Chatter Box 'n Stuff

Today, I witnessed two things that make me cringe at a gym.  First, there was a woman who spent her money on a Personal Trainer.  Typically people spend money to be coached and pushed to be better than they think they are capable of doing on their own.  The woman was "working out" next to me and it took so much of my inner voice to shut up and not become an outer voice.  In my head I was screaming, "GET TO WORK!!!"  I don't get offended by people not giving it 100%, but if they're giving 80% kudos to them.  0% is just crap.  I also wanted to scream to the Personal Trainer, "DO YOUR FREAKIN' JOB!  CONTROL YOUR CLIENT!!"  Please bare in mind, this was not at the Arlington or Marysville, WA Gold's Gyms.  They know better.
The first time I hired a Personal Trainer, she kicked my ass.  She wouldn't let me speak to my husband or any friends while working out.  She told me that any energy I used to chat it up with people around could be used towards my workout.  Also, if I'm wanting to talk about my life in between sets, I'm not breathing hard enough (which probably means I didn't push myself hard enough).  Her thoughts were that I shouldn't want or be able to talk.
I watched as this woman who looked like it was her first day - wearing slacks and a matching cotton top - just stand there and talk, talk, and talk some more.  Even worse, the Personal Trainer just let it continue.  But what is bad about the trainer not stopping that yakking, is she was wasting this woman's time, money, and she clearly had no control of the situation.  That's like a teacher not having control over her classroom.  Bad.
While every Personal Trainer has their own style, I feel that these people are spending money and time with their Trainer because they can't do it on their own and have no clue how to even get started.  Watching this Trainer made me crazy because she was doing her client absolutely no favors by listening about grandchildren and gardens and whatever silliness she was talking about.  She actually just stood there listening.  I was able to get 2 sets of Crazy Eights in before the lady grabbed the weird apparatus that the Trainer had her using.
Needless to say, I was disappointed seeing this.  I've seen crappy Personal Trainers before and have been shocked that they even had a job.  I'm not saying I could do better...but probably.  Knowing me, I'd sit down with a client and make sure they knew I was not going to be their favorite person in the world at first until they started seeing that what I was teaching them was right and they could fit in their favorite jeans again.  I'd also give them a pamphlet to let them know my expectations of them and their expectations of me.  Simple.  No screwing around.

Finally, in a matter of 45 minutes (not exaggerating) there was a guy in his late 40s sitting on the bench-press bench playing a video game on his phone.  Are you kidding me?  Go home!  And geez, don't brag about it.  He did!  Everyone there (except the talkie lady) was working up a sweat, while this guy was busy with Angry Birds.  And the best part?  When he finished his game, he was out of breath.  How is that possible?!!

This is one of those complaining blogs about what we see from time to time in a gym and it's stuff that drives me bananas.  I saw a very large obese man riding a bike outside in the gorgeous weather and I so badly wanted to cheer him on.  It feels awesome to see someone who is clearly at an unhealthy place in their life and THEY decide it's time to do something better for themselves.  So, when I see that man giving it his all, not chatting about his life with whoever is right next to him or playing video games, it warms my heart.  To those who DO give it their all...keep up the good work!

A Lil' Tip

I saw this the other day and it made me crazy...

If you are doing dumbbell presses and you're LOUDLY clanking the weights together YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG.  If your muscles are forcing you to throw the weights together hard like that, it means your form is wrong.  If your form is wrong, it could mean that you are lifting too much weight.  Be smart when you are lifting.  If you are ridiculously noisy with the machines or free weights, make sure you have your form perfect and lower the weight.  Otherwise, you could be annoying several people in the gym and worse, potentially injuring yourself.  If you usually grab the 70s because it looks like you're lifting a lot in other people's eyes, don't be ashamed to drop down to 60 or even 55.  It's more foolish to be vain in a gym to try to look stronger than what your body can handle than it is to simply do it right.  If you're not sure, ask a personal trainer.

Body, Mind, and Everything Else...

I had posted a kind note on our Facebook page a week ago encouraging people to smile and laugh more often.  Many people responded kindly, and understood the message.  Some, however, missed the point all together.  While we are working out, lifting weights, watching what we eat, weighing ourselves, and sizing up...well...our size, we sometimes miss a piece of the puzzle.  The point being made was to remember to feel good.  Feel good on the inside.  When we smile even at ourselves in the mirror, something inside of us shifts.  When we smile at the people around us, something inside them shifts.  When we begin to feel the slightest change in our emotions and push them towards a happier place, the physical-you WILL follow.  No matter what could be going on around us, if we can find that little window and allow a little sunshine in, get ready to put on some sunglasses.  Then, get ready to put on the swim suit you are so excited to wear this Summer.  And remember...when you see improvement in the goals you're trying to reach, give yourself a hearty pat on the back.  One pound or one inch...you are making changes for yourself.  YOU are.  Be proud of yourself and smile at yourself! ; )

Just a tip (and a great recipe)

I am not a nutritionist, but there is a little trick that can be recommended to try.  People who have cut carbohydrates out after 3PM seem to see results in the fat cutting down.  Remember, food is a big part of how we lose, maintain, and gain weight.  This tip is something that some have tried and have found that works for them.  This is different from the Atkin's diet, but a different twist on playing with your carb intake before bed.  So, what on Earth do you serve with your meal?  The typical dinner consists of a protein (beef, chicken, pork, fish), a vegetable, and some form of carbohydrate (rice, potatoes, pasta).  The trick is to pick a healthy and hearty vegetable that can be seasoned right and cooked right so you fill up on your "greens" instead of the filler of the common carb.  When I say after 3PM, this is for a "normal" family that gets home and has dinner around 6-7PM.  When you hit the grocery store, skip the canned veggies. There's nothing left in those.  Do you wonder why the canned green beans have a greenish-brownish hue to them? They are WAY over cooked and processed so much leaving nothing "good" for you and your body.  It is now a filler.

Go to the fresh vegetable section.  Grab some green beans (remember to grab a bit more than you normally would because it is replacing the potatoes.)  Grab a bag of slivered almonds and your choice of butter or margarine.  I pick butter, but that's because I went to school for Culinary Arts and I can't bring myself to cook with something that needs food coloring to "look" like the real thing, however to each his own especially if it is recommended by your doctor.  In the end, it will taste the same.

Cut your green beans to your desired length and steam them for about 4-5 minutes.  Test them with a fork. You should be able to pierce them gently, but they should not be soft.  The point is to keep some of the crunch in the bean.  That means it has all the "good" stuff still in it for your body. Drain and set aside.
Take your slivered almonds and on a low heat in a saute pan, lightly toast the almonds (dry - no butter or oil in the pan).  Once they begin to turn a golden brown, toss in 2-3 Tablespoons of butter (or margarine) in the pan followed by the beans.  Sprinkle with a little salt (and pepper if desired) and make sure every bean and almond is covered in the butter.  This is called Green Beans Almondine.  It's SO good, you won't miss your Noodle Roni!

If you find that you get those evening munchies, have a can of roasted almonds.  They can fill you up, add fiber to your diet (which aids in weight loss) and they taste good.  Also WATER!!!

Remember, this is only a tip that others have found that work for them that I am passing on; the recipe is something that I like to prepare when we're getting ready for swim suit season.  It helps getting the trim to begin.

*Be sure to always speak to your physician before trying something different in case it interferes with health concerns your doctor might have.


* Results may vary

A Friendly Reminder

Okay, there are only so many signs we can post throughout the gym without it starting to look tacky, or worse...invisible over time.  You might notice them from time to time, but something in you says, "Nope. Not today. I just can't bring myself to do it."  What is it that I'm talking about, you ask?  It's the signs that read, "Please Re-Rack Your Weights".  There are quite a few new people that have joined our awesome club, and sometimes they just need a friendly reminder of gym etiquette.  (Sometimes the seasoned vets, too.)  The reason this is important for everyone to remember is for a few reasons:  A.  It's courteous to your fellow members to put your weights away so people have any easier time finding what they need.  B.  Dumbbells and Plates left on the ground (the ones not being used in a sort of circuit training) can be tripped over or people can stub their toes.  Both scenarios a tad unpleasant.  C.  Not everyone in the gym can lift a 45 pound weight off the Hammer Strength machines or leg presses, let alone 6 of them without potentially injuring themselves.  If you can bench or press that much, you are quite strong enough to put them back where you found them.  That makes it easier for some of us "smaller folk" to be able to put on our 10 - 25 pound weights.  Sigh.

Know that when you make that extra effort to pick up after yourself, the other members and the staff love it and recognize that you are someone who cares about the gym.  So please, if you've pushed yourself to your physical limit in your training, still do your best to contribute to keep the flow of the free weight area smooth.  And if you're completely spent, know there are some fantastic members that might be willing to give you a hand to do the right thing.  :)

Thanks everyone!

(And I thank you, because I'm one of the people who can't lift the heavy weights off without whining to someone to help me.)

Welcome!!!

So... this is the first day that I am posting a lil' something-something here.  At this very second, there isn't a whole lot that I'm going to suggest as a tip or anything because we're simply showing that we now exist on this site. Rad, huh!!! (The word "rad" was a clue for anyone wanting to figure out who is the author).  In the future, the hope and the intent is to educate as well as entertain with this blog.  If I have to be too serious, this won't be fun.  I have to plug in some fun stuff or else:  ZZZZZZZZZZZ.....boring.  No thanks.  So, as a friendly disclaimer and warning, should I write about something that isn't of your liking, writing style, sense of humor, or if you simply think the advice I post here is stupid...sorry.  I'll be posting various recipes, workout routine ideas, tricks to get your body to do what you want it to, maybe a story from the gym, and from time to time just randomness.  If you like it, please let me know.  If not, don't tell me.  Anyway, I hope you enjoy this and share it with your friends!  YAY GOLD'S GYM!!!