Planning Like A Girl

There's not much TRAINING like a girl going on this week. Most of my time has been spent getting ready for our Annual Open House this Saturday. Whether you've been a member of 'the club' for years or you've never stepped foot in our amazing facility - you HAVE to take some time out of your busy Saturday to check out this special event.

The Open House is a great opportunity to test drive all of the programs we offer, BEFORE signing up! The kids can participate in everything from Yoga, Basketball, Parisi Speed School - even tennis! Adults also have the opportunity to try new programs. Jump into a small group training session for FREE, play in a racquetball clinic or get your sweat on in our Zumba class. Nothing is off limits!

We are also unveiling our 45 MILLION REASONS 2 GET FIT campaign and we need your help! Stop by the #reasons2getfit table and share your fitness story with us and we just may share your story in our social media & advertising campaigns!

There will be back-to-back activities for all fitness levels - young and old alike! Mingle with our staff, enjoy FREE food & drinks, discounts on all Pro Shop inventory and giveaways from our vendors. PLUS, the first 25 people who register online get a FREE t-shirt!

I will see you 'at the club' on Saturday! No excuses . . .

Knowing when to say NO

Whether you have to say it to your kids when they ask to stay up just five minutes longer or if you have to say it yourself, as you're reaching for that second helping of dinner . . .  some of us have a very hard time saying no. 

When it comes to exercise it's easy to get caught up in making excuses as to why we should or should not work out. It's too hot out; I'm tired from running the kids back and forth to practice all day; my workout clothes are in the wash . . . . there's always a reason NOT to do it. 

But when you do finally make up your mind to commit to your workout, the decision process is still not over. For me personally, having Lyme disease makes working out very tough. Not only am I exhausted most of the time, but I constantly have to find that fine balance of exercising to get my heart beat up - but not over exerting myself to the point of a relapse. 

It's been a bizarre week with new symptoms and challenges to overcome, however as usual Dr. Molly and the team at Cherry Hill Clinic have come to my rescue. Aside from my Lyme juice IV drip, I also received a "special" treatment for the vertigo I've been experiencing. I won't go into details, but feel free to call and inquire about this home remedy -- that actually worked very well!

I got dressed this morning, with my workout shoes on and workout clothes under my CHHRC staff shirt. I had high expectations for a great workout during lunch. At 12:00 noon on the dot, I filed into the studio for my Group Power class. I started to set up my station with the step, weight bar and weights and quickly realized that once again, I'd have to tell myself no. 

The fitness floors are being resurfaced at 'the club' and the chemicals used for this process can have an affect on those that have asthma/allergy sensitivity. I've been here for this resurfacing process since I first started back in July of 2004 and I've never had any issues with the smell. But today was different. I started to get a tightness in my chest, a sore throat and sharp pain shooting up my neck. I knew I had to leave. 

I walked up to Stacy, one of our awesome Group Power instructors and quickly explained my situation. She was very compassionate and understood my situation. I walked back to my office discouraged, but knew it was something I had to do. 

As life gets back into full swing this week, remind yourself that it's okay to say no sometimes. In fact, sometimes it's the best thing for you. But if you're feeling froggy this weekend and need to burn off those extra holiday bbq calories, then come right in! Although we have a revised holiday schedule, 'the club' is never closed! 365 days a year, we are here to say YES to you!

Stop by today for free! 

REVISED SCHEDULE:

Labor Day 

Club Hours

Weekend Club Hours

Friday, 09/04 5:00am – 7:00pm

Saturday, 09/05 7:00am-3:00pm

Sunday, 09/06 7:00am-3:00pm

Labor Day Club Hours

8:00am – 1:00pm

Fun Zone and Café Closed

Modified Group Exercise Schedule 

due to Studio A floor Resurfacing

Labor Day Weekend GE Schedule 

Sunday 9/6 

7:30am Spin w/Judy 

9:00am Yin w/Anne 

9:00am Group Kick w/Leslee 

10:00am Cardio Fusion w/Verna 

11:00am Joya Yoga w/Jo-Anna 

Monday 9/7 LABOR DAY 

9:30am Spin w/Keli 

9:30am Joya Yoga w/Jo-Anna 

The importance of a plan

We made it. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't organized. It wasn't orderly. And it certainly wasn't easy, but we did it.

The first day of school provides challenges for all families, no matter what the age or circumstance. However, the first day of school for parents with special needs children can be extremely difficult. I have four children - two of which are on the Autism Spectrum. Although my boys are highly functioning, changes in routines are always difficult. When I say 'change of routine' I'm not just referring to waking up earlier or going to the bus stop instead of the babysitter . . . . I'm talking about every teensie, tiny detail that changes. Things that us crazy non-autistic people don't think of. Like pants. 

Most kids are super excited about the first day of school because it means new clothes, new backpacks, new lunch boxes . . . new is good, right? Not for kids on the spectrum. I thought my battle with the pants ended in the dressing room at the store, however I was sadly mistaken. I had convinced my son that the pants (that he was convinced were WAY too big) would be fine once he had his new school shoes on. He agreed and I thought it was over.

When I came downstairs this morning, I found him completely dressed (which was exciting) but already throwing a fit. The pant legs were covering his new shoe laces! I had not anticipated this, therefore I did not have a plan. I spent several minutes trying to convince him that they were the perfect fit and even offered to let him wear shorts if it bothered him that much. Nope. Not an option. The plan was to wear this outfit and nothing was going to change that. 

I rolled up the pant legs. Not good enough. He suggested we cut the brand new pants. Not an option. Then it dawned on me.... Dr. Google! I grabbed the laptop and googled PROPER PANT LENGTH images. His response: You can't always believe what you read on the internet. Seriously. Now you're going to use that on me?

I showed him tons of pictures of people wearing pants that covered their shoe laces. His response: these are men, not kids. So, we google KIDS pant length. Guess what pops up? Stupid skinny jeans that come to the ankle! Come on - you're killing me! I quickly exit out of the screen and search for bootleg cut jeans on kids. Finally - some kids wearing jeans that covered their shoe laces. It's now 7:35 am, he hasn't eaten breakfast, brushed his hair or brushed his teeth and we have to leave at 7:45 am. Not to mention there are still three other to get ready & out the door. 

We eventually piled into the car - ten minutes early to the bus stop. However, the plan was to be at the bus stop fifteen minutes early. Therefore, because we did not stick to the plan, we missed the bus and had to chase it down three stops away.

As you can see the theme of this blog entry is the importance of creating AND sticking to a plan. So, as you get back into your school activities and schedules, be sure to PLAN time for yourself. Create a workout schedule and stick to it. It can be running in your neighborhood, taking group ex classes, working out with a personal trainer - anything! Just pick something and stick to it!

Yes, life gets in the way and it's not always easy or pretty. But once you've pushed through, you'll be able to look back at your accomplishment with pride. Kind of like our first day back. I'm headed to the sauna, which not only helps to kill the Lyme - but just happens to be a great stress-reliever. Just another reason to join me here at 'the club.' Click here for a free pass, I'll save you a spot!

It's my favorite time of the year!

Back to school! As a working mom, the last few weeks of Summer are usually some of the hardest weeks of the year. The sibling rivalries are at an all time high, there's never enough money for all of the new clothes, shoes, school supplies, backpacks, lunch boxes and hair cuts, PLUS we're getting ready for Fall sports, so schedules are crazier than ever! 

But the good news is that between my treatments with Dr. Molly at the Cherry Hill Clinic and my Train Like A Girl sessions with Liz at Parisi Speed School, I'm ready! Not only do I have the energy to referee the sibling fighting and push those over flowing shopping carts that will drain my wallet - but I'm also leading the conditioning for the cheerleading squad I've been rooked into coaching! Lunges across the field, Russian twists, planks - everything Liz tortured me with (I mean, taught me how to do), I'm now doing with the girls. There will soon be a whole team of us Training Like Girls! 

Don't struggle with back to school stresses. Enjoy this beautiful time of the year. Take time for yourself. Participate in a yoga class, kick butt in our new Group Fight class or just pop in your ear buds and hit the treadmill. Staples said it best - IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

I'll see you at 'the club.'

Running the Race Against Lyme Disease

I walked into the Cherry Hill Clinic yesterday and before I could even see anyone, I heard, "Lisa, sit down and talk to me about what's going on." Dr. Molly wanted to hear all about my week before she blended my IV bag (aka my Lyme Juice).  She already knew about my fatigue, but I also shared with her my brain fog issues, back/neck pain, as well as the new joint pain. "You're going to feel great when I'm finished with you today!" she says.

Any of my fellow Lymies will agree with me, that when someone makes a statement like that, you're a bit skeptical. I haven't felt great in two years . . . . we'll see. So, I sat and chatted with other patients about what bring us to the Cherry Hill Clinic as my body was filled with Dr. Molly's special Lyme Juice. An hour later, I headed back to work at Cherry Hill Health & Racquet Club to finish up my day and #TRAINLIKEAGIRL with Liz.

I made my way back to Parisi, feeling a bit motivated and ready for a killer workout. Unfortunately, Liz was out sick (get better soon, Liz!). Back to my office I went, wondering what to do with all of this so-called energy I was going to have.

I texted my husband and asked him what he thought about going on a family jog later that night. He was skeptical. I always have good intentions . . . but that's usually all they are - intentions. But I don't know if it was that second cup of coffee or the Lyme Juice, but all of a sudden around 3:00 pm I was over come with energy. I flew through my work at the office, actually turned the radio up pretty loud in the car (it's usually on super quiet because of the constant headaches) and sang along to my favorite songs on the way home.

When I got into the house, I ran right up to hubby, gave him a hug and kick, then started launching round house kicks at him. Round house kicks are the true tell-tale sign that I'm feeling better! I'm a kickboxer! After dinner, I bounced on the trampoline with the kids for awhile (sticking my back tucks every time, I might add!) and then we did it . . .  we went for a family jog!

For our first family jog, my daughter suggested we leave the chihuahua at home, because there are always a lot of dogs at the park (he doesn't play well with others). So, I can't claim that I out-ran my dog, but I can brag that I totally out-ran my 9 year old daughter AND kept up with my 9 year old son on his bike! Thanks to Dr. Molly and my #TRAINLIKEAGIRL trainer Liz, I feeling amazing!

If you are struggling with any ailment, whether it's Lyme Disease, like me, Fibromyalgia, MS or even the every day stresses of life, don't let another day go by without doing something about it. Call Dr. Molly today for a free consultation and come into CHHRC for a free 21 Day pass - it's time to get back into the game! I'll race you to the top!

My Race to Beat Lyme Disease!

Three weeks into my Train Like A Girl program and I'm feeling really good! I had a bit of a roller coaster week with my energy and I even attempted to go for my first run (attempted - being the key word). I live just a few houses away from a trail that I used to run daily (pre-Lyme). Since my diagnosis I've attempted a few times to jog just a fraction of the trail, with varied results each time. This time I made it from my driveway to the beginning of the trail and was exhausted. You know you're off when your five pound chihuahua is pulling you to go faster!

Yesterday, during my workout Liz was asking about my energy level. When I told her about my pathetic attempt at a run, she encouraged me to keep trying and reminded me that walking is still a great option - along with bike riding. I think that'll be next. The kids are excited to have mom "back" and our family bike rides are something they've been looking forward to again!

Liz tortured me with more leg workouts and crazy medicine ball drills to engage my core. Just when I think I know what to expect, she switches things up on me! I'm definitely starting to see some definition coming back and my clothes are starting to feel the way they're supposed to! 

Like many girls, I've always struggled with my body image, obsessing over sizes, pounds, body fat percentages . . .  but there's something about this TRAIN LIKE A GIRL program that has changed me. We never focus on what the scale says, we never measured my waist to see if it's getting any smaller - it's just all about feeling strong. As a mom of four I need strength just to get through the day! And even on those days, when I feel emotionally weak and think I should just take the day off from training, I feel stronger and confident that no matter what life throws at me, I can beat it. Whether it's kids fighting in the car during the 45 minute ride home or the dirty clothes that are literally over-flowing in the laundry room,  I know I have the strength to tackle them (and with four kids, sometimes that's what it takes)!

Tomorrow I go for my Lyme Juice with Dr. Molly at the Cherry Hill Clinic. Thursdays are now my favorite day of the week, because I know that after my treatment I will be even more energized! In my future, I see a little chihuahua struggling to keep up with me, as I RUN past my kids on their bikes!

Fighting the Flare Up!

This was the first time I struggled even motivate myself to #TRAIN LIKE A GIRL. I had just finished my weekly treatment at Cherry Hill Clinic but instead of feeling energetic and inspired - I was whiny, mopey and sluggish. One of the things I've learned during my Lyme Fight is that when the Lyme bacteria and Co-infections are flaring up, my body rejects everything. Linda, my nurse at Cherry Hill Clinic, was having a tough time getting any of my veins to cooperate; the shots I'd been receiving for energy seemed to have zero effect this time; and when it was time to draw blood, my veins just stopped working. Linda said this is very common for Lyme patients when they're having a flare up. It's like our bodies are actually rebelling. 

This theme seemed to carry through to my workout as well. I was a little more sluggish than usual and although I feel the GOOD sore today, last night I was laid up for most of the night, unable to do things for myself. It was a bit discouraging, but this is a learning process. Just like anything else, I can't learn from the experience, if I don't try. 

Take away for today: The next time I have a Lyme flare up, I will take a break from training and allow my body to rest. 

Today, I'm still #fighting with headaches, arthritis pain, back pain (not the good kind) and exhaustion. But, this flare up is temporary . . . however,  what is is NOT temporary, is my will to #fight and win! That is permanent! 

So, no matter what you're dealing with today, decide for yourself if you're going to push forward and learn from it or if you're going to give up. If you're ready to push forward with me, come to CHHRC and we can #fight together! 

Tuesday, July 14th is FREE Guest Day at CHHRC! Come workout with a friend and you both have the chance to win $500! Check it out!

Are you uneven?

This week, I found out that my hips were uneven, my back was out of alignment and that I've never really worked on the BACK side of my body! I guess I've always focused on what I see in the mirror . . . my abs, my thighs, my arms - I thought I had done back and legs workouts before, but it wasn't until I worked with Liz earlier this week, that I realized I had never truly "engaged" those muscles before!

I felt a new sore this week, that I have NEVER felt. I have a weak lower back from an old gymnastics injury that I have just dealt with over the years. Even at my fittest/healthiest, I would still have to take breaks, while the family walked ahead of me down the boardwalk, because of the pain in my lower back.

I never realized how many different things attributed to this pain. After one back/legs workout with Liz, I started to feel those muscles strengthening and I felt a different pain in my back. Sure, I've had shooting pain up and down my back, achy lower back pain and even back labor - but I had never felt GOOD back pain! It was a beautiful thing. I guess 40 years late is better than never. 

I also never realized how important breathing is during your workout. I always thought it was just so you wouldn't pass out. I never realized how much it helps you to do the exercises CORRECTLY! Moves that seemed totally foreign to me, somehow became much more natural as I started to breathe the right way.

Take away points for today:
Slow down. Breath. And take a moment to weigh your life . . .  Are you uneven? Do you spend all of your time working, cleaning, doing yard work, taking care of others, studying? We all need to learn how to distribute our time evenly and dedicate more time on our health and fitness and less on that ever growing "To Do" list.

Start now, by taking advantage of CHHRC's FREE 21 Day Pass! Click here for details. Get even with me!

Fight Lyme: Like A Girl - DAY TWO

Day two:
Remember the other day I wrote about walking down the long hallway at CHHRC after my first #Train Like A Girl workout with jello legs? Well, the jello quickly turned into ooooh sooooo sore quads! But the good sore! The kind where you know that it was a RESULTS driven workout!

For day two, I had just finished my fourth IV treatment with Dr. Molly at the Cherry Hill Clinic. She had mixed up my treatment a bit and gave me an additional treatment for my fatigue. I asked her if it was okay for me to workout after my treatment and her response was, "ABSOLUTELY! I recommend it!" So, off I went!

Liz wanted to focus more on the upper body (thank goodness!) and continue to develop core and flexibility. My training partner today was Noelle Smith who plays Lacrosse at Trinity College. Needless to say, Noelle put me to shame not only with her increased weight in EVERY exercise, but she flew through the drills like a Pro! With each exercise, I started to feel a bit more comfortable with getting back into the fitness world. Muscles really do have memory!

I mentioned to Liz that I was nervous to push myself too hard during these workouts, because with Lyme Disease one of my biggest symptoms is DEBILITATING fatigue. Fatigue is a common word, doesn't mean much to anyone any more - but debilitating fatigue is when you physically can not perform your day to day functions. Over the past two years, doing simple tasks around the house would often result in me being laid up for days. So, when I'm 3/4 of the way through a rep, I had to ask myself if I should really push through it, risking bad form and a possible Lyme relapse, or do I just take a break. Well - there's a reason I'm working with a trainer, right?! She knows the answers to these questions! The program Liz has me doing requires lighter weights, with more reps (three - four) so that I can take those breaks. Not only does Liz have her Masters of Science in Exercise Science, she also was a five year, three season athlete that competed at Division 2 level! With her own experience with numerous injuries, she is extremely passionate about working with female athletes, specifically in the area of strength and technique to avoid those injuries!

Whether you're a collegiate athlete like Noelle or a plain old wife and mom of four like me, a strong core is very important. Liz has me doing several different exercises to strengthen my core. Here's me doing a Three Point Russian Twist. This is something you can do at home, in the office or at the gym:

Interested in trying this or any other exercises to get you back to the shape you want to be in? Try any of our CHHRC classes or Parisi Programs. No matter what fitness level - we have the right class for you!  Check out our website for more information! 

Training: Like A Girl

I just finished my first workout with Liz, one of our very talented Parisi Speed School interns. Liz is creating a brand new program for young female athletes who want to change the way the world looks at the phrase "LIKE A GIRL!" The goal of this program is to incorporate strength training, flexibility, nutrition and education so that girls of all ages and levels can excel at their sport.

When I started my Lyme treatment with Dr. Molly at the Cherry Hill Clinic, I knew I was on my way to recovery. I had completely changed my diet and gone Gluten-free, Sugar-free and Dairy-free; I was finally under the care of a doctor who could treat my symptoms naturally and the only element left to tackle was fitness. When Liz and I discussed how to market her Like A Girl program I knew it was the missing element of my Lyme fight strategy!

We met today to review the program and she ran me through my first workout. It's been months since I've done any sort of exercise, and years since I've done any sort of training interval, so needless to say I was very nervous. But Liz kept me motivated the entire time, helping to correct my form and pushed me to my healthy limit. At times I was very disappointed with my performance and other times I saw that muscle really does have memory.

I walked down the long hallway at CHHRC after the workout with jello-like legs and a smile on my face with the satisfaction of having my first workout under my belt and being one step closer to winning my Lyme fight!

Stay tuned for details of the dreaded (two-day) post workout aches and pains and a peak into my next workout.

Hello! My name is Lisa Alberta. As the Marketing Manager at Cherry Hill Health & Racquet Club, I'm responsible for making sure everyone knows what an awesome place CHHRC is. Most people have no idea how incredibly large our facility is - or know about the huge variety of programs we offer. Whether you're looking for a sports program for your children, a weight loss program for yourself or an activity to get your parents fit - we offer something for everyone!


Me personally? I love the classes here! So much so that I became certified to teach Group Power and Group Kick (now known as Group FIGHT). There is nothing better than a class with heart pounding music and movements to get you motivated. I had been working here full time for almost three years and could never find the time to pull myself away from my office to workout. When Stacy Covelli, Group Exercise Director approached the management team about becoming certified in MOSSA classes, I jumped at the opportunity. With having my own class on the schedule, it forced me to stick to an exercise regiment. I started to see results immediately! With a few changes to my diet and a consistent routine, I had dropped inches, pounds and body fat. Life was good!


Fast forward to September of 2013 and an itsy, bitsy, tiny tick changed it all. I went from running ten miles in the Broad Street Run, to being bedridden. Six months later I was diagnosed with Lyme disease and a variety of co-infections. After one year of oral antibiotics, I decided to take a more holistic approach to recovery. I'm now FIGHTING LYME #LIKE A GIRL at the Cherry Hill Clinic and next week will begin training with our Parisi Speed School Intern, Liz. There is no cure for Lyme disease, so the only thing we can do is try our best to boost my immune system, so that the good stuff in my body can FIGHT the bad!

As a "VIP health care patients" at the Cherry Hill Clinic, I enjoy expert primary medical attention, wellness counseling &treatment and on-going wellness monitoring. Just like CHHRC, they have something for everyone! No matter what your symptoms, diagnosis or aches - Dr. Molly can help. She provides primary health care in a complete and holistic manner that empowers you and your family to make educated and informed decisions about your health and wellness options. 

For more information about the clinic, click here. 


Please follow me on my Lyme Journey as I FIGHT LYME #LIKE A GIRL and make my way back to the Group Exercise Studio to participate (and possibly once again teach) my favorite fight class!