Out of Hibernation Leapt the Manning Sisters and It All Felt So Glorious

For many of us, this has been an extremely long winter.  I have found it so unnerving with every ounce of my being lacking motivation to work out, clean, and be a productive member of society.  My extreme lack of sunshine is reflected in paleness, mood, and body.  I NEED SUN ASAP!

Recently, I have been spending a lot of time together bonding with my sisters.  You see my beautiful sister Mary Jane entered the world of the married a year ago and then more recently motherhood this January.  We had some fun bonding in between all of her major life changes and it was good.  Our baby sister Claire just got her license.  EEK!  I have been personally trying to spend more time with them as I know they both need girl time and it's important for us to be close.

This past week at work, Mary Jane and I had to replace a few office chairs that were worn.  There were 5 that were purchased.  Well when she got back to work, we got them on a cart and took them where there was some open space to assemble them.  We only assembled 4 of them due to the fact our shipping department got antsy and assembled it by himself.  We started pulling the pieces out of the box and of course we got bothered the whole time.  Our dad, brother and cousin all approached us at different points of starting and everyone had a different suggestion.  Give me a break boys!  We got this.

The old chairs practically leaped into the trash!

Chair Races....ready, set, go!  We did it  :)

I didn't have to work on Saturday.  It was a nice chance to catch up on some spring cleaning, sleep, and laundry.  I asked my sister Claire if she wanted to get a pedicure as we both needed one.  Upon getting the list of Claire's chores we were on our way.  We stopped by Starbucks first then it was on to  the Spa.  I wanted to catch up on everything that was going on in her little world.  She got asked to Prom by her boyfriend of 4 months.  She was excited at her new found freedom of driving and most of all just excited to relax a bit.  I told her that I would help her with part of the list (which included making dinner) in order for her not to get into trouble.

My mom had already started a roast so it was a matter of making sides and a salad to accompany it.  While Claire did her laundry, cleaned and organized her room, and dusted the back porch I produced the remainder of dinner.  No one seemed to be bothered by that so it all worked out well.

Then on Sunday, Mary Jane and I got motivated and finally went out on a walk.  It was warmer than it had been for a while and the sun was still shining.  I'd like to think we had some fun...

We may or may not have started off jogging when we realized that was a poor life decision...

We discussed our current fitness goals, men, Caribou (her daughter Carolyn Rose), and girl stuff.  There were a lot of laughs and honesty.  My phone ended up dying and her phone was left in the car.  Oh darn!  That meant there weren't going to be any distractions and Caribou was in her precious Grandma's hands.  We were only going to do one lap at the YMCA which is 1.65 miles but we quickly decided to do another one as to continue our chat. 3.3 miles down, some great laughs in and awesome bonding time with my sister we finally headed home feeling accomplished.

There is nothing more refreshing than the ritual of sister bonding.  I love hanging out with my sisters and even though we are all at different points of our lives that's what makes it even more special.  All of us couldn't be more different aside from the fact we all may or may not be over achievers!  I am the single, educated (2 degrees) career driven girl who has the social life.  Mary Jane is the educated (going on second degree) married girl with child at 25 and Claire is cute 16 year old who is maneuvering high school well with awesome grades despite her sports schedule, who is boy crazy and dreaming of what's next.

The Manning sisters haven't bonded like we have this past week in a very long time.  It was long over due.  One might say there were a few beautiful byproducts of this long winter.  Out of hibernation, leapt the Manning sisters and it all felt so glorious!

Welcoming Spring with open arms whenever it decides to stay....
Catie Manning

Who is Perfect?

I like every other person out there have felt insecure about my figure.  I have always been a very petite person.  Growing up, I was muscular with little to no fat on my body.  When I wasn't running round outside or playing some other active game like king of the mountain I was doing gymnastics, cheerleading, track or some other activity.  I never had to worry about what I ate.  Never had to worry about gaining weight either because I was burning so much off.

Even in college, I never had to worry about calorie intake because as a cheerleader, you ran it off.  We had regular workouts.  We had scheduled weights, running and of course practices.  I always had scheduled workouts for me and never had to really work at keeping a figure.  Not to mention at football and basketball games, you were always moving!  Post college however is a very different sort.

I have been out of college now for almost 5-1/2 years.  To most who know me or see me, they see the same old Catie who never has to worry about what she eats and she is always thin.  Well that is not always what I see.  I know that I have been blessed with a nice figure but that doesn't mean it's not without things I would love to work on.  I would love to have the energy to go to the gym to tone up.

This past year with working full-time and going to school, it was near impossible for me to workout.  I was putting in 16+ hour days and I cannot say my body didn't suffer.  Trying to eat healthy became harder and more of a discipline.  Reaching for a bag of chips was easier than packing an apple.  There are some days now where I get home and the LAST thing I want to do is go to the gym.  My joints hurt, I am tired, my stomach is upset, I have to do laundry and the dishes…..and this is just me!!  My stress level has been so elevated that I just don't want to add on any more….you know there are the usual excuses.

I have come to terms that certain outfits of mine are just not fitting like they used to fit.  I have a little belly on me.  My arms are a little flabbier.  My thighs are still Thunder Thighs.  I still have my curves….yet I feel curvier than I used to be.  That makes me rethink what I wear as I want to be modest.  I find myself reaching for clothing articles that help you suck it in and hold it together verse just look cute and carefree.  Why can't I accept that I am not where I was 10+ years ago and I shouldn't expect my body to be either?  Why is it so hard to want to maintain this youthful built, relatively stress free, and care about getting rid of the jello giggler arms I have?

It just gets frustrating and I need to remind myself no one is perfect.  I need to be realistic with myself.  I also need to be honest.  No body is ever going to be what we desire it to be.  As we get older, aging and gravity take its toll.  We should accept that fact with grace and appreciation…not with bitterness and disgust.  Yes, there are things I can do to prevent this from happening and I am mindful of that too.  If I want to be fit, I need to make the time to workout.  I need to continue to do my calf raises while brushing my teeth.  I need to me mindful of not sitting for too long on the couch and work those muscle.  I need to do that for me and my health.

Although I am discouraged about my figure, I am reminded that no one goes without struggles or frustrations. I found a really wonderful video that I would like to encourage you to watch.  I think it simply demonstrates our natural reactions to a less perfect design.  Keep in mind, we all have expectations to shape and form, but nothing is perfect remember?  http://devour.com/video/who-is-perfect/.

Lastly, this blog made me pleasantly smile.  It made me happy to know and see this mother desires her daughter to know what is important in life and that is not about working yourself to death just simply to get the "perfect body".  This is much of what my parents instilled in me and my siblings.  We strived for healthiness not perfection.  The important thing is to live life as it should be lived and that is NOT focused on what we aren't.  http://wellfesto.com/2013/11/19/10-things-i-want-my-daughter-to-know-about-working-out/.

So, who is perfect?  Nobody….thank goodness!  :-)

Catie

What does healthy mean to you?

This weekend I had a conversation with a new health coaching client for our first session.  She was very knowledgeable, but had some common misconceptions. Through this conversation I started to think, what does healthy mean to each individual person?

Here are a couple of questions I have for you: What does healthy mean to you? Do you feel like you are at your optimum level of health? Do you know the barriers that are keeping you healthy?

Each person has a different view of healthy. It depends on your knowledge and your interest. It also depends on your current health status.  Every person's optimal level of health is DIFFERENT. The important thing for you is figuring out what your optimal level of health is, what is holding you back from it, and how you are going to get there.

During this health awareness week, I have a few key things I want you to look at.

1. First off, ask yourself the questions above.

2. Have you had your yearly physical?  Have you had your blood work drawn in the last year?

3. Are you up to date on all your vaccines?

4. Are you up to date on all your cancer screenings?

5. Are you drinking enough water throughout the day?

6. Are you active at least 30 minutes out of the day?  If not, are you making steps to be active for at least 30 minutes out of the day?

7. What excuses are keeping you from living healthy?

8. Are you eating 3-4 servings of fruit AND 3-4 servings of vegetables a day?

These questions are great steps in getting to your optimum level of health.

Have a happy, healthy week!

Even Kids with Cancer Just Wanna Have Fun

We all know that cancer sucks. There isn’t any better way to put it – it sucks. It’s ugly, it’s painful and it’s terrifying. It’s even worse when a child is suffering from cancer. Whether you’re a family member, a friend or a neighbor, everyone is impacted in some way when a community member is suffering.

One of my favorite things about children is their unstoppable enthusiasm. No matter their circumstances in life, they’re always optimistic and excited for any opportunity to have fun.

When children are going through treatment, they experience a wide range of physical and emotional levels of fatigue. It’s important to keep physical limitations in mind when living with cancer patients, but I would argue that it is even MORE important to make sure everyone is living their life to the fullest. 

Even Kids with Cancer Just Wanna Have Fun 

Depending on level of treatment or degree of progress, the following suggestions are things you can do as a family/community to make sure the children in your life – fighting for theirs – never lose sight of fun and excitement.

Get Active 

Countless studies have shown that physical activity brightens mood. Even more, physical activity promotes general health and wellness. You can share with a fighter (child beating/fighting cancer) that not only are they getting healthy, you’re getting healthy with them. Consider some of the following activities:

• Long family walks – preferably with a dog!
• Bike rides and the occasional bike race (friendly, of course!)
• Go to the playground/park
• Play tag in the front/back yard
• Play catch
• Soccer, anyone?

There are countless physical things you can do as a family. Find what you’re interested in and what you can participate in with your fighter.

Get Adventurous 

There’s nothing better than a good adventure to take your mind off of the mundane. Children have a special gift of imagination, rendering “adventure” as something that doesn’t have to go far. Try some of the following:

• A family boating trip
• Theme park vacation – there’s nothing like the thrill of a rollercoaster
• Camping/hiking – everyone kid like sleeping in a ten
• Road trip to “weird” places
• Backyard treasure hunts
• Day trips to the beach

Get Creative 

Children are endlessly creative – fighters ever the more so in many ways. Using imagination takes everyone out of their current circumstances (often circumstances we’d rather not think about) and into a world where anything is possible. To aid your journey to this world, try some of the following:

• Build a fort- better yet, a fort colony
• Pull out your old costumes (and maybe wardrobe) and imagine yourselves as something completely different
• Have a craft day – anything is possible with a little glue, glitter and paint
• Redecorate rooms – make your world a space adventure or an underwater oasis 

There are countless things you can do with your fighter as a family to help them still live the life of a child who isn’t suffering from cancer. This list isn’t by any  means exhaustive, and I encourage you all to share some of your favorite children’s activities. If you think hard enough you’ll notice that these aren’t things that are cancer specific – they’re child specific. Children with cancer are children first.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can become involved with cancer research or fundraising, check out some of the following sites:

St. Jude Marathon

Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research

St. Baldrick’s Foundation

Alex’s Lemonade Stand

Children’s Cancer Research Fund

Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation

Kids vs. Cancer

Pilates: Know Before You Go

Greetings, Blog Friends!

I've been addressing these posts to the Pilates novice. My hope is that if you've not tried Pilates, you'll give it a try. If you're terrified of trying Pilates, I alluded to the fact that you should absolutely do your homework when searching for a teacher, and that you should take a few private lessons with a well-trained teacher prior to joining a group class.

I'm including a link to a fun news clip from this past weekend, featuring my mentor teacher, Rael Isacowitz, and my friend, the amazing Lisa Hubbard. In it, Rael makes mention of these two things, namely being afraid to try Pilates for the first time, and the fact that finding a well-qualified teacher is paramount to your enjoyment of and success in Pilates.

As I've mentioned, it took me many years of research, study, practice and teaching to find what works for me. My earnest hope is that you will TRY Pilates. It rocks SO MUCH and makes you better at everything else you do. Please let me know if you have specific questions regarding the work. I am a teacher; I thoroughly enjoy answering questions!

Before I close, there is one other thing Rael mentions in this clip: Pilates was invented by a man, originally only for men! Stay tuned - there are some surprises coming up in June (just in time for Father's Day)! You'll going to hear from more men who do Pilates!

Happy practicing!

P.S. Click here for some of Rael's videos available on Amazon, and here for Lisa's!

Staying Healthy While Traveling

In less than two weeks I will be hopping on a jet plane on my way to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for a family vacation. Words cannot express how excited I am to spend time together with my family and to have a whole week away from work! I love my patients, but everyone needs a break every once and a while. Yesterday my mom called me and said "can we be healthy this vacation?" How many of us like to let go on vacation? I'd say likely everyone. I'd also say that quite a few people worry about sticking to their diet or health plan while on vacation. I've been there and will be there. 

To help you (and myself) out, here are some key pointers for staying healthy while traveling:

Photo by Leslie Nicole

1. When possible, get a condo so that you can make your own meals. You will spend a little extra on where you are staying, but a lot less on meals! 

2. Pack snacks for the car/flights. Apples, oranges, carrot sticks, healthy snack bars, nuts, etc. are great for traveling with. Opt to by water and keep away from sugar filled drinks. Make sure you stay hydrated! I know it is not fun to keep stopping on a road trip or to go in the small tiny airplane bathroom, but your body does need water! And when you stop at fast food, choose wisely :-).

3. When you do eat out, be conscious about what you are eating. Allow yourself that one cheat night, but don't keep cheating. Be aware of how much alcohol you are consuming and remember that alcohol temporarily turns the liver into what is called a "fatty liver" which slows down your metabolism. Slow down on the free bread or chips and salsa.

4. Make it a goal to be active for at least a half hour each day. Even if it is just a walk down the beach, just get your blood pumping!

5. Have healthy snacks around like broccoli and hummus, carrots and gauc, healthy protein powder, greek yogurt not packed with sugar, nuts, etc. so that when you have the munchies you have something healthy to grab!

6. Don't get over hungry. Plan your meals out and eat around your normal times. Also, research ahead of time restaurants where you will eat.

7. RELAX. Let your rest and the stress hormones come down to normal levels!

Happy summer travels everyone!

- Erica

Pilates: Like Yoga, Only Different

If You're New to Pilates or Yoga, This One's For You!

In last week’s post, I introduced you a brief history of Pilates, and what you might experience in the first 5-10 minutes of your first lesson, and I promised that in this post, I’d continue in that vein. However,I have been hearing the same question quite a bit this week, and think it would be best addressed at this time.

The question is:  “Pilates is like yoga, right?”

Well, yes and no.

Yes, in that apples, like oranges, are fruit, have skin and seeds, are in similar biological classification systems, may grow in the same climate, but usually don’t, and in most circumstances, the two fruits are quite compatible. They are very different, but are both very nice.

No, in that their history and the purpose for practicing each is very different. I often explain that yoga is a sacred practice that has been around for thousands of years, and it is primarily focused on using the body and mind to pursue and open to the spiritual. Pilates has only been around since the early part of 20th century, and it's primary focus is on the mental controlling the physical.

When discussing Pilates and yoga, they tend to be lumped into the same classification system, which is that of mind-body exercise. More on that in a later post. What you need to realize is that the history of each method is vastly different and though they share similarities in movement and benefits, at their “core”, (great word, huh?!), they are as different as an apple and an orange. Practicing either method should be based on personal preference and the needs of the individual. Both practices are valid, beneficial, and very enjoyable, but they are not the same, and can have very differing benefits.

The following are some things to think about if you're new to Pilates or yoga.

When you’re exploring the methods for the first time, it is very important to consider safety. Both methods are like swimming: Neither should be attempted by yourself or in a crowded class the first couple of times you practice. If you didn’t know how to swim would you jump into the deep end of an unattended swimming pool and hope for the best? Along the same lines, would you jump into the same pool in the middle of a really crowded class with only one teacher present and no lifeguard and hope for the best?

I am speaking from personal experience. I am a student of both Pilates and yoga, but a teacher of only Pilates. I have also been teaching for almost half my life, and spent a portion of that time teaching in physical therapy clinics where I worked with patients who had been injured in both methods. I’ve been injured in both methods. I’ve also been tremendously helped by both.

The key to success in both modalities is research, especially when you’re starting out. There are a myriad of different schools of thought in both the yoga and Pilates communities. I researched and practiced several different methods of Pilates before I became certified to teach. I kept up my studies and research, and realized a few years into my career that there were other teachers and methods that resonated more with me, and felt better for my body, so I pursued studying with those teachers and practicing those methods.

The same goes for yoga. I've studied and practiced several methods and enjoy and benefit from some more than others.

In closing, each discipline is beautiful and beneficial and both are a great compliment to any fitness regime. Practicing one or both will give you so many rewards. Do your research. Invest in learning and in your health and you’ll reap the benefits. Be safe, be smart and be strong!

An Introduction to Pilates

When someone enters the studio for their first Pilates lesson, they often quickly become quite overwhelmed. Most new students enter the studio with absolutely no idea of what they’re getting into. This means I need to begin the first lesson by trying to make them feel as comfortable as possible in an environment akin to a sadomasochist’s “playroom.”

Wide eyed, people enter the Pilates studio and ask if it is a torture chamber. Well, yes, it does look such. Leather straps. Metal frames. "Safety" chains. Beds with bars...

The equipment cannot be explained without telling you about the man behind the magnificence. The following is an abbreviated history of the life of Mr. Pilates. I will add some links below to his two books, which are really manifestos. Yes, manifestos. I should write a manifesto. That would be interesting.

Joseph Pilates

Anyway, Joseph Hubertus Pilates was born in Monchengladbach, Germany in the late 1880’s (for those of you wondering, that’s about 70km, or an hour and some change, on the autobahn according to Google Maps at the time I checked, from the town where Heidi Klum was born!.). He had rickets and asthma and was a sickly child, who was told he’d never amount to anything physically. 

He decided to prove everyone wrong, and began studying ancient forms of Greek fitness, Roman gladiator training, wrestling, marital arts, boxing and gymnastics. He joined the circus with his brother in a Roman gladiator act. He toured with said circus, and was captured and put in prison camp during World War 1. 

Based on his aforementioned studies, he had developed a series of mobility exercises, which he performed for daily physical maintenance. These exercises were the foundation of modern mat work. 

The guards in the camp saw him performing his daily exercises and put him to work with the injured soldiers. These men were unable to do his exercises, and though he manually assisted them at first, it was too waring a thing to continue. Thus, the modern equipment was formed from the hospital beds, springs and traction equipment being used by the injured.

So there you have it. Quick and painless introduction to Pilates equipment and history; the primary things I cover with new students on their first visit. In the next post, I’ll give you the second part of what we would discuss with you on your first lesson. It involves fire and liquor.

-- Amie Avi, Pilates Instructor

Run, Ride and Relax

Hello everyone! I'm Courtney, a social media publicist, exercise nut and healthy eating (re: food-loving) twenty-something contributor/behind the scenes girl for Erica Smith Fitness and Lifestyle. I live in downtown Indianapolis, IN and enjoy all kinds of physical activities - especially those that take place outside. I'd consider myself a runner and a cyclist, but I'm also a TurboKicker, a spinner and a wannabe weightlifter.

As a contributor (and good friend of Miss Smith) I felt compelled to share a bit about myself and my story. 

Without further ado, a VERY little bit about me: 

Some call them goggles, I call them bug deflectors.

I was overweight/borderline obese most of my life. I attribute it to lack of knowledge regarding nutrition and exercise. I grew up playing volleyball and softball, but because of our busy schedule (both of my brother also played sports), meals were generally on the road/from the freezer section.

After college/circa 2011, I decided I had had enough of being "the big girl." I started counting my calories and exercising every day. I was amazed to see how simply being conscious of what I ate and consciously exercising changed my body. Within a year I lost 75-80 (+ or - depending on the season/what I'm training for).

In the place of the 80ish pounds came an addiction to exercise and a very disordered eating mindset that I still battle every day. Physically I looked amazing (to a point) but emotionally I was crumbling. Through the help of friends and family (particularly Erica) I was able to find the strength to get myself out of that pit and recognize that my worth isn't in my body, but in my heart and actions. My biggest fear was becoming fat again. Now my biggest fear is not living a life worth remembering.

I still work out most every day - because I love working out. I'm still conscious of what I eat - because my body is my future. A few weeks back I did the Spartan Race in Laural, IN and came in 6th among women, second in my age group! I went home and had a cookout with some friends and cocktails - there's balance! I also attempted my first 100 mile bike challenge last weekend (The Three State Three Mountain Century in Chattanooga, TN - it was cut short because of the weather). I run half marathons and finish sprint triathlons. Exercise is a joy to me. I love to have something to train for, and to be honest, I still have trouble treating my body well (nourishment and rest don't come easy...yet). It's a process and I wouldn't be where I am today without Erica's help.

I also LOVE encouraging, coaching, supporting, helping/butt kicking anyone who needs it. If you're feeling down or need a boost, please feel free to friend me/message me - sincerely!

-- Courtney Skells, Publicist and adventure junkie

Being Healthy on the Night Shift

This Sunday morning ended my year and a half of being on and off night shift.  I can't say I'm sad to see it go, but I am incredibly thankful for the things it allowed me to learn.  Until the night shift, I would consistently go to bed at one time and wake up at pretty much the exact same time every day.  Before I worked night shift I had only slept past 1030 AM a very few times in my life.  Until I worked night shift I did not realize how incredibly hard it is to stay healthy on a night shift schedule.

As a nurse, I learned so much in my career by being on night shift.  It allowed me to work more autonomously. I definitely learned the wonderfulness of Ambien.  I transferred far too many patients to the ICU, but not a single one of them coded in my care for which I am thankful. And I got to know some really incredible people and learn how to be a nurse without all the people around.

As a nutritionist I learned that working the night shift means that those regular meals are not going to happen. That when you stay up all night and are stressed, as nursing as a career makes you stressed, you crave those high fat foods.

As a personal trainer I learned just how hard it is to get in a regular work out routine when you walk an average of 6 miles a night at work and you are never actually awake consistently at the same time every day of the week, let alone have the consistency to work out.

As a person, I learned that my body much prefers a day schedule and I'm not the nicest person on night shift.  I learned that there were times I could sleep for almost 24 hours. And I was definitely able to sleep past 10:30 AM.

Blood Pumping Calms the Nerves and Heals Hearts

Heart healthy, what does it mean?  When you reference your heart are you talking about the actual beating organ inside your chest?  Or that place in the center of your chest where all of your emotions seem to let themselves loose?

This month I’m talking not just about your physical beating heart and its health, but the one where all those crazy emotions reside as well.   You know exercise is good for preventing different heart disease and conditions, right?  Such as preventing hypertension and reducing your blood pressure, preventing and reducing coronary artery disease, it reduces the amount of LDL (or lethal cholesterol) in your blood, and various other effects to reduce your chances of having a heart attack or developing congestive heart failure (Myers, 2003).  Did you know that exercising is also good for your emotional heart?

The CDC states that approximately 1 in 10 adult’s report depression.  That means 10% of our population. There are varying degrees and types of depression, but this is still a large sum of the U.S. population. According to the NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health) 18.1% of all U.S. adults are diagnosed with some form of anxiety. Anxiety and depression can cause major issues in a person’s quality of life and day to day living.  Even if you are not classified under one of these categories, chances are you experience high stress living in a society that must constantly be going, but not necessarily exercising.

Quite a few theories out there have tried to tell you why exercise works.  The most popular theory is the endorphin theory.  I’m here to tell you, sadly, those endorphins cannot go across the blood brain barrier so that theory is false.  However, the proof is inevitable; if you exercise it helps your mood.  For me?  It has a lot to do with the way my body feels so free and light afterwards and how my brain processes so much during that time.  At the end of a work out whether it be 5 minutes or 2 hours, my body feels like its accomplished something and my brain has processed a great deal.  For others, they benefit from the time they had to completely zone out and think about nothing.  In the end though, studies show that exercise not only helps your mood, but also your energy levels.

The benefits of exercise are endless to both your physical and emotional heart.  So what form of exercise makes you feel the best emotionally afterwards?  A long run?  Dancing?  An intense house cleaning?  Yard work?  Power walking through the mall?

For me it’s a nice intense match of tennis or a long interval run.  Afterwards my head is clearer, my muscles are more relaxed, and I often have a new outlook on life.

Get your blood pumping for your heart health!