Posts Tagged ‘Montgomery’

I challenge you to…
Beat me at my own game!

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

I’ve been doing the weight managment thing a pretty long time. Four years to lose what I needed to lose (YEP, FOUR years – it’s a process), almost two years maintaining, and NOW, I’m starting to let it creep up! EEEK! NO, this WILL NOT HAPPEN!

I stepped on the scale yesterday morning and saw I had passed the NO PASS zone… those of you who have lost weight know what I mean – the number you never wanted to see again. I was doing great through Christmas. I even did pretty well on my vacation. But, last week was the pits. A combination of hormonally and emotionally induced eating, travel to Houston (lots of good restaurants here!) and the creeping bad habits which has been going on the last few months combined to push me over the top….

So, I’m officially putting out a challenge – I’m gonna lose a minimum of EIGHT pounds in the next month. 31 days. (I’m not going to lose more than 13 pounds, since that would reflect to fast a weight loss.) I know how to do this. I know how to bring myself under control without going crazy. And I’ll be doing this!

So, what’s the challenge part? I’m challenging you, wherever and whoever you are (you don’t have to be a current client), to beat me at my own game! Lose more than 7 pounds or more than I do (if I fail to lose 8), and win. It’s that simple….

Johnny, tell ‘em what they’ve won!!! Well, if you win, not only have you won better health and better fitting clothing (or in some cases, the right to a shopping spree for clothing that fits!), but you’ve won your choice of the following:

  • A one hour personal training session, either in the gym or at your home (you must live within 30 miles of Wetumpka – sorry, Karen!)
  • One month of online training programs with feedback.
  • One month personalized running coaching

Even better, just for doing well at this, I’ll give you a $10 discount on any service from Ignite! (that’s right, running, climbing, biking, training, whatever you like!) If you lose at least 4 pounds, just one pound a week, I’ll give you a $10 discount to use however you like with Ignite! (excepting products in the store – sorry!)

So, here are the rules:

  1. You have to accept this challenge within one week (by January 21, 2010). You then have 31 days from the day you start to complete your challenge.
  2. You must accept the challenge here, as a comment to this post. You can either post your weight or send it to me in an email, but you need to publicly accept the challenge!
  3. Post back weekly to tell me how you are doing. I will post my progress weekly so you’ll have something to post to.
  4. Lose between 8 and 13 pounds and you win! (If you lose more than 13 pounds, you may have been going about it in an unhealthy way. I don’t want you doing that, so if you lose more than 13 pounds, I won’t be awarding a prize, UNLESS you can justify it. If you do, we’ll talk and decide!)
  5. Select your prize!

Remember, if “I” don’t stick to my plan and lose 8, you may win by losing a lot less! I’m starting yesterday – January 13th – at 151 pounds (UCK!). Come on! Beat me at my own game.

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Posted in Adventures in Living, Support, Weight Management | 1 Comment »

Learning to run…

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

I was talking about running with my friend, Thad, the other day. And I thought about why I teach running to women who are thinking about running. You see, Thad is a typical runner… “Just Do It.” Grab a pair of shoes, hit the road and run a triathlon. Easy, right? Fun? Of course! Go ahead, get out there…

Well, for lots of us, not so much…

When I started running at age 48, it was a deliberate decision on my part that I would MAKE it work. I had a lot of weight to lose and not a lot of time for exercise and walking wasn’t going to do it. I needed something with a higher calorie burn, and I figured I’d try one more time to become a runner.

You see, I’d tried many times before, always with the same results – try it 2 or 3 times and fail. This time it was different. I was in Wetumpka for the weekend to buy a house (the one I live in now), and it was the day to try. The odd thing was, it was also the day to figure out the secret. I did it. Stayed the course. Kept running.

Five years later, I’m still running. Running 5k’s, 10k’s, half marathons, and now I’m signed up for a marathon. What’s more, I’ve become a running coach, sharing what I learned the hard way with Wetumpka (and Montgomery, Prattville, Millbrook and Elmore) women who want to run.

Lots of women talk to me about running. And a lot of them say “I can’t run.” And then add:

“I don’t enjoy it.” Usually from women who’ve tried keeping up with a spouse or running friend who thinks it’s “just do it.” Try running with a group of NON-runners and succeeding together. And laughing together. And talking your way through till you CAN run a 5k.

“It hurts my (pick one) feet, knees, hips, low back.” Uh huh – it can, if you don’t know the secrets to running pain- and injury-free. Most of you just need someone to show you how (yes, there are real problems. Most people don’t have one that prevents them from learning to run).

“I can’t even run a mile.” Yep. And you’re not a teenage boy who can just pick up any old sport and do it. There’s a right way and a wrong way to start. And to try and run a mile on the first day is definitely a wrong way!

“I can’t breathe when I run.” I know what you’re doing. Been there, done that. Now, I know a better way to start running and keep breathing.

“I (bike, do the elliptical machine, swim), but I just can’t run.” Did you try and swim ¼ mile the first day you jumped in the water? Of course not! Lance Armstrong called his first marathon “the hardest physical thing I’ve ever done.” He learned that you can’t just transfer from one sport to another and expect to perform at the same level.

“I don’t know how.” Well, yes, and that’s why I’m teaching running. Most of us don’t know how to start.

I’m starting another class next week. Monday, 6:30 PM. Rumbling Waters Health Club. Downtown Wetumpka. Come LEARN to run with me! You won’t regret it.
Jeanne
Ignite! LLC
..Life Adventures for Women

* More details can be found on my website.

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Posted in Adventures in Living, Support, running | No Comments »

Snakes, Planes and Fear

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

I have often talked about the value of challenge and doing “the thing you think you cannot do.” I truly believe that to learn how strong we are, to discover how much we can accomplish, we would be wise to attempt the things we fear. Whether the challenge comes from inside ourselves or are posed by another, by meeting the challenges we take on willingly, by controlling our fear, we grow in strength and commitment.

When I talk about this to clients, groups and friends, I explain that I have tried many adventure sports and I really still fear 2 things – snakes and jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.

So, Sunday, I stepped aboard a perfectly good airplane, accompanied by two “tandem jump pilots” and my son, Jamie. Each jump pilot had a well packed parachute, a tandem harness and my son and I had cameras and a harness on me.

As we waited for our turn at a very busy drop zone, clouds had rolled in and the air had freshened. It was clear that a storm was on the way. What amazed me is that as I sat there, I became less anxious about jumping than I was about NOT jumping. You see, this was the last chance for a while that I would have to do this first jump with my son. I had become eager to face this challenge.

Finally, it was our turn. We had been hustled into our jumpsuits, and our “pilots” barely hestitated a step as they checked our harnesses and hurried us into the planes. We knew by their actions that there was only a short window to get our jump in, but their movements were sure and confident. Sandy, the plane pilot, launched us quickly skyward.

As we sat in the back of the plane, I filmed the takeoff out of the windows. Rick, my jump pilot, joked with Jamie and me, and Tom, Jamie’s pilot, showed how relaxed he was by taking a nap. I watched the altimeter on Rick’s wrist as it crept slowly towards 6,000 feet. Long before the preferred 10,000 feet, Sandy told Rick and Tom that she was turning to line up, that we went now or not at all.

Jamie and Tom were closest to the door and got ready first. A few short seconds later, they were gone and it was my turn. I watched almost outside of myself as I reached for the step. My foot was out of the plane. I waited for the “GO” from Rick and we pushed off simultaneously from the door. I was falling and trying to get into the right position. Arched out, we fell for a few brief seconds, feeling the mist of rain on our faces.

I remembered to look around and hold the camera where it could record the experience. Then Rick pulled the cord and the canopy opened over us and freefall was over. Rick was slightly apologetic as he told me we were going to spiral down quickly and immediately, I could watch the world spin below me as he spilled air and we descended quickly.

I was able to catch glimpses of Jamie above me, as we descended faster than him and Tom. Soon we were hanging over the runway of the airport, and I could hear the urgency in Rick’s voice as he tried to keep us from being blown into the treeline on the far side of the runway. The updraft kept us from descending quickly and I understood we needed to make it down before being blown into the trees.

Finally, we were just off the ground. I lifted my feet, and tried to straighten up, but fell as we landed. Rick, bound to me by the harness, fell, too. A moment later, he had released us and we were up, me, in total glee, him, wanting to gather up the parachute and get inside quickly.

As we rode in the back of the truck the short distance to the hanger, Rick and Tom discussed the jump and both agreed it was one they’d rather NOT have made. I was glad we’d jumped, relieved that we made it ok, and delighted that our pilots were as skilled as they were.

The only sad note for the afternoon is that my guy, Jesse, had decided, on the spur of the moment, to jump himself. He was in a harness and jumpsuit when we reached the hanger. Due to the weather, he didn’t get to make his jump.

Oh, well, I guess I’ll just have to jump again some week soon when I go back to Louisiana.

Hey, look at that…. fear has turned to joy, inaction to achievement! Hmmm….

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Posted in Adventures in Living, Courage, Friendship, Support | No Comments »

Get out and play with your kid!

Monday, July 20th, 2009

It’s summertime! Kids are off from school and the days are long and the weather warm and sunny. It’s a perfect time to add some activity to your life by going out and playing with your children!

Your kids make perfect exercise buddies for the summer. They have boundless energy and love adventure. You can find new activities in the park, in the water, with bikes, at the Y, any number of places. Imagine discovering a new hobby to share with your child – something that could bind you together even when the typical mother-child disagreements happen.

You can rediscover a old favorite – tag, hide and seek or Red Rover. Be the mom where everyone comes to “see what’s happening!” Gather the whole neighborhood together for silly games on a summer evening. Bring out the lemonade and spend an evening away from the TV and video games.

How ’bout practicing for fall sports? Or even getting a jump on next spring. You can learn how to help with batting or fielding practice. Or throwing passes. Or volleyball, tennis, or golf! Even if it’s just increasing overall fitness by running together in the early mornings.

I got a chance to experience this this summer. My son, too, has the summers off from school. Just because he’s a high school English teacher, doesn’t mean that we couldn’t find some time to “go out and play!” Our choice was kayaking – take a look at our trip down the Nantahala River in North Carolina.
Jamie and Jeanne play the Nantahala

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Summer Time, River Time!

Friday, June 12th, 2009

It’s summer time in Central Alabama. That means it’s time for lazy river days.

Here in Alabama we have all kinds of river seasons –

In the spring, we have rainy days that means our rivers come up and the “natural rivers” run high enough for FUN! They are cold and rough-and-tumble and they can be dangerous to the uninitiated. For people with the right training and the right gear, they are a playground.

In the fall, generally the water is low, and the rivers run sluggishly, if at all. Dams don’t release with regularity and kayakers are reduced to hoping for rain and considering other sports.

Rains return for the winter, but the cold makes kayaking a sport for the hardy (or maybe foolhardy). Some take to the ski slopes to enjoy frozen water, some head for Central or South America for big water, and others don cold weather gear and head out to the local rivers for whatever they can get.

But, ah, summer – lazy days on dam-controlled rivers with known levels! Now’s the time to learn to kayak, to improve skills, to enjoy the summer days. Now’s the time to challenge yourself. Now’s the time to feel the grins develop and smiles overflow…

Get out there! Enjoy yourself! Try a river!

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Posted in Adventures in Living, Coosa River Challenge, Whitewater | No Comments »

National Running Day – Get out and Run

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

I just found out that next Wednesday is National Running Day. It’s a day to celebrate our ability to run. Just run, no races, no pressure, just run!

Friday is my 5th anniversary of being a runner (and my son’s 29th birthday, coincidentally). 6 years ago, I couldn’t run. Five years ago, I decided to run. My first “run” was a grand total of 3 minutes. Each minute was separated by a 5 minute walk. BUT, I became a runner that day. I began running and never stopped.

Now, I’m passing it forward, by training new runners and runners who want to run better. I’m a running coach and I race for fun. So, Wednesday, June 3rd, I’ll be getting out and running. Who’s joining me?

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Power of Purple 5k coming!

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

On April 25th, the First Annual Power of Purple 5k will be run in Wetumpka to benefit the American Cancer Society. It will be run at 10 AM, just before Relay for Life – Wetumpka kicks off at noon. You can still register for this race at www. active.com through April 24th.

Here’s the route…

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Run forever!

Friday, April 10th, 2009

I teach new runners to run. I know people think “What’s the big deal about that?” Well, when you’ve never been able to make a running program work for you, and you have walker’s envy of the runners or you can’t figure out how to start, running programs are great! The groups are highly motivating, and there’s a lot of knowledge that I had to learn on my own that I can pass on.

It works. In 4 weeks, these women increase their running distance 500%. In 4 more weeks, another 500%. Twelve weeks in, women who never believed they could do it are running a 5k race and doing well!  Part of it is that we run in a group twice a week. There’s a lot of time for talking in these runs.Often, one of the group will ask me questions like “When does it get really easy?” or “This isn’t very tough for you, is it?”

Well, no, it isn’t very tough. When I go out for a run with my groups, it’s rare that I struggle. After almost 5 years as a runner, a two or two and a half mile run with people who are just starting aren’t likely to be that tough for me. And there are lots of days that running is a pure joy for me. In fact, most runs have wonderful periods in them, whether with the group or by myself.

Not all runs are perfect. Not all of every run is great. The runner’s high doesn’t happen every time or for all of a long run (often)… But, OH, when it does! When it all comes together, the sweat doesn’t matter, the road doesn’t matter, the cars going by don’t even come into your consciousness. Your beat is strong, the songs in your head are in tune with your stride. Aches and pains go away and the world is a good place. Your body is healthy and alive and it does anything you ask of it. It’s magic!

So, when does it happen? When you least expect it! When everything looks like it’s not working. Keep running, you’ll find it!

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