Starting week #2 of NFPT

Week #1 of NFPT (National Federation of Professional Trainers) is complete. I took my first on line quiz Monday morning. I am happy to have it over with as I was stressing a bit. I now know a little more of what to expect with upcoming quizzes and study materials. Learning parts of the muscles, skeletal system, cells, fast red twitch muscle fibers, slow red twitch muscle fibers and white fast twitch muscle fibers and how they become a "motor unit" is all a new experience for me.

The reading material coincides with the workbook nicely so I can take notes, draw on charts, and hi-light just about every sentence. The quiz is laid out for you in the workbook as well. I jumped on the computer and took it on line. It's in an essay format where you must type out your answers. No multiple choice here. Once the quiz is complete you receive a graph with the question in column one, the correct answer in column two and what you typed in three. This way you can compare your answer to that of the correct one and see how close you were. Reading it all yet again helps it stick that much better.

I am still honestly very nervous about how this is all going to stick in my brain in only an eight week time frame. But with the outline given to me, it does help to stay on track and stay focused. I tend to give up the movie rental to just sit and read. I also now carry my books with me where ever I go. Sadly enough, on the way to work this past Thursday, my workbook was baptized with some sauce from my homemade Chinese food I was bringing for lunch. It now looks loved, well traveled, and hard studied. My books won't be riding in the same bag as my lunch anymore as I travel an hour to work, park, ride a shuttle bus for several blocks, then walk for three, then head through metal detectors and finally make it to my desk. But that's a entirely different story.

Week #2 continues to be filled with tons of new information.

I hope to continue to journal my journey through school for those of you who are still trying to decide which school is the best choice. So far, this one has been perfect for me.

Check out www.nfpt.com. My Distance Learning course was $550 which is very comparable to other schools, who offer less interaction. You will get everything you need to test, and pass, so you can be Certified as Personal Trainer. If all goes well, I may have to move on to the Sport Nutrition Specialist certification as well.

Does Alcohol Slow Your Weight Loss?

I wish the answer was "No" as I have a great love of fine wines. Even some not so fine. It relaxes me, makes my back yard in the summer warmer, changes the flavor of my steak, and Chardonnay is a dream with seafood.

But unfortunately the answer is "Yes". Alcohol has all sorts of side effects which can inhibit your weight loss and workout goals.

Alcohol damages muscle cells, causing your recovery to last longer, including long lasting soreness. Your body produces lactic acid as a result of tension on the muscles. This is the main cause for muscle soreness. Alcohol does not allow ones body to evenly distribute large amounts of lactic acid. Once the lactic acid has time to flow though your system, soreness slows. If alcohol inhibits this, then soreness hangs out for a while longer. Which I do not think is something that is desired by anyone.

Alcohol also reduces strength. Did you know alcohol consumption will reduce your muscle growth by 70%. Yup. I said it. 70%. So next time your pumping iron in a P90x workout and doing the 6-8 rep with high weights, only 30% of those count when following up your evening with a glass of wine. Scary!

Alcohol is a dehydrator as it causes your body to flush fluids. Maybe this explains why when the good buzz is on, so is the run to the restroom. You must be hydrated to get good workout results and for your muscles to repair. Total dehydration is also a main cause of a hangover. When you are on a mission to drink a gallon of water a day, alcohol has a negative reaction and again throws away your hard work.

Have you heard of a thing called the "munchies"? Consuming too much alcohol takes over your common sense and Doritos's look that much better. Not only are you consuming numerous empty calories (which means your body gets nothing in return), but now your consuming food you would not have otherwise. Eating high carbs late at night destroys Human Growth Hormone levels. The HGH restores your body and rejuvenates you for the next day. But if HGH is having a hard time working because those cheesy fries are using up the energy instead, you won't feel refreshed in the morning. Now the next day you toss aside your workout. Alcohol consumption just ruined two workout days.

Another interesting point is the body's loss of heat. Poor circulation causes stress on your now cooling muscles and not allowing them to heal from your workout properly. Heat quickly penetrates out of ones body. This can be seen in flush cheeks, the removing of layers of clothing/hoodies at a party, or friends heading out in the snowy yard to "cool off". Your body is now releasing too much heat, too quickly, due only to the fabulous Riesling in your hand.

Have I given you enough reasons to back of the alcohol yet? If you are going to consume alcohol, do it very infrequently and save it for special occasions. Enjoy hard liquor on the rocks. Less calories and one does the trick!

Great Giveaway Updates and Know Hows!

With almost 700 email subscribers, YHH giveaways should be flooded with your comments. If you are an email subscriber, remember you are automatically entered in all giveaways for the life of your subscription (so don't go anywhere) and you could be selected, at any time, for any given giveaway. But don't forget to register for a second & third chance to win (you may enter once per day to increase chances).

All you have to do is follow the instructions of each giveaway by leaving comments, checking out the product site and letting the company know what you think. If you are an email subscriber, who really wants to let me know you are interested in a particular giveaway, leave a comment "I'm and subscriber who wants to win!" and I know you went out of your way to be noticed for that product giveaway. (You must be on Your Happy Hearts to leave a comment. Do not respond to the email posts. Simply click the post title at the top of each email to be taken directly there!)

Current Giveaways: Don't miss out!

KettleWorx kettle bell training program is a must have for your home gym. KettleWorx is giving away this series of DVD's PLUS either a five or ten pound kettle bell, the winner gets to choose their weight. I have done the program myself and have now passed it on to a friend/coworker who is enjoying the kettle bell and really "feeling it."
Go to the original post for the KettleWorx Giveaway and follow the instructions as indicated at the bottom of the post. Don't miss out on the chance to win an awesome workout program. This giveaway ends on Sat. February the 20th at midnight.


The Activeion Cleaning Solution bottle is an amazing invention which I was given the chance to test in my home gym. If you don't have a home gym, don't fret, this can be used anywhere in your house on anything. This bottle retails for over $300. This is an amazing giveaway by Activeion Cleaning Solutions company. Activeion wants to get their product into your hands. Check out the Activeion Giveaway and leave your comment for more chances to win. This giveaway ends Sat. February the 27th at midnight.

Winners will be contacted by emailed to inform them they have won. If you are not a blogger, please leave your email attached with your comment. To prevent spam, leave it as follows: find your fit at charter dot net. If you are only using your YHH subscription to enter, with no additional entries, do nothing and your email address may be selected from the subscriptions list as a winner.

If you are not a subscriber to YHH and would like to be, simply fill in your email address in the box provided on the home page. You will receive a notice in your email inbox. You MUST verify the email to start receiving updates and be entered in all future giveaways.

Every review I write, I give my complete and honest opinion of the product. No company has paid me, given instructions on what to say, or how to present their review. You can be assured you are getting a first hand experience of each item.

I will continue to search for interesting health and fitness related products and let you know the truth behind the brand. I thank God I can use YHH in this way to bless my readers.

Now you "know how" so good luck in all future giveaways!

NFPT - Week #1

For those of you who have emailed me questions in the past on different schools, and asked my opinion, I wanted to offer you a first hand look at this program. I will continue to give you updates as I go through about what I think. This way, you will be able to make an educated decision if NFPT is a match for you as well.

Week one of NFPT (National Federation of Professional Trainers) is underway and I am blown away at all I have to learn. It's been a long time since I've been in school. I am honestly a little overwhelmed. My husband and family continue to tell me "take it one page at a time". This program is no joke! It is not a 2-3 day crash course followed by a quick exam on line and calling yourself certified. This is some serious information. Which, in the end, I will be happy to have. The program is outlined for an 8 week completion. If you are not ready to take the exam at that time, you can extend the testing date up to one year from the day you started the program.

I was informed I would receive my books 5-7 days after I registered my password on line. It took only three days. The books are spiral bound so you can fold them for easy note taking and have the study guide right there with you. The front cover is made of a heavy card stock gloss paper with a black plastic back cover for lots of use and durability.

With this on-line program, you can read all the materials on your computer or go through the actual Certification Manual and Study Guide. This is my preferred method as I can hi-light as I go through and take notes. The Study Guide is broken into tabbed sections. Whether your taking notes, filling in graphs, or following along in the step by step outline, you have it all planned out for easy use.

The Certification Manual is your reading materials. You are instructed which chapters to read each week and where to find the workbook pages to coincide. The book is printed in black and white, with color photos available on your computer. Each week you read several chapters. As I stumble over a few unfamiliar words, never studying anatomy before, it is written in a manner which anyone can decipher and understand.

Like I said prior, getting back into the swing of school is going to be key. Well, back at it....

Ionator Giveaway - Clean Green!

Activeion has created a spray bottle to clean anything you can think of with tap water. The company was excited to see what I thought and asked me to simply clean my home gym and entire house with water. Water? Seriously? Water streaks mirrors, won't sanitize sweat off my gym floor or clean dust off the elliptical without leaving the undesired look of water spots. But boy was I wrong with what the Active Ion Ionator can do. This turbocharged water bottle does it all. Welcome to the Activeion Ionator.

When I received my Ionator I was surprised with the size and weight. It's a heavy water bottle. The water tank pops out with the push of a button. Fill with tap water and push it back in. As you spray, the water is electrically charged creating microscopic bubbles and activating the molecules to stick to dirt and grime. It is now 99.9% effective at killing germs. It won't leave streaks or water droplets and it cleans anything you can think of. With mirrors, gym flooring, workout gadgets, TV, weights, yoga mats, (you name it, it's in my gym) this does the job on them all. Of course I had to take it out of the gym to see what it could do elsewhere. My counter tops, stove, dishwasher, microwave, laminate flooring, makeup out of my office carpet (don't ask), toilets, and slider windows. Just to name a few. No more excuses that your kids can't help with household chores due to harsh chemicals. Anyone, any age, can use this. No warning labels come with this bottle!

If 25% of schools cleaned with an Ionator instead of harsh chemicals they could save 2 barrells of oil, 93 gallons of gas, 1/2 ton of coal which would be equivelant of taking 2,200 cars off the road each year. Without harsh chemicals to be made, bottles to be tossed out, it's great for the environment as well.

One thing I love, is the smell of the water. Now I have no way to test it's killing 99.9% of all germs ( I have to trust Bill Nye The Science Guy on that one) but it almost has a "bleach" type smell as you clean. It's fresh and doing the job.

With prices of $169 for the HOM model (12 oz. tank), $299 for the PRO (17 oz. tank), and $329 for the EXP (17 oz. tank), they seem kind of expensive. But think of it this way. The HOM model equals out to cost $0.65/week with the spray bottle lasting five years. How much do you spend in cleaning products in five years? Windex, Scrubbing Bubbles, Bleach, Comet, Fantastic, dusting sprays, etc. can all add up quickly over the years. Check your next grocery bill. I bet you spent more than $0.65!

From a healthy eating standpoint, you can also spray fruits and vegetables before eating to clean off nasty germs. Another great benefit I love.

Still not convinced? Take a few minutes (yes, it's kind of a long video, but so much fun you won't notice the time) and let Bill Nye tell you how it all really works. This is fascinating and worth the watch:


Here's you chance to WIN one FREE. The EXP model is for all jobs big or small. It's the mother of all spray bottles. Here's how to enter:

#1 - Be a subscriber to YHH and leave a comment "I subscribe". If you are not a subscriber, do so now and leave a comment "New subscriber."

#2-Follow through Blogger and ad your awesome picture to our group of gym enthusiasts. Then leave a comment "I follow"

#3- Check out the Activeion Cleaning Solutions video and tell us what you learned or were impressed by. Click VIDEO to watch (bottom left center button on link page). Winners have been chosen based on comment alone, so make it a good one!

You may enter once per day. Contest runs through February 27th at midnight. A winner will be selected on the 28th. Make sure you leave an email for contact information. (To prevent spam - example: find your fit at charter dot net)

Good luck!

Rogue Journals - It's time to start writing it down!

I am a believer in journaling. I always journaled as a kid, but then realized how crucial it was to my weight loss and fitness lifestyle.

So why journal? If you get into a habit of writing down everything you eat, workouts, and your mood for that day, it makes it a lot harder to shove a Twinkie in your mouth. If you eat a Twix and write it down, then based on your mood for the day you can tell why you made the decision.

I am not the kind to just grab a spiral notebook and begin my journaling. I have a love for great paper and also have to love my journal. I want it to feel good in my hands and curl up with it and just write.

I keep a journal in my purse for those unplanned trips or times I just want to jot something down. I now have a new pocket journal to track my P90x experience. I have a journal for my prayer/bible study times. I could go on and on. Rogue Journals has become a part of my journaling collection and are my favorites.

Last year, through a google search, I stumbled on Rogue Journals. I was honored to do a review of these works of art. Rogue Journals hand crafts each journal and it shows. The prices are reasonable for the awesome journal you recieve.

You can purchase the Pocket Journal which comes in three colors for only $19.95. I think this is a fantastic deal when you see the beauty and smell the amazing leather. I just received the black pocket journal and it was stitched with a lighter brown thread on the binding. I really like this as it resembles a Harley look and would also be "man" enough for any guy to carry. (Men, you have to journal too. It's not just all about "feelings"). The black leather shows the grain where my dark brown or chocolate journal is a more smooth hide. Each journal has it's own personality.

I found another journal which tugged at my heart. Literally. The Forever Heart Clasp Journal is absolutely amazing. Rogue Journals filled the pages with an amazing lavender pressed paper. You can chose from lavender, parchment, pure sketch, and jute infused. But I must include the paper is made from the bark of a mulberry tree. Each year the tree produces more bark so no trees are damaged in the process of making these journals. This journal retails for $69.50 and is something you will have for a lifetime.

So if you are looking for the perfect journal to relax with and learn more about yourself, than Rogue Journals is a great place to shop. Shipping is prompt and the journals are wrapped with care until they reach your door step.

Now get journaling.......

National Federation of Professional Training (NFPT): Update

"Welcome to NFPT's network of Personal Trainers! We thank you for your order. You have opted to include the Distance Learning method to study for your Personal Trainer Certification exam. This method provides you with an online account that will assist you through 8 weeks of preparation material. If you'd like to get started or view your account, please visit your online account now."

Wow was I excited to see this email Tuesday night. I now have online access, an account name, and password. I am set to dive in to school. The study guide and workbook will be delivered in 5-7 days. I received an email confirmation of this as well. I can't believe the continued contact and personable treatment I have received so far. I feel as if I am their only student!

The program guides you through 8 weeks of studies. But if you are someone who can't cram everything into that amount of time, you do have up to one year from the time you register to actually take the exam. So there's plenty of time to go over things again and again.

Once I logged on, the reality hit me I was actually doing this. As I started to watch a slide show which includes images of body parts in real time movements, I honestly can tell you, I am starting to freak out a bit. Can I really do this?

Well, here we go..... I hope if this is something you would like to do as well, you learn from my experience and make the decision to just do it.

To see more information on courses provided by NFPT, check out the link below:
NFPT - National Federation of Professional Trainers

KettleWorx Works!

Tired of doing long workouts or spending hours in the gym each week? Want something challenging for your muscles in only 20 min? KettleWorx is your program.

I have had my KettleWorx DVD's and bell since the beginning of December. I did the DVD's for a few weeks, but instead of three times a week as they suggest, I did it almost every day. With it only being 20 minutes, I was thinking it couldn't possibly have results as in an hour workout program. But my co-workers can confirm, there were many days, I was so sore I couldn't get up from my desk.

For those of you who don't know, a kettle bell is much like a cannon ball with a handle. KettleWorx offers the bell in a five pound, ten pound (shown here), and twenty pound. I used the 10 pound as it's a little more challenging and advanced for a woman. Ryan, the founder of KettleWorx, uses a 20 pound, which is the suggested weight for you boys. You receive the bell with the program so you get everything you need to start working out right away. I would also highly recommend wrist bands. This was the only downfall for me personally. Doing the straight arm moves where the bell is rested on the back of your wrist is actually quite uncomfortable. This may not apply to all of you, but wristbands are a must for me.

The DVD's are filmed differently than any workout DVD I have owned to date. Each move is filmed with a different group of guys/gals and Ryan is leading you through the moves. A KettleWorx logo then flashes across the screen and it's on to another individually filmed exercise. When 10 min. has gone by, you repeat the circuit and the same clips are shown again. Each clip on the DVD, depending on the workout, is arraigned in conjunction with which body part you are focusing on for the day. You would think it would get old and boring but Ryan has a personality which jumps through the screen and you don't care if he said the same thing 10 times already. You just want to workout.

I could go on and on about this program, but no one can tell you better than the founder himself: Ryan Shanahan. Take a few minutes and watch this informative video.


Interested in trying the KettleWorx program for yourself? Here's your chance! KettleWorx is giving a FREE KettleWorx Essentials DVD series to one of my lucky subscribers. (They are also adding the bell as this particular program does not come with one. It is set up for those who already own their own bell). Once a winner is selected you will choose the bell weight of either 5 or 10 pounds, depending on your workout level.

Here is how to enter:

#1 - Subscribe to YHH. Once you are subscribed you will be entered in all giveaways for the life or your subscription automatically. Just let me know you are entering for this particular giveaway by commenting "I am a subscriber." or "I am a new subscriber." You may do this once per day for more entries.

#2 - Follow YHH through blogger by adding your photo to the Google Friend Connect. Leave a comment "I follow" or "New follower" for a second chance to win.

#3 - Check out KettleWorx and leave a comment on what you think of the system in the comment section provided on YHH. Make it a good one! (Winners have been picked based on comment alone). You may leave one comment a day for more chances to win!

As always - leave an email address where you can be contacted if you have been selected. To stop spam: example: find your fit at charter dot net

Contest will run through Saturday, February 20th at midnight. I winner will be selected on the 21st. You will receive an email to announce you have won. The KettleWorx company will ship directly to your door. Good Luck!

Bring It....It's X Time!

Well, it's that time again. Time for me NOT to wimp out and actually make it through the entire program.

For those of you who have followed me for almost two years, you already know last spring my husband and I attempted P90x. We did the first couple of weeks, when my husband's shoulder injury from 8 years ago came back to haunt him. I was not about to do the program without him. I was weak minded and didn't think I COULD do the program without him.

Well, here we are a year later, he is in a sling after shoulder surgery and the "pressures" of starting the program have come to surface. With several subscribers of YHH doing the program and close friends from church, the thought had come back in my mind. Yet, I did not act upon it. THEN, my pastor decided he was going to order it. He thought it be fun if we had a group from church doing it at the same time and tracked our experience in journals. (I will be talking about journals very soon....check out Rouge Journals, they are awesome.)

I must say I was very hesitant, but my friends got me excited to jump back in. For that I am thankful! After ONE day of working out to the DVD's again, I was HOOKED!

Today is day #3 of week two. With life, as always getting in the way, you have to make it a priority to just "bring it".

Let me tell you a little bit about the program and what you can expect if you take the plunge. P90x includes 12 DVDs. If you have ever stayed up past midnight, you would have known this already, as the infomercials are nonstop on 10 channels! It's a new revolution in fitness.

P90x (Power 90 to the extreme) was designed for someone who has reached their "plateau" and can't get the last few pounds off to shred down to the amazing body we all want. This program includes all the DVD's, plus a nutrition book and instructional/workbook so you don't miss a thing. You can also purchase the P90x pull-up bar which simply slides into a door jam. I love ours!

The new informercial has someone who was "obese" and had great results. But let me tell you, if you have never worked out, have no concept of moves, and aren't sure your even going to stick with it, then don't start with P90x.

I would recommend P90 (Power 90). With this program you receive 6 DVD's, Program guide and tracker, 90 day calendar, on line access, a free Burning Express workout, meal plan, 6-day fat burning express plan, measurement cards and tape, and the sculpting bands. This is a great weight loss plan. As I have not experienced it personally, I have met a lot of friends on line that have, and they love it.

Where did I meet these online Beach Body P90 friends? Through Beach Body.com. All you have to do is find a coach, register and the computer program does it all. Tells you what DVD is scheduled for tomorrow, where you are with goals, calendars, inbox emails with P90 friends, and even who is working out at the EXACT same time you are. All you have to do is click "start workout" and it puts you in a virtual WOWY (working out with you) gym with hundreds of others. The average that I have seen is 3,000 workouts registered each day.

Meet Keith Williams. He is my virtual internet coach. We have been great friends through YHH almost since the beginning. I am just now taking advantage of the beachbody site and all it has to offer. If you want to be in my gym workout with me, and have Keith as your coach, click on Keith's picture and join the gym/beachbody revolution. (You can purchase all products there as well).

If you made the decision to do the P90 or X program, leave a comment and let me know. I would love to hear from you. I will keep you updated on my journey.

This is my day #2 picture. (Yes, I put it out there, because I am here to encourage you! And you keep me going to do more.) I will post a pick in 30 days. I am confident there will be changes!

Rolled Oat Chicken Breast with Couscous

My husband made a great suggestion to me. I am not the cook in the house, because he does such a great job, so I had never heard of this before. Maybe you have, but I hope I added a little twist for you.

In a frying pan add a small amount of olive oil to lightly cover the bottom of your pan. Warm the oil in preparation for the chicken breast.

In a separate bowl add one cup of oatmeal (amount may vary depending on how much you plan to cook) , 3 tablespoons of cayenne pepper (less if you don't like spicy) and 3 tablespoons of steak seasoning. Roll your chicken in the oatmeal mix. Pressing down on the chicken to get the oatmeal to stick. You could first roll the chicken in egg white for extra sticky if you choose.

Then lay the chicken in the frying pan, cover on low heat and let simmer. I rotated the meat two times until the oatmeal was a dark brown.

Let the chicken cool. Serve over a plate of pine nut couscous (I prefer the Near East boxed brand) or cut into strips for a salad or wrap.

I also made enough chicken to have left overs. Just baggie your left overs and either grab and go for lunch tomorrow or toss in your freezer for a later date.

Enjoy!

Say Yes to School!

You are going to be seeing a lot of this logo! If they had a printed logo hoodie or jacket, I would be wearing it all the time with pride. I am excited to announce I am have decided to register for online studies and test to be certified as a Personal Trainer.

This has been a dream of mine since starting YHH. I am amazed how God has brought me from a scoliosis back (now healed), to working out and losing weight, writing to encourage you all, to now the possibilities of being certified. As each door opens I will continue to go through. As a non-athletic child to now loving fitness and the addictions of working out, I am growing into someone only God had seen.

After much research I found NFPT to be a perfect fit for me in many ways. I work a full time job with a one hour one way commute, I write for YHH, I started P90x again which consists of an hour/day workout, I have rejoined the Praise and Worship vocal team at my church, I have a part time hair salon at home, and am in the process of helping to implement a new health and wellness ministry at church. I am one without a lot of spare time. But, with all this energy from being healthy, who can sit still?

So how does someone as busy as me become certified in something she loves? Simple, register with the National Federation of Professional Trainers. They offer online training and prepare you for your certification exam. Study at home with interactive PowerPoints, quizzes, worksheets, and much more.

As I continue my journey and move forth with learning new information, I hope to be able to share it with you. Not only the experience of the school, but the knowledge that I gain along the way.

Hold on, it's gonna be a fun ride!

For more information on NFPT visit their online school and register today!