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World of Melissa: Back to Work, Workouts, and Leavin’ on a Jet Plane

You ever have one of those weeks where you don’t do anything spectacular yet the weeks is ABSOLUTELY amazing and you don’t really want it to end?

That was last week for me — I had the week off from work — I didn’t go anywhere — stayed around town — went places at times I usually couldn’t go — like Starbucks at 3pm or the gym at 10 am — it was honestly AMAZING. SUPER relaxing — which was MUCH needed.

However, all that is about to change when the alarm goes off at 5 am tomorrow morning — a new week is going to begin — but this one is filled with a SUPER packed schedule – back to work, workouts and a plane ride!

What do You Wear to the Gym — Pants or Shorts?

I was getting ready for the gym yesterday morning and was trying to figure out what to wear – shorts or pants?

No its not the biggest decision in the whole entire world – but its one that WILL affect my workout.

Its January – its cold – the gym opens at 8 and I plan on being there at 8:05. There are some days when the heat isn’t on yet and the gym is FREEZING – other days when the heat is BLASTING and its SUPER warm (those days are my favorite). Not to mention the fact that my legs are WHITE. Oh yes — no tan (its winter and this girl doesn’t fake bake) – if the sun reflects off my legs I feel like you need a pair of sunglasses if you catch my legs in shorts in the winter and I don’t want to blind everyone in the gym!

Then I had to consider my workout — it was leg day — I don’t usually like having pants on when I do legs – it makes me feel constricted – I know spandex expands – but it can get awkward – ya know?

Yes – this is the ridiculous conversation I had with myself in the morning and I’m wondering if I’m the only one.

We all have reasons why we do or don’t do things. Even if its as simple as figuring out what to wear to the gym.

I know many women don’t wear shorts because they don’t like their legs and when I recently posed this question on Twitter and Facebook – I found some even more intriguing answers — no shorts = no germs – something I never even thought of.

I ended up settling for capri/leggings that day (which brings up a whole other world of issues I will save for a future post). I was SUPER hot especially doing cardio — but they made my bum look nice – hehe! This conflict will arise again as I pack my bag for the gym tomorrow – I’ll probably put both shorts + pants into the bag and figure it out when I get there – depending on my mood.

So…after all my ranting – I hope I’m not alone….ladies…

What do you wear to the gym – Pants or Shorts or Capris? Why?

Weighing In – The New Trainers on the Biggest Loser

So I have to admit, part of the reason I tuned in to this season of the Biggest Loser was to find out who the new trainers were.

I know I’m not alone.

And now that they have unveiled the new trainers on Season 10 of the Biggest Loser — I thought I’d let you know who they are — give you a bit of my opinion — and find out what you think!

Biggest Loser Trainer – Brett Hoebel

Brett’s been in the fitness industry for 20 years – working as trainer and studying various forms of martial arts. And he’s done his studying….

“I’ve studied, I was a pre-med, there’s a science to training,” he said. “There’s no guesswork on anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology.” He also talked about being overweight as a teen. “It took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears,” he said. “That’s what I want to show the contestants.”

This type of knowledge will be extremely beneficial and helpful to the contestants Brett will work with. Understanding how the body works will be helpful when working with the contestants on the Biggest Loser – helping them to lose the most weight possible, while understanding the stress their body is currently under with all that weight.

Brett’s experience as an overweight teen will help him connect emotionally with the contestants — helping him understand what they are going through — which will in turn help him help the contestants deal with the hardest battle in the weight loss process — your mind. His Martial Arts experience will bring another mixture of workouts to the show that will make the show more interesting.

Biggest Loser Trainer – Cara Castronova

A number 2 ranked boxer + double golden gloves winner, new trainer Cara has dealt with her own life full of hardships. After losing her father when she was 14, and her mother just recently Cara will be ready to help the contestants on the show deal with their hardships that have lead to weight gain.

“I’m here to bring back the fighter in each and every one of them,” she said. Her certification as a personal trainer and boxing coach will help her create fighters out of each of the contestants.

The two new trainers on the Biggest Loser will bring a new dynamic to the gym of the Biggest Loser. You can guarantee they will help the contestants make huge drops on the scales (as was already proven in the last few weeks). I’m excited to see what this season will bring….

Do you think the new trainers are as good as Bob and Jillian? Would you have chosen to go with Bob and Jillian or the ‘Unknowns’ if you had to decide that first week?

Three Simple Tips to Boost Your Immunity and Stay Healthy This Winter: Part 2

So if you were here on Monday you checked out Three Simple Tips to Boost Your Immunity and Stay Healthy This Winter: Part 1.

If not — I’ll quickly fill you in — I personally don’t feel like getting sick this winter (looking like this poor girl in the picture right here). I’m not getting a flu shot and I work around children on a daily basis — with these things in mind I MUST make sure that I am doing everything with my nutrition and supplements to make sure I don’t get sick.

Three Simple Tips to Boost Your Immunity and Stay Healthy This Winter: Part 1

I don’t know about you — but I DON’T want to get sick this winter. Not only do I NOT want to get sick — I’m determined to avoid getting the flu — WITHOUT getting my flu shot.

Yes — I said it — no flu shot for this girl. It may seen like a crazy idea, but the ONE and ONLY winter I DID get a flu shot – I got violently sick ALL WINTER LONG.

Craziness at the Gym – What I Saw That Made Me Say What?!?

My favorite workouts of the week are Saturday mornings — for me there is no better way to start the weekend than with a good, sweaty, intense workout.

This past weekend while at the gym I found myself momentarily distracted by the people that surrounded me.

It wasn’t that I was all of sudden surrounded by TONS of shirtless men with six packs working out — wouldn’t that be great?! Haha…

Instead I found myself staring at the ridiculousness of some of the workouts and exercises I saw people doing.

One man was doing cable chest flyes with only 2lbs of weight and as fast as he possibly could. Another man was using the machine should press — not even bending his elbows — pushing up and down as fast as he could.

I had to stop for a minute and watch. In my mind I tried to figure out what they were doing – what they were hoping to accomplish by using such light weight and by making such suttle movements so quickly.  Maybe I was missing the boat on the latest workout trend?

I shook my head and refocused on my own workout – until I saw one of the trainers at the gym training an elderly overweight woman. He was having her do walking lunges – but she wasn’t even lunging – just a quick dip – barely bending her knee. After she walked around the gym twice doing this he had her using the free weight lat pull down machine. Okay – really? I appreciate the fact that you are helping this woman workout – but does she REALLY need to be doing that exercise?

I again shook my head and tried to refocus on what I was doing.

But I spent my entire workout wondering – what is going on?

Don’t get me wrong – I commend anyone who is trying to workout and make a difference with their body  and I understand we all have our own limitations to what our body can do and our own goals to work towards – however – why are you wasting your time with exercises and workouts that aren’t going to help you burn fat or gain muscle? Sometimes I think its the pleathora of information that we are now all exposed to on the internet that allows people to make these mistakes.

We are bombarded with information on the ‘right’ way to workout or the latest fad or trend in workouts – that we lose sight of the basics. Sometimes its the simple exercises or routines that will help you get the results you want.

Or maybe I need to get some better music and stop getting so easily distracted by the gym goers around me? Haha….

“You’re Amazing – Just the Way You Are”

“There’s not a thing that I would change….cuz you are amazing…just the way you are….”

Do you believe that about yourself?

Others can tell you that you are beautiful – they can tell you that you are amazing, talented, sexy, kind, funny, smart – but if you don’t believe any of this yourself – it doesn’t matter what others think.

Random Inspiration

Have you ever had one of those times where you just get stuck in a revolving door and can’t seem to get out?

Those days – moments – weeks – hours – where you aren’t quite sure where you are – who you are – or where you are trying to go?

Those days when nothing goes right – when you seem ‘stuck’. The feelings of uncertainty – the questioning of yourself – wondering why you decided to embark upon this journey and why things aren’t going like you expected.

It is in these moments of uncertainty and questions – that many decide to give up – that they decide that it was too hard to begin with and everyone else was right when thinking that you were crazy for doing this in the beginning.

However – there are a select few that decide in these moments that – NO – they will not give up. They will instead jump back on the horse – find a new route and continue their journey to their goals and dreams. Find a way – no matter what happens to reach their goals.

Personally – this has happened to me on many occasion – its still a daily work in progress – making sure that every day I am focused and doing something to help me reach my goals. It also requires me to HAVE goals – to know where I’m going and what I want to do – its not easy and when you’re running around everyday it can be easy to fall off course.

But you can’t give up.

Know what you want and go for it – attack it – the feelings of success when you get there are always SO much better than the feelings of regret that you never tried.

Watched this movie last night…love Rocky’s speech…sometimes we all need a kick in the pants to keep us moving…most of the time we are our own biggest road block…get over it…and do it.