Feb10

Learnings and inspirations via Pinterest

Posted on February 10, 2012 by jobo

I’ve been slowly collecting a variety of pins on my pinterest boards and am always amazed at how inspired I am by then and how much I actually learn by reading a few simple words. Whenever I need a quick dose of perspective or to slap myself back into reality, whether it be a worry, stress, fear or frustration, I read one of these suckers and bam, back to reality, like whoa. (and it sure boosts the running and barre n9ne hurts-so-good motivation, too!).

So I thought I’d include a few of my latest favorites on this fabulous Friday for a little dose of inspiration, perspective, and hopefully, a smile. Enjoy!

The next time I try to run before I walk, I will remember this one. It will come in handy as barre n9ne training gets heavily underway this weekend!

This one needs zero explanation. Zero.

A universal truth I never would have learned, had I not gotten divorced. I absolutely believe this 100%. Don't settle.

This screams my realization that I used to 'go halfway and then stop.' No more. Commit and you will see results.

Because I never thought I was a runner. I am a runner because I run. And I <3 it.

Failure isn't bad...failure means learning and trying again.

Live a drama-free life. This is my mantra.

I strive for this. The first instinct is to run from the challenge, from living boldly. This is my reminder.

Make time. For you. For love. For friends. And a little more again for you.

11 randoms x3!

Posted on February 9, 2012 by jobo

11 randoms x3!

Lee tagged me (and Samantha, and Amanda too!) in this fun post on randomness and I figured I’d throw one together as well, because let’s face it, sometimes we get writer’s block and sometimes the most random posts are the best/most fun, right?

Here goes:

I hate introducing myself to people. Because no matter what, nobody ‘gets’ my first name on first mention. ‘Jillian?’ “Jolee?’ “Jilane?’ It starts to get embarrassing to keep correcting them. I have been known to just let it go after a few times, if I know I’ll never see them again (in an airplane, for example. introducing myself to my seatmate).

I dislike Coldplay. And any whiny band or singer. Adele is another. Absolutely cannot stand her music. In part because she is overplayed on the radio and because I want to jab a fork in my eye. Enough depressing lyrics!

I hate yoga. Even though I know I need to embrace it. It’s on my list. Somewhere (along with learning to swim).

(why are my randoms all hates today?!)

I met George Clooney. I think I’ve said that here before though. When he was filming the Perfect Storm in my hometown. He’s hot.

The split second before M came into the restaurant for our first date, I had this fear that he was going to be some really smooooooth operator. I have no idea why. I just had a fear that he wasn’t going to be what I was expecting. Thank God I was wrong

My first kiss took 30 minutes to actually happen. I was 17. First boyfriend. I was afraid of kissing for fear of doing it wrong. And kept turning away until I got the nerve up (note: he knew this and wasn’t being forceeful, he was just trying to make me comfortable). I can remember every minute of that fear-laden 30 minutes!

My feet are size 8.5. I always wanted the cute shoes in the display that are size 6 and when I request them in my size, they look like boats. Not cool.

I hate talking on the phone. As in shooting the shit, chit-chat. I’ve just never liked it. Not one of those be on the phone for hours types. M isn’t either. Whew

I have outgrown lactose intolerance. At least I think I have. And that is more exciting than…I dunno, quite a few things. I love cheese. And ice cream. Like whoa.

I say like whoa a lot. Clearly.

I cackle when I laugh. But only when something is REALLY funny. (I also laugh when I’m nervous)

The 11 randoms from Lee:

1. What was (or is) your major in college? Communications!
2. What is your favorite form of exercise? barre n9ne, hands down. (was thisclose to saying running, but I gotta hand it to b arre n9ne!)
3. What’s your guilty pleasure? wine. duh.
4. Do you tell people about your blog or is it sort of secret? quasi-secret. I won’t share it with coworkers or on Facebook, and my closest friends know of it, but I don’t go broadly with it. Most of what I write now isn’t *too* too personal, but some of it is, so I’d rather have a little control over who reads it freely.
5. What food do you hate? This question ALWAYS stumps me! Because I can never think of a food I hate (weird, right? What can I say, I *love* food). But let’s see…octopus would be up there. and I used to hate capers for no real reason (they seemed unecessary to me), but I think I’d like them now, my palatte is ever-changing.
6. What’s the last book that you read? Reading one now – Sister. VERY good.
7. Mac or PC? Mac! All the way!
8. If you could go anywhere on your next vacation, where would you go? Greece. Turks & Caicos, and Tahiti just cuz it sounds exotic (Hi, I just got back from Tahiti! <–how cool would that be to say?!)
9. What habit that you have would you like to change? doubting myself. and biting my cuticles.
10. What’s your favorite beverage (alcoholic or non)? wine. coffee.
11. What’s your go-to dinner when you don’t want to cook? sushi!!

The 11 from Samantha are:

What is your #1 go to workout song? Sexy and You Know it – LMFAO!
If you had to choose 3 foods to eat for the rest of your life (and nothing else) what would they be? cheese, chocolate and oatmeal.
If you were given an unlimited vacation budget – but it had to be used on ONE trip – where would you go and why? Italy. Because my family is from there and I know I could spend an entire month traveling up and down the coast and to Sicily…eating my way through the country, of course.
What are you more afraid of: snakes or spiders? Spiders. Effing hate those suckers.
Puppies or kitties? Do you have any? Kitties! I love my cats as if they were my children. Well, they are, just of the furbaby variety.
What dead rockstar would you bring back if you could? Hmm. First one that comes to mind is Left Eye from TLC…haha, though she’s not really a rockstar, but I really liked her!
What is the most random thing you collect (or have collected?)? Um, nothing? I think collecting things just makes clutter. My ex-husband had a hideous (and huge) collection of Transformers. Enough said?
What one article of clothing (or accessory) do you have to wear every single day? I don’t really have any must-haves? Does a bra count? ;-P
If you could only eat FRUITS or VEGGIES, but not both, which would you choose? FRUIT! I could eat fruit all day and all night. Love them all.
Beach or mountains? Why? Beach. Nothing better than the sand between your toes…and the sun beating down on your face. Ahh, bliss.
What is your favorite band EVER? Rob Thomas/Matchbox Twenty. Hands down.

The 11 randoms from Amanda are:

What is your favorite TV show? Chopped! LOL.
Skiiing: downhill, cross country or water (or all/none!) Water, if anything. I’ve never skied in my life, nor have any desire. I fear a broken bone and just never wanted to do it. I have water skied twice and would like to finally do it again this summer in Maine!
Favorite season: winter, spring, summer or fall? Summer, hands down.
Peanut butter or almond butter? Peanut. I love almond (and cashew!), but there’s nothing like peanut butter. I could eat it all day every day.
Did you play sports in high school? Nope. Not a group sport talent in this body of mine!
Who’s your favorite singer/band? Rob Thomas/Matchbox Twenty
Country music: yay or nay? Meh. Some is okay, like Rascal Flatts a lot.
What’s your favorite drink at Starbucks? straight up coffee. Or a soy misto. Nothing fancy necessary
What is your current fitness goal? become barre n9ne certified of course
What’s your favorite type of exercise? see above barre n9ne!!
What’s your dream job? social media manager for lululemon. YES. (lol)

Questions for YOU to answer!

What is your biggest fear?
How tall are you?
How many boyfriends or girlfriends have you had in your life?
What is your favorite food?
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Where are your top 3 destinations you’d like to travel to in your life?
What color are your eyes?
How did you find my blog?
What was the first blog you ever read? OR Why did you start a blog (answer depending on which you are – a reader or a writer, or both!)
iPhone? Droid? Blackberry?
What errand do you hate the most? Or cleaning chore? (me? vacumming. Clearly).

TAGS! I’m gonna cheat and just make some ~~hints~~ suggestions on those I’d love to do this…that haven’t already! (hehe). Stephanie, StartingOver, Heather, Shannon, IntrigueMe, Dorry and Lindsay!

Rules For Bloggers: (follow them if you want, but obviously, I took liberties with mine! Rules are meant to be broken, right?)

1. Post these rules.
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post.
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog and tell them that you’ve tagged them.
6. No stuff in the tagging section about ‘you are tagged if you are reading this.’ blah blah blah, you legitimately have to tag 11 people

When I grow up…I wanna be a barre n9ne instructor!!

Posted on February 7, 2012 by jobo

When I grow up…I wanna be a barre n9ne instructor!!

…and guess what? I’m about to do just that!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The news I’ve been dying to share but have kept under wraps until I’ve been able to share it…my sister Jess and I have just started officially training to become barre n9ne instructors. Just writing this puts a huge ass grin on my face. I think back to last May, when we won the barre n9ne studio 60 day challenge and opportunity to become spokespeople for the studio and I never in a million years would have imagined that we’d have come this far and that we’d both have such a huge opportunity like this ahead of us.

Needless to say, I am brimming with pride, happiness and determination to step into this role and make it me, through and through. I know this is a huge challenge and undertaking and will require me to devote my time and dedication (and letting go!) to capturing the essence of the barre n9ne look, feel and most importantly, signature class, barre n9ne method. It’s going to take me out of my comfort zone to say the least, but I’m ready. I’m ready to put myself out there, to learn, to hone, to make it my own. I’m ready to make Tanya and the community of instructors and clients proud, and to make them sweat (like whoa). And I’m ready to let my personality shine through, to tackle this with a positive energy, nothing fake, nothing forced, nothing ‘not’ me.

I say this last part because I think back to the instructor training we both went through two years ago for teaching Group Kick and the toughest part for me then, that I never grasped were two things: learning to cue two beats ahead of the next (highly choreographed move, I might add!) move while also putting some personality and spunk into it. I just could never break through that barrier. And I know there were a number of reasons for that, but most, I know it was the format of the style of class (highly choreographed, very , very specific cuing and rigid class format. If you were off a beat, you were off the entire track).

What’s so exciting and different about barre n9ne (among many, MANY things) is that while there is certainly a format and ‘formula’ for the class, there is a lot of ability to interchange things, to build on the base, and to continue to grow and develop the style of class to eventually be ‘mine’ but while still retaining the integrity of the barre n9ne method. As for cuing and direction? Sure, there is definitely a lot of instruction necessary to teach this class effectively and safely, but it is more relaxed in terms of timing and beats. It flows, it’s more conversational, less shouting out towards a huge room (like I was used to previously!) and more setting up the next move and then going through it.

Clearly, I could go on and on, and it’s only been one day of training with many days and hours to come, but there is no comparison to the training of past. This is a clean slate and wide open opportunity to be what I’ve always dreamt of being.

When I grow up, I wanna be a barre n9ne instructor…and today is that day.

Letting go.

Posted on February 6, 2012 by jobo

Letting go.

I have always struggled with this. Letting go.

I think it’s been the root of my anxiety and overthinking ways (of the past!) and the inhibitor to growth and adjusting to change, in some capacity.

When I moved in with M in August, I started to let go a little bit. It took time, and it was frustrating, but I’ve let go of things like a spare dish in the sink, socks on the floor, whatever it may be, and have accepted that we are different people with different habits and allowing the house to not look as perfect as I’d like sometimes is perfectly okay. I used to get so anxious about it (moreso in my past apartment) in keeping it in tip top shape all the time and sticking to my once a week top to bottom cleaning, and while I do strive for a clean and tidy place now, I’ve realized that a few socks or papers laying on the table won’t kill me.

Learning to let go in this capacity has actually really helped me let go in other ways, too. Like with my routine and my workouts. I am better at adjusting my workouts to the conditions around me (as evidenced by last week’s workouts) and working out smarter, not harder, and the biggest one? Running. Letting go and not being so anxious or nervous prior to starting a run has done wonders for me.

For example, yesterday, M and I decided on a mid-day outdoor run. It was relatively mild (so I thought), and the route we chose would be solid, mostly downhill (so I thought). It ended up being a lot hillier on the way back than I remembered (funny how when you run the opposite way down a street, you never notice all those rolling hills…since they were subtly downhill the other way!), a lot windier, and colder (I didn’t wear my headband because I thought it was warm enough. Fail. Frozen ears). But instead of panicking or letting my breathing get out of control, we paced ourselves, slowed when we needed to and maintained a pretty steady pace. I don’t think I could or would have been able to do that before I started practicing this thing called ‘letting go.’

I have also learned that letting go means not comparing and not tearing myself down mentally, either. These will always be areas I need to work on, sometimes everyday, even, but instead of allowing fear to drive me or even competitiveness, to an extent, I am becoming more and more content with the me that I am, regardless of what others might think or assume about me, my relationship or my actions. That’s been huge for me.

The barre n9ne 60 day challenge has been, by far, one of the biggest tests for me in terms of letting go. It sounds like an oxymoron, in a sense, since this challenge has been all about focus, determination, dedication and being relatively strict with my eating and workout habits, but it has also meant throwing the rules out of the window and dedicating myself, mind, body and soul to this approach. It was really scary at first. It went against much of what I’d done in the past. But now? I can’t even fathom anything different. I can’t even fathom a better approach for me. One that works. From the eating habits and food log to the style of workout, to the combination with running that has been my special sauce. Letting go and not ‘going halfway and then stopping‘ has proved to me that dedication and hard work are, quite simply, all you need.

There are areas that I still have plenty of work to do in terms of letting go. A challenge coming up that I hope to be able to share with you soon (that is very, very exciting and I am bursting at the seams waiting to share it!) will be a true test of letting go. Of throwing some inhibitions out of the window and just going for it. I know I can do it, I just have to apply what I have learned and dedicate the time and focus to it.

This post literally came to me this morning as I was making my breakfast…and it’s actually given me a lot of food for thought in how I can apply this to all aspects of my life. Because letting go has been what has helped me change, grow and develop into who I am now. And I couldn’t be happier.

Determined. To Be…

…a runner, a sister, a lover…living a fit and happy life.

Learnings and inspirations via Pinterest

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11 randoms x3!

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When I grow up…I wanna be a barre n9ne instructor!!

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Letting go.

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My 6-month run challenge: weeks 9 and 10 (on concessions)

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