August (aka the longest month of the year...)

And not in a good way!
August brings hot, humid days in New England but it also brings something we like to call 'Class blowoff days'...
Now, we know vacations happen (and that's good!)...
We know that beach days happen (also good)...
But, seriously, is there a need to almost completely blowoff coming to class for the entire month? We see this trend each year and encourage our instructors to be creative with their classes and keep the energy up!
But, for yourselves, think about this...
If you do NOT attend classes in August (or significantly reduce your attendance) you will feel like doo doo in September! You've worked SO hard all summer long to get yourself fit and feeling good, don't give up now!
We've got new music cracking, the A/C blasting and our ice cream field trips (first one this Wed. night after class)...
OOH, and K's 15th J-versary is this Thursday...treats after the 9:30am class!
Don't you want to cruise into Fall (and your jeans) needing new clothes and feeling FAB??!!
Of you do!
See you in class!

Whatcha watching this summer on TV??

Ladies,
Well, today is an almost 'perfect' summer day. The humidity is under control and it's sunny...we may get a storm passing through but nothing like yesterday!
***Ally update***
She is doing well. She has a chest tap about every 3-5 days (depending upon how much they are able to remove each time) and did so this AM. She is really tired afterwards but I just checked on her at home and she is resting. She is eating like a queen with me making her meals out of ground beef, turkey or chicken, plus veggies and cottage cheese. We are hoping to continue on this path but prayers and positive thoughts are still appreciated! So, thanks!

So, 'whatcha watchin' on the old tube' this summer?
I'm watching Jon & Kate Plus 8...love it. I've watched it for a few years now and I'm amazed at how that woman runs her house. As you all know, I have no children (except Ally our 'four legged' baby) but I'm in awe of Kate!
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List. Uh, yeah....LOVE her! She kills me...in a good way. Her trip to 'build a school like the Big O did' was hilarious. If you haven't checked out Kathy's show yet just do it!
Flipping Out (yes, I do swap between Bravo and TLC)...Jeff Lewis is a riot. Half of what he says is sarcastic (you know how I hate that..NOT!) and though I do think he could treat his employees much better, his whole way of doing things is so interesting to watch.
HS Musical Get into the Picture. I only got through one episode of that.
Clean House...I love Niecy Nash. Again, she kills me in a good way. Whenever she says, "Girl, your house is a hot mess" I crack up laughing...not sure why. You can find this show on STYLE network.
So, what are YOU watching???
PS I just heard on the radio that one of the families the Extreme Home team helped a few years ago is now losing their house, though they were given the house free and clear and $250000 in cash. Now, I don't know the whole story but...whoa. That seems like a lot of spending!

Do you live in cubicle world?

Ok, so Tuesday I went to JF's office (JF is one of our FAB instructors) to do a health fair with her and a demo class. It was really fun and great to meet all the folks there and see what JF does in her, ahem, 'big girl job'.
We had to pick up some things at her desk/cubicle and I was reminded of how much I hated being a 'cube dweller' when I worked in the, ahem, real world. And, though I sometimes think it might be fun to get a part-time gig in the 'real world' ...this little venture into 'cubie world' reminded me that, like, that's a BAD idea for me!
Now, I realize there are a lot of good things about working a 'big girl job':
-Benefits someone else foots most of the bill for
-A cafeteria where you can get healthy foods and, well, when you want...some unhealthy ones too
-Office supplies that someone else foots the bill for
-Getting to wear my nice clothes where someone, besides me, will actually see
-A good sized and regular paycheck
However, there are some decidedly better things working for myself:
-Getting to decide who, what, where, when and how
-Eating lunch when I want and for how long (and NOT smelling other people's lunches)
-Office supplies I get to choose (like cute funky binder clips)
-Getting to wear whatever the he** I want (and staying in my PJ's to do email at home!)
-A good, but somewhat irregular paycheck with the HUGE benefit of getting to touch and change people's lives for the better, every day, which is better than ANY sized paycheck I could ever get

Honestly, I'll never go back. Some days are hard and I want to scream, but running my own place (with the best Business partner ever) is the only way to go. I once did a 'test' at a prestigious NYC placement firm where it was shown that I should own my own business. (I was working for a HUGE company at the time.) I thought, "Yeah, right. As if."
Well, here we are, almost 15 years later. All the sweat, tears and hard work are worth it.
See you all in class!

Meme

A. Attached or Single? Attached
B. Best Friend? KL,MW,DS
C. Cake or pie? cake
D. Day of choice? Saturday
E. Essential item? Flat iron and Boden sandals
F. Favorite color? Cobalt blue
G. Gummy bears or worms? neither
H. Home town? Santa Barbara CA
I. Favorite indulgence? chocolate
J. January or July? July
K. Kids? 1 four legged baby, Ally
L. Life isn’t complete without? Love
M. Marriage date? May 19
N. Number of brothers and sisters? 1 brother
O. Oranges or Apples? Apples
P. Phobias? snakes
Q. Quotes? Success is a journey, not a destination
R. Reasons to smile? Seeing Ally when I get home, seeing Little K and Little Mista, they are so funny!
S. Season of choice? Summer
T. Tag 5 people: I tag anyone who has not done this yet!
U. Unknown fact about me? After I had braces I had to have a little speech therapy
V. Vegetable? peppers, onions, mushrooms...NO brussel sprouts
W. Worst habit? swearing for sure
X. X-ray or Ultrasound? Ultrasound
Y. Your favorite food? handmade guacamole
Z. Zodiac sign? Cancer
Ok, if you're reading it, answer and leave a comment for some fun!

Some random Friday thoughts...

-So, I'm yet to be the runner I aspire to be BUT I'm a better runner than I've ever been.
-I don't have a flat tummy BUT I've discovered my collar bones.
-I don't always order the healthiest thing on the menu BUT I no longer make my choices blind. --I'm not going to be on the cover of a magazine BUT I'm starting to think that maybe I look good in certain clothes.
-I don't always roll out of bed and throw on my sneakers BUT my sneakers are not collecting dust.
-I haven't developed an ego BUT I am proud!

These are some great thoughts. Stay cool out there and see you in class where the A/C is blasting!

A question...

Now, I know that driving the speed limit does save gas and I do support that. Really, I do. But seriously folks *must* we drive slower than the speed limit on every road upon which I drive? Hmm, do we?????
And, what is with driving less than 55 on the highway? WTF is up with that??!!
So, to all of those of you driving BELOW the speed limit, if you see a huge dark blue SUV on your tail-get out of the way...I'm trying to get to class for you! (Teasing...)

Jess' wedding shower

Ladies,

Here are the promised pics of Jess' shower! It was so fun, she was surprised and very happy! The cake picture is of the cake we got for Jess, here at the Center. Thanks to all of you who contributed to her "J" shower!

We wish Adam and Jess every happiness!

Summertime nutrition

Ladies,
Summertime nutrition is always difficult-I mean, we've got loads of parties, bbq's and, well, Kimball's and Sully's to tempt us!
How can we stay on track when these treats call our names AND the nice weather lulls us into thinking we 'cannot' make it to class???!!???
Well, let's break it down:
-When attending a party or bbq, don't get 'starving'...simply eat as normal for the day and you won't be ravenous when you arrive and dive right into the dip, chips and other appetizers.
-Carry a bottle of water with you everywhere! Water makes you feel a bit full and will keep you from snacking all day.
-When you're out running around with the kids DO pack some healthy snacks for you and them! Nuts are easy to carry and don't need refrigeration or choose fruit or veggies, but bring a small cooler. (Some of you probably have minivans or SUVs with built in coolers already!)
-Going to the beach? Does that mean you HAVE to eat hot dogs or burgers from the snack shack? Uh, no. Pack a bag lunch and save money and calories!
Do these tips mean you should avoid those fried clams and ice cream all summer long? Heck no! Get to class at least 2-3 times per week (even if you come more in the Fall/Winter), walk, bike ride and have those treats without showing them on your waistline! (And remember, we still have 30 classes a week running, so even if you can't make your favorite class, check the website for a class you CAN attend!)
Then, in the Fall when it's time for dungarees (jeans) and cords...you'll slip into those clothes and find them TOO big!
Have a great day and see you in class!

New friends and returning friends!

Well, it's hot as blazes out there today but nice and cool in here! We hope to see you at the "J" tonight to enjoy the FUN classes and the COOL A/C!

The last few weeks have brought us some new friends (unusual for this time of year but appreciated so much!) and some returning friends!

We love meeting new folks and welcoming them to our Center and our classes. It's great to see them enjoying class, getting the steps, laughing and getting fit. It's always a huge compliment when they then bring in their friends to add to our group!

One of our greatest joys is seeing folks return after years of being away. Some left due to a new job or baby, some left because life just 'got in the way' and some just weren't 'ready' for fitness before and are now. However you slice it, we love seeing those familiar faces come through the door once again.

A really special one returned last Sunday, LR. She came years ago until responsibilities took over, life changes happened and she needed to attend to those. I'd see her about town at times and hope she'd return. I'd send emails and postcards and just let her know we were thinking of her. Her sunny smile and real enjoyment of class just makes me smile when I see her. She once sent me such a nice card-on a day I really needed it and I will never forget that. I welcomed her back with a big hug, it was so good to see her. And, her return made me think...

All any of us really want is to be validated and cared for-to feel like we matter. And, in the busy day to day stuff, we all forget sometimes to validate each other. I know I forget sometimes, though I try my hardest not to. So, for today, let someone know you care about them. Call an old friend, look up a distant relative you've not spoken to for awhile. Or, hold a door open for someone on the way into the store, let someone in traffic ahead of you-a random act of kindness if you will. Or, if you've not been back to the "J" for awhile, stop on in! We'll welcome you with open arms just like we did the last time you were here!
See you in class!

Independence Day

Ladies,
Ahhh, 4th of July. As Mr. P&P would say (to his English friends) "A celebration of the day we kicked your a**es".
The parade/road race was fun, the rain ended just after the race began so the runners were happy and so were we! Now, the sun is trying hard to come out!
We had blueberry pancakes for breakfast and even Ally got a little-she's doing well today! My MIL is over to watch Ally (while we went to the parade) and hang with us for a cookout later.

Now is NOT the time to declare 'independence' from exercise. We've got the A/C blasting and the tunes too...new music is due out in a couple of weeks!
Dig in and get those workouts in, enjoy the outdoors as well and feel great and look fab as the summer unfolds.
But...how to fit in those workouts when the outside beckons and the kids are now home all day? Change up your schedule-that's the way!
6am, 8am, 7:30pm???? Have you tried them out yet? If not-please do! Tammy, Maripat, Kara, Patty, Jessica and Tammy will get you moving and grooving even at times when you might not normally attend classes! So don't forget all your options!
If you're away for part of the summer...get some "J" DVDs (check the catalog) and take them with you. They'll keep you moving and focused until you can get back to class.

We hope you're enjoying a relaxing day-no classes but we are back at it tomorrow! See you then!