The results are in!

Back in mid-December, I decided to hire a personal trainer at Juniata Fitness to give me a bit of a head start with my training. His name is James and I meet with him three days a week (usually M-W-F) for weight training and cardio.  I can’t speak highly enough of this man, so I’ll let my results speak for me.  

In just 2 months of working with him I have lost:

• 20 lbs
• 4 dress sizes
• 7% body fat
• 7 points from my BMI

In just 60 days, he helped me achieve results that I had been trying to attain for years and years. I feel great, my energy is through the roof, and it is just a constant source of motivation.

If you’re looking for an upbeat personal trainer with a background in nutrition who offers lots of support and encouragement and all for a very reasonable price, look no further.  James is your man. He truly just wants to help his clients look and feel their best.  I guarantee you’ll see results if you work with him and follow the meal plan. 

Act now and I can get you a 7 day free trial membership to Juniata Fitness along with a free personal training session with James.

Shameless Promotions

I realize I’ve done a fair bit of advertising over the course of only a few blogs. I don’t necessarily benefit from promoting these products and services, but I do believe in giving credit when credit is due. Great persons, places, and things deserve great reviews! Hopefully others can take advantage of my recommendations. And I only recommend the best of the best! 

What’s that you say?  I’m doing it again by posting a picture of Tony the Tiger?  He’s the trademark character for Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes?  Oh, well, what can I say… “They’re great!”

Gym who?

Completing a triathlon has been a goal of mine for a while now.  So a little over a year ago, I joined two gyms to get the ball rolling.

1. Juniata Fitness - 4401 G Street, 19120

This is my local gym and the one place where you can find me consistently Monday through Friday. Well, until the weather warms up. Compared to other gyms I’ve been to, Juniata Fitness is where I feel most at home.  I’m there so often that many of the other members know me by name.  At least the daytime crew does. They offer so much support and encouragement.  It’s really nice to be exercising in an environment with such great people.

Juniata Fitness has everything I need, include a nice big free weight room.  They also offer a ton of different classes from martial arts to aerobics to yoga. 

Some amenities include:

• 25 ft indoor pool
• Sauna
• Whirlpool

 

2. Aquatic & Fitness Center  - 3600 Grant Avenue, 19114

This gym is kind of far from home, but I joined it for two reasons:

• It provides me with a nice destination for a bike ride and works out to be 20 miles roundtrip with a few technical climbs along the way.
• Their 55 meter Olympic size swimming pool.  It’s the largest pool in the region.

I don’t get to this gym nearly as often as I’d like, especially during these winter months.  I’m going to make more of an effort to get there even if I have to take the bus.  Of course, once the weather gets warmer I’ll be riding up there on a regular basis again.

 I’ve never seen the pool overly crowded.  It’s usually pretty easy to find an open lane or at least share a lane with one other person.  There are also kickboards at the disposal of the members so that is another plus.

Note: this specific gym no longer offers Spin classes.  I know their website still states that they do, but alas, they discontinued those.

Fujiteampro?

I have always loved cycling, but my passion has grown significantly since the purchased of my very first road bike on April 29, 2008!  I have fondly named this blog after my bike – a 2006 Fuji Team Pro Euro.  

Go ahead, take a gander.  

To check out the specs on my bike, visit: BikePedia.

It took me nearly 6 months of searching before I found that one bike that screamed “Buy Me!”  From the very first pedal stroke, I knew it was the right bike for me.  I did not pay the retail price for my bike either!

Side Note: It also felt right when I test rode a 2008 Cervelo R3 for the very first time, but with a price tag of $4800 (and no pedals included, of course) I just had to let go of that dream.  P.S.  I hate you if you own one.  Sigh…

My bike shop of choice Bustleton Bikes. It has been around for the last 35 years and is tucked away behind the Northeast Shopping Center at Welsh & the Boulevard.  Since the shop has no mortgage, the cost of the bikes, products, and services are fantastic!  The mechanics and staff are very friendly, very helpful, and very knowledgeable. They know their stuff and will match you with all of your cycling needs.  I can’t speak highly enough of them.  The shop has a very casual, down to earth atmosphere and you won’t feel intimidated in the least.  Stop on by.  I know you’ll be a satisfied customer.

Just a word of warning:  Cycling can become a very expensive sport – very very fast.  Stay within your budget and exercise reasonable judgment when purchasing hardware and accessories – unlike me.  Ha.  I never would have thought that something that broke my bank last Spring would bring such joy to my life.

 

My two favorite cannot live without items:

- Look KEO Carbon Clipless Pedals.  

My best advice:  Go clipless.  Don’t be afraid to fall.  You won’t regret it.  Even if you fall you won’t get hurt.  Well, maybe just your pride.  Don’t worry.  Practice in a parking lot.  Try not to fall over when coming to a stop at a traffic light – that’s embarrassment waiting to happen!  

 

- Vredestein Fortezza SE Road Tires

If you’re looking for a resilient high pressure road tire with extremely low rolling resistance – look no further.  Trust me, I’ve been through the longest trial and error trying to find a tire that holds up on the debris ridden streets of Philadelphia.  I’ve hit glass, rocks, gravel, and random objects, but these tires just won’t puncture.  500 miles and still going strong!

Triathlon Training Blog!

Here I am, rock you like a hurricane!

So here is my official training blog.  Those of you that know me know what I’m training for, but for those of you who may have accidentally stumbled upon my blog, I’ll fill you in…

As of last week, I am officially a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS): Team In Training (TNT).

Team In Training is a charity sports training program in which individuals such as myself select an endurance event to participate in such as marathons, half-marathons, 100-mile century bike rides, triathlons, and even hiking adventures.  In exchange for receiving comprehensive instruction and fitness training from certified coaches, participants are asked to raise funds to help those individuals battling blood cancers.  I have selected to participate in the Philadelphia Insurance Triathlon taking place on June 28, 2009 around Fairmount Park and the Schuylkill River area.  This Olympic distance triathlon consists of a .9 mile swim, 25 mile bike, and 6.2 mile run.  

For the triathlon, I have committed myself to raising a minimum of $2,800. Now this is the part where I am asking for help.  I am petitioning everyone I know – and even those people I don’t know – to make a donation.  If you have not heard from me yet, don’t worry, you will soon.  Every generous donation made is 100% tax deductible and 75% goes directly to support research, patient services, and educational programs.  You will not only receive a personal thank you from myself, but also a thank you from The LLS.  Any contribution made will have an impact!  So please, find it in your heart to make a donation to help further The LLS’s mission and also to show your support for myself as I training for this triathlon!

Donations can be made several ways:

Online:

- Please visit my personal fundraising page: Denise’s Awesome Fundraising Webpage!

 

By Check or Credit Card:

- Please print out the 2009 Donation Form.

- Forms can be mailed to:

• The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
• 555 North Lane
• Suite 5010
• Conshohocken, PA 19428

 

I have even added donation incentives to sweeten the deal!

 

• $10 - Receive a purple TNT grip pen.
• 
• $25 - Receive a purple TNT wristband! 

•  

• $50 - Receive a purple TNT lanyard for your keys or ID badge.
•   

• $100 - Receive a white 100% cotton TNT T-shirt.
•   

• $250 - Receive an 18oz purple ceramic Bistro Mug with the TNT logo in white.
•   

• $500 or more – Receive a TNT 100% Terry cotton beach towel. (35″ x 62″)
•   

 

Thank you in advance for all of your generosity and support!

 Sincerely,

 Denise  

 

P.S. If you have any other questions or comments – I’m past the point of concerns! – feel free to contact me anytime.

 

“And if it doesn’t work out there’ll never be any doubt that the pleasure was worth all the pain.”  -Jimmy Buffett