Body Revolution

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Sunday 8-21-13

 

Hi guys,

I hope you all got outdoors and enjoyed this beautiful weekend and beautiful stretch of weather we had. I love the heat and love the summer. I was able to get in a couple of runs this weekend and even did my first long run in prep for my 2 half marathons this Fall. It feels good to be running again so much. I forgot how freeing and how stress relieving it is. I have a couple of clients that I now run with so I am able to get my miles in. Spinning, Skilz n Drilz, and kettlebells are all great workouts but I am a runner at heart.

We had such a busy past 3 weeks at the gym! I am continuing to organize the gym and I think we finally have our sound system all set in the Spin room. It sounds amazing! Definitely worth the investment! The 5 Concept 2 rowers are also a great investment. I have been using them with my Summer Challenge group as well as with my clients. It's a great machine for full body cardio and they are so light! My other trainers have taken advantage of this and have been wheeling them to different parts of the gym to use for training. We have now grown to a family of 3 pretty busy trainers. Luckily I have a good amount of equipment and a lot of space to spread out in! We are currently working on installing a metal bar in the front studio for TRX Suspension training so that we may utilize that space for 1:1 training when the main gym is busy with a class or the challenge workout. That front room has also been getting a lot more use since starting our Barre Fusion class also. This is a great class utilizing Ballet movements, Pilates, and yoga. It is run by our Pilates instructor, Debbie, who is also a dance teacher. I love being able to bring more to the clients of Body Revolution!

Speaking of the clients and what they want more of, it seems that they cannot get enough of my Skilz n Drilz class! I currently only have 1 spot that I teach it in which is Wednesday mornings at 9:30am but the clients cannot seem to get enough of it and I have been adding it into other classes. Tomorrow I will be trying something new: I will be doing a kettlebell/ Skilz n Drilz fusion class. It seems that whenever I post that I will be doing it in a class, that class fills up and then over flows. Last time I ran it during a SPINtensity class and even though I ran out of Spin bikes, I had people running on the treadmills instead of Spinning and then joining us during the Skilz n Drilz portion. I actually also ran out of steps and had to turn some people away! Crazy! But I will state it again, if you are looking to tome up your butt and legs, there is nothing I have found to beat this class!

So what else is new? Our Summer Challenge officially began last Monday and we have a solid group of 10 again. I have some newbies as well as some that have been away for while. We have some really hard workers again and I am looking forward to another successful challenge! It seems they keep getting better and better! I absolutely love working with them!

Our newest TCAM TV show, 'Shredded' is going extremely well and the girls are progressing well. We got an official date for the Fitness Universe show... October 5th. I have one of the girls away on vacation right now but when she returns later this week it will be full steam ahead! I am SO proud of both of these young ladies! You can catch episodes on local cable channel 15 or 22 on Thursdays at 9pm, Saturdays at 8pm, or Sundays at 7pm. I also post the link on the Body Revolution Facebook page.

Have a great week everyone and see you soon in the gym!

Corinne

8:21 pm est

 

 

Sunday, July 14, 2013

1:30 pm est

July 13, 2013

Hi guys,

Wow what a busy week! It started last weekend with organizing the gym and getting ready to take delivery of some new gym equipment. Equipment not being used had to be dismantled and removed and storage racks had to be built. Other equipment had to be arranged. All this was done in preparation for the 5 Concept 2 Rowers that were being delivered a few days later. The gym is now cleaned up and more professional looking. Next up will be to order some more storage racks to get things off the floor and free up some more floor space. I love being able to offer more in the way of individual training and classes.
Another big development was the arrival of a new spin instructor from a neighboring gym. Let's all welcome Michelle Proulx into Body Revolution and our Spin family. She brings with her a dynamite class and a large, committed following. We have added 3 additional spin classes a week that she will be teaching. She is ambitious, energetic, driven and will no doubt add a lot to the gym. Welcome again Michelle!
We also had our Summer Weight Loss Challenge begin last Monday. We started with 10 and had some reshuffling with 2 clients unable to do it at this time. We also had 2 clients join late. That brings us up to 10 again. I am looking forward to working with this group!
Lastly, I posted a blog not too long ago regarding professionalism and gym loyalty. I stated that it was tough out there for trainers and instructors who are constantly thinking that the "grass is greener" elsewhere. The gym industry is fickle. Gyms are sold all the time and management changes. What once may look like a good deal can soon change. It seems that I am on the winning side of this, this time around. I have acquired 2 extremely talented, established trainers and spin instructors to grow with Body Revolution. I am so happy to have them be part of my gym family and am confident that we will be working together for quite a while. I can guarantee them that I will always do right by them if they do the absolute best they can for their clients and Body Revolution. My ultimate goal has been and always will be to help as many people as possible become or stay, happy, healthy, and fit. I look forward to all the future has to offer.
Have a great Sunday everyone and see you all this week!

Corinne

 

Hi guys,

First a big shout out and congratulations to Beth Coe for winning the Spring Challenge with a percentage of 15.95%! Way to go Beth! I am so proud of this lady, she has done a few other challenges in the past and started them strong but kind of 'faded out' half way through them. She decided during this challenge that she was going to buckle down and make this challenge the one that made a difference. The result of that was a 29 lb weight loss and significant improvements in her mile run, push ups, planks, crunches, and rows.

Honorable mention goes to Casey, Mike R, and Deb for their fantastic losses as well. I must say that everyone did a great job! This was a super fun, hard working group. We had a terrific 5k as well. We had a challenger run a 27.10 min 5k and that same challenger also rocked a 4 minute plank at the end of the challenge! Congrats Mike! I believe those are both challenge records!

So I sit here on the eve of the beginning of the Summer Challenge. We have a strong 9 doing this challenge and a few newbies.... I am SO looking forward to getting started! We also have some new equipment coming to Body Revolution. Scheduled for a Wednesday afternoon delivery are 5 Concept 2 Rowing machines. These will give us another option for a full body cardio workout. Along with my Spinner bikes, Star Trac treadmills, steps for Skilz n Drilz, kettlebells, TRX Suspension and TRX Rip trainers, there will be a lot of variety for the challengers to get fit and have fun doing it! I cannot wait to get started!

See you all this week!
Corinne

1:29 pm est

 

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Spring Challengers Mill Pond 5k

Hi guys,

Our Spring Challengers ran the Mill Pond 5k today in Plymouth. We had some fantastic times and PRs set! I am SO proud of each and every one of the challengers! We had some first time 5k racers, Meb and Deb and several that have not run in YEARS. A big shout out to the original Body Revolution client who ran in his second 5k and set a PR of 27:10 which is over FOUR MINUTES faster than his previous 5k last year! Congrats Mike... So proud! I cannot emphasize enough what a terrific challenge this has been! We will have 3 that hit the 30lb+ lost club and probably another 3 or 4 that lose over 20lbs. Everyone will lose at least double digits. This group has become very close, like a family. They have worked very hard and have shown up for most workouts ready to work hard. I never once heard, "I can't do it." I just want to say to each and every challenger, I am so proud of your effort, your determination, and your spirit. You make me so happy and blessed that I get to do this job. I am so fortunate to have met each of you and I look forward to continuing on this journey with you. I love you ALL.
So as this challenge comes to an end, I am already gearing up for the Summer Challenge. I have 9 committed so far which will leave room for 1 or 2 more to squeak in. I also have 2 brand newbies in this challenge and some that have been away for awhile. We also have 6 people returning from the Spring Challenge. I look forward to another terrific challenge! If you are interested, please contact me ASAP!

In other gym news, I am happy and proud to say that Body Revolution is approaching it's 2nd year anniversary. I am grateful and thankful beyond words that we continue to grow and thrive in this competitive field. I am blessed with another terrific trainer, Shaun, who brings in professionalism, a great work ethic, and is proud to be a part of Body Revolution. I am also blessed with a great team of instructors that bring their absolute best to the clients of Body Revolution. I am looking forward to another 3 (or 5) years serving the community with the best the fitness industry has to offer.

Have a great weekend everyone and get out there and MOVE!

Corinne

4:09 pm est

 

 

Saturday, June 1, 2013

 

Hi guys,

I haven't updated my blog in a while. My days are super busy this time of year, I have on average 11 appointments a day and spend a couple of days a week working 14 hour days. But I wanted to make sure to write something this week because I do have a lot to share.

First, the Spring Challenge is going incredibly well! We are half way done and the pounds lost keeps adding up. We have several challengers closing in on 20 lbs lost already and may have another challenger win it that does not have a large amount of weight to lose again. We added a few new people to the Body Revolution family and I look forward to continuing to work with them after the Spring Challenge is over.

Next, we are coming up on our 1 year anniversary in our new home and our 2 year anniversary as a small business. When I first opened Body Revolution on July 1, 2011, I never in a million years imagined the growth that would happen and how quickly! I never envisioned a Spinning program; I just wanted to be able to continue to teach a few spin classes a week for my clients that really enjoyed them. The thought of never teaching spin again when I left my two other gyms was something I could not bear to happen! And so I made the decision to look for a space to lease where I could run small spin classes. Purchasing 16 brand, new Star Trac Spinner NXT bikes was not something I initially planned either. I sought out to buy some decent used bikes. I made the decision to go with Spinners because I wanted the option of being able to call myself a Spinning Facility. I could not find any used Spinner bikes. It seems that as soon as they are traded in to a used fitness equipment center, they are sold IMMEDIATELY. Out of desperation, I contacted Spinning themselves and was told that their entry level commercial grade spin bikes were on back order for several weeks. I was given a deal on their top of the line NXTs and decided to splurge on them. That turned out to be the best investment I could have made! Not only are the bikes the absolute bomb, but I was also able to get listed on the Spinning website as a facility. Anyone who googles spinning classes or cycling classes on the Internet in my area, is immediately linked to my gym. I have gotten numerous spin clients as well as personal training clients this way.
To get to the point of having several spinning instructors on staff was never, ever imagined! I am so lucky to have the terrific instructors teaching at my gym! The clients are absolutely lucky too!

As a reflect on the past 2 years, I can't help but chuckle at some of the memorable, funny things that have happened. From our first spin space and the tiny room with 2 doors, to our current big room with the high ceilings, ceiling fans, and easy access to the outdoors for my SPINtensity classes as well as a way to bring fresh air in during class. I remember after my first week of teaching 5, yes FIVE spinning classes....I had absolutely NO voice from yelling without a microphone and my legs were incredibly, amazingly exhausted, sore, and spent! I remember thinking, "what the *ell have I gotten myself into!". I had no backup instructors at that time. I went on vacation that first summer and literally shut the gym down for the week. I reflect to now when not only do I have a handful of other instructors available to teach and cover for me, but I also have a couple people to cover TRX for me when I need it. Speaking of TRX, I had never heard or seen it before I went to my first fitness convention the Fall of 2011. I was simply choosing classes from the brochure to attend and a "full body class utilizing straps and your own body weight" sounded appealing. So I thought, what the heck. I remember being sore for DAYS after taking that class! That lead me to explore the options to bring it to my gym. I remember thinking that I would love to add TRX suspension classes some day when I had a bigger gym space. Well some research later done, I came across the multi mount which bolts to a wall and does not take up floor space... Ok, I was SOLD! I HAD to have it! Now a new, larger space later, I have added another multi mount and 4 more straps. I remember how awkward it was getting into and out of the straps that first month or so.... We would literally get Charlie-horse cramps in our abs just from getting our feet INTO the straps! And stretching? It was like we were literally water skiing the way we would fight for our balance! Yes indeed, those were the days!

My kettlebell certs also came about because of the Boston Balance, my first Fitness convention. I decided to take a class in kettlebell 101 because I liked to utilize kettlebells in group training when numbers were high and space and equipment were few. I felt I needed to learn more about kettlebells so I could better serve my clients. That class I learned a new exercise that would become one of my absolute favorites... The snatch. I was hooked! I decided to get certified officially and chose Kettlebell Concepts because they were the agency that was represented at the Boston Balance. I remember arriving for day 1 of the 2 day certification with a 5 lb, 10 lb, and 15 lb kettlebell. By the end of the second day, I was not only swinging the 25 lb kettlebell the institution provided, but I was also cleaning it and snatching it! I was impressed and amazed by the amount of effort it took to do basic kettlebell exercises! I was literally EXHAUSTED after that workshop... Mentally AND physically! I was also amazed by how good my shoulder, tweaked the day before during a chest press exercise, felt after that workshop! What followed when I got home was a large purchase of heavier kettlebells at my local Ocean State Job Lot. As the months progressed, the women in my class, whom had started with the 15 lb kettlebells, began fighting over the 20 lbers and then we were all fighting over the 25 lbers. I now own a 70, 60, two 45, four 35, four 26, six 25, and a giant container of 15, 18, and 20 pounders and we STILL fight over the kettlebells! Ok, ok, we share them :)
As the months went by, I realized how tough, effective, and well rounded a kettlebell routine was and decided I needed to learn more. After 6 months of trying to get into a level 2 instructor class, I was successful and received my level 2 instructor cert. Next up, without a doubt, will be my level 3 instructor course. No kettlebell agency has that course out yet. Kettlebell Concepts is currently working on that course and as soon as it is out, I will be one of the first trainers there in NYC!

My weight loss challenges continue to grow and my name continues to grow in the community. I have my regular clients and those that come in for bit and leave for a bit, all to return again in the future. I have acquired another terrific trainer named Shaun that has more years of experience training than me and has his own, well established clientele. Together we are a great team that pushes, learns, and leans on each other. I could not have asked for a better trainer or person to work alongside me. It might have taken several months of searching and some hard lessons learned, but believe me, we are a team to be reckoned with! Watch out!

So after all the hard work, heart aches from past disappointments, perseverance, and determination, Body Revolution is a growing, thriving, personal training facility that offers terrific Spin classes, cutting edge TRX suspension and Rip classes, as well as the areas only level 2 kettlebell instructor. We will continue to evolve, grow, and bring you the absolute best the fitness industry has to offer. Come check us out and join us... I promise you will not be disappointed

Corinne :)

9:34 pm est

 

 

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Happy Mothers Day

 

Hi guys,

I hope all the mom's out there enjoyed their day today! I started my day with a 7 mile run and got a chance to take my mom out to lunch.

One of the reasons I love running is because it allows me to clear my head. It is a sort of active meditation for me. I usually can figure things out in my head that I want to accomplish during the week and I often will work through problems and come up with solutions. It allows me to also preview spin music. I usually come up with what to write about in my blog for the week. I have not written a blog in a couple of weeks because I have been busy with my family. My kids have both moved home for the summer from college. I have also been busy visiting my dad in the rehab hospital as he recovers from his stroke. The good news is that he has made great progress and should be coming home this Friday.

So as I ran this past week, I thought of how lucky I am to be able to do a job that I love and make a living doing it. I can honestly say that if something were to happen tomorrow, I would be able to say that I gave my absolute best effort to every single client that has ever worked with me. I can also say without doubt that I am doing what I was exactly suppose to be doing. All the past experience that I have gotten in my nursing career, my own training, and my training for my figure show have made me a very well rounded trainer. I also have a constant thirst to learn and absorb as much education that I can whether it is online, in print, or at a conference.

I had the opportunity to attend the TRX Rip training course yesterday and now hold a certification in Rip training. It is a great additional training tool that Body Revolution will be able to offer. I attended the workshop with my other trainer, Shaun Nye. I am so lucky and privileged to have Shaun at Body Revolution. He is without doubt one of the best trainers I have ever met and a true professional. He also shares a strong need to keep growing and learning. I have no doubt that he will do very well and be able to grow even more working alongside me. We make a great team :)

Tomorrow is week 3 weigh ins for the Spring Challenge. We have a great group of 10 that are dedicated and determined and I am positive that we will have a terrific challenge! Keep up the great work guys! I am proud of you all and your efforts to get healthier!

See you all this week. Get out there and MOVE.

Corinne

8:27 pm est

 

 

Sunday, April 14, 2013

One Body One Life

 

 Hi guys,

 

I have so much stuff I would like to share with you all, I actually need 3 blogs. Sometimes I struggle to find one topic to talk about, this week I have had so much happen, that I do not know where to start.

 

First things first. I have stated it before, and I will state it again. We are given one body on this earth to occupy. The past couple of weeks have shown me again why it is so important to take care of that body. First, I found out that two potential challengers from the Winter Challenge that chose not to do the challenge for different reasons, are experiencing significant health complications from being over weight. One is suffering from complications from Type 2 Diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes has been shown to respond well to exercise and lifestyle modifications. Another came into the gym in tears the other week because they are experiencing significant generalized swelling. The cause has not been determined but they were told to increase their physical activity. The sad part is that both individuals are still in their forties which is too way too young to be having such serious health concerns.

 

The last thing that has happened the past week is that my own father has been hospitalized after suffering a significant bleed in his brain. He is stable and currently in a rehab hospital where he will need to learn how to dress, feed himself, and walk again. He suffers from several diseases caused from lack of activity, poor lifestyle choices, and obesity. I have worked with him several times in the past to teach him better eating habits and have encouraged him to increase his physical activity. But like many other over weight people, increased activity causes pain and discomfort in the feet, knees, hips, and backs. This causes a lot of people to return to their inactive lifestyle. It is a vicious cycle. It is hard to change habits and one thing I have learned after doing 12 Weight Loss Challengers, is that obesity is not cut and dried. There are so many reasons why a person may be over weight. For some, it is a hectic lifestyle coupled with no time for exercise and too much time for the drive through at the numerous fast food places. Others hate exercise and sweating. Some have a lack of knowledge regarding serving sizes and the importance of not skipping meals. Some are addicted to food just like some people are addicted to gambling and drugs. It is very complex to work with at times and I keep trying to learn as much as I can to try and help as many people as I can.

 

My dad continues to work at coming home and I hope to reach out and help the other two people that are facing their own health crises. It is a tough, never ending war and battle but I choose to continue to fight alongside those that seek me out for help.

 

The Spring Weight Loss Challenge begins this Saturday. I still have 3 spots open. If you have quite a bit of weight to lose and are looking to change your life to become fitter and healthier, than next Saturday is the day to start. Contact me now to sign up for this challenge. Those that are ready to make the commitment to work hard will get fantastic results and will do so the healthy way. Do this before a health scare happens to you. The time is RIGHT NOW.

 

Get out there and move.

 

Corinne

7:12 pm est

 

 

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Happy Spring!

 

 Hi guys,

 

We had our live, finale weigh in last Thursday evening. It was such a fun, successful challenge! Everyone posted double digit weigh losses for the first time ever in any challenge. The winner was Maureen Ross with a weight loss of 13.62%. The 2 runner ups, Becca and Angela also had terrific weight losses of 12.4% and 10.9%. Becca actually exceeded her weight loss goal of 15lbs by over 3lbs! Way to go Becca! Angela was also just 2lbs shy of her weight loss goal. These 3 ladies were some of the ‘smallest’ challengers we have had to date but I am so glad that I let them be a part of what has traditionally been a weight loss challenge of very overweight people. They brought a great passion, enthusiasm, competitiveness, and camaraderie to the challenge. They were looked up to by the other challengers and I think really inspired the other challengers. This challenge has definitely changed my vision of all future challenges!

 

I am sad to see another televised weight loss challenge end because it really makes the challengers accountable to not only themselves and in this past challenge, their team, but it also makes them accountable to the viewing population. They really strive to do their best when they know that the community is watching and rooting them on. On another note though, there are a group of individuals that do not like to be filmed and put on tv so by having the next couple challenges not televised, it gives them the opportunity to partake in a program that has been proven to work for so many.

 

I, in the meantime, will be teaming up with TCAM’s main camera man, Zak Swain, to film another show that will follow 2 of my other clients as they get ready to step on the Fitness America Pageant which will take place this September in Boston. One of my clients, Allie, will be doing her second show. She will be competing in the Bikini division and probably in the Figure division as well. She is an extremely hard working, determined young lady that knows what she wants and is not afraid to work hard to go and get it. My other client, Jill, will be doing her very first show ever. She will be competing in the Bikini division. Jill has worked with me for several summers when she was home from college. First we rehabbed her from knee surgery so that she may return to collegiate level soccer. The following summer we worked on general strength and conditioning and she had a terrific, blow out season in soccer. Last summer this young lady graduated from college and started life in the real world. Soccer games have ended and she found herself searching for something else that would give her a goal and allow her to still ‘compete’ although in a different sport. This young lady is amazing! She is driven, super talented, and has a ton of natural athletic talent and ability. She is very determined and I am so proud to see how she has grown over the last 3+ years that we have known each other. All I have to say is, LOOK OUT, they are coming!

 

We are expected to have a nice warm up weather-wise this week. Take advantage of it and get out there and get active!

 

See you all soon,

Corinne xo

10:45 am est

 

 

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Keeping Focused

 

Hi guys,

Sometimes I need a lot of time to think about what I want to write about in my blog, other times, it comes easy. This week it came easy to me. One of the things I love most about what I do is changing peoples’ lives. I like to help them get fitter, healthier, stronger, and happier. I love taking someone who is brand new to working out and the healthy lifestyle, and getting them to become a stronger, fitter version of themselves. Oftentimes, the person starts off very deconditioned. Simply walking on an incline on the treadmill briskly will leave them huffing and puffing and short of breath. Maybe they can struggle and get out a couple push ups. I work with them 2-3 times a week, encouraging them, pushing them, and getting them stronger. One pushup becomes 5 then 10. Sometimes if we work together long enough, those basic push ups become decline pushups, shoulder push ups, handstand push ups, and maybe even one arm push ups. The treadmill walking becomes running then sprinting, and sometimes it even turns into 5Ks and/ or half marathons. All the while, I encourage and teach them how to eat healthier so that the recovery time is lessoned and they get better, stronger, faster. Of course with this, they lose weight, drop clothing sizes, and gain tremendous self confidence. This self confidence is earned with a lot of hard work, sweat, and yes sometimes even tears on both our parts. There is nothing more rewarding than sharing that journey with someone.

One the other hand, I have been in this business long enough to know that life can sometimes get in the way of someone’s best intentions. Jobs change, family commitments increase, and people move. Sometimes there is just a decrease in interest and sometimes there is another conflict that arises that changes someone’s focus. One missed workout this week becomes 2 missed work outs the following week. The frequency and intensity might not be there. Sometimes the client will even just walk away for a couple weeks or months completely until things “settle down.” Often times those people will return when things calm down. Unfortunately, they usually come back heavier and starting back close to square one. All the hard work we had done is a memory to the body and they have to really work hard again to get back to where they once were. I think that is the most disheartening and frustrating part of my job. Watching someone fade away from the gym and not being able to stop it. As I write this, I have one client whose hand I am desperately holding onto tightly and another that I feel I am grasping by the finger tips. The terrific results they have obtained in the past 1 and even 2 years are starting to diminish ever so slightly. I am so fearful of one of them letting go. Yet there is nothing I can do but make myself available, physically and emotionally.

I am not a psychologist or therapist and I do not know what the answer to this problem is. I will continue to do what I can to keep people focused, healthy, and progressing. I can only hope that I am better able to deal and cope with this as I continue in this wonderful career of helping people become the best they can be. Like I’ve said many times before, the fitness career is ever evolving and I am constantly learning and growing so that I may do the best job that I can.

Keep moving, keep growing, and keep that focus.

 

Corinne

2:50 pm est

 

 

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Spring’s Coming!

 

Hi guys,

 

I hope you all are enjoying the increase in daylight in the evening. I know I sure am. We have been able to get outside to run a bit before our kettle bell class on Monday nights and I have even been able to bring the challengers outside to do some running. I love the spring and summer seasons because we can get outside more and do more stuff. The challengers were able to hike in Massasoit State Park yesterday morning.

We had our Winter Challenge 5K this morning. It was crisp and cool and I was so happy to see every single challenger at the race. This has been by far the challenge with the best attendance and effort! I am so proud of how everyone is doing! The 5K we did was the 2nd annual Oliver’s St Paddy’s Day 5k in Fall River. The course was through the Fall River Industrial Park. I must say Fall River is certainly a hilly city! We had some really good times despite the hills. The first challenger to cross the line was Becca. This also happened to be her very first 5k. She came in under 34 minutes which is really good especially for a first 5k! Next up was Angela who also ran a personal best of under 36 minutes. Nancy was next followed by Lisa and then Steve and Ron who came in together. Maureen was at the race but had re-injured her knee at work and did not run but came down to support everyone else. Thank you so much Maureen! I am looking forward to tomorrow night’s weigh in. I am counting on the challengers to avoid the temptations of St Patrick’s Day food and drink!

Other big news that has happened at the gym is that we have a new trainer that has joined the Body Revolution team. His name is Shaun Nye and we had worked together for over a year at our former gym. He is a solid trainer with an established following. He is certified by ACE as am I and wasted no time in going to get his TRX-STC today. He has a lot of experience working with teens and preteens and sports specific training so I am excited that he will be taking over the kids’ TRX class. He also wasted no time in acquiring 2 new clients in his first 2 days at the gym! He is a fantastic trainer with proven results and I have no doubts that he and I will be working together for many years to come! Welcome Shaun, so nice to have you on board!

Our final, live weigh in for the Winter Challenge will take place on Thursday, April 4th at the TCAM studio. I am already starting to plan for the Spring Challenge and already have a couple people signed up. We are looking at a start date of Saturday, April 20th. The Spring Challenge is my absolute favorite challenge and I cannot wait to get started again! If you are interested in signing up or learning more regarding the Spring Challenge, please contact me.

See you all soon and get those workouts in!

 

Corinne

5:39 pm est

 

 

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Happy Sunday!

 

Hi guys!

 

I was thinking today what I could write about in my blog. You see, not only do I try to keep things fresh with my training, but I also try to keep things fresh in other areas of my life.

It has been an interesting week for sure. I was paid a visit last weekend by an old friend that works for THE NAME in the fitness and figure competition and modeling world. It seems that this particular coach whom is highly respected, has taken to endorsing a supplement company. My friend, knowing that I have a couple of girls interested in competing, stopped by to give me some samples of the products that are highly endorsed. I spent the week trying them. Specifically I tried the protein powder and bars as well as an energy drink. I also had a super busy week at the gym covering extra spin classes while my husband and other main spin instructor, was in Japan on business. I also started the weekend with a pretty bad cold. I first tried the energy drink after teaching my first class last Monday which happened to be a spin class. I then, knowing that I had a super busy day teaching, decided that I really needed to feed my body properly in order to recover and be good to go for class number 2 which happened to be kettle bells. So I opened and ate half of a protein bar. I finished the rest of the bar an hour later as I was finishing up training my morning clients. I was pleasantly surprised at how full the bar made me feel. I was able to eat my normal lunch of a salad and feel satisfied. I went home in between my morning and evening training blocks. I usually crash at that time but was surprised to feel actually pretty good. I went back to the gym, trained my afternoon clients and taught my kettle bell class. I was feeling pretty good. I next had my weight loss group workout and then finished the evening up with my 3rd class, spin. I had tons of energy despite being sick. Okay, coincidence, right??

The next day started off the same. I brought the second protein bar which happened to be a chocolate cream bar. I am a self proclaimed chocolate snob so I did not have much hope that I would like the taste of the bar. I completed my morning training and then went back in later for my evening blocks. It was early evening at that point and I was getting hungry and knew that I had a spin class to teach at dinner time. I took my usual piece of fruit out of my bag then pulled out the chocolate protein bar. I looked at it for a minute then thought, ‘what the heck’ and opened the package expecting it to taste disgusting and chemically. I was shocked that it was actually pretty good! I ate the bar, taught my spin class and felt really good. I had my usual dinner of grilled chicken and salad and was again amazed that I had no cravings later which is the norm.

Fast forward to the next 2 days. While I was home in between my morning and evening training sessions, I was hungry and craving popcorn. I went to the cupboard and pulled out the popcorn box. I spied the protein powder on the counter and thought, ‘what the heck, I need to start increasing my protein anyway.’ I decided to make a protein shake which is something I have not done in years. I found the vanilla flavor to actually not have that dreaded chemical aftertaste. I went back to the gym and finished off my evening schedule. The next 2 days, I made a concoction of frozen banana and protein powder with a little natural peanut butter as a snack. I must say, I felt great all week, had absolutely NO cravings, taught great classes with energy to spare, and kicked my cold’s butt!

I decided that I need to eat better myself and make sure that I am getting enough protein, vitamins and minerals. I eat well most of the time and usually get plenty of fruits and veggies. I decided though that I need to make more of a concentrated effort to get better snacks in to help my body recover from all the classes and workouts I do each week. I called my friend and ordered the protein powder, bars, fruit and veggie drinks, and energy drink. This product is called Isagenix. I will offer it in the gym to those that want to make a concentrated effort with their nutrition.

Those that have known me for a while, will wonder why I have decided to start using protein supplements after all this time of me saying you don’t need them if you eat properly. Here is the truth, I certainly don’t eat properly ALL of the time and will quite frequently pick and fight cravings. I also decided that I want to make a concentrated effort to increase my protein intake to try and build a little bit more lean muscle. We will be heading into the warmer weather and I want to focus a little bit more on getting myself where I try to always get my clients. It’s time I focus a little on my own health and fitness for a change.

I also know how much a lot of people struggle with the nutrition aspect of fitness. By keeping myself more up on the trends and trying things on myself, I believe I can better help my clients. And my goal at all times is to help and do right by my clients.

I have also been doing more research on competing and different styles of workouts. I do not ever want to get stagnant. I want to keep learning and growing. I absolutely love this industry and my clients and will do whatever I can to make them keep advancing and getting fitter and leaner.

Have a great week everyone and make sure to get those workouts in! Keep that focus and push! Summer and short season is just around the corner!

 

Corinne 

9:23 pm est

 

 

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Halfway through February

 

Hi guys,

 

Sorry it’s been a while since my last post. I have been SUPER busy! I just got back from a 4 day fitness conference in New York City. I love attending conferences! I get to meet and mingle with other fitness professionals and I always come home refreshed, full of new ideas, and recharged! This conference was no different. I was able to do more kettle bell classes with the great Paul Katami who is a well known trainer to the stars out in LA and also has several workout DVDs. I was able to take his Katami Kettlebell core class which utilizes a kettle bell and works the core and entire body beginning in a standing position and ending in positions on the floor and knees. It was a fantastic class. I also was able to do his Build and Burn class again which is a class utilizing a step and a kettle bell. This class has segments of muscle burning and segments of cardio all utilizing the same kettle bell. It was hyped as the best class of the whole conference and was sold out plus had a waiting list. I don’t know if I would agree it was the best class because I was able to take some other very good classes too and can not pick out one as THE BEST.

I was also able to take Keoni Hubdoba’s signature class called DRENCHED. Wow what a great class that was! This class utilized karate and MMA moves and was set to choreography. While I probably don’t have a lot that I will use from that particular part, his ending part which consisted of suicide sets of burpees, push ups, walking planks, planks, and mountain climbers will definitely be used! His energy and enthusiasm was also AMAZING!

Of course, the whole point of going to this particular conference was to get more work in with the TRX suspension system and TRX rip trainer. I can highly say, “mission accomplished!” I learned some fantastic class formats to further challenge all my clients and classes! I was also able to get quite a bit of work in with the Rip trainer. I absolutely LOVE this new tool! Every conference I attend introduces me to new things and I come home with a new love! The Boston Balance introduced me to TRX in the first place which made me end up purchasing 21 feet of multi mount and 16 straps. It also introduced me to Plyo Power which is easily now one of my most popular classes at my gym! I was also introduced to Kettlebell Concepts which I later pursued my Level 1 and Level 2 certifications through and totally changed the way I train. The ECA/ Thrive in Fort Lauderdale introduced me to Paul Katami and mixed up my kettle bell class more. This conference has given me a new love in the TRX rip trainer and I will be purchasing a portable base unit that I can use inside or out and also 4 more rip trainers. I have a TON of ideas in the way that I want to utilize the TRX rip in different various classes!

I think the most important thing I took away from this conference did not have anything to do with an exercise, routine, or prop. What I think the most important thing I took away from this conference is the way I will COACH my clients. Watching the interaction of the other instructors and learning how they cue and motivate will definitely be utilized and I think is one of the most important things I picked up at the conference. A big shout out to all the guys from TRX, Marc Coronel, Fraiser Quelch,, and Susana Pata for the terrific guidance, enthusiasm, energy, and knowledge each one of them brought to each class. You guys are truly the best at what you do!

Okay, so what else is new at Body Revolution? I had the chance to meet with fellow Fit Pro, Abington School Principle, and Cathy Savage coach, Nichole Rich. Cathy Savage is THE NAME in the fitness and figure competition and modeling world. Everyone knows that I am and have always been anti supplement. I’ve always said, you can get everything your body needs in a well rounded diet. Except for certain populations like burn victims, cancer patients, pregnant women, elite athletes, a healthy diet is more than enough for good nutrition. However, I have 2 girls that are training for upcoming fitness shows and they do require more protein than the average person to build lean muscle. I have always recommended to this population to get a protein shake in after a workout to help recovery and build muscle. Because of this and the fact that Cathy Savage encourages the Isagenix nutrition line to all her girls, I decided to go ahead and meet with Nichole to learn more about this particular nutritional supplementation line. I learned about the different products this line provides and how they can be utilized to help the girls get ready to hit the stage. They also carry lines for weight loss. I still firmly stand behind my previous thinking that if you are eating a well balanced diet, that is all you need. But I have also learned in the previous 4 years that I have been doing weight loss challenges, that some people need more direction and guidance with the nutrition part. So, I will be offering some of the products from the lines. I also took a step back and thought to myself that maybe I would benefit from some of the products. I tend to work 12-14 hour days and do up to 3 workouts a day teaching different classes. That alone puts me out of the general population. So I will be looking into their vitamins, stress relief formula, and energy shots which are basically electrolytes that you add to plain water.

Okay, so on to the challenge! We will be having our 4 week weigh in this Wednesday. We have some really good percentages of body weight lost already! I am looking forward to this week’s weigh in. This is school vacation week and a couple of challengers will be away. I am confident that the tools that I have given them will help while they are away from the gym! Congrats to Nancy for winning 2 of the 3 weekly biggest percentage lost challenges and for Maureen for winning 1 of them. We are having some really good efforts both in the gym and outside of the gym! Keep that focus guys! You can follow the challengers and the workouts we do here at Body Revolution by watching TCAM every Thursday evening at 9pm on local cable channel 22. Past episodes are also available on TCAM and my you tube site. Go to www.bodyrevolutiontaunton.com and look for the Link section to find the link to my you tube channel.

Have a great week everyone and get that workout in!

 

Corinne

12:37 pm est

 

 

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Just Getting Started!

 

Hi guys,

 

Week one of the Winter Challenge is done. I must say that this is an amazing group of challengers! The enthusiasm and energy is absolutely amazing! We have had perfect attendance the past week and most are even getting some extra in. I hope we continue on this path because we will have some great success stories if they keep it up! I am so honored and proud to get to do what I do! There is nothing better in this world than helping someone.

Tomorrow will be our second day filming and our second weigh in. Usually the first week pulls big weight loss numbers. I hope we have great success! We will be doing a partner challenge tomorrow. I love doing challenges with the challengers because it brings out their competitive spirit and they all work extra hard. I expect tomorrow to be no different!

We had our first Health and Fitness Open House today…what a huge success! It was great to see all the new faces! I am extremely lucky to have my Pilates instructor and co-trainer, Deb Young at Body Revolution. I am also so fortunate to have Yoga instructor, Ann Brock. I also brought in another trainer, Vincent Roberson. He is also TRX-STC certified and will be taking on new clients and running the kids’ TRX class. I also am super lucky to have found my new Zumba instructor, Lisa Sullivan. I really look forward to Zumba doing well at Body Revolution like I know it will! I really like the energy these guys bring to the gym!

Okay so I have a new challenge for you all: I want everyone to try a new class or exercise that is out of your comfort zone. I think it is a great way to expand your horizons and grow. Plus, you may find something new that you love and can’t live without! Face your fears and discomfort head on and just go for it!

Wishing everyone peace, happiness, and health in the upcoming year. Hold your family and friends close and make friends with your enemies. Have a great week and see you all soon.

 

Corinne xo

8:36 pm est

 

 

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Ready, Set, GO!

 

Hi guys,

 

We started the Winter Weight Loss Challenge yesterday. We met at the gym and went over the schedule and had our nutrition talk. Then we headed over to the beautiful, new Trucchis in Middleboro to put the challengers to the test to see how much they had learned during the nutrition speech. We split into teams and each team had to pick the healthiest meal they could find. I could not name a winner because everyone did great! We also did our “before pictures.” We had 7 people begin the challenge yesterday and we are suppose to have Mr. Casey Medas rejoining us with a surprise guest tomorrow evening. I can’t wait to see who he brings this time! We are very fortunate to have TCAM TV rejoining us again. They will be filming the weigh ins and part of the group workouts every Monday evening. I cannot wait to get started! We have a couple of challenge newbies joining us this time around. Welcome Becca and Angela!

So how are those New Year resolutions coming along? Are you starting to settle into a pattern with the exercise and planning your food? Are you sleeping better and do you have more energy? Those are the 2 big differences you should be feeling right now if you have started a healthier lifestyle change. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment if you are expecting large losses in weight at this point. It will take a good 6 weeks of CONSISENT exercise and nutrition before you start to really notice a change in your body. At this point, you should be focusing on how much better you are feeling and how the workouts are not as tough as that first week. Focus on how much healthier you feel and how much stronger your muscles are getting. Maybe at this point you are able to do a little bit more in the exercise department. Maybe you can squeak out one push up on your toes right now. It’s a start! Keep it up and pretty soon you will be able to squeak out two pushups! How is your diet going? I don’t mean a diet where you limit food amounts and only eat lettuce. I mean are you focusing on whole foods in their natural states? That is a great place to start. Pick one unhealthy food or habit you do on a daily basis and replace it with something healthier. Do you drink coffee with cream and sugar? Replace the cream with 2% milk and try a sugar substitute. Once you have accomplished this without feeling deprived, move onto another unhealthy food. Keep at it. They say it takes 3 weeks to learn a habit so give yourself credit and time. Know that you are making a positive change in your body. You deserve it!

Okay, need some help or maybe a little extra motivation? Want to check out a new class? We will be having a Health and Fitness Open House next weekend! Saturday we will be having our regular SPINtensity class as well as an additional pilates class at 10am. Sunday will be spin at 9am followed by beginner spin at 10am. Yoga is on for 9am as usual. !0am will feature my new Skilz n Drilz class followed by TRX suspension training. We will also be trialing Zumba at 10am. Monday evening we have kettle bells at 5:15p followed by Flirty Girl Fitness Dance at 6pm. Spin is at 7pm. We also have kids yoga ages 6-9 at 5pm. Come down and try out a class! Please sign up on the sign up tab for classes.

Have a terrific week and see you all soon!

 

Corinne

5:48 pm est

 

 

Sunday, January 13, 2013

So You Want to be a Personal Trainer?

 

Hi guys,

 

I love being able to write this blog and being able to share with you all everything that is going on at the gym. I also love to write about more personal things sometimes too. The beauty is that I get to state my experiences and opinions, but you get to choose if you want to read it. I may not necessarily always be politically correct but I try to keep an open mind and try to remain aware of other peoples’ feelings and opinions. I was running this morning and my mind was wandering to what I would write about this week in my blog. I decided I would share with you all how to be successful in this business. Now I know that I hardly know a lot about growing a business. I do not have a business background and I believe a lot of my success has come from hard work, drive, and some has come from luck. I have done my fair share of “paying my dues.“ I have taught classes and small groups for only a few people and have not even made the minimal hourly rate that is fair compensation for a trainer. I taught a half hour upper body class at my former gym for a mere $5 for almost a year. I did it because I loved teaching it and sharing what I had learned. I was told by another trainer at the same gym that you “never get clients from class.” Well that proved to be wrong because not only did I get clients, those clients expanded into whole families. One of those clients that I got from that class is still with me today….almost 4 years later! I recently had a weekly raffle to win a free training session with me so that people could see exactly what it is that I do and how I can help them. I know that I would never be successful in other businesses because I do not have the skills or drives in other fields. But I DO know how to train clients and get them results.

First let me just say that the start of the new year has been extremely challenging already. My other go-to trainer has chosen to pursue a different career path than Body Revolution. That leaves me accommodating some of her clients as well as being down a spin instructor. Next, my boot camp instructor and I have had a mutual, amicable parting. Both ladies share the same passion for fitness and I am sure will do well with whatever they chose to do. I however am very actively looking for another spin instructor and I am also looking to add another trainer that wants to help grow with Body Revolution. I want someone that not only shares the same passion of fitness that I do, but that also wants to keep learning and growing and has the experience and skills to benefit all the members and clients of Body Revolution. It is a tough order to fill but I only want the best for the members and clients. Meanwhile, I myself am up to over 50 appointments a week and the referrals keep coming in. I will continue to work hard and accommodate as much as I possibly can.

I have done a lot of reading lately by the leaders in the fitness industry and the one recent article that I have found especially interesting is by Todd Durkin who is not only a personal trainer to the top athletes in the world, but also an author and motivational speaker/ coach. It is an article about how to grow your personal training business. I found this article to come out at the perfect time because I often hear from other trainers, “I can’t grow.” So how does one grow in this profession? Well the number one thing you need to do is to treat all your clients like gold. They are the reason you have work. Accommodate them and their schedules and treat them fair. Keep their objectives and goals in mind while you are working with them but also address their own personal strengths and weaknesses. Keep them happy and most importantly, keep them healthy. Know what their likes and dislikes are and challenge them just enough to push them and help them advance, but also know when to back off so that you do not turn them off to training. Also, and this is the most important thing, get them results. If they are meeting their goals you will keep them happy. If you can get other people in their lives to notice their improvements, you will get more interest in them wanting to seek out your services. Our clients are our walking billboard advertisements. If they are happy and get results, their friends and family will notice and ask them what they have been doing. This is where you will get more clients.

Okay so we work hard for our clients, they are staying injury free and getting results and are happy. What else? This is not in the article but all the successful trainers I have had the privilege to meet and know do this and that is SELF PROMOTE. They often blog or tweet about their classes, training, and their own workouts. Clients will not seek out your services if you yourself are going elsewhere for your workouts or promoting other instructor classes or gyms. Of course you need to stay on top of the latest in fitness industry so attending fitness workshops and conferences is a must. Learn as much as you can about the human body and how to adapt training to clients with different restrictions. Learn how to not only train those individuals, but also learn how you can lessen their restrictions’ impact and improve their quality of life. Everyone will benefit from physical activity that is tailored specifically to them. Learn from the professionals in the field that have the scientific documentation and studies to back up what they teach. This is such an amazing field! There is so much to learn and it always evolving and changing!

Lastly, have a PASSION for what you do. Make sure that you practice what you preach. Clients won’t seek out a trainer that does not take care of themselves. I don’t think passion can be learned or faked. You either have it or you don’t. If you do not have passion for the fitness industry, maybe it is not the career for you. Find what it is that makes your heart sing and pursue it. It took me almost 40 years to determine this. Remember, if you do what you are passionate about, you are almost guaranteed to succeed at it and do well.

I hope to see you all at the gym this week. The gym has been bustling with activity and everyone has a new focus on improving their fitness and health. Just a reminder that the Winter Challenge will be starting next Saturday morning. It consists of 10 weeks of 4 sessions a week of small group training. We always have a lot of fun and the results speak for themselves….average percentage of weight lost is 10%. It is also a great value. If you are ready to change your life and get healthy, contact me asap! I only have 2 spots open.

Have a great week and see you all soon.

 

Corinne

4:42 pm est

 

 

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Ready, Set, Get Fit!

　

Hi guys,

 

We are well into January and those New Year’s resolutions. Even when I was a member at a local gym, I never dreaded the spike in attendance at the gym. I love people and love seeing them trying to better their health. There is always a new enthusiasm to get fit and lose weight this time of year. Now that I own my own training studio and do personal training as well as instruct classes, I love it even more. Everyone has goals to lose some weight or get fit. My job and goal for all these new people coming in is to pace them, encourage them, and keep them from overdoing it and getting injured. I have several new people that are just starting with. We sit down and together make up a plan to get them to their goal without getting burnt out or injured. We take into account their starting fitness level, past injuries, and restrictions, and come up with a plan that suits not only their body, but also their work and family commitments. All the classes, conferences, and certifications I have taken over the past fall, get put to good use now.

So what can the general, moderately fit person without restrictions do to get fitter and healthier?

First, understand that to be fit means more than just being “skinny.” To be truly fit, you need to get some cardio work in. What is the best way to do this? That depends on the person and what they like to do. It could be running, swimming, the elliptical, treadmill, or classes such as spinning. Find an activity that you enjoy and that you have access to and get to it! You should aim for 3 non-consecutive days of 30-45 minutes in the beginning. After a few weeks, increase it to 4 days a week. After a few more, you can add another day or even 2. The current recommendation of the surgeon general is to do at least a half hour of moderate physical activity most days of the week. Just be sure to take pace yourself getting there. Remember, your body also needs days off to recover. It is during those recovery days that the body repairs its muscles, joints, ligaments, and tendons and gets stronger. Even when you are up to 6 days of activity, you should vary your workouts so that muscle groups get a rest.

Besides cardio, which strengthens the heart, lungs, and keeps our weight in check, what else should we be doing? Strength training is very important and sometimes overlooked. After the age of 25, we start losing muscle mass. This translates into decrease strength, endurance, and increased fat storage. Now you don’t have to head to the gym and start using machines or dumb bells to get strength training in even though these are excellent ways to do that. If you do not have access to a gym or weights intimidate you, you can do some simple body weight exercises to keep up your strength and muscles. The top 4 exercises I would recommend are: Pull ups, push ups, squats, and lunges. If you do not know how to do these properly and safely, you can ask a trainer to help show you the proper way to do them so that you do not get hurt. Lunges in particular must be done right to keep the knees healthy. Another great way to get strength training in is with the weights of course and also with kettle bells and the TRX suspension system. Machines and circuits set up in a gym are a good way to start but shouldn’t be the only way to get your strength training in. Make sure you change up your routine every 4-6 weeks to challenge your body and keep progressing. Also, if you are using weights, make sure you pick a weight heavy enough that the last few reps are difficult. Always make sure to watch your form so that you get the most out of the exercise and do not get hurt. Kettle bells are one of my favorite ways to get in a strength session along with cardio and flexibility training. Please just make sure that you check with a trainer certified specifically in kettle bell instruction before using kettle bells! The TRX suspension system is also another great way to get in strength training with flexibility. It is safe for everyone. Again get instruction first. You should be doing some type of strength training AT LEAST 2 days a week.

Flexibility is also very important for fitness. It helps to keep your joints and muscles pliable and also helps prevent injuries. Make sure to stretch after every exercise session. Another way to incorporate stretching in with your workout is to try yoga or pilates. Both will give you some strength training and flexibility combined. They are also great for the mind, muscle connection. I also really like the TRX suspension system for a combined strength and flexibility workout.

Those are the 3 parts of fitness that need to be done to keep you healthy, happy, and fit! Remember to always check with your doctor before beginning a new exercise program. Also make sure to increase frequency and intensity gradually so as to not get injured. Give your body a day off from exercise completely once a week and make sure to feed your body a healthy diet full of lean proteins, high fiber grains, and tons of fruits and veggies. Make sure to get enough sleep to help your body repair itself.

　

Happy and healthy and fit New Year!

Corinne

4:40 pm est