Cindy Fox Fitness- Be Inspired!

Cindy Fox Fitness- Be Inspired!: Suddenly...NOTHING!

2012-01-21T19:54:00.000-05:00

Cindy Fox Fitness- Be Inspired!: Suddenly...NOTHING!: January 21, 2012 I never seem to have enough time to do ALL of the things I want to do, have to do, should do, etc... When I finally f...

Suddenly...NOTHING!

2012-01-21T19:49:00.001-05:00

January 21, 2012
I never seem to have enough time to do ALL of the things I want to do, have to do, should do, etc... When I finally find some extra time, I get overwhelmed with all of the things I finally get to do and can't decide which one to start with, or I get so involved with the details of one project, that it seems I got absolutely nothing done!
I know this is the reason why making a "to-do-list" is very important and helpful when it comes to prioritizing and staying focused on the tasks at hand, especially if you're a bit hyperactive and "multi-task" oriented like I am. I actually enjoy plane rides because I'm forced to sit still for more than 10 mins. and given the opportunity to write in my journal, collect my thoughts, and read more than 2 pages in a good book that I keep attempting to read. I get so motivated about the great ideas I come up with and future projects I plan to tackle. The problem is that after my trip is over and I'm back home, all of the "have to's" are waiting for me when I walk in my door and it seems like all of my planning has gone out the window.
Here I am 6 days after returning from my Texas trip sitting on my couch sick. I did NOT get sick standing out in Times Square in a bikini, since I haven't even been there in 2 weeks or so. The ONLY time I get sick is when I let myself get run down and over stressed. The stress that comes with traveling such as packing, carrying heavy bags, sitting squashed between two people that aren't respecting my "personal space", renting a car, getting lost, and then trying to get comfortable in a strange bed...is all just the normal traveling stress most people experience. I was going to see my son at Lackland Air Force Base graduate from Basic Training in the morning after not seeing him for 8 1/2 weeks and realized (at midnight) I lost the tickets to get us onto the Military Base, which was only administered after criminal background checks were done on anyone attending the ceremony. That was my biggest FREAK OUT of the trip!
Luckily God looks over me and I was able to drive to the base at 12:30am and get new passes. The first time seeing him would be at 8am during his Airman's Run (which is a BIG deal) and we were in traffic and then lost on the base at 8:03. The thought of missing him and having him think I wasn't there for him was making me sick. We missed the beginning of it but luckily were in the place where the troops would be finishing up. The smile on his face when he finally saw us at the very end of his run started my first crying episode. Yes, there were many of those moments!
Next was the Coin Ceremony which was outside in the freezing cold (in the 30's). I'm pretty convinced that 30 mins. in a bikini in Times Square is easier than 2 hours with clothes and a coat. Seeing him march onto the field and then receive his ceremonial coin was another very proud moment. I was informed that he would not be released from the field until I came up and touched his shoulder, then he could leave with his family. I ran over to him, touched his shoulder and finally gave him a big hug...crying episode #3.
We got to spend a nice day together on the base and catch up with what he's been through over the last 2 months. As a parent, it's great to see your child stand tall with a sense of pride, especially in that uniform. The next day was the actual graduation ceremony where they recited the Airman's Creed. I think I got more choked up thinking about all of the kids, excuse me...soldiers, that didn't have family there to see them graduate and had no one to tap them on the shoulder. That was sad! Arrangements were made prior for those Airman to leave with other military families...but it's not the same.
I got to spend 3 great days with my kids and my mom site seeing and spending quality time together. Sunday morning we only had a few hours together before we had to get to the airport and he had to then fly to California. I spent most of the morning hiding my tears from him so I didn't upset him and ruin our last few hours hanging out. My younger son kept telling me he wants to join right out of high school and my daughter is talking about traveling. I suddenly started feeling like I was having a mid-life crisis on the plane. Every time someone asked me the next day how it was I got choked up all over again.

Within 3 days of being home, I started getting a sore throat, cough, head cold, etc... from stress (both the good and bad). So here I am home with the opportunity to do all of those things I've had on my "to-do list" and I sat here staring at the computer with nothing to write until I just started typing and the rest is history. That is how I got the title, looking at a blank screen..."Suddenly... NOTHING"!

Fit To Fabulous 7/21/11

2011-07-21T20:38:00.007-05:00

"From Fit To Fabulous" 7/21/11
My last entry was exactly two months ago explaining how excited I was about finally trimming down and seeing results after setting a goal back in February that I wasn't able to meet in a short period of time. My objective was to go from a weight of 137 lbs. to 132 lbs. (which I hadn't weighed in over 15 years) just to prove to myself that I could do it. I explained in my earlier blogs that I do NOT consider weight on a scale as the most reliable way of measuring progress when it comes to trimming down and becoming more defined, because muscle weighs more than fat and a loss of body fat cannot be determined accurately on a scale.
My very first time singing on a stage, performing my song "Ride It Like A Cowgirl" (available on iTunes) was June 3rd at Georgie's Bar in Asbury Park, NJ. I was really conscerned how I'd look on stage under those lights in a bikini. I didn't reach my goal, but I did get down to 133 1/2 pounds which was pretty close. It really I was pleasantly suprised that my biggest critic, the Naked Cowboy (also my significant other) actually said that I looked good, words I rarely hear from his hypercritical mouth.
The problem with going on a "diet" for a certain period of time to look a certain way for a specific date/event is that once that date/event is over, so is the motivation to keep up the hard work and sacrifice it took to get there. That is why it is so important to make changes in your eating patterns and lifestyle habits so your body's appearance is a permanent change.
Luckily I had an even bigger reason to continue to pursuing my goal to get even leaner and more defined... and YES, reach 132 pounds just to know I can! A few weeks later I had a photo shoot for an advertisement that will promote not only me as Naked Cowgirl, Cindy Fox, but several other companies/celebrities. I had Celebrity Hair Stylist Eric Alt doing my hair, Celebrity Make-up Artist Douglas Ortega doing my make-up, direction of the shoot by my manager and artist/performer Lori Michaels, and photography by the amazing Rula Kanawati. Being a person of high standards and expectations, as is my whole team, I have to say "I looked Marvelous"! It's been quite a while since I've said that about myself. I did slack off a little bit, but nothing out of control.
I know many people who get plastic surgery do not like discussing it, but I am very open about the breast implants I have and the fact that I just had to have them replace AGAIN due to problems. After all, you can't nurse 3 children and think your breasts are ever going to be the same. I went from midnight (the night before) until my surgery at 3:30 pm with no water or food (of coffee!!!) so I'm sure that would've made a difference on the scale of a couple pounds, but when I was waiting to into surgery, I stepped on the doctor's scale and I was 130 pounds...YAY!!!!It's been 2 1/2 weeks since the surgery and I haven't been able to go running, teach my classes, or lift any heavy weights with my upper body so without burning those extra calories, I'm sure I've gained a few back, but it's only temporary. My workouts have been cut in half and are much less intense right now but I need to do something to keep my sanity...it's a physiological, as well as a mental thing. I'd love to post a photo from my photo shoot, but am not allowed at this time since it's for an advertisement that isn't out yet, but if you search on Youtube "Planet Sun and Naked Cowgirl" you should find a little teaser of a video clip.

"Fit To Fabulous" Update

2011-05-21T07:38:00.002-05:00

May 21, 2011
Back in February I started an accountability journal and called it "Fit To Fabulous in 14 Days". I blogged each day about everything I ate, all of my workouts, and my weight on day 1, day 5 or 6, and on day 14. I must reiterate that I do NOT normally weigh myself often, and only once a week if I'm actually trying to lose "weight". I also want to be clear that the scale is NOT the most accurate way to measure your success if your objective is to lose body fat.
A very fat person can lose a lot of "weight" on a scale quickly if he/she suddenly starts dieting or exercising. When you're down to the last 5 or 10 "pounds" you're trying to lose, it's going to be much slower. If you're lifting weights and dieting, you will gain muscle and lose fat which will make you more defined and look thinner, but since muscle weighs more than fat, on the scale it will seem that you haven't lost anything. That is why it is important to get your body fat% measured before you begin so you know exactly how much you've accomplished.
If you've read my 14-day journal on here, you'll see that I did a lot of working out (more than usual), which included both weight training and a variety of cardiovascular exercise, along with tracking my food. I am practically vegan and my eating habits are generally very healthy so I didn't claim to be "dieting", although I wrote everything down so I would know if I needed to make changes along the way. I started weighing 137lbs with the goal of getting down to 132, which I haven't seen in about 16 years. After 14 days of increased workouts, I actually gained 1 pound. I was furious and depressed and stopped doing my journal, which I know made it worse.
In my conclusion to that journal I tried to stress the importance of being consistent and NOT giving up! I hoped it at least showed all the people who come to me for fitness advice that I also have to work very hard to stay in shape and I completely understand what they are going through.
Now it is 3 months later and I have 13 days until my first performance as "Naked Cowgirl" singing my new song "Ride It Like A Cowgirl" available on iTunes. You can text "cowgirl" to 82257 for udates on events and also find me on Facebook as "Naked Cowgirl" for details about the show.

I started "dieting" 11 days ago, which for me means cutting back calories, but trying not to cut back my protein, since my intake of that is a little low as a vegan. I've also been running a bit more, so to compensate I've started lifting heavier weights so I don't lose my muscle. I weighed just under 136 last Tuesday when I started and was down to 133 1/2 this past Tuesday. Well, gotta Run! Check out my website www.cindyfoxfitness.com and follow my links to Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace and remember...NO EXCUSES!

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2011-03-27T07:28:00.000-05:00

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Cindy Fox Fitness- Be Inspired!: Tasty Samples at the Boston Seafood Convention

2011-03-23T16:54:00.000-05:00

Cindy Fox Fitness- Be Inspired!: Tasty Samples at the Boston Seafood Convention: "Blue Island Shellfish Farms, a Long Island Company, has been selling 'Naked Cowboy Oysters' which are pulled right out the Long Island Soun..."

Tasty Samples at the Boston Seafood Convention

2011-03-23T15:52:00.003-05:00

Blue Island Shellfish Farms, a Long Island Company, has been selling "Naked Cowboy Oysters" which are pulled right out the Long Island Sound since spring 2010. It started locally with orders from restaurants in New York (of course!), New Jersey, and Connecticut and has spread across the United States with a high demand of repeat orders. Chris Quartuccio, the owner brought Naked Cowboy and myself to Boston this past weekend to promote the oysters at the Boston Seafood Convention.
We stayed in the Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common which was very nice and in a great location 2 miles from the convention center. There was a Chinese restaurant we had lunch at around the block that looked like it must have been a big ballroom at one time, filled with a bunch of round tables like a cafeteria. There were workers walking around with carts of different dishes that we could just take and eat, rather than ordering a meal. I though the woman said the one item was "tofu" so I took it and ate one of the 3 wrapped "things". I had a very strong feeling that not only was it NOT tofu, but that I must have just eaten meat of some sort. Being vegetarian for over 2 years, that didn't sit well with me. I'm sure it was probably psychosomatic, but my stomach didn't feel well after that.
Since I was just a guest at the convention, I got to walk around and sample a few things. Although I love fish, the only fish I now eat are the ones with no central nervous systems such as Oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops, so it was definitely a bit of a tease for me. I took a recipe card for "Oyster Milk Soup" from the Louisiana Seafood stand. I figured I could substitute the milk with soy milk and see how it turns out, and of course get my oysters from Blue Island Shellfish Farms. I sampled some mussels from Prince Edward Aqua Farms, Inc, and also some type of "seafood sausage" made with scallops from Poissonnerie PRO-MER Seafood...very interesting.
At the other end of the building was a Food Networking Convention...that's when it got really tempting for me to walk around! with all of the yummy deserts, cheeses, and other foods a vegan doesn't eat, I was glad that there were a few things I do eat. One vendor called "edibles by jack" (Boston,MA)had these very unique flavored crackers shaped as spoons so you can "scoop" any kind of spread and eat the spoon with it. I tried a lime-flavored one...yummy! Those we go great with the hummus or salsa I eat most nights.
Another vendor called "DON'S Salads" (Schwenksville, PA)had some fantastic salads, especially the Morocccan Couscous, and Wheatberry Salad. I can eat that stuff everyday! There were also some great coffee vendors and several alcohol distributors with tables. I'm not a beer drinker, but I did sample a few that I thought were pretty good...for beer. Two beers I liked were Rasberry Wheat made by Woodstock Inn Brewery and the other was Brown Dog Ale made by Smuttynose Brewing Company. I also tried a DonQ Gold Strawberry Daiquiri which is great for anyone who likes sweeter, fruity drinks. TriMark Foodservice Design, Equipment, and Supplies had a person drawing caricature of people passing by. It was my lucky day...not! Joking aside, it was a great weekend in Boston.

Fit To Fabulous In 14 Days...Conclusion

2011-02-06T18:45:00.005-05:00

Sunday, February 6th

Three weeks ago I was in a position in which I had to put my bikini on for important photos as "Naked Cowgirl" and I was feeling a bit insecure because I knew I had slacked off a bit with my workouts (not enough Cardio) and didn't look my best. I signed a contract (I cannot discuss yet) which will require me to be looking my best (according to MY standards) at a moment's notice. So I decided to get serious about my workouts once I returned from London, which was two weeks ago.
I was trying to think of a "catchy" name for my accountability journal and I was originally thinking of "From Fit to Fabulous in 40 Days", which is more realistic, but my "significant other" said that was TOO LONG and nobody will follow it. That is why I called it "From Fit To Fabulous in 14 Days". I honestly didn't except to lose more than 2 pounds in 2 weeks without going on an extreme diet, which I've learned doesn't work for me. I've done the famous "Lemonade Diet" for 5 or 7 days and lost 9lbs, but by the 11th day I gained it all back! It's taken me a VERY LONG time to learn to stop obsessing so much and I'm not about to regress with a crazy diet.
As I recorded exactly 2 weeks ago, I weighed in at 137lbs, in the morning, before eating, at Retro Fitness in Secaucus. I didn't really change my eating because I already eat very healthy, I did make a point of doing 40-60 mins. of a variety of cardiovascular activity 12 of the 14 days. I weighed exactly the same after the 1st week, which I figured was because I was dealing with my PMS bloating. Although I did eat more snacks that usual last night, I did think I'd have lost at least a pound since 2 weeks ago. Actually, I was 138 lbs. this morning...yes, 1lb. heavier than when I started!!!!
Needless to say, I cursed out the scale, then I got on the treadmill and ran 5 miles (47 mins.) and then felt a tiny bit better (kind of). I have to tell you that I feel that I LOOK BETTER today than I did 14 days ago, regardless of the scale. My underlying goal 2 weeks ago was to see if I could get down to 132lbs. by February 28th. I got down to 135 over the summer, but I was doing very little weight training and a lot of running, and probably eating less. I don't think I've weighed 132 in about 16 years, and that was when I was on a very strict diet training for a Fitness Competition.
What I hope you have learned from this experience of mine is that: #1...consistency is the most important thing, #2...the scale is not the best method of judging your physique, #3...if you give up it will only get WORSE and so will you HEALTH, and #4...I work extremely hard to look the way I do when some people don't have to work nearly as hard. I am not going to log my food and workout each day, but I am going to continue working just as hard and weigh in once a week. I am going to Daytona Beach, Florida for 2 days during Bike Week March 5th & 6th and I intend on looking and feeling FABULOUS!!!
P.S. I'm putting a before photo (in London with pants) and after photo (today in Times Square) to show the slight difference in improvement despite the extra pound I gained.

Day Fourteen of "Accountability Journal"...Cindy Fox Fitness

2011-02-05T04:43:00.003-05:00

I've been writing my journal entries usually in the morning, recording the previous day's account for food and workouts. It is actually 4:47am Saturday morning right now and although I went to bed at midnight, I've been laying in bed awake since 4:13 when I was awoken by "snake" dreams. For those of you who really know me, I've had a bad phobia of snakes my whole life with frequent nightmares about them. For any of you trying to psychoanalyze me, I already know they represent a "control" issue of some sort in my life depending on my life situations at the time.
As for the reason for the dream tonight, I was out with friends at Cheeseburger in Paradise with some high school friends who were correcting the pronunciation of our town "Secaucus", which is usually mispronounced by anyone NOT from here (pronounced like SEEcaucus) to a non-resident. I told my friends that I was told when I was growing up that it was the Indian name for "land of the snakes", which I always though was ironic that I was living in a town with that name.
I realize this is considered "day 14" because I started recording everything 2 weeks ago on a Saturday, but did my first weigh-in on that Sunday. I really planned on finishing out this journal on Saturday and weighing myself again on Sunday so it was 2 complete weeks. So anyway, here is yesterday's journal:

Friday, February 4th

-7am 2 cups of coffee at home
-9:15am protein bar
*9:30am taught a 45 min. sculpting class at the Secaucus Recreation Center
-11:30am leaving for work in a hurry, I made a mini whole wheat bagel with a slice of soy cheese and a piece of Tofu with salt and pepper and ate it in the car
*worked at HUMC 12-6

-1:45pm 2 packets of sugar-free instant oatmeal (Maple sugar flavored)
-4:15PM (on break at work) had a Starbuck's Iced Coffee with Peppermint, Soy milk and sweet n low with a small bag of soy crisps
*5:00pm took a Brazilian Basics Acai' Blend pill to give me a burst of energy to go to the gym after work and get my hour of cardio in
*For more information on Brazilian Basics Body Slim and other products they have, go to http://www.cindyfoxfitness.com/ and go to their link.
-5:30pm had a Luna Bar

-7PM had a cup of coffee waiting for Robert so we could go to the gym together (too much caffeine for the day, which might be why I woke up again at 4am)
*went to Retro Fitness, Secaucus and did an hour on the treadmill; ran/jogged 5 miles in 46:47 mins. and then went to a power walk on an incline of 3.5-2.0 and walked one more mile in the remaining 13 mins....then I just stretched
-9:30pm Robert and I met some of my high school friends at Cheeseburger in Paradise and had two drinks (kind of a Margarita, but I tell them very little of the sugary Margarita mix).
-11PM home watching Seinfeld repeats eating 1/2 a bag of Quaker Cheddar flavored rice cakes with Hummus and Tofu
*12:00 BED

Day Thirteen of "Accountability Journal"...Cindy Fox Fitness

2011-02-04T08:10:00.002-05:00

Thursday, February 3rd

I had a great day, very productive!

-6:45am 2 cups of coffee
-9:45am Protein Bar
*Went tanning & got my eyebrows waxed at Tahitian Tan, post office, dr. apt...

-12:00pm Starbuck's Iced Coffee and "The Kind Bar", which is nuts and dried fruit
*taught a 12:15 spin class at VIP Fitness, Lyndhurst
-2:00pm Protein shake with banana, water/soy milk, flax seeds and Cinnamon

*3:30pm Had a GREAT meeting with Lori Michaels pertaining to my "big project" coming up!
*6:15pm attempted to get my son's hair cut, but there was a line and he didn't want to wait

-7:00pm 2 glasses of In Suto Merlot, Chilean wine (very good)
(ate 5 smileface fries and a few mouthfuls of rice a roni while I was cooking for the family)
-9:30pm rice cakes with hummus and Tofu
-10:00pm cheddar pretzels
*11:15pm BED

Day Twelve of "Accountability Journal"...Cindy Fox Fitness

2011-02-03T08:49:00.002-05:00

Wednesday, February 2nd

I woke up in much better spirits today now that my hormones are back in line.... Cindy Fox Fitness is back!!!

-7:00am 2 cups of coffee (of course)

-10am went to Retro Fitness and did 45 mins. of weight machines and abs with my friend Miriam Weiner, "Routes To Roots" (very successful genealogist). I then did 32 mins. on the Elliptical (level 6-9) with Robert (Naked Cowboy)

-12:30pm grilled veggies left over from the night before
*highlighted my own hair:)
-3:00pm EAS Soy Protein shake with a banana, water/soy milk, ice, flax seeds, and cinnamon in blender
-3:30pm coffee & a Luna Bar

*5pm trained a client at VIP Fitness, Lyndhurst
*6pm trained a client at Secaucus Recreation Center
*7:30 cooked Hamburger Helper for the kids and fish and veggies for Robert (unfortunately, I have to buy and cook animals and fish as much as it bothers me, but I am "Mom" first)

*2 glasses of wine (Manuel Campos, Tempranillo)
(Watched "Untamed Heart" with Christian Slater and Marissa Tomei)
*rice cakes with Hummus
*cheddar pretzels
-11:30pm BED

Day Eleven of "Accountability Journal"...Cindy Fox Fitness

2011-02-02T08:43:00.002-05:00

Tuesday, January 1st

I've mentioned a couple times this week that I was feeling a little down and defeated and it's more than likely due to the hormonal imbalance I've been experiencing due to PMS, and some other things. Usually once I get "it", the mood almost instantly lifts. Although no sign of "it" yet, and despite the fact that I woke up completely drenched and had to change my clothes in the middle of the night, I'm actually in a better mood today. Of course any other issues going on in my life personally is going to have an effect on my mood and exaggerate my emotions, but this journal is not about that. Here it is:

* someone emailed me wanting to know which protein bars I eat...I look for ones that have no animal products or dairy in them: Luna Bars, Cliff Bars, Odwalla Bars, and recently I've been eating some other ones (can't mention the name) that are samples for me to try, also vegan.

-7:00am 1 cup of coffee
-7:30am 1 cup of coffee in the car driving my son to school

*Went straight to Quest Fitness, Hasbrouck Hts. were I had to teach a class at 9:30
*45 mins. on a different kind of Elliptical than I usually use (think it's called Cybex or something like that)
*8 Mins. on Rowing Machine
*taught a 1-hour Power sculpt Class

-11am ate a Luna Bar while food shopping
-1:00pm EAS SOY Protein Shake with Water/soy milk, flax seeds, and ice in blender
-3:00pm coffee at home (Dunkin Donuts French Vanilla) with sweet n low and non-dairy creamer

-4:30 went to Retro Fitness with Robert (Naked Cowboy)
* 30 mins. on treadmill (3 miles)
*3 sets of squats...20 reps of 30lbs, 15 reps. of 40lbs, 13 reps. of 40lbs
*3 sets of biceps 30lb. barbell curls, single arm cable curls, 20lb barbell curls
*3 sets of the kickback machine for hamstrings and glutes
*13 mins. on Stairclimber

**I said I wouldn't weigh myself anytime but the morning, but I couldn't resist since it had been another 5 days.....still 137lbs!

-6:30pm 2 Boca Burgers with 1 slice of soy cheese, pickles, and ketchup (no bread)
-8:00pm grilled veggies (cauliflower & eggplant with a little olive oil, salt and pepper)
-9:00pm cheddar pretzels

*We watched "Man On a Wire"...very interesting
*10:30pm Bed!

Day Ten of "Accountability Journal"

2011-02-01T07:12:00.002-05:00

Monday, January 31st

-7:00am 2 cups of coffee home
-9:00am Luna Bar
-9:30am taught a 45 min. sculpting class at Secaucus Rec. Ctr.
*went to doctor, made some annoying phone calls, etc..
-12:00pm EAS Soy Protein Shake with water, flaxseed, and a banana

-3:00pm salad w/collard greens, tomatoes, muschrooms, a slice of soy cheese & chick peas with balsamic dressing
-4:45pm coffee
*5:00pm trained a client at VIP Fitness
*6:00pm took dog to vet to remove his cast
7:30pm (pitty party starts) 2 glasses of red wine
-9:00pm a bag of rice cakes (Quaker Rosemary & lemon flavored)
-10:30pm a bowl of Kaeshi cereal with soy milk (I almost NEVER eat cereal with milk)
*11:30pm BED
****1:30-2:30 am AWAKE AND SITTING UP READING WITH DECAF COFFEE

Day Nine of "Accountability Journal"...Cindy Fox Fitness

2011-01-31T07:50:00.003-05:00

Sunday, January 30th

I didn't DARE weigh myself in the morning knowing there was a chance the scale went up. If there's one thing I've learned over the years is to NOT get on a scale when I am PMSing and feeling FAT! That would just set myself up for a miserable day before it even began.

Food and Workout for the Day:

-7am 2 cups of coffee home
*9am went to Retro Fitness with Robert for some cardio and weight training
**33 mins. on the Elliptical (level 6-9)
**2 sets of D.B Rows for back (25 lb. D.B.'s) 15 reps for both sets
**Superset with 2 sets of Straddle Squats into upright rows with 10lb. D.B (20 reps)
**3 sets of cable flys for chest (30lbs/ 15 reps)
**Superset with dead lifts for Hamstrings/Glutes with 30lb. Barbell (20 reps)

(trained a client at 11:15)

-10:30am Protein Shake with soy protein, water/soy milk, flax seeds & ice in Blender
-11am 2 Boca Burgers on plate with ketchup and pickles (no bread)
-1:00pm Iced Coffee from Starbucks w/soy milk and peppermint/sweet n low
(Worked at HUMC from 1-9pm)

-3:00pm bowl of Brussel Sprouts with salt & pepper (brought a frozen bag to work with a bowl and microwaved them)
-4:00pm Odwalla Bar
-5:00pm coffee with non-dairy creamer & sweet n low
-7:45pm bowl of Brussel Sprouts

-10:00pm cheddar pretzels
-11:30 Bed

Day Eight of "Accountability Journal"...Cindy Fox Fitness

2011-01-30T07:40:00.002-05:00

Sunday, January 30th

There's a part of me wishing I didn't put this out there for everyone to read because I feel that it's probably a disappointment to some people who might be reading it. My intentions were to get inspired and do better since I had to be "accountable" for everything I ate and for my workouts and hopefully show other people that it is also a lot of work for me as well to be in shape.
In a way, I do think it has kept me pretty consistent with my cardio workouts, although it hasn't really curbed my snacking, which I've been doing since I was little. At least now my "snacks" aren't ice cream, licorice, nachos, etc... If your detecting a bit of "negativity" from me at this point, this is just a result of my PMS, which starts 7-10 days prior to the onset. Unfortunately, I was thinking of that when I started this, but after so many years of it, I can at least recognize it and not let it take over me. Oh well, here it is:

Food and Workout for the Day

-7:00am 2 cups of coffee home
-9:15am protein bar on way to gym

*35 mins. Elliptical (level 6-8)
*13 mins. on Stepper (level 1) it seemed a little easier today than the first time I tried it

(trained 2 clients)
-11:45am had a big salad with spinach and collard greens, tofu, tomatoes, mushrooms, and balsamic dressing
-2:00pm coffee at work (worked 1-9pm at HUMC)
-3:30pm protein bar
-5:30pm small bag of Soy Crisps from Duane Reade & Iced Coffee w/Peppermint & Soy milk from Starbucks

-9:00pm Luna Bar on way home from work
-10:00pm cheddar pretzels
-10:30 rice cakes with hummus
*11:30 BED

-

Day Seven of "Accountability Journal"...Cindy Fox Fitness

2011-01-29T07:21:00.002-05:00

Friday, January 28th

I've been getting frustrated with the fact that I've continued eating my snacks at night regardless of the fact that I haven't lost 1 pound in a week, although I felt thinner yesterday morning. Now I realize for sure it's PMS that has me feeling down a bit and keeping me from loosing anything right now....the cramps are kicking in! I normally gain a couple pounds right about now, so I'm sure by this time next week, I'll see some better results. For any of you who suffer from PMS, it's important to sometimes step out of yourself and look at things from an outsider's perspective, because the inside feelings are really trying to mess with you...lol.

With that said, here is my food/workout journal for the day:

-6:30am 2 cups of coffee
-9:15am (on way to to gym) a Protein Bar (can't mention the name because they are samples sent to me by the company to try)

*9:30 taught a 45 min. Sculpting class (Secaucus Recreation Center)
*10:15 taught a 45 min. Cardio Dance Mix (Same place)

-12:00pm ate another bar in car on way to Hackensack Univ. Med. Ctr. (was running late for work)
-3:30pm 2 packets of sugar free maple syrup oatmeal
-5:15pm a 1-pint cup of mixed vegetables w/some roasted potatoes from Cafe' Policastro (on my break at work...worked until 6:30)

-8:00pm Tofu w/hummus on rice cakes
-9:00pm Baked Tostitos with Salsa
(we watched "A Love Affair" with Warren Beaty and Annette Benning...good movie!)

*10:45 Bed

Day Six of "Accountability Journal"...Cindy Fox Fitness

2011-01-28T08:05:00.002-05:00

Thursday, January 27th

Like most other people in New Jersey, I woke up to the "school's closed" voicemail and sound of shoveling. Luckily, I didn't have to work at the hospital because I would've been out there shoveling already too. Aside from training a few clients, which got cancelled, I was supposed to teach a spin class at VIP Fitness at noon, but that was also cancelled. Luckily, the gym where I first weighed-in at was open so I was able to go weigh myself and get in my workout
for the day. Needless to say, I was very disappointed to see the scale still at 137 after all of this cardio I've been doing.
I need to say this so no one misinterprets what my objective is here. People get so caught up on the number on the scale (myself included, sometimes). The fact is, if you recently started working out with weights and doing cardiovascular activity, you're body fat % should go done, unless you're eating more calories to compensate for the calories you're burning off. If you want to see a "change" then you need to do something differently. I was running a lot during the summer and doing less weight training and weighed 135. In the fall, my running cut back and my weight training increased and I was up to 138, all with the same amount of food intake. So my plan here is to increase my cardio without making a big change in my eating, but to be cautious of how much I'm eating. I know my body fat % can be lower and I'd feel better. When that happens, I will weigh less on the scale as well because I'm not increasing my weight training. I'd like to see what 132 lbs. looks like again. It's been about 15 years since I've seen it (after doing a fitness contest at 29 yrs. old).

Food & Workouts:

-7am 2 cups of coffee
*9:30 shoveled for 1/2 hour
-10am a Luna Bar

* weighed-in 137 lbs.....did 20 mins. of Elliptical level 7

-2pm spinach salad w/ tomatoes, 1 slice of soy cheese, and balsamic dressing
-2:45 a Full Bar

*4pm went back to Retro Fitness with Robert (Naked Cowboy) for more cardio:
---35 mins. of Elliptical level 6-8 (forward and reverse)
---15 mins. Lifestyle Stair climber level 1 (wow, that's hard! I never tried that one before)

-5:30 Protein Shake with EAS Soy protein powder, 1/2 water/1/2 soy milk, flax seeds

-7pm 1 & 1/2 glasses of red wine
(had a few mouthfuls of angel hair pasta I cooked for the kids)
-8pm baked veggies (I spray the pan with Pam cooking spray, cut up cauliflower, spaghetti squash, and sliced mushrooms; then sprayed the top with Pam and sprinkled fresh garlic, salt & pepper....yummy!)
-9pm Baked Tostitos with salsa
*10:30pm BED

****I do take daily vitamins: C, Calcium, Probiotics, B12, D, Lutein (for eyes), and sometimes Iron (slightly anemic). I used to take Chromium Picolinate daily but ran out and keep forgetting to buy more.

Day Five of "Accountability Journal"...Cindy Fox Fitness

2011-01-27T07:23:00.004-05:00

Wednesday, January 26th

I was planning on going back to Retro Fitness definitely by Tuesday or Wednesday morning to weigh in, but that didn't happen. I had to be at St. Joseph's hospital first thing in the morning with my son for an outpatient procedure. He is fine except the poor kid had to have NOTHING but liquid for over 24 hours. I have to say, he did better than I ever did on any of my "liquid diets". He even had the option of eating some jello at night and didn't want it!

Food For the Day:

-6:30am 2 cups of coffee home (non-dairy creamer & sweet n low)
-10:30am protein bar & med. cup of hazlenut coffee with soy milk (at hospital while waiting)
-1:30pm we went to Friendly's and I ordered vegetable stir-fry with white rice & a seltzer/lemon

-2:45pm went to Walmart for some groceries and ate a Lunar Bar while shopping
-4:00pm 2 cups of coffee home

*Finally got to the gym!!! ( would definitely NOT weigh myself in the evening)
Went to Retro Fitness, which is down the block from my house, with Robert (Naked Cowboy).

* did 46 minutes on treadmill, 5 miles (walked 5 mins. then jogged between 6.0-7.5 mph)
* went on elliptical 15 mins. (2 miles) level 6-8
The perfect remedy to get rid of the "crankies"!!!

-8pm 1 & 1/2 glasses of Penfold's Rawson's Retreat Shiraz/Cabernet
-9pm Quaker rice cakes with hummus
-10pm pretzels
*10:30pm BED

Day Four of "Accountability Journal"...Cindy Fox Fitness

2011-01-26T15:58:00.002-05:00

Tuesday, January, 25th
I will admit that I'm feeling a bit discouraged and I'm not sure if it's just PMS sneaking up on me or the fact that I didn't get to do cardio and feel like I broke my own goal of 1 hour of cardio each day for two weeks. I hear this from my clients and now you're hearing it from me. Family and work completely consumed my day yesterday into the night and I just couldn't squeeze it in.
My plan was to be out of the house by 8am to get to the gym to weigh myself and do cardio, get to the other gym to teach at 9:30, shower and get to the hospital by noon. Since we only have 1 bathroom and someone went into the shower just as I was about to, everything got pushed back and....well, I was in "a mood" for a while.

Food:

9am Luna Bar (on way to teach a class)
*9:30am taught 1 hour Powersculpt Class at Quest Fitness, Hasbrouck Hts.
11:45 mixed grilled veggies (From Cafe' Policastro before work
1:15 Odwalla Bar at work
2:30 handful of pretzels with some hummus at work
4pm Iced Coffee from Starbucks
7pm Luna Bar on way home from work
8pm Penfold's Rawson's Retreat Shiraz/Cabernet (1 & 1/2 glasses)
*practiced on guitar 1/2 hour
9pm rice cakes with hummus and Tofu
10pm some pretzels
*11pm BED

Day Three "Accountability Journal"...Cindy Fox Fitness

2011-01-25T07:08:00.002-05:00

Monday, January 24th

My day started at 6:30am the usually way with 2 cups of coffee and ate a protein bar (9:15am) on the way to the Secaucus Recreation Center, where I taught a class.

-9:30am taught a 45 min. sculpting class using dumbbells and a mat for floor exercises

-went to VIP Fitness in Lyndhurst to use their studio, which has a big flat screen t.v. and DVD player. I popped in my Les Mills Body Attack 71 DVD, for the first time and got a cardio workout

-1pm Protein shake with half water, half soy milk, 2 tbs. flax seeds, 1/2 banana (ate the rest)
-2:45 2 Boca Burgers w/ 2 slices of soy cheese, pickles and ketchup (no bread)
-4:15 Protein bar on way to Harmon Cove Towers to train a client for 1 hour

*was out of the house with 2 back-to-back clients, a meeting 7-8:30, the vegetable market, and CVS (got home close to 9pm)

-8:30 ate a nut & fruit bar (from Starbucks) on the way home. Luckily, I had it in my bag (I was getting hungry)
-9:30 ate the 1/2 pint of white rice (with salt) that was left on the counter from the Chinese food the family ordered. I usually try to avoid starchy foods before bed
-10:30 should've just gone to bed, but nooooo, I had to start munching on those darn honey mustard pretzels again (not too much though)
*11:30 Bed

I think my next weigh-in will be Tuesday morning since I don't think I can get to the gym Wednesday morning and i want to be consistent with the same time on the same scale. If I didn't lose 1 pound, it's because of all of the snacks I had been eating at night....we'll see!

Day Two of "Accountability" Journal...Cindy Fox Fitness

2011-01-24T21:41:00.002-05:00

Sunday, January, 23rd

I started the morning with my usual 2 cups of coffee at home while waking up and checking emails. I decided to workout on an empty stomach so my body would start burning the "stored" sugar and fat, rather than have extra calories to work off. I don't always do this though.

Workout of the day:

-walked on treadmill with slight incline 14 mins. doing one mile (a good warm-up)
-3 sets of dumbbell flys: 20lb D.B's/30 reps, 25lb's. D.B./15 reps, 25 lb. D.B. 12 reps
-3 sets dumbbell bicep curls with 20lb. D.B's
-3 sets tricep press downs with cables (single arm) 20 lbs. 12-15 reps.
-3 sets of "kickbacks" on machine for glutes and hamstrings (although I felt my quads on this particular machine)

-jogged 3.35 miles on treadmill in 30 mins.
-15 mins. on elliptical (1.5 miles) on levels 7-9

Food:

-protein bar (was meeting my mom, aunt Barbara, and friend Miriam at diner and knew there would be nothing there I should/would eat...just had 2 more cups of coffee there)

-2 Tofu hot dogs with a slice of soy cheese on a mini-wheat bagel with ketchup (at home)
-bowl of spinach leaves with a tomato and balsamic dressing

-Starbucks iced coffee with soy milk, peppermint, and sweet n low (at Barnes & Noble with Robert and my Godson, Joseph)

-2 glasses of red wine
-cheddar cheese pretzels

-a whole bag of Quaker Rice Cakes (Lemon and Rosemary flavored) with Hummus (a bit too much)

Day One of "Accountability" Journal...Cindy Fox Fitness

2011-01-23T17:18:00.003-05:00

For anyone reading this that doesn't already know, I'm mostly vegan with the exception of occasionally using half n half in my coffee if I can't get soy milk. If I'm home I use non-dairy creamer. That means I don't eat animals or anything made with eggs or milk, and the only fish I'll eat is scallops, mussels, clams (if cooked) and of course, Blue Island Shellfish Farm's Naked Cowboy Oysters! Most of my protein intake is from soy products, chickpeas, beans, soy protein powder, and protein bars not made with milk or eggs.

Saturday, January 22nd (mentally preparing, but NOT weighed in until Sunday)

7am- 2 cups of coffee (sweet n low and non-dairy creamer)
9am- Protein Bar (new one...was sent a case to try)

workout (Retro Fitness)
-light weight workout with machines...7 sets in total and some abdominal work on mat
-36 minutes on treadmill (4.1 miles)
30 minutes on elliptical (forward and reverse), level 6 (3.08 miles)

-11:45am... soy protein shake w/ half water/half soy milk light & 2 tbs. of flax seeds
-1:30pm... bowl of green beans left in fridge (I think it had margarine on it)
-2:30... (wanted to eat, but got a coffee instead) Starbucks grande iced coffee with peppermint, soy milk & sweet n low
-3:00... a Luna Bar while food shopping

-6:30... pm started drinking wine (red, 2 & 1/2 glasses with ice throughout the night) and practiced guitar for 45 mins. (I had been slacking)
-8pm... (getting into the bewitching hours...the snacking begins) started snacking on honey mustard pretzels while cooking for family (chicken, rice, and mixed vegetables). Unfortunately, I still have to cook things for them that I don't eat, but I made myself grilled eggplant, red pepper, and mushrooms and ate a few mouthfuls of white rice
-9:30... 1/2 bag (the bigger one) of Quaker Rice Cakes (lemon and rosemary flavored) with hummus
*Bed by 11pm

First Weigh-In Sunday morning at Retro Fitness (will only use the same scale with clothes and NO shoes, in the morning, every 3 to 4 days)....137 lbs.

* just for perspective...I weighed 128 when I graduated high school, went up to 150 by 19 yrs. old, down to 125 for a bodybuilding, and have fluctuated between 134 and 148 during my bulimic days. Since I became vegetarian 2 years ago, I dropped down and maintained an average of 135-139. I'd love to see what 130 looks like again:)

From Fit to Fabulous in Fourteen Days!

2011-01-22T21:32:00.003-05:00

I'd like to start this blog by saying, "I know I'm not FAT, under most people's description of the word, but when you're in front of a camera and possibly on TV, there's no room for error". When you're wearing revealing clothes (like a bikini), standing in a certain positions can make a "roll" in the mid-section or a shadow that accentuates cellulite, even if there's very little. Just take the tabloid magazines for example; some of the hottest celebrities have been put on the cover in the most unattractive photos.
With that said, I am giving you just a little background of my dieting history so you realize I can TOTALLY relate to what any of you go through with your attempted weight loss. After this first blog, the rest will be more up a journal-type entry with food intake and workouts of the day, and weigh-ins about every 3-4 days, which I usually do only a couple times a month.
All through school I was very active with gymnastics, cheer leading, softball, and by senior year I was an "aerobic instructor" too. I ate whatever I wanted (and I ate a lot!) and never worried much about my body until my senior year when I was nominated "class pin-up", which made me pay attention to my figure. Once I graduated and got an office job where I sat on my butt most of the day, I put on a quick 10 lbs. and NOTHING fit me or looked good anymore. I got very depressed about my job and my chubby body and turned to food for enjoyment. This is when I became "obsessed" with food and my body. Almost all of my thoughts were consumed with what i ate, was going to eat, shouldn't eat, and how much I needed to workout to burn if off.
I tried diet pills, laxatives, Slimfast drinks, starving and then binging, and induced vomiting. I even ended up in the intensive care unit at 18 for taking an overdose of Maximum strength Dexatrims (with caffeine) with the intentions of getting sick and not eating for a few days for a quick fix. I was bulimic from 19 until about 4 years ago (off and on). So I DO KNOW
HOW YOU FEEL!
I have learned to avoid what triggered my binges, which for me was sugar; kind of like an alcohol who can't have JUST ONE DRINK. It's not the 300 calories in a piece of cake that did me in, it was the other 6 pieces that followed. Any EXTREME diet, like liquid diets make my start obsessing and work against me instead of for me. I have decided to do "the best I can do" over the next two weeks without making myself crazy and see what difference it makes. I am calling this "accountability journal" From Fit To Fabulous in Fourteen Days" and will try to log in daily with my initial weight, may daily food intake (good and bad), and my workouts for the day. Stay tuned if you're interested.

Holiday Energy!

2010-12-23T21:18:00.004-05:00

Just as the seasons change in many parts of the world, so do the attitudes of the people in it. Right about now, almost every person reading this is probably having very similar experiences being that it's December 23rd...two days before Christmas. Whether you're Christian, Jewish, or another religion, you can't help feeling a shift in the level of energy surrounding us...at least here in the United States I think that's true.
There's an enormous lift in spirituality this time of year in preparation for the celebration of Christ's birth, as well as the celebration of Hannahkah which always falls closely together during the month of December. Although the "Holiday Season" has become very commercialized, one cannot help but to reflect on the true meaning and reason for all of the festivities. I can't speak for the whole world, but here in the New York/New Jersey area, it seems like we share each other's holidays regardless of our own religious background. Consisdering we all come from the same source, isn't that the way it should be?

From Fitness Diva to Naked Cowgirl

2010-11-03T19:27:00.004-05:00

After 6 years of being the significant other of the Naked Cowboy of Times Square and having people ask me if I am the "Naked Cowgirl", or why I'm not the Naked Cowgirl, I finally decided to give in and take on the role. It never seemed like the right thing to do at the time, and now it seems like the position has been just waiting for me to jump into it! Yes, there's been a few Naked Cowgirls coming out to Times Square on and off over the last few years, but there hasn't been one who can come close to having the same standards as the Naked Cowboy...until now, that is.
"There's a time and place for everything"...so they say, and I do believe that. In February of 2005 I went to Mardi Gras with Robert (Naked Cowboy) and wore jeans, cowboy boots and a cowboy hat as I walked along Bourbon Street with him. That's when the questions started. "If you're the Cowgirl, why aren't you dressed like him"? Let me first explain that I didn't even realize he was famous outside the New York area until that trip, nevermind parading in my underwear.
Shortly after that, I went with him to A Motivational Convention in Chicago, where he was hired by New York City and Company, a NYC tourist organization, to draw in people and take photos with them. I got a little more daring and brought a mini-skirt and halter top, to wear with the boots and hat. I was able to walk around this absolutely huge convention center for three days dropping my business cards and networking with people from all over the world. That's when I started my book of contacts, from which I send fitness postcards to once a year.
There were many more events and trips since then that I dressed up as a Cowgirl to accompany him. Many times the guys would feel more comfortable taking photos of me than with a guy in his underwear. It still always came back to the same question..."Why aren't you in your underwear"? I guess there were three big reasons why I didn't imitate him...I couldn't play the guitar, my kids would've flipped out if I was outside wearing my underwear, and I also didn't feel comfortable enough in my own skin at that time. I was constantly trying to get thinner. Robert's standards were so high that there was no way either of us thought I looked good enough to pull it off at that time.
I've since learned a lot about promoting myself, my videos, my website and everything fitness-related I'm involved in. One thing I've realized is that no matter how good you are at something, you still usually need either a lot of money or some really good connections to make it to the top. It's hard to put the time into your creative endevours when you need to work a lot to support your family.
With all the publicity this summer pertaining to the lawsuit of Naked Cowboy vs. Sandy Kane, one of the Naked Cowgirls, for trademardk infringement, I decided "now is the time". I decided to sign a licensing agreement with Naked Cowboy Enterprises to become the first "Officially Licensed Naked Cowgirl" in Times Square. I became vegetarian 2 years ago and have become leaner, plus I have learned to play a few cords on the guitar. As for my children, they are older and I think will eventually understand why I've made this decision.I work out hard, am totally dedicated to what I put my mind to, and realize I need to do something extreme now to get noticed before it's too late. I am the closest thing there is to being the female version of the Naked Cowboy. So there you have it...I am the NAKED COWGIRL! E-mail me at info@cindyfoxfitness.com to see when I will be in Times Square so you can get your photo with me and "tag" it on Facebook.

High Impact vs. High Intensity Workouts

2010-09-19T06:43:00.005-05:00

Prior to the discovery of Spinning classes, Step Aerobics, and "Low Impact" Aerobics, if a person wanted to take a cardiovascular class at a gym, it was more than likely a "high Impact" Aerobics class. This usually put a lot of stress on the joints over many years of doing it, especially the knees. High Impact Aerobics consists of bouncing on the balls of your feet through out most of the class with a variety of moves to keep your heart rate up, such as jogging, jumping jacks, high knee runs, shuffles, etc...in which both feet come off the floor at the same time. There are modifications a person can do during these classes to avoid the bouncing and the impact.

In "Low Impact" Aerobics, on foot is always on the ground to support the weight of the body. These classes use rhythmic movements and tend to use larger muscle groups to get the heart rate up. BASIC Step Aerobics class is also considered low impact, although many instructors add little hops which are optional. Swimming, walking and bicycling are other ways of getting a good workout without impact of the joints. These are safer activities for people who have injuries, poor balance, and women who are pregnant.

Regardless of the type of activity you choose to do, you will only get out of it as much as you put into it. This would be referred to as the level of "Intensity" at which you perform the exercises. Anyone who has ever ridden a bicycle would know there's a difference between a slow ride on a flat surface and going up a hill. There is a much greater intensity in the latter due to the amount of energy expended to make the muscles in the legs move the bike up a hill. This is an example of a low-impact exercise at a high intensity.

Although walking is a low-impact exercise, jogging and running are both high impact because there is not one foot on the ground at all times. In any given marathon or race there is always someone who comes across the finish line first and someone who finishes last. The difference between the two in the pace or speed at which they are both going. The person running the fastest is using more energy and muscle power to propel him or her forward, as opposed to the person who is jogging and keeping a slower pace. Both of these runners are doing a high impact activity, but one is at a higher intensity than the other.

If you're trying to keep your fitness level up without putting the extra impact on your joints, there are a few ways to do that. Walkers can try adding small hand weights, pick up the pace and try occasional hills to increase the intensity and raise the heart rate. With the exception of the hand weights, bikers can use this same method for getting more out of a workout. If you're a "Cardio Junkie" and love the adrenaline rush you get from sweating and having your heart rate way up, but can't take the impact anymore, try going into a low impact class and keep your center of gravity low forcing yourself to use your leg muscles more. Doing big arm movements will also keep our heart rate up, such as in a kick box class, and will have you walking out of class dripping of sweat and feeling like you had a great workout!

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T08:11:00.004-05:00

Mother's Day is a day to appreciate the gift of life and the person who brought us here. Some of us are fortunate enough to step into this role and continue the circle of life. When we were children, we didn't understand why our parents wouldn't let us do what we wanted to do or have everything we asked for. Children are small and can only see what is right in front of them. Parents are supposed to protect their children from the things they cannot see or imagine yet. Children learn from their parents and model their actions. This is why it is so important for a Mother to be loving, nurturing, and affectionate to her child so these traits can be fowarded to future generations.

For those who have lost their mother, may your heart be filled with good memories and know they are the angels who watch over us all. For those who have lost a child, may those angels above give you the helping hand you need to keep you lifted. To all who are blessed with the joy of motherhood, may you forever be grateful and cherish the moments.

Be Creative This Valentine's Day

2010-02-06T09:41:00.005-05:00

Why all the fuss for Valentine's Day? Does anyone really know where it even comes from? One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wibes and families, he outlawed marriage for young men- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lover in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death (history.com). Honestly, I think most men today would be thrilled if marriage was ooutlawed!
Regardless of the origin, people all over celebrate and like to make a fuss over Valentine's Day, women especially. Yes, we tend to be the more romantic ones of the human species. Seriously though, does anyone really need a pound of chocolate? What about the sexy negligee with the garter belts and thigh highs? Unless your skinny or have the perfect body, do you wnat to receive this as a gift knowing you're expected to prance around in it in front of your guy? He probably feels the same way about receiving a thong with hearts all over it. So how can we celebrate Valentine's Day without the tacky gifts?
Love Coupons? Might seem childish but if you're willing to uphold your end of the deal and grant every offfer in the book (a massage, home cooked meal, sex slave for the night, ect...), I think he will be thrilled to know he's getting you to give in at his request. How about a couple's "Day at the Spa" gift certificate, where you can spend a relaxing day together BOTH receiving together? You can go online t find a Spa in your area with different package deals>
Love to eat, but hate to wait for a table? Then you probably should go out the day before or after to avoid the crowd and the feeling of being rushed through dinner. Better yet, send the kids to grandma for the night or to a friend's in exchange to do the same for her one night, and plan a romantic evening at home. Plan to cook (or order) the foods you both like the most, a nice bottle of wine or champagne, plenty of candles, and of course you have to set the mood to music. Then you pick out the negligee that makes YOU feel sexy and let down your hair and inhibitions!
So what about the rest of us that will be alone on Valentine's Day? Yes, my significant other will be walking the streets of Bourbon during Mardi Gras. No comment needed! I know from past experience that the last place I'd want to spend Valentine's Day if I were single is in a nightclub. I did that ONCE many years ago and my friend and I realized about an hour into the night how pathetic we looked as if we were looking for a date for the night...YUCK! Planning a night hanging out with your friends can be a lot of fun with no pressure to please anyone. How about a night of Sangria and Karaoke singing Shania Twain's "Man, I Feel Like a Woman"?
Not into the bar scene? A girl's get-together "Day at the Spa" followed by lunch and a "chick flick" also sounds pretty good to me. Maybe you're totally banning the holiday altogether. That's fine too. Kick back at home with your comfy pajamas and a good book and just enjoy yourself! That's probably what I'll be doing:)

Stop The Ride!

2010-02-04T07:44:00.009-05:00

Do you ever feel like your life is an amusement park, and it's time to go home? They can be so much fun at the time, but after a while, and amuzement park can make you sick! How many times can you go climbing the steep hill of the rollercoaster with the excitement and anticipation of the fast ride going down, just for it to be over in 2 seconds? Ok, so you might get 2 or 3 hill climbs out of it, but eventually the guy makes you get off and go back to the end of the line like everyone else.
Then there's the carousel with the very adorable horses all decorated nicely. If you get to the front of the line, you get to pick the one you want to ride! You wait for the operator to start the ride thinking it'll be relaxing, because it never goes fast; it stays at a safe, steady pace, which is why so many people go on that one. It even has that nice little "carousel music" to entice you there. Soon you realize after going around and around that you've been seeing the same thing over and over, and going no where. And now that amusing jingle that lured you in is going to drive you NUTS!!!
Who hasn't ever been on the bumper cars? It's one thing to be a kid who can't drive a real car to think it's cool, but when you're an adult and KNOW people are going to keep hitting you...it's time to wonder why you get on it in the first place? That's a headache in the making...to say the LEAST!
Bungee jumping anyone? Now that is the ultimate high if you're need for a "rush" is strong enough. As you're climbing one staircase after another, you're heart rate is going up, your breathing is getting heavier, and the excitement is starting to resemble "panic", but you HAVE to do it. Here you are standing at the top as you put your life into the hands of a stranger that is strapping you up to some apparatus. If you stop for a second and analyze it, you won't do it, so before you explode from the excitement and fear, you just jump aimlessly and hope for the best!
So you made it out of that one alive...now what? There's nothing that's going to come close to that for quite a while, and you're quickly coming down off of your "high". The only thing left is food. I once ate cotton candy when I was about 5 and threw up all the way home in the car. I never ate cotton candy again. So why is that a 5 year old learns a lesson the first time, but as adults we keep making the same mistakes over and over? For comments, email me at info@cindyfoxfitness.com.

When One Door Closes...

2010-01-04T08:30:00.002-05:00

Why is it so hard sometimes to let go? We hold on to relationships that are not healthy, jobs that we don't like, clothes we no longer wear, and most of all we hold on dearly to memories. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, security of body, employment, resources, morality, the family, health, and property are the second most basic need after the physiological needs (air, food, water, ect...).
So why hold on to memories? Maybe when we lose a physical thing or person we love, the memory of that one thing we cherish is the only thing that keeps us feeling safe and comforts us. When the loss is too much to bare, it is nice to be able to "go back" in our minds and feel secure for a little while. The problem is when we refuse to live in the "present" and accept the change life has brought us.
We often hear that "when one door closes, another door opens", and I truly believe, even though I admit to staring at the closed door longer than I should sometimes. During these times of transition, it is important to think of what good has come from the situation. Everything that happens to us is a lesson in life if we open our eyes, hearts, and minds to it, as cruel as some of these lessons might seem to be.
For my friend who mourns the loss of her son on his birthday today... my heart goes out to you....xoxoxo

High Achievers

2009-12-09T21:41:00.003-05:00

If you're like most people living in the NY/NJ metropolitan area, you rush around so often, barely getting where you're going on time. We are a group of high achievers, trend setters...the "movers and shakers" so I've heard. Is it a necessity to survive and pay your bills? Or is it an addiction to constantly be at your best? Regardless of the reason, I believe the satisfaction one receives from accomplishing a lot and achieving above and beyond is what makes it worth pushing beyond the "norm".
When most people are going home to "relax" and turn into a couch potato, there are the other people who are staying late to pick up the slack at work, the people who work 9 hours and then go to the gym, and the ones who are giving them an ass-kicking workout! Don't hate...immitate!

Are You Sticking To Your Workout Routine?

2009-06-12T10:48:00.003-05:00

Today’s article is courtesy of my good friend Jay Cataldo who is a NYC life coach and owner of Definitive Diva.

Thanks Cindy. Even though summer is here, it’s not too late to melt off those last few pounds. While Cindy can give you plenty of advice on how to get in shape, I wanted to share four quick tips for helping you stick to your workout routine when dealing with a hectic schedule.

1. Make a list

Every night before I go to bed, I make a list of all the things I need to get done the next day. For some reason, having a list of things to cross off at the end of a day really helps to motivate me.

One thing that makes the list even more effective is when you schedule in times for everything that needs to get done (i.e., instead of writing down “workout”, you should write “workout 7-8pm”).

2. Make a vision board

A vision board is simply a collage of pictures designed to motivate you and keep you focused on the end result. If you are looking to lose weight, for instance, you might want to use pictures of fit women, pictures of you when you were at your ideal weight, and maybe even pictures of the island you’d like to travel to when you’re in tip-top bikini shape.

You can choose to make a physical vision board or you can find some digital images and make a collage on Microsoft Paint (or a similar program). Just make sure to look at the vision board at least twice a day (both when you wake up and before bed), being sure to feel the feelings you will experience when you finally attain your goal.

3. Don’t skip workouts unless an emergency comes up

The act of skipping workouts usually starts a downward spiral that can lead to a serious lack of progress. So unless a true emergency comes up, be sure to get your butt to the gym no matter what!

4. Get a harassment buddy

Sometimes, we need a little outside help to stay on top of ourselves. A workout partner is great to have, but more importantly, it’s good to have someone who will harass you when necessary and make it really uncomfortable for you to slack off. If you can’t find anyone, you can use this free service in the meantime: http://www.hassleme.co.uk

That’s it for today. Hopefully, these four tips will make it easier to stick to your routine. Thanks again to Cindy for letting me share this info with you. If you like some more health and fitness advice, come chat with Cindy and I on our Diva Forum.

Make it happen,

-Jay Cataldo
www.JayCataldo.com
www.DefinitiveDiva.com

Atlantic City Follow Up

2009-06-11T07:07:00.002-05:00

After reading over one of my own blogs from June '07 describing my annual weekend in Atlantic City for my Fitness Convention, I feel a need to contrast it with my recent trip last week. Being a divorced mom of three (now teenage) children, going from one job to another, and running around like a "chicken without a head", I very rarely have a couple days alone to move about at my leisure. My description of my fitness convention 2 yrs. ago, when I went alone for the first time in years was a clear indication of what it's like to let a bird out of it's cage...out of control!
Of course I always go to my morning classes in hopes of learning some new moves to do in my kickbox or step classes, or maybe get some good ideas to try with my clients, but I usually take off after lunch if it's nice out to hit the beach. The difference two years was that I went alone but had friends to meet up with and treated the day as one big party, drinking on the beach, in the casinos, happy hour with my friends, and continuing into the night. Needless to say, I missed my classes the next morning...NOT GOOD!
This year I brought my two sons, one whom was taking classes and the personal trainer exam, and my 13 yr. old whom I got to spend some "quality" time with. We went to the beach after lunch and I did get "A drink", we walked the boardwalk and shopped, and then my older son met up with us and we all went to Rainforest Cafe' for dinner. It was a great opportunity to spend time with them without the interruptions of my hectic schedule, their video games, or other family members being around to take my attention.
I was actually in bed by 10pm and up early, feeling great and ready for my morning classes. I did get some new ideas for my classes, bought 4 new Cd's for my classes and a new pair of cross trainers. Maybe if I plan these "get away" weekends more often I wouldn't be like a bird out of a cage when the opportunity arises.

You Are What You Eat

2009-01-10T22:06:00.007-05:00

Most people today are, to some extent, aware of the nutritious value in the food they're eating, whether it's good or bad. The media is overflowing with advertisements for different "diet" products, vitamins,cooking shows, as well as commercials for diseases you can get from not eating "healthy" foods. So how is it possible that it took me over 20 years of being a health FANATIC to finally realize that the so called "healthy" foods I've been eating come from SERIOUSLY TORTURED animals that are filled with diseases, antibiotics, pesticides, and hormones. It's not that I've never heard about it, but I didn't know the extent of it until I recently watched some undercover videos of slaughterhouses demonstrating the SEVERE CRUELTY and horrible conditions of the animals I've been eating...poultry included.

If you knew your neighbor was torturing his dog or cat everyday, would you report it or just pretend it wasn't happening? If your cat had kittens, would you put the males kittens in a plastic bag and throw them in a garbage bin to suffocate to death just because you had no use for male cats? Every day, hundreds of thousands of male chicks are killed by suffocation in plastic bags, decapitation, gassing, being left to die in dumpsters, or being thrown alive into grinders, sometimes remaining alive for even twenty seconds after being slowly tortured and mangled (Rollin, B.E., Farm Animal Welfare).

A pregnant sow's (mother pig) biological need to build a nest before having her litter is so great that some sows confined in "gestation" crates will rub their snouts raw on the concrete floor while trying to satisfy the drive. Piglets are taken from their mothers as young as 10 days old and packed into pens to be raised for breeding or meat. Due to overcrowded conditions, the piglets develop stress-related behaviors such as cannibalism and tail-biting. Factory farmers chop off the piglets' tails and often use pliers to break off the ends of their teeth. In order to prevent unpleasant odors due to sexual pheromones, the farmers rip out the males' testicles. All of these procedures are done without any use of painkillers (www.merceyforanimals.com).

History classes all over the world will teach about the horrendous treatment that occurred during the holocaust, rightfully so; but most people will turn their backs on the cruelty that is happening everyday to millions of animals. How can a person physically and mentally be "stress-free" when their eating animals that were tortured and completely "stressed-out" until their death? Does the word "Karma" ring a bell?

The average vegetarian spares the lives of more than 50 animals each year. That adds up to thousands during a lifetime. For healthier options and recipes with "peace of mind", go to www.chooseveg.com, www.veganhealth.com, and for high quality protein powder products, go to www.nakedwhey.com.

Spice Up Your Life this Autumn!

2008-10-16T05:01:00.004-05:00

One of the benefits of living in New Jersey is having four Seasons...and that distinct feeling of change that comes with each one. What a great loss it would be to not take advantage and experience your life in a slightly different manor, and really live your life through different eyes every three months. For if you never expand your awareness beyond your daily routine, you will never experience the abundance the world has to offer.
I personally feel the strongest changes, both emotionally and physiologically as we enter Autumn and Spring. It's only three weeks into the Fall season and I have instantly transformed from Cindy Lee to "Sara Lee", although at this point in time Rachel Ray would be a more appropriate analogy. I practically starve myself all during the "summer" season because it's bikini season and I feel the pressure of having to be in good shape. But the first chilly day...I can't wait to put my clothes back on and find a new recipe to make! I put on my favorite cooking music(soundtrack from Chocolat, Practical Magic or City of Angels), light my candles, open a bottle of wine, and and spend hours in the kitchen.I don't even know who's going to eat it all, but I don't even care!
For some people, the cooler weather means they can now participate in more outdoor activities without getting heat stroke. I personally have no problem running outside when it's 90 degrees; and although I do prefer doing it when it's in the
70's, once I feel a slight chill on my ears, it's back to the treadmill I go. For sports fans, the fall means getting out of the hot sun of the baseball games and getting ready for hours of tailgating at football games...Go Giants!
I'm not thrilled with the "Back to School" displays of September, but I love the festivities of October...Halloween Costumes, pumpkin picking, and the scent of spiced candles. Even breweries take advantage of the Autumn Season to put out their "Harvest Blend" beer. I'm not a beer drinker, but I will take advantage of this time of year to have some cider jack if the occasion should arrise...Octoberfest!
Even if you're oblivious to all of these changes, you can't ignore the fall falliage! Unless you you never leave New York City (which is still no excuse because Central Park is beautiful right now!), or you only drive the NJ Turnpike exits 12through 16, you can't avoid seeing the many different colors of the leaves on the trees. There's even a difference in the air...a cool, more crisp feeling when you take a breathe. Get out and take a walk, or go sit on a park bench and do nothing...just notice the change and enjoy!

Surviving Bellydance Bootcamp

2008-08-03T07:05:00.003-05:00

I know it sounds rediculous to think that anyone would NOT survive a weeklong bellydance workshop. Considering I normally run to 4 different places teaching about 12 classes a week of any mixture of kickbox, powersculpt, spinning, cardio-step aerobics, urban rebounder, and beginner bellydance, plus train some clients in between; it's safe to say I'm not a lazy person. Add to that the 20 hours running around at the hospital lifting and moving patients, or teaching CPR classes, flying home to drop off or pick up or cook for one of my three kids, and then run errands and clean the house...oh yeah, and don't forget the never-ending classes at school I'm STILL taking...I love pushing myself to the limit!
Ever since I took Suhaila Salimpour's 3-day level 1 Workshop last August in Arlington, VA, and got level 1 certified, I knew I was hooked! After 24 years of teaching and/or taking almost every new trend of fitness classes available, I have finally found something that challenges me both physically and mentally. Don't get me wrong...an hour long class at L A Boxing, punching and kicking the hell out of a heavy bag with multiple sets of push ups and sit ups intermittingly or teaching an hour long spin class are both enough to make me hypertentilate and want to through up. Then there was the half marathon I ran 2 years ago in 1 hr. 58 mins. after only starting to run again for 3 months, which of course gave me a cramp in my hamstrings that lasted 2 months. These too, are challenges I welcome!
There is another element to Suhaila's workshops that for me added to the mental challenge I experienced and that is unfamiliarity. There's a difference between knowing how to do something and pushing it to your physical limit, which takes mental discipline and determination. It's a whole other thing trying to do something you're totally unable to do at first while you're watching other people in the same class doing that same thing you're struggling with, 4 times faster, plus two other things at the same time. Talk about frustrating!!!! Now, if you're a "type A" person in one of these classes...it's enough to make you cry.
Ok, so I didn't cry, but that's only because I'm not one to cry very easily. But I almost didn't go back to class after lunch on the second day of class. Of course being a "type A" person, that would be absolutely unacceptable, so instead I just got depressed and dragged my ass back to class. I can't say the second half was any better. Actually, it was worse! We learned choreography, which is probably not that big of a deal to a dancer, but that's not my background. On a positive note, I did keep up with every single push up, all 300 abdominal exercises (with a bruise on my spine to prove it), the lunges, splits, and glute squeezes for the hour-long warm up everyday, though!
What's so difficult? Moving my pelvic area clockwise for hip squares (marking 4 points) at 1/4 time or 1/2 time was nothing. Trying to do chest rolls (undulations) up to down or down to up was ok, too. Putting them together is a bit challenging for me, but attainable. It's when I try to do alternating glute squeezes full time while moving with rib cage slides in any direction at a different speed and try to remember what's coming up next that gets me totally frazzled. And that's just the beginning!
Day three arrives and I have no ambition to get out of bed and get to class. The thought of not being able to remember the choreography and do it all correctly was making me sick to my stomach. I had to remind myself that I traveled to the other side of the United States and paid a lot of money for this whole trip, and I would hate my own guts if I didn't finish what I started. So off I walked to the train.
The warm-up was even harder, but I was able to still do the whole thing, which made me feel better. We learned some new drills that for some reason, I actually seemed to pick up quicker than usual. Suddenly I was starting to detect a bit of self-esteem again! The choreography still kicked my ass mentally, but "holy shit...I think I'm going to make it after all"!
The fourth night I ran into one of the girls from class in the lobby of the hotel I was staying in. I had no idea that two of them was staying in the room right across the hall from me. I walked out at the same time with them the next day and realized I could've been taking the bus instead of the train, which would've been much easier and quicker. Finally, it's all coming together. Everyone is starting to bond a little bit, the drills are coming to me easier, and suddenly I don't want to leave...go figure!
So for any of you who have taken you first step-aerobics class, or started taking a dance class, or just hired a trainer and want to kill her already...don't give up, and know that "I feel for you...lol"!

Do Over

2008-05-01T22:44:00.008-05:00

I've heard many people say, "If only I could do it over". This implies that they'd do things differently if given another chance. If you had the chance to go back in time and change something you did, would you?
Having all circumstances exactly the same as they were back then, what makes you think you'd make a different decision? Wasn't the choice you made at the time right for you at that time? And if you knew at the time you were making a "mistake", what factors drove you to take that path anyway? I think of those factors as curve balls the universe throws at us to guide us down certain paths.
Think of one of the most painful experiences you ever had that was due to a choice you made. Can you find ANY good that came out of that experience? Maybe an important lesson learned that prevented you or someone else from future pain? Or maybe this decision made you stronger in some way or more understanding of others? If you think of all the events that occurred in your life following that experience imagine they never existed...would you still want to undo that so called "mistake"?
Isn't it true that when we lose something, we gain something else? There have been times in the past when some "great" opportunities slipped out from under me and I was very disappointed. Almost every time though, an even better opportunity emerged. So why is it that we sometimes struggle when faced with difficult decisions with fear of regret or worry about making a "mistake"? Often the clouds are infront of the sun so we can't see it...but it is there and will shine again.
I believe that everything happens for a reason, regardless of how long it takes to realize what that reason is. These "forks in the roads" are essential to our growth as spiritually and emotionally fulfilled human beings. Would you really want a "DO OVER" and miss out on these great learning lessons in life?
I dedicate this to my biggest so called "mistake" I made in my life that took a very long time to stop regretting and appreciate what I now have instead. "The Five People You meet in Heaven", by Mitch Albom is a great book to read if you agree with my thoughts on this matter.

What a Coincidence!...Or Is It?

2008-01-29T15:23:00.000-05:00

How often do you have a thought about a person you haven't seen in a while, and out of the blue, you receive a call or message from that person? Have you had the occasion when you're sitting with someone close to you and thinking about something and that person starts talking about that exact thing? Most people think it's just a coincidence when that happens.

For one week, start paying attention to all of the those supposed "coincidences" as see how often they really occur. Start to notice what happens every time you ALLOW yourself to dwell on a negative situation, whether things get better or worse...probably worse! What you focus on is what you get more of. That is why it is very important to "change your mind" quickly each time you have a negative thought and replace it with a POSITIVE one.

If you believe in energy even though you don't see it, then imagine energy as waves of different frequencies. Each thought is a wave on a different frequency and someone with a similar energy level would be more likely to "pick up on your wavelength", therefore thinking the same thoughts. This is the premise behind the "POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING"...the more you focus on the things you want in your life, the more you will receive. Deepok Chopra has a great book explaining this theory in great detail, called "Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire". It teaches you to bring more of the things you want into your life and repel the things you don't want. I highly recommend it!!!

It's All About Balance

2007-12-10T07:28:00.000-05:00

Does the "hustle and bustle" of the holidays get you stressed out and thrown off your daily routine? With the extra shopping and spending, the cleaning and decorating of the house, preparing and cooking for family and guests, and the pressure of trying to please everyone...no wonder so many people get stressed out and loose their "inner peace" this time of year. "Eat, drink, and be merry", doesn't mean gorge yourself with food, drink to oblivion, and pretend to be so "merry" that you loose yourself in the "act".

I'm not sure that other cultures or religions, outside of Christianity in the United States, go to the same extent as most of us do in celebrating "the holiday" Christmas has become. I'll admit that it has become for many a very materialized holiday filled with overindulgence and not much reflection of why we celebrate Christmas. I'm not knocking it all because I love the whole "spirit" of Christmas", but I too get caught up in the "pressures of pleasing" and all that it entails. Here are some ways I've learned to maintain "balance" this time of year:

-I keep up with my regular workouts (for the most part). I work off any "negative energy" that may otherwise stress me out; plus it increases my endorphins, the "happy hormones" which get released from physical exertion.

-When I see that my co-workers have brought "tempting" deserts and fattening foods into the lounge for everyone, I head right to my locker and grab a protein bar or start munching on some rice cakes; or I'll take an early lunch to make sure I'm not hungry when I walk into the break room. I can resist temptation much better if my sugar level isn't crashing...don't get to that point!

-When it comes to shopping for gifts, I make a list of who I need to buy for and what I'd like to get them. I may look in the fliers to see which stores have what I need at the best price so I can save time by going to the place that has the most of what I need in one shot (time management!).

- I try to buy ONLY gifts and things I REALLY need right away. I remind myself that I can shop for myself after Christmas...January Clearance Sales!!

- Not only do I NOT suggest wrapping all 30+ gifts at one sitting, but don't wait until the night before to realize you have 15 gifts for one child and only 7 for the other! There are only so many "girl" gifts you can put into the "boy's" pile on Christmas Eve without upsetting someone.

The main thing is to appreciate the time spent with the people you love. As we get closer to Christmas (the holiday I celebrate), I'll start to remember some other possible "triggers" that can offset your "Balance" and "Peace of Mind"...Deep cleansing Breath...ahhhh:)

Chat Room Buddies

2007-10-25T16:40:00.000-05:00

My last blog, "Under a Magnifying Glass" was entered only a few weeks after "www.nakedcowboy.tv", a live webcam came to live in my house. I initially found it very intrusive and became self-conscious of how I looked at all times. We even went on a tv show called "Cristina's Court" with Judge Cristina Perez to discuss our differences pertaining to the idea of "live 24/7", which will be aired in November. Right now, we turn it off when we go to sleep, which was my decision. It's been over 3 months since we got and I'm definitely finding advantages to having it.

Nakedcowboy.tv also has a chat room where people from all over the world can interact with us and each other. In August I started "CINDY'S 7am COFFEE CLUB" which has had a great turn out. There's a group of "regulars" plus new people logging on everyday to "chat" with me as they drink their first cup of coffee in the morning...and no, you don't have to drink coffee to join in! As a matter of fact, many mornings I'm chatting with people from Australia, Japan, or somewhere in the world who are already having lunch or dinner.

Many of these people have sent me e-mails to info@cindyfoxfitness.com to be added to my mailing list so they will receive e-mails or photo postcards in the mail from me. I recently went to Nashville with Robert (Naked Cowboy) for his CD Release Party, which was a great success and a lot of fun! I was extremely suprised (and excited) when one of my "regulars" from my "Coffee Club" showed up at McFadden's Bar and Restraunt and came up to me and said "Hi Cindy, I'm Criscodance" (his screenname). He and his partner Greg drove 4hrs. from Indiana to come celebrate with us for the weekend.It was awesome!

You can see a 2 min. clip from Nashville by watching the most recent podcast on The Official Naked Cowboy Podcast http://thenakedcowboy.podshowcreator.com/feed.aspx?feedid=1417. AND DON'T FORGET TO JOIN ME AT 7am FOR "CINDY'S COFFEE CLUB" AT www.nakedcowboy.tv!

Under A Magnifying Glass

2007-08-24T19:33:00.000-05:00

Don't you love those times when you get all dressed up in your best-fitting clothes for a special night out and your hair and make-up looks perfect, heads are turning and you KNOW you look good? At times like that, I actually like having my picture taken (to prove that I can really look that good!). Then there are those other times when you can't find the right outfit and nothing looks good on (in you own opinion), it's a bad hair day, or for whatever reason, you definitely don't want a photograph taken. Most likely, the only reason you're still going out is because you're obligated to do so; or else you'd be home in your P.J.'s.

How about those "REALITY" shows where people are being filmed from the time they wake up until they go to bed at night? Do you ever wonder if they got up first to put make-up on and fix their hair and then crawl back into bed before the camera guy comes in? Or what about those "heated discussions"? Are they just being dramatic for the camera or is it "Really" how it usually is?

Well, thanks to Justin.tv, I've had a webcam in my house for the last 5 weeks 24/7 filming the infamous "Naked Cowboy" and let me tell you....there's a LOT OF PRESSURE! Ok, so the camera is following him all day, but when he's home (with me) it is catching every move we make, every comment made in the house (naughty or nice!) or my "lack of response" to those comments, my "rolled-out-of-bed" look in the morning, the papers cluttering on the table while I'm checking e-mails, the munching out on Baked Lays Chips(low-fat) in front of the T.V. at night, and everything in between.

Usually, the only time the camera is on me is when I first wake up and having my first cup of coffee, then when I first get back from working out and I'm all sweaty, then again at 10pm when I finally sit down for the first time since my morning coffee and everyone sees me as a couch potato (literally...eat chips). Don't get me wrong, there are advantages to it for me as well. I've met some interesting people in the "chat" room, and it's also been great exposure for me because more people go to my website. I've even had a few people order my fitness videos from "Webland".

What they do not see, however, is me teaching a class at the gym at 9am, training a client, going to the bank and post office for Robert (Naked Cowboy) and myself, working a shift at the hospital, and then going to LA Boxing to take a kickbox class (and possibly train another person). That gives me about 20 mins. at night to open my mail or take care of any of my own stuff while I'm cooking a dinner that I'm not even going to eat.

This brings me to the eating aspect of this whole thing. They only see me drinking coffee and eating baked lays chips and wonder how I can be a fitness instructor. They don't know that my breakfast was a protein bar, my lunch was a salad with balsamic vinegar (no croutons, cheese, pasta, etc..), and everything else is either rice cakes, fat-free frozen yogurt (sometimes), maybe another bar or two, and probably a piece of fish that I'm cooking at night...and lots of coffee!

Did I mention I also have three kids and a boyfriend home waiting for me to give them attention when I get home at 9pm (and dinner)? So, is "Reality TV" what's REALLY going on? I think not!

Make Time For GOOD Friends

2007-07-29T07:52:00.000-05:00

If you're lucky, you may have a few "good" friends that you've known for years and no matter how much time passes, it seems like you're picking up right where you left off. After many years pass and so many changes occur in everyone's lives, getting together makes you really appreciate this friendship that has survived. I am fortunate enough to have some of these "true" friends from my past and have also grown close to some new ones over the years.
My 10-year reunioun (13 years ago) opened my eyes to see that some people I spent time with in high school were just people to pass the time with. Others had a greater impact on me when I saw them, whether I stayed in touch with them or not. Ten years after high school, most people were trying to impress their classmates with what they've accomplished, while I was (in the minority) showing photos of my children. I was mostly a stay-home mom although I trained clients and taught aerobics;and I went to school part-time.
The 20-year reunion was very different, and with less people attending. I felt that most people were truely happy to see each other and weren't trying to "impress with their successs". Now "they" were showing photos of their mostly-young children, who they had to get right home to. At that time, my three were 8, 12, and 15 and I was ready to go out afterwards! Most of my struggling was over and things were staring to get much easier for me.
Unfortunately, my closest friends couldn't attend so we planned our own reunion in South Beach, Florida last summer. Two lived in Florida, one in Arizona, and two of us in New Jersey. It was amazing to see these girls (women!) after 10 or 20 years and still connect immediatley! Most of those four days were spent talking on the beach or over a glass (or more) of sangria at the condo. We made an agreement that we'd try to get together at least once a year...anywhere.
Well, I just returned from another awesome reunioun (minus one), this time with our families. My girlfriend Frankie and her husband Joe were gracious enough to let us all come to their beautiful home in Cape May, NJ. It was four of us ladies, two husbands, 3 teens, an 11-yr. old, and four more that still cry a few times a day...definitely eventful! I wonder where we'll be next year?

Never Good Enough?

2007-07-02T07:36:00.000-05:00

Whether you've always struggled with your weight or have been thin and always felt flabby, the feeling of DISsatisfaction is not a pleasant feeling. If you lived on a deserted island with no one to see what you looked like or comment on your body, would it still bother you? If the answer is "NO", then you are feeling pressure from family, friends, or society in general. Sometimes the ones closest to us give us the worst complex, perhaps without realizing it (WE HOPE!).

It is in these cases that the very person giving you the complex usually has the worst self-complex, even if he/she seems to be a confident person. These "critical" people have such high standards of what things "should" look like that even they cannot meet up to their own standards and are easily disgusted by any reminder of that. It is important for the development of your own self-esteem to recognize what your "OWN" standards are (not those set by your parents, spouse, etc...) and set YOUR goals accordingly.

If your answer to my first question was "yes", you would still be unhappy with youself if no one was around to see you, then you need to make some changes. The first step is setting realistic goals for yourself and writing them down in a journal of some sort. Make a list of the changes you'll need to make and of the "SUPPORTIVE" people in your life that can help you obtain these goals. It's much easier when you have other people in your life on the same plan. And remember...when you feel you are making progress, don't let ANYONE make you feel as if you haven't!
HELPFUL TIPS:

Let a nutritionist make some simple revisions to your existing eating habits
Weight Watcher's is very simple to follow and has a great support system
Replace old, bad habbits with new "Positive" ones
Engage in physical activities you can enjoy,rather than sitting around watching TV
Read inspirational materials to help motivate you, "Awaken The Giant Within", by Anthony Robbins was a big help for me
Hire a trainer...Cindy Fox Fitness, LLC (that's me!)
e-mail me with any questions or just for a pep-talk! info@cindyfoxfitness.com

Walking the Red Carpet at Ripley's Grand Opening

2007-06-23T09:04:00.000-05:00

This past Thursday evening, June 21st was the grand opening of "Ripley's Believe it Or Not" on 42nd St. in NYC, right next to Madam Tussuad's Wax Museum. Being Naked Cowboy's girlfriend, I had the opportunity to "walk the red carpet" with him and be photographed by dozens of reporters who were there to capture the evening's highlights. Of course they all were curious to know who I was and what was my relation to the Naked Cowboy, which he replied, "this is my girlfriend Cindy Fox, my soul mate".

I handed my business card to one photographer who was trying to get my correct name, and before I knew it I was handing out 10...good thing I came prepared!! It's really exciting getting to partake in these "celebrity" events with him, even though there's that occasional awkward moment when I'm not sure if I should stay next to him or "step away from the cowboy", as he's experienced in the past. So far, I haven't been told that!

Jenny McCarthy came up to him to get a photo with him, as well as many other people who were invited to this event, such as Carmen Electra. There were also some characters walking around who are in the Ripley's book, such as the blond, British woman/sword swallower, the Lizard man (completely tattooed) who had his tongue split into two parts and Teflon bolts put into his forehead.
There were several open bars and tables with appetizers all over. The most unusual food being offered was the desert...chocolate covered bugs...yuck! Robert would've eaten them if they were sugar-free. They gave us gift bags to take home, which included a box of cheddar flavored crickets which he gulped down at one time to impress my daughter, Tiffany (or gross her out!). He even got my son, Dakota, to eat a few. Never a dull moment!

GETTING MOTIVATED TO WORK OUT

2007-05-18T07:05:00.000-05:00

As a trainer, (Atlantis Health and Fitness, Secaucus, NJ) I've had many clients over the years who've worked out consistently for a while and made changes in their body and in the way they felt, and then just disappeared! It's like they were abducted or something...no phone call, no excuses, no warning...just gone. How does this happen? If you're laughing about this, then you probably already have the answer, and you're the one I'm still looking for.
There's a few things I tell anyone who is just getting started at the gym or with any exercise program. Set REALISTIC GOALS for yourself. Determine how much time you can spend each day exercising and how many days per week you'll be able to do it. Now put it into your weekly planner (and don't change it for ANYTHING).
Next, know what your objectives are: improve cardiovascular condition, lose weight, build muscle, increase flexibility, have more endurance, ect... I suggest setting some time asside for each of these things to improve your over-all fitness level and to feel GREAT! But let's be realistic, everyone's objectives are different, so make a list of you goals and prioritize them leaving more time for the most important tasks. For example, if you're trying to lose fat, you'll need to spend a little more time on cardiovascular activities, then say, stretching.
Once you know your objectives, look for activities that you enjoy and plan to participate in them. Chances are that your forcing yourself to do something you hate when you can easily find something you'd find fun to do...yes, I said FUN! Maybe you find jogging boring, then try a combination of equipment such as a rower, the stepper, go roller blading, go out for a bike ride, ect.. There are so many classes you can take to make exercising more exciting such as kickboxing, hip hop dance, bellydance (my new favorite thing!), pilates and much more. You can always order one of my fitness DVD's on my website www.cindyfoxfitness.com .If you like it, you'll be more likely to stick to it:)

Feel free to contact me at info@cindyfoxfitness.com

2007-04-20T09:03:00.001-05:00

If you've been sitting at your computer for a few hours now, and NOT at work, you're probably overdue to take a break and do something PHYSICAL. I sometimes find myself getting so caught up in a project I've started, that I lose my desire to go out and do anything else.

Get in the shower!!! You probably don't even know the sun is shining today! Take an hour or so to get out of the house and get some fresh (sort of) air and some sunshine on your face. It will lift your spirits, give you a burst of energy, and most likely re-INSPIRE you for when you (undoubtedly) get back on the computer.

Have a Great Day:)
Cindy Fox
www.cindyfoxfitness.com