“Welcome to the Annex.”

With a big cheesy grin, this is what I say to my new clients as we walk through the doors of my fitness studio. My grin may be mistaken for sarcasm but I’m actually smiling because I can’t help but think about how my little fitness studio became known as the Annex.

The story goes back to November of 2011. I had just come to the end of a personal training contract with a local gym. I was so excited to have my options open. I was ready to see where God was going to lead me next. Before I could even start planning *BOOM* I received a message from a young woman looking to make some changes. For now I will call the young woman, Friend.

Friend was ready to start training right away. I had no clue how it was going to work because I only had a small sunroom and some weights for training. (Our body is the most important workout tool. Who needs machines and equipment, right?) We made it through the first session but I knew we needed more space.

Lord, bless Friend for her patience. I asked if she minded working out in the midst of table saws and saw dust. Friend was determined and willing to support my vision.  By the second workout I had a little corner of my husband’s workshop prepped and ready to train. Let me take a moment to brag on my husband. My craftsman husband allowed his personal trainer wife to move into his manly workshop. Here, let me just show you.

 

This is the Annex at the very beginning.

 

Once my husband realized we couldn't share workspace anymore, he gave up his shop completely.

 

 

 

Lot's and lots of painting and cleaning completed in one summer.

Welcome to the Annex!

 

Annex: (the Paige translation) a building separated from a larger building or an addition. It sounds so hard core and intimidating when in fact it is very literal. It was Friend that suggested the name. You see, Friend has a name for everything. Her car is Edward “Eddie”, her phone is Harrison (or maybe that is her computer system in Eddie), my lime green baby weights are Leon…..please don’t tell her I forgot what she named my med ball. Friend is also the most diehard Office fan I have ever met. If you don’t get that connection it’s okay because I wouldn’t if I didn’t have Friend.

I hope you see the love story here? In short, someone (s) believed in me enough to forgive the messy transitions of creating a dream. I was blessed with a supportive husband, a client I now consider one of my closest friends, and a little fitness studio to call my own. In reality, I am the Annex. My training will not be confined to a building or a computer. Creating the Annex is just a stepping stone to give me the courage to follow my heart.

I am proof that dreams can come true with a little (maybe a lot of) love, support, and elbow grease.

Disclaimer: The amazingly supportive husband still has an area to do his manly woodworking stuff. It just provides slightly less ideal working conditions.

Back to the Basics

What do you think when you hear the words low fat, low carb, high protein, or gluten free? How do you feel about diets, calories, portions, or measuring? Do you subconsciously tune out when you hear talk about nutrition?

Sadly, I’m guilty of saying all of these words in one conversation. I had a conversation with an innocent bystander at my son’s karate class this past week. The conversation started when my daughter asked if we could buy food after class. The woman next to me laughed and we enjoyed a pleasant discussion on the pickiness of our children. That sweet woman had no idea how passionate I can be about proper nutrition. She was probably thinking, “Did I inquire about your favorite protein drink? I do not recall asking the difference between paleo and gluten free. She just crossed the line with cancer causing laboratory foods!” I’m kidding. We had a very nice conversation, but I really need to learn how to talk in moderation.

Seriously, have you ever searched through health topics? Books and web sites on nutrition and fitness are so endless it will make your head spin. What about a person new to the idea of a healthy lifestyle? One can become vulnerable at a state of desperation. Program after program will lead to theories contradicting theories until the only urge is to give up. “Forget it! I can’t win.” Have you been there?

 Allow me to ease your mind.

Forget everything you’ve ever learned. Ask yourself these questions;

1.       Are you unhappy with how you feel right now? (Do you ever have digestive issues? Do you feel emotionally imbalanced? Do you have joint pain? Are you lacking energy? Do you *need* to lose body fat?)

2.       Are you unable to follow the demands of a challenging exercise routine? (Do you find yourself out of breath frequently? Is it hard to lift things? Do you feel off balance?)

3.       Are you following a fad diet? (Any quick weight loss system can possibly be put into this category. Any diet that focuses on a certain food for weight loss is considered a fad diet. A diet that does not require permanent change can be considered a fad diet.)

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may need to reevaluate. You are the only person that knows how you feel.

May I suggest the following?

One of the most important steps you can take for your health is to know the importance of real food. Know every ingredient that goes into your mouth. I realize this is not a new concept but it seems like more are forgetting this important step. If you simplify your diet (I’m referring to your daily eating plan.) you may discover things like: that cereal fiber bar was causing you stomach pain, every time you eat pizza you feel like you’ve been hit by a train, that low calorie, low fat diet you’ve been following may be causing malnutrition and a weakened immune system. I’ve only named a few possibilities but I think you understand my point. Food is either the nourishment that keeps you vibrant or the poison that makes you lethargic.

Of course, everyone is different, but if you aren’t eating real food, you will never know the full potential your body has to offer.

STEP 1: Eat real food for at least 30 days. (Look at the ingredients. Aim for 3 or fewer ingredients in any given packaged food. Most real food cannot sit on a shelf for weeks. There are some exceptions so just be sure you recognize what’s in your food, and make sure you feel good about what you are putting in your body.)

STEP 2: Ask questions 1 and 2 again. (Question 2 is referring to exercise. There is no fitness without exercise! Food fuels your energy to move. There will be many opportunities to dig into this subject. For now, please get moving in as many ways as humanly possible.)

STEP 3: Email me if you don’t see change. (If you are finding it hard to make these changes you should never give up!)