPORTANT to know? It takes, 3,500 calories to burn one pound of fat off of your body....Some will drive all the way to the gym to burn 200/300 calories. On average a person will not put in their all at the gym doing JUST cardio and will burn 250 calories.  Those calories, 200/250 amount to one snack ate for the day or one meal ate for the day -- NOT A LOT OF CALORIES BURNED RIGHT THERE!

 

Make the time you are working out COUNT.  Remember the OUTPUT (working out) number has to be larger than the INPUT (food/calories you eat)...INVEST in a GOOD calorie counter! My recommendation is go get one from BODY BUGG. This is the same one you have seen the contestants on the Biggest Loser wear. They are VERY accurate! KNOW what you are doing less frustration for yourself!

 

Set a daily goal of how many calories you want to burn for the entire day, put your body bugg/or body spy on and gage your numbers.  It really makes it less of a mystery as to why can't seem to lose the pounds.  Know the work you are doing, PUT IN THE WORK to meet your goals!