The Top 10 FITmas Gifts in 2011

November 29, 2011 By

Looking for that perfect gift for the fitness fanatic in your life? Look no further. Here are my recommendations for the best fitness gift of the 2011. I use these ALL of these products and I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a great gift for a loved one or yourself.

TRX SUSPENSION TRAINER

$199.95 If you’re looking for the ULTIMATE gift to give someone, this would be it. The TRX system is great for the traveling fitness freak, an outdoor enthusiast or the average Joe who doesn’t have much space to work out. Hook the TRX up to a tree, pole or sturdy beam in your house and your set for a great workout using just your body weight. Great for all fitness levels. Use code TRXGIVE when checking out and get FREE SHIPPING and 20% off.

BOSU TRAINER

$49.95-$109 Do you BOSU? You should. The BOSU is an amazing functional tool to help improve your balance, strength, agility and speed. Can be used flat side up or flat side down. The BOSU takes exercises like lunges, pushups and planks to a whole other level.

 

 

GYMBOSS

$19.99 The Gymboss interval timer will give your workout the discipline and structure necessary to take your workout to the next level. This easy to use timer will allow you to stay on track during your workouts by eliminating the pesky issue of checking the time during your intervals. Just set it, forget it put all of your focus on the workout to get the best results possible!

 

 

2 LB. WEIGHTED GLOVES WITH REMOVABLE WEIGHTS

$17.99 These adjustable gloves can be used for strength training, boxercise, walking. Removable 1 lb weight packets allow the gloves to go from 0-2 lbs. I love these gloves because there have been so many times when I am in between weights and these allow me to make small weight increases.

10 LB MAX-VEST

$44.99 I’m a sucker for the Cathe products and this vest is awesome. It adds just enough weight to fry my legs during my plyo workouts. I love doing walking lunges when wearing this vest.

 

THE PERFECT PUSHUP

$39.95 Don’t knock it until you try it! When a client of mine suggested I add it into my chest routine, I laughed at him. I am not one to try “infomercial” products because they are usually cheesy and junk. But I tried it and it took my pushup to a whole new level – it added depth and rotation into a normal pushup while keeping me in perfect form with less strain on my wrists.

 

 

THE ULTIMATE WORKOUT LOG

$12.95 This 24 week workout journal allows you to log your cardio and strength workouts. Every page has a motivational saying and gives you fitness information and facts that can help you reach your personal goals.

 

 

 

FITBOOK JOURNAL

$22.95 A personalized, flexible, and functional fitness/nutrition journal that offers a unique 12-week system to plan for success, track your progress, and reach your goals. At just 5.5″, the fitbook is portable – but durable enough to endure being toted around. The fitbook is small in size, but packs a punch in utility with durable plastic coil, an elastic strap to mark your place, a handy slot in the back to stash your gym card, and includes a pint-size pen.

 

FITNESS TO GO GEAR

$20-$40 Look cute and fit while sporting the Fitness To Go Apparel. Jackets, short sleeve sweat wicking tees and tank tops in lots of fun colors. Also, stay hydrated while drinking out of your Fitness To Go water bottle.

 

 

 

FITNESS TO GO GIFT CERTIFICATES

$10-UNLIMITED Give the gift of health this year. Purchase Gift Certificates that can be used for any Fitness To Go Service. Classes, Training, Equipment Orientation, Custom/Private Bootcamps, Program Design – you name it, Fitness To Go can help you get in the best shape of your life in 2012!

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Fun, Fitness & Fundraising

October 23, 2010 By

The first race I ever ran was a charity 5K to raise money for a young girl who had cancer. I had never raced before and I had no idea what to or what to expect. I was freezing, my stomach was making crazy noises, I had bad case of nervous bladder and I couldn’t stop thinking about what my time would be. As I was waiting at the start line, a guy’s T-shirt caught my eye. The saying on the back of his shirt said “Running…Every Step I Take Is For Someone Who Can’t”. After reading that, the race had a completely different meaning to me. My race was no longer about how nervous I was feeling or how cold that morning was or what my time would be, but it was about a little girl who should have been running and jumping and living a healthy life instead of being in a wheelchair. Hundreds of people where doing something that she couldn’t so we (and God) could help ensure that some day she could again!

 

That race was 6 years ago and every time I’m having a difficult run or I have NO motivation to put my running shoes on, that saying pops into my head. Why am I trying to find any excuse not to run when there are so many people out there who would give anything in the world to be able to run? Too many of us take our health and fitness for granted. We make up excuses why we can’t workout, but if our ability to exercise were taken away tomorrow, we’d spend the rest of our lives wishing we could. Our health and fitness is a gift that can be taken away in a heartbeat.

 

Every year I try to do as many fitness based charity events as I can BECAUSE I can. Last month I was able to be a part of an amazing event that made its debut in the great state of Wisconsin – THE MS MUD RUN. On September 11th my teammates –Skirts In The Dirt – and I had the opportunity to use our fitness ability help raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. We ran through countless mud bogs, jumped over fire, climbed cargo nets and survived 70+ obstacles on a challenging 6 mile course. I had mud in places that I didn’t even know existed and I was pushed WAY out of my comfort zone, but I also laughed so hard that my stomach hurt and made memories with some incredible girls that will last a life time. It was a great event that gave all of us an unbelievable workout and raised over $250,000 for the MS Society.

 

Fitness and exercise doesn’t have to be all about running on a treadmill or pumping iron in the weight room. Make it fun, exciting and do it for a good cause. Get friends together and run a 5K for The Special Olympics, walk the 3 Day for Breast Cancer Awareness, join the Relay for Life. Pick a charity and get moving for it! Not only will you be getting a great workout, but you will be sweating for a good cause & making some great memories.

 

Team "Skirts In The Dirt" at the 2010 MS Mud Run. (Left to Right) Me, Mia, Rosalee, Tricia, Selena

 

“Our health always seems SO much more valuable after we lose it.” ~Unknown

 

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Age Is Just A Number

October 23, 2010 By

As a personal trainer & bootcamp instructor, I wear many different hats. Teacher. Motivator. Coach. Encourager. And maybe a few colorful names that my clients call me under their breath. But as a fitness pro, my favorite “job” that I do, by far, is the excuse buster. Insert a mental picture here of me wearing a leotard with a big EB on the front and my cape waiving in the breeze. I’ve heard them all: “I can’t workout because I’m too tired/busy/broke”, “I don’t have to exercise because I have an active job” (actual quote from someone with a desk job), “I am too out of shape to start a fitness program”. But the best one I’ve heard is “I’m too old to workout.” When I hear this one, I reach into my magic personal trainer bag & pull out my best excuse busting success story – the story of my parents. My parents are athletes. My parents are fitness fanatics. My parents inspire others to workout. AND my parents started working out seriously when they were in their 50’s.

My parents, Gabby & Kris Lubich, have always been active people. My dad never worked out (probably because he was too busy talking to the neighbors – hence the nickname Gabby), but my mom has always exercised in some way. I remember doing my first workout with my mom in our living room. I will not admit fully to it, but it might have been a Jane Fonda VHS and we may or may not have been wearing sweatbands and leg warmers. When they were in their 50’s, my parents became walkers. Every morning before work they’d go out for their 3 mile walk. Everyday – faithfully – despite what Mother Nature would throw at them. When walking wasn’t enough for them anymore, they transitioned into running. AND when recreational running wasn’t enough of a challenge for them, they started running competitively. They became “Weekend 5K Warriors”. If there was a 5K to be ran, they’d be there running it. Running became their passion and it showed. My dad Gabby is faster than men half his age and my mom leaves 30 year old men in the dust. It is rare when they don’t come in first in their age groups and they improve their times at almost every race.

My parents are a personal trainers dream! They are always striving to better themselves. While many people their age are sitting on the couch, taking their high cholesterol meds, accepting that the 50 pounds that they’ve put on since high school are there to stay, my parents are out there running to remain healthy & stay young. Is it a major shot to my ego when my mom looks at me like “is that all you got” during my bootcamp or when my dad leaves me in his dust when we go for a run? Heck no – I am proud of them! They inspire me to be just like them when I’m their age!

You can start exercising at any age. Age is just a number and don’t let that number define you. No matter what age you start working out, it will make a positive impact on your health. Don’t wait until you have a health problem and have to workout, start now before the problems arise.

 

My parents Kris & Gabby posing with their 1st Place hardware after a race.

 

 

“We don’t quit exercising because we grow old. We grow old because we stop exercising.” ~Dr. Kenneth Cooper


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Unwritten

May 10, 2010 By

As I was running my half marathon last week, the most amazing song popped up on my ipod just when I needed it the most. I don’t remember downloading the song much less putting it on my playlist. Just when I thought I couldn’t take another step, Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten” started playing in my earbuds.

I am unwritten, can’t read my mind, I’m undefined
I’m just beginning, the pen’s in my hand, ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

 

As I listened to the song along mile 10, I realized that at that moment and time I was in the process of writing my own book. I was mid-chapter and it was up to me how I wanted the chapter to end. Up until this point I was enjoying my race – taking in the beautiful views, focusing on my breathing and feeling the ground under my feet. But then I hit a wall (which I would later realize was because I forgot to eat my energy gel). I was allowing the pain & exhaustion to take over my mind and I was pushing the fun of the experience out. Was that how I wanted to remember the story of my first 1/2 marathon? Not really – I wanted a great story to add to my book. How I finished this race was up to me. It was MY experience to have and no one could have it for me.

As the song ended, I took a deep breath and felt it fill up my lungs.  I was going to finish this race my way – strong and proud of myself. I felt it coming on…..my second wind. I picked up my pace, felt the sun on my back and put one foot in front of the other. With each step I was writing and MAN DID I WRITE AN AWESOME STORY!!! My chapter titled “Unwritten” ended with me crossing the finish line of my first half marathon feeling energized, strong and proud of the experience that I made and wrote for myself.


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The Little Engine That Could

May 3, 2010 By

I’m a big fan of tooting your own horn. Seriously, how can you expect anyone to cheer for you if you’re not even on your OWN team? If you accomplish something, be proud and give yourself a pat on the back! If you want something and you are dedicated and focused enough to work hard to reach that goal, then you deserve a cheering section – even if it’s just you cheering!

So here I go – TOOT! TOOT! This weekend I accomplished a huge goal that is over a year in the making. I finished my first half marathon!!!! I, Tera “short legs” Busker, ran 13.1 miles!!!

Last spring I planned to run my first half marathon in Stillwater. I was registered, I was prepared, I felt good and then 1 week before the race I got injured and had to drop out. It was a major disappointment, but I healed and started planning for another race. Fast forward to March 2010. I was registered, prepared and packed to travel to Orlando. Florida to run my SECOND first half marathon – the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon. 2 days before boarding the plane I was hit with the flu. Again…..really? So, I was out of another race. The first day I felt like a human again, I went online and I found THE RACE. The THIRD first half marathon that come hell or high water I WOULD RUN – The Eau Claire Half Marathon. I had trained hard, I was ready, I felt good and secretly I kept waiting for something to happen that would stop me from running, but nothing did. So, on a beautiful May morning in Eau Claire, Wisconsin I ran 13.1 scenic miles along the river and I ROCKED IT!!!! I’m not gonna lie, at one point I thought my legs would fall off, but the most amazing song popped up on my playlist (which is another great story that I will share in a later post) that gave me a 2nd wind. I finished strong by chugging up a steep hill, sprinting across the line and finishing in 2 hours, 5 minutes and 16 seconds. Again – TOOT! TOOT!

I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to run my first half marathon with a great friend and to have had my family (the best cheering section in the WHOLE world) there to cheer me on. It made of a memorable day! Prior to writing this, I signed up for my SECOND half marathon. The Uff-da (can you tell it’s a race in Wisconsin?) which will be held in 2 weeks. I can’t wait.

By the way – if anyone is reading this that also ran in Eau Claire, if you found my mind along the trail could you please return it?

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Stop The Excuses

September 2, 2009 By

Excuses, I hate ‘em.

I hate giving them and I hate getting them. They are little lies that you tell yourself or others to get out of doing something that you really don’t want to do. If you can just find that one reason that sounds logical enough or good enough to believe – you’re off the hook.

I’m not gonna lie.  I’ve doled out a few excuses in my day, but I’ve always been angry at myself for doing it – well sometimes. There are a few excuses I use that I DON’T feel bad about:

“Honey, the garbage is too heavy to lift out of the compactor. You’re so strong. Will you take it out for me?” (Wait for it….wait for it…..bat eyelashes)

“Sweetie, will you shovel the driveway? My back hurts from my hard workout yesterday.” (grab lower back and groan)

“(Rubbing eyes)The pollen level is REALLY high today and if I go outside my allergies will be killing me all day long. Will you pick up the dog poop, pleeeeeease?”

Ok, I’ll admit the last one is pretty bad and I will occasionally use it in the winter when every ounce of pollen is buried under 4 feet of snow. But hey – I live in Wisconsin. You wouldn’t want to pick up frozen poopsicles in 10 below wind chill either.

So, back to the excuses. Like I said, I hate them – especially when it comes to a person’s health. In the next few posts, I’m going to be breaking down my FAVORITE excuses not to workout or live a healthy lifestyle. These are actual excuses that I’ve gotten from clients, friends or just some average Joe I found on the street. Stay tuned – STOP THE EXCUSES starts tomorrow. I hope you enjoy!

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