Functional Wellness Practitioner and Fitness Trainer. Get to the root cause of Metabolic Chaos. Uncover HIDDEN stressors. Go Optimal or Go Home...But Never Go Home Suboptimal
Hello Wellness Warriors! Have you heard people who enjoy physical activity say “It hurt so good“?
That was me on Monday, a day after steep and speedy 5.1 miles hike, and after yesterday’s 38:30min workout.
Hurt So Good!
5 Rounds:
10 Pull-ups
10 Push Press 45lbs bar
30 Kettlebell swings 35lbs
20 GHD Sit-ups
20 Abmat sit ups
50 air squats
Averaged 7:15 minutes rounds 1, 2, 4. Rounds 3 and 5 dragged my overall timing down as I broke down routines into smaller reps to breath.
I did this workout alone; everyone else was doing a different WOD. It is always interesting to listen and evaluate the ‘conversations’ between the ‘let’s go’ and ‘you are tired’ sides of the brain are having. I like to win the battle with ‘LET’S GOOOOO!!!!!‘. I feel awesome after I exercise, so why do I let the conversation take place? Well, I am a human. Winning the battles makes us stronger, help build consistency, strength, confidence, and we feel better!
As a personal trainer and health coach, I must be there for my clients. Would you agree most of us need a push, vote of confidence, motivational words, kick to believe in our abilities? When I work out, especially on my own, I tell myself (what I tell my clients):
KEEP MOVING!
BREATH AND GO!
I CAN DO IT!
MOVE YOUR FANNY, MARIA!
That said, how are you moving your fanny today, tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that?
When was the last time you did 500 reps of abs/core?
Sounds a lot, I know. Never? Cannot remember? How about getting started with 50 and add 5-10 a day or every two days? Break reps down thru the day if needed. Regain and strengthen your core. Why? Keep reading.
Several years ago, I did 250 reps of core/abs, first thing out of bed, for a couple of weeks before I went to trip. On Thursday, prescribed workout was purely sprinting. That’s not my body cup of tea—my motto is protect my body parts for longevity and knees and hips wouldn’t be happy! Thus, I decided I was going to do one rep max of bench presses and core.
Stopped presses at 95 lbs then decided to give 500 reps of abs a try. Twenty sets of 25 reps of different movements including ab-mat sit-ups, bicycles, crunches, leg lifts, leg crosses, bridges, Russian twists, and a few personal creations without names 🙂
23:25 minutes later, including short breaks between, I was done. That was a little over 21 reps/minute. Some sets took me longer than others (bicycles, twists, crosses were 50 for 25/side). Since I had no baseline to compare to, I am happy with the results. Baseline is set for next time.
Remember core muscles provide stability, power, balance, and lower risk of injuries.
EVERY exercise performed, especially when standing versus machines, should engage abs. Always ask yourself whether you’re engaging the core muscles during a movement. If you are not, get a trainer to help you because you could be easily overusing other muscles, including our back! I am available to help 😛
Likely you are not only a mom to your own children. As women, we may well play an irreplaceable role in someone’s life. Have you thought about it?
Mothers are heroes—moms, step moms, grandmas, aunts, sisters, best friends and mentors when alive—and then they may well become guardian angels.
Who play an irreplaceable role in your life?
How will you celebrate all of the mother figures who have made a deep and lasting impact: the women who love you unconditionally, who support you through difficult times, who demonstrate courage and grace in the face of a challenge, and who help you enjoy life’s happy moments?
If you’re a mother, practice self-care and appreciation! Do something for YOU. What does bring you peace, make you smile and relax, see the bright side of things, and appreciate the small moments? As you look around you, right now, what are three things you can be appreciative of?
As soon as finish reading this paragraph, try this…close your eyes, take a deep breath, drop your shoulders, and relax your jaw, your mouth, your forehead. Do this periodically throughout the day, every day, and you will notice positive outcomes. You will feel more FAB! You will feel more empowered to keep making awesome decisions about your lifestyle and continue to help others!
I would like to share my mentor and health coach’s though because I thought it was so applicable to many of us out there:
Perhaps she [your mother] wasn’t perfect; she may have even been hurtful or not fully present at times, but honestly she likely did the best she could with what she had going on. Ultimately, you are here because of her, and YOU are a gift!
Mom and I – Dec 2015
Surely, I am calling my mom in Brazil as soon as I post this note. She will be 72 years old in September. Dad was not there parenting at all. Mom played mom and dad’s role. She worked hard to put food on the table for me and my older siblings. I remember times we ate the same thing daily because there was much else she could afford. Until today, there are few foods I cannot smell because makes me a little sick to stomach as I ate too often, especially beef. If I ask mom to tell me the nutritional value of tripe, she cannot tell me that’s a great source of protein, zinc, selenium, B-12, and some saturated fat (at the time, meats were always from grass fed animals). Yet, mom knew and knows tripe helps bone, growth, and energy. Dona Celina and her husband treated me like I was one of their children. They fed me countless meals. I was lucky to have had them in my life.
My sister, on the other hand, was given a responsibility to help to take care of me plus house duties at young age while mom was working to put food on the table. As a grew up, sister became a protector, especially when mom got angry and wanted to beat the hell out of me J. Nobody is perfect and that’s our job to put ourselves on others’ shoes to understand what drives one to do x, w, and z. The bottom line is, siblings and I turned to be all right. None of us got into drugs, alcohol, and unhealthy habits. We were great students. We started working at young age and gave mom money to help for expenses. I paid for my first bicycle at age 12 making/sewing moccasin shoes by hand. I remember vividly the day I went to store to get the bicycle. WOW!
Dona Celina – Dec 2015
These memories bring me to this final note. My personal mission is to leave this world with cognitive function of my brain and functionally mobile. This mission is the underlying reason I am a health and fitness coach today. My professional mission hasn’t been much different since I started Be Fab – Be You in 2014. That is, to empower YOU achieve wellness inside and outside the workplace by educating, evaluating, supporting, and training YOU.
Do not hesitate to contact me if what you need is knowledge, guidance, accountability, and support to implement steps to Be Fit and Healthy, Age Beautifully, Be You!
I had a great time playing in a volleyball tournament, dancing, catching up with friends, and appreciating the ocean view Fort Walton Beach, FL offers. I left Atlanta on Thursday evening and went straight to AJ’s, in Destin at midnight. Said hello to friends and hit the dance floor until they were about to kick me out at 3:30am. I spent so many hours staring at the ocean, met a few great people, spotted dolphins, and drunk a few margaritas. Yes, I make alcohol consumptions exceptions when I go to this spot. Yesterday, I left the beach just on time to catch the gym. Tough and yet awesome! Literally, body was craving a good workout. Check out memories made.
As far as food goes, I cooked and brought my food. I cooked broccoli, cauliflower, squash, chicken, hard boil eggs, and red cabbage. Also brought walnuts, pumpkin seeds, brazil nuts, chia seeds gel, and hemp seeds. I also brought greens, cocktail of food/herb powders, coconut milk, avocado, beets, and green apples for smoothies.
Welcome to Be Fab – Be You Blood Sugar Management Video Series
Part 1 gives an introduction to symptoms and consequences of insulin resistance and lifestyle areas that can be addressed to manage long term impact of high blood sugar and insulin resistance in the body. Subscribe to the YouTube channel and don’t miss a thing!
Are you prediabetic? 46% of California adults are, UCLA study finds. My guess is that if such study were done in various states in the South East, the percentage would be much higher. Most Americans do not know they are pre-diabetic or insulin resistance. I did not know, even though my blood marker said so, doctor said nothing either.
I started to take responsibility for my health 5 years ago. I am no longer pre-diabetic and got rid of several other health concerns. Today, I am an insulin resistance / blood sugar coach, trained by Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, founder of INE. I have a step-by-step program to get your blood sugar balance and help you achieve your long term goals. Trust me when I say you don’t want to go through this process alone. At the time, I wish I knew of someone like me to educate and guide me. Help is available.
I am loving my Saturdays’ self-care. Moved my fanny at the gym and on sand courts with my lovely friends and budy, then hit the sauna to wrap it up. Today was EXTRA SPECIAL. I got lots of KISSES. Unconditional love from Buddy, Lucia’s 3 leg dog. He is adorable, full of energy, and loving. Hope you are having an awesome day too!
Pre-volleyball, I got myself to the gym for a great workout:
3 rounds (completed in 12:38 min)
10 pull ups
15 box jumps 20 inches
20 air squats
60 double unders–DUs don’t EVER fail to slow me down 😥
Left the gym to meet the ladies for 6 GREAT GAMES of sand doubles. My shoulder was in better shape than that of last week. We had a blast, long rallies, perfect weather, great attitude…fun period! Feeling grateful. Thank you ladies and buddy for great sanity times.
Finish the self-care round with sauna and good shower.
Dog LoveBuddy Likes My SweatSand Volleyball 20160319
“Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be. –Grandma Moses
What’s fun to you? How often do you find asking yourself when was the last time you had fun? or have to think hard to remember fun times or time for yourself? Sometimes, we just don’t even think about it.
Fun and relaxation are important to healthy living. Our hormones love and need! I cannot lie. Unfortunately, I have neglected them for the past 1.5 years. I have been focused on getting my business up and running. Changes are on the way. Spring is perfect season for that 🙂
Today, from the moment I woke up around 7:30am to about 4pm, I’ve done things I love:
Ate a healthy breakfast: hard boil pasture raised eggs, avocado, soaked/dehydrated walnuts and brazil nuts, goat’s milk kefir. Healthy protein, fats, and carbs/probiotics.
Moved my fanny at the gym (more below)
Played doubles sand volleyball — perfect weather in low 70s and sunny this morning. It had beena while since the four of us played together. Right shoulder has been bothering. I irritated a little more though 😳
Ate my power house and complete meal smoothie (ask recipe if you’d like to know more)
Sauna for 30 minutes followed by nice shower
Stopped by at a couple of places for grocery shopping…cooking yummy stuff tomorrow!
Now, I am ready to get a few hours of work done. Cheers to self-care and fun!
Workout
EMOMx 14 (Every Minute On the Minute 14 min) odd: 10 Calorie Row even: 100m Sprint
– Rest 5 Mins –
EMOMx 10 (Every Minute On the Minute 10 min) odd: 12 Wall Balls 12lbs even: 12 KBS 35lbs
Good stuff!
Maria, Candice, Lucia, Kendall. Perfect day for sand volleyballwall ball
More rowing and GHDs today, 3/10/16! Yesterday, i got back to the gym after a short 16min WOD for 3k rowing and 60 GHDs. I got more of the same thing, today. It’s fine because rowing is full body and GHDs gets core and quads–all good. Friday, REST day for this girl here.
800m Row 30 GHD Sit Ups 40 Air Squats 50 Hip Extensions 40 Air Squats 30 GHD Sit Ups 800m Row
Completed in 18:42min
Want to start exercising more and you are missing accountability, motivation, or even knowledge to get started? Personal training is a great way to get you up and running!
“You have to be burning with an idea, or a problem, or a wrong that you want to right.” If you’re not passionate enough from the start, you will never stick it out.” –Steve Jobs
The concept applies to most things in life. If you’re not passionate enough about your health and wellness, you will stall, start and never finish, and continue the yo-yo diet, denial, and fall back to your old habits. The emotional rollercoaster this process is taxing to the body and mind.
Minimize or avoid emotional rollercoaster rides by aligning your heart with your head!
Set goals
Make a plan
Know of your strengths and weaknesses
Hire a coach as needed
Believe in yourself
Know your support system
Stay consistent – day in and out. Cheating will rarely help. It will prolong your journey. In some cases, you might never get to your destination.
“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” –Mahatma Gandhi
We are in charge of our thoughts and decisions. We are in charge of every next step we take. Worrying about ‘stuff’ we CANNOT control is a waste of positive energy. Focus on what YOU CAN control…before you know it, life will be easier. Once one transitions mindset, he/she will be the only one to blame–that can be hard to deal with. Wonder is that’s one of the main reason many people just blame others?!?! I say stop the vicious cycle of blaming anyone and everything for whatever is not going well. Instead, DO something, TAKE a step that will improve the situation and not add degrees of difficult for yourself or anyone else around you. Let’s be strong, be movers and shakers, be awesome, be role models!