I am NOT a Runner

Sal and I started running about two years ago, in 2012. We signed up for our first 5K turkey trot, and decided to train by using the C25K app on our phones. It would train us for a few weeks, and leave us ready to run the 5K on our own. Thankfully, we were able to do most of our running during the end of summer, and fall. The weather wasn't too bad, and we were able to get through our runs week after week. I struggled in the beginning, and had cramps that seemed to be so excruciating that I had to stop. I even tried wrapping up my ribs, but it didn't help. I slowed my pace down, and eventually moved past it. The running became easier and easier, so that by the time our 5K arrived, we were both ready at the start line. Sal even left me in the dust, waiting for me at the finish line. It was extremely cold on Thanksgiving day that year, and being that the race was around the lake, it made it even colder. However, we made it through, and we continued to run while we could - whether it was outside or on the treadmill inside. We are not the kind of people that would run in the rain or snow though.

When the weather was nicer again, as winter started to fade and spring came, we started running again. We didn't run every day, but we ran when we could. However, that year Sal was having terrible pain in his legs while running, and after a trip to the doctor, found out he may have been having compartment syndrome and had to stop running. The constant impact on his heels/legs/knees was not good for someone who originally had knee problems. I'm not going to lie, I loved having him as my running partner, and I loved being able to push our limits together, but I did not want him to continue and further injure himself. We would just have to find something else that worked for the two of us to do together to stay fit. Just because he stopped, didn't mean I did, I kept up with my runs, but they were few and far in between. I ran several 5Ks, and many fun runs, including the Foam Fest, Dirty Girl Mud Run, and Color Run. I also ran that very same turkey trot we had signed up for just a year before, but this time I was on my own. It was more difficult to get through, even though I knew Sal was waiting at the finish line. It was bitter cold, and I pushed myself hard to get done sooner.

That same November 2013, I had Sal try out a kickboxing class at CKO Kickboxing. He was hesitant at first, because he didn't think it was for him. It had assumptions in his head that only women did it, and that it wasn't going to be hard. Little did he know... He tired out the class, and absolutely loved it. Before I knew it we were signing both of us up for a membership. My mom had purchased a gym membership for me for Christmas, so I was still able to run on the treadmill during the winter, but I found myself running less and less. This past summer I completed 3 5Ks, again, and one in the fall, most of them without training for the run, specifically by running. I signed up for the turkey trot again, this year, but about two weeks ago, I decided I wasn't going to run it. Yes, I know I realize I already paid for it, and I will be losing out on the money, but it was as if I was hit in the head, and a thought just popped up - I'm not a runner. I repeat, I'm NOT a runner.

When I first started running, I did consider myself a runner, no matter how slow I went, I was running, so that made me a runner, at least in my head. But if I'm being completely honest with myself, now, I don't enjoy running all the time. I like getting out there breathing in the fresh air, blasting my playlist, and seeing how far I can push myself, but it's never more than 3.1 miles, and I also do not enjoy running in the cold, rain, or snow. I hate that feeling of my lungs freezing when I breathe in the cold air, and I feel as if I'm suffocating. I hate when those cramps come out of nowhere, and I just want to stop. I hate pumping myself up and forcing myself out the door when I just don't feel like running. I'd much rather go to a CKO Kickboxing class, or any group exercise class for that matter ... okay, maybe not Zumba, but any other, than go out and run. Sure, intervals are great on the treadmill, and alternating the height it also great to work that butt, but just pure straight running, nope not a huge fan. Guess what? That's OKAY in my book! I'll continue to do fun runs and obstacle course runs because I love those, and it's not straight running, as for regular runs, you won't catch me signing up for one, at least not any time soon.

You have to find an exercise you enjoy, even if that means you don't follow what everyone else likes... even if that means you have to do it on your own. If you don't enjoy a workout, don't do it. It's only going to make you hate working out, and then you'll stop, and figure that you're better off sitting on the couch watching TV. Try different things out, but don't keep taking a class, running, or lifting weights if it's not your thing.

Find your thing. 

I'm a...

CKO KICKBOXING TRAINER! 

Remember when I became certified to be a personal trainer? Well, when I got home from passing the exam, Sal immediately told me to contact my kickboxing trainer at CKO. I've known him for years, first as their childcare provider, then as a kickboxing member, so it would have been easy for me to pick up the phone and give him a call. However, word travels fast, and he found out that I become a CPT, and asked if I was interested in becoming a kickboxing trainer. Truth is, it had been on my mind since I signed up for the CPT course and certification. 

Over the years, I fell in love with kickboxing, well maybe not just fell in love with, but I became addicted and obsessed over the way I felt during class, and the soreness of my body the days that followed. I told him, yes that I was extremely interested in becoming a kickboxing trainer, and the following week I found myself on the way to becoming just that. We had a few weeks of tough training sessions, that usually followed a kickboxing class I had taken. So not only did I leave sore from my class, I left bruised up from training. I didn't mind though, I loved the marks that it left me - it made me feel stronger, and like I could do anything I set my mind to. I got my form down, tested out the moves with pads and on the bag, practiced on the mic, and eventually made my own class. Before training my own, I did a warm up for another trainer's class, and then half of that same class the next week. Of course it was nerve-racking at first, but when you have that mic on and people are looking to you for their next move, those nerves just disappear and Jillian Michael's takes over your body. 

My family and friends have been nothing short of supportive. I knew they all believed in me, but having them take one of my classes, or better yet, having them buy a Groupon to take more than one?! That's such an amazing feeling, and I am extremely grateful for them.

It's now been a month since I've started training at CKO, and I could not be more proud of where I am today. When I'm training, I am screaming out the moves, with motivation, and challenging my class to really give it their all. That feeling you get when someone thanks you for kicking their ass, or mentions what a tough workout that was, is truly indescribable. Sometimes, when I'm watching my class, I smile, not because they're all sweaty messes on the floor (okay maybe partly because of that), but because I'm doing what I set out to do months ago. I'm using my certification as a personal trainer, and I'm instilling passion for fitness and wellness in others, helping them become stronger and more confident in themselves.

Set goals for yourself, and conquer them. 

Don't worry about what anyone else has to say about it.

Becoming a Fitfluential Ambassador

Ever since my passion for fitness was ignited, I've been wanting to reach out to others and inspire them to get into fitness and achieve a healthy, balanced lifestyle. That's one of the reasons why I became a certified personal trainer, and why I have a few other things up my sleeves. I found out about Fitfluential a while back, but I have not been able to apply to become an ambassador until I had at least 1K followers on Instagram. With the help of my awesome Tone It Up sisters in the community, I finally bypassed that number, and immediately applied.

It took a couple of weeks, but I can now finally say that I have been accepted and I am a Fitfluential Ambassador! What is that, you say? I am a social media influencer, who works with Fitfluential brand partners. I connect with fitness brands and review a product, or service they offer, and provide readers, like you, with a review and hopefully some great deals! I'm excited for this new venture, and hope it brings new fitness finds, friendships, and experience in the fitness industry!

WARNING: There will be many fitness posts in the future.

The Yoga Cruise

Lately I've been up for trying new workouts to keep things interesting. If I do a workout for too long, I get bored and don't feel like working out anymore. I mean let's be honest, how many times can you do the same routine over and over again at the gym? It's nice to try new things, and get a feel for different workouts that you may or may not like... at least you could say that you tried it.

So, when my friend Kristyn, blogger at Creative with Kristyn, emailed me with an idea to host a Tone It Up Meet Up I was all for it. She wanted to gather the girls together on a Yoga Cruise on Lake Hopatcong. I've been to that lake with Sal before, and I absolutely love it. It's so beautiful, and I thought that yoga on the lake would be so breathtaking and relaxing, I signed up right away. I didn't even care if no one else showed up. The only thoughts that flowed through my mind were thoughts of a boat filled with positive people, calming waves, the sound of rushing water, and the light from the sun peeking down on all of us. I could not have thought of a better way to wake up and get the day started.

It wasn't too far of a drive, and when I arrived I waited for Kristyn and her friend Jenn. It was the last yoga cruise of the summer so it was packed. We claimed our spots, placing our three yoga mats close together in a row. We waited for the instructor to prepare herself, and for everyone else to arrive. We began just as the boat set sail. I gave myself over to yoga. I tried not to let me thoughts wander, and when they did I acknowledged these thoughts, and brought myself back to my breath, and each movement. I felt inspired, and filled with love.

When we pulled back to the dock, I felt lighter. I felt like I was ready to take on the day, to take on the world. We were slowly brought back out of our meditation, and my breathing started to pick up and return to normal pace. We snapped a few pictures all together, and spoke of doing this again next year. I enjoyed it so much, I wish I had been able to go all summer, every week. It was inexpensive to spend an hour and a half out on the boat doing yoga. I mean, who could put a price on that type of relaxation?

Afterwards, I headed home to pick up my mom (she's not a fan of boats or else I'm sure she would have joined us) and we headed to the local diner. I never order waffles, but I was craving them - and of course, I had to go big or go home. I got the waffle with all the fix-ins and it was probably the best waffle I've ever had. I couldn't even eat all of the fruit on top, I was stuffed!

I cannot wait until the yoga cruises next summer! I'll be signing up for quite a few! 

Suja Juice Cleanse Review

Before Mother's Day, I thought for a long while what I wanted to get for my mom. We're usually a very clean eating family, but there are times when we are in an unhealthy food rut, and when that happens, we usually don't feel all that great, especially my mom. She gets upset, and is always looking for ways to cleanse her body. When I came upon Kristyn's Suja Juice Cleanse review on her blog - Creative with Kristyn - I knew immediately what I would buy my mom for Mother's Day, and I decided that I would do it with her. It was the cleanest juice cleanse I had read about - Non GMO, certified organic, Kosher certified, dairy free, soy free, and gluten free. I checked out the prices on the Suja website, but decided that Amazon had much better prices. We had never done a juice cleanse, and so I decided to buy the 1 day cleanse, as opposed to the 3 or 5 day cleanse. The 1 day cleanse included 6 juices [Glow, Fuel, Purify, Fiji, Green Supreme, and Vanilla Cloud] that would be consumed throughout the day, 2-3 hours apart. No food would be consumed, and that in itself is tough.

When our juices arrived, they were in boxes kept cold. I immediately put them in the fridge. We didn't drink them right away, we tried to wait until a family event came up. She ended up going through her cleanse a few days prior to me. It just ended up being easier for her to do it on a different day than me because of her work schedule. She had the day off so she had easy access to a bathroom as it flushed her system, and she enjoyed every juice, mentioning how fresh and tasty they were. She ended up losing almost 4 lbs, and she felt much lighter. I was proud of her for getting through it, and looked forward to my own cleanse.

I don't know why, but I ended up choosing to do the cleanse on a day I had work. That was probably a bad idea, but I was determined. I woke up, weighed myself, and had a shot of apple cider vinegar, followed by a cup of tea with lemon, which was not all that great to be honest. That was at 8AM... 3 hours later at 11AM, I began drinking juice #1 - Glow, which took me roughly an hour to drink. I know you're supposed to drink them quick, but I couldn't get it down. I just kept tasting celery and I'm not a huge fan of celery unless it's following wings, dunked in ranch dip. Juice #2 was consumed from 130-230PM - mid morning Fuel, was a little better than the first one, but it was still difficult to drink since I don't eat carrots unless they're cut small on salads or already cooked in something like soup. I drank lunch juice #3 - Purify at 4PM, was almost unbearable to drink, just imagine a combination of carrots and celery. A short while later at 730PM, I drank my mid afternoon snack, Fiji, which tasted like ginger. Of course, you can imagine why this one was just another drink that I had to pinch my nose just to get down.

I realized that I should have been drinking them quicker and that I probably should have been on dinner by now, but it was so tough for me. I had rushed home from work to rush out to my cousin's art show and so I was drinking them as fast as I could. When I got home at 9PM, I drank my dinner juice, Green Supreme. This was probably my favorite out of all of them because it tasted like green apples. Dessert came around 1030PM, and was the most delicious juice of the day - Vanilla Cloud - of course because it was made out of almond milk, vanilla, and cinnamon - three things I just love. It recommends that you drink it three hours before bed to ensure digestion, but I'm not sure I listened to that entirely. I didn't go to bed hungry, but my jaw felt odd, having not chewed anything all day.

When I woke up the following day, I immediately weighed myself and lost 1.8lbs. While I didn't do it to lose weight, I was happy that I was able to cleanse out some of the toxins. I probably would not have been able to make it through a longer cleanse, but I'm glad I didn't give up - even though those 24 hours were extremely hard. I would not do a Suja Cleanse again, but I would buy the Green Supreme and Vanilla Cloud juice whenever I'm in Whole Foods for a quick snack or healthy dessert! My mom said she would definitely do another cleanse, and enjoyed it. 

I had never juiced prior to this cleanse, and I'm pretty sure I had never even had a 'juice.' I'm sure if I had, I may have known what to expect before I took my first sip of the juice. Maybe it's something to get used to, or maybe it's just something I don't like. Either way, I did not enjoy my juice cleanse, but that's just my opinion.

These opinions are my own and I have received no compensation for this post.