Measuring Success

In life we're always looking for ways to measure our success - education level, job title, salary, size of our house, size of our car, size of our body. Many don't get caught up in the materialism, but it's hard to avoid the influence of our ever-growing superficial society. The enlightened among us know that success has multiple definitions and should be determined on an individual basis. But often times we feel we've failed because we're trying to fulfill someone else's definition of success.

As a trainer, I want nothing more than for my clients to be their healthiest. Weight is a tricky and sensitive subject and most of us feel we're not good enough unless the size we wear is something we can say out loud with pride. But each body is different and just as there are variations in the definition of success, there are variations in ideal weight; while one woman may be healthy at 120 lbs., another may be her healthiest at 140 lbs.; one man at 160 lbs., and another at 200 lbs.. I'm aware that our society is becoming more obese with each passing day. One out of three children now is considered overweight in the United States. This is an epidemic that needs to be addressed immediately. I'm not saying for a second that we should ignore the numbers on the scale, but I don't think it should be the only way one measures success. For those that are exercising and taking the steps to become healthier, the scale should be a secondary tool. Body chemistry, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and resting heart rate are the true indicators of a healthy functioning body. But these are harder to monitor so, as a result, we revert to the scale as our primary barometer. I truly believe that hard work always pays off - whether in the struggle to become healthier or anything else in life. The intangible benefits of exercise like increased endurance and muscle mass, and less body fat are the true signs of progress when it comes to working out.

I guess what I'm really trying to say is that the scale has its place. I, personally, don't own one but I do weigh myself every 2-3 weeks when I'm at my parent's house and I think of it. I know that I, too, can let those numbers affect my mood but I always remind myself that the image I see in the mirror and the way my clothes fit are much better indicators of my true health. We all need to learn to love our bodies and if that means being our healthiest is at a number higher than our "ideal", then our ideals need to be adjusted.

I have a responsibility to constantly challenge my clients and make sure that I'm doing everything I can to push them, physically and mentally. I know through experience and education that there is no shortcut to losing weight -- the simple equation is this: input has to be less than output, period. All the diet fads in the world won't work if the body isn't receiving proper nutrition and exercise. If you're giving yourself that much, then do yourself a favor and bury the scale for the short-term.

Training Days

With the L.A. Marathon a little over two months away, training has become another part of my routine these days. I'm already wondering how I'll fill the time when the race is over. As much as I occasionally dread some of the workouts, overall I'd say I'm an enthusiastic runner and I do (strangely) look forward to the long runs. I'd be lying if I said I use that time to solve problems in my life -- I don't get too introspective when I run -- I just let thoughts enter and leave my head while enjoying the fresh air and the scenery around. Seeing a celebrity now and then also helps pass the time. I wish I could convince everyone to run a marathon once in their lives. I know many people, including my parents, brothers, and some friends, think driving 26.2 miles is tedious, nevermind running it, but unless you do it you can't understand the pull. I get excited about the little things like the sports expo the day before. There's an energy that looms in the atmosphere at these events, and everyone seems to be cheerful and lighthearted, despite the day-before jitters.

I just bought new shoes and socks, and I'm a little embarrassed to say, I took some time (and enjoyed) picking out what I think are just the right socks. I won't wear them until the day of the marathon. Based on this childlike zeal you'd think this is the first one I've run, but it isn't -- I've done the L.A. before and most of the other big city marathons in California. I still get giddy. I'm not saying that everyone who does a marathon feels the way I do, but I do think we all share an unspoken understanding and a mutual sense of respect for each other. This in itself is extremely uniting. The feeling at the starting line and again at the finishing line is like no other -- there's a buzz and such a sense of personal satisfaction and pride. And that's something we don't all experience very often. I wish I could bottle up those emotions and pass them out to everyone I know. Whether it's a marathon or a 5K, when we challenge ourselves we're reminded that we have control over our bodies and more so, our minds. A huge part of succeeding in any athletic competition is just getting ourselves to the starting line, and that's a mental decision. As a personal trainer, I'm encouraging my clients to pick races to run because first of all, I know they can do it and, second of all, I think it's great for their self-esteem. You won't want to quit exercising when you see the athlete in yourself - and there's an athlete in everyone. Maybe my sock fixation and the fact that I love the smell of my new running shoes is a little odd, but I have a feeling there's at least one other runner out there who knows what I'm talking about. See you at the starting line!

Out with the old, in with the new.

Where to begin! It's been three weeks since I made an entry and so much has happened during that time. Not all of it is worth mentioning, but I will talk about one of the more major occurrences that made these days blend together in one hazy blur.

I know that first and foremost balance has to come from within. We all strive to keep a certain internal balance through work, play, rest, and exercise. But there definitely is an external balance that needs to be maintained in life in order for there to be harmony. Keith is in intricate part of my external balance. With him, life runs much more smoothly. Together we tackle the challenges and the surprises in life, and everything seems easier when he's by my side. Unfortunately, this balance was thrown off on the day after Christmas. I had to call an ambulance for Keith that morning because of a slipped disc in his back. His back issues have been a problem for quite awhile -- he had surgery on a different disc five years ago -- but his pain reached a pivotal point that day, causing him to pass out and leaving him with little sensation in his right leg. As resistant as he was, he knew he had no other choice but to go to the hospital. We learned that the disc was impinging on nerves in his spine which was agonizing and also resulted in the numbness. The ER doc gave him prescriptions for steroids and vicodin, and sent us off with referrals to a neurosurgeon and physical therapist. We found out the hard way that most doctors in L.A. (at least, most neurosurgeons) don't work during the week between Christmas and New Years, so he still hasn't been seen by a specialist. The days that followed Keith's ER visit were difficult for him, to say the least, and challenging for me.

It's been almost ten days since that incident and, I'm relieved to say, he's able to walk again without pain. Having a husband that's home but miserable, and completely incapable of doing most things is distressing. I felt helpless in that I couldn't do anything to alleviate his discomfort, and I also felt overwhelmed dealing with the never-ending demands of my children day and night. I was disappointed that the week of vacation Keith had taken was going to be completely lost on his slow recovery. All of these different emotions put a dark cloud on my outlook. But I managed to find time during the kids naps to run, and I think those little escapes helped me keep my perspective. His disability reminded me of how essential his role is in our family. I've never discounted how important Keith is to all of us, but as a part-time working/full-time mother, I definitely feel at times that I take the brunt of all the child-related and household-related duties. All of these seemed minuscule when he was erased from the equation for a week.

We spent New Years at my brother and sister-in-law's house. They hosted a "Mad Men" themed party that served as a wonderful break from reality. Everyone dressed up in 1960's attire and Keith managed to forget his back pain for a few hours (martinis helped, too!). It was a great way to close out a long week and begin a new year. Although we've been faced with a few hurdles over the last couple of months, I know that we're stronger because of it and compared to some, we're still living the easy life. I'm interested to see what 2010 holds. This past year has delivered some surprises but overall I feel I've gained a lot more than I've lost, and I'm sure I'll say that again next year as long as I remember to look at the big picture.