The Belle gets interrupted

Hi ya!

Whatcha up to? I'm at my receptionist job about to tear into this thing!

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This past weekend my church had our fall Women's Conference in which Jen Hatmaker, the author of Interrupted, came and spoke about the topic of said book, hearing from God. She told us the story of how God shook up her and her husband's life...to find out how you are going to have to read the book!

Anyways here are the main take aways from the weekend...

1. Prior to Jen's interruption she sounded very much like me. I've grown up and have a love of biblical knowledge. Hello my degree is in Christianity! However, there was a disconnect between what I know and my heart. Yes I should strive to live my life missionally and be Kingdom minded but there seemed to be missing that heart breaking for God's people. Now hear me when I say this, that does not mean it is always an emotional tear fest; there is however a stirring and calling of ones heart.

2. Then I realized I should go and do, even if my heart didn't quite line up or I didn't have a cause or country that broke my heart. It would be better to be God's hands and feet then to not. God could break my heart for what breaks His on the mission field...right? I had joined my church because of the emphasis in living missionally. I just needed to pick a mission trip and go.

3. I was then convicted of some sin in my life and realized that this was why I had this disconnect between the my head and my heart. So when the sin had been dealt with point number 4 came together.

4. One of the things Jen had mentioned that maybe God was speaking in your life...He was on repeat but for whatever reason you weren't heeding. So God had been on repeat in my life...even way back when I was a little girl. He had been repeating the word of adoption and he just completely broke my heart this weekend for orphans. Oddly (or not so oddly) November is National Adoption Month and this past Sunday was Orphan Sunday which was the focus of our worship service.

So those are the things reveled this weekend but now what? Well...

When I was a little girl, we are talking elementary age, I remember telling my mom that I wanted to adopt one day...what she reminded me of the other night when I was talking with her was that I had said "I want to have two kids of my own and adopt a third." I've several friends who have adopted or are foster parents. Ok well as a 25 year old single who is just starting her career adopting isn't really in the picture right now. I'm not sure why I thought that was the only way to minister to orphans.

Phew with all that being said I'm really excited about what God is going to do. For the right now, I do know that I am called to go to Cambodia in March. My church partners with an orphanage in Poipet, Cambodia; along the Cambodia-Thai boarder. Not to sure what we will be doing but I do know that we do have some construction going on.

As for the immediate I'm not to sure. I'm still praying and seeking how I am called to minister here on a daily basis. When I figure that out I'll let ya know!

Have you had your life Interrupted? What breaks your heart for God's people?

Till then,
Belle

The beauty of the day

Hello friends!

How has your week been?

Mine has been peachy. It's week two at my new gym and I'm getting into the swing of things. For example today I did my leg workout...which is my faaaaaaav...I feel so strong when I work my legs out. Any whooo the incline leg presses are a little bit different than the ones I am used to and I got stuck today.  I couldn't get it to lock and I couldn't lower it to a resting position like some others. So there I am, the trainer being smooshed in the leg press...one of the other trainers had to leave her session with a client to help me out. Needless to day I now know how to work that machine!

Well after working my legs, grabbing some lunch, and running an errand; where I also got to catch up with a friend, I headed to my favorite park to do my 5K walk. 

Today is absolutely beautiful! It's perfectly cool and sunny. I listened to some awesome worship music. I can't wait to be able to run again! I've got 5 more weeks till I move on to Phase 2 and can call myself a runner again! For now I'm just a runner in rehab...lol!

Stay tuned for tomorrow post! I've got exciting news and will be sharing a new-ish passion! 

Till then!

Belle

Adhere to the Plan

Can I just have a moment to share a weakness of mine...impatience. If there is something I want or need I want it now! Which I guess just makes my typical of our culture. Today is a rare cold day in Houston and hitting up my favorite park just sound ideal! Then I remember that I am on a mission and must adhere to the plan. Which right now means walking...for six weeks!

The best running plan I've found...saying I've never finished was via Adidas' Mi Coach. I used it when I was training for my 10K...which I did run the distance of a 10K during training and then proceeded to have "Runners Knee" thus knocking me out for the actual event.

Mi Coach is based on Heart Rate training; you spend a percribed amount of time in a certain HR zone. One day you might spend the whole time at your "Green zone" the next session a mix of "Green" and "Yellow." Check out the link if this isn't making sense.

You can tell your Heart Rate by one of two ways. First, you can by the whole Mi Coach kit and kobotle that has the heart rate sensor and adaptor, as seen below, that links to your smart phone. Or you can use just the app that looks at your pace via GPS to figure out if you are working hard enough. I guess there is really a third option...which I will get to later.

Either way you go the "Coach" tells you when it is time to hit a new HR zone or if you are out of your HR zone and need to slow down or speed up. It also links to you iTunes and the "Coach" voices over it. It also tracks your milage on your shoes and calories.

Mi Coach's running is also keeping with...

Amazon

I stopped by Barnes and Noble yesterday to look at their running books. There are different schools of thinking about running. Some subrcibe to running and walking intervals...which sorry...to me is kind of sissy. This school belives it allows for better recovery and longer distances. All I know is that if I stop, I won't start again! Then there was books about running barefoots, just for women, for weight loss, yoga and running...you name it that got it!

Be a better runner takes your HR readings and applies it "Hard" and "Easy" days. It seems like the best attack plan and more importantly DOABLE!

All this planning is getting me amped and anxious to start running. Today is only day four, Tris, Bis, and Shoulder Day with day 2 of Mi Coach...patience is really hard for me. But this is for the long haul, not to just quickly train for a race but to be a runner...so I better get just as amped about Phase 1 as I am for Phase 2!

What gets you amped for your training?

Operation Finisher: Phase 1

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Like my outfit? Yes that is my doing a Tricep Rope Pulldown. A co-worker and I were going to dress up as Batman and Robin but since I’m done at my old local and haven’t started at the new one yet; I figured why pass up the excuse to wear a tutu!?! Everyone assumed I was Tinker Bell..sure why not. 

Like I mentioned in my a couple of post ago I am now a suffer of Patellar Fasciitis. Treatment was via this thing…

While I’m not sure what you actually call this thing, I do know that it gives my weakened tendon extra support.  Along with wearing this thing I was told to rest my knee and that “Given your work it will take longer than the typical two weeks.” The “Given your work…” part being that people with Patellar Fasciitis aren’t suppose to squat, lunge, or walk or stand for excessive periods of time. Yea it took more than two weeks. Now I just wear it when doing cardio or on “Legs” day. Following my injury I certainly could and should have been doing rehab on the knee…but I didn’t…bad trainer I know. But this morning was a new morning and I woke up to this…

Ok I actually woke up to this written on my mirror but that wouldn't work to well via picture. When I was in weight loss mode I would put my game plan for the week and my weight on the mirror, checking off the boxes as the week went on.

Today is the beginning of Operation Finisher: Phase 1. Obviously Operation Finisher since the goal is to finish a 5K. The Phase 1 aspect is the “Rebuilding” portion of the operation. Rebuilding my strength as well as my cardio…via walking with a dash of cross training.

I imagine I’ll be in Phase 1 for the month of November and will look pretty much like today. The goal is by the end of the week to have walked 12.8 miles, stairstepped a total of 60 minutes, and do my 3 day split strength training with an extra leg work out (one functional and one strength focused), and take one cycle class for my Crosstraining. So today I checked off three boxes, one for each of the following:

• 20 minutes Stairmaster
• 3.2 miles walk
• Back

What’s your game plan? Do you keep it some place where you can see it? 

Workout Workshop

A couple weeks ago I got text from my manager, "Call me asap." First thought, "What could I have possibly have done?" Turns out our club had been given a NCSF certification by corporate and I was chosen to receive it. In order to be a Master Trainer one must have three different certification so NCSF will be number two for me. Not going to lie when I was told about receiving the cert I inwardly groaned...it meant taking that BIG test again. The one that I struggled so much to pass just for my first cert. But here is how the day ended up going...

Bright and early, armed with textbook, workbook, and Starbucks; I headed down to our corporate office for day one of the workshop.  There I met up with these two...

Kat, who works in our Service department, and her husband Sal. It was great having friendly faces to chat with and be workout partners with. The first part of the day was spent at desks learning about nutrition, health constrictions, and assessments. After lunch we worked on IDing imbalances, how to correct them, and learning proper form for basic leg exercises. 

Sal doing a Bench Negative Leg Curl

Kat doing a Negative Glute Hamstring Raise

The last six months has been a huge learning curve so I'm now seeing the same material from the view of someone who has been in the industry. I know what it's like to have a client who has never step foot in the gym and to have a client who has been doing exercises wrong for years. Having clients who have a lot of weight to lose and with only a few pounds. All of which have different challenges. This class also covered some things that I felt weak in. Also NCSF looks at somethings, like assessments, slightly different than The Cooper Institute.

I'm just excited to be a trainer and continue to learn about my industry. And when it comes to the test I was surprised how much I was remembering. I plan on taking that sucker asap! Which will mean I will be a CPT 2. Tomorrow we go over Program RX, which I am going to be interested at how that present it.

Happy weekend!

Belle

Becoming a Finisher

On a wall in my parents' garage is a dozen or so Finisher medals and race bibs. We are talking several half and full marathons; Houston, Marine Corps, and White Rock. There is even a bright yellow bib from Sun Mart's Century Endurance Trail Run, a 100 miler through the woods of Huntsville State Park. All of them belonging to my 63, in Janurary, father. All of them highly impressive to the girl who has yet to compelte a 5K.

Dad and I after my first Cycle ride

My dad spent 20 years in the Marine Corp and being forced to run. So when he retired so did his running shoes. However, 11 years later at the age of 46, dad laced up his running shoes and hit the pavement. His marathon PR being in the four hour range, which for those who don't know is slow. Dad isn't built for speed, he is what is known in the running world as a "Plotter."

The thing that I admire about my dad's running career is that even though he maybe a Plotter, he is at least a Finisher...and he has the medal and the bibs to prove it. I, on the other hand, get discrouaged at the slightest bump in the training road. Whether my liagitament knee issues or my mental block with running, what I like to blame on my "Fat Girl Mentality"; I have yet to complete a race. 

My last attemept to join the running commuity came to a screetching hault 2 months ago. I was on attempt number three to run...

However, at a staff volleyball game I landed on my knee twice without any knee pads. I wound up with Platella Fasciitis, fancy term meaning the tendon from my knee to my femur was strained. I must admit I am not the best of Finisher...of anything. The refinishing of my dresser...in the parentals' garage half way sanded. Dozens of books halfway read. Learning spanish...sign langauge. The list goes on.

I don't know if it's stubberness or my inner runner crying to get out but I have the fever...for more running. I want at least one finisher medal and bib to hang some where. I want to say that I conquered my mental block of running. I'd like to be able to say, "Yea I ran three miles this morning." I want my Runner's Story...like how I pushed through the rain with a big toe bleeding while a dog chasing me to finish my run. I want a PR...even if it is really slow and my best time is just crossing that finish line. I want to say I am a runner.

So going on attempt number 385,0276,504 I will be training. Forget the Half Marathon...give me a simple 5K. I don't even have a 5K picked out, no goal date pressure. I just want to run. When I can run my favorite 3 mile loop then I'll look for a 5K to run. I also want to find a running group and since I will be in the city now it might be easier.

Maybe this Skinny Southern Belle will finally become the Running Skinny Southern Belle.

What have you never been a Finisher at? What has held you back from crossing the finish line?

Life after G.O.

So my last post was April 7...about a week prior to the gym I work at opening. When we have been open for 6 months now and life after Grand Opening (G.O.) is different than I had imagined.

My plan was that by now I would have moved out of the parental units to my favorite part of Houston, 20 minutes from my club. I would be blissfully be a full time Trainer. Doing adult things like saving for a new car,  decorating said apartment, and finally updating my wardrobe (which still has yet to recover from under-growing my clothes).

I, however, am not full time. I had to even get a second job, my old receptionist job from when I was in college. I ended up finding a great apartment 5 minutes from the gym. Which turned out to be nice for early morning clients. The biggie...I'm transferring clubs. There are several us at my current club...who are still trying to load up their schedules to become full time. I love this club; it's staff, my clients, and it's facilities. But a girl has to do what a girl has to do. So I'll be making the move November 1st.

Alright what do ya'll want to read about? What questions are you dying to ask?