Adamson's Peak Performance

I'm feeling a little melancholy right now (perhaps it's the country singer playing his guitar at my office singing a beautiful ballad as he waits to go on the air of our radio station), perhaps it because I've just have heard very heavy news all day long. A co-worker flying across the country tomorrow to see his dying dad, an acquaintance whose husband passed away last week while on vacation, seeing my friend Peter's widow Amanda last night, he died at 38 last summer, and now I'm reading a story of a little boy named Ansel (the son of a long time acquaintance) who was born with a rare genetic disease and continually fights for his life. Yes, these things have me blue and now I probably have you blue as well (I apologize!). I find these pieces of news make me reflect upon my life and am reminded how fleeting it can be. 5 years ago my husband was diagnosed with cancer/Lymphoma (he survived!) and I remember his doctor saying to us "this is why you keep physically fit, it's not if you have to put up a fight it's when". That statement has always rang out with me. "Not IF but WHEN". There are so many reasons to take care of oneself and be physically fit, I'm 41 a female and yes....wearing my "skinny" jeans is a HUGE motivator. But, today (in my melancholy mood) before I head to the gym I keep thinking of that Oncologists words...."Not IF but WHEN", you've got to be physically fit for the battle. Anything can happen to any of us at any age. I'm going to be ready (I hope!).

It's week two of the 16 week program. I am really looking foward to my workout tonight, I love the feeling of lifting, lunging and getting a good core exercise. On the nutrition end....well, there is room for improvement. But, this week I am determined to nail it. I just need to get my mind around the nutrition commitment and stop the grazing. I made a "pact" with my friend Keli "no eating after 8pm!".....that's my "witching" hour. I'll let you know how that pledge goes. Good luck to all of you who started this new program - I guarantee it works (IF you follow the plan!)....now if I can just take my own advice. :)

I finished the Skinny Jeans Challenge just before Christmas! I lost about 15 lbs and one jean size! Today, I start the Skinny Jeans New Body Design program which is the same program but this time with a group instead of one on one with my trainer Zak. This program is 16 weeks and will incorporate the training program again with the nutrition. I'm excited to start again and look forward to great results over the next 4 months.

I've been to Hill and Back! Yep THE HILL, I'll refer to it as the Hell Hill because that's how it burns like H- E- doublle hokey sticks. Who's been to the hill behind Adamsons?....I've done it a few times now but yesterday really was a doozie. Thanks Zak! (that was sarcasm if you didn't get that). But, in all seriousness, after the burning subsided in my legs and lungs, I can look back and say to that hill, we WILL meet again and next time I'll be better. And yes, thanks Zak for always pushing me, you are one tough personal trainer but you know more of what I can accomplish than I ever will. You add 5lbs more to my weights when I think I've reached the limit, you make me run one more hill when I think my legs are toast, and you don't count my chin up unless my chin gets up over the bar. But, you also don't give up on me when I'm ready to give up. Giving up - I've been thinking about that concept and lately I have been very in tune to others physical appearance, and please don't take this as judging others that is not what I am doing. I just happen to be eating and breathing exercise and nutrition right now that it is top of mind for me. And what I see is alot of people who have given up. People too young to throw in the towel on their health and wellness. It's all around, everywhere I go....restaurants, stores, parents of school kids, even family members I care about.....people have given up. It's an epidemic, nutrition and exercise are low priority to so many, it's alarming. I want to go up to strangers and shake them, tell them they can do it, take a walk or make a small change! I know it's hard, I know about struggling with time and life but I've never given up (well maybe on a chin up), and yes, I certainly can be better (MUCH better). But, I've never thrown in the towel completely, and the reason I don't give up is I have no choice, the alternative is not an option. I have a 5 year old son and I have a lot of years of chasing him. Actually, he says to me "mama I know you go to the gym to keep up with me" and it's true. So for those who have given up and you feel like H-E double hockey sticks - you can come back! Don't give up on yourself.

On Monday I attended the wrap up for the Skinny Jeans Challenge groups that completed the 12 week program. I am still in week 9 and must say very envious of their accomoplishment! I am so close to the finish I am getting excited about calling myself a Skinny Jeans Challenge Alumni and joining that pristine group of Fit Females. That's what came to mind when I walked in the room with them, "look at all these Fit Females". The Skinny Jeans Challenge is not for sissy's even if you started out as one (a sissy) you sure didn't finish as one. There were such GREAT stories of accomplishment, one gal dropped 2 jeans sizes! Another lost 33 lbs, and another is back to her high school size! It was inspirational to see a room of women off all different backgrounds and ages all bonded with fitness. You can tell the Adamson's team has a tremendous love and passion for the success of people's fitness goals. They truly care and get joy from others success. It was a great gathering, everyone involved should be proud especially the room full of Fit Females that made it through 12 weeks of hard training and nutrition! .Congrats to all!

The holidays are here and last week I saw a beautiful satin red dress perfect for holiday parties. I ordered it online from Macy's and bought two sizes - one the size I normally wear and the other a size smaller. I like ordering from Macy's for these reason alone shipping is free, you get choices way beyond our Redding Macy's, and if it doesn't work, I can return it in our local store. Well, the red satin dress arrived today and to my joy the smaller size fit! The best part, it's sleevless and my arms looked pretty good! I've always been self conscious of my arms and thought they looked flabby....now I like the definition they are getting. It's been eight weeks, 13 lbs down and well....a full dress size. Now, I just need one thing.....and invitation to a party. Anyone?

Well, I survived Thanksgiving (barely!), I was far from perfect and therefore VERY relieved my scale didn't go up this morning when I weighed myself. It was a challenging time, 1) Well, Thanksgiving and 2)Being off my routine. Not having structure sure throws one off. Also, being away and not being able to train with Zak. What I did realize however, is that I easily could've taken this time "off" but instead I adjusted. I didn't have my workout with Zak but was still able to do planks, lunges, and push ups on my own. I also found a hill and did hill runs on two different occassions. I could've been better with food choices but I could've been ALOT worse, and I could've put my workouts on hold but instead I improvised. I learned a big lesson and it was that I don't have to be "all or nothing" as I've been in the past, sometimes a compromise is what it takes to get through the challenges (ie: Thanksgiving). Now it's a new week and I'm back on it to give it my all.

Halfway!!! I am heading into week 7 (I think....it's been going so fast I'm losing track). But, I believe I officially passed my halfway point on Friday of my 12 week program. In 6 weeks I've lost 12lbs (of fat) while gaining muscle and my jeans fit great....there aren't a pair of jeans in my closet that I dread putting on! I feel strong, my arms are getting defined and I can actually feel triceps. The biggest change I've noticed is in my core. Zak my personal trainer extraodinair is pushing me beyond my limits, I've never held a plank longer, did lunges with heavier weights or did so many push ups in my life. I'm always sore...but, in the bearable kind of way. It's just a constant reminder from my muscles that they've been worked. All of these changes have also changed the way I carry myself, I've noticed I stand up taller, there's a stronger strut in my step and confidence in my presence. I am changing into a "Fit Female" (if you're on the program you will know what a Fit Female is). I can't believe how much change has transpired in just 6 weeks not just physically, but mentally. If I feel this good at the halfway mark I can only imagine what the next 6 weeks will bring! I'll keep you posted!

Guilt - it's a five letter. We humans carry so much guilt for many different reasons, and if you're a working mom, raising children, balancing "life" we experience guilt probably hourly. One major part of my life I always struggle with guilt is with diet and exercise. Almost daily, I'd be riddled with it....if I had something to eat that was indulgent or if I didn't get in my workout or run for the day. Diet +Exercise = Guilt, they'd go hand in hand for me. However, these last five weeks have been blissfully guilt free. It's the first time in a long, long time I have felt guilt lifted off my shoulders (at least when it comes to diet and exercise). The Skinny Jeans Challenge has given me permission to splurge and to rest. The "splurge" fits into the 90/10 rule....follow the nutritional plan 90% of the time and enjoy a splurge 10% of the time. Even when I am indulging it is part of the program, I'm supposed to splurge! The same goes for the rest or recovery day in the program. My trainer Zak puts me through a hard workout 3x per week, but then he requires a recovery day in between, actually he demands it! It's amazing...I'm enjoying my rest day without feeling I need to get on my running shoes. I talked early in a blog about enjoying the journey, feeling "guilt-free" is definately a highlight of this path I'm on.

I have two words HOPE and FAITH. Those two words sum up me going through the Skinny Jeans Challenge. I HOPE, HOPE, HOPE anytime I step on the scale that the direction it is going is down. And even when it doesn't I must have FAITH in the Skinny Jeans program that I will see the results. I lost weight immediately, the first two weeks, however the follwing two weeks my scale was virtually stuck. I HOPED everyday it would get moving again and had to keep the FAITH in the program. And then, last week I lost 3lbs and broke through the plateu! I think I literally cried tears of joy. Not only for the break through on my scale but more so for the mental "break through"....knowing that I had Hope and especially Faith on my side. "I BELIEVE!" Now, that is a powerful tool!