Blah, blah, blah...

If they can do it, you can too!!

2007-08-21T10:37:00.000-07:00

OMG, how freakin' cute is this!!! And, perfect form, I must say! Yes, these babies are doing Turbo Jam(tm), the home version of TKB which is one of the formats I teach at the gym. It was about this age that I started working out to my Mom's Janet Fonda videos, and yes, I sported the cool sweatband too. :) I love that fitness is being "downloaded" into these little one's "hard-drives" at such a young age (just had to, sorry). Their mom is establishing a wonderful foundation for them: fitness can be FUN!!

I hear, and read, all the time about how much "work" it takes to "workout". Yeah, it's called a "workout" for a reason, people. The moment you think that it's too much "work" to workout, that's the first step of failure. You gotta move. You gotta get your heart rate up. YOU GOTTA SWEAT! You deserve it! YOU WILL FEEL BETTER! YOU WILL LOOK BETTER! And, pretty soon, you won't think of it as "work", you'll think of it as "FUN".

This morning I was snooping at all of the blogs I read on a weekly/daily/hourly basis, and one of the blogs was written by an Orange County Mom who complained about how much of a production it is to go to the gym. Now, granted, she was giving props to an In-Home Personal Trainer, and listing off reasons why it's great that this trainer comes to your home vs. you going to the gym. Ok, I'm not going to knock In-Home Personal Trainers, because, well, I'm studying to be one, but I will knock this woman's observation, which is completely correct.

For some people, it is a production when they go to the gym. For me, I feel better when I think I look better, or when I've done my hair and makeup and have a snazzy workout outfit on; I'll be honest. So, for me, yes, I put makeup on before I leave for the gym. My husband thinks I'm silly, but he's a boy and doesn't understand girly ways. :) There have been plenty of times when I'm teaching a class, and didn't have the time or energy to put makeup on, and during my class, when I face the mirror, I scare myself! "OMG, who's that sweaty, overly tired, blotchy hag looking back at me?" Don't laugh, it happens.

My point to all of this, and yes there is a point, is that, even if you don't have confidence in yourself (we've all been there), FAKE IT! To quote Chalene Johnson, "Fake it till you make it!" By faking it, you're fooling yourself, and others, into believing that you're truly enjoying what you're doing and that you're having FUN! And, before you know it, you are having FUN, and the "work" part of your "workout" won't seem like "work" after all.

My feet hurt...

2007-08-16T09:29:00.000-07:00

In true "Kari" style, I've jumped head first back into teaching TKB (aka Turbo Kickboxing)! It's been 3 years since I've had a TKB class on my schedule, so when I said, "OK, it's time to get back into it..." I really did! This past week I've subbed 4 TKB classes, in addition to teaching my regular classes. OUCH! Yesterday I subbed Summer's TKB class @ 5pm then raced to my 6:30pm LIFT class in Mission Viejo. Oy vey, that's a lot!

In addition to subbing all of these awesome classes, I've also accepted a new TKB class to my regular schedule! So, for those in Orange County, who may be interested in working out with me, you can find me here:

Tuesday TKB 7:30pm @ Mission Viejo 24 Hr Fitness
Wednesday LIFT 6:30pm @ Mission Viejo 24 Hr Fitness
Thursday SET 4:30pm @ Mission Viejo 24 Hr Fitness

...my feet hurt

Study: Food in McDonald's wrapper tastes better to kids...very interesting!

2007-08-07T09:37:00.001-07:00

CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- Anything made by McDonald's tastes better, preschoolers said in a study that powerfully demonstrates how advertising can trick the taste buds of young children.
Even carrots, milk and apple juice tasted better to the kids when they were wrapped in the familiar packaging of the Golden Arches.

Even carrots, milk and apple juice tasted better to the kids when they were wrapped in the familiar packaging of the Golden Arches.

The study had youngsters sample identical McDonald's foods in name-brand and unmarked wrappers. The unmarked foods always lost the taste test.

"You see a McDonald's label and kids start salivating," said Diane Levin, a childhood development specialist who campaigns against advertising to kids. She had no role in the research.

Levin said it was "the first study I know of that has shown so simply and clearly what's going on with (marketing to) young children." Study author Dr. Tom Robinson said the kids' perception of taste was "physically altered by the branding." The Stanford University researcher said it was remarkable how children so young were already so influenced by advertising.

The study involved 63 low-income children ages 3 to 5 from Head Start centers in San Mateo County, Calif. Robinson believes the results would be similar for children from wealthier families.
The research, appearing in August's Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, was funded by Stanford and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The study is likely to stir more debate over the movement to restrict ads to kids. It comes less than a month after 11 major food and drink companies, including McDonald's, announced new curbs on marketing to children under 12.

McDonald's says the only Happy Meals it will promote to young children will contain fruit and have fewer calories and less fat.

"This is an important subject and McDonald's has been actively addressing it for quite some time," said company spokesman Walt Riker. "We've always wanted to be part of the solution and we are providing solutions."

But Dr. Victor Strasburger, an author of an American Academy of Pediatrics policy urging limits on marketing to children, said the study shows too little is being done.

"It's an amazing study and it's very sad," Strasburger said. "Advertisers have tried to do exactly what this study is talking about -- to brand younger and younger children, to instill in them an almost obsessional desire for a particular brand-name product," he said.

Just two of the 63 children studied said they'd never eaten at McDonald's, and about one-third ate there at least weekly. Most recognized the McDonald's logo but it was mentioned to those who didn't.

The study included three McDonald's menu items -- hamburgers, chicken nuggets and french fries -- and store-bought milk or juice and carrots. Children got two identical samples of each food on a tray, one in McDonald's wrappers or cups and the other in plain, unmarked packaging. The kids were asked whether they tasted the same or whether one was better. (Some children didn't taste all the foods.)

McDonald's-labeled samples were the clear favorites. French fries were the biggest winner; almost 77 percent said the labeled fries tasted best while only 13 percent preferred the others.
Fifty-four percent preferred McDonald's-wrapped carrots versus 23 percent who liked the plain-wrapped sample.

The only results not statistically clear-cut involved the hamburgers, with 29 kids choosing McDonald's-wrapped burgers and 22 choosing the unmarked ones.

Fewer than one-fourth of the children said both samples of all foods tasted the same.
Pradeep Chintagunta, a University of Chicago marketing professor, said a fairer comparison might have gauged kids' preferences for the McDonald's label versus another familiar brand, such as Mickey Mouse. "I don't think you can necessarily hold this against" McDonald's, he said, since the goal of marketing is to build familiarity and sell products.

He noted that parents play a strong role in controlling food choices for children so young.
But Robinson argued that because young children are unaware of the persuasive intent of marketing, "it is an unfair playing field."

Seven secrets to avoiding fitness failure

2007-07-26T11:48:00.000-07:00

This article was posted on a fitness forum I visit on a regular basis. I thought it was so interesting, and important, that I forwarded it to all my friends via email, and am sharing it with you!
***********************************************
Seven secrets to avoiding fitness failure Posted: Tuesday, July 24,
2007 5:35 PM
By Jay Blahnik, OC Fitness Guru

Have you ever met someone who is ALWAYS consistent with his or her
exercise program? Or someone who has had lifelong success sticking
with a fitness plan? Ever wondered what their secret is?

Well, every person I have met or trained who has an extremely high
level of consistency in their training almost always follows one or
more of these seven simple strategies:

1. Smart, consistent scheduling – Keeping a regular workout schedule
that fits into your life makes it easier to stick to your program.
Instead of just "finding time each day" to work out, you should
already know the exact time, and don't change it unless absolutely
necessary.

2. Proper pacing and progression – Pacing yourself, listening to your
body and not overdoing it help ensure you don't get too tired or
injured, and this makes it easier to stay consistent. When you add a
new activity, exercise or sport to your routine, take time for your
body to adapt before you push yourself 100 percent.

3. Shorter workouts when necessary – Even if you are consistent, life
has a way of throwing curve balls into your schedule, and you may not
always have the amount of time you had planned to work out. However,
even a little exercise is better than no exercise, and a shorter
workout now and again is better than skipping your workout
altogether.

4. Well-timed workout "vacations" – To avoid burnout, it is important
every now and again to take workout "vacations" – one day, two days …
maybe even a week where you don't work out, giving your body a break
from your usual routine. Not only will this give your body a little
rest, it will also help keep you engaged and interested in your
workout routine.

5. New adventure workouts – Trying a new activity, sport or challenge
can be a great way to keep your training interesting and fun. Rock
climbing, hiking, water skiing, yoga, surfing, Pilates … anything new
or unfamiliar will help your body get past plateaus, reduce boredom
and put a jolt of excitement into your regular workout routine.

6. Strength AND flexibility training – Fitness fanatics tend to
be "cardio junkies" and spend most of their workout time challenging
their heart and lungs. However, a well-rounded workout program should
also include strength-training and stretching. In fact, including
strength-training and stretching in your exercise routine helps
increase your odds of consistency by reducing your risk of injury.
You also improve your opportunity to achieve results and help keep
your body balanced.

7. Workout buddies – The single best way to boost your workout
consistency is to find someone to work out with you. A fitness buddy
can help keep you motivated, ensure you show up for your training
sessions and make your workouts engaging. Even if you can't exercise
with a buddy all the time, meeting him or her at least once a week is
a great way to check in and keep each other accountable.

Remember, you don't need to incorporate ALL of these tips. Just try
the ones that appeal you. (Survey: How consistent are your workouts?)

Sticking to a consistent workout program is difficult for everyone.
However, these tips can make it easier and more fun, and put you on
the road to lifelong success!

Today is a good day...

2007-07-17T13:34:00.000-07:00

I feel really good today! I've 'cleared my plate' so to say and it's a totally, refreshing feeling! Unfortunately, a business venture that I agreed to didn't work out, and on my end, there's no hard feelings. Sometimes personalities just don't get along, and people have to move on. I'm very secure in who I am, and in my morals and beliefs, and the decisions I've made in my life are what help me to sleep at night. I'm proud to say that my daughter will be able to look at me when she's older and be proud; that's a really great feeling!

Just wanted to let everyone know that today is a great day....

Wow, what a weekend!

2007-07-03T08:23:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to be apart of a training for aerobic instructors that included industry leaders. The "All-Star Instructor Training" was hosted by Chalene Johnson, creator and founder of Turbo Kick(tm), PiYo(tm) and the insanly popular Turbo Jam(tm), which is the in-home version of the club favorites!

This was an intensive 20 hour training, and I'm sooooo tired! But I've left with a renewed energy for teaching and better defined goals for myself, both personally and professionally! It was so refreshing to be with a group of instructors who have the same passion as I do: fitness and inspiring people! I had so much fun!!

Onto more important things...shopping! Picked up these little numbers last night at the mall:

This super cute Coach bag (how great is this color??)

and these Juicy sunglasses

I'm happy. Happy 4th everyone!!

Memorial Day recovery

2007-05-30T08:03:00.001-07:00

What a great weekend! Hope everyone out there in cyber-space had a great holiday weekend...we did!
First, Friday was my husband and mines anniversary. 4 years! Woo Hoo! We both got off work early because of the holiday weekend. My mom came down to watch Miss K and we headed to a movie: Pirates!

Never before, and never again, but we had to wait in line that went around the building to see the movie. Our bad for going on the day it opened. Luckily we arrived at the theater early...the line had already started forming 2+ hours before the movie started. Crazy. The movie was awesome! Without revealing too much...this movie wraps up the last but def left an open for a 4th! YAY!

Saturday was just a regular lazy day. Chores around the house, grocery shopping, dinner, family time. Nice and relaxing.

Sunday we went to my parents BBQ. We had fun swimming and Kassidy had her fill of chips and hot dogs; nice combo, right?

Monday we joined my parents and uncle on the Memorial Day Harley Ride to Riverside National Cemetery, where my Grandparents are buried.

While at the cemetery we visited my Grandparents grave site where both my Dad and Kassidy gave my Grandparents their flags...and Kassidy shared a kiss. It was a real touching moment.

After a short ride (Kassidy and I were in the car, everyone else in our group were on their bikes) we ended up in Downtown Riverside for some great food, music and BIKERS!!! Towards the end of the day, Kassidy and I found a big shady spot under a tree and shared a snow cone...here's Kassidy showing me what color the snow cone made her tongue:

And we had some time for extra pictures:

All in all, it was a nice relaxing weekend!

4 years ago today...

2007-05-25T08:21:00.001-07:00

Happy Anniversary to the man of my dreams!!!

I'm just a little black rain cloud

2007-05-08T09:25:00.000-07:00

I'm in such a funk right now, not sure why.

The weekend was nice. On Friday, I went to my girl friend's salon to have my hair cut and colored, totally needed. I got home, Josh hated it. Mainly the color, but he always does, no big deal.

On Saturday my mom had purchased tickets to a wine tasting event at Disney's California Adventure for me, my sister and my mom. We had a great time! Got a little tipsy, but it was worth it. Got home extremely late and Josh was in bed, bald. He goes through spurts where he shaves his head. I hate it, but it's his head, so whatever! He doesn't have the prettiest head: it's kinda lumpy and flat in the back. And, because his eye brows are on the thicker side, and has a gotee, he looks like a funny looking Mr Clean. So, before I left for the evening, he said, don't be surprised if I have no hair when you come home, so I was expecting it.

On Sunday we had dinner at my parents house. My dad had drained the pool do resurface the pool, so we set up Kassidy's little blow up pool on the grass. OMG, it was so freakin' hot over the weekend...still is! So, she ran around the house and backyard in just a diaper for most of the evening. She was cute!

It's pretty hot here in So Cal. Well into the 90's. Josh and Kassidy's allergies have been acting up, and my nose is all dry inside. You know, the kind of dry that hurts the inside of your nose? Ouch. Kassidy slept in her first nightgown last night. We usually either put her in a sleeper or jammies, but it was so hot last night, I put her in her Cinderella nightgown my mom bought her. It's too big for her, and was falling off her shoulders, but OMG, she loved it!

Nothing really new this week. I've picked up a class on Tuesday nights, 24 SET, just for the month of May, which starts tonight. It'll be nice to get that extra workout in. Trying, my hardest, to do well with my daily calorie intake. And, although I'm taking in less calories than I normally do, I'm not falling within my allotment. I've just been snacky this past week. Time to hop back on the wagon! I'm already down 3 1/2 lbs, so that's encouragement to stay the course.

Just another Manic Monday...

2007-04-30T08:57:00.000-07:00

Ok, it's not really 'manic', but there was nothing else I could think of that would rhyme with Monday.

Happy Monday to all! Our weekend was really nice...Saturday we did our chores around the house then heading to San Juan Capistrano to go to the mission. When we pull up, Josh decides that he doesn't want to pay the $6/adult to go to the mission (jerk) so we decide to walk around Los Rios street. Beautiful! Kassidy loved it! She kept saying "House, inside" to go inside the houses. It felt like home...strange.

We went to this petting zoo they have, but for $7/adult and $3/children over 10 months (WTH?) so we petting through the fence. But, it was still nice. We were able to see chickens, pigs, horses, etc. It was nice.

Sunday Kassidy declared she wanted to go see Minnie Mouse, meaning she wanted to go to Disneyland. She's so funny! So, we headed to Disneyland around 3pm and stayed until the fireworks. We had a good time, as usual. Kassidy told us which rides she wanted to go on, which was really cute. We rode a few: the teacups, Alice, the Carrousel, Pirates and Winnie the Pooh, one of Kassidy's favorites. We tried to go on Peter Pan, since that's one of Kassidy's favorite movies as of late (she calls it Pan Pan) but they were closing for the fireworks, so we called it a night. Kassidy passed out on the way home.

Onto health...I'm really nervous to post this, since every time I post what we think to be the "breakthrough" to Josh's pain, we take 2 steps back. BUT, I must vent...So, we were back in the hospital, again, on Friday. Josh was still in a ton of pain. He had an appointment with a Gastro-Dr on Thursday and he essentially just wrote him off. The Dr said he could do, and wants to do, a Colonoscopy, but that he couldn't do it while Josh was in pain. So, Josh calls his PCP Dr and Surgeon, and got ahold of his PCP. His PCP suggested that he go back to the ER and insist on being admitted and insist on them running as many tests needed to diagnose the pain, because just pumping him with pain meds and sending him home isn't working.

So, on Friday, we headed to the ER. This time we had a WONDERFUL Dr, who asked some questions after Josh explained his pain, and said he thinks Josh has an "entrapped nerve". Meaning, that when his stomach muscles were healing together from the Appendectomy, that a nerve may have gotten trapped, and is sending signals to his brain, which is making his brain think 1) he's in pain and 2) that there's "something inside", which is what Josh has been feeling. He felt like there was something inside that he could feel every time he moved around. So, the Dr shoots some pain meds directly into his incision site and poof pain is gone. The Dr said the pain meds should wear off in 6 hours, and that he'll need to see a Pain Management Specialist to help with the pain...they may need to kill the nerve to get rid of the pain. OR, the Dr said the pain won't come back because maybe he killed the nerve with the injection.

Today's Monday, zero pain since Friday, so fingers are crossed.

I'm brining blogging back, into my life at least...

2007-04-26T11:28:00.000-07:00

This blogging thing seems to be pretty popular. So, never to be out done, I've decided to join the world of blogging. It's taken me a few years to get onto MySpace and I just got an iPod for Christmas...so history shows I'm always a little behind the times. Ah well, what can you do?

These last few weeks have been pretty stressful in my life. My husband had his appendix removed 4/4, and the pathology report showed that was a small (.5cm) Carconiod Tumor completely within the appendix. The treatment for this tumor? Appendectomy, which is what he had. But, since then, he's had a few additional trips to the hospital with pain associated to the surgery. He's going to get further testing done to see if they can determine the reason for the pain, so please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

For me, I'm finally found the road to a healthier me. My daughter was born 2 years ago and, I'm embarrassed to say, I haven't totally lost all of the baby weight. I'm uber healthy and strong, kinda have to be to teach weekly aerobic classes, but I'm not where I want to be. Sooo, I've hired a personal trainer. I'm working with Summer McArthur of Crash Course Fitness, http://www.crashcoursefit.com/. I love working with her...she's more of a reminder of the things I've forgotten over the years, and she kicks my butt, which I love! Summer is a fellow aerobics instructor, and the creator of the famous "JUNK" pants, as seen on the gorgeous Zen from Bravo TV's "Workout" with Jackie Warner!

Kassidy, Kassidy, Kassidy...the second she hit 2 years old she hit the "Terrible Two's". I seriously thought she had hit the "Terrible Two's" a few months ago, but now I know that was just a pre-cursor! All she does is whine and say No, and it's getting old. Love her to pieces, but come on kid! And, she's going through a Mommy-only phase which is hurting my husband's feelings. She's cool with him when I'm not around, but acts like he's the plague when I'm home.

Even though this is a difficult age, I still love it! She's a freakin' sponge and is learning constantly! She has this Disney Princess sing-along DVD and knows all the words to all of the songs on it. Ok, she knows the words in her own language, not totally English, but we can tell she's singing along. She'll take it high when the song goes high, and will take it low when the song goes low. It's too cute! She also knows which Princess is coming up next!

She's into the dress-phase...that's all she wants to wear. And, she calls them "Happy"...we haven't figured out where she got that name for dresses, but we'll go with it. She loves to put on a dress and dance and twirl around...ahhhhh!

And, as for me, other than the additional workouts I've added to my daily schedule, I'm also thinking about becoming a Personal Trainer. I've bought the books and study guides and plan to take it slooooow. I'm not about to jump head first into this when I'm not 100% sure this is what I want to do. Why am I scared? Because I've started projects in the past that I thought I was 100% committed to finishing, and I didn't. Classic Aries characteristic (I'm a first day Aries!). So, I'm not willing to spend the butt load of money that it'll take me to start this new journey until I'm totally committed, which I'm pretty sure that I am. I've been teaching aerobics for over 3 years now and still love what I do. I love helping people meet their fitness goals, and I love that I'm a part of that process! I've had a passion for fitness since I was 7 years old working out at 6am with Mousercise on the Disney Channel.

And, I cannot tell you how many times I sported my leg warmers and head bands and worked out with Jane Fonda and my mom's Jane Fonda VHS tapes. So, it's there, just want to make sure I'm making the right decision.