My Fitness Journey

When I turned 40 I joined a gym and was committed to getting back in shape after 2 kids and a lot of excuses. I was good for a year, signed up again, and slowly lost my motivation to keep it up. I cursed myself for letting my monthly gym fees go to waste. 

The following year, just as I was debating whether to rejoin the gym scene or not, I discovered P90X. I decided in the time it would take me to travel to and from the gym, I could be halfway through a workout at home so I went for it. 

I won't kid you. It was hard. And at the start of the program I truly struggled to get through a lot of the moves, but by the end I was proudly keeping up with Tony Horton and his gang. I completed the full 90 days of the P90x program and felt AWESOME. 

After recently turning 45 (gasp!) I've re-committed myself into getting into shape once more. I love that the newest Beachbody programs push me in only 30 minutes and I can go about my day knowing I've started it off on the right track. Incorporating delicious, nutrient-packed shakes into my routine has been the easiest and best part of it. Chocolate for breakfast is crazy good!! 

But what can I say, I'm practical. Actually, that's code for cheap. I will gladly spend money on my husband and family, but not myself for some bizarre reason. In order to (self-) justify my new hobby, I became a coach for a discount on the shakes and all my future workout programs. As a coach I didn't need to be a fitness professional, or a sales person (which I'm definitely not) just have a love of the products which I definitely had...and still have.

With the help of a friend and fellow coach, we created our first joint challenge group. This was a group of amazing women who all had their own fitness and health goals. We supported each other every day with online check-ins. Many of us picked a brand new program that incorporated daily 30-minute home workouts with clean eating for 21 days. After the first week on the program I was shocked to see I'd lost 2 inches in my waist! I kept it off and completed the program having lost 2.7 pounds and 4-1/4 inches overall! Everyone in the challenge group was so excited by their results we all decided to go another round! 

This month we'll be starting a new challenge group and look forward to seeing more great feedback and success stories from the challengers. Everybody has their own goal. Whether it's to lose 50 lbs or 5, to tone up and see muscle definition, or simply to like who you see staring back at you in the mirror each day. 

If you have something you'd like to work on, be sure to let me know. I'd be happy to help find a program that can fit your goals and fitness level. I may be 45, but I'm a happier, stronger person than I ever was in my 20s. And you can be too. The hardest part is deciding, and saying, " today's the day I'm going to start making it happen!" xo, A

When did everything become such a problem?

I'm not sure when it happened exactly, but seemingly overnight an overwhelming majority of people (under the age of thirty mostly, but don't hold me to it) have swapped the polite and simple phrase of "you're welcome" for a new turn of phrase: 

"No problem." 

If you've not yet experienced this phenomenon, well, you need to get out more. 

It's everywhere.

Give it a try the next time you're at the deli counter in your local supermarket. 

Order your half pound of what have you and say "thank you" as it's passed to you over the counter. I guarantee nine out of ten times the response you will hear will be, "no problem." 

Hearing this in retail is where it irks me the most. 

No problem? Really? You're doing your job. One for which you are being paid. 

So, I ask you, where exactly is the problem? 

Why add a negative connotation to something where there shouldn't be one? 

Perhaps it's the English major in me. But it's maddening, I tell you, MADDENING!

Recently I was at the doctor's office and the nurse asked me if I was taking any medications. I told her and she said, "no problem." 

Huh? 

Are we so ingrained all of a sudden with using this particular word choice we are now applying it everywhere, even when it makes no sense? 

Or was that her way of thanking me for answering a simple question? 

The worst part is I've actually caught myself using it too! 

After doing a favor for a friend, instead of just saying, "you're welcome," I heard myself uttering those dreaded two words. 

As soon as they brushed past my lips, I cringed. 

I wanted to call them back in, but it was too late. 

And, for me, that was a problem.