Thursday, October 16, 2008
Spice Up Your Life this Autumn!
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!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Surviving Bellydance Bootcamp
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"!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Do Over
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.
Monday, December 10, 2007
It's All About Balance
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:)
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Chat Room Buddies
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!
Friday, August 24, 2007
Under A Magnifying Glass
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!
Monday, July 2, 2007
Never Good Enough?
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