Updated my Contact page & About me.. added a new page

Hello everyone,

Just wanted to inform my readers I have chosen to update my contact page, about me page and added a “I am for hire” page in case anyone was looking for a fitness/health blogger. I have learned to branch out within this blogosphere, and have met people who have given me advice and shared with me their success stories and decided I needed to take the proper steps if I want to be a successful freelance writer, personal trainer, and a positive figure to people around the world. Thank you for your continuing support. 

Shay-lon xoxo

Seated Leg Extension (exercise)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amJyUQfDXTs

Hope you don’t mind loud background noise and hard breathing because that is what the video is full of, oh and a guy without his shirt, who has abs, don’t pass out women, I promise I posted this for the example of the exercise, not to deliver massive heart attacks.  On a more serious note, how many of you have completed a seated leg extension? how many of you start to feel it after like 8 reps? okay, and how many of you like this exercise? Okay, so we have a rough crowd tonight, not many hand raises or I do’s, as a matter of fact, I heard the wind blow and that is hard to hear when you are indoors. I will assume most of you have done this exercise whether it was at the gym on the machine or at home using a chair, and if you haven’t yet tried this exercise, next time you have a chance, give it a go. 

I normally tell all of you “I like this exercise and would highly recommend it” right, because that is how I feel about many exercises and wouldn’t lead my audience over a cliff if I knew they couldn’t swim, LOL. I have jokes today, but this particular exercise isn’t something I am going to necessarily say I love and enjoy and would highly recommend it, but it is one that I would say can be implemented into your workout sessions as a warm up for the lower body or after a strenuous workout if you use low weights. Like many machines it has its pros and cons, and it is relatively easy to do with or without the machine. Where I go to the gym, I don’t see many people use this, but the ones that do, usually switch between this and the seated leg curls, which could make for a good circuit, if you add maybe a lunge exercise or something that will do the full ROM. Me, personally I don’t use this machine very often, but when I do use it, I normally also do the seated leg curl as a switch off as well because they are placed right next to one another and I can go back and forth working on the hamstrings and Quads. However, there are other ways to go about working the quad muscles and hamstrings, avoiding the use of the hopping from one machine to the next, a more functional exercise. I will mention that this is a good beginners strength exercise, so if you are new to the fitness world and want an easy exercise for the quads, look into this workout. 

How to perform a “Seated leg extension”

  1. Sit on the machine with your legs under the pad, feet pointed forward and hands holding the handles (you will want to adjust the pad so that it falls on top of your lower leg), make sure the legs form a 90 degree angle. I have heard of machines being designed a way that you are not capable of forming a 90 degree angle, I would skip the machine or make sure to only go as far down as 90 degrees. 
  2. Using the quadriceps, extend your legs to the maximum as you exhale. Pause a second on the contraction and make sure the body is stationary on the seat.
  3. Slowly lower the weight back down to the normal position, as you inhale, ensuring to not go past the 90 degree angle. 
  4. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Reason to not go past the 90 degree angle is to prevent the knees from going over the toes, which in turn can cause a stress at the knee joint.
Pros:
  • Easy to perform
  • hard to do incorrectly
  • good if you wish to work only the quad muscles
Cons:
  • Is said to apply “constant ACL tension” (people with ligament injuries should avoid this exercise)
  • Increased risk of lateral patellar deviation
  • when you do this exercise with high weights, your chances of knee injury increases
  • exercise is not practical, only for kicking movements – again not a functional exercise
Now, you can see why I don’t highly recommend this machine exercise, nor am I a huge fan of it, but it does make for a good beginner exercise. 
Your fitness blogger,
Shay-lon xoxo

First day of Personal training a friend for practice – Day one

personal-trainer

Today was the first day of helping one of the two friends who have come to me to lose weight, get in shape, stay healthy, and it went well. I got permission to share his name and workouts he does from this time on, and share any and all feedback from him or myself during out workout session. 

Client name: Johnathon Boyce

Age: 26 

goals: lose weight (20+ pounds), become more confident with his outer appearance, and live a healthier lifestyle that he can sustain.

Today’s Agenda:

Warm-up: 10 minutes on the treadmill, no incline, 3.5 speed. The reason being is because he rates his fitness level as a beginner and hasn’t touched cardio for 3 or more months, I needed him to get warmed up but not yet fatigued, and I wanted to see how he handled a low speed so I knew where to go from there for next time. Now normally I would do a proper assessment, but given I am not yet certified, I have to be generic. 

Workout session: 45 minutes on the elliptical, level 7, and speed between 5 and 6. 

Cool down: 5 minute cool down on the treadmill, 2.0 speed. 

Now his workout session was a fault, I probably could have started him off at a level 1 or 3 at most, but wanted to see how well he did with a higher level but slower speed. He manged the first 10-15 minutes with no issue but after that he was taking frequent stops, and frequent water breaks with a complete stop.  I realized he has poor cardiovascular oxidation but because I wanted him to finish like a champ, I had him lower his speed to a comfortable number and finish the 45 minutes while maintaining the level 7. 

After the cool down, we did some static stretches, then sat at a table to talk about the pros and cons of today’s workout, talk about how he feels, any pains/soreness, answer questions, go over tomorrow’s workout agenda, etc. We both agreed he would need to work on his cardiovascular oxidation, breathing techniques, and his mentality in order to push himself when his brain thinks he can’t. However, I don’t plan on going the same route I did today after finding out his flaws, especially since I don’t want him to feel like he didn’t do well and lose confidence in his abilities, instead I told him tomorrow, we will still use the elliptical (he did like the elliptical after all) but instead of 45 minutes straight though like we did today, I am going to break it up into segments, so it is easier to manage and he can focus on breathing properly and maintain a comfortable pace without the frequent stops (I am hoping).  I am thinking about doing 5-10 minute splits, and 1 minute breaks between each segment (the breaks are slower pace and lower level) unless he needs to completely stop for an emergency, he seems to think he wants to do 5 minutes splits, so I am more than likely going to do that first and see how well he adapts, if I feel it is too easy we will do 8 minute splits, the level will be kept around 3 this time to see how he adapts to this level and the pace will be between 5.0 and 6.0 again. 

Obviously, we will eventually need to overload and work him up to his full potential, but as of right now, it is about working on his breathing, pacing, and mental endurance. I want him to know the difference between soreness and legitimate pain. I am hoping each week we will see growth from him, but there is no doubt that this will be a journey and if he wants to meet his goals, he will need to focus and work hard. 

Your fitness blogger,

Shay-lon xoxo

If any of you have ideas as far as cardio exercises you like doing for beginners, any recommendations, etc.. please feel free to add, I love hearing feedback and again I am practicing and learning as I go about what works and what doesn’t, so hopefully by the time I get certified I will be even more knowledgeable and have more experience under my belt. I have worked as a strength and conditioning coach intern and was a personal train

Rich From Twitter wanted to guest post on my blog..

Hello bloggers, 

I have been been on social media just making people aware of my blog sites, my goals, purpose, etc and recently found a personal trainer who is following me, he was looking to guest post and possibly have someone do a guest post on his site and I was totally interested in listening to what he had to say because we all know not all personal trainers are good trainers or have good intentions. He recently sent me 4 articles along with this cover photo and about me page, and I glanced over the first article and decided it wouldn’t be too bad to have it around. His main purpose is rapid, permanent fat loss, and I am not sure how I feel about it 100 percent, as I have only read the 1st article, although just because I am not 100 percent on board, doesn’t mean I will knock it, as long as it is a safe way to lose weight (he does mention it will take 90 days) For right now, I will send you his first article, hopefully it may interest someone, if it does, I can email you the other articles or if I find more people would like to know more, I am willing to post the other 3 articles. let me know what you think of Rich:

You Must Transform Your Body Now!

“The first step towards transformation is awareness”
By Rich “Slayer of Stubborn Fat” Tweten CPT, Author

Have you accidentally programmed your body to be fat for life?

That’s an incredibly scary thought, yet it may be true!

Remember back to a time when you made the decision to slay stubborn fat.

Once motivated, I’m sure you did whatever you believed was necessary at the time to drop those ugly and unwanted pounds.

Did you go on a diet?

Did you start an exercise program?

Did you buy a fat loss product that promised amazing results?

Regardless of the path you chose, obviously your efforts were not fully rewarded since you’re here with me right now.

Even the most effective actions for slaying stubborn fat and improving health mean nothing, if you have unconsciously programmed your body to be fat for life.

What stopped you before and may continue to prevent you from achieving rapid and permanent fat loss results?

It definitely isn’t your body.

Instead, it’s your mind that orders your body to respond to its every command!

To actually achieve rapid and permanent fat loss results, it’s essential to install a new and positive program into your mind.

Otherwise, your body will have no other choice but to follow the old and negative programming that has brought you disheartening fat loss results in the past that comes with a guarantee for fat loss failure in the future.

This positive program will allow you to create and own your new body, instead of renting mediocre fat loss results, if any!

Coming up, you’ll find an assignment with questions that are brought to your attention in a simple, step-by-step format.
Valuable insight and self-actualization will be yours for the taking.
However, before you answer the first question, make sure to open a text file so you can simply type out the answers as you advance.

Here is your goal for this assignment…

To take responsibility for the body you’ve created and increase your awareness about why you need to achieve rapid and permanent fat loss results, then make the decision to get started.

This is going to sound strange, but you need to trust me on this.

Create a private moment for yourself and strip off your clothes.

Yes! I mean it.

Keep your underwear on, or get into a bathing suit and walk over to a mirror (ideally a full length one) and stand in front of it.

Ask yourself the following list of questions as you study your body.

I’d like you to verbally respond to all of the questions and then type out your answers.

For the record, this assignment is intense!

It needs to be in order for you to feel the tenacious drive to create a positive lifestyle transformation and as a result, an improved self-image and new-found happiness.

Question 1: What is your immediate reaction when you stare at the body you’ve created? Make certain that you’re standing in a relaxed position and speak out the feelings that enter your mind.

Question 2: Do you believe that your inner health is being affected in a negative way when your body is living in this state? If so, how? Think of your heart, lungs and arteries, etc.

Question 3: How is the condition of your body affecting your everyday attitude, productivity and performance?

Question 4: How is the condition of your body affecting the people around you and the way they treat you?

Question 5: What has your physical condition cost you in the past and present? Think of your health, self-esteem and other areas that have been affected such as your family, relationships and career.

Question 6: Do you understand why you look and feel the way you do? What are some unhealthy habits which contributed towards that result? Think about inactivity and poor nutrition.

Question 7: Imagine how you will look and feel in 5 years from now if you continue to pick-up more unhealthy habits. How about 10 or 20 years?

Question 8: Describe your physical appearance right now after answering the first 7 questions. Are you smiling, frowning or sad? Yell it out with emotion!

Question 9: Do you know of anyone who is at least 5 years older than yourself and has a similar lifestyle as yours? Assuming that you’re both of the same gender and have a similar bone structure, answer the following questions:

In your opinion, how does that person look and feel?

Do you think that person is happy?

Are you going to allow yourself to look and feel a similar way as this person in the future?

Question 10: Are you worth more than what you see in the mirror?

Question 11: Are you ready to work towards rapid and permanent fat loss results?

If you answered “Yes” to the last question, then way to go!

On the other hand, if you answered “No”… don’t worry, you’re just not ready to commit to a new, healthy lifestyle for a healthier mind and body.

Continue to live your life as happily as can be.

If you change your mind in the future, only then do I want you to continue on from here.

If you haven’t answered all of the previous questions, then I encourage you to go back and complete them.

Since you’ve now decided to work towards rapid and permanent fat loss results, understand that you’ve unlocked the magical door that’s at the beginning of your pathway to a heavenly body!

In this next step, you’re going to get excited and have fun as you set your realistic weight loss goals (link the phrase “realistic weight loss goals” to http://totalwellnessdestination.com/realistic-weight-loss-goals) using visualization…

About the Author: Rich “Slayer of Stubborn Fat” Tweten is a Certified Personal Trainer and author of PFL90, The Ultimate Psychologically Based Fat Loss Plan. Since 1999, he’s helped thousands of people who’ve accidentally programmed their bodies to be overweight for life to achieve rapid and permanent fat loss results through the successful transformation of their mindset.

Click here (link the phrase “click here” to http://pfl90.com) for more information on PFL90.

Note: The PFL90 cover image should be placed above that line of text with out-bound link.

The Gym Goers Job

obligation

In a world full of body savvy, nutritional professionals, where I am only less than the 1 percent who actually cares about the well-being of others not just how their ass looks in jeans or the shirtless pictures they post on social media. Although, we all look, guilty as charged. I found out recently after reading a Facebook post from a group member of a fitness group I have joined (I joined many to share my blog post and Youtube videos) that is our obligation to look a certain way so that others will want to look as we do. I laughed loudly, very loudly to myself because I wanted to know how such a person even came up with that conclusion, as if I am some model citizen that people should praise and look up to in such a way where they feel the need to compare themselves to myself and others in our profession. Forgive me if this next sentence makes me sound like a whining bitch, but “who in the hell said I wanted others to look like me”, why is this a hard concept to grasp when I make mention that isn’t my goal. I don’t ever feel the need to strike an argument with a fellow personal trainer, because I know we all have our own ideas and ways of doing things but when a personal trainer makes such a statement that involves how we should look in order to make others “want our bodies”, “praise our hard work”, and “give us a round of applause for being attractive”, I find that kinda absurd, maybe because over the course of the years my body hasn’t made head line news and I don’t feel like it is any better than the next females, sure it looks nice but improvement is always needed no matter how “flawless” it may look to others, I find it needs improvement because I am not perfect and this whole I should feel obligated to make sure it is this perfect canvas is bullshit. I have my days where I am drowning in sloppy joe sauce and stuffing my face with french fries, and so if I choose to do that and get a small pouch on my tummy from eating such amazing food, that is my business, doesn’t mean I am any less a personal trainer than the next person in line who treats themselves to a salad on the weekends with a decent amount of croutons. 

 

For one, I take care of my body to my liking, not someone else’s, I stopped wanting to be a show doll years ago when I realized people won’t be satisfied no matter which direction I take. Looking at me you would assume I eat veggies all week and stay away from any kind of fast food, or dining out but hanging with me, I am smashing my face with gourmet burgers and waiting for the next margerita to be served. Seriously, and I still manage a healthy weight, confidence, and muscle definition that goes beyond my expectations most days and I get complimented on my physique more often than not most days, not to mention if you have seen my recent pictures on Facebook of me at the gym, then you would know I know what I am doing when it comes to taking care of myself and it is not to appeal to my others and/or society but to appeal to myself. It is a bonus to appeal to others, because it makes us feel good, but on the other hand, I am not perfect, I bloat when PMSing, I gain weight, I lose muscle, my abs look like shit some days, my hair is never on point, my thighs jiggle to the beat of the music sometimes and I have stretch marks that I have had since being kid that switch between being noticeable and unnoticeable. Shit, I would hate for someone to be like me, and did I mention I don’t wear make up so you can see my pimples when they stop by to visit. Here it is folks, the truth. I think this whole I need to look a certain way in order to get clients may be true, of course, I have to workout, stay in shape and be healthy and not to mention have some confidence and pride in myself. I do. I have a lovely personality and I lift heavy weight, I can run sprints like a champ, and I maintain a healthy balance of food in my fridge, I have self control when I eat, I am knowledgeable in my profession, I have my degree,  I work hard and I carry myself with dignity whenever I have the chance, I failed to mention I have determination,I am disciplined and I strive to be great in everything I do. Always have. 

 

So here we are discussing why I need to look a certain way in order to get clients, I don’t have to look like the chick on muscle and fitness magazine, I am okay with being myself and representing who I am to people in order to get clients and build my rapport. I feel as though no one would hardly know my lifestyle choices unless I told them, and I do eat healthy foods, drink water and stay active, I love having a fit body and looking good in pictures, but deep down, I am not a show doll, I want to be treated like I would treat my clients, “normal”. I don’t need praise, I don’t need another personal trainers approval and I sure the hell don’t have to put up a front like I am some hot shot in order to have clients and gain exposure. My only job at the gym is to work on me and improving my weaknesses, my only obligation is to help other people feel good about themselves, improve their health and well being and bring awareness to people all over in how important fitness/health is. Yes, I will need to look the part for people to believe I am good at what I do, but hopefully once they step into my world and train with me, they won’t need to feel the need to base my quality from how I look but from how they look instead. 

 

Your Fitness blogger,

 

Shay-lon xoxo