UGGHH!! Shaping Up

For those of you who may not have heard it from me - I have an amazing new publicist.  Her name is Jennifer Ambromowitz and she is getting me motivated and business minded.  She is also quick.  In my head I was thinking maybe I would gain attention slowly and build a name for myself through a one liner here and there, but in her head she saw me in a four page spread in a magazine with a celebrity client. 

Hmmm....I like her picture better.  

As I try to wrap my head around this notion and possibility I am struck also by the fact that if I am to be in any type of publicized photo I need to kick my exercise routine into full gear.  Now I have mentioned before my love hate relationship with exercise.  Yes I am a trainer and I do see the benefits of working out, but I also love cupcakes.  I love to workout - I seriously do. However, there is a difference between working out to clear my mind and  deal with the world, and then there is the type of working out it takes to physically change my body.  The latter working out I tend to despise.  It is disciplined and hard.  I know it is not necessary, but my perfectionist personality will not allow me to do less.  

My body type basically is made for being a Mom and having lots of babies in the country with a housedress and slippers - it is not the type that would get me a modeling contract or muscle building trophy.  I can work out extremely hard for weeks and gain some muscle but as soon as I stop the muscle disappears the next day. If I diet on vegetables for weeks I can get a flat stomach but if I stop for a few days the stomach returns with a bonus of thighs.  And now that I have a child this all happens a little bit faster.

I know you think all trainers should look fit all the time, but I have to tell you we don't.  A good trainer will know how to get their body in shape but mainly their time will go to helping others get in shape. 

I must admit, there were times when I hated my body.  I'm actually not in that time anymore.  I am happy with how I look and what my body has given me.  We have become friends a long time ago.  Are there things I would change - of course, but overall I am accepting now.  My body has given me a lot and has helped me through tough times.  I think if I were not so physically strong I never would have made it though so many of those emotionally draining and challenging times.   Having a child definitely proved to me the strength and resilience my body has.  However, all that being said I still need to kick it up a notch.  To balance working out, eating a healthy diet, and still keeping up with my child and my job (oh yeah and that dating thing) will be a challenge, but I will try my best.

Standing Ballet Legs 

Use a chair for balance- try not to grip it but lightly hold it 

Always have abs zipped up from pubic bone to navel and both hips facing front

• 1. straight leg lift
  

slightly rotate leg out from hip, flex foot and lift to ceiling (10)

• 2. knee press
  

with outwardly rotated leg lifted, bend and straighten leg to back (10)

• 3. Circles
  

with straight leg rotated do circles to back (10 each direction)

• 4. Arabesque
  

with knee bent and leg rotated bring ankles together, lift bent knee back and up (10)

• 5. Arabesque to side
  

with knee bent and facing front, raise bent leg to side (10)

• 6. standing clams
  

with knee 90 degrees and hip height rotate from hip bringing knee to floor and then to     ceiling - draw figure 8 with knee (should be felt in hip) (10)

Repeat all on 2nd leg