Jesse: Fall is in the Air!

Sniff, sniff, sniff…. is that fall in the air? It smells like pumpkin spice and everything nice. I love me some pumpkin spice coffee, don’t judge.

Fall is here but where did my summer go? Who knew that dedicating myself to creating a better life would also mean that time would fly by. Summer classes taking away most of my yearly adventure time I feel like I am just getting started and now I have to return back to the books for the fall semester.

It is a lot more quiet now that all the young kids are back in school (don’t pretend you didn’t just nod your head and say ‘Thank Goodness’) so we can all really focus on our health and physiques before the holidays get here and ruin everything.

If only it were that easy, right? I know I have several classes this semester and me being the dedicated student that I am means that most of every day is filled with blocks of study or class time. So full, in fact, that if I am not at the gym by 530 every morning this semester then I can kiss an opportunity to crush a workout goodbye.

Such is the sacrifice I have to make right now. There is no opportunity to say ‘eh, I can do it tomorrow’ and if there was I wouldn’t feel right taking it.

My goals this fall is to continue to lose body fat even in the face of upcoming holidays. My first attainable step for that goal is getting in my workouts even if I have to wake up at the crack of dawn to do it. With this step I know that I will have a good start to the day allowing my body to burn its fuel at peak efficiency thus helping me study/learn better and lower my bodyfat at the same time.

As far as strength goes I still have goals I am going to try and reach. Those still are a 500lb dead lift, 500lb squat and 350lb bench press. Although, I am slowing down the speed at which I reach those goals so I can focus more on the kind of lifting that will help me burn the most fat (that is what I am trying to get rid of after all). Devon (You all know who Devon is right? If not you may want to find her! ) and I have decided to go with a higher repetition, lower rest between sets type of routines. So I will reach these goals but at a slightly slower pace.

So I now invite you to harass, hound, poke, or ridicule me if you do not see me in the gym working out by 530 in the morning. You’re not up at 530? Well that’s ok feel free to find me on Facebook or twitter and ask me if I made it to the gym. 

I’ll be honest.

See you at the gym.

Jesse: Sometimes you Just Need to Stop and Climb a Mountain!

Wake up, gym, study, work, sleep, wake up, gym, study, work, sleep. That was pretty much the essence of my summer. I barely got a hike in. The to-do list kept growing, work that needed to be done at home was being put aside and work that needed to be done on my car had all but been forgotten. I needed to spend time with my family, I needed to spend time with my friends, but those needs kept getting pushed back as the size of my plate and the things being put on it grew.

                  To top it off, I had gotten a reality check when I did a body composition test at UNH. I was not as far along in my quest for fat loss as I had thought. The thought of all the hard work that I had done didn’t amount to as much as I thought. Now, I’m not discounting my achievements I just didn’t come as far along as I hoped. This little fact added to the stress of all the things that were going on in my life. I needed to press a reset button.

                  So I decided to take a challenge from my fellow blogger Sandy which was to do something spontaneous. So this morning (Monday August 18^th) I did just that. Instead of waking up and doing my regular routine I decided to go hit my reset button. I did my favorite hike up Mt. Major and hung out for a little while. I forgot about the whole world for just a little while and enjoyed the views and being out in nature. It was just long enough for me to regroup my thoughts, clear my head of nonsense, and be reminded of why I am doing all this in the first place.

                  So now I can continue my journey with full steam and even step it up a couple notches. Be prepared for some videos. Why? Because I’m a nerd.

I’ll see you in the gym.

(P.S. You didn’t think I’d hike all the way up and not grab some good pictures, did you?)

A Word from Cathy, PT at WDH: Plantar Fasciitis

Blogger Sandy has been troubled with Plantar Faciitis recently and thought a word from Physical Therapist, Cathy from Wentworth Douglass Hospital on the topic would be beneficial!  Always consult your physician if you have concerns.  

Plantar Fasciitis is a common foot problem most people encounter especially when they have increased their activity recently or have changed shoes,bought new sneakers/shoes that are different from their normal. The earlier you notice the heel/arch pain the better chance you have of getting rid of it. 

Here are some Do's and Don't's:

 1) Don't go barefoot, usually the pain is worse when you do this. Keep supportive shoes on.

 2) Do calf or /runners stretch. Ask a trainer on proper form.

 3) Ice the heel often 2-3 times per day. Use a waterbottle place it in the freezer;then place under your foot and roll it under your arch /heel for 2-3 minutes.

 4) Try to wear supportive shoes the support the heel and arch at all times.

If the pain doesn't subside in 1-2 weeks you should see your doctor and be sure to follow up w/a physical therapist.

Follow a Member's Experience in Pro Fitness Program!

A Note from Samantha Merchant, Fitness Director at The Works Family Health & Fitness Center:

Many people join a gym, but not everyone gets the results that they are looking for.  Perhaps you are one of them.  Have you ever wondered why that is?  We have too, and we have found an answer for you; The Pro Fitness Program.  This program is a unique club service and experience used by clubs all across North America.  Used by more than 800 fitness & lifestyle professionals, this program is truly the leader in the fitness industry.  

The Works wanted to you to see how this program can make a difference in a person's life.  We asked one of our members to partake in the Pro Fitness program and document her experience for everyone to see.  Barbara is a real person, experiencing many of the same struggles most of our members experience.  Follow her story and discover what it means to be a part of the Pro Fitness Experience at The Works. 

"For most of my life I have been fairly active. More at some times and less at other times. I have struggled with body issues my whole life. I am seeking peace. Not a magic number. I will not have a six pack. I will always be a curvy girl because that is how I am built. More than that I would not want to forgo all the little pleasures in life to make that happen. I would be miserable with no coffee, flour or sugar. That is not what I am seeking. I am seeking to change my mind set. To silence my inner judge. To embrace health. To feel good."