'The 12 Pounds of Christmas'

Merry Christmas Eve to all! 

I thought before my day went into full swing that I would sit down and blog for 10 minutes.  

Around this time of year I reminisce the past 12 months and contemplate the next.  The new year is upon us and that makes me very excited!  I am a person who loves newness (if that is not a word, it is now).  I love new calendars, new appointment books, new puppies! (although I doubt I will get another one next year..haha), new clients, new classes, new building for our studio, new, new, new!  I am not sure what it is about the 'new' but I have always found excitement and inspiration in new experience, fresh ideas and certain kinds of change.

I truly believe that one of the reasons my clients like coming to train with me is because there is always something new going on, whether it is a new class, a new exercise or a new program, I love keeping things interesting by constantly changing it up.

There also must be 'something' about the 'new' numbers I have been seeing on the scale this holiday season.  I won't say that I have been very excited about that particular 'new', but somehow I find that once again at the end of a year I have managed to find 10 pounds!  Isn't that wonderful? ... NOT.

I realize the title of my blog is not the '10 pounds of Christmas' but I figured '12' is way more in line with the parallel to the '12 days of Christmas' and I also figured that by Jan 1 that darn scale will most likely read '12' ahead of my sleek, toned, amazing post-Utah bod.  There will be cookies and wine and dinners and chocolate and more wine over the next 8 days... I am sure of it.  

So, at the end of the festivities, I will make my best attempt to put a smile on my face as I step off of that darn thing, write down the 'new' composition of myself, and move forward with the best intention into the new year of 2011, which I know has many wonderful things waiting for me to achieve and experience!

Have a fantastic holiday season, and the MORAL to this story is... in the ups and downs of life and weight we must be kind to ourselves and others, embrace our changes, revel in them, learn from them, and use them to make a better tomorrow for ourselves and the people who mean the most to us.  We've only got this one life...let's make it the best life!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Traci

Sending it out to the universe......................

my tip of the day (that I just have to get off of my chest :) )....


Be kind and be generous with your heart. Jealousy and a bitter and vindictive mind will only come back and bite you in the ass. It's called KARMA. Life is not worth wasting valuable energy on such feelings of ill intent. Ask yourself how you would feel if the object of these hurtful thoughts and actions were to fall upon tragic times. We are all good people by nature. Let it shine through and LET IT GO. It's never as bad as it seems only as bad as you make it so.

If you don't understand that, don't worry. If you do, hope some good positive energy from the universe finds its way back to you.

Until later....
Trace

Exciting News!

One of the reasons I have been SUCH a blogger-slacker lately is because of the energy I have been expending on my big news....

My business, Live Fit Training, will be merging with my bestest friend, Trish O'Neill to form INSPIRE FITNESS on 1/1/11.

If that is not exciting enough, we will have a new location in a commercial studio on Washington Ave in Endicott, NY!

We are so stoked! 

Also in the works is a brand new website, which I promise will be kept up to date on a regular basis.  A monthly newsletter.  A client of the month feature.  Many new and innovative classes Monday - Sunday.  And, we will work hard to give back not only to the immediate vicinity of our new stomping grounds but to Broome County in general through our communtiy efforts to help those in need.  It will become a very big part of our mission to spread our love of fitness and better health all around!

What can you do?  Spread the word!  Link up my blog and also become a fan of Inspire Fitness on Facebook.  I will be posted more information on our progress as it happens.

Looking forward to the New Year and a lot more blogging! 

Until then,
Traci

Inspiring Minds Want to Know!

Wow!  Have I slacked or what???

It has been way too long so I decided to give you a quick post as to what your trainer has been doing...

I've been pretty busy (hence, why no blogging... well ok, laziness played a teeny weeny part in that too).

We have a new puppy.  I'll share a pic.  Most of you already know Abbie Lynne.

But just in case... there she is...

Trish and I have been busy getting ready for our new business to open on 1/1/11 <--- how fricking cool is THAT date??  Inspire Fitness will be up and running the 1st of the year. 

I hope to be telling everyone really soon that the new business will also have a new pad.  We are very actively looking for a commercial location for our studio to accommodate our growth and facilitate more growth in the coming years.  We have big visions and lots of things to acccomplish. 

So, these are the things that have been getting in between me and my blog.  I will do better.

I just want to say (and hopefully some of you are the target of this statement)... I am so amazed by the enthusiasm and dedication of our clients and friends (that's kind of redundant as far as I am concerned).  Trish and I just want you to know that YOU INSPIRE US!  You are why we do what we do.  You are why we can call our JOB the best job in the world.  Really...truly...from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

Until Later (hopefully sooner)

Trace

Ahhhh... The Joys of Life

Hello my fellow blog-followers!  So much has happened since we returned from Utah.

As far as I know, the Lucky Seven are all doing very well since we returned.  I believe that all of us have dropped more weight (I am down another 4 pounds as of last week) and we are adopting concepts and information that we have learned as a part of our daily lives.  One word... granola cereal!!

I believe that there are several reasons that I am continuing to lose weight without really giving it much effort.  I'll bullet point them below in a few minutes.

Before I get to that great info that will hopefully help each of you in your journey toward better health, I just want to take a few paragraphs to share some happenings in my life since I returned.

First, on a very sad note, my friend, Lynne, passed away after a long and courageous battle with cancer and lung disease (from the chemo).  Lynne will continue to be an inspiration in my life.  She was a vibrant, driven, motivated, courageous and amazing woman.  I met her many years ago around the same time I met my bestest friend, Trish O'Neill. 

Lynne and Trish taught classes at American Fitness when I joined the gym at the 'height of my fat-assness' as I call it.  They were both a vital motivating force in my journey toward better health and fitness. 

Lynne was a crazy fitness guru and I adored her.  She challenged me to be better.  Over the course of the years of taking Trish and Lynne's classes, I got my ass in shape and decided to pursue fitness as a career.  And as Trish and I look toward the future of partnering in and growing a business in the fitness industry, our Lynne is gone. 

It reminds me that life is precious, that life is fragile, and even though we can do all the right things... it can be taken away without warning.  Awake to each day with a joy in your heart that no one can take away from you.  Celebrate breath.  Have Gratitude for all things that are a part of your life, however small or big.  And, even if you never knew Lynne, you know a small part of her now.  Let her amazing zest for life live on through each and every one of us. 

Some great news.  We are adding to our four-legged family!  Next month we will pick up our new German Shepard puppy.  We haven't entirely decided on her name yet, but Maggie will be getting a new little sister soon.  We thought long and hard about whether she should be an only child.  There were pros and cons in both directions, however, we have so much love to give.  I know Mags will make a great big sister!  I still think about how amazing it is that she is ours!  She went home with another family at 8 weeks old.  They returned her for reasons that had nothing to do with her, and we are so thankful that she basically fell into our laps!  She is the greatest dog ever.  We love her so much!

And, last but certainly not least, I am so grateful for my husband.  Frank and I have built a life over the past 12 years that is nothing less than a fairy tale set in reality.  We set our sights on a goal and we achieve it together.  Our relationship is rich with love, affection and mutual respect.  There is nothing more that I could ever ask for in my life.  There is not a material possesion that could possibly quantify the gratitude that I hold for having him in my life.  I thank God every day for this gift.

Off with the mushy stuff and on with those bullet points I promised y'all.

So, why am I not a freak about what goes in my stomach anymore?  Well, there are a few gimme's I took away from Utah.

• I am eating more carbs!  Holy crap, never in my life would I ever think that I would ever make that statement!  I started 'losing' weight back in the Atkins era of the late 90's.  Carbs were not my friend, and before going to Utah I was eating a clean diet with a percentage of about 40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% fat.  When we got to Utah and I realized how many 'whole grain' carbs we were eating  (55-60% carbs, 20% protein, 20% fat) I was hesitant that I would actually lose weight in the week.  It only took a day and a half to realize that it was happening.  I can't remember the last time I consistently (or at all) ate cereal for breakfast.  It was always protein protein protein.  The fact of the matter is, and this is what I want you to take away from this bullet... our bodies prefer to burn clean, whole grain carbs as it's primary fuel!  I eat granola cereal every morning now!!!  I will post the recipe from Fitness Ridge soon, however,  I have made my own easy fix from 1 cup of whole grain kamut puffs and 1 cup of kashi go lean and 1 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk - sometimes I'll add a banana.  My breakfast is a 'whopping' 210 to 305 calories and I am full until lunch.
• Second, I eat WAY less!  My snacks used to be 200-300 calories.  Now I am happy with just an apple or peach or pear.  I also have cut out late night snack.
• Third (and most importantly for me), I have stopped obsessing about every calorie I consume.  Our dietician at Fitness Ridge reminded us that our bodies innately know what they need.  I have just been paying attention to hunger signs and fullness signs and for the most part I don't eat more than I need.  This particular eating method is known as 'intuitive eating'.
• And last, I made the conscious decision to stop beating myself up about my body.  It turns out that I think I am actually pretty darn good looking and in pretty darn good shape.  I did that!  All my hard work has gotten me from there to here.  Time to celebrate it, girlfriends! 

So, in closing, I hope you can take just one thing from this posting and make your life better.   Whether it is just celebrating the fact that you are alive and healthy or celebrating the continuing journey that you are on no matter where along that path you are.  Remember that we are all works in progress, and without change there is NO progress.  Embrace the human ability to adapt.  Love yourself a little more in this moment than you did the last.. in that, there is a lot to be learned.

Until later,
Trace

A Little Tongan Motivation, Fruit Hoarding, Movie Night "Fitness Ridge" Style & Graduation

Hi All!  This will be my last blog until I get home and can add some pics and give a little summarization of the entire trip.

Thursday we hiked  the 'Saddle', and it is very appropriately named as we climbed between two mountains in a place that resembled a horse saddle.  Giddy up, Cowgirls!

It was definately the best hike in terrain difficulty.  Pics are posted on FB, please be sure to check them out!  The hiking has been one of the most memorable parts of this trip.  Utah has beautiful mountain ranges and lots of sandstone.  I decided that I actually like hiking and am going to try and talk my wonderful hubby into a hiking trip next year with Trishy and Lisa!  I won't tell him that I am also going to invite their husbands... haha!

Today's hike was a flat trail that was 8.5 miles round trip.  6 of us ended up going.  Jenny and Joanna were on the waiting list, but they didn't tell us until 6:20 am that they actually booked another van for the wait list.  Joanna was staying at the Ridge to take a 2 1/2 hour Cardio Blast class.  Jenny had already taken off on her own hike.  Fortunately, we passed her and picked her up on the way! 

Lisa, Trish and I set the goal to do the whole thing in the 2 hour hike period.  We succeeded!  Our butts and legs were hurting but it was worth it.  The surroundings were gorgeous and we were actually able to take it all in because we didn't have to constantly look where our next footstep was going.

We are rounding out our trip here and ready to head back to Vegas tomorrow for one more night.  We are very excited for that and that we are going to be going home soon too.  All of us are starting to really miss our families and familiar surroundings.  It is amazing that some people here are here for 4-6 weeks at a time.  Amazing!

So, BLOG TOPIC today!  Thursday before we started our afternoon classes we were all pretty darn beat. We had circuit training as our first of 3 ass-kickings of the afternoon.  Joanna left the room a little early and moments later came pounding on the door... Felipe and Sione from 2 seasons ago Biggest Loser were here.  You remember those crazy Tonga guys that were really loud and crazy?  I was never a big fan because they were Jillian-haters.  However, we worked out right next to them and got a group picture taken!  They were actually very kind (and BIG, not fat, jusy BIG).  It was very motivating!  I think Fitness Ridge must have known we needed a little pick me up :)

Sometime yesterday in our room, Tina had a confession.  She told me that there must be something wrong with her because everytime she leaves the dining room, she wants to take a piece of fruit.  Not to eat, but just to stick (hoard) in the closet in case.  In case of what?  I'm not sure.  Perhaps Chef Cam might go on strike?  LOL.  Sorry Tina, I know I am picking on you but you are just so darn hysterical.  For those of you who don't know Tina, she has a very 'off the cuff' sense of humor and she makes us laugh so much.  Laughing, is after all, the best medicine.  Especially to get through this week.

Last night we decided we were going to stay up a little bit later so Tina went and rented, P.S. I Love You.  She went down to the desk to get the dvd and the girl said there was no charge for it.  So, because Tina is so thoughtful, she decided to bring the 3 of us a 'movie night treat' back... Yeeeeeeeeesss!  In the door she walks with.... (drum roll, please)... 3 bottles of Propel water in 3 different flavors!  Yippee!! No, seriously, we were so darn EXCITED!

It really has been a great adventure.  Besides our Test-out tomorrow (to see what we accomplished with weight loss, body fat and measurements), our journey here has ended.  It has been a successful, memorable and amazing week here for all of us.  We are sad to go, but ready to take on the next adventure in each of our lives, although, most parts are not together.  I am happy to say that I think I have grown closer to each and every one of "The Lucky Seven", and I look forward to continuing to build our friendships and our training relationships.  These women are very special.  Just a few special comments I would like to say to each of them. 

Lisa, you are still one of the biggest Rock Stars I have met, and I can't wait to train you a littler harder than I already do because I know you will let me and I know you will like it (I was just kidding about the spinning bike :) )

Joanna, I am glad that you had your 'Epiphany' moment today.  I hope that it fuels your fire and desire to continue this journey long after we leave here.  You know that I am here to kick your ass and motivate you whenever you need it.  Your challenges ahead ain't got NOTHING on you.  You can do it and you are WORTH it!

Jenny (Mama), you probably did more than any pregnant-with-twins person ever could do while you were here.  I know it was the journey you 'expected' but you made it a journey to be 'respected'.  You are an amazing person and a friend for life.  I would like to say I would baby-sit the twins, but you know that won't happen.  However, when they are like 10, I would gladly kick their butts in boot camp or if they are girls, when they are 5 (I start them young) I will take them on weekend shopping trips! 

Tina, Tina, Tina... not only are you intelligent and freakin' hilarious at the same time, you also are a hard worker.  I saw you push your limits this trip, and I'm happy to say that I can't wait until your achilles feels better so I can really start kicking your ass in small group sessions and boot camp!  And, as Life-Coach-Jen says, when you are really having a bad day resisting all that garbage out there, just eat 3 pieces of fruit instead of just one!  I know that you will continue your closet stash at home :)  Just remember though that fruit in the dark may ripen faster than out on your kitchen counter.  So, maybe it's time for the fruit to come out of the closet...

Shawn, you IMPRESS me, girlfriend!  You KICKED ASS here!!!  I'll never forget our Stop-Sign hike.  Every second of the way, I knew you would be able to do it, and at some point along the way, you had that breakthrough moment and realized that YOU could do it.  So So So proud and honored to have shared in this journey with you.  I hope that you will consider letting me kick your butt a little more than I already do in the near future, because I will be soooooo happy to help you get stronger and stronger.

Trishy,  I love you soooo much, Sister.  I know we didn't room together this trip and I missed you that way, but always seeing your smiling face made so much of this easier.  The first time we did Mountain (on Monday) and we were on that 12th level increase, I didn't think I could finish because I had bumped up my running speed WAAAYYYYY to soon.... Miley Cyrus' The Climb (remixed of course) came on the ipod play list and it gave me the inspiration and motivation I needed to make it through those last 3 minutes.  I was thinking of you and what you mean to my life during those 3 minutes.  After all you have been through in the past year and a half, there was absolutely nothing in that 3 minutes that was too big for me at that moment.  I thought I was gonna puke and poop my pants, I did neither and I think I finished at 8.5 or 9.0 mph sprint over the last 30 seconds.  So, thank you for that.  Everybody else, sorry about that puke/poop comment, but it had to be said.  LOL.

Anyway, I have a massage in 5 minutes.  I will make this short (Haha), well the rest of it anyway.

The Lucky Seven...signing off...
We did:
Give Everything We Had!!!

Love you guys!
Trace

"I'm Just Trying to Live!" ~ Tina Fernandez

Today was a great day!  Yes, we are beat AND sore, but we had a fantastic day with lots of exercise and nutrition education.

Be sure to check out our hike pictures from this morning's trek up Camelback.  This one was a lot different than the previous hikes.  On the way up we practically scaled sandstone rocks like Spiderman.  It was pretty amazing.  We had to first traverse a "craggy" trail of rocks and sand that led to the base of Camelback Mountain.  It was actually pretty dangerous in retrospect.  One of our guides, Kendall, took a spill.  He was very lucky not to bust a knee.  This hike was a heart rate monitor freak's (that would be me) dream!  So we start scaling this sandstone rock that is basically at a 65-80 degree angle in most places.  The coolest thing about it is that it is 'sand'stone and our shoes basically adhered to its' surface.  So, we were all spider-women scaling the sandstone wall.  When we were at the bottom looking up, I turned to Zach, our other awesome guide, and said, "so how the heck are we climbing it, where's the trail" and he said, "we are going up this way".  I thought he lost his marbles, but soon I was rock climbing.  It was awesome!

So, not too far into the 'scaling' of the mountain, (by the way, we are the first group in 6 months they would take up this way because of its' level of difficulty), we were talking about how much the climbing was increasing our heart rate, and Zach said, "I am trying to get a good workout", and without a mis-step, our Tina says, "I'm just trying to live!"  It was hysterical.  One of many moments that have got us laughing like crazy on this trip. 

The rest of the way up was just as hard.  I have a slight fear of heights (when the edge is close), so there were a few points that I just didn't know if I could turn around.  The scariest part for me is when we climbed up onto the highest point on the rock that is in the FB pic.  There was not so much surface area for the 6 or 7 of us up there, but I did it anyway!  It was so amazing and once again, empowering.

Standing at the bottom of the mountain, looking up, my thought was, 'well isn't that interesting, he thinks we are going to climb up THAT?"  For a second thinking to myself, he must have overestimated our fitness level, but each one of us made it all the way to the top.  Once again... SO Proud!  Love these girls!

So we did our treading class at 4:30 today.  It was freakin' AWESOME.  Oh, yeah, and it was freakin' AWESOME!!!.  You can choose a treadmill, elliptical or bike to do this class.  I originally picked the treadmill so I could kill it again, but then, our buddy, Kevin, and his wife, Candace start pulling in SPIN BIKES from the aerobics room.  I yell, "I am soooo IN!!".  So, me, Trish, Kevin, Lisa and Tina hopped on the spinning bikes for this experience that we had 'somewhat' of an idea of what it was, but NOT REALLY.

Treading goes like this-
You go ALL OUT (and I am not kidding, these trainers expect and follow through, with all-the-freakin-out) for the following intervals:

5 minutes all-out/5 minute recovery
4 min all-out/4 min recovery
3 min all-out/3min recovery
2 min all-out/2 min recovery
1 min all-out/1 min recovery
...
oh... and then our lovely trainer, Sharon (me and Tina want to take her home with us), gave us a surprise bonus at the end...
1 more all out for 1:45.

We rocked those spinning bikes!  So, my indoor cycling crazies???.... look for a treading class addition to the schedule, real soon...

Last but not least, I wanted to mention another breakthrough today... Joanna ROCKED the elliptical during Treading!!  She was literally sweating her butt off and giving 100% like I've never seen before.  Sharon even stopped at our table at dinner and told her how proud of her she was.  Really cool stuff.

Only 1 and 1/2 days left of workouts (however, I will probably do my own LAST CHANCE workout Saturday afternoon before dinner), and I have ENERGIZER BUNNY energy.  They said Thursday was a day of high energy and they didn't lie. 

We are all having a great time and enjoying this experience.  I am taking a lot away from this, not only for myself but also for my business.  I love what I do, and I love my clients.  I thank you for your confidence and loyalty.  I look forward to paying it forward.

Have a great night...
Trace

Day 3 Completed! It was a tough one!

All I can say is WOW!  Today was a strenuous day!  We all made it however.  I posted some pics from our hike this morning on FB.  Hopefully everyone can see it there.  Please friend me if you haven't already. 

We started out our day again at 6:30 am.  Our hike today was called 'Stop Sign'. It was an 8.6 mile hike that was 4.3 miles uphill to a stop sign at the top.  We climbed over 1000 ft!  Shawn and I buddied up and she was a Rock Star!  She pushed it into high gear with the last 100 yds to go, and wow did we feel amazing when we made it!  Tina was the other Rock Star, I made her run the last 100 yds.. haha... sorry Tina!  But, wasn't it WORTH IT!!  Trish and Lisa, oh yes, they were Rock Stars too!  We accomplished quite the feat today.  Joanna and Jenny did self-guided hikes in the vicinity of Fitness Ridge to accommodate their physical challenges.  Both said they had great hikes!  Go Ladies!!

I tell ya, we are strong.  We are determined.  And, we are pushing forward...

After our 8.6 mile hike, we had breakfast and a lecture.  After lecture there was Circuit Training or Deep End Suspension.  The majority of us headed to circuit and Joanna headed to the pool for the awful DES class!  That was my least favorite so far, primarily, because I just sink... haha!  I think I am the 'entertainment' for the other guests during pool activities :)

After our morning workout we had lunch and another lecture.  (By the way, the lectures are all on nutrition and emotions/behavior having to do with food.  They are very beneficial and make a ton of sense.  For me it has solidified my confidence in what I already do for a healthy eating lifestyle, however, I am feeling like I may want to use a cookbook from here to make things a little more interesting.)... Anyway, after that lecture we had our 3 afternoon ass-kickings: Kickboxing, Mountain (Again!), and H20 Circuit.  After the first two I would have to say, I was happy to end in the pool today. 

Here I am again, it is 7:30pm.  I am literally whooped.  I will have to fight to stay up until 9 pm so I don't wake up at 2 am tomorrow.  Hopefully a little reading and relaxing.

Most of us are really sore.  No surprise really, given that we are exercising about 7 - 7 1/2 hours a day.  For me it feels great.  I know others are feeling this kind of pain for the first time in their lives, but they are being troopers.  I am so proud of them as their friend and trainer to see them pushing their limits and learning how to live a healthier lifestyle or to learn something new to add to the one they already lead. 

We all look forward to tomorrow.   We are over the hump, only 2 1/2 days to go (Saturday workouts are over at noon).  I personally am very excited about tomorrow's Treading Class.  I will tell you what it was and how it went tomorrow night.  So,be sure to check back!!

We are all learning about balance here with our eating lifestyle too.  I have already noticed a change in how we are collectively thinking about food. On Sunday when we got here, we ate our first dinner, which was really good but we were starving because we missed lunch, and we were already discussing where we were going to go to dinner in Vegas on our last night to indulge after being 'deprived' on 1200 calories a day, no alcohol and no caffeine.

But as the week has progressed, on multiple occasions, we have reconsidered all the hard work we are putting in, what we are learning, how awesome and satisfying this food really is!  Subsequently, I don't think any of us want to go out and over-indulge in Sin City.  Another empowering collective feeling that I am proud to be a part of.

Before I go, I have to say I am starting to miss home.  I talked to Frank tonight on speaker phone and he said Maggie was looking for me when she heard my voice.  I miss my family.  But, I also know that I came here to accomplish goals.  I KNOW that I CAN.  And, I am WORTH it!

Until Later...
Trace

YOU are the Only One Who Can Stand In Your Way.

Hello there my fellow blog-followers!  It is 8:30 pm Utah time on our 3rd day(technically 2nd day of ass-kickings) day.  Our structured day ended at 7pm after our evening lecture.  I just finished with an 80 minute massage, which feels amazing right now, however, I am wondering what the effects will be on top of my already-sorer-than-sore state. 

I wanted to take a few moments to share some of my experiences with you up to date.  I have kind of recovered from the shock of not being able to post pictures/videos.  Thank goodness because you guys know what a freak I can be if things don't go according to plan.  As my good friend, Tony, always says, "don't &%*# with the program".

Anyway, during my most amazing massage EVER, I was thinking about what has happened to all of us up until this point.  I can't speak for each of the 7 of us, but I can speak for myself.  Each of us is here for a different and valid reason.  My reason for being here is to see what I am made of.  How much can I do?  How far can I push into that uncomfortable place.  A couple of us have been near tears during certain parts of our workouts, and a couple of us have hit a challenge or two.  I still believe that we are all very glad that we made the decision to come here.

There was a slight disappointment I felt when I realized that the 'pushing' we experience, is really up to us. 

The trainers and staff will give you exactly what you ask for and the way you 'ask' is to work your butt off.  I don't see them getting on anyone who is not giving 100%.  But, I do notice if you are giving 100%, then they are more than happy to get in your face and push you to your limits.  This has already happened to me 2 times in the past 2 days, all on that damn treadmill.  Today, in Cardio Intervals, I maxed out at 11.7 mph for my last 17 seconds of a 1 minute sprint.  I say 17 seconds because I couldn't last that last 3 seconds, seriously, could NOT last.  I have never run that fast before in my life.  I didn't know I was actually capable.  But, here I have chosen to give at least 100% and let them inspire me to push to that place I have never gone before.  It empowered me.  I also believe it empowered Trish and Lisa!  After completing my first of 2 sets of sprints at a max of 11 mph, I talked them into trying the 1 minute sprint going from 8 mph in first 30 sec to 10 mph for the last 30 sec.  As we were all catching our breaths, I believe I heard surprise and delight from both of them that they could run that fast!  AND, I know that tomorrow they will go faster!  Yay! Go Ladies!

Another class yesterday, appropriately called Mountain, I had a similar experience but over a longer period of time.  Basically you add a level/speed/incline every 3 minutes for 30 minutes.  By the time I was at our 5th change of 10 I was already close to the top of my Zone 3 (very challenging,uncomfortable,race pace).  The next place you can go from Z3 is Z4 which goes into your anaerobic zone.  The last 6 minutes of that class was hell for me and Tina, but we accomplished something that we never thought we could.  I think Tina may have been a little bit inspired to push herself as she watched my heart rate climb over 170 for those last 6 minutes.  She was running her butt off!  Great job, Tina! 

To thread in the blog topic, what I really want to stress is that we can do so much more than we think we can. 

Yes it is painful.  I have never been more sore in my entire life.  But, I KNOW I can do it, and I KNOW I am worth it.  All the trainers here have this way of convincing you, if you are open to it, to push beyond your limits.  Yesterday, during Mountain, Tiffany (you think I am tough, Ha!, wish you could meet Tiffany), says to our group, "Don't be the ONE thing that stands in your OWN way!"  There are a lot of life situations that we can crossover with that one. 

We are all amazing in our own right.  We have to believe in ourselves... ONE - that we CAN do it!... and TWO - that we are WORTH the effort.

Until Later,
Trace

The First Test...

Ok.  So, I am being tested right now.  I don't believe I will be able to load any more pics onto my computer because, once again, my charger is not charging my laptop.  I think it is a problem with where the charger connects into the computer.  Whichever it is, my computer is going to go dead soon. :(

I will post pics on Facebook, so if you are not a facebook friend with me, look me up (Traci Meier) and friend me to get the pics and status updates. 

I will try and do the blog each day from the business center at Fitness Ridge.

I am very bummed because this is so easy and convenient for pics and videos but I will live.

Talk to you soon!
Traci

Oh My God, Becky, Look at her Butt....

I think that Fitness Ridge should use this

picture for advertising...

"Come to Biggest Loser's Fitness Ridge,

let us kick your ass all day long for a week, and

maybe your butt could look like this!"

WHEN ANIMALS ATTACK!!

Need I say more!  Haha!  Dinner was fantastic last night at Tao Restaurant and Nightclub in the Venetian.  We stored up a lot of carbs, I am sure, to get through our first hike tomorrow.  It's kind of like a camel, but with food, right?  Haha.

Oh My Gosh!  The animals came back for the last course too! 

Before dinner in front of our Buddha that was right next to our table.  It had extra large goldfish in the water behind us!  Very cool restaurant... the ambiance and the food and especially the company!

Friday Night #1

6 of our Lucky 7 at the Mirage Hotel before the Cirque du Soleil show Beatles LOVE.

We had a fantastic time last night!  The show was amazing.  We arrived into Vegas with no hitches along the way.  Spent the day doing various things, sunning, shopping, gambling.  Can't wait for Tina to get here tonight!  This evening is our dress up dinner at Tao Restaurant at the Venetian. 

More to come later!

Traci

The Adventure Begins...

An adventure will begin tomorrow for 'The Lucky Seven'.

So, why the name 'The Lucky Seven'? and Who are they?

I chose the name Lucky Seven, not because I feel we are luckier than the next guy, but partly because our journey starts in Las Vegas.  I love Las Vegas.  It is one of my favorite places in the world.  I'm not sure why, perhaps because it always feel so exciting when I first get there.  I've never actually won in Vegas.  You would think that would effect how much I love it, but it doesn't.  I love the lights and the casinos and the great restaurants and clubs and the SHOPPING!  I love the shows and the hotels.  I just love it all! 

The Lucky Seven is also representative of our good fortune in life.  And, just to clarify, good fortune does not necessarily equate with money.  These are wonderful women in my eyes with a passion for life, a love for family and a quest for better health and wellness, myself included.

So, how about we meet our Lucky Seven!

Let me start with my friend, Shawn.  Shawn is from Pennsylvania.  She has hopped on board the Live Fit Training train over the last several months.  The truth is that I am looking forward to getting to know Shawn better over the next week and a half.  I know very few things about her, but I do know this... she is a hard worker in the gym and I'm pretty sure that probably carries over into her everyday life.  She is a mother and a wife and I know she loves children.  I wish her the best in reaching the goals she sets at Fitness Ridge.

And, while we are in Pennsylvania, let me introduce my very good friend, Jenny. Jenny and I have become great friends over the past two years.  We met through my sister'n'law and started training together.  Jenny pushes me like no one else does.  If it weren't for Jenny, I wouldn't get my 2 days of strength training in every week.  We haven't had the best of luck with adherence over the past month but we are working on it.   Jenny is also, like Shawn, a very hard worker and a dedicated family woman.  I am looking so forward to spending time with her in Vegas (we both LOVE to gamble) and  I hope that Fitness Ridge can be the best that it can be right now for her.  (We will definitely go back next year, my friend, just don't tell Bobby yet!!)

Tina! My newest friend is such a breath of fresh air! (not that the rest of you aren't too :) )  She will no doubt add an element of intelligent humor to our trip like no one else can.  She just came on board our trip a few weeks ago.  And, every single one of us said at different times, 'Oh, I'm so glad she is coming, she is soooo much fun!'  Fun definitely embodies Tina, however, Tina is also one of the smartest people I know.  I actually look up words that she says cuz I don't know what they mean.  Haha!  I'm looking forward to seeing Tina accomplish her goals at Fitness Ridge.  She is a very hard worker.

Lisa is what us trainers call, a guinea pig.  If I have something new that I want to try out on someone, that someone is Lisa.  Lisa can do things that I cannot even do.  She is a machine.  Pound for pound she is the strongest woman I know!  Most people that see her work out say things like, 'holy crap how does she do that' and I always like to call her my 'Favorite Rock Star'.  Lisa is one of those people that make my job soooooo much fun.  Can't wait to spend 10 days with her. 

The Fifth of our Seven is my dear friend, Joanna.  I am most excited about Joanna's upcoming journey at Fitness Ridge.  She is a person who has the biggest heart and the greatest dreams and I just hope that she can embrace those dreams and soar high above the sky!  I know she can do it!  Someday, I envision Joanna joining our team of trainers with Trish and I, being an intricate part of Inspire Fitness (that's our training biz).  Joanna, I wish you much success and an amazing journey at Fitness Ridge.  You go girl!  I know you can do it!!!

There is only one left to our Lucky Seven.  Trish.  My bestest bestest friend and chosen sister-for-life.  Trish is MY inspiration.  Nine years ago, at 200 pounds, I joined weight watchers and started going to Trish's classes at American Fitness.  She was a HUGE part of my inspiration to do what I do today.... INSPIRE people to fitness (hence, the perfect name for our new business venture together).  I can't imagine my life with my Trishy.  A little over a year ago, we thought we were going to lose her to a failing liver due to (they believe) a drug she took for leukemia.  Today, Trish couldn't be more FULL OF LIFE, and I am thankful every single day, I am grateful every single day, that she is here with us, and that she is now a very special part of my training business... soon to be OUR training business.  Trishy, I love you more than words can say, and I am soooooo fortunate to be able to spend the next 10 wonderful days of my life with you.  You truly are a force in my life that makes me BETTER!

So, That is The Lucky Seven!  Do you think Fitness Ridge is ready for us??? :)

Until Later...
Trace

Quote of the Day

Imagine that you are looking into a magic mirror and seeing the person you want to become -

you know, the one without that certain

bad habit, tendency or attitude. 

You have the inner POWER

to be that version of

YOU...TODAY!

A Kid in a Candy Shop

... Or the sheer anticipation of getting to the candy shop!  I use this phrase figuratively of course. 

In just 3 short days the adventure will begin for whom I will from now on refer to as 'The Lucky Seven'.  We are departing from Broome county in the wee hours of the morning Friday (our flight is at 5:40 am.. yaaaaaaaawn!) - However, we then get to Vegas at 10:15am which, yes I was thinking the same thing as you...  POOL DAY at the BELLAGIO HOTEL!  Yippee!  That is only the beginning of an amazing schedule of fun and adventure that will take place over the following 10 days.  We head to Fitness Ridge on Sunday!

I know I speak for all of us when I say that we are beyond excited and so fortunate to be able to experience a week of health & fitness!  I truly feel like that kid in the candy shop who wants it all. 

Fitness is my heart & soul, and as I am aware most people think I am off my rocker, I can't imagine a more perfect vacation!   Well, actaully, if my husband were coming that would be the icing on top of my candy shop cake.  But, every once in a while it can be about the girls, right?  And, I do love my girls... you guys are all Rock Stars in my book.... in my candy shop you would be Strawberry Twizzlers... or maybe those Fannie Mae Chocolate Santa Claus Ornaments (anyone remember those?)...   Hehe.

Life vs The Kid in the Candy Shop
When I think of the demeanor of a kid in a candy shop, I think of a spirited being with a ton of passion, amazing energy and a true love of what she's doing at that particular moment in time.  And, I think to myself... damn, if we can only bottle that up and sell it.

What if everything we approached in life had 'the kid in the candy shop' attitude?  What if the majority of our years, months, weeks, days and moments had more passion and love for life?  Wouldn't you think we'd all be a little bit better off and a whole lot happier? 

I think sometimes it is hard to have that same motivation for everyday, mundane tasks, because let's face it... it's not always candy shop, baby.  Sometimes we are in a laundromat, right?  It can't always be fun and games, but don't we have the choice to approach each and every thing we do with passion and positivity? 

The next time you ARE in whatever your candy shop is, be delighted in the sheer happiness that it brings you.  And, likewise, the next time you find yourself in a place not as enticing... find the smaller joy in those places.  It exists, you may just have to look a little harder.  After all, every day that we wake to a new day is a blessing and opportunity to find lots of happiness.

Think of yourself as 'a spirited being with a ton of passion, amazing energy and a true love of what she's doing at that particular moment in time'

Until Later..
Trace

Too much of a good thing....

Is it possible to have too much of a good thing?  Of course I am talking about food here. 

In most cases, paying attention to the amount of food we are eating is just as important as the quality of the food we are eating.

I went to the farmers market down the road the other day and purchased $25 worth of vegetables that probably would have been twice that amount at the grocery store.  Plus it was all organic and came from only about 25 miles away.  I am a big 'local-pusher'.  Buy local.  Better yet, plant a garden, even a small one.  I started witha 12x12 trellis box with one tomato plant 3 seasons ago and now a large portion of my backyard has a garden that soon will produce enough zucchini, yellow and spaghetti squash, tomatoes and peppers to feed my whole block.

So, anyway, not to get off subject... I looked at this huge basket on my countertop of Vegetables (and some small potatoes too) and I just want to dive right into it and start grilling!  The whole thing!!  Haha.  When we grill our veggies, I usually end up making too much.  So, this got me to thinking, can you eat too much of a good thing?

Sure you can.  Too much of anything is always going to have an adverse effect on your body.  For any one of your 5-6 small meals a day, go by the following 'Eye-Sizing' chart, making sure to include a healthy carb and a lean protein source at each meal, and don't forget your two healthy fats a day!  For more info on the clean-eating lifestyle go to http://www.eatcleandiet.com/

Protein serving = Palm of one hand (4-6 oz of fish, 4-5 oz of chicken, 3 oz of red meat)
Starchy Complex Carbs or Starchy Veggies (ex. corn) serving = what can fit into one cupped hand (about an actual measured cup)
Complex Carbs from Fruits and Non-Startchy Vegetables = (what can fit into two hands cupped together.
Healthy Fats = one scant handful of nuts; 1 to 2 Tbsp of oil (size of your thumb tip = 1 Tbsp)

Try using this guide today and see how your current portion sizes measure up! 

Biggest Loser's Fitness Ridge! & RECRUITING Incentives!!

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!  For good this time I promise.  I was telling a friend this morning that I am an 'inspired writer'.  It is hard to just sit down and start typing about any-hoo-ha. 

BUT!  I am inspired and I think it may keep up for a while!  Join my blog today so that beginning next Friday you won't miss any part of my next adventure!  I am headed out for 11 days to Vegas and Biggest Loser's Fitness Ridge!  Me, my friend and fellow fitness fanatic, Trish and 5 of our AMAZING clients, did I mention they are AMAZING, are headed out to get our butts kicked for 6 days straight ALL DAY LONG and I can't wait to give you all the play by play.  Hoping to include pics too.  Bringing the laptop and it will be a priority each evening to recount the blessings  and beatings of the day.  I'll be reporting back to you on all of our journeys.  We are so psyched for this and hope you will all reap the benefits of our experiences.

So, join my blog today.  If you are a member, please spread the word!  Actually if you are a current trainee of mine, then I offer the incentive of $1 off your future training for every person you get to follow my blog!!!  I will even throw in a bonus of $5 for every 10 people you recruit!!  So that's $15 (the price of a small group session) for every 10 people you get to follow my blog!!  Not bad huh?  Just have that person write a comment on the blog as to who recruited them and I will keep track. 

My goal by the end of the year is to have at least 100 followers.  I truly believe that my challenges and my triumphs are tools and inspirations to help others lead a healthier life!  So, now I ask you for your help!  You have been faithful followers and I want to know that I appreciate YOU!  And, if you are not a trainee and can't take advantage of the $$ incentive, then help anyway knowing that your 'prize' is that YOU may help a loved one start his/her own journey toward better health by getting them involved in my blog!  Thank you so much guys!  You are the best!

Until Later...
Trace

Santosha!

All great things begin with a single step. 

I stepped on that damned thing today.  It was exactly as I expected.  I am up 6 1/2 pounds since 5/21.  Yuck.  However, on the bright side, I know that is less than what it was a week ago.  I can at least fit back into my jeans. 

So, I figure it this way.  I can take that off over the next 3 weeks at an easy pace of 2 lbs per week... just in time for my trip to Utah with the girls!  The good news is that there will most likely be lots of weight LOST on this trip.  7 of us, Trish, myself and 5 of our clients, are headed to Ivins, UT to the Biggest Loser's Fitness Ridge for one week of the biggest loser experience!  Yippee!  Can't wait.

A couple things I was thinking about lately. 

#1:
A good friend of mine repeated a line to me from one of the latest 'Losing it with Jillian' episodes.  Jillian says, "Why do we continue to fail when success is an option?"  Read it again.  And again.  The key word in that sentence is 'Why?'  

We all must figure out our 'why', with whatever it relates to.  Here in this context, it relates to the issues I have with self esteem, body image, self worth.  I happen to know a lot of my 'whys', and yet I still allow myself to consider most of my 'weight-related stumbling blocks' as failures.  I am speaking theoretically here.  Not really giving or asking for answers... just planting the thought in all of our heads.  Whatever IT is in our lives that we continue to let ourselves fail at... 'WHY'?  What do we fear?  What are we afraid of?  Sometimes I think that I have spent so many years of my life focused on getting to a healthy weight (whether it was 5 pounds away or 50 from it)... that I might not know what to do with myself if I ever got there. 

#2:
My wonderful yoga instructor, Kelsey, whom I adore and admire tremendously, shared a yoga niyama during our session yesterday that I have been living and breathing for the past 24 hours.... SANTOSHA...which means, contentment.  To be content with what I already have.  To have gratitude for what already exists in my life and not to focus on what I think I want or need.  The fact of the matter is, I already have everything that I need. 

We could all use a little more Santosha in our lives, right?  So, I invite you to use your next 24 hours to focus on santosha in your own life.  It's already there.  When you start to focus on your life this way you will soon discover that every moment has a gift in it that you might not have seen without contentment.

Enjoy your day, my friends,
Traci

Here we go again...

So, I have to confess... I have been avoiding my own blog!  Yep.  I suck.  Actually I probably don't suck, I am probably just human, but I am not the kind of person that wants to make any excuses.

The fact is that I have been afraid to get on that damn scale since I returned from Europe.  That was over 2 weeks ago.  So, lo and behold, because I have given in to my fear, I am probably WAY worse off than I was 2 weeks ago.

It is like the party that doesn't want to end.  The problem is, as my wise-graciously-older Auntie says, "The more you play, the more you pay."  So, here I am paying up.  Tomorrow, I will step on that damn scale and accept my consequence.  Some of you are probably thinking, ' ok, wait, stop, you are being way too dramatic and over-reactive'.  Maybe.  But, I am pretty sure I am not alone in the way that I have been feeling lately.  Let's face it... leading a completely healthy lifestyle in this country is not made very easy with all of the temptations we have around us.  And, haven't we all at some point felt like Eve in the Garden of Eden with not just one apple tree but a fricking ORCHARD of them!!!  When I am living in my own little controlled bubble, I am on point.  Take me out of my routine and I have to kick in the will power BIG TIME to control temptation toward something I love... FOOD!  These are the only times that it FEELS like 'willpower'.  Normally, it is just the way I live my life.  And, trust me, if it wasn't that way, I would be upwards of 350.  That I am sure of.  I have an obsessive-compulsive personality, and I don't know about you, but I would much rather be OC about exercising and eating healthy than the opposite.

Anyway, welcome to my journey, take 2.  What is wrong with this picture?  Nothing really.  Isn't it, after all, a lifelong journey?  We all fall down... many times throughout life.  We must choose to get back up.

“Our Greatest Glory is not in Falling but in Rising Every Time We Fall” ~Confucius

Until Later...
Trace

Way Too Long...

Hey there friends!

I have been back from Italy and Cruise for a week and a half.  Trying to find some courage to get back on here.  Pretty disappointed with myself as of late.  Completely fell off the wagon.  Afraid to get on the scale.  Trying really hard to get back into my awesome routine!  Anyway, just wanted to let you know I haven't forgotten about you.  I know that you look forward to reading my inspirational posts and recipes, etc.  Just feeling a little slumpy.  Hoping that I can pull myself out of it...

Until later,
Traci

Ciao! And, Don't Worry, Be Happy!

Well, as of tomorrow I am off on a new adventure.  We leave Syracuse for Toronto at 4 pm.  We'll be spending the night and next day in Toronto then taking off Thursday around 9 pm to Rome, Italy.  

I am very excited about this trip.  It is the 'play hard' part of our (Frank and I) philosophy of life, 'Work Hard, Play Hard'.  It makes us happy.  We are very grateful to be fortunate enough to have opportunites like this through Frank's employment. 

As a double bonus, our kitchen is also being remodeled while we are away.  This too releases the 'happy-bug' within as we have wanted to have our kitchen re-done for many years now.

The concept of  'Happy' has been on my mind lately.  I think about everything in my life.  I think of all my goals and aspirations.  I think of my husband, Frank, my Maggie-Pie, my friends, my family, my clients.  I think of the places I've traveled and the feelings I have about my home and everything that encompasses 'My Life'.  And, the definitive conclusion I am always reminded of is that everything I do in life is so I can experience happiness or create happiness for others.

When it all comes down to it... we do what we do because it makes us happy or we think that it will make us happy.  At the end of my life, whenever it may be, the memories of me should and will be that 'she was happy', 'she lived a fulfilled and happy life'.

Nothing else matters.  So, without drawing this out too much... DO what makes you happy in your life.  DO what creates happiness around you.  LOVE every single minute of it.

Ciao, my friends...
Trace

Haven't Forgotten You!!

Hey there!  I haven't forgotten about you guys.  The past two weeks have just been a whirlwind.  I am getting ready to go off to Europe and get our kitchen remodeled while we are away!

I ended up losing a total of 5 1/2 pounds in my biggest loser challenge with the boys.  This was good enough for 2nd place!  I feel great even though I fell short of my original goal.  Halfway through the challenge I started feeling so much pressure.  So, I re-evaluated what I was trying to accomplish and why.  I was already at a healthy weight for my body in general and for what I do, I was very happy with myself.   I also decided that to take it to the next level and have it mean something, I would have to further refine an already disciplined diet regimen.  I decided that I like my wine on the weekends and the occasional pizza too much to give them up for a six-pack!  Haha!...

Anyway, more later I promise.  I won't have my computer in Europe but Frank will have his and I hope to get on here a few times and let you know how I am keeping up with my healthy lifestyle abroad.  :)

Until next time...
Traci

Checking in!

Wow!  I just noticed it has been 7 days since I posted. 

I had a very busy week, which just ended with our Weekend Warriors!  It was an amazing weekend.  Lots of exercise and good food and great friendships.

I promise to get in here soon and post something with a bit more substance, however, the next 9 days are going to be crazy crazy.  I have Relay for Life coming up this weekend, I have an entire kitchen to clean out for our remodel that is happening when we are away, and then next Wednesday we leave for Europe!!  Yay!

My chance in the Biggest Loser is pretty much toast.  But, I will say that I can be and will be happy with a 5 or 6 pound loss over the 6 weeks.  More about that later...

Until next time,
Trace

The Power of Movement: EASE vs. DisEASE

Our diets are so much a part of our overall health that I spend a lot of time here talking about it.  I implore my clients, friends and family to seriously take their diets into consideration as 80% of their 'total healthy life' equation.  That will never change: 80% Diet, 20% Exercise.  From this we can conclude that if we don't address poor dietary habits we can exercise until we are blue in the face and it won't make a significant difference overall. 

With that said, we also know how important exercise is in our daily lives.  With movement we are 'well-oiled machines' per say, without it... think of the rusted up Tin-Man from The Wizard of Oz. 

To be able to MOVE with EASE through the power of regular physical activiy, which strengthens our heart muscle and all other skeletal muscles, which strengthens our connective tissues, which helps prevent osteoporosis and arthritis in our joints, which all the benefits are so vast I couldn't possibly name them all... is an absolute, sure-fire way, to prevent disease.  After all, can't we break the word disease down to 'dis'-ease?  Without the ease of movement, which our bodies are designed for, we are on a path to dis-ease not only of our movement but of our internal organs that thrive on being active!  Over the last few decades, so much forced or implied movement has been removed by the booming technologies that make it so easy for us to sit on our butts.  Isn't this true? 

Our body, our metabolism, is extremely efficient.  It is not wasteful.  If we don't move our asses, then our metabolism adjusts and only works as hard as it needs to.  Why wouldn't it?  It is perfection.  Our bodies adjust to whatever circumstances we place on it... whether good or bad. 

When we don't move and we eat too much crap, what happens?  Well, just turn on the first episodes of this season's Biggest Loser and question answered... our body adjusts and gets fatter and fatter and less efficient because we are telling it that it isn't required to do much and yet we are giving it way too much food and it miraculously adjusts by expanding. 

On the other hand, if we push it to limits that it is above and beyond what it used to, what happens?  Well, now you just have to turn on a current episode of this season's Biggest Loser and question answered... those previously 'dis-eased' individual's are now of the physical body of an elite athlete.  Don't tell me it can't be done. The human body is versatile and amazing.

So, my message today is... get moving!  Move a little more this year than last, more this month than last, more this week than last, MOVE more today than yesterday. Before you know it... You will have a healthier body and mind. All great accomplishments start with a single step forward.  Nobody said it would be easy, but isn't anything you really want in life worth a lot of hard work?  Isn't the Ease of Movement something that you really want?

Today I Will Give Everything I Have.
Until later... Trace

What Do You 'Choose'?

"One might as well try to ride two horses

moving in different directions,

as to try to maintain, in equal force,

two opposing or contradictory sets of desires"

~Robert Collier

The best of both worlds.  Have your cake and eat it too.  On the fence. 

I'm sure there are many other phrases, analogies, to describe the push and pull of everyday decisions, big and small, that we have to make each day.  When it comes to our health, the bottom line is, we must CHOOSE better health. 

I am the oldest of 6 children.  I have a brother and 4 sisters whom I love dearly (and miss a lot because they all live in different states (IL, FL, OR).  Both of our parents are dead. 

Our father died in July of 1996 at the age of 56.  Our mother died in June of 2006 at the age of 56. 

My father was morbidly obese (his BMI was greater than 40), he had asthma, ate an extremely poor diet and did not exercise.  His stress level was high due to the fact that he worked 3 jobs to support his family among other family stressors.

My mother was obese on and off for most of her adult life (her BMI was greater than 30) and she developed gestational diabetes with her last pregnancy, did not follow doc's orders to control her blood sugar, and subsequently developed Type II diabetes that ultimately led to an untimely death.  She spent the last 9 years of her life in a nursing home.

Both parents cause of death was coronary heart disease.

Lifestyle modifications (Healthy Diet and Exercise) could have saved both of their lives.  They could still be here today.  My father would be 70 years old.  My mother would be 61.

I watched as their health deteriorated and at the time, I really didn't know why.  Growing up I was always involved in sports, was always active and never thought too much about weight and diet.  The exercise regimen I kept along with my young thriving metabolism didn't really raise any red flags as to how it all fit together.

After graduating college, getting a desk job, losing the exercise regime and eating out a lot, I gained almost 50 pounds between 1996 and 2001. 

That was when I had to choose a side.  I had to choose which path I wanted to follow... the one that led to a long, healthy life or the one that my parents followed.  Genetically predisposed to the same ailments and issues they had, I realized that I wanted the former.  It is definately not the path of least resistance.  It is hard work every day of my life.  But, it is worth it. 

I often wonder sometimes how much richer and joyful my life would be (not that it is by any means not rich and joyful)... if my parents were still alive.  I think of all they have missed.  I think of all the things I would like to say to them.  I think about how... if I knew back then what I know now... I may have helped them the way I strive to help my clients, my friends, my family, who are all so important to me. 

To be the optimist that I am 99.9% of the time, I would have to say that the path my parents chose to follow (however misinformed and uneducated that path was for them)... is the Inspiration and  Motivation for why I am here doing what I do.  And, I LOVE what I do.  It is more than just a 'living' for me... it is a PURPOSE.

So, in closing -

Pick a horse... and ride with conviction on your healthiest path

Choose a side... that gives you the best chance for a long, healthy, happy life

Live in the Healthy World... It truly IS the best of 'both' worlds

Have your cake... and eat it only in moderation

Thanks for listening.  By the way - lost another 1/2 pound since yesterday morning! :)

Life is Good... Give it Everything YOU Have.

Trace

On a Roll!

Happy Friday, my friends!  And, it is a happy Friday for me.  My rallying paid off.  No looking back now.  This morning, my 4th Friday weigh in (4 wks of 6 wk challenge) is a svelte-feelin' 147.6.  Yippee!  Granted, not exactly where I 'planned' to be at this point, however, I am grateful for it.  A lot of hard work the latter part of this week has paid off and my week 3 stall is over.  It may only be a pound, but I gotta feeling... that my RALLY has just begun.

Two weeks remain and I am still determined to give it 150%.  I will weigh in every day to keep myself on point for the next 14 days.  I will exercise my ass off (literally).  It's only 2 weeks after all.  Sure hope those boys have this kind of resolve for the next two weeks.  Cuz, if they don't, they may, just may, be in trouble again. :)

Look for more later today.  I have some things to share.

Until then...
Give the day your best!
Trace

RALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First of all, thank you for your comments and words of encouragement!  They really meant a lot to me. 

Sometimes we all need a little rain.... ok, a thunderstorm... in order to appreciate the Sunshine of life.

I had my 36 hour Katrina.  Yesterday and especially today... I am alll about the amazing sunshine of my life!  Yay!

I have jumped head first back into a strict, amazingly wonderful, world of Clean Eating.  I have an AWESOME whey protein smoothie to share with you at the end of this blog.  You don't want to miss trying this one.

So, my friends, THIS is my Rally.  I am back and better than I was a week ago, two weeks ago, three weeks ago.  I have FOCUS, INTENTION, PASSION for healthy lifestyle.  There is no other way to go.  Let me say it again... NO OTHER WAY.  There is no substitute for movement (screw the couch and the TV), there is no substitute for putting nothing but HEALTHY into my body.  I find Energy and Happiness so much easier when I feel good from the inside out!  Not too mention my ABS are looking pretty darn good today!  So, don't give up on me and more importantly DON'T GIVE UP on YOUR JOURNEY!  We learn what we can from our personal Storms, so that we may fully APPRECIATE the JOY of our Sunshine!!!!

Love you guys!  Thanks!
Until Next Time... Traci  (see below for Smoothie)

Do you remember (maybe they still have them out there) those peanut shaped orange candy treats? They tasted like orange creamsicles but more like a sturdy marshmallow like substance?  I used to love them as a kid.  They are sooooo crappy for us, I am sure... well, anyway, this POWERHOUSE of a smoothie tastes just like it!! And, coming in at just under 300 calories it makes a fabulous breakfast, meal replacement or post workout snack!!  Enjoy.

'Orange Candy Peanut?' Smoothie
1 cup 100% Carrot Juice (I use Bolthouse Farms brand from Wegmans in the fruit section frig)
1 scoop Banana Creme Whey Protein Powder
1 TBL Ground Flaxseed
1 cup ice cubes
5 oz water

Blend in blender at high speed till frothy.  Can be 2 servings at 150 each or 1 serving at 300.

Water, Water, Yummy Water!!

More later everyone but I had to share this GREAT idea! 

I love water.  Cold water.  Plain. 

However, I realize that not everybody does.  Yet it is so important to get 2-3 liters of it a day.  So here is something that I used to do alot and forgot about until pulling myself out of my self-inflicted slump yesterday.

All you need is a 1/2 gallon pitcher, 2-3 cups of frozen fruit (no sugar added, strawberries and peaches work great), and filtered water.  Combine 2-3 cups of frozen fruit and fill pitcher up with water.  Give it about 3 hours and then start pouring !  (Minus the fruit, leave it in there)... Tastes AWESOME!  Mine is strawberry water this week.

More later...
Trace

Confessions of a Perfectionist...

Halfway Point...

Me and Mags on Friday night. 

I made it through another weekend.  They are so hard when it comes to eating and drinking.  I did great on Friday night, actually lost a 1/2 a pound from Friday to Saturday morning.

Saturday night was okay.  I did have a red velvet cupcake and a couple martinis. 

Sunday was awesome.  I had my Yoga training class at SUNY and basically broke down yoga postures for 8 hours.  It was great, but I was exhausted from that and boot camp the day before.

Yesterday was a disaster.  I had a few cancellations and found extra time on my hands, which allowed myself to let my physically exhausted body just crash on the couch in front of the tube for almost the entire day.  Which wouldn't be bad if I didn't always want to EAT in front of the frickin' TV.

It's not even like I can say I ate an entire pizza and a pint of ice cream, no, I just ate too much good stuff cuz that's all that is in my house.

Anyway...

All I wanted to do is cry.  Not because I probably ate about 700 calories too many yesterday, but that I feel so out of control when I do.  I have no reason to be down or depressed or feel the way I did.  My husband says I was simply mentally and physically exhausted from the weekend, and perhaps that is true, but wtf...

Pressure... As a self-proclaimed 'Perfectionist', it is my job, my nature to push myself to the limits.  It is like I can't be happy if I am not trying to reach new levels of growth on every level.  While some may say this is an admirable trait to have, it also has it's price. 

Black & White... to most of us perfectionists, things are either black or white and there is no in between.  I know this about myself and have found middle ground over the recent years.  However, there are still days...where I just want to throw in the towel and say I don't give a shit.  Yesterday was one of them.  Today is a new day and I am working my way toward more rational thinking.  I am trying to be kinder to myself.  It's not that easy coming off a Monday like yesterday.

Biggest Loser? Or Big Loser?...  Over the past 24 hours I tried to let some of this pressure off of myself.  Setting lofty goals are definately my forte.  I usually reach them just because of either the sheer competition or the pressure I put on myself.  Can I win this thing?  Maybe.  Not likely but maybe.  Odds were definately against me from day one and the fact that my track has not been 'perfect', they odds get further away.  So, now actually admitting that to myself (and whoever reads this) I am faced with the question... do I give up or move forward?...

Yesterday, I would have said give up.  But, I know me.  One of the positive traits of a perfectionist is we don't give up very easily!  I may not end up THE Biggest Loser, but I definately will not be a Big Loser. :)

Thanks for listening.  I know this was not my most inspirational blogging.  However, maybe someone can identify with one of my low points.

Trace

The Best Laid Plans....

The end of week 3 of 6.  If you will recall at the beginning of the week I had set a very lofty goal of 3-4 pounds this week.  (Buzzer sounds... Wrong!).

I have experienced the 'Biggest Loser Week 2 Curse' in my week 3.  No weight loss this week at all.  Well, okay, the scale says down (.2).

Disappointing? Yes. Fully Explainable? Not really.  I had one of the best week's (and weekENDS) of clean eating ever.  I exercised in line with the previous two weeks.  And.... (drum roll please).... the scale didn't budge.

Am I going to let this discourage me?  HELL NO!  I've been here before.  I have seen my clients be here before.  And, I have seen those damn Biggest Loser contestants here before.

When I look back on the week, there are a couple of things that happened that made me wonder half way through the week what today's self-weigh-in was going to be like.  First, on Tuesday I woke up extremely puffy and bloated.  I had about 5 painful pimples trying to come out on my face (the kind that hurt really bad).  I also had phantom cramping pains (I say phantom cuz I don't have a uterus anymore).  Oh, and I felt like a raging lunatic emotionally!!  Yes, I was totally in full blown PMS! 

Me and my lone ovary go through this every other month.  I suppose I should be thankful it was now and now three weeks from now.  And, I am.  I think my body just needed to deal with that.

So, I am moving on.  My plan for the upcoming week will not change.  I will continue working hard and have another stellar weekend in hopes of making up for 'not lost' time :)  This will be a fun weekend at that.  Tonight I have dinner at Moxie Grill with one of my clients and his girlfriend.  It is our celebration dinner from our last biggest loser competition together.  He's buying...need I say who won that one?  Hehe.  Then on Saturday... I have boot camp in the a.m., my niece Mara is having her first communion party in the afternoon, and then Frank's brother is having his 50th birthday celebration at Traditions!  Lots to celebrate.  On Sunday I will be spending the entire day at SUNY taking my AFAA Practical Yoga Instructor Training.  My friend and colleague, Kelsey, has inspired me through our yoga practice (going on 3 years now) to venture out into the yogi world.  I am very excited about this.

The Best Laid Plans...

If I think about what I would like you to take away from today's blog, it would be to realize that just because something doesn't work out the way you 'planned' it, doesn't mean it is not worth working toward or continuing to work toward.  We all hit roadblocks in our quest for a healthy life.  There is something to learn from those roadblocks.  You have to figure out what it is.  For me, it's patience.  I strive for greater patience every day.  Often we just have to See, Stop, Let it Be, Let it Go. 

Hope all is well.  I would love to hear your comments and questions on my blogs, so feel free to leave them when you want to.  I promise to answer.  I would love to be able to hear about your own successes and trials.

Until Later.... Today I Will Give Everything I Have :)
Traci