AT YOUR SIDE...private exerciseAT YOUR SIDE...private exercise

• Increased cardiovascular fitness by 20_25 percent
• Increased flexibility and muscle strength
• Decreased depression and anxiety
• Weight loss
• Lower blood pressure
• Dramatic reduction of the risk of heart disease
• Stronger immune system
• Prevention of bone loss
• Increases circulation and adrenaline through the brain

• Always start with warm-up exercises and end with cool down exercises. Do what is comfortable; stop if you feel pain.
• Make a commitment to exercise on a regular basis. Set aside a certain amount of time every day and stick to it! 
  Remember, your comfort range changes daily, so don't get discouraged if you can't do the same amount of exercise as you did the day before.
• If, after exercising, you find that fatigue and/or discomfort last longer than one or two hours, then cut back on your session the next day but don't stop completely. Try limiting the number of repetitions for that muscle group, then move on to a different set of muscles.
• Don't overwork muscles; don't go for the burn! Use slow, controlled movements.
• Never exercise hot or inflamed joints. If joints are stiff, use warm, moist heat before exercising.
• Concentrate on exercises that improve and maintain your range of motion, lubricate the joints and keep muscles flexible. You will find your everyday activities easier to carry out and you'll have less pain, too. Your confidence, independence and balance will increase.
• Accept your limitations. Instead of focusing on what you can't do, think about what you can do. Positive thoughts are known to produce positive results.

Lesley, At Your Side

ACE Certified Advanced Personal Trainer and Health Coach

information for this blog taken from the ACE ^{®  _{Health Coach Manual}}

                     

Research: Recent studies show why we overeat—and offer practical clues on controlling the size of our meals, snacks and drinks.

Over the past few decades, portion sizes of everything from pizza to bagels have swelled by an average of two to five times in America (Young 2006).

“Unfortunately, waistlines have followed suit,” says Lisa R. Young, PhD, RD, adjunct nutrition professor at New York University and author of The Portion Teller Plan (Three Rivers 2006). When researchers at the University of North Carolina analyzed data from food surveys conducted in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and the past decade, they concluded that the average daily energy intake of a U.S. citizen increased from 1,803 kilocalories (kcal) in 1977–78 to 2,374 kcal in 2003-06 (Duffey et al. 2011)—a rise of nearly 32%, and more than enough to contribute to our expanding collective girths.

For the most part, Young says, large quantities of cheap food have distorted our perceptions of what proper portions are supposed to look like. “We also view a heaping serving of food as a bargain,” she adds. The overload is happening everywhere—in fast-food restaurants, fine-dining establishments, coffee shops and even cherished cookbooks. In examining 18 recipes published in every edition of the iconic Joy of Cooking since it first appeared in 1936, Cornell University scientists found that average calories per serving haved jumped 63% in the past 70 years (Wansink & Payne 2009). Changes in serving sizes were determined to be a leading factor behind the increases.

Thankfully, there are strategies you can use to reclaim control of food portions. Whether you are ditching oversized dinnerware or being more mindful of what you are shoveling in, these tips can help prevent portions and waistlines from swelling.

See Red

Want to curtail calorie intake? Try serving dinner on a red plate. A 2012 study published in the journal Appetite, discovered that people consumed less when food was placed on a red plate rather than a blue or white one, and they drank smaller amounts of sweetened beverages from a red-labeled cup than they did from a blue-labeled one (Genschow, Reutner & Wänke 2012). Of note, no differences in hunger levels were found among the volunteers, even when they ate less, and the color red did not reduce the overall appeal of the food or drinks. The study authors believe that because we have learned to associate red with danger and a warning to stop, it can act as a cue for consumption control. Adorning the dining area with red placemats and napkins may be another way to keep food intake in check.

Downsize
Research proves that downsizing plates, bowls and drink glasses can play a big role in portion control. A 2012 Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior study found that when participants were given a large-sized bowl, they served themselves 77% more pasta than when they were given a smaller bowl (Van Kleef, Shimizu & Wansink 2012). In a separate study, nutrition experts served themselves 31% more ice cream when given a 34-ounce bowl than when armed with a 17-ounce one (Wansink, van Ittersum & Painter 2006). Further, their servings increased by an additional 14.5% when they were using a larger serving spoon.

Because we seem to eat with our eyes rather than our stomachs and tend to eat much of what we serve ourselves, Young says, serving meals and snacks on smaller plates can trick us into thinking we’ve eaten more. “Try serving main courses on salad-sized plates and your salads on main-dish plates,” adds Young. The Portion Plate (www.theportionplate.com) can help you visualize proper serving sizes for meats, grains, vegetables and fruits.


Rise and Dine
A recent University of Missouri study demonstrates that eating breakfast can help control appetite and regulate food intake throughout the day (Leidy et al. 2011). For 3 weeks, subjects either skipped breakfast or consumed a 500-calorie meal. Consuming breakfast led to increased fullness and reductions in hunger throughout the morning, an outcome that could assist with portion control later in the day. Further, brain scans before lunch showed that activation of regions controlling food motivation and reward was lower when subjects consumed breakfast. A high-protein breakfast was particularly effective at quelling hunger, likely by helping to slow digestion. Healthy protein options for breakfast include hard-boiled eggs, plain Greek yogurt, nuts and low-fat cottage cheese.

Scale Back
Most people can’t grasp what 4 ounces of chicken breast or 1 ounce of cheese looks like—yet these portions are considered appropriate for a calorie-controlled diet. “Adding a digital food scale to the kitchen can help people understand what real portion sizes look like,” notes Young. “It may come as a shock to learn that your typical steak serving is 8 ounces or more, a lot more than what most people should eat.” She adds that using measuring cups for items like cereal can also help keep portions in line with what is stated on product nutrition labels.

Stave Off Snack Attacks
A recent study by scientists at Yale University showed that falling glucose levels can trigger a reward region in the brain that leads to heightened cravings for belly-busting, high-calorie fare such as cakes, pizza and ice cream (Page et al. 2011). In overweight people, the effect may be even more pronounced. The brain uses glucose as its primary fuel, so when glucose levels drop, it tells you to seek out food—portion control be damned. A grumbling stomach can also chip away at willpower. Take back control by making sure you eat something every few hours; include healthy snacks such as yogurt with berries; hummus and raw veggies; or whole-grain crackers with 1 tablespoon of almond butter.

Pay Attention
Eat your meals and snacks in the kitchen or dining room, not on the couch in front of the television. A review of studies published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that TV viewing was strongly associated with higher consumption of calorie-dense drinks and foods and lower consumption of fruit and vegetables in both adults and children (Pearson & Biddle 2011).

Chew on This
In today’s fast-paced world, many of us wolf down our food. Well, it’s time to eat at a snail’s pace. A 2011 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition investigation discovered that subjects consumed 12% fewer calories when they chewed each bite 40 times than when they chewed just 15 times (Li et al. 2011). More chewing resulted in an increased release of hunger-quashing gut hormones, such as cholecystokinin, and lower levels of ghrelin, a hormone that stokes appetite.

Eating slowly and savoring food may also explain, in part, why rates of obesity are lower in France than in North America. A 2003 study reported that average American McDonald’s® customers spent 35% less time at the table than their French counterparts (Rozin et al. 2003). Scarfers, beware: Pacing yourself gives the gut and brain enough time to register satiety signals. Make it a goal at every meal to put down utensils after each bite and chew thoroughly. Do not grab the fork again until your mouth is completely empty. Chewing food thoroughly also leads to better digestion.

Start Right
The right appetizer can keep calorie intake within reason. A 2012 study by researchers at Pennsylvania State University showed that people who ate a 100-calorie salad 20 minutes before digging into a pasta meal reduced their total caloric intake for the meal by 11% (Roe, Meengs & Rolls 2012). The same laboratory found that eating a raw apple 15 minutes before a test meal cut caloric intake by 15% (Flood-Obbagy & Rolls 2009). Preceding meals with low-calorie, fiber-rich items like vegetables and fruits can boost satiety, making it less likely you’ll dole out copious amounts of spaghetti or ask for second helpings of meatloaf. But don’t expect the same benefit when you order calorie-laden appetizers like spinach artichoke dip or calamari.

Slice Away Calories
Cutting calories could be as simple as cutting up your food. A 2011 study published in Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that subjects who ate whole pieces of candy while participating in a computer task consumed about 60 more calories than those who nibbled on candies that were sliced in half (Marchiori, Waroquier & Klein 2011). Both groups consumed the same total number of candy pieces—six to seven whole candies or six to seven candy halves. No substantial hunger differences were found between the groups. “Given that we tend to consume a similar number of food items, altering the size of these food items can lead to an increase or decrease in food intake,” says lead study author David Marchiori, PhD, teacher in the social sychology unit at Free University of Brussels. We tend to think of one chicken breast as an appropriate serving size regardless of whether it is 3 ounces or 6. So try slicing up items like steak, chicken and potatoes into smaller portions before putting them on serving plates.

Sleep Tight
Here’s another reason to get a good night’s sleep: An investigation by scientists at New York Obesity Research Center found that subjects fed themselves about 300 more calories when sleep-deprived than they did after sleeping normally (St-Onge et al. 2011). Why does lack of pillow time lead to the munchies? A 2012 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study reported that subjects who slept only 4 hours showed more brain activity in response to food stimuli than those who got 9 hours of shut-eye (St-Onge et al. 2012). So a poor night’s sleep could cause the concept of portion control to go AWOL and make it more likely that you’ll give into your food desires.

Choose True Grit
Fiber-rich foods slow down digestion and minimize blood sugar fluctuations. Incorporating these foods into snacks and meals will boost satiety and tame hunger, making it less likely you’ll eat Garfield-sized portions. A study in the journal Appetite found that volunteers felt fuller after consuming high-fiber bread than they did when they consumed the same number of calories from fiber-poor white bread (Keogh et al. 2011). Men should aim for 38 grams of fiber a day and women for about 25 grams, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND 2012). To reach the mark, it’s important to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains.

Keep Your Distance
At your next meal, try this suggestion from Cornell University: Keep extra food away from the dining table. Cornell scientists found that when subjects kept pasta and pudding serving-dishes off the table, obliging the subjects to serve themselves from dishes on the kitchen counter or on the stove, they ate an average of 20% fewer calories (Payne et al. 2010). The study authors surmised it was a case of “out of sight, out of mind.” The less effort it is to eat, the easier it is to shovel in food. Try this: Dole out a portion of food onto a plate or into a bowl and then place the rest in the refrigerator. The visual cue of a clean plate will help signal that you’ve had enough to eat. “This also applies to snack food like nuts, where it’s best not to have a bagful nearby,” says Young.

Eat Your Calories
It’s okay to have a glass of orange juice with breakfast or a post workout protein shake, but it’s important that most of your daily calories come from solid food. A study conducted by scientists at the University of Kansas Medical Center found that post meal hunger and desire to eat were greater when subjects consumed liquid calories than when they consumed the same amount of energy from solid food (Leidy et al. 2010). The investigation found that the solid meal led to a greater drop in ghrelin, the hunger-producing hormone, than the liquid meal. “The body doesn’t respond to liquid calories in the same way it would if those calories came in the form of whole food,” explains Young. “So it’s possible that drinking too many of your calories could lead to overeating by increasing hunger.”

Be the Chef
Portions doled out at restaurants have been growing over the last several decades. When you leave the food prep to someone else, you always raise the risk of getting more calories than you bargained for. “Cooking more of your meals allows you to become better aware of appropriate portions and often leads to eating higher amounts of healthful foods,” Young says. But make sure to use measuring spoons, scales and other devices to keep sneaky excess calories out of your meals. For example, don’t just hold a bottle of oil over a skillet or salad bowl—measure out what you need.


SIDEBAR: Did You Know?
Using smaller plates, bowls and drink glasses can reduce how much you eat.
Eating breakfast can control appetite all day.
Watching TV while eating creates a distraction that causes you to eat more.
The more you chew, the fewer calories you’re likely to consume.
Cutting food into smaller bites can help you eat less.
“Low-fat” foods often boost flavor with extra sugar, making calorie savings an illusion.


Matthew Kadey, MS, RD, is a dietitian, freelance nutrition writer and recipe developer based in Canada. He has written for dozens of magazines, including Runner’s World, Men’s Health, Shape, Vegetarian Times and Fitness.

A shoulder to cry on about.

Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is stiffness, pain, and limited range of movement in your shoulder that may follow an injury. The tissues around the joint stiffen, scar tissue forms, and shoulder movements become difficult and painful.

Frozen shoulder occurs:
After surgery or injury.
Most often in people 40 to 70 years old.
More often in women (especially in postmenopausal women) than in men.
Most often in people with chronic diseases.
Frozen shoulder can develop when you stop using the joint normally because of pain, injury, or a chronic health condition, such as diabetes or arthritis. Any shoulder problem can lead to frozen shoulder if you do not work to keep full range of motion. So, a little attention and prevention can go a long way to defrost the frozen shoulder.
Shoulder girdle strengthening can be done anywhere and with the lightest bit of resistance a using either rubber tubing or 3 lbs dumbbells.
Here is one to try!
Starting with elbows parallel with the floor, wrists in line with the elbows, exhale and rotate the wrists up to align with your ears. Don't cheat by bringing your head forward or break angle at the wrist.  Contract your shoulder girdle without raising your shoulders up.  Repeat 20x you'll feel the burn.
Exercises can help relieve shoulder pain related to rotator cuff disorders. Stretching and strengthening exercises can help you properly use your shoulder to minimize further damage and can also improve strength and flexibility of related muscles and tendons.

Here's the disclaimer:
Most rotator cuff disorders like frozen shoulder are resolved with exercises that are combined with other home treatment methods, such as rest, ice, heat, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If exercise and other home treatment methods do not sufficiently relieve painful symptoms or improve strength and range of motion, your rotator cuff may have a complete tear that needs surgery, or you may have another condition.

Techno Gym Kenisis One^®                    The full body workout-  

The first time I worked out on one of these machines, it was in top secret.

I had a few minutes to demo it at an anonyomous celebrity's home.  I was considering equipping my new gym with one so naturally, I had to see what the buzz was all about.  A Techno Gym home personal unit costs over 15,000 US dollars!  Are you kidding? Needless to say, that's a lot of sweat for one machine!  The pictures below of me training on a Techno Gym Kenisis One^® were not taken at At Your Side but rather at the Body Holiday- Le Sport in St Lucia this past January.

The Kenesis One^® concepts are simple:  convenience and versatility and for that, it delivers.  There is no real need for any other machines if you are looking for an all in one!  There are endless options for exercises one can perform and it was so easy moving from one exercise to the next.  Just choose your resistance with the pull of a pin, grab the handles, and start moving!  Great for my 15 minute vacation workout.  But as far as At Your Side, where we need to accommodate more than one person training at the same time, I'm sticking with my Tuff Stuff equipment.  My motto:  "It's not all about the trendy, expensive equipment with lots of bells and whistles.  It's the trainer who can make or break your workouts."   Lesley

Techno Gym Kenisis One^®               The full body workout-  

The first time I worked out on one of these machines, it was in top secret.

I had a few minutes to demo it at an anonymous celebrity's home.  I was considering equipping my new gym with one so naturally, I had to see what the buzz was all about.  A Techno Gym home personal unit costs over 15,000 US dollars!  Are you kidding? Needless to say, that's a lot of sweat for one machine!  The pictures below of me training on a Techno Gym Kenisis One^® were not taken at At Your Side but rather at the Body Holiday- Le Sport in St Lucia this past January.

The Kenesis One^® concepts are simple:  convenience and versatility and for that, it delivers.  There is no real need for any other machines if you are looking for an all in one!  There are endless options for exercises one can perform and it was so easy moving from one exercise to the next.  Just choose your resistance with the pull of a pin, grab the handles, and start moving!  Great for my vacation 15 minute workout.  But as far as At Your Side, where we need to accommodate more than one person training at the same time, I'm sticking with my Tuff Stuff equipment.  My motto:  "It's not all about the trendy, expensive equipment with lots of bells

EZ Jump Rope_®








                 Okay, I know what you are probably thinking.
How silly to use a jump rope without the middle.  But that's my 77 year old client jumping and she's been going 60 secs!   Do you know how hard it would be for her to jump rope continuously for a minute with a regular jump rope?
Jumping rope is a hard sell for my women over 40.  "It's embarrassing", "It hurts  my knees",  "I'm not wearing the right bra"and not to  forget the old  "I don't want to jump rope because I have bladder issues!"  But, with these EZ jump ropes, I get them on board no problem.  Their feet don't even have to leave the ground to be effective.  Bouncing on a trampoline while coordinating arm spinning takes the heart rate up for  interval training and it is FUN!  No tripping over the middle and therefore, NO excuse for STOPPING!
And that's what it's all about.  Making clients feel good, successful and sessions that get your sweat on.


Lesley Goldberg
At Your Side Private Exercise
223 S. Robertson Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
(310) 275-5635
Www.AtYourSidePrivateExercise.com

Why not blog?  Everyone else is doing it.  But why would anyone bother reading mine?

For one, I don't make fitness videos or lend my image for fitness books. I have never been a reality T.V. star nor have I trained a celebrity on set for their big movie for that matter. My journey has been a simple one; an under the radar, consistent, predictable "journey".  Okay,  so I love to watch reality T.V. and I am using the word "journey".  Shoot me.

I have, however, been a card holding fitness professional for over 25 years, have trained hundreds of clients through thousands of workouts and for the last 23 years, my studio -At Your Side- has been a revolving door for dozens of personal trainers, some good, some terrible, all who start under my roof, build up their clientele and then move on to do any and or all combination of the above mentioned.

For those who don’t know me personally, you should know that although I am a personal trainer, I don’t let my bodyfat percentage run my life.  I exercise for about 30 minutes a couple times a week and the main reason that I do it is because after a few days of not exercising, I become grouchy, unfocused and feel like I can’t get anything else done.  But that’s just me.

I have a passion for my studio and want each client and trainer that enters leave with a better sense of well being than when they walked in. 

And to keep things fun and lite, I seek out and try new fitness products hence my studio has a lot of "toys".

Certainly all that must lend itself to earning me at least some "cred" in the business.  This blog is going to be my outlet, giving you the skinny on the fitness stuff I run across.  Will it be Cool? or Crap?  Who will get the final rose?  There I go again.

Stay tuned

Lesley Goldberg- Owner At Your Side Private Exercise

223 S. Robertson Blvd. Beverly Hills, CA 90211

       

I must be the only trainer who has never used a kettlebell.  I'll admit that I have not taken time to learn kettlebell moves or watched any of the many cranked out kettlebell DVDs.  I just can't get past thinking about how much it would hurt to get hit by one.  I know people who say they use them for their in home workouts however, with a ten year old kid who likes to play with my toys, all I can visualize if I had kettlebells at my house is having to replace mirrors.  But my clients get bored and I'm always on the look out for new creative ways to change up workout routines. So, with a moratorium on kettlebells, I had to search beyond.  Alas, for adding some fun, resistance, variety and something that won't dent the floor when you drop them.. look no further! 

In a word, Sandbells^®

   You can toss them in the air, or throw them on the ground! 

They are great looking and colorful too.  In my opinion, a much friendlier choice all around.
Here are some fun, functional exercises that you can do with weighted Sandbells^_®. 
Balance one on your head!   

  Rest them on your shoulders.     

  Toss 'em.           

  Oh, and pass them under your legs! 

Stack them, slide them, your kids can even play with them.

I love my SandBells_^®

                          

So my friend Tracy Metro, did this infomercial for the Teeter Hang Ups^_®. She believes in this piece so wholeheartedly that she sold her leg press to make room in her home gym for one!  Unfortunately, Tracy knows a lot about back injuries because currently, both her husband and her dad are suffering with terrible back pain.  P.S. I don't think Tracy will be upset with me for mentioning that because "Tracy" could be code for "insert your name here".  Right?  Anyway, back to the Teeter Hang Ups^_®.  Some of the Trainers and clients at my gym have been requesting an inversion table so today Tracy said I could come over and check it out and decide for myself what all the buzz was about.     Wheee!        I want one of these for my house!
 
Between blogging, updating facebook, linking in, yelping, checking Google analytics, and now twittering, I am sitting in front of a screen a few hours a day.  I now know first hand why 80% of the adult population has back pain.  All this screen time has my shoulders, neck and back completely cramping up.  I just want to stay like this for hours. 



















Maybe this is why the footprint of gyms are changing.  The stereotypical gyms loaded with heavy weights and traditional equipment are fading out and closing while the functional, creative workouts are moving in.  People are looking to get away from equipment with chairs and benches and are craving for more creative ways to workout and feel good.  Finally, vibe and service is trumping bells and whistles. Case in point: The sale of The Sports Club LA to Equinox. But hey, that's a whole other Oprah. 
Most Trainers get it too. Why lay on a mat and do boring, old, ineffective crunches when you can be doing something challenging, fun and cool like this?

Call it tradition.  Call it fun.  My girlfriends and I have been getting together to catch up, gossip and laugh for...wait for it...

28 years!   

The common need for us to connect in person every so often, grounds us. I feel extremely lucky to have the support of my girls.  But that's not what this blog is about.  It's the subplot rather, which is always the same story.  Can you guess? Yes, it's all about the FOOD.  We all bring FOOD! And we bring a lot of it!  My friends Lisa and Debby, who teach cooking classes, always whip up dishes making the FOOD not only plentiful but amazing.  Why do we gather and eat?  Easy.  When guys get together they drink, when women get together we EAT!
We don't need an excuse either by the way.  But let's call this one "Labor Day", the end of Summer, the last weekend before our kids finally go back to school.  I just called it CARBAgeddon!!
Here's lies a big problem with a bunch of my female clients.  Some women actually gain weight over the summer; a time when it's actually "bathing suit season" How backwards is that?  For years I have been searching for a simple Cure for Beating CARBAgeddon.  FOUND ONE ON LINE!  It is called the 11 day Diet for Idiots.  I did not name it that by the way.  It happens to be a very easy way to get your nutritional plan back on track.  It even squashed me and my husband's three bag a week potato chip habit.

When a client tells me that he or she has gained a few extra pounds or is eating out of control, I recommend this plan.  It only requires a two week commitment, you can choose your foods from a list of healthy foods, there is no calorie counting, you are required to eat 4 times a day and drink lots of water, you can also drink coffee (I wouldn't bother if you couldn't), and on the 12th, 13th,and 14th day you can eat pasta, potatoes, rice and dessert!

The basic principles of this plan are metabolic confusion and food combining.  There are plenty of fruits and vegetables, protein, nuts and dairy if you choose plus, there is NO BOOK to read.

The website spits out an eleven day meal by meal program for you.  Check it out on line!  Don't let carbs bring you down.  Personally, I would never give them up either.

Five Fingers^_® -Cool or Fool?

Seems like the jury is still out on these.  However over this past year, as far as fitness trends go, this one has really taken off in the trainer world.

The first person I ever saw wearing a pair of these amphibian looking shoes was teaching the TRX^_® training course I did 8 years ago.  I remember thinking that they were the oddest looking things I'd ever seen. Then I forgot about them.  Cut to early 2010,  I spy a trainer walking thru Beverly Hills wearing a bright blue pair of them. Hard to miss!  I assumed he was a trainer working at the high end Sports Club LA because A- he was leaving the Starbucks on North Beverly Drive and B- he was wearing a shirt that said "TRAINER" on the back.  Just as I am getting tired of my clients questioning me about those funky Shape-Ups^_® that Brook Burke is pitching BOOM! barefoot technology pops up on the scene.  What the #%*?  As a fitness trainer should I be recommending heavy, unstable, ankle twisting platform shoes or waterproof, pinkie toe engaging, feel the pebbles beneath your feet, glove like slippers? They are completely opposite in theory.  More pressing.....Which one's should I try?

Unfortunately for me, the Five Fingers^® booth at the IDEA fitness expo completely sold out of my size so getting a pair half off was not an option. They both cost about $100 but being that I had just dropped $450 for new orthodics, I was not psyched about buying either one. Curiosity was starting to get the best of me thus I began my investigation.

The results that the Shape Ups promise are compelling. Let's see, I want toned thighs and a shapely butt but I also have bi-lateral bunions and a fair amount of callus build up on my feet either from my maternal genetic gene pool or from years of gymnastics. Doesn't matter they are ugly and can be painful so if I can prevent my toes from developing further joint damage with a side of smoother, softer feet by going with barefoot technology, that definitely trumps my ass.

It wasn't until  I was two days into my vacation back East, when my sister-in-law mentioned to me that her trainer swears by the Five Fingers^®.  I made her take me to this store on route 17 to finally try a pair on. Now, I have been warned that  these shoes are hard to put on and take some getting used to but for me, trying them on actually triggered a hot flash!  After many tries, manipulation and frustration I finally got a pair on long enough to take a picture.  I just couldn't get past how uncomfortable they were and how weird they looked on my feet. Needless to say, I didn't buy them. Later that day, I was on my iPad, searching the internet for reviews and blogs about the Five Fingers^® when my daughter points out a pair and says, "Hey, Mr. Pratt wears lemur shoes!"  Hmm, he's the first "non trainer" person I've come across who wears them every day to teach his fourth grade class.  He claims that although he is not a runner, they have saved his knees and he loves wearing them. I'm thinking maybe I should give them another try.

Cut to a week into my vacation, I am back on Long Island relaxing when we got the news that Hurricane Irene was headed straight for... yup, you guessed it, Atlantic Beach!  So I did what any normal person would do; helped my cousins battened down the beach house and then went out shopping! Picked myself up a pair of Five Fingers.

"I wish I had pot them on today! Did I mention they are waterproof....!"

Have you ever said to yourself, "God, I wish I had thought of that."?  That's exactly what went through my mind 6 years ago when I took one of the first TRX_® certification courses.  The TRX_® straps are a brilliant execution of an old concept...the mens' rings.  Being a certified gym rat, I love the idea of merging fitness training and gymnastics.  The problem is that although most people cannot perform gymnastics moves, they will confess to aspire to having the agility and strength to move their body the way gymnasts can.  So, enter.. the TRX_® straps.  I use them for everyones' workout.  Even Irene who just turned 87 this year!  Whether I have a client do a stretch or a series of exercises, no one ever leaves my gym without doing something on the TRX station.  The straps are portable and truly live up to their tag line Fitness Anywhere^_®.  

I travel everywhere with my extra pair of TRX straps. They are light and fit into a groovy mesh bag.  Each summer, when in New York I'll show them off to any volunteer.  I can hook em up anywhere!  Here is a picture of me training my cousin on Atlantic Beach.  My cousin begged me to leave them at the beach house so I'll have to get myself another spare pair of straps.  Darn, wish I had developed this product because it is definetly COOL.

       

       

        

         

        

        

You've seen them.  I bet you either have one or you've at least tried one on and done the test.  I bought into this gimmick big time.  An expensive novelty item but, do they work? Who cares?  I bought 30 of them to hand out for the holidays last year. I got one for every trainer, client, immediate family member but no worries, I know a "dealer" so, it didn't cost me $29.99 each.  Ouch!

Oh, all the colors & sizes- I can completely relate to my daughter's silly band obsession!  I wanted every last one for my self.  I had to collect them all..

What is it about this jock jewelry that took the nation by storm?  There are even little kiosks at the malls still selling them.  We are not kids collecting silly bands.  We are educated adults.  Everyone knows that the bands have more superstitious power than actual scientific power.  Take my husband for instance.  Just recently, he asked me if I had any leftover bands stashed away at the gym.  The silver tag on his had started to peal back and silicone was leaking from it.   I actually didn't know that there was anything behind the stickers but apparently there is.  He doesn't need balance; he doesn't workout or play a sport.  But he does claim that since he put his on last Winter he has been working non stop and for the self -employed out there, you know that's something to be grateful for.  So, get this,  the day after he took it off he sat across the table from me and said in a sullen voice "I am done with all of my projects.  I have no work lined up for the foreseeable future."   Fortunately, I had two size small bands left- one black and one white!  Two days later, I hadn't even taken it out of my purse to give to him when wouldn't you believe?  He got a call for a big gig.  See how amazing the force and power of the band is?  Unfortunately, the bands are both small sizes.  Any takers?  I want to sell them and use the money to go buy him a size medium because $29.99 is a small price to pay for a working husband.