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careyonfitness.blogspot.com

Good Luck and Great Health!

Why Z-Health and Kettlebells?

JWood and Megan Carey careyonfitness.com howdoyoumove.com

Ok, so it is 9:05pm in Denver, CO on July 5, 2009 and I’m chilling in the airport waiting to go home. Five days ago, I made my way to this beautiful city to train with the one and only, JWood (a.k.a. Jason Wood from How do you move.com). What a learning experience!

Jason and I trained clients, discussed fitness with Josh Hillis, went sightseeing, hiked, worked out, watched fireworks, shot some video and made some incredible discoveries about the human body and mind. We started Thursday off with Jason’s private clients at 5:45am and continued on until we finished around 9:00pm that night. What a day! And what a trainer! I watched as Jason interacted with his clients, teaching them Z-Health and Kettlebells. I was amazed at how well he was able to teach them movement drills and how important follow-up homework for the client really is.

And you know what the best part is? Not a single client of Jason’s has any pain! He has been able to help an individual sleep through the night who hasn’t had a full nights sleep in over a year. And he helped her to do this in only two weeks! Amazing right?!

Jason not only helped me clear up some of my own questions about Z-Health and the RKC, but gave me a better understanding on how these two systems work and just how amazing they really are! I have so many new ideas and ways to incorporate the program into my clients’ routines that I can’t wait to get started.

He was also able to teach me some key points to look for with my own clients, and how to be a better individual personally and professionally. I leave my experience with Jason to be uplifting and insightful, and I would highly recommend anyone take the time to work with him!

I had an amazing time in Denver, CO and I already can’t wait till my next trip! Jason, I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to show me around such a beautiful city, but most importantly for putting trust and time into my life and education. I have been blessed to meet you, Josh Hillis, and so many other amazing people!

Megan Carey & Josh Hillis

Good Luck and Great Health!

Thank You Bert Sorin!

I’m still “high” from the Arizona Higland Games this past weekend! What an event! Aside from the video clips I have seen online, this was the first experience I had of watching the Games and my good friend Bert Sorin compete. Talk about amazing athletes! The men and women competitors are not only extremely impressive, but bighearted and compassionate. Moreover, they were excited and encouraged my workout partner (Kari Parker) and I to begin training to compete ourselves!

I have met quite a few professional and amateur athletes, but the quality that keeps drawing me back to Highland Games individuals is their comradery and closeness. What an awesome group of people to be surrounded by, on and off of a competition field. Kari and I can’t wait to get started with training!

After such a fun weekend, it was time to get back to work. Bert was generous enough to check out our facitlity, Innovative Fitness Solutions (in Scottsdale, AZ), and even give Kari and I some coaching tips. I have signed up to compete this weekend at the Arizona’s Strongest Man competition, so it was awesome to have such an amazing athlete coach us. Thank you Bert!

Meeting great people, hanging out with friends, watching amazing athletes, and the beautiful weather of Arizona in the spring could not have made for a better weekend. Thank you to Bert Sorin, Kari Parker, the Arizona Highland Games, and the amazing athletes I met this weekend, I am truley inspired to keep reaching for my goals and setting new heights for myself!

Butt-Kickin Sandbag!

Check out this awesome sandbag routine! This is a great way to get some sandbag squats, upper body / abdominal strength, flexibility and cardiovascular gains in one simple combination. With my gymnastics background I’m always looking for unique ways of exercising, especially when squatting, so combining these exercises were a great way to fit my creative needs. To make this even more challenging try doing the candlestick (or deck squat) on a lower surface (or floor), or see how fast you can perform it correctly.

Let me know how it goes!

Get Fit Quick!

How quickly do you want results? Immediately! That is why I choose to perform full-body, interval training, workouts. The harder I push my body, the faster I get results. It’s like getting more bang for your buck.

Training metabolic-conditioning workouts three times a week allows me to achieve maximum fat-burning results, while allowing other days of the week for more heavy strength training. This does not mean that you can’t combine strength training with your interval workouts, it is simply another method to try.

Here I have composed a great conditioning workout that combines sandbags and the TRX suspension unit. Using these two implements allows for a great variety of exercises to be completed without spending a lot of money. Repeat this workout 3-5 times and I’m sure you’ll be breathing hard and sweating pretty good!

Great Health!

Space Saving Sandbag!

Who says you have to have a lot of room to have a killer workout?! All you need is an Ultimate Sandbag and enough space to stand up fully and to get into a pushup position. I have created a simple workout that’s easy to follow, but not easy to do. For those of you thinking, “Sandbag?! Those are a little too hard core for me!” You can relax. I have found Josh Henkin’s Ultimate Sandbag to be the perfect compliment for any workout, and they can be used by anyone from the non-experienced exerciser to fitness professionals.

No More Boring Workouts!!

Fitness is not meant to be boring!  So many people I know limit themselves to working out inside, in the same atmosphere, or doing the same routines.  Now don’t get me wrong, there are some great facilities out there (especially mine )  and some great workouts, but sometimes we simply need help pointing us in the right direction.

I have put together a kettlebell and Jungle Gym workout that can be done anywhere, and is sure to get your heart beating and make you breathe a little harder.  I decided to head to a local park to try this one, simply to get some fresh air and enjoy the sunshine.  Kettlebells are a great tool for cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility gains while providing the ability to do multiple exercises with only one or two bells.  The Jungle Gym, created by Jon Hinds, is an awesome way to perform tons of body weight exercises at any fitness level, without needing a lot of space.

Let me know what you think!

A Motivational Tip

I was talking with some amazing women earlier this afternoon, and was once again reminded that many of us face the same daily battles concerning our happiness and health.  We all want to be happy!  And I’m not talking about a smile on my face; I mean full-blown what has he/she been doing, happiness.  Everyone deserves to reach their full potential in body and mind, and sometimes we simply need a pick-me-up or someone’s else’s wisdom to get us back on track.

I’ve been challenging my goals of healthy nutrition, training, and mind for a while now, following Dax Moy’s Elimination Diet and Look Great Naked Challenge.  The results I have achieved thus far have been amazing, and I have  finally been inspired enough to face my fears and achieve my goals.  Unfortunately, as most people do, I have recently hit a road bump, allowing my negative thoughts to run wild and the urges of my eating disorder to try and take control.  Even though I have managed to stay strong and stick with healthier choices, my natural tendency to be self-defeating keeps trying to take over.  I slipped up slightly in my nutrition today, nothing compared to abnormal for most individuals standards, but nonetheless it is driving me crazy!  Why did I let that happen?  How can I keep allowing fears to get in my way of complete success and happiness?

So, I decided to check my email, and came across an interesting article from Tom Venuto.  It may mean more to some than others, but it was simply written in a way that got me thinking, and a little bit more motivated.  If you have a few minutes, check it out and tell me what you think.

Keep your head up high and your mind and hearts focused on your goals, and you will be amazed with what can happen!    

http://www.burnthefatblog.com/archives/2008/12/my_holiday_fitness_challenge_t.php

First Stone Lifting Experience

Strongmen constantly perform stone lifting during practice and competition.  I knew  it was hard, but I definitely have a new appreciation for picking up those massive balls of cement!  I didn’t even realize how fun it could be either!  But don’t let the exciting aspects of it downplay how difficult and rewarding stone training can be.

Because stone lifting is great for developing strength in the core, lower and upper body, and hips, I wanted to give it a try.  My upper back ended up being sore for almost a week afterwards!  The legs and hips gain an incredible amount of strength by having to lift the stone from the ground to the lap, and then by standing up quickly to lift the stone to chest height or above.  Your grip is challenged along with your upper body to pick up the stone, and your core gets a major workout to hold your body in a correct posture while lifting this heavy object.  Stone lifting is great for individuals looking for major strength gains, but should not be taken to lightly.  A continuous workout regimen is necessary to gain the strength required to perform stone lifting, in addition to  the coaching of a qualified instructor to ensure proper form.

Whether your a beginner to fitness, or an experienced athlete, it is always fun to try something new in your workout routine.  Feel free to share some of your experiences with odd-object lifting or anything else you’ve found to be fun and creative.  Good luck and great health!

A Healthy Life

What does it mean to be healthy? Does it mean weighing a certain amount? Looking a certain way? Wearing a certain size of clothing? Quite simply, no. In my own terms, being healthy means maintaining a lifestyle of balanced nutrition, exercise, sleep, and fun-filled activities.

By focusing on more than one aspect of my life at a time, I have been able to discover more of my talents and potential as an individual. I am a successful coach to individuals of all ages, and have finally begun to give myself credit for the accomplishments that I have made. What a rush to my self-image!

I used to think that being healthy meant looking a certain way, or physically being able to perform at a certain level. Even though the healthier you are the easier it is achieve these physical goals, I have discovered that a healthy individual is happy and balanced in all areas of their life. By placing more focus on my work, exercise, and nutrition goals, I have discovered that I am not as obsessed with my appearance and am living a much happier life! I notice lower stress levels and the ability to balance work and play much easier as well. My body has finally begun to adapt to this healthier lifestyle and I have consistently lost weight; feeling better both mentally and physically.

I can’t wait to see what is in store for my future! Keep your heads held high and your mind set on the positive goals in life and you too can achieve anything you want!