No stopping the swimmers ...or YOU!

Janet Evans, 40 year old Mom of 2- inspiring in the pool!

What a way to start 2012- be inspired by all the women who are pushing farther and farther outside the norm of sports' comfort zones. Just this week, Janet Evans  qualified for the 400 meters at the US Olympic Trials. She is 40 years old and will be one of the most decorated Olympians if all goes according to plan.  Dara Torres was 2nd in the 50 meter free in the US Winter Nationals in December, after returning post knee surgery at ...age 44!


You hear it every day and read about it in magazines ranging from Redbook and InStyle,  to Fitness and SELF.  "I found my body when I turned 40, a confidence clicked and there was no turning back once I got hooked on exercise." But it not just exercise- it is the lifestyle change of becoming an athlete. It is the identification process of not just working out, but having a sport you can call your own.

Janet and Dara were swimmers their entire lives. They don't know a world outside of swimming.  Janet  having competed for Stanford, while Dara competed on the University of Florida swim team. Post college, many of us start working, play it up in the young 20's scene, have fun and maybe go to the gym or run recreationaly.  But often, we forget about the sport we used to identify with. WHY?  Why stop when there is only a big future in front of you to fine tune your athletic skills? It is never to late.

Dara Torres-44 year old Mom is making waves

I challenge you to find your inner athlete.  Try a sport you used to love and begin by practicing once each week.  As you get used to training, push yourself a bit harder and see where your current limits lie.  Now, push again and go further and faster.  See what your body is capable of doing. If the sport isn't bringing you joy like it did when you were young, try a new sport. There is nobody saying you can't be a dual sport athlete, nor is there anyone saying you have already met your athletic potential once you're an adult. I personally think it is just the beginning.

Why is it the beginning, you ask? Because as you get older, you often possess a gift of throwing away the concerns filtering through many "younger athletes". The little voices repeating, "You aren't the fastest" slip to the side, and your inner strength can push through stomping those mean voices to the ground. At this age, the focus on hardwork and developing skills is there. The focus to not waste training time is there; you know as a busy Mom juggling a career and being an athlete, that your workout and training time is set on the calendar and if you miss it, you miss it!

I personally am not 40 years old yet; I just turned 36 one month ago.  But as I have been told by many friends, I often have the mindset of a 40 year old from having embraced lifes challenges.  I understand that life gives us hiccups along the way and nothing is guaranteed to  go according to plan, even when we detail every event in our smartphone calendar.  From the knowledge that we have one life, it and one opportunity to seize the day athletically, I know to embrace each opportunity and GO FOR IT!!

If Janet and Dara can race against younger gals and beat them in the pool, what is holding you back from lacing up your soccer cleats again?  What fear is making you keep you bike on the rack in the garage verses on the road climbing hills training for your next triathlon? Yep, I think that would be the sound of crickets because there are no excuses...

YOU just need to take the initial leap out the door and go for it!  

Age is just a number my friends, and the older you get, the more opportunities you have to kick some ass! 

Cheers and as always, take time to Challenge the Power of YOU

Jeanne Kettles- One Year of Inspiration!

Jeanne joined Power Fitness PDX for the Challenge. When she called the first time, I remember hanging up thinking I hope this woman can do the Challenge for herself. I have a feeling she could get so much out of it if she allows herself to believe in herself.  Guess what, she did and is PHENOMENAL!! Jeanne has inspired so many others without realizing it and has more strength than she once believed. To say I have been honored to train Jeanne and have her be part of Power Fitness PDX is an understatement. Jeanne also taught me to believe in my own strengths as a trainer and coach, as there are little nuggets brought out that can help every client on many levels. Let Jeanne inspire you to take the time to Challenge the POWER of YOU! 

Jeanne (on left eating), New Years Eve 2010

Jeanne Kettles

This time last year I was floundering…big time!  I was burned out:  overwhelmed, overweight, under a tremendous amount of stress, and feeling totally depleted.   After three years of a challenging Masters program followed suddenly and unexpectedly by three years of a nasty divorce which left me totally broke and completely on my own as a single mother with no job, I felt “washed up” on some strange shore as the divorce became final and I landed a wonderful but demanding full time job.  I had been “coping” with years of stress by self-medicating with all the wrong food and drinking, staying up late “too tired to work out”, forgetting myself and throwing everything into caring for my children and the demands of life.  I wanted things to change, and I realized the only way they could would be to change the course I was on – but how?

I saw a postcard for Power Fitness PDX which boldly affirmed, “YOU have the power, strength and courage to make your life the best yet. Without even realizing it, you possess incredible determination and dedication to be your most active self possible...you just need a little nudge, education, and support”.  It’s like Erin was talking directly to me.  I went on line and read about the women’s only boot camp and Erin’s philosophy.   I remember my first conversation with Erin: it was remarkably easy to talk with her about my fears and reservations “would everyone be more advanced than me? – I’m really out of shape”  She encouraged me by letting me know that although everyone might seem at different fitness levels that everyone had their challenges and that was the point – we would come together as a group to challenge ourselves – together.  I made the commitment to do the fitness challenge – a three month intensive diet and exercise boot camp.  I never imagined how it would change my life.

I tried and I cried.  I sweat and I hurt and rode the waves: from the troughs of fearful doubt and self-loathing to the crests of accomplishment and self-affirmation.  When my determination threatened to falter, Erin and the women of the group helped nudge me back with an understanding comment or self-revelation that reminded me I was not alone.  The laughter and “way to go!”s we fed each other with sincerity through the grunts, groans and sweats, bonded us in camaraderie, mutual respect and appreciation as we each challenged ourselves and each other to “dig deep and play hard” and bring it!

Jeanne looking & FEELING great December 2011

I lost 10 pounds those first three months, but I lightened up more than that.  I found a part of myself that had been buried in heavier weight for a long time.  I signed up for the year, knowing it was going to take a long term commitment to myself to see me through to where I wanted to be.  But Erin always kept it interesting with some fun and cutting edge way to push all our workouts to the max - and not take no (or slow) for an answer!  She is famous for casually "suggesting” to the group, “You know what would be fun…” and then get  us all signing up for See Jane Run 5K or 10K – or some other race or half marathon - even if we never ran a race before!  And we had a blast!  Even though I wasn’t yet able to run the full distance straight through, I paced myself and pushed myself and completed a 5K.  And the crazy lift it gave me (“I did it!”) fed into my increased commitment to pushing my training and see exercise as fun.   My kids are ever more proud of me and it gives them strength and encouragement to see me be active and make better choices for my well-being.  Now we often “work out” together and they don’t ever seem to grumble anymore about walking someplace instead of taking the car.

One day, months later, as I lugged my workout bag with 2 twelve pound weights, 2 five pound weights and a full large water bottle, I realized that I had actually lost that much weight (and a little more: forty pounds and twenty inches)!  I laughed in amazement that I wasn’t carrying that around anymore and how good it felt to feel energetic every day, throw out my size 18 clothes and shop for size 10 instead!  And the fun part was sharing that with the group of friends who had seen me from the start of this journey and have them celebrate with laughter and joy too!

I can’t say enough about the incredible spirit and skill Erin brings to her work in guiding the group and each participant on our individual paths.  She is knowledgeable and fit, yes, but something so much more.  It’s not everyone whose passion burns so bright and true that it sparks the hearts of others even when they feel burned out or their light seems doused.  Erin and Power Fitness PDX are amazing and I recommend the experience to anyone – no matter where you are in your journey to Challenge the Power of You.

Annie (Challenge Winner 2011), Coach Erin Kreitz Shirey, Jeanne - Holiday Party 12/2/11

Gemma Lim- She made a change and continues to do so!

Today I got an email from Gemma, a Mom to dynamic boys who was trying to find her time to train. She has been a PFPDX'er since January 2011, even doing workouts in Paris when traveling with friends.  Gemma shared her journey, which will hopefully inspire you to make time for yourself too.  What a gift to read these words of real, life transformation.
Cheers-
Coach Erin Kreitz Shirey

Erin,

This note has long been overdue! I hope that you know how much I APPRECIATE you.  I have not expressed my appreciation in so many words and ways, but I am so thankful that I met you.  I have indeed come a long way from the first day I came in to try out your early morning boot camp class (thank you Karen for pestering me incessantly that I must meet Erin!) armed with nerves (the trepidation of “going to boot camp”) and vertigo! You kicked my butt on the first day and I have been hooked since!

It has been almost a year since I joined PowerfitnessPDX and I see all the positive changes in myself both physically, emotionally and mentally.  Who knew that I could do over 20 military push ups - in proper form! And for someone who has never run in her life, I am amazed that I can jog for over 30 minutes WITHOUT stopping!! It is so exhilarating and rewarding each time I finish a workout with you and the gals. My days are always better when I start them with a PDX workout.  Before I met you, I was so out of balance when I didn’t get a workout in first thing after I woke up.  I would always try to pencil in my workouts and as everyone knows, our own personal goals go to the bottom of the list.  Kids, husbands, significant others, jobs – LIFE takes over and we play second fiddle, again. Before I joined the group, my workouts were not very consistent. I exercised after 10 pm when everyone in my household was upstairs and left me alone to get my workout in. I traded in a decent night’s sleep for what workouts I could squeeze in during the workweek. I didn’t realize that this was working against me. I wasn’t losing weight and inches and I felt so resentful of the little time I had for myself.  My fitness regimen did not work as well as I wanted it to.  Until I met you and started my Power Fitness PDX workouts. Boy, did you change my life!! Do you remember the first few weeks when I did the stairs at Washington Park? I thought I was going to throw up! Living with vertigo, stairs was not my cup of tea. In fact, I avoided workouts that involve climbing up and down stairs for fear of falling down or losing a step and injuring myself. Erin, you changed all that! I conquered my fear of stairs because of you. I have learned that the stairs don’t rule me. I RULE! It is now all on my own terms.

Over the course of the year of doing PDX, you helped me understand that exercise/fitness is very fundamental to how we should live, that it can be fun and it doesn't have to feel like a chore.  You have inspired me every morning to challenge myself, to do that extra push up and lunge, that extra sprint up the stairs. I have become one of your bonus Betties! Doing PDX, I am much more alert and in perfect equilibrium.  Take it from this neurotic Libran, I am so much happier when my scales are in perfect balance!  

So Erin, a huge THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for helping me believe that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. 

Dig deep, play hard!!

xoxo,

Gemma

Determination

Determination     I associate one's determination with their spirit and courage. You need to have some sense of focus and gusto to keep you moving forward when determined to reach any goal.  In order to do that, there are many days that you need a healthy dose of positive self talk too.  September is here and for many it is the month of evolving, growth, and taking a step forward to change.        Change can be hard  and letting ourselves go outside our comfort zone can be scary.  When working with various clients, encouraging them to try new activities and exercises, I have heard every fear verbalized.  It is our automatic wall that surrounds us, protecting us from failure. We build a moat of fear and words that are not always the healthiest. Thoughts flowing through the moat ranging from "What if I am not good enough?", "I can't do this right now", and "I am not strong enough".    Guess what friends, you are strong enough!  This Fall I encourage you to change the words you use to speak to yourself.  When riding on the river of nerves, shift it, grab a paddle and pull yourself up out of water. Embrace the physical challenge and start by saying a simple phrase "You can do this. It is not impossible.  I'm Possible!".  The phrase "I'm Possible" I picked up when a Walker Coach with Pallotta Teamworks 12 years ago and have carried it around since.  I invite you to carry it around with you too.    Fall is a time to grow and evolve, just like students do every school year.  It is your time to evolve into a stronger, more determined, focused and appreciative athlete. Your body can do wonders, believe in it every step of the way, and know even if you do fall YOU have the determination to get right back up.       Fall is also a time that signifies big steps of DETERMINATION in our family.  September 23rd, 2010, is the date Makenzie was rushed to the ER. Almost one year since her medical journey began, and to say she has "grown, evolved, and has taken a step forward to change" is an understatement.  She has shown more determination and courage this past year than many adults I know.  I am constantly in awe with Makenzie since she doesn't back down or think anything is impossible.  She faced her body's organs breaking down, regained her ability to breath on her own, strengthened her body to walk again and adjusted to a life full of doctors, nurses and needles. She grew to know about life's real hardships involving blood transfusions, surgeries, not living at home with her family, missing half the school year and the big unknown ... if the life she knew before September 23rd would ever be the same.    Throughout it all, she never faltered thinking it wasn't possible to conquer each test figuring what was going on with her pancreas.  She didn't back down to fighting with doctors and nurses, at the age of 6.5, when she didn't want more pokes and needles. She didn't stop pushing herself to walk the hallways to keep her legs stronger.  She never stopped laughing each day to try and "feel" like a normal kid. She showed me what the real human spirit is all about and how to never give up.    And that she didn't. Makenzie has been determined and ready to start gymnastics since the day of her last surgery before Christmas.  She asked her medical team at UCSF every post surgery visit if she could start gymnastics again, to a bummer answer of "not yet Makenzie ".  She wouldn't take the answer, and got stronger. Over Summer she swam every day, and learned how to ride a 2-wheeler. When learning, she fell and got scared, but without prodding by us (her parents) she dusted off and got right back on her bike.  Before school started, she even rode her bike all over San Francisco with fierce determination.  For a kid told she wouldn't make it out of the ICU last year, she is now in 2nd grade and just got the green light to start gymnastics again. She had her first class on Thursday, September 15th.  She still doesn't have the green light to do the uneven bars, but it doesn't matter because she was back in action grinning ear to ear, the entire class.  She is the epitomy of determination and focus.  She never said out loud "This is Impossible Mom!!".  But instead, repeated daily, "I'm possible", and has continued to get stronger and move forward each day.     Happy Fall to you.  Garner your determination, inner athlete and make every challenge possible.  You are stronger than you ever thought possible; believe it!      Challenge the POWER of YOU!   ----Erin Kreitz Shirey Owner & Lead Trainer of Power Fitness PDX LLC

Perfect 10

What is the Perfect 10?  Do we really compare ourselves to Bo Derek running down the beach with her braids and swimsuit?  Are we, as women, comparing ourselves to the Sports Illustrated swimsuit models?  I hope not!  I see every women as a Perfect 10 in their own right, it is accepting your own strengths and differences that make you magical.  It is holding your head high when trying something new and being comfortable in your imperfections, embracing your body you were born with, and using it with pizazz!  It takes a sense of confidence to see your own Perfect 10, a sense of ownership in adoring the one life you have and the body you have been given.  A Perfect 10 is not letting the little things you think are imperfections define you, but you define them and own them! 

When doing gymnastics two weeks ago, I felt we were all perfect tens.  It was ladies fun night out for Power Fitness PDX and we decided to have fun at gymnastics. Words can't describe how much fun it was!  We walked in and could have been Moms to the other participants of Open Gym. But we didn't care! We sought out Ian, the teacher for the night, and asked him for some pointers and advice for fun "moves".  Mind you, the moves we were talking about we hoped wouldn't have our strong, but not gymnastics trained, bodies injured at night's end.  We all were eager to hop on the balance beam, climb the rope net, jump on the trampoline, try the rings, do back walkovers and LAUGH!!! 

Through the training in Power Fitness PDX has evolved a greater sense of confidence in trying new things...amongst everyone.  We laughed, we performed and we embraced our bodies for what they can do!  For some it was trying a jump on the balance beam, a feat that wouldn't have been conquered before.  But now, knowing that each body is unique and can do incredible things, the feats were tried and tried again.  We tried trampoline routines, sweat as we did back bends,  and flexed our quads when pointing on the beam.  We were and are all PERFECT 10's!  It is our own inner score card that we must believe in.  Not a judge holding up numbers, but our own inner score card of "10".

Own yourself and who you are. Own your strengths and walk proud.  Be it big chested or flat chested, apple or pear shaped, short or tall...own YOU!  You are a Perfect 10 and have one body that can do incredible things.  Challenge it daily, appreciate it hourly, love it every moment.   Now, gymnastics hands back and stand in Perfect 10 pose!!