A new chapter

I am stepping away from the gym and trying my hand at something new, both with my training and with my career. I have never been one to stay in one place for long, especially if I am unsatisfied with what I am doing at a job. So I am moving in a completely different direction with my career and I have a good feeling about it! Although i am in a transition phase, and transitions can be somewhat awkward, i am prepared to work out the kinks. In terms of my own training, i am giving crossfit a serious try. I have been to a few classes and it is exactly what i was looking for in terms of intensity and change of pace. I love it! Life is too short to not enjoy the things you love doing. Simply put, if you don't like something change it.

Trainer inspiration

I love my job as a trainer. I love pushing my clients to their maximum and having them come out of the gym feeling stronger and healthier. Plus I love watching their self esteem increase as well as their waist lines decrease. But I was truly touched over the weekend when one of my former clients competed for the first time. Now unfortunately she did not place and was truly disappointed. So i spoke with her later on in the evening and she told me I was the reason she wanted to compete in the first place because I pushed her and made her set goals. And she saw how excited my friend Christina and I were for our first show that she thought it would be fun. I was truly touched by what she said because not only was I able to kick her butt on a daily basis but I actually had an influence on her and made a difference in her life. I pushed her and made her set goals so that she had direction and intention. Being an inspiration to someone is when you know you've succeeded as a trainer and competitor and THAT is why I love my job :D

Pet peeves

Here are just some of the things I see on a regular basis that bug me to no end:

Bicep curls in the squat rack

Half squats i.e. Not getting your ass down to 90 degrees or lower... And then adding more weight! If you didn't do it right the first time what gives you the impression that adding more to your terrible squat is a good idea?!

Not wiping your sweat off the equipment you used... Gross!

Muscle shirts that show the nips, really buddy no one wants to see your sweaty nipples

Doing a lat pull down behind your head

Bouncing off your sternum as you bench press

My point being, don't cheat yourself, avoid injury, and be Respectful to your fellow gym goers.

If I catch any one of my friends doing any of these things, you better believe I'm gonna call you out on it... That's just the mood im in today :) happy exercising!

Oh! And Feel free to add any of your own

It's okay to rest

I have had two very busy weeks and it is not about to slow down. So I am very grateful for when my one day off roles around...even though it's not really a day off as I do all my errands, cooking and scheduling on my Sunday. I am always on the go and I pretty much live out of a bag at all times. But that's okay, because that's the lifestyle I chose and im fairly happy with it. Sometimes I think I place too much pressure on myself and I cant live up to my own perfectionist standards but I'm doing alright. I have to realize that I am only one person and I Only have 24 hours in a day. My days off allow me to re-energize and Focus on my goals for the week. So take days off if you feel like you're starting to burn out and do not feel guilty for it. Whether thats from work, school or training, everyone needs to take a breather and deserves that break. You'll thank yourself at the end of the day. Happy weekend! :)

Birthday reflection (long over due)

Not too long ago I mentioned to my girlfriend about being emotional about my upcoming birthday, and she responded by saying that birthdays usually come with some sort of reflection or self evaluation. So within the past year, here are some of the things I have accomplished/gone through. I graduated from college, got my first job as a trainer, entered my first figure competition, went on my first vacation, and am striving to be the best i can be. Having reviewed these aspects, I guess I can say that i accomplished a decent amount of things. I have matured and grown into a different person and like where the road has led me. Twenty two was not a bad year overall. There are still many things that I want to continue to work towards throughout my life such as competing at a national level, owning my own business, finishing my degree, writing my own fitness column and traveling a ton. These are just a few of the things i want to accomplish within the next five years. sometimes I feel like I'm not patient enough and i want these things to happen quickly. I want to rush to get through life and do everything at once. What i realized is that taking one day at a time is just fine. So today was my twenty third birthday, i took the time i needed for myself and spent time with the people who are so very important in my life and enjoyed every minute of it. Happy birthday to me :)