School's Out for Summer

So, today's the big day before the big day. I'm cleaning, packing, and getting ready for a fantastic Summer Adventure. I can't be the only one that cleans the house spotless before they go on vacation...it's so nice to come home to a clean home, right?

I'll be gone for a couple weeks, rafting, hiking, biking, and driving my way through the Southwestern United States. Oh yes, lots and lots of driving: Colorado, Utah, Arizona, California.

The good: Everything is nice and spaced out so we won't be rushing to get from point to point. It's sure to be exciting, gorgeous and a great way to see parts of the country.

The bad: I surely won't have internet access, probably won't have regular cell service. So I won't be posting to the blog, checking phone messages, or checking my e-mail while I'm gone.

Road trips are tricky, but I'm employing some healthy tools to ensure I stay on the right track:

Eustress, Distress, We All Feel Some Sort of Stress

Tension is who you think you should be; Relaxation is who you are.- Chinese Proverb

Ah, stress. Or perhaps that should read UGH, STRESS! We're just going about our day trying to live our lives and it attacks. Stress is a multi-headed Hydra, bearing its' teeth as you get stuck in a traffic jam on your way to work....rush to the grocery store to find they're sold out of the one ingredient you need...not being able to sleep and angrily staring at the glowing numbers on the alarm clock, counting down the minutes of sleep you're missing out on...oh, I could go on but we all know what stress is and that it decides to show up at the worst possible moments. Or does it? There are multiple types of stress, both good and bad, or too much versus too little. 

Staying Positive Does a Body Good

Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it - Lou Holtz

The Glass is Half Full

Positive Psychology is "the scientific study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive" according to Dr. Seligman at the University of Pennsylvania. Positive psychology is much more than just thinking happy thoughts, it's about aligning positive emotions with individual traits and institutions to create a fulfilled, thriving you. I'm particularly interested in how the power of positivity correlates to health and goal setting, as it directly impacts my clients and their success.

Cardio: Keeping Humans in Shape Since the Dawn of Mankind

No, this won't be a post about evolution and how we're anthropomorphically built to run/walk/jog long/medium/short distances over long/short periods of time while wearing shoes/no shoes. OK, one line dedicated to evolution: people believe all of the above.  For now, the basics! It's a challenge to stick to the bare bones issues because topics like cardiovascular exercise lead to heart rate zones which leads to intensity levels which leads to fat storage burns versus glycogen storage calorie burns...and to that I say, one thing at a time! Exercise doesn't need to be so complicated.

Jenny's June Workout

I like to change my workouts monthly, if not weekly, depending on my most pressing goals. I strongly advise for everyone that exercises to go to the gym with a plan. I like to ask myself the following (rhetorically, of course):
Why am I here?
What are my goals?
What am I doing here to help me reach my goals?

Common Strength Training Myths

Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it - Plato

After last week's strength training blog I realized I'd covered a lot of information but there was still so much more to talk about. Specifically, I wanted to cover some common myths that keep popping up. Without further ado, here are some straightforward answers to common misconceptions, backed by science.

Strength Training Basics

A muscle is like a car. If you want it to run well early in the morning, you have to warm it up - Florence Griffith Joyner

Strength training is one of my favorite forms of exercise so I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to discuss it a bit. It seems most exercise enthusiasts are divided into two camps: they love weight training and the challenges and opportunities it presents, or they despise it and treat it as a nuisance at best and an option at worst.