The FITori Gym is almost open!

We “unfinished” our basement to make it a gym and it’s PERFECT!  It’s the perfect cooler temp. It’s the perfect size! It’s bright!  It’s the perfect flooring.

We have a squat rack. Dumbbells. Kettlebells. Music. TV. Horse stall mats. And, we need so much more. We are considering a treadmill but just not sure. I’m asking [begging] for a new, fancier camera…and a treadmill. My wish list is pricey at the moment!

We are still in need of some mirrors, for sure, before it becomes my “happy place” and a complete workout space for me.  I need to watch form when I work out. It helps to motivate me and just keeps my mind from wandering and wandering my butt out of the workout and back upstairs!

I love this quote and I believe it. I need to have all my “ducks in a row” to workout effectively and continously. I need the right space. The right & comfortable outfit. The right mindset.

I need to be happy to workout and keep up my workouts. I need a “happy place.”

Where is your happy place to workout?

Did you set workout goals for 2012?

photo source: oxygen magazine

As always, I recommend the Clean Eating books to learn about nutrition & Oxygen Magazine to inspire and motivate!

Photo Credit: Oxygen Magazine & Getty Images

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about happiness. Where does happiness come from? Are we born with it? Is it a choice? Is it harder for some than others?  Is it harder at some times than others?

I am a generally happy person. I look at the good. I have a great gift of forgetting the bad.

Lately I’ve left a lot of conversations thinking “Why can’t people just be happy!” It’s a topic that almost scared me away from having children…the unhappy-mother-syndrome I see so often.

In my former life, pre-motherhood, I got frustrated daily at work and I was most frustrated when my hubby had time off work and I was still stuck working. Now, I just have different and new frustrations.

Lately, there is a point in each day that I get frustrated. Frustrated that I can’t be as efficient as I want. Frustrated that there aren’t enough hours in the day. Frustrated that my pants don’t fit. Frustrated that I cannot be there for everyone. Frustrated my house isn’t clean. Frustrated I only have one arm or hand free, if even one. Frustrated I can’t stop her from spitting up. Frustrated my house isn’t built yet.  Frustrated we’ve been living without our home since April and it will be December before we have our home again.

So, life isn’t perfect. Tomorrow will not be any easier than today. There will still be frustrations, but maybe different ones than today.  But, will I wake up happy?  Yes. I will. I do every morning. Especially now that I get to walk into that little girl’s room and see her smile up at me as if I am the most important person on the planet. And, to her, I am. Even if I screw up every hour of the day. And, I’m sure I do! And, later in the day there will be moments of frustration when that little smile turns to a frown and I am trying to figure out why.

What do you think? Are we born happy? Is it a choice? Is it easier than some than others?

Hi Tori,

Wondering if FITbaby arrived yet… if not, I have a question for you since you’re the most hard core athlete I’m aware of.  Do you know much about CrossFit?  I went to a community WOD today, and it was pretty darn amazing.  I’m considering starting to go to the CrossFit gym, but it’s quite expensive.  The people who go really seem to love it and think it’s worth every penny.  I even have a friend who gave up cable to afford CrossFit.  What are your thoughts?

I’m seriously thinking CrossFit might be the BEST possible way for me to kick things up and really start taking my body more seriously.  I’ve lost 100 pounds through basic diet and exercise changes but seem to have some trouble lately really moving forward more… and that’s precisely what I need to do.

Yesterday’s workout was extremely difficult but left me feeling exhilarated and amazed at what I could do if I just keep going.

Michele @ Healthy Cultivations
www.healthycultivations.com

Michele blogged about her CrossFit experience here.  She has the best attitude about working out, working hard and life in general. I LOVE IT!!!!  We can all learn from her if we remember her words below!!!  Michele’s parting words on that post were……

My motto for the day was this: ”Though I can’t do everything, I can do everything I can.” And that’s a pretty good approach to life too.  We just can’t let fear hold us back…not from confronting physical, emotional, or intellectual obstacles.  —-Michele @ Healthy Cultivations

Image Source

SHORT ANSWER…..We love CrossFit! We are building a CrossFit gym in our new house! (I will be sure to tell you all about the equipment we get, from where, what you need and how to build your own CrossFit gym at the lowest cost…once we do it and I have some pics to share!) Check out Rogue Fitness if you’re building your own CrossFit gym before I get a chance to post on it!  We’re getting most [if not all] of our equipment from Rogue.

I have often said that I do not plan to compete in another physique competition, BUT I do believe in competitions to give people the drive to push through to their goals. I am not a runner. It doesn’t excite me. BUT FUNCTIONAL FITNESS totally does!!! I have often said the next competition you will see me enter will be a CrossFit Games. And, my FIThubby and I have talked about getting certified in CrossFIT as well.

April 14 2010 – FITori in the gym

What is CrossFit? Read about it here on CrossFit.com!!

I love CrossFit because it incorporates strength, endurance and flexibility. It is fun! It is exciting! It’s highly intense! It’s quick also! It’s straight and to the point! You go, work out hard, and you’re done. You rest. You work. You play. It’s fun. It’s not the same every day. Some days are really tough. Other days are easy. And your easy days may be my hard days, depending on our individual strengths and weaknesses but we do all the workouts!

Aren’t CrossFit workouts too hard for a beginner? Read Michele’s parting words on her blog post here [I pasted them above with her question.]  Do what you can! I believe this about programs like P90x also. People often say….”I can’t do P90x!” Well, neither can I then. I can’t do the hardest verions of all the exercises in P90x either!  Does that mean I shouldn’t even try??? NO!!! As with every workout….Do what you can. Do the best you can. Try the best you can. Work out the hardest you can.  And, next time…..you’ll get stronger and be able to do more!!! If you keep it up, you will get stronger!

Do I need to pay to join a CrossFit gym? It depends….on YOU! Some of our best friends own Cactus Crossfit in North Scottsdale.  [If you're in that area, check out Kevin's wife, Joy here at Scottsdale Mom's Blog.]  So, I totally believe in a GROUP fitness experience to push you to work harder. I work harder when someone else is there to watch and make sure I don’t give up. Also, a CrossFit gym can teach you technique and help you learn a LOT about fitness.  For example, you want to learn how to do a pullup? They can help! Many of us need others to motivate us. Others work well on their own. It just depends on you. If you know you will only get a GREAT workout if you GO to the CrossFit gym….do it! Join it! Pay it! Go! If you can build your own CrossFit gym in your garage or basement and invite friends over to join you or are motivated enough to CRANK up the music and do it yourself…do it! [Be sure you'll use it before you invest!]

**I personally believe that there are certain areas where it is WORTH your hard-earned money. In our house, we spend money without question on health, fitness, nutrition and education.** We believe that those things are worth the money. We spent a TON on my competition. We decided it was worth the money for my health and the long-term lessons I would learn. We were right. It was worth every penny. For the new house we’re building, we talked about adding a theater room or a gym…we could only choose one. To us, this decision was simple….we can build a room to make us fatter and lazier [no offense to those who have a theater room...we love movies, but we had to choose only one!!] OR we could build a room to make us healthier, fitter and happier and  show our daughter what our family truly values. And, how much fun is this for her?! CrossFit incorporates a lot of gymnastics so we’re going to add those elements for her to have some gymnastics equipment in her house! What fun on rainy days!!   So, does that same principle translate for you regarding canceling cable for CrossFit??!!

Beware if you try to CrossFit at your regular gym…..Many gyms are NOT supportive of CrossFit.  Think of the regular weight room. People wandering around. Chit-chatting. Easy listening music on in the background. If this is your gym, they will NOT be kind when you are running around the gym like a crazy person, trying to keep your intensity UP to get a GREAT workout! And, YOU won’t get as much out of your workouts because you’ll be self conscious about being weird. Some gyms have even banned it. Others have special CrossFit facilities and rooms to keep you crazy CrossFitters away from their calmer clientele! You have to decide what will work for you!!! But I believe CrossFit is worth a try! We love it!

But I’m pregnant….I’ll have to wait until after pregnancy…NO!! CrossFit MOM is amazing!!!!!  Check it out!!! I have to admit that I have not worked out NEARLY as much as I should have during this pregnancy. I was working two jobs and preparing for our future. This is the biggest year of our lives [I'll share more about this later.] But, when I did workout with FIThubby and on my own I most often used CrossFit MOM for my workouts! It is a modified version of the CrossFit workout and there are different levels and tips for each stage of pregnancy.  CHECK IT OUT! I’ll probably start there when I start lifting postpartum and work my way back up to regular CrossFit….we’ll see how I feel!

For Michele, I definitely think CrossFit is a GREAT way to kick it up a notch! You’ll have fun. It’ll keep you motivated. You’ll learn a LOT about your strengths and weaknesses. You’ll get stronger in many areas. You’ll be learning something new which will help distract from the menotony that often creeps up after months of the same old boring workout. If you like the group you worked out with at the CrossFit gym and you felt amped and pumped and excited after your workout…..I think you have your answer!!! Try it for a while!!! CrossFitters are often really supportive of each other. And, there are TONS of resources to help you learn how to be stronger and better at those exercises which will leave you feeling even more self confident!! And, Michele, you MUST report back!!!! I want to hear all about what you decided, why and how you feel about it!!!! I’m so excited for you to reach your next goals!!!!

So, what do you think about CrossFit? Have you tried it? Is it work the $$ to join a CrossFit gym?

photo source

I got another certification in the mail last week!!! YAY!!!  I’m now certified as a Pre & Post-Natal Exercise Specialist!!  Woohoo!!!

I’m really close to obtaining two others! I’ll keep you updated in the coming months!

What’s your dream?

What’s your plan?

When are you going to “GO FOR IT?!”

I pulled this ad from a magazine. I believe in this quote….

sound mind. sound body.

I am struggling with something today….I need your advice. It’s with my mind and whether or not to give my energy to this…..

I have the best friends and readers and need my smart, wise and balanced friends to weigh in on what you think I should do.

I just found out that a competitor, fitness profession copied my post on cooking spray, word for word, copied and pasted as her own blog entry!!! She used her own pic, also stolen off the internet with no source, but she stole my work!!!

I AM PISSED!!!

What is the right thing to do?

• Do I email her and tell her I know and to take down all plagerized material…or else?
• Do I blog about her and tell the world about how unethical and immoral she is?
• Do I team up with the others that she has plagerized (she has copied the work of at least one famous competitor) and work with them?

I am mad. I want revenge. I think that’s human instinct.

But, should I confront? Should I leave it alone?

Is it wrong to give my energy to this? I believe in energy and not wasting it on things that are not benefitial.

I must also give a HUGE THANK YOU to my blog friend who found this out and let me know. I REALLY appreciate her letting me know and believe she DID THE RIGHT THING by letting me know. I can’t thank her enough!!!

What would you do? What do you think I should do? I’d love your advice!

]]> http://fitoriblog.com/decisions-decisions/feed/ 23 http://fitoriblog.com/women-power-make-the-whole-world-smile/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=women-power-make-the-whole-world-smile http://fitoriblog.com/women-power-make-the-whole-world-smile/#comments Wed, 16 Feb 2011 02:30:34 +0000 tori http://fitoriblog.com/?p=3835 photo source A long time ago I read a book about marriage that talked about women & our power. It wasn’t about our power to manipulate which, whether we want to believe it or not, we are GREAT at! Instead, this book talked about how we have the power to encourage and lead our families through our attitudes (and moods).  We have the power to influence the moods of others around us. We can make others having a bad day happy with a smile. We can greet our husbands and boyfriends happily. We can be the bigger person. I have to remind myself this and as I think about being a mother and expanding my family I remember how much MORE important this will be [...]]]>

photo source

A long time ago I read a book about marriage that talked about women & our power. It wasn’t about our power to manipulate which, whether we want to believe it or not, we are GREAT at! Instead, this book talked about how we have the power to encourage and lead our families through our attitudes (and moods).  We have the power to influence the moods of others around us. We can make others having a bad day happy with a smile. We can greet our husbands and boyfriends happily. We can be the bigger person. I have to remind myself this and as I think about being a mother and expanding my family I remember how much MORE important this will be as I shape another human being…no pressure!!

Do you feel that power?  both for good and bad?  Has your great (or bad) mood rubbed off on your family?

Do you like these inspirational quotes and images? Or do they bore you?

(If 3 of you click on that top baby blogs button to the right and vote, I can see what my new page looks like on that site. I need 3 votes to see it and tweek it!) Thank you in advance!!!

This was inspired by a reader email this week. [You know who you are!] She was asking if she should lift more than a certain amount due to her size and my answer was a resounding…YES YES YES!  Start lifting more TODAY! Hurry up! Get to lifting!  Get strong! Add muscle! Lose fat! RESHAPE your body! Feel strong! Feel awesome!  Be fit! Be tough! Be lean!

So, since this has been a tough week and I’m wiped out and still need to bake for the wake/memorial service and clean up, do laundry, etc tonight…

I thought I’d leave you with this inspirational pic and quote. I love it. I believe it. I am it!

I started lifting after my wedding. I was gaining weight and couldn’t get it under control. I hired a trainer. She taught me how to lift. I FELL IN LOVE! I loved the way it felt to lift. I loved the way I felt lean. My body was reshaped. For the first time in my life, the tire around my waist was gone! Bye bye baggy shirts!

I was changed forever.  I still feel strong. I can lift things. I don’t need to rely on my hubby for everything. I can move the furniture when he’s deployed and rearrange the house [this is pre-preggo, for the most part!]  I have strengthened my core so I don’t have back pain [except when I hurt myself...which does happen.]

[photo source] And, I want to know…..

TEST

When did you start lifting weights vs just doing cardio?

What happened to your body?  Share your story and inspire others!!!!

This quote speaks to me this weekend as I try to do more than I should around the house.  I have to stop and remember I can’t do everything I want to do [preggo body is not the same as pre-preggo body] and lift like I could a few months ago. I have to work hard to LISTEN to my body.

I don’t have to listen to others who say not to lift more than a 5 lb weight during pregnancy. That may be best for THEM but for ME I just need to throttle back from what I used to lift.  I have to remember that when somethings starts to ache, I need to listen.

photo source: Muscle & Fitness hers | April/May 2009

Do you struggle to listen to your body or is it easy? How did you learn this skill?

When have you stopped or started something because you knew it was best for your body?

I have a ton of ads and things that I’ve saved and scanned that I need to post here for inspiration and motivation for myself and to share with you all. I think the weekends would be a good time for this so I’ll probably start adding this kind of thing on the weekends!

photo source

This image applies to me right now as I am working on “beginning” my business and taking a plunge into following my dream of helping others.  It’s scary. It’s exciting. It feel vulnerable.

What dream have you “begun” and how did it go?

What dream are you thinking of beginning? What are you waiting for?

photo source | photo source | photo source

I will try hard to not let this turn into a “rant”  There are some things I’m passionate about. Health and nutrition is my passion!  And, I don’t like excuses or denial.  JUST DO IT!  My family has bad “heart” genes. My kids will have even worse genes when combined with my hubby’s family’s “heart” and “diabetes” and “obesity” genes.

I get really, really, really upset when I hear family members saying that the doctor told them their conditions (high blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides,etc) are hereditary.  So, they just resign themselves to meds! NO! Are you kidding me?! WHAT?! Just because you have bad genes DOES NOT mean that you are destined to be on meds and suffer from these ailments. IT DOES MEAN that you will have to work harder than the person who is genetically blessed!

“YOU DO NOT HAVE THE GENETIC LUXURY OF BEING OVERWEIGHT” – DR. OZ

I loved it when I heard him say that the other day.  YES! YES! YES! That’s what I’ve been trying to say! “I do not have the genetic luxury of _______.” Fill in the blank….”not working out” or “of eating ____.”  That’s just life. It’s the “hand we were dealt” so DEAL WITH IT!!!

My last bit of “rant” is about health and weight. My family is not overweight by much.  My family is not obese. They are all relatively slim people, wearing normal sizes and you wouldn’t look at them and think they were on blood pressure and cholesterol meds or that there were a great deal of deaths from heart disease.  The two men in my family who have died in the last 20 years of heart disease (way too early in life – early 50s & 60s) were not obese. They still died of heart disease and attack!

So, when I talk about genes I’m not talking about those people who seem to eat whatever they want and never gain weight….those people may still be unhealthy…inside.  My last words are…don’t live in denial that if you’re skinny that equals healthy!  It’s just doesn’t always work that way….

ONLY YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE EATING, IF YOU’RE EXERCISING & HOW HEALTHY YOUR LIFE IS!

Diet and exercise are important!  What are you eating? What are you doing? How much are you moving?  Exercising has a greater effect on lower cholesterol than diet in many cases! Take that in for a minute! They are both important!  Here is an interesting clip from Self Magazine in August 2010 about exercise and the changes we make for overall health!

source

Don’t get me wrong, obesity is a huge problem. The fat around the middle causes insulin resistance = diabetes. It pushes on the kidneys and affects blood pressure.  The list goes on and on BUT don’t be fooled if you’re skinny!  AND, don’t think that meds are the answer….DIET AND EXERCISE are the answer to LONG TERM health and wellness!

Phew. My fingers are tired from banging on my keyboard.

I struggled with finding pics for this because I didn’t want to “call out” my family and friends with health problems! That’s not cool! So, I used a great Biggest Loser Family!

ANYTHING TO ADD??? Do you all get frustrated talking to your families about diet and exercise?  Are they on board? Do your “bad” genes help to motivate you like they do me?