The Cons of going to the gym during your lunch break:

As great as going to the gym during my lunch break is for me, I realize that it is far from compatible with many people’s daily routines. For one, not everyone is allotted a full hour to take their lunch break. When this is the case it is pointless for you to even attempt the gym during the lunch break because by the time you get to the gym and get dressed you pretty much have enough time to by that protein drink that you like and turn around and get in the car to head back to work. Which brings me to my next point, if there isn’t a gym within a 5 min driving distance from your work, it really isn’t worth it. For me, I have two with in 5 min walking distance to my work so it suites me perfectly, but many business establishments are not in close proximity to places where you can work out. If you cannot get in the work out you want during the time that you are allocated for your lunch period then you are either jeopardizing your job by pushing its time limitations and getting your full work out in or you are compromising fitness ethics, goals and morale by cutting your work outs short. And no one who is serious about making money or working out would want to ride this line. Piggy backing on the time factor is the showering issue. I will be the first one to tell you that I am raw about this and not proud of it. I schedule all of my meetings for the first 6-7 hours of my day and then go to the gym after all of my meetings. So for about 80% of the day I am at my desk/cubical meeting with my employees and the last 20% I am tucked away in an office out of smelling range from anyone. I know this seems dirty but honestly I wipe down with a towel afterward and put on cologne for those last 2-3 hours of work and then I go right home and shower. But this “hippi-esh” routine might drive some people up the wall.

The last con that really comes to mind is that you are for the most part missing out on a break. For many people, going to the gym is a chore, but they do it because they like how it betters them – the same reason that they keep going to work every day. For these people going to the gym during their lunch break would seem like hell because it would be using up their break and replacing it with more work. This is probably especially true when doing physical labor work and substituting a well deserved lunch break with more physical demands on the body. Also, people need that mental break where they eat in about five minutes and space out for the rest of their lunch. Going to the gym during lunch may not give their mind the rest it needs and in fact may add more stress and dumbfounded logic to it weighing it further down. That thing that sits nestled in a fragile state with in my skull is constantly moving, even when I “veg” out it is going a mile a minute, which might make me look insane, but it actually keeps me going and surprisingly at peace. So for me going from one activity to another is somewhat of a mental break because when I switch activities it invites a whole new stream of thoughts that help replace all the stale ones beginning to drag me down. But I once again am fully aware that this is not how everyone’s mind works.

With these three suggestions I have given you both the pros and cons that I have suffered myself or that I have gathered from the opinions and conclusions of other people who frequent the gym. I did this because I wanted you all to weigh them out and truly consider them before diving head first into any of these. I also realize that I have missed several pros and several cons to all 3 of these, so if you any please post them. I have a couple more tips on how to face the “itis” head on, but as far as defeating it by choosing different times to work out at, this is all I got. I hope you get something out of one of these. Let me know if you try any of these and let me know what works and what doesn’t. These are simply the opinions of a guy who has opinions about anything and everything, take it or leave it as you will.

And then, there is my true Achilles’ heel, my weakness. The crystalline liquid that takes me so far away most every evening. My wine. I love big, heavy red wine. Sniffing, swirling, sipping, into heavenly bliss. But it’s gotta go. At least down to an occasional glass. Sad, but true.

There is no truth to the rumor that the last time I went to the beach a couple of marine biologists tried to push me back in the water, but I was about 15-20 pounds overweight. But one person did ask me if I actually knew where my gym was. So with boating season  just weeks away it’s time to get serious. With the help of Designer Whey products, and a really wonderful friend who has offered to help me, I plan to shed some pounds, get in shape, and feel better about myself.

There are many tips out there about how to stay fit if you have to travel. Many hotels have side deals with local gyms for discounted daily rates. That gets you out of the usually under-equipped, overcrowded hotel fitness center. It also helps me to stay in my own time zone and avoid the west coast late night hunger binge. That really means you’re feeding your body well after 8pm, only the clock says 5pm. And if you’re forced to eat out, and out of your normal time zone, almost any restaurant will let you order a slab of grilled chicken on a bed of greens. Just make sure the dressing is fat free.

So as we sit today, I’m 44 but feel like 55, 245, but feel like 255. Stay tuned and we’ll shed this baggage together!

I am constantly trying to come up with new things to keep my diet and exercise routines interesting so that I don’t get bored and get tempted to go a astray. I know most of you can relate to that! Being that it has been colder in most parts of the country and I been traveling a lot, I have started mixing my vanilla and chocolate protein in with my oatmeal a lot but I also wanted to share with you that I have also been putting it in with my coffee. I know some of you might be thinking GROSS! However I promise you for me it makes me feel as if I getting a vanilla latte or a mocha drink from a local coffee shop.

So I’m not sure if any of you know but I am training for the Boston marathon and as a result of this I have found that I am constantly hungry. Which as you can imagine for me is a little scary. I do however realize that my body is just telling me what it is that I need so I’m OK with it. One thing that I have noticed however, and if any of you are feeling the same way it might help, is that whenever I increase the ways that I add my protein into my diet it prevents me from experiencing as often. So get creative and share with me as well because Lord knows I can always use the help!

I have a lot of really fun things coming up this summer so I hope you will continue to follow my journey as I share my ah ha’s, struggles & triumps.

Till next time- Ali xo

Pros to going to the Gym before you go to work:

Getting up and going to the gym early and getting it in before you go to work can be an absolute godsend. The first time I attempted this it was at the gym that was by my house. This worked out perfectly because I woke up got on my running shoes, some b-ball shorts and an old shirt and took off for a half mile run to the gym. By the time that I got to the gym I was in full alert workout mode and awake and ready to go. I got in there on a specific time frame and just cranked out a quick, smart and gnarly work out. I then ran back to my house, showered, hopped in my car and was at work with time to spare. I then realized that not everyone has the option of just running a half mile to their gym, so I tried it a different way the next day. I woke up got my gear on, grabbed a towel and a little shower kit – put it in a gym bag and grabbed my work clothes, strung them up on the car hangers and went to the gym. By the time I got to the gym I was awake from the incessant blasting of my music on the way there. I put in a full work out, showered and got on my merry little way to work and once again I got their with time to spare…allotting myself the exact same amount of time as the day before.

Not only did I get a full perfect workout in for the day but I went to work feeling like a million bucks! I had really forgotten how that pumped up, bliss filled feeling that you get from working out felt. It is a refreshing burst of energy, a natural fuel that powers your energy levels up and gets the body going. I have totally been missing this feeling because I usually finish my workouts after work and just go home and relax and completely shut down. I totally thought that I might crash later on at work but right about the time that I began to crash, it was lunch time and I ate a well balanced lunch and boom, I was good to go for the rest of the day – just enough of that fuel to power my engine until that old school steam whistle blows and then I am free to become a brain dead veg-head.

Another pro are the people that are at the gym during this time. Yes, you are not the only other person that had this flash of genius to hit the gym early before work. It is actually quite packed in the mornings but the difference is that most people there are in the same mentality that you are. They want/need to get in and out in the most efficient, physical and time restricted manner. From what I have noticed the majority of the people in there any time ranging from 6:30 AM-8:00 AM are all business from the moment they set foot into the establishment until the moment they put that final weight down or complete that final stride on the treadmill. Because of this people seem to be a lot more inviting when it comes to working in. In the morning if I am standing around a piece of equipment I find that people are 3 times as likely to immediately ask if you want to work in with them before you even ask than people working out later in the day or in the afternoon.

Another pro I found was that I was much more likely to do secondary workouts when I got off work. When I say secondary workouts, I am talking about doing cardio and/or working my abs, two things that I constantly neglect do to lack of energy or time constraints. When I would exercise after work I would not have the time or drive to add these onto my workouts.  When I would finish my workouts, I would think to myself “that’ll do” like the father in Babe. I felt good enough just getting in my workout, but if I truly want to meet my fitness goals I need to be able to incorporate these elements on a regular basis.  By going to the gym in the morning, when I get off work my mind state is like hey “it’s just about 20 minutes for 3 miles and about 15 min for abs and then I am out”. This is so much of an easier blow to my motivation take than my mind telling me that right after I just did a full weight workout. It is like the difference between being punched in face once by Erkle – not the actor because that dude is ripped but the character – and taking one in the face by Tyson like Galifinakis in the Hang Over. If you are looking to try and combat the “Itis” I really suggest trying this for a week. But this might not be for you, and the next blog might show you why it might not be for you. But no matter what I believe that one of the four suggestions will fit your lifestyle.  Once again these are simply the opinions of a guy has opinions about anything and everything, take it or leave it as you will.

So today I had my best workout to date.  I wanted to share this with everyone because if even my workouts are getting better and easier, then yours can too.  First of all, let me share the workout routine I do (now for all you hardcore athletes/gym fanatics, this workout isn’t for you, it’s for me!).

I start every workout with a quick stretch, mostly of the legs since my primary exercise is running.  I run 1 mile at 6 miles per hour with a 0% incline, which is a 10-minute mile.  Not terribly fast, but fast enough that if your 260+ lbs and haven’t ran in a year you’ll be out of breath in the first 1/10 of a mile. I power through that mile and slow it down typically to 3 mph, where I briskly walk to catch my breath while still burning some calories.  Now lately I’ve been adding an incline to this, at 3%.  It’s not much, but it works your calves more and it hurts just a little bit more, burning a few more calories.  I usually walk for about 5-6 minutes.  If you have the time, feel free to walk longer, because you’re still exercising.  After my walk I’ll take a breather and drink some Protein Water, then I’ll get on the Swiss Ball and do some crunches, right now I’m at 50 straight through.  After that I’ll pump out 20 push-ups.

Today was my best workout because I didn’t have to grab at the handrails to help catch my breath during my run, my run was a little easier than it has been, I walked at 3.2 mph with an incline of 3.5%, and my crunches and push-ups were easier, even with a chest workout yesterday with my personal trainer/roommate Sergio Sobrino.  And with all the work I’ve been putting in and the help of Designer Whey Protein Water and The Biggest Loser Protein Powder Chocolate Deluxe I’ve managed to shed 4 pounds, bringing me down to 259! Yeah for me! So for everyone out that that’s getting discouraged because the workouts hurt, just keep at it, because it’s GOING to get better!

Also, I’d love to plug Protein Water just one more time.  I drink one of these during/after every workout.  They’re absolutely delicious (today I had Cranapple, which tastes like a juicy, delicious Fuji Apple), and with only 60 calories to a bottle (YES, the entire 16-oz bottle has only 60 calories) and 12 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber and only 1 gram of sugar, they blow Gatorade and Vitamin Water out of the competition for your daily thirst quencher!  My favorite is Pomegranate Fruit.  I could drink these all day.  Literally, they’re good for you!  So pick some up, take it with you on your next workout, and enjoy the fruity goodness while you get healthy.  Take care, until next time!

LET THEM KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT AND NEED!
A few months ago I bloged about me getting a personal trainer to help me with my figure competitions. I was so excited about letting someone else figure out my training schedule and what I needed to be doing. I thought it would be fun for me and a really neat experience. Here is my story.

When I compete for these things my main goal is to learn something new about myself and of course do well. But my training failed me badly and I should have said something but didn’t. Lesson learned. I want everyone to know some signs of a bad trainer. Yes, this is what I experienced and it was very stressful for me. And my contest did not go well.

1. When your trainer can’t remember if it’s an arm or leg day.
2. When your trainer can’t remember your last name or how to spell it.
3. When your trainer is at least 7-10 minutes late EVERY SESSION.
4. When you pay for private training lesson and your trainer brings another girl without asking you and you end up paying for her to workout with you when you wanted a one on one.
5. When after working with your trainer for a month they can’t remember what weight you need for a 12 rep bicep curl.
6. When you want to workout with your trainer one week before contest and he/she doesn’t want to come in at 8am because it’s too early. Then you miss 4 workouts that you really needed the support on.
7. When your trainer tells you not to do cardio. (Weird one)
8. When your trainer makes fun of everybody in the gym and doesn’t pay attention to you.

I should of stopped training with this guy as soon as he said that he thought Designer Whey protein drinks would make me bloated… RED FLAG RIGHT THERE!!!!! I think the only thing that kept me sane during this time was my Designer Whey drinks and protein powders!!! Yes… that’s pretty sad but my drinks got me through.
I think I was just trying to be nice but ended up losing in the long run.
So as a trainer I learned a lot with this horrible experience by making sure I’m smart with my clients!

So be aware of these trainer downfalls and if you experience any of these… RUN!!!!!!!!!!

Trainer Becs

Hope this finds you healthier then the day before. Today is National ‘start eating healthy day’. So I ask you, what changes are you going to make to eat healthier? Me, I started eating breakfast again. I discovered I like Greek yogurt with frozen fruit and a little granola for some crunch. Greek yogurt is packed with protein! I also have 1 cup of skim milk with a scoop of my Designer Whey Protein Powders. I mix up the flavors for a variety. Some days I have chocolate, some day’s vanilla, some day’s strawberry and some days The Biggest Loser brand. I like the variety. I find that when I do this I have fewer cravings for sweets and for me that is a major plus! I have been packing my lunch and snacks. Lately I been packing whole wheat 100 calorie bagel with good turkey slices and just a smidgen of low fat mayo (I don’t like mustard) along with fruit and a string cheese for my snack. My kids love the 100 calorie bagels.  They think they are cute! Hey, if cute has them eating better… Go for it!

Did you watch the Biggest Loser this week? Wow, they were at The White House this episode.

At The White House

All the people who came out to exercise with Bob and Jillian and the contestants were amazing! This proves Americans are not lazy we just need a plan and guidance. I am disappointed our President did not come out with his family that would have been the frosting on the cake. I felt bad for Tracey for all the havoc she took for doing what she did to remain in the game. I probably would have done the same. Did you see Tracey’s “How are they doing now” segment? Holy cow! She looks great. I cried when she re-ran that mile that the contestants ran on their first challenge. And Daniel almost at the 200 pound mark, Shay under the 400 pound mark! Wow, what opportunity! Like Bob said, this is the “Biggest Loser Movement”

I recently bought the Biggest Loser Jump Start book and Jillian Michael’s Master Your Metabolism; still have to read them. But one cool thing is you can look up the old contestants and request to be their friend on Facebook. Designer Whey has a Facebook fan page as well. You will want to add Designer Whey to your friends list because they will let you know when coupons are available or special promotions. They have recipes, encouragement and lots of great people to support you. Plus it can save you a few bucks and that is always good!

I got the Biggest Loser Wii game and so far my kids are doing the game and they love it. I need to find time for my time to play too! The other day my 9 year old sweetheart got my Jump Start Book out and my Biggest Loser music CD. She went in our living room popped in the CD and was reading how to do the exercises. Then got a towel for her mat and was doing the exercises. So I asked her what made her just start doing the exercises and she said, “well, mom first of all its fun and second I want to stay fit. Why don’t you come do some of these with me sometime”, bless her heart! Maybe it’s that easy, think exercise as being fun and wanting to be fit… hmmmm OK, Note to self… Exercise is fun and keeps you fit.” end of note.

Have a great one friends, today day a great day to drink your whey and start eating healthy.

Camille

I know you all are watching our favorite show that our favorite protein powders.…Oh yeah baby… The Biggest Loser show has begun and Designer Whey is the chosen protein meal! I love it and it’s good for us too!

Biggest Loser Proteins 10oz and 2GO

This season is so full of emotion, challenges and people over coming difficult past life experiences that have contributed to their weight. For me, I have never experienced being thin. I was a fat baby, a fat child, a fat teen, a fat adult, a fat mom and am a fat wife. Biggest Losers Season 8 sure has had a ton of information. So much information that I had to watch the shows two times to get the info down. I wanted to share some of my notes.

·        You can do it!
·        Realize how ill we are being obese
·        Let go of the past
·        Say you deserve to be happy
·        A lot of pounds are wounds that need healing
·        Must have plans… eating plan, exercise plan and recovery plan
·        A calorie is a unit of energy
·        Read the labels
·        Weigh your food on a scale
·        Keep a food journal…all food and all drink
·        Plan 3 meals and 2 snacks a day
·        Prepare meals ahead of time for the entire week
·        Use Ziploc bags for prepared meals and mark each meal
·        Proportion control every meal
·        3-4 ounces of meat
·        Cook your food by baking, poaching, steaming, grilling on non-stick grill or broil
·        When eating pasta eat ½ cup and fill in the rest with veggies
·        Snacks with protein are a must
·        No Soda
·        Weight loss foundation for any plan…calories in calories out
·        The way we manipulate our diet will determine the most calories out before we even start to exercise
·        To accelerate calories out…exercise
·        Circuit training for a variety
·        Protein refuels muscles, gives fullness feeling, and maintains blood sugar
·        After you workout you must get protein in to keep the body burning calories. Bob suggests 2 scoops of the Designer Whey Biggest Loser Protein Powder with 16 ounces of water
·        The contestants are just like you. They are doing it and you can do it too!
 
Well, friends keep watching… keep drinking (your designer whey that is)

I am on my Whey!
Camille

 
Don’t: not wipe the equipment when you are done using it.

     There is absolutely nothing more repulsive than going to use a bench after Boris the 3 ton muscle machine just used it, and laying down unknowingly in a puddle of pure sweat.  It is a well known fact, even if you grace the presence of a bottom feeder on the IQ food chain, that when you do something to put your body in a constant state of motion/action/resistance that after a while you will begin to perspire (or more simply put – if you are highly active for more than thirty seconds at a time you are bound to sweat). With this common human knowledge ingrained into about 98.5% of the human population from about the age of four, it bewilders me as to why people, knowing this fact, believe that they do not sweat when in the gym on the gym’s equipment.  I see people who step off the treadmill, wipe the sweat from their brow and 30 seconds later hop onto a bench or a machine with some type of seating. Which in and of itself is completely fine, but then when they are done they just get up and walk away as their sweat glistens in a large stain left on that particular piece of equipment. This is just not ok in any situation. You would not go running for 20 minutes and then sit on your friends couch drenched in sweat (unless you are trying to mess with them somehow). At the gym it is slightly different, because it is ok to sit on that bench or seat after running for thirty minutes, but it is not ok to walk away without wiping down the equipment after using it. Whether you do it with a personal towel that you bring from home or a wipe that the gym offers, just simply take the 20 extra seconds to somewhat sanitize the equipment after you use it. The last thing that anyone wants is to get SARS from trying to reach a new bench mark on the press.

Do: WIPE DOWN THE EQUIPMENT AFTER USING IT

    There are a plethora of options when trying to complete this task.  One, you can actually follow gym rules (4 out of the five different chains of gyms had this in the bi-laws) and bring a towel with you to work out. Two, you can grab the disinfectant spray and a paper towel from one of the many different stations around most gyms and spray down the equipment and then wipe. Three, if you don’t have access to the spray or a disinfectant wipe, just take a paper towel at least to equipment so that you are at least lowering the level of precipitating moisture droppings that have gathered congregated where you last laid or sat. Any one of these three options should take you no longer than a minute total. Look at it this way it is the perfect amount of time to segway from one exercise to another – by cleaning the machinery you are giving yourself ample rest time between exercises, which ultimately allows for a more productive workout. Time and time again the solution boils down to common decency and the age old saying “do one to thy neighbor as you would have them do to you.” There are no secrets, no magic tricks, just simplistic everyday character traits to follow – that we should all be doing normally in society in general. Even though you may wipe down your bench completely you are still going to get that person who comes along and wipes it down again. Don’t get upset at this, some people are hyper clean, which is their own prerogative. It is the same as if you made a perfectly good hamburger and you think it is best served with just mayo and someone loads it up with ketchup and relish. They still think it is delicious, they just know their taste. But the important thing to remember here is to at least provide the hamburger by giving at the bare minimum a quick machine wipe down.

As always : PLEASE BE SAFE!

Thank You,

DESIGNER WHEY