Yes… 50 years old… everyone keeps telling me to lie about my age, since I don’t look 50 no one would be the wiser. But I’m not able to lie… as a matter of fact I have a difficult time not telling people my age. So no shock that I’m blogging about it.

I attribute my inability to lie about my age to an “Emotional Balancing” treatment I had at the Golden Door Spa in Phoenix shortly after I turned 40. The gentleman that I met with was a chiropractor, kinesiologist, and a therapist all rolled into one. In theory he reprogrammed my brain to not be concerned with, my then age, being 40.

I’ve flirted with the idea of finding someone who can reverse the emotional balancing but I’ve lived with being age liberated for 10 years so why turn back now.

Back to turning 50. I’m not sure how I feel about it. I’m not thrilled, but I realize that nothing will be different tomorrow. It’s not like we age over night…we age over time. And since I started my fitbattle almost five years ago I managed to get some years of my life back.

I suppose the challenge of birthdays that end in “0″ is that they give us more pause then the others.

Today is my last day in my 40′s. A couple of days ago, a young man who used to work for me posted on Facebook that it was his last day in his 20′s. I get it… I was not thrilled with turning 30 either. 40 wasn’t so bad, but 50… ugh!

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.  ~ Thornton Wilder

The best therapy for moments like this is giving thanks… I’m thankful to be back in Las Vegas and close to my family and friends… I’m thankful to have found a new calling in life where I am able to help people get their bodies and in some cases their lives back… I’m thankful for having so many people around me that I love and love me. I’m thankful for all the blessings I have received in my lifetime.

So there you have it… Tomorrow I will welcome 50 and all that this new decade of my life has to offer.

Until later… Kathi

Last week someone pushed one of my buttons and I’ve had a hard time shaking it off so I figured I’d blog about it with the hope that I can let it go.

One of my Facebook “friends” (who’s really an acquaintance, not a friend) posted a comment about their dislike of people who post quotes on Facebook and promote their MLMs (Multi-Level Marketing – products). My first thought was to unfriend him, but then I stopped myself and decided not to take his comments personally. The next morning I wanted to reread his post but couldn’t, guess what? He unfriended me. Man… I wish I unfriended him first… ugh! I guess my gut was right, his post was directed towards me.

I admit for several days prior to his post I was hitting Facebook hard promoting a Free Nutrition Class and Weight Loss Challenge. I posted the event and then a reminder a couple of times each day for several days. And yes, on occasion I’m also known to post quotes that relate to how I’m feeling or something that is going on in my life.

The great thing about Facebook is that it’s freedom of speech on steroids and it’s freedom of listening. Facebook is also a great networking resource for everyone. Most people know that Facebook gives you control of who and how much you see of your “friend’s” activities and posts in your news feed… or I suppose instead of restricting what you see you have the option of going to the extreme of unfriending someone. So be it!

Okay… what’s eating me? I get that it’s likely that a majority of people are weary of MLMs. I was too and I still am, a bit. But…I recently became an Independent Distributor for Herbalife, an MLM. I also changed my Employment Info on Facebook reflecting that I am now a Personal Wellness Coach and Herbalife Independent Distributor. Honestly I was sick of seeing my last job at the top of my Employment Info on my profile since I haven’t worked for them for 2 years.

I know… Get to the point… My rant? Here’s the deal… Everyone talks about what they do with their friends, family, and strangers… when I worked in a traditional job there was no doubt that I talked about it… at happy hour… at lunch… etc. So what’s the difference if an individual is part of an MLM and they are passionate about the product and talk about it?

I believe most people are weary of MLMs because they do not understand the business model. MLMs offer a great opportunity for the unemployed, under-employed, or closet entrepreneurs, to supplement their income and potentially replace a full-time job.

I recently attended an Herbalife conference with approximately 6000 attendees. The most significant difference between the Herbalife event and a similar event that traditional corporations put on (i.e. annual sales conferences, executive meetings, etc.) is that everyone in attendance wanted to be there. It wasn’t an obligation.

They all paid their own way to get there… travel, room, f&b, and ticket for the conference. The energy was incredible. Imagine being part of something where everyone has chosen to be there. Much better than working at a job where of late the attitude from upper management is that you should feel lucky to have a job.

Why Herbalife? Since I started having success along my fitbattle journey I’ve wanted to help and inspire others to do the same. So I’m on a mission to assist others with taking control of their wellness. For some it means losing weight, others want to add lean body mass, some people just want to feel better and have more energy.

Herbalife provides a platform for me to realize my goal of helping and inspiring others. There you go… I have publicly declared myself an Herbalife Independent Distributor and Personal Wellness Coach. I know that my true friends will support me and put up with my enthusiasm for my new venture.

Herbalife has been around since 1980, they have 65MM consumers, they are in 79 countries, had $4.2B in sales last year, and is traded on the NY Stock Exchange. The success people have had using the products is incredible. It’s not a fly-by-night company and it’s here to stay.

More than 60% of adults are overweight, childhood obesity is on the rise. I want to help reverse the trends of obesity and weight-related deaths. So if you don’t like seeing my posts on Facebook, hide me from your news feed and/or (if you feel it’s necessary) unfriend me. If you unfriend me we probably aren’t true friends anyways.

If you’ve stayed with me this far, here’s a funny video about so-called pyramid schemes. I hope you enjoy it. CLICK HERE to view the video.

If you are interested in a FREE WELLNESS EVALUATION, call or email me. We can meet in person or if you are not in Vegas we can do it over the phone.

Call: 702-483-WELL (9355)

Email: kathi.fitbattle@yahoo.com

Until later… Kathi

Herbalife has a great product to replace your daily (or more) diet soda fix. It’s called Liftoff. Increase energy and improve mental clarity for better performance throughout the day with this effervescent energy drink.*

CLICK HERE to get more info about Liftoff. To order Liftoff, email me at: kathi.fitbattle@yahoo.com.

Click this link to read the article on the livesowell.com website: Zero Calorie Diet Sodas | Waistline | JJ Virgin | Health Article.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

I find it frustrating how life’s hurdles affect everything… including my fitness. There are so many things in life that can knock us off course: financial issues, work stuff, relationships, kids, family, car problems…I could go on and on.

A friend of mine and I always joke about how great it would be if we could take a pill that makes us forget an ex or a situation or experience that results in us getting stuck.

What if we could simply press a reset button? You know…like the Staples “Easy” button. I suppose if it were that easy then we would miss the lessons that life provides us and we’d sacrifice memories of the good stuff.

It’s up to us then to work our way through life’s challenges. So that’s what I’m doing. The downside is that while I’m distracted with life I end up taking my eye off the “fitness” ball.

What slice of life experience has knocked me off course? A couple things…I’ve been on a sabbatical (unemployed) for almost two years now (yes I stayed out of work by choice) and two breakups back to back.

A year ago I reentered the dating world after an extended break. There are many reasons why I stopped looking for “Mr. Right”, but suddenly I was ready to start looking again.

I’m not sure what did it, but just like when I decided to get fit, a switch flipped in my head and i decided to give dating another go. It was amazing…almost immediately upon making the decision voila…I met a guy and we started dating.

Dating caused a distraction to my routine but I managed to stay on target with my fitbattle and studies (to become a certified Personal Trainer) until the breakup.

That first breakup knocked me off my feet. I felt lost for a while. I know in hindsight that I gained more than I lost from the experience…but man that breakup was painful!

I was determined to not to give up and I joined a couple of dating websites. I sifted, winked, messaged, and talked to a whole bunch of prospects and ended up going on about ten first dates. Eventually I met a guy that seemed to be a near perfect match.

Fast forward…I found myself going through another breakup. This one hurt but not as bad. I’m not sure why… maybe because my breakup senses were still numb from the last breakup. It still knocked me off my feet…again!

If only…I had an “Easy” button that I could push and it would wipe away the sense of loss and sadness and leave the good stuff. Instead it’s up to me.

How am I handling it? I spend time with friends, hit the gym as much as possible, and I’ve buckled down on my studies. Bottom line…I’m staying busy and focusing on the future. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and I’m looking forward to what the future holds for me.

Until later… Kathi

This is HUGE!!! I’m now a “fully-qualified” BodyPump instructor.

The weekend of January 14, 15, & 16 (2011) I attended instructor training for Les Mills BodyPump. It was the most physically challenging three days of my life.

I'm fully-qualified!

I knew going in it wouldn’t be easy, but I had NO idea how much energy and effort would be required. Six months later I’m now a “fully-qualified” instructor. I even have a certificate to prove it!

Believe me… I’m not doing it for the money. I attended a LVAC/Les Mills recruiting event for BodyVive in October of last year which resulted in me being preselected as a BodyPump instructor candidate. At the event the Group Fitness Manager and several other presenters/instructors told the recruits “it’s not about the money”. And it’s not! It’s about motivating others to get moving, achieve their fitness goals, blow off steam, and enjoy the experience.

Most important… it’s about inspiring others to get the results they are striving for. Each person’s journey is personal. My hope is that at the end of each class every person leaves thinking “I can’t wait to take another BodyPump class”.

For the last several months I’ve been a substitute instructor. I’ve taught four (maybe five) classes so far. The good news? I’ve been assigned my very own class. It’s just one class a week but it’s mine – YAY! Monday nights at 9pm I’ll be teaching BodyPump at the LVAC Green Valley (Eastern) location. I hope to see you there!

Later…Kathi

Not familiar with BODYPUMP™? CLICK HERE to visit the Les Mills website. BodyPump is the original barbell class that strengthens your entire body. The 60-minute workout challenges all your major muscle groups by using the best weight-room exercises like squats, presses, lifts and curls and all while listening to great music.

Life’s challenges…

Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they’re supposed to help you discover who you are. ~ Bernice Johnson Reagon

Life presents us with one challenge after another.

What’s on your mind today? What’s getting in your way or distracting you? How do you cope with the bumps in the road that life serves up?

Do you workout? Go out? Cocktails anyone? Eat something yummy? Spend time with friends… family? Hibernate? Sleep? Cry? Meditate? Pray? Blast music? Throw yourself into your work? Go shopping? All of the above?

Would we even notice that we are alive if it weren’t for those pesky bumps, boulders, craters, in the road of life? Is it possible to experience joy without sadness? Peace without anger? Good times without bad? I believe you cannot have one without the other.

We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails.  ~ Author Unknown

I say…don’t fight your feelings. Acknowledge them… Embrace them… Talk or write about them… Let them out… Release them… But don’t get stuck. Feel and then find your way through.

Yes… feelings (the ones that hurt and cause us pain)… sadness, grief, anger, fear, frustration, loneliness (to name a few), can make us feel weak.

Our strength comes from facing our feelings… accepting them, allowing them to lead us through life’s challenges.

No matter what life is throwing at you today, this week… a small bump or a huge boulder you will get through it. Will there be setbacks? Of course there will be.

Face life’s challenges head on. Remember that feeling sad or mad or however you are feeling (that makes you uncomfortable) doesn’t make you weak… You will come out on the other side stronger.

How do I deal with life’s challenges? I admit I’m not always brave, I don’t always feel strong, as a matter of fact I fear that I am weak. But I have faith and I know that the only way to get beyond the sad and bad times is to eventually embrace what I am feeling, accept what is happening, and trust that it is what is meant to be.

Your heart is a sun – Joy its stars – Faith a moon, shining in your darkness… ~ Terri Guillemets

I make sure I get to the gym, lean on my friends & family for support and strength, and (of course) I like to write (blog) about it. My blog is really more for me than it is for you. I just hope that by sharing my experiences, successes, failures, feelings, and fears helps you…just one of you.

Until later… Kathi

Wow! Can you believe it? I’ve been in a fitbattle to save and/or extend my life for 1500 days. That’s four years and forty days.

I googled 1500 days and couldn’t find anything significant to compare my 1500 days to… so maybe my accomplishment will give other people something to find when they google 1500 days.

I did find a blog titled 1500 days which was started on January 9, 2011 by a guy named Gert but he stopped blogging on January 27. His original intention was to spend 1500 days to change his way of living. I sure hope he didn’t quit.

There have been times when just one day seemed impossible, let alone 40 days or 1500. I cannot help but think about all of the religious references to 40 days…sorry my non-religious friends. Lent is forty days; Moses spent forty days on Mount Sinai with God; Elijah spent forty days and nights walking to Mount Horeb; God sent rain in the great flood of Noah for forty days and nights; Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness where he fasted.

Crazy that 40 days is only the leftovers from the four plus years I’ve been in my fitbattle. I think it’s safe to say that I’ve changed my lifestyle over the last 1500 days. I still have weak moments, days, weeks, and even month(s). That’s part of life.

The difference now is that I know what to do. When things get tough instead of turning to Ben & Jerry for comfort I hit the gym for an endorphins and serotonin boost. When I find myself off course I know how to get back on track. I have tools that I can fall back on and a new network of like-minded friends that I can lean on.

What am I doing on fitbattle day #1500? Well… I got up early today to meet Mia at the gym (for the last time cause she’s moving to Miami) for some cardio. Right now I’m hanging out at Starbucks blogging, killing time, and trying to stay busy so I don’t think too much about my recent breakup. Next I’m going to do some reading and then I have a session with my personal trainer, Chris, this afternoon. You know… business as usual.

In the scheme of things there’s nothing special about today, well except for the fact that it marks my 1500th day in battle. Oh and it’s my sister Teresa’s wedding anniversary too… So like they say… today is the first day of the rest of my life (and fitbattle).

Until later… Kathi

“Not again what?” You’re wondering. Another breakup… yep!

I know I said I wouldn’t write about “the breakup” but I did worn you that I was going to give dating another go. And I did just that and here I am again… another breakup.

I’ve been on the fence regarding how much of my dating life is appropriate to share on my fitbattle blog. Overall I’ve not shared much while I’m dating someone. The breakups take quite a toll and I feel they’re worth mentioning.

When I first started dating my recent ex (I’ll call Larry whom I had high hopes for…too) I unpublished a couple of my blogs that I wrote about my previous breakup. I didn’t want Larry (just in case he took time to read my blog) to come across them and read about how sad and pitiful I was during that time.

I republished the blogs today…after all they document an important part of my journey. Life has ups and downs… it’s important how you handle both. Yes I realize that there’s a possibility that Larry might read this and those older blogs but this is what I do. I write about the things going on in my life that affect my fitbattle and hope that sharing my life and fitbattle experiences might help someone else cope with their own stuff.

Larry is different, special, refreshing. Dating him helped me realize what was missing in my previous relationship…some very important things. It’s like everything that was missing Larry offered. I felt safer…less vulnerable. In my last relationship I felt like every date could be the last one. With Larry I always knew he would be there and we’d see each other again. He made me feel wanted and missed when we were not together. (Just to name a few things.)

Yes… sadly with all that said I find myself single again.

This time around (meaning this breakup) I’m not as sad…thank goodness. I’m guessing it’s because my head won’t let my heart go through that again. And maybe I’ve been toughened up a little from my previous breakup experience. I’m pretty sure this is a good thing since I don’t think I could go back to that sad place…it was awful.

That doesn’t mean that I’m okay. Well actually I’m okay, but I’m not good. I am sad, I am upset, and mostly I’m disappointed. Larry has been my best friend for the last few months and now I have to let him go.

“Okay… I know this is a fitbattle blog… not a dating blog… but this is what’s happening to me right now, today, tomorrow, last week. It has consumed me for the last few weeks and the only way I can think of to move on is to write it down (type it out). I was hopeful that Larry and I could find our way back to the way things were when we first started dating and be a couple but as of last night I’ve lost hope for a happy ending with Larry.  I know you read my blog because I provide fitbattle inspiration and humor, but sometimes the fitbattle hits a blip… you know… life gets in the way… so here I am.”

Like my last breakup I’ve done the only thing I know to do…throw myself back into my fitbattle. While Larry and I were dating I went from 9-10 gym visits a week to 6-7. Those three less workouts each week can definitely add up… let’s say to 1000 less calories that I’m burning.

Add in a little less attention to my nutrition and voila those pounds I gained after my last breakup, the holiday eating, and my post holiday/breakup blahs… plus a few more happy dating pounds… my jeans are way too tight!

Needless to say I’ve got some work to do on the fitbattle-grounds. So my plan is to get back to my 9-10 workouts per week, get my nutrition back on track (which I’ve already done), and do my best to get over Larry as soon as my heart will let me.

Larry was a blessing and I miss him terribly! I’m going to have faith that this is all part of God’s master plan. In the meantime I’ll focus on me for a little while and see if I can’t get back to my pre-breakups (yes plural) weight.

The fitbattle continues… until later… Kathi

With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts. ~Eleanor Roosevelt

I missed the four-year anniversary of my fitbattle. It was on May 5, 2011.

I’ve had my ups and downs during my four-year battle to get and stay fit. That’s really the point of my blog. If it were easy I suppose I wouldn’t consider my fitness journey a battle and I certainly would have never thought to blog about it.

I’ve had mostly ups during my fitbattle. It’s only just recently that I’ve been struggling with a downward spiral that finally seems to be coming to an end. It’s lasted nearly six months now. Wow… that’s tough to admit.

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do. ~Confucius

I recently had an annual physical and I just had my appointment to review the results of the battery of tests that they do as part of the physical. I was not surprised when I heard my numbers (cholesterol) but I was disappointed (in myself).

Why or how did I let it get and go this far? What has changed? Where is that damn fitbattle ball that I lost sight of? (you know… keep your eyes on the ball! be the ball!) Somehow I slipped further and further away from my fitbattle. I made excuses and justified my slip ups and now what do I have to show for it? Bad numbers!

My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure. ~Abraham Lincoln

It’s not the end of the world. I certainly know what I need to do. It’s just tough to admit and (honestly) a bit embarrassing. Who am I to blog about fitness if I’m not going to be a good example to my followers?

Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, this time more wisely. ~unknown

But that’s actually the point… we have ups and downs (all of us) and what is most important is how we overcome the challenges we face. Especially when the biggest challenge is facing us head on in the mirror… ourselves!

Forgive yourself for your faults and your mistakes and move on. ~Les Brown

I started logging my food again this week. I will be retested for cholesterol in three months which is plenty of time to get my $#!+ together. Chris (my personal trainer) wants to do measurements. I’m pretty sure I do not want to know what my measurements are…but we’ll probably do them in a couple of weeks.

For now I’m gonna face my fitbattle one day at a time… just like always.

Until later… Kathi

In mid-March I blogged about completing my BodyPump video for submission to Les Mills. Preparing for my BodyPump video required an incredible amount of effort and time.

Upon completing the video I took a few weeks off. During my vaca from BodyPump a package arrived in the mail… BodyPump Release #77. Yep… after all of the time and effort I put into learning Release #76 now I had to start over. I left the package on my kitchen counter for about a week.

I eventually opened the package and watched the DVD. I also started going to BodyPump classes so I could get familiar with the music and choreography so I would be ready to teach a class.

How do I go about getting a class to teach…you are wondering. Well each week the Assistant Group Fitness Manager sends out a list of classes that need subs (I’m a sub). And (I believe it’s first come first serve) you simply email her back with the classes you are available to sub for and she let’s you know if you are confirmed.

Come to find out… there’s not a lot of demand for BodyPump subs and there are a lot of us… so you gotta move quick if there are BodyPump classes listed. Another way to get classes to sub is networking… attending BodyPump classes and introducing yourself to the trainers with a permanent schedule.

I eventually got selected to sub on a Sunday morning (two weeks in a row)… 9:30 AM at the SW LVAC. I had a couple of weeks to get my butt in gear and memorize the new release.

The week leading up to my first solo class I spent all of my spare time on BodyPump. I played the music during all of my cardio workouts, I went to BodyPump classes, I watched the DVD and practiced in my living room, and I practiced in the women’s gym several times during the week.

As I got closer to Sunday morning I had to make an executive decision.  I came to the realization that I could only perfect the first eight tracks of the new release. So I decided to teach tracks one through eight of release #77 and tracks nine and ten of release #76. That gave me a sense of peace and I focused on those ten tracks.

On Sunday morning I arrived at the Gym at 8am so I could do a run through of all ten tracks and have time to set up prior to the class. I was nervous but I knew the choreography and I knew I would be fine after I got through the first couple of tracks.

About forty five seconds into the warm up (track one) the microphone started acting up… UGH! What did I do? I choked a bit, fought with the microphone trying get it to work, lost my place in the choreography, eventually got back on track and gave in to the microphone. The warm up was the longest five and a half minutes of my life (at least this year).

I apologized about the microphone and acknowledged that I let it get the better of me. I told the class that for the remainder of the tracks I was going to focus on the choreography so if they couldn’t hear me they should watch me. The microphone only worked about 75% of the time…very frustrating!!! But once I accepted that the microphone was a POS and focused on the music and movements I was able to lead the class effectively.

The following week I returned to teach my second “solo” class in a much better place mentally and emotionally. I expected the microphone to mess with me, I was much more confident about the choreography, and I knew no matter what happened I’d survive.  My second solo class went MUCH better and the microphone worked better (not perfect, but not as bad as the previous week) too.

I got my video back from Les Mills and I have a couple of technique items that I need to correct and have the Group Fitness Manager sign off on, but I’m very close to being an approved BodyPump instructor. Now I need to find some more classes to sub.