Sara’s Rants & Raves

I’m writing this while being angry.  It’s a warning to those who don’t want to read anyone’s complaints.  I urge those to push the back button or close the window.

My sister had invited me to a dinner this last night.  I was working on homework, but she urged me to come to meet her new friends.  She also recommended bringing my homework with me, so I did.  I made the near hour long drive through the down-pouring rain to meet them.  Little did I know that I would have been better off at home.

My sister jokes about making me a human bubble because I am so anti-everything.  I enjoy organic products, don’t enjoy drinking alcoholic beverages, am not a fan of television or video games, and especially do not appreciate my own sister polluting my college research paper articles with highlighter graffiti.  I dealt with all of those, not to mention her new boyfriend and his son, who were both more respectful to me than my own sister.  Either way, I wasnt happy with any of it.  She shouldnt be dating, let alone living with a new guy already.

Worse yet, I gave in to drinking down an alcohol beverage or two with dinner.  I havent been training like I used to, but I’ve also been down with the sickness, out of the office due to the death of my father, and studying like a crazy person to get caught back up.

Even more inconsiderate, my sister suggested to some of her friends, who came by later in the evening and were also disrespectful, that I took an instant liking to one of the guys there.  "Oh, Sara’s upstairs with"… No.  Sara was lying on the floor in the loft nowhere near anyone.  And, with a quick response, I surprised her with my good hearing.

So, I say let their drinking, smoking, worthless lives be their own.  I have more important things to do.  I do not appreciate people who waste my time.  I could have made good progress on my homework without it getting violated, got a good workout in, and eaten clean food if I would have stayed at home.  But, instead I had to put myself out there and try to be a good, supportive sister.  I’m done for a while on being nice.

Anyone have some spiritual wisdom for me.  I am frustrated.

Alright, so an update for you, I turned down the Hawaii trip.  I know!  I just couldnt do it with my schedule.  On a better note, I may be going to Cedar Point for my birthday weekend as well as spending some quality time with a dear friend, but I still have yet to hear if our schedules will allow for it.  I pray that it works out well.

I have moved once again into a house with some friends and am already enjoying my stay.  I really do not believe I could have found myself in a better situation.  But, having moved all weekend, I have fallen behind on my workouts.  Still the plan remains: "the goal is to get down to 15-16% body fat, still.  At this point it comes down to good hydration, clean eating, consistent workouts, and getting enough sleep.  In one sentence I just explained my plan."

It’s almost strange to be in the situation I am in.  As though I were looking at the foreshadowing of my life before it plays out, I found a map a man had given me of this area years ago, and I am now here.  I had started laughing as I was going through my belongings and found it.  It made me smile.  God is working in my life.  I feel the Spirit stronger every day.

And, I am almost twenty five years old.  I cannot believe where I am in life.  I thought I would have been in a completely different scenario, really.  But, man, am I excited for whatever comes next!  Here’s to 25!  It’s coming all too fast!

Alright!  So many of you have been asking for updated photos.  I put one up of my abdominal area for you.  Really not much has changed.  I realize that I have some work yet to do in order to get myself where I was two years ago.  Two years ago already, that’s how long I have worked at the health club!

In good news, it looks as though I have increased motivation to do so.  A friend of mine just might be taking me to Hawaii for my birthday later this year.  BIG SMILES!  So, it looks as though I have work to do!  The goal is to get down to 15-16% body fat, still.  At this point it comes down to good hydration, clean eating, consistent workouts, and getting enough sleep.  In one sentence I just explained my plan.

But, I must be off to work again, I have a meeting to get to within the hour!
Talk to you all soon.

Sirens are never a delightful thing to hear unless I am home at noon on a beautiful day.  Fire truck sirens are what I am currently listening to driving down the street, as I live less than a mile away from the station.  I live near some pretty busy roads, and since it is raining out, I do not doubt that theyre racing to an accident scene.

Racing.  Racing against myself is something I have started up again.  I am once again in competition with myself for miles.  Miles.  I used to be a long distance runner.  My cardiovascular system is not what it used to be.  I have ran more in the last week than I probably have total from Jan through June.  I figure it would be a necessary evil I would have to conquer to get my body composition back to where I want it.  Working up towards being able to complete intense circuit training, my lungs are excited and my heart screams.

I am enjoying this fight!

I took my weight and body fat yesterday, but it sure didnt change much.  I know with all the recent gatherings for summer I’ve been allowing myself a bit more leniency, but its no excuse.  I feel like I am back at the beginning.  There is always change to be made. 

Alright fans, check this one out!

I have been doing my best to become more natural, and this one is a bit extreme.  As a kid my dad would take me to the local Arnie’s to get a slice of my favorite pie: lemon meringue.  With my clean diet, today I couldn’t touch a slice like I used to, but I found this most amazing recipe for a lemon dessert made of raw food. I did make a few changes to make it easier and did not food process it (lack of food processor, though I could have probably used a blender but didnt want to risk it). I mixed a half lemon (with peel and cut up really, really well) with the meat of a whole avocado and a cashew cookie Larabar (contains dates and cashews). I had my brother’s girlfriend try it and told her to chew fast (to fix my lack of food processor problem ). She absolutely loved it! I absolutely love it! Hah. Yes, oh joy… OH JOY! The recipe calls for a little maple syrup in it as well, and I suppose I will add a bit of the organic syrup I have in the fridge and see how that sweetens it up!

In other news, I am feeling awfully congested but hope it is all to blame on the weather.  I’ve been consistently working out and am rarely not sore in one muscle group or another.  I will begin running again this weekend after the rain cools the air down a bit; it has been terrible humid out with record high temperatures.  [My thoughts are all random, can you tell?]  I went a week without coffee, but I gave in today and had a few cups more than I should have.  My sleep patterns are becoming more normal since I became serious about giving up caffeine, and last night I went to bed around ten at night. 

Weigh in is fast approaching!  In less than three weeks I need to get updated weight and body fat information.  I know I have a lot more work to do.  I really should start charting every two to three weeks.

If you have not yet checked out my core/adominal post make sure you do so. [It is the previous entry.]

Thanks to all for such great support.  I always look forward to the messages I get from you, especially those who love to keep me accountable!  Keep up the great work and continue to chart your own successes!

Sara

There’s debate over just about everything in the fitness trainer’s world.  What should be done in what order, and how can that be used to benefit the client the most?

This week’s question has been “what about core training vs. abdominal training?”  Personally, I have been teaching core/abdominal classes by the name “Awesome Abs” at my place of employment for around two years.  For a while I was teaching eight classes a week, and I was sure my body couldnt take any more at one point.  Let’s just say I forced myself into injury by taking on that many classes.   Doing abdominal work forces the spine into constant flexion, and that’s where I found my injury.  Luckily I’ve come to know my body well and am all about preventative care; the injury still needs some work, but it will not have me down and out of training.  I’m not against a bit of core training, but I am completely against working the core to work the abdominals.

Think about it a minute.  Working the abdominals IS NOT going to give spot results.  If there is ANY excess of body fat to still be worked off the body, then I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT recommend working the abdominals alone.  Abdominal exercises, like any other exercise, will work the muscles, tear the fibers, and promote growth in the muscle.  This would make a heavy person appear thicker in the midsection.  Does that make sense?

Core work is by no means the same thing, especially if we focus in on balance training.  Why are we built in the core area the way we are?  Do you not think that the muscles go in all directions to work as anything other than stabilizers of the body, especially of the spine?  Why then would we want to jeopardize our core by working it to exhaustion?  Why would we want to build up strength rather than increase our stabilization skills?  Could you imagine what would happen to my classes had I dropped all abdominal work and started completely doing core and balance training?  Our members would be at a gain, but they’d all be disappointed.

The truth remains that we should be working our core/abdominal muscles throughout our entire exercise routine to keep good posture.  One of my biggest pet peeves when teaching an “Awesome Abs” class is when the members/students would do the class first or in the middle of their workout simple because they came late or couldnt wait for the next one.  That is no excuse to jeopardize the rest of your workout.  The core needs to be able to stabilize the body throughout the whole workout to optimize strength gains.  The truth remains that most do not yet understand the importance of tightening the core muscles throughout exercises.

One more thing.  I watch guys in the gym working inappropriately on strength and power lifting all the time.  I am one to not be afraid to ask them what they are training for and continue to ask questions.  Some say I am a true personal trainer at heart with all the questions I ask.  But, I have more concern for them then possibly gaining another client.  If youre not sure how to train appropriately, then I recommend hiring a trainer for a few days a week for a few weeks.  It may cost a few pretty pennies, but go in with a list of questions and get your monies worth!  I highly recommend it.  The first few sessions are the most important, especially if the client does not have any background in exercise and training.

NEWS FLASH!  NEWS FLASH!  NEWS FLASH!

The body isnt made to last forever.  Sorry to tell everyone that, but it is true!  My mother tells me that if I am training to improve my health so that I can spread the word of God longer and stronger, then she will not stand against me in my training endeavors.  But, I know there’s no good for some of these guys to train the way they do or even some of the gals that do cardio 24-7.  Some of them could be killing themselves with their training and for what good?

I’d like to introduce you to another home of mine: http://faithfamilyfitness.blogspot.com/.  It is there that I would like for more to get involved.  I’ve learned that many here on Bodyspace are followers of Christ.  It pleases me to get long messages filled with faith and thanks for what I am doing here.  I am surprised daily with confirmations from God of the wonders He is doing through my life.  The biggest surprises come from people I have never met who come into my work and see me display my love of Christ through my actions, and not my words.

The Faith, Family & Fitness group is taking a new challenge starting tomorrow.  We are taking on the 90 day Bible challenge.  More can be found at http://faithfamilyfitness.blogspot.com/, and we will be starting by reading through Genesis 1:1 to Genesis 16:16 tomorrow (June 1st).  If you’d like to join us, do not be afraid to read at your own pace.  Further information of the 90 day reading can also be found at http://www.biblein90days.com/index.php?option=com_product&task=viewProd&gid=2 [download the Bookmark (.pdf)].  Also, I recommend the use of http://www.biblegateway.com/ which can be used to listen to the Bible while reading along.

Hope you all are doing well.  Prayer requests are welcome here, but they are preferred on http://faithfamilyfitness.blogspot.com/.  Please keep my own family in your prayers as my father’s medical files have been recently changed to include a “DNR” after the doctors have insisted, because his tumor above his brainstem is inoperable in his condition and is now the size of an orange or grapefruit.  It could be days, it could be weeks, it could be months, but the Lord is calling him home.

Many thanks to all of you!  Stay strong in your worthy pursuits!

Sara

Update:  With the many requests, here is both twitter and myspace links to keep in contact and up to date!
https://twitter.com/SaraZimmerman
http://www.myspace.com/sarazimmerman

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23).

My workout partners are expanding our get togethers in four days.  Our 90 day Bible reading challenge begins June 1st, and I will do my best to update frequently at: http://faithfamilyfitness.blogspot.com/ as our group reads through the Bible. You can pick up your own reading guide and read along with us!  Even if you are not able to commit to the 90 days, the updates will be there and can be read as you read along on your own pace.

In other news, I am finally on track again with my diet, training, and work! My vacation is over, the training has been good, and I have been eating more disciplined than I have for some time now. That also means that new pictures and stats are coming soon!

Keep an eye out for updates!  Many thanks,

Sara

I suggest downloading and reading [TO EVERYONE!]: http://books.google.com/books?id=cHVIAAAAMAAJ&dq=in+his+steps+charles+sheldon&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=rC4QSpbSKpK0NbqLvVI&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4#PPA1,M1

“In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do?”  It is a great book, that was written well before my time, has a great message, and should be passed on!  So, here I pass it on to you!  Jesus saves!  Jesus loves you!

I know I may sound cliche, but… Really, what are you living your life for?  Don’t waste your life!  [Which is also my next read by John Piper.]  We have lives to change, habits to change[!], love to spread, and so on and so on.  I feel like I take a big risk talking about God and Jesus on a site filled with all too many self-centered people, but it gives me great hope to know there are also so many of you that respond to my notes with love for the Lord!  Hallelujah!

Alright, all of you who follow me here or are new to me and want to read more… Join me here:  http://faithfamilyfitness.blogspot.com/  …and also think to join the 90 day Bible reading challenge!  I’ll need your support too to get through it!

I have begun working out again. [Get after me!]  My roommates and I are planning to challenge each other, and I think it is a well worthy challenge!  I will have to update pictures again, as I have already leaned down a bit and feel better about the way I look.  Who really wants to post bad pictures?  It’s depressing, even though we all feel so much better when we see fabulous updated photos that blow others away!

I will also have to see if I can get Youtube videos up and running with recordings, so you all can see that I am an all-too-normal, fun-loving gal myself and not just some Jesus loving radical (though I am!).

Join me in all this fun!
Love you all,
Sara

http://faithfamilyfitness.blogspot.com/

"THE COMPETITOR’S CREED

I am a Christian first and last.
I am created in the likeness of
God Almighty to bring Him glory.
I am a member of Team Jesus Christ.
I wear the colors of the cross.

I am a Competitor now and forever.
I am made to strive, to strain,
to stretch and to succeed
in the arena of competition.
I am a Christian Competitor
and as such, I face my challenger
with the face of Christ.

I do not trust in myself.
I do not boast in my abilities
or believe in my own strength.
I rely solely on the power of God.
I compete for the pleasure of
my Heavenly Father, the honor of Christ
and the reputation of the Holy Spirit.

My attitude on and off
the field is above reproach -
my conduct beyond criticism.
Whether I am preparing,
practicing or playing;
I submit to God’s authority
and those He has put over me.
I respect my coaches, officials,
teammates and competitors
out of respect for the Lord.

My body is the temple of Jesus Christ.
I protect it from within and without.
Nothing enters my body that
does not honor the Living God.
My sweat is an offering to my Master.
My soreness is a sacrifice to my Savior.

I give my all - all of the time.
I do not give up. I do not give in.
I do not give out. I am the Lord’s warrior -
a competitor by conviction
and a disciple of determination.
I am confident beyond reason
because my confidence lies in Christ.
The results of my efforts
must result in His glory.

LET THE COMPETITION BEGIN.
LET THE GLORY BE GOD’S."

Isaiah 40:28-31 (New International Version)

Posted in Progression