My Fitness Video for Wilhelmina

This past winter I was selected as a semi-finalist for the Wilhelmina Fitness Model Search hosted by Shape magazine and Men's Fitness.  I saw the ad in Shape magazine, and wanted to go to one of the open calls in New York or Philadelphia.  Due to scheduling conflicts I wasn't able to go to any of the open calls and I realized (on the last day) I could do an online submission.   I had to write about myself, explaining why being healthy is "HOT!" and why I should be picked.  I filled out the application and sent one picture of me from a pageant I was in a month before.  I was a little disappointed I wasn't able to make any of the open calls, and didn't feel like I put a lot of thought or effort into this online submission but thought "eh, at least I sent in a submission."

The picture I submitted.  The caption for this photo on my computer is "kinda cute" which I had no idea the people at Wilhelmina would be able to read that part.  At least it's not sounding cocky...

About a month or so later I got an email saying I was chosen as one of the top 15 women semi-finalist.  Out of a nation wide model search.  Out of THOUSANDS of entries.  I was SHAKING when I read the email and called my mom immediately.  When I say I LITERALLY couldn't believe it, I mean literally. Could. Not. Believe. It.  I was in complete shock, who am I that they picked my photo out to be one of the semi-finalist?  Crazy.  

The email stated that we needed to upload 5 photos and a 2 minute fitness video within a few days.  I think I had maybe 5 days to plan for this.  Not a whole lotta time.  So I scheduled a photo shoot with Yvonne Taylor, an AMAZING photographer in the DC area.  That Saturday I made my boyfriend spend his day helping me make a fitness video.  The next day, Sunday, the video and photos were due at midnight. Of course that was the busiest and most hectic day of my life: running around to take care of my parents' dogs, driving to Yvonne's house in the Boonies to pick up the photos, upload the fitness video and edit it to 2 minutes (and deleting the out-takes and bloopers which are actually pretty funny).

But anyway! Here is the final product of the video for your viewing pleasure!

Christa's Fitness Video

Speaking of the Metro...

This was a funny picture my co-worker sent me during this past year's Washington's Post Annual Peeps contest.  I never heard of it until my co-worker sent me this picture, but contestants submit diagrams using Peeps to illustrate a (mostly serious) current event.  This was a finalist and my personal favorite.  You can see more here: Peeps Finalist 

Enjoy! 




"Escalator collapse at Peepy Bottom"

 

Sickness and Shingles

Once or twice a year since I was 19 years old I come down with shingles, which is the adult chicken pox virus.  I get shingles when I have a low immune system from a lack of sleep or poor diet; or from extreme changes in weather conditions.  Yesterday at work I have been feeling a little tired, but nothing unusual and got invited to go to a pro tennis match after work.  I've been wanting to go to one of these matches especially because I played tennis in college I feel like I can really appreciate going to a match. 



Right after work I was riding the metro from work to home and it was EXTREMELY hot and crowded, but I had to take it to get my wallet before the match.  It was rush hour and there was no AC in any of the trains or at the station.  Talk about hot.  Then, I started feeling the symptoms that I usually get when I get shingles.  I felt light- headed, clammy, exhausted; all of those feelings you normally get when you’re coming down with something.  I actually felt like I would faint being in that hot metro car, but I pushed through it.  I thought “I do Bikram yoga all the time, I can get through this.”



mmm sweat.





Once home, I was rushing around to get a quick bite, change out of my sweaty perfectly normal clothes and of course grab my wallet.  I was meeting up with my friend at a restaurant/bar right across the street from my gym (near my office) so I thought “I’ll just go to the gym and fix my hair and make up there, because whatever I do now will probably not last through another metro trip”.  At this point I was really wishing my car was not in the shop so I could just drive back, even if it meant facing traffic or paying for parking; it would have been worth it, but I didn’t have the choice. 

Got back on the metro to head back into the city.  Again, another hot, crowded ride.  There must have been a school/camp function going on because there were middle schoolers EVERYWHERE.  And I’m not sure what this whole no-AC in July thing metro is doing, but it’s not working well for anybody.  Again, those shingles symptoms started creeping up, but I didn’t really think it was shingles.  Usually when I get shingles it’s more aggressive and obvious.  I finally made it back into the city and walked towards my gym.  I was dying of thirst and couldn’t wait to splash cold water on my face.  I got to the gym’s locker room and I took one look at myself and could tell- I was definitely getting shingles.  It was in the really early stages, but there was no doubt about it, it was coming whether I liked it or not.  I immediately called my pharmacy to fill a prescription of Acyclovir.  There are no “real” treatments for shingles, but some anti-virals can help suppress the virus from spreading or getting worse.  I looked at myself in the mirror one more time, because I just rushed back and forth between home and work and now I will be canceling on my friend at the last minute for the match which I REALLY want to go to… but with shingles, I know sitting in the sun in 97 degree weather would only aggravate my symptoms, make the shingles worse, which would take longer for me to heal from it and therefore: not worth it. 



I was extremely bummed out and having to take ANOTHER metro ride home was seriously the last thing I wanted to do.  It didn’t let me down- it was a miserable, hot, disgusting metro ride home.  I picked up my medication, chugged a huge glass of water and collapsed into bed for 2 hours.  When I awoke I showered, ate dinner and sent my office an email letting them know I will be in late tomorrow, because the more sleep I get the faster I can get over shingles.



I don’t think it was just the metro rides that caused the shingles, I had a really stressful week especially the day before, but I think the metro rides pushed me over the edge.  But who knows if without that trip home I took to get my wallet if the shingles wouldn’t have started up at the tennis match?  When it comes to health no one can avoid getting sick, but it’s how well you take care of yourself and prevent the sickness from continuing that makes the difference.  I know there will be more opportunities to go to a tennis match, so I don’t mind saying “I’m going to sit this one out because I’m not feeling so hot”, it will make the time I actually DO go to a match so much better and actually enjoyable!  So lesson of the day is: know your body and your health, if you need to slow down or take a break to let your body recover- do it!  



Going to do a lot of this later.



How to Get Back to a Normal Routine after Traveling

Back to the Grind...

I just got back from a business trip to Arizona for 4 days, (not a vacation by ANY means) which lasted over the weekend and was expected to get back to work bright eyed and bushy-tailed Monday morning.  Going from the east coast to adjust to west coast time and then back to east coast time within a few days is physically and mentally tough.  I have been taking my vitamins and drinking a lot of Airborne to help my immune system through that hectic time, but I am definitely still adjusting back.  I didn’t have any extra time for exercise (barely enough time to shower!) and was surrounded by unhealthy snacks EVERYWHERE; as much as I tried to avoid crappy food, it’s nearly impossible to avoid everything that came my way. 


"I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it"- Mae West


We then had movers come to the office to take all our old furniture and replace it with newer stuff on Monday, which that alone can be stressful to some people but on top of getting back from a long business trip? Downright exhausting. 


I have found the best way to re-adjust to your normal routine is to get to it as fast as possible.  I did a Total Body Conditioning class at a gym by my office with some motivation by my co-worker, and am so grateful because it really helped me wake up out of that traveling daze and start to feel like myself again.  I like this class and the instructor Marshall, he’s tough but motivating, and I always know I’m in for a good workout with him! 


He loves doing a million different types of squats and lunges, like lunging one leg back and then bringing it in front to hip height with a bent knee; or squatting with one leg behind and bringing the knee up before switching legs.  He also made me test my limits at the end with these one handed, backwards pushups.  You start on your stomach, one arm behind your back, legs spread apart.  Then you first extend your arm to raise your upper body and then lift up your core and legs.  It looks (and sounds) impossible, but once he called me out and made me do it, it was do-able (but still challenging!). 




I wanted to add an Abs Class workout that I did the Wednesday before I left for Arizona.  The instructor knows his stuff, he’s REALLY tough but my abs feel super solid the next few days afterwards I can’t complain.

use a 10 lbs or 5 lbs plate (more or less depending how difficult/easy this is for you!)

standing up, bring the right foot up to balance on your left leg.  Hold the plate in your hands, and extend your arms straight, at chest height.  do trunk rotations towards your right, keeping your upper body as solid and as still as possible, they should be just going along for the ride.  Your core is the primary mover in this exercise.  bring the plate back in front and then repeat to the right for 2 mins. 

before switching sides, stay balancing on your left leg. keeping your arms extended over head with the plate in your hands, simutaneously extend your leg straight behind you while lower your upper body into balancing stick.  raise your back up to standing, balancing on one leg while the other is bent in front.  Repeat for 2 mins.

switch legs.

then lay down on your back on the mat, extend your arms straight in front, crunches

extend your arms at a 45 degree angel, still towards the celing, crunches

extend arms at a 45 degree angel, sit ups

still on your back, stretch arms out forming a T.  bring legs up and bent, keeping the knees together, lower from side to side. try not the let the knees touch the ground and make sure your core is doing the work.

bring arms by your side, stick your legs straight up. lower up and down

slowly lower down

stay down at 6 inches, small swimming movement.

restart by lowering into 6 inches, criss cross legs 

*note: He doesn't tell us a certain number of crunches to do, we do each exercise for a minute or two, depending on the intensity of the exercise.



To really reach your fitness goals, the key is to be consistent!



 Today I went to my usual lunch-time Pilates Class with TR, who is awesome and I plan to go on a run tonight with the boyfriend for our 1/2 Marathon Training.  He suggested 8 miles, which I haven't done in almost a year so we shall see how far we actually get!

A quote to end on:

“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”