Gnome Sweet Gnome!

Just when I think I've stumped everyone with this hide and go seek game of gnome hunting, someone finds him. I've got to admit, I really enjoy this game and I think everyone who is participating is having a great time too.

I went out again today to the mountain and racked my brain on how to make this next hunt 10 times more interesting and fun. I think I've figured it out. If I play my cards right, this next one should take at least a month to find but who knows, with my evil nemesis RJ on the prowl all the time, he'll probably find it by the end of the week. I'll do my best though.

I was thinking about how much fun it must be to go out looking for something that is pretty well lost and use your brain to find it. What a self-rewarding feeling you must get when you find it. All I know is that is is very self-rewarding for me to hide it. How about a role reversal sometime? Any takers???

Well, off to the desert, enjoy the Halloween weekend and keep having fun getting fit. It gets easier with every step you take.

Good Times in Texas!

I just got back from a wonderful trip to Texas where I went to visit my family and to see Willie Nelson at a famous "honkytonk" in Fort Worth, called Billy Bob's. It was must see for anyone who enjoys country music. I went with my brother, step brother and nephew (Luke, he is more of a hard rock kid, 14). I outfitted my nephew in Willie gear, red head band and all.
The best part of the concert, other than Willie being a favorite of mine is Luke, my one time long haired, dyed black nephew fit in just like one of the guys. He wore cowboys boots and everything. I haven't seen him in over two years and what a change. He's no longer a youngster that gets left behind. He even said that he really like the concert; Willie can still jam for a country guy... Luke's words.

Anyway, my trip was awesome. I rode some horses, tore up some ground on a four wheeler and bonded with the family. Texas is a special place for me and I look forward to being there every year.

Now it is off to get the business mind going again. Tough at times but it's part of the job... i love it!

At What Age Are Considered an Old Man?

I was sitting at my desk this morning talking with Kevin about what to write about for my weekly blog and all I can really think about is how bad my body is aching. You see, Kevin and I played baseball this weekend in a huge men's league tournament consisting of something like 50 teams from around the United States. Of course, we had to play in the most competitive division being the competitors that we are.

I've been working out with Jacob for the past month and I thought I was in pretty good shape for the tournament but playing in 5 consecutive games and catching 4 of them, my body says otherwise.

I've got pains on top of pains. You all know exactly what I'm talking about, you know, after your first workout in a while, those leg pains that you tend to get you from doing so many lunges and squats? That's what my entire body feels like.

I remember playing baseball in college (not all that long ago), catching more than 60 games plus another 50 or so in summer ball and not even thinking about my body aching. Here is the difference; I'm no longer 20 years old and I don't workout as much or as intense as I used too. I suppose that if I pumped iron and ran like I did when I was playing all the time, my body would be fine. So from today on, I'm going to get ready for next year's tournament. Does this mean that I need to workout everyday and completely crush my body each workout? Not at all. This means that I just need to get a little more active and possibly take a few swings here and there. Remember, it's only a few games, not 100 like it used to be.

That's my goal for next year. I just want to be ready for one more time of strapping up the gear and re-living the glory days and of course being able to function when it's all over.

Moral of the story is this; stay consistent with your exercise routine. It doesn't mean that you need a trainer every time, just that you need to be active daily and do the things that keep you healthy, otherwise, when you decide to crank it up again in the gym you'll continue to go through the aches and pains all over again. Stay consistent and your aches and pains will more than likely go by the way side.

As for me, I'm off to hide the Gnome again... also known as my exercise for the day!

Good Times with the Gnome

With the economy being up, down, left and right over the past few months and especially this past week, I've been thinking of how I can put a few smiles on the faces of people in Ahwatukee as well as maybe motivate a few participants to go venture out and about and get a little workout in.

I was out last Wednesday afternoon doing what I like to do to take my mind out of the business side of the fitness world and I thought of an idea! While riding my bike through the beautiful trails of South Mountain I ran across 8 hikers/walkers 5 mountain bikers and 2 crazy runners. I thought to myself what do all these people have in common? They all exercise using the outdoors or also known as Nature's Gym.

When was the last time you went outside to exercise or perhaps a better question would be, have you ever been to South Mountain located in our own Ahwatukee backyard? Yadayadayada, ok here it is; I own a gym yes but my objective is not to force people to only workout in a gym environment but rather I want people to think outside the box and get there bunz outside for a change, so I came up with this contest involving a hunt for a Gnome. You've seen the photo in the newsletter right? He's a good sized, red hat, red shoe wearing little man taking a nap waiting for someone to come and find him.

So what's the contest? How about for the first week, if you find him I'll give you and one of your buddies 8 personal training sessions each. That's right, I'm willing to give up 16 personal training sessions to get you all to go outside and exercise. What happens during the second week if no one finds him? I'll add more value to the package. Not sure what will be added to it but I'm sure it will only make you want to find him even more.

So, read the clues on the newsletter and head on out to the mountain. If you can't find him the first week, check the newsletter every Monday and Thursday for more clues and more incentive. Well, I hope everyone enjoys the hunt and I'll look forward to watching it unfold...

FYI: Bring a backpack to put the gnome in (he's good sized)!

The Simple Things!

It's funny how sometimes the simple things in life can make everything so much better. At times we become complaisant with day to day life and used to how our typical days unfold. For the last four and a half years I've been blessed with the ability to create a comfortable exercise environment that people really seem to enjoy. I try to do my best with the details of the studio, things like mirrors that lite up for makeup application, using cleaning products that are non toxic, bringing in stainless water bottles so to do away with all the plastic bottles we tend to go through and having mints at the front for after you workout is over.
All of these details I take a great deal of pride in and I'm always trying to find new detail items that will enhance the experience at The BAR.
Here is the funny part, with all the details and additions that we constantly work on, the best detail we've done in the past six months was to just change out the old sweat towels and add some plush new ones.
Apparently, the old towels were getting so rough that someone mentioned that they were bummed to see the exfoliating towels go away.
I guess with all the detail items that I worry about I forgot to look at the basic ones. I can promise you that we will change the towels a little more regularly now that I see the difference it has made with the experience that our clients have at the BAR.
All to often we tend to look past the simple things in day to day life. Yesterday, at home I took a moment to do something simple; push my two little girls on their swing set that "Grandma Texas" got for them. It took little effort from me but I got so much joy watching my girls go back and forth with huge smiles on their faces. Simple, yet effective and rewarding!
Here is my challenge for you, find something today that's simple, effective and self rewarding. I'd bet it's closer than you think and will undoubtable put a smile on your face as well as the people around you!