Skip to content

Personal training

Apr 3

1 Comment

Improve Your Speed With This “Mental Illusion” Treadmill Workout

You can fool your brain to get your legs to run faster!
These buttons can have a huge impact on your workout!

These buttons can have a huge impact on your workout!

This treadmill workout isn’t fun but it is challenging and it not boring. So 2 outta 3 ain’t bad. Especially when you get results immediately.

New to running?  No problem. This workout works for slow joggers or walkers too! Just adjust the speeds to your level. Reduce the length of the warm-up and tempo.

The only difference between the novice and expert is how many times you push one button.

Unfortunately, the workout needs to be on a treadmill. It’s not that you can’t accomplish this workout out on the road, but I haven’t figured out how to get the same training effect. I think I know why.

We have too much control over our mind and not enough control over our terrain outside. The treadmill belt is a mechanical authority. Don’t do what it says and it’ll spit you out. We’ll never out wit a device plugged into a wall. A treadmill is not known for unconditional love:).

There is 1 principle behind this workout. Fool your brain. Read more

Mar 18

The Anatomy of Discipline

This discipline dissection is designed to help you train your own Gazoo.

Anybody remember this guy?

Meet Gazoo! He’s your new best friend!

Gazoo and I became acquainted when I was a child watching the Flintstones cartoon. Gazoo is a little, flying, green martian that lands on my shoulder out of nowhere. Let’s just say I’m ying and he’s yang. He talks to me in my ear. He has a PhD in annoyance. Yet I’m so grateful for the little bugger. If it weren’t for him, well, there wouldn’t be a FITskitz- that’s for sure! Here’s a brief story to show Gazoo at work. Read more

Feb 28

Exercise Apathy

Even after years of working out, no one is immune to a break-in.

shutterstock_97144178 Mind Thief

Lately working out every morning has been a struggle. A mental battle with myself. I just don’t feel like heading to the gym, sweating, breathing hard, exerting myself. I just want to NOT DO IT! I yearn and plead with myself to do something other than work out. Read more

Jan 10

VIPER

I'm revealing the five key tools I've used to maintain a healthy lifestyle for 25 years.

shutterstock_35394193 Snake

In my recent post, The ABCD Method of New Beginnings, I acknowledged the power of fresh starts. Declaring change is like a drug. Blood is flowing, thoughts racing, and energy bounds.

Making a decision to change your life is the first step. The easy step. Signing up for a fitness class, a gym membership or buying your first blender so you can begin your 3 day cleanse? Terrrrrific!  Acknowledge you’re in the honeymoon period of lifestyle change.

Want to be married to your change? That’s going to take commitment, willpower, discipline, and re-commitment. Here’s how. Read more

Jan 7

1 Comment

The ABCD Method of New Beginnings

Follow the ABCD method to turn resolutions into life long habits.

shutterstock_97390301 Start

A new year, a new you?  At least for a few weeks, eh? The gyms are packed. Personal trainers are working their own tushies off. Sparks are flying.

Motivation is a beautiful thing. January brings a new oxygen to the planet. As if we require some universal signal that it’s ok to declare a new beginning. Much like the first day of school. The backpack is full of new stuff–tools sharpened and minds eager.

Take full advantage at any time of year to declare a new beginning. If it’s January 1st, that’s great! If it’s your birthday, a Monday, or the first day of class—perfect!

There is extraordinary power in beginning.  Read more

Sep 27

RUNNING Away From Injury: Injured & Cranky

A good habit is hard to break.

View previous post in this series, RUNNING Away From Injury.

We become dependent on our daily regimens. Especially runners. When the body screams “STOP!” and you refuse to listen, silent sirens of pain are triggered forcing you to limp to the side of the road. Like speed limit signs, ignore them long enough and the cops will eventually get you.

You can mask pain with ibuprofen, Kinesio tape, or even steroids, but the band-aids don’t cure the inflammation underneath.

Time heals. Rest rejuvenates. All words an injured runner doesn’t want to hear.  Read more

Sep 20

3 Comments

RUNNING Away From Injury: Strength Part II

Runners often have tunnel vision.

View previous post in this series, RUNNING Away From Injury.

The only thing we turn is our heads.

Runners train in one direction- forward. Even triathletes who train in 3 sports still move straight ahead to swim, bike and run.

We can’t always run on perfectly groomed dirt paths. Most of us spend our time on roads, treadmills, tracks and unfortunately, sidewalks. Our feet may hit the road but the force reverberates up through our entire body. Not only can this cause injury, it adds to our fatigue.

If we want to improve our endurance and lessen our risk of injury, we must recruit supporting muscles and ligaments and strengthen them. Read more

Sep 12

RUNNING Away From Injury: Strength Part I

For runners, strength training should target certain areas of the body.

View previous post in this series, RUNNING Away From Injury.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Running pounds your body. The repetitive impact that strengthens your bones can wreak havoc on your joints. When you run, you simply run. There are no moves or strategic plays like most sports. Fast or slow, you put one foot in front of the other and propel yourself forward. That is, until something hurts.

Don’t ignore strength training if you want to run injury free. The previous post in this series focused on stretching those areas that tighten up when you run. Now I’m sharing exercises that strengthen those parts of your body most susceptible to injury.

Prevention is key. Cross training is highly recommended. Any sport or movement that has you move laterally (side to side). Not only will you be stronger in general but you’ll prevent burnout.

Today I’ll be focusing on your hips, hip flexors, glutes, and outer thigh. Next week I’ll hone in on lateral movement exercises with a couple running simulation strength moves.

Read more

Sep 6

3 Comments

RUNNING Away From Injury: Stretched Out

It takes a lot longer to heal from injury than it does to prevent it.

View previous post in this series, RUNNING Away From Injury.

A dedicated runner who gets injured is not in a good mood. Cranky, impatient, and feeling low, many injured runners ignore their pain and lace up anyway. It’s too painful NOT to.

Running pounds the body relentlessly. It can take years for the joints, muscles and soft tissues to accept the beating. When your body adapts, your bones become more dense and your muscles grow stronger. Running is a healthy activity, burns mega calories, and will help you stay fit.

Devoting a little time to your body off the streets can help your body adapt to the stresses of repetitive foot strikes on hard surfaces. Read more

Aug 28

2 Comments

RUNNING Away From Injury: The 5 Commandments

One of the best ways to stay fit is also one of the quickest ways to get injured.

My foot was in a cast for 2 weeks after my first Boston Marathon. Don’t let the smile fool you. 26.2 miles of excruciating pain.

Welcome to my new 5 part series on running injuries. For the next 5 weeks, I’ll devote a weekly post to tips and strategies to keeping yourself running healthy.

I don’t know of any sport more laden with injuries than running. Pick up any running or fitness magazine and you’ll find plenty of reasons to conclude it’s a risky sport.  You probably know someone who’s been laid up due to a running related injury.

Read more

Page 1 of 212