Why didn’t I think of that?

I recently purchased an air rope. Your asking what is an air rope, aren’t you? It is the coolest piece of exercise equipment, and I am just mad I didn’t think of it. You use it like a jump rope...here is the best part. You can never miss, so you can jump as long as you want without stopping. If you can do it for 10 minutes you are a pro! After 2 minutes, you are going to be wishing for a standard jump rope so you can miss and catch a breather!

Jumping rope burns more calories per minute than most forms of exercise. 10 minutes of jumping rope is the same as 30 minutes of jogging. You can do this exercise anywhere. It is fun and entertaining. No matter what your fitness level, you can do this at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home. 


This is a picture of me with the air rope.

GET JUMPING!

Kids love it to! Here is a video of my son using the rope.

FitForce Fitness

If you are dealing with obesity, I created FitForce Fitness to help you stay accountable at an affordable price. Obesity is a disease and I have also dealt with it. I don’t care if you belong to a gym or do Zumba, Jazzercise and kick boxing twice a day. It is not a one-on-one with someone who is there just for YOU. A certified fitness professional that can help you stick to the process as you go through your journey. I wear different hats being a personal trainer, lending many clients a shoulder to cry on, and a swift kick when you need it most. It is just for you. It doesn’t matter how much money you have, how many programs you have tried and failed at, or what size you are. What matters is today!

It is never to late to take the plunge and get on the right track. Don’t let this disease rule your life anymore. Get started and regain control of your weight. Make your dreams of a healthier lifestyle a reality. Make time for you!

http://www.fitforcefitness.com/

Bragging Rights

It’s my blog and I can brag if I want to! This is no April fools joke...I ran four miles on Friday April 1st and I ran four miles today. I didn't want to post this on Friday in case it was a fluke and something messed up with the treadmill, but because I did it again today that confirms it. This is such a great feeling of accomplishment. I have not ran over 3 miles since the 2010 Johnnycake Jog last July. I still remember the pain of that race. It was horrible and I said I would never run 5 miles again. I may have to eat those words! If I can run 4 miles and still function through out the day, then with a little more training I can do the 5 miles again. I was always one of these people that could never catch their breath when running. I have finally passed this stage. I CAN BREATH! Maybe I am experiencing this runners high that runners say they get. I am not sure but it feels great. For those of you who say you can not run...I am here to tell you, that you can. If I started running at the age of 46 you can do it too.

Client Review

I have been training with Charlene for  about 3 months now.  Char and I have known each other for about 20 years and have shared our weight struggles.  We have been through weight watchers, gym memberships and the YMCA.  Alone, I have tried the WII Fit, treadmills and Nutrisystem.  After all these attempts at weight loss I had achieved nothing but a feeling of failure.
What a shock when I opened the news herald to see Char signed up for Lighten Up Lake County. I thought "Is she crazy?  Putting her weight out there for the whole county to see.?"  But as I followed her progress a new feeling emerged...Jealousy.  Soon I was emailing Char to find out how she did it and soon after that I was a client.                                                                 Slowly but surely I have replaced my feeling of failure with a feeling of accomplishment.  With Char's help I have regained my faith in my own body.  I feel proud of what it can do. My muscles can do more than I thought.  I can do more than I realized and I am strong.  Who would have guessed?
All of this has been achieved through Char's example and dedication.  She knows what she's doing so I don't have to think about it.  I do what she tells me and I see the results.  How much simpler than spending hours obsessing over programs that ultimately have no staying power.
If I sound like my life has been changed, it has.  Nothing like success to help with those pesky self esteem issues.  I have a long way to go but with Charlene's help I will get there.

Missing My Abdominals

I posted this on my FaceBook page but wanted to share on my blog too! I was 24 or 25 in this picture.

Dear Abs, It's been sooooo long since I have seen you. Please come visit me for the summer.

http://www.fitforcefitness.com/

Trainer or NO trainer, you decide!

If your work outs go like this:

I might get up and work out...or not

I am going to try and work out for 60 minutes...or not

Maybe I will get these extra reps...or not

Maybe I should increase my weights for arm curls...or not

Then you need a Personal Trainer:


You WILL show up for your appointment

We WILL always get a full 60 minutes work out in

We WILL always get the last few reps

We WILL increase your weights if needed

Enough said!

http://www.fitforcefitness.com/

STRENGTH TRAINING FOR WEIGHT LOSS

I hate when people use the word “Diet”. To me this means eventually you will go off the “Diet”. You need to change your eating and physical activity behaviors for good.

When someone tells me that they lost 12 pounds in two weeks, I think 12 pounds of what? Losing muscle is a bad thing. Muscle burns a lot of calories. Inactive adults can lose up to 1 pound of muscle a year. If they continue to eat the same...the extra calories (not being burned) will get stored as fat. A pound of fat takes up more room than a pound of muscle.

Muscle burns more calories than fat. Your metabolism is closely linked to the amount of muscle you you have. Adding muscle to your frame will greatly increase the chance the weight loss will be maintained.

Strength Training is more important to fat loss than aerobic exercise. The reason lies in the amount of calories that are burned when you are not exercising. Aerobic exercise will raise your  resting metabolic rate temporarily for an hour or so after. Compare that to strength training that will raise your resting metabolic rate permanently.

Don’t think that you have to spend 2 hours a day in a gym to strength train. Gains can be made with a 30 minute work out, 2-3 times per week. This could be the key to successful weight control.

Below is a picture of 5 pounds of muscle and 5 pounds of fat. Which would you rather have?