Pyramids Aren't Just for Egyptians

Hey Preps!

Pre-Distance Run...as you can see, still a little chilly in this picture,

but it won't take long until I am sweating, even in this cold weather.

"It's like a secret that running can transform your life in more ways than you know"

-Mary Whittenburg

Happy Sunday Funday! What do y'all look forward to most on Sundays?  For me, it's a distance run.  All who follow my blog, know my love of classic fashion, and all that it entails.  Classic fashion should be matched with a classy personality.  That personality is who you are, it's your character.  It isn't something that you put on for others and then take off when you are out Saturday nights.  (Ok yes, a rant...sorry) The point is, that is who I am.  I want my fashion to reflect my character.  Another thing my fashion does is reflect my lifestyle.  I live in my duck boots.  Literally.  I wear them to the gym, to class, wherever.  I don' care if I look ridiculous in them or if they are worn to death...they match my on the go lifestyle, and I'm proud of who I am...that is reflected in my duck boots.

Part of being a prep is living a clean life.  A prep is classy, they know how to carry on a conversation about practically anything, they dress in a way that is put together...but not over the top, and they are into a healthy lifestyle.  For me, a healthy lifestyle means being emotionally stable (I truly think everyone should see a psychologist at some point in their life), independent, and practice good nutrition and fitness.

Fitness and nutrition are very important to me.  I recently found out I have a wheat allergy, and have had to go on a Gluten-free diet.  It has been hard.  There are times where I cave-in because all my friends are grabbing a pizza to split and it looks tempting so I grab a slice.  The next day, I wake up feeling hungover from eating the wheat.  It's really not a fun process, so being able to hold back my impulses has been something I have been striving for.  Gluten-free diets do allow you to eat certain types of rice and other carbs, but basically it forces you to stick to a 'clean eating' lifestyle.  For me, I tend to eat a ton of raw veggies and fruit and will grill a week's worth of chicken to keep my protein levels up.  I have noticed that by doing so, I feel great.  I don't wake up feeling sick like I did before I found out I was allergic to wheat.  So, I highly recommend you try eating clean as well.  It allows you to see what is really going into your body in contrast to the many processed foods we Americans eat today.  Just a thought if you are trying to get back into shape.

As for fitness, I am a runner these days.  I grew up a lifelong swimmer, and in addition did cross country and track in high school.  However, swimming is one of those sports that you can easily get burnt out on...especially if you have done it competitively for a long time...so now I stick to my runs.  I run virtually every day.  I have two off days where I run a one-mile warm-up before I lift.  The other days I either am doing short distance interval sets (three to five miles) where I build into a sprint and bring it back to a steady jog...and then I have days like Sunday where I will do an eight to 14 mile run.  Ughhh.  I know I sound sick, but I love it.  It's my release from the world where I get to just do my own thing for a little bit.

If you are trying to get back in shape, I am not recommending that you just go whip out 14 miles.  No, start slow.  I have said this before, I gained 35 whopping pounds my freshman year of college, and it took a rude awakening for me to understand that I really needed to get back on track.  Never did I think I would be back to the teeny sizes I was as a teenager, but I did it through a lot of sweat and hard work.  The weight loss path is not easy.  There is not magic secret regardless of what infomercials tell you...but it's completely worth it.

One of the happiest days of my college career was making the decision to try on a pair of size 0 jeans that I just couldn't seem to give up.  I zipped them up and they fit.  They fit?! I ran around my apartment screaming.  I had accomplished something I thought was impossible...it took time and commitment, but I did it...and I know that if you are struggling with a similar situation, that you can do it too.

I teach a fitness class.  It is an intense circuit weight training class with plyometrics in between each circuit.  At the end of the class there are the three hardest circuits.  They are called burnouts, pyramids, and declines.

A burnout is when you strive for as many repetitions of an exercise in a period of time.  For my class we do a 30 second burnout followed by a 25 second and 20 second burnout (resting 5 seconds in between).

Pyramids are my favorite.  I build mine in 5 sets.  The first set we start by repeating an exercise 12 times, followed by 10, 8, 6, and just when your muscles are starting to burn...we finish with a set of 15.

Finally, there are declines.  You can lift a little heavier when going for declines (usually 5 lbs per arm).  I do my declines starting with a set of 20, followed by 18, and then 16.  They burn.

All of these circuits are great because they allow your muscles to keep burning fat long after your workout.  So if you are heading to the gym today try doing a burnout set of bicep curls, or a set of declines squats.  I promise you will feel it the next day!

If you ever have questions about fitness, feel free to e-mail me.  I am all for helping others with their fitness goals and encouraging them along the way.  Everyone needs someone to motivate them, and what better motivation to have than from a girl who has gone through the weight gain/loss process.

Weight loss doesn't happen over night, I know the feeling of disappointment when you step on a scale after working your butt off for a month, and it not being the number you wanted...or stepping into a dressing room where the lighting just isn't helping the way your hips look in the cheap mirrors.  My suggestion?  Measure yourself.  Measure your legs, hips, and waist...that's the best way to see results.

People always think I am about ten pounds less that I am, because I have muscle, and muscle weighs a whole lot more than fat...so if you feel like you look good, and your measurements show that...don't worry about that forsaken scale number.

I promise, if you stick with fitness, it will help your life in so many ways.  It helps me to stay focused, it is something I am proud of, and is the 'me' time I need during the week when I am stressed to the max.  Don't make excuses, and get out there...it isn't easy...but it is completely worth it.  Don't think you are athletic enough to get started?  I suggest reading Run Like a Girl by Mina Samuels...it will completely change the way you think about yourself and those around you.

I will leave you with these inspiring words:

"In other words, if we say, 'I am a strong athlete,' there's a good chance that's what we will be."

-Mina Samuels

Be strong.  Be persistent.  Be preppy.  

Gym Talk: Common Mistakes

(Outfit of the Day:

Plaid Flannel Button-down from J.Crew

Lands' End Diamond-Quilted Down Vest

Tommy Hilfiger Corduroy Skinnys

Hunter Boots)

Just walked into the gym...for the third time today.  This time, to work.  One of "my usuals" as I so fondly call them, walks up to the desk I sit at in the fitness center and says: "what a slacker".  Then he smiles as he anticipates my explosion of a rebuttal.  

"Excuse me, but I worked out for two and a half hours already today.  If anyone's a slacker it's you."

Mind you, this usual is the chief police officer of my town.  Yeah, I have guts...and he finds my feisty opinions refreshing I think.  

He responds, "Oh Kalyn, I just like getting you fired up before your shift".  

Too bad I already was.  One thing I can't stand is laziness.  Sure, I have days where both ends of the candle were burnt to the point I must, for my health, take a lazy day.  That is completely different than what I am about to explain.  

As a fitness instructor, and personal trainer (in training)...I see a few common flaws in the people who make use of the gym.  Sure, I will give them credit for showing up and getting on that treadmill or elliptical.  However, if you are looking to get in shape...there is a lot more to it than just that.

Someone today said to me as I was leaving the gym, "Eat a cheeseburger".  Usually I find that funny, but today I didn't.  Guess what?  I eat cheeseburgers.  I am not saying I swing by McDonald's for a Big Mac daily, but I do on occasions eat poorly...but really? That comment was not necessary.  Why?  Because I work.  I work hard to stay in shape.

Last night in a class that I teach, a few members were being...lazy.  There, I said it.  They weren't staying on pace, and refused to do anything too hard.  Worse of all, they decided to talk during one of the hardest circuits that they opted not to do.  I snapped.  I looked over at them, as I was drenched in sweat and said:

"Look at me, I am soaked...THIS IS NOT PRETTY GIRL SWEAT!"

The whole class lost it.  They were dying with laughter.  Not funny, but okay my sarcasm got the best of them.  

So back to my rant, a lot of people want to know what I do to stay in shape.  So I am going to be blunt and say I work my butt off.  I am in the gym consistently 6 times a week.  I teach classes on top of that.  I don't just get on the treadmill and coast...no I am sprinting, doing intervals, sweating and pushing myself each day.  

There are days I don't want to run...I do it anyways.  I push myself, and I SWEAT.  One common mistake I see especially women doing is this:  they get on a cardio machine and they hardly even move.  They go so slow with no resistance or incline and they think they are getting a good workout in.  YOU'RE NOT.  To get the results you want, you have to work for it.  That means pain, sweat, and getting up and pushing yourself even when you want to stay in bed.

Listen, I feel your pain...I have 22 hours of school this semester, I work mornings, nights, and teach classes.  I am so busy.  Sleeping in on the weekends is the only way I make it through...trust me, I really don't like going to the gym sometimes, but I do it anyways.  So guess what?  I don't have sympathy for you if you don't feel like it either.  

Rome wasn't built in a day folks.

Okay so second common mistake I see...girls don't want to lift heavy.  Yes, you.  I see you lifting that dinky 3 or 5 lb. weight. Guess what? Your purse weighs more than that.  

"But I don't want to get big muscles"

Listen, you are not going to bulk up in one day.  The way you get rid of fat is by building muscle.  You don't build muscle if you are lifting something that is too easy for you.  The fastest way to have good results is to lift heavier than you are used to.  It is supposed to hurt the next day.  It is supposed to hurt when you are lifting...plus, muscle burns fat...so the more muscle you have...the better your metabolism is.  Just sayinnnn.

So there you have it...my rant about what people do wrong at the gym.  I feel much better now.  

Just remember, it's not ever going to be pretty girl sweat; but it has it's benefits.  Like looking killer in a dress when you aren't sweating?

Hope y'all are having a great week...working off all that stuffing and pumpkin pie!  

Thanks for reading this crazy feisty post!