Best Of
Re: Getting Back into Your Workout Routine
I actually have a question about safely getting back into exercise post-Covid...but by that I mean, post having Covid. I tested positive a couple weeks ago, and while I feel like I've fully recovered from any symptoms I had, I want to make sure I'm getting back into my normal fitness routine safely. I've already started getting back into the swing of things...I started out with going for walks around the neighborhood, riding the stationary bike, and some low-intensity circuits, and I've been ramping up since then (I've now started doing my Volt workouts and some of the 1-hour circuits). I've been trying to listen to my body and make sure I'm not overdoing it, but I'm wondering if there's anything else I (or anyone else) should be mindful of as I recover.
Peter Schultz
Re: Coronavirus - How are you feeling?
Great discussion point Mike. My thoughts:
First, I think AFS takes great care of their facilities and their clients! The cleanest public gym facility I have ever been in! That being said we can all do our part to help and wipe down equipment after use too!!
Second, I can’t say I have fear...but I do think we are living in that space of ambiguity and that’s uncomfortable. It’s not widespread in our state or community...could it happen yes...will it happen who knows! But I think that we have to do what we can in the moment to help protect the spread...which means: proper hand hygiene, getting enough rest, fueling our bodies with the right food, staying physically active and doing what works for you individually to stay emotionally healthy too. Now, that also means staying home (from work and the gym) when you are sick (it can be hard) but what we need to do to get better and to prevent the spread of any virus (not just this one)!
My thoughts for the night!
Andrea Spangler
Re: Just starting at AFS: What I Wish I Knew
I was already exercising regularly when I joined AFS, but of course weight loss is mostly about diet, and I was struggling with this big time because my job is very time-intensive and sometimes I wouldn't get home until late and certainly wouldn't feel like cooking at 8pm.
So, I started prepping all my meals for the week in advance, on the weekends. It has allowed me to portion out my food in advance and to always have something healthy and ready to eat when I get home from work. I focus on lean protein and vegetables and minimize the processed carbs. I credit the majority of my weight loss to this single lifestyle modification. To answer the question, I wish I knew how much easier it is to just make everything at once and that I didn't have to make something healthy every night (plus who has time for all those dishes every night)!!
Also, listen to your body. While the trainers at AFS are super motivating and want to push you to do your best, if there's a day where you aren't 100%, or have a pre-existing injury that you know certain exercises will exacerbate, that doesn't mean you HAVE to do it. AFS is great about providing modifications to those who need them, just speak up if that's you!
And if @Kemper Sosa comes at you with an excited look on his face at 6am, it might be because that means you're about to do 105# barbell 1-leg RDLs so buck up and get ready or run far, far away!
Beth Manoogian
Re: Focus on Fitness- Going Beyond Body Composition
This is an extremely important topic and one that I think can't be stated enough. Fitness is way more than body composition. Actually, physical fitness is just one component of overall wellness, and body composition is just one component of physical fitness. Thus, body composition is actually just one small shred of overall wellness, which, when it comes down to it, is truly what I believe most people seek in life, whether they realize it or not.
I actually wrote this blog early on in my career at AFS. If I were to rewrite it now, I would focus not just on physical health, but on the interaction that body composition has with overall wellness..
As fitness professionals we see how the pursuit of body composition comes at the expense of other areas of wellness all of the time (often social/relational/experiential, and psychological/emotional)... and countless more people, fitness pros or not, have experienced it. When you look at wellness more holistically, you realize that if you tug on the string of one area of wellness too hard, it has the potential to pull some other areas out of whack..
Now, that's not to say that working on any one area of wellness is bound to detract from another.. Certainly losing body fat, gaining muscle, etc. can be a massive life enhancer for a lot of people.. That being said, the way by which we make the change.. the mindset with which we approach the change.. and the degree to which we take it, all determine whether that change, is, as a whole, a life-enhancer or life-detractor.
More simply put, I think we would be well-off by keeping in mind how our quest for body composition is impacting our overall wellness. For a lot of people, the body composition changes and sacrifices made are a net positive in life. For others, sometimes, if they really dig deep and look closely at it, I suspect that is not the case. I think if we took the time to simply check in with ourselves on this more frequently, we'd avoid a lot of potential suffering.
This is a place where I think the "5 Why's" or "7 Layers Deep" exercise can be super useful. I think a lot of times people default to body composition as a goal because it is something we have been told to value as a society, but truly, what that person is seeking deep down is not body composition at all, but something deeper.. joy, meaning, happiness, fulfillment.. something along those lines...
Anyways, I know that got deep, but this is something I am pretty passionate about.. Thanks for starting this conversation @Tricia Nault
Re: Intuitive Eating Much?
I have become increasingly interested in intuitive eating in the last few years. A lot of the sentiments in the philosophy really resonate with me. Looking forward to hearing Bella/Mary's insight as I know they have more experience with the implementation than I. I know the idea of unconditional permission to eat sounds scary and counter-intuitive for a lot of people, especially those trying to eat healthier.. but the idea of giving yourself permission actually reducing the drive to eat certain foods makes a lot of sense. Looking forward to keeping an eye on this thread!
Re: Paczki Day better known as Fat Tuesday
Definitely has to be raspberry. But unless my husband brings me one home from his work, I will not be indulging this year.
Tricia Nault
Re: The Ketogenic Diet- a Review by Precision Nutrition
Thanks for sharing! This is a great one to share with clients!
Self Love on Valentines Day
Valentines day is known for our celebration of our significant others and loved ones in our lives. But the most essential love is the love you have for yourself. I would like to challenge anyone who wants to join, to dedicate them-self to do one thing (big or small) only for YOURSELF tomorrow. Let's all get some valuable self-care! Pledge yourself below in the comments or on your own :)
For me, I love to read fiction novels...usually involving a dragon. But I haven't allowed myself to sit down and start one in a few years. So, tomorrow while I drink my morning cup of coffee I will start reading Game Of Thrones.
Brook Adams
Re: What's your BS story?
Oh, @Mikayla Ollila... am I allowed to help re-frame your story with examples of how you've brought joy and light in to those around you BECAUSE you are where you are supposed to be?!? And how you've inspired me to keep going on the days I felt like I just couldn't??
I am enjoying the book as well, and couldn't stop at chapter five the other day. Loved that @Heather Quinlan's reading guide gave me a prompt to think about before I started each chapter, and I looked forward to finding the phrase in the section. Like an easter egg hunt!
Hoping to make it tomorrow since I likely can't make the next two weeks. <3
This one is a tough one for me to admit, because it's been cycling on a hamster wheel in my brain non-stop lately...
My BSS: I am unlovable and not worthy of anything or any of the amazing people in my life because of my humanness.
Re-frame: I am lovable BECAUSE of my humanness, and I am enough.
