Before reading today’s post be sure to read part 1, “Before the Barre: My Pre- Barre Bee Fit Experience.”

I ended my last post with, “confidence is a funny thing, not enough and you think you’re a fool; too much and you are the darn fool.”  When it comes to my experience at Barre Bee Fit, emphasis is on the latter part of that quote.  In my last post, I made a sarcastic reference to “feeling the burn from 2 pounds.” Well, sure enough that is exactly what happened.

In my first class, there were 2 pound weights involved and I felt the burn alright. Thighs shaking, face drained with sweat and heart rate high, I made it through the first class. I also remember thinking to myself, “shouldn’t this be called G.I. Jane studio?” because I certainly felt like I had just undergone military training.

My second class was just as great and by great, I mean my thighs were shaking again. In fact, at the time of writing this post, I have attended five classes and each time I leave feeling like I have been put through the physical wringer. What does an average military training, oh, excuse me, Barre Bee Fit class consist of? Well, there is no average Barre Bee Fit class. For starters, it really isn’t anything like military training; it is far too sophisticated and glamorous for that.  Their classes of 45 minutes to an hour are a mixture of strength training, circuit workouts, dance poses and stretches.

You work every single muscle in your body, even those tiny muscles that you don’t pay attention to when you do cardio or lift weights. What’s great about their classes too is that each class is different each week, so you really target different muscles as well as target muscles from different angles.  Yes, you will hear the instructor repeat things like, “poke it, poke it” but don’t be fooled.  That poke takes a lot of effort! Notwithstanding my military training jokes, the classes are great for any one at any exercise level but the fitness instructor will push you to work at your best so no matter what, you will feel “the burn.” I also love the music at Barre Bee Fit, which changes in each class and if you’re worried about any guys watching you while you “poke it,” the classes are targeted for women.

So, what did I learn from my Barre Bee fit experience? That I should probably have never quit dance! Other than that, to always try something new for your body. A lot of us go to the gym or run and do the same thing for our bodies over and over. But just like our brains, our bodies need to be learning new things. At Barre Bee Fit, this is something they are clearly on top of. If you need any extra motivation, below is a picture I came across that typifies my experience at Barre Bee Fit and what we should all experience when we work out. The truth is in seeing how far we can push our bodies, we often see what our minds are made of too.

Cheers,

Kovie

Thanks to our very own, Kovie Biakolo, for having the guts try out this week’s #MCGConnect chat sponsor- Barre Bee Fit!  Kovie is much more equipped for this type of… er, testing… than I am.  Today’s post is part 1 of Kovie’s 2 part series.  To win free BBF classes, join #MCGConnect chat tonight (Wed 1/18 at 8pm CST).  Not in Chicago?  Don’t worry, we’ll be giving away a Jamba Juice gift certificate too!  Also, get excited for Kovie’s regular column “Kovie in Chicago” which will be posted on Thursdays starting TOMORROW! -Nicole

I always feel awesome when I’m at the gym and people ask me if I’m an athlete. I mean I run a couple of times a week (though I will admit less so in the winter). I also do strength training, even if it means I do it at home with Chris Freytag.  I do Zumba, cardio kickboxing and yoga fairly regularly too. Some people think I’m kind of a health nut, and in addition to working out, being a vegetarian/pescetarian strengthens this view.  Any health nuts out there who can relate?!

Still, I went through a two-week period without working out in December.  Additionally, I like cookies and wine so my health “nuttiness” is well balanced with those two things. I think working out is very important for your body and for your mind. I also think enjoying life is very important for your body and your mind which sometimes means enjoying food. Sure, like anyone else I might over do-it on the cookies once in a while (cookies really are my thing) but for the most part, I eat healthy and exercise does not intimidate me. To be honest (and obnoxious), I generally tend to think I’m pretty good at it. Who else would say they are pretty good at exercise?  What do you do for your workouts?

So, you can imagine how confident I was when I got the opportunity to work out at “BarreBeeFit.”  For the record, it’s pronounced “Barbie” and that said, I was thinking –“how hard can it be?” I mean it’s called “BarreBee Fit!” How hard can a studio called “BarreeBeeFit” work these muscles? What, am I going to do? Lift  2 pound weights and feel the burn?  I showed up to the studio sniggering with that thought in mind (and with red shorts and a bright yellow shirt) and my overconfident athletic abilities.

You know what they say, “Confidence is a funny thing- not enough, and you think you’re a fool;  too much and you are the darn fool.” And that’s all I’ll say for now. But I do want to know, what do you think of when you think of when a studio is called “Barre Bee Fit?”

Stay tuned for part 2 of my Barree Bee Fit experience in my follow-up post “My Post Barree Bee Fit Experience!”

For professional women, life is full of responsibilities and concerns.  Your head is likely filled with thoughts of your job, your family, and—if you have time—your social life.  With all of this going on, you may feel as if you don’t have time to think about anything else, least of all your health, but it is incredibly important that you make time for your personal wellbeing.  After all, breast cancer treatment is far more time-consuming than early detection measures, and cancer will permanently affect your ability to be the best wife, mother and friend that you can be.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this disease, which affects nearly a quarter-million women every year, is one of the easier ones to detect.  So stop thinking that you don’t have time for your health, and learn how to fit detection and education into your daily routine.

In the Shower

If you don’t have time for a regularly-scheduled mammogram—which is recommended once a year after the age of 40, or earlier than that if you have a family or personal history of breast cancer—then at least take the time to do a self-exam.  This can be done in the shower, in front of a mirror, or while lying down.  (Alternately, you can educate your partner on how to do it, and play a rousing game of Doctor!)  If you feel a lump, then schedule an exam with your doctor right away for a mammogram.

On Your iPhone

Susan G. Komen Tidewater, who is dedicate to combatting breast cancer, has developed an iPhone app that helps you stay up-to-date about current events, while connecting you to others and providing support and resources.  Up to “75% of the net income goes toward funding grants to local hospitals and community organizations that provide breast health health education and breast cancer screening, and treatment programs for medically underserved women”, and the “remaining net income supports the national Komen Grants Program, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research, meritorious awards, and educational and scientific programs.”  In other words, not only can you stay up to date with breast cancer-related issues, but you can help out several worthy causes while you’re at it.

On Your Computer

There’s more to staying healthy than just exams, however.  It is also important that you educate yourself as much and as often as you can on this subject.  Much of this can be done from the comfort of your home.  In addition to self-education via Google and other search engines, and signing up for monthly newsletters and updates, you can also register for educational webinars that cover everything from nutrition and supplements to information on specific types of breast cancer.

In Your Spare Time

In addition to detection and education, it is important to find time for fundraising for breast cancer causes.  This doesn’t have to mean writing a check or breaking out the plastic, though.  Instead, why not participate in a breast cancer fundraising event?  Susan G. Komen has the Race for the Cure, and the National Cancer Society has the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, both of which are walks that promote awareness while raising much-needed funds for breast cancer research and treatment.

As you can see, there are many ways in which you can find time to detect and combat breast cancer, without having to sacrifice time for your family, career, and social life.  With all of these options to choose from, there’s no longer an excuse to not find time for your health.  You’re worth it!

Last night on our free career coaching call with Emily Bennington and Alexia Vernon, there were several questions about going back to get an MBA.  Today I received this infographic about the evolution of MBA programs, where in the world they are most popular and what companies have been started by those with an MBA. Pretty interesting!

By, Joanna Lindenbaum

Take a minute and write down your top three fears, doubts, and concerns. Once you have them written down, you may notice that outside help could really assist you in overcoming each and every one of those fears, right? The trick lies in not just asking for help but delegating responsibility within your 3-tier support system. Delegating is such an important tool because the more successful you become – and want to be – the more responsibility there is. Fortune 500 companies aren’t run by one person and YOU are not supposed to do it all on your own.

A great leader knows that to accomplish their goals, you need to enlist others to help you out. By asking for support on your projects, soul-centered goals, and in your life, you don’t just achieve your goals, you achieve them more quickly and easily – while avoiding exhaustion and being overwhelmed. Sounds pretty simple, right? It is and here’s the added bonus: when you enlist others to help you out, you are empowering those support individuals by putting responsibility and power in their hands.

There are three different types of support that you need: support on basic tasks; creative and intellectual support; and emotional and spiritual support. They may sound basic but it’s important that you understand the 3-Tierd Soulful Support System.

Tier 1: Basic Task Support

The first tier includes those people you can delegate tedious, everyday tasks to. In a sense, it may seem like you’ve asked for support from someone who’s a personal assistant but these tasks are the one that annoy you, distract you, or take up too much of your precious time. Examples of basic tasks to delegate are: cleaning your home, scheduling your clients, doing your accounting, doing the laundry, writing press releases and sending them out, doing research on just about anything, sending invoices, setting up your newsletter, etc.

While you don’t need a ton of people in this tier, you do need some. Take a moment and make a list of all of your everyday tasks. Then make a list of people who could potentially fill those roles. Fulfilling this tier is as simple as making the calls needed to get the help you need- trust me, you will feel a huge weight off your shoulders!

Tier 2: Intellectual/Creative Support

In the second tier, you need people to brainstorm or provide you with new ideas or resources. These are your colleagues, mentors, Board of Directors, coaches, and teachers.

Coming up with fresh ideas or solutions to issues on your own in your career, business, creative work, relationship issue, or personal project can add up to be a huge task and there are always wonderful opportunities to learn, move forward, problem solve and create. It’s important to have people around that you feel are creative and smart to bounce ideas off of.

Make another list but place people you respect and believe could help you with the intellectual and creative parts of your project. These are people who you’ll enjoy receiving their wisdom, plus they might be flattered at having been chosen to share them with you!

Tier 3: Emotional and Spiritual Support

The third tier is often the most overlooked group, but they are the true backbone to your success and your sense of connection and joy in the world. We each need our own group of cheerleaders and supporters and these are people we know will hold us up, keep us going, and believe in us – especially when we don’t believe in ourselves. Those moments do happen and you need people like husbands, wives, sisters, parents, childhood friends, clergy members, coaches, and therapists to cheer you on and support you.

Now, write down your top two to five people that can (or already do) support you. Then remember that one person can’t do it all alone, those people on your list could be helping you with a different area of emotional support.

When you have these three areas of support in your life and dream project covered, you are setting yourself up for maximum success!

Happy Monday morning!  I have no doubt that Mondays set the “tone” (no pun intended) for the rest of our week. Start your week with energy and intention today by doing something for your body.  Even 10 minutes of push-ups, sit-ups and squats in your bedroom can change the course of your week no matter how stressful and busy it is.  I’d even go as far as arguing that, in the long-run, staying fit can make you have a much more successful career. Cheers, Nicole

By, Carol Montrose

Although many adults bemoan the loss of their teenage body as they sag and put on weight over the years following high school, it can be extremely difficult to work fitness into a daily routine that is already largely taken up with a long and stressful work day (and in some cases, family obligations).  Not only is it hard to muster the energy to exercise when you’ve barely got time to eat and sleep, but stress from your job can leave you too fatigued and mentally drained to put even an ounce of effort into your own health and well-being.  However, if you can manage to motivate yourself into adding a daily fitness regimen to your schedule, you’ll find that you actually have more energy, less stress, and a better overall outlook on life.  Here are a few ways to fit it in.

1.  Rise early. This can be undeniably tough, but by squeezing in just 30 minutes of exercise in the morning, you can improve your stamina for the entire day.  It will not only get your blood pumping and leave you feeling great first thing in the morning, it will also help to clear the cobwebs from your mind so that you can approach your work with confidence and a can-do attitude.  But if you can’t stop hitting the snooze button, work out at night instead.  Just make sure to finish with an extended cool-down to relax your body and brain for some seriously deep sleep.

2.  Start with cardio. If you do nothing else, find a way to work some simple cardio into your daily routine.  Doctors recommend 30 minutes of cardio 3-4 times a week as minimum maintenance for a healthy heart and body.  You can stave off heart disease, diabetes, and a number of other ailments, as well as shedding some of those unwanted pounds that have mysteriously found their way onto your midsection over the last few years.

3.  Take a class. If motivation (or a complete lack thereof) tends to be your worst enemy when it comes to fitness, try joining a class at a nearby gym or your local community college (where tuition is not too expensive and enough people need health credits that there are a lot of different classes offered).  When you’re paying, you’re more likely to show up, and then the question of motivation is covered because you’ll have an instructor to push you.  Plus, you don’t have to worry about planning the workout and you’ll probably make friends with some of the other people there, creating an instant environment of support.

4.  Incorporate healthy eating. Exercise is good for you, but it will only take you so far without a healthy diet alongside.  You probably know what’s “bad” for you when it comes to food, but if you’re having trouble embracing proper eating habits, consider joining a program that teaches you to eat better for life.  You won’t be sorry.

5.  Enlist a friend. If all else fails, get a friend on board to go through the process with you.  Most people don’t like approaching fitness solo, and if you drag a friend along, you can both benefit from the support and encouragement of the other even as you build a stronger bond.

Happy Friday!  It has been a great week in my world, thanks in part to two people: Bethenny Frankel and Ramit Sethi. 

No, I am not cool enough to be friends with either of these fabulous people in real life.  BUT, I am cool enough to read their blogs and take their advice seriously on two of most peoples biggest stresses: fitness and money.

What I learned from Bethenny Frankel this Week

I got to work on Monday and decided that my sedentary eat-whatever-you-want slump was OVER.  I stopped saying, “I need to go to the gym” and said “I am going to the gym today” instead.  Getting back on the wagon of healthy eating and going to the gym is the hardest part for me.  Once I get back on track, I’m easily hooked (albeit not always for long!).

Thankfully, Katie (roommate and best friend) sent me this great article by Bethenny Frankel on realistic exercise.  Bethenny recommends adopting health and fitness as a lifestyle, not as something you “have to do.”  Once you feel you “have to” go to the gym or “have to” eat salads, there is a negative association with the task and your motivation isn’t genuine.

In her article, Bethenny also recommended another simple adjustment: do exercise you enjoy.  If you hate spinning classes and running, then don’t do it!  You will never make it a lifestyle if you hate it.

I shifted my thinking this week and asked what I want my long-term lifestyle to look like.  I thought about what I’ve done in the past that doesn’t last long and I decided to go on a different track.  So far I’m loving it and craving fruit instead of fries- weird!

What I learned from Ramit Sethi this week

Ramit Sethi-in my opinion- is a true hero.  Ramit is another twentysomething Gen Y blogger who has blown it out of the water.  His blog (and book) I Will Teach You to be Richis way more than a personal finance blog.  Like Bethenny, Ramit focuses his teachings on lifestyle instead of  dramatic cuts. 

As part of his earn1k class emails this week (that class looks absolutely amazing, by the way) Ramit went on a rant.  He encouraged his readers to stop focusing on cutting costs and focus on making more money instead.  He says to “go for big wins” and to “stop wasting your time cutting out $3 lattes”.  Ramit believes in spending money on what you love- even if that is world travel, $200 jeans or spending $30,000 a year on going out.  Ramit’s advice is the opposite of what 99% of personal finance bloggers will tell you, but it is actually the smartest advice.  

Like Bethenny said, adapting a lifestyle means creating a system that works for YOU.  When you create a lifestyle that you want, your motivation is genuine and it is no longer something you “have to do”.  This means you will have a healthy relationship with fitness and finances.  It means you don’t beat yourself up if you eat an ice cream cone or splurge on something at Nordstrom once in a while.  If you’ve set up a system for yourself that supports your lifestyle, occasional splurges aren’t a huge deal. 

Lastly, Ramit makes one of my favorite points of all- people don’t get rich by cutting lattes, they get rich by cutting out what they don’t value and making more money.

I hope this post gives you some food for thought as you end this week and go into next.  Hopefully by Monday you will think of one or two things in your own life that you can adjust to fit your lifestyle instead of what you are “supposed to do”.

• How has making “cuts” financially or in your diet affected you?  Did it last? Why did you make the cuts initially and why did you stop?
• How do YOU motivate yourself to stay healthy both physically and financially?
• What systems do you put in place to account for “splurges”?

It’s almost the end of 1st quarter already-whoa!  For those of you in sales- good luck hitting your numbers during the next week or so.  For accountants- our thoughts are with you during busy season.

Many of us started 2010 with a few goals 

We wanted to make this year better than the last.  We wanted to lose weight, pay down our debt, quit smoking, get a new job, etc.  How are you doing on your personal 2010 goals? Have you lost sight of these goals completely?  Have you “quit” your goals? 

You’ve all heard it before, “insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”  It’s funny how we never think of ourselves as insane but, according to this definition, most of us are.

This year I had to face my own insanity and break the madness.  I’m hell bent on achieving my #1 goal: paying OFF my debt.  I imagine my battle with debt (although still well below that of the average American’s) is similar to those who battle with their weight.  It is very psychological and at times hard to control. 

The Change Process That Has worked for me

I’ve used the following process to help me make a big change in my life.  It can easily be applied to losing weight, saving money, or searching for a new job.   So far it’s working really well for me. 

Confession to yourself.  It started with looking at the number instead of ignoring it.  Really facing it.  Hating it, but facing it. 

Confession to Accountability Partners.  My anxiety was eating me alive, so I finally told my parents, boyfriend and best friend the number-all parties are strongly against keeping balances on credit cards.  Confessing was where it really began for me. 

Now I have a team of cheerleaders encouraging me to “get ‘er done”!  Plus, I can’t suddenly appear with new things and go out all the time anymore because they are watching.  It’s also easier for them to understand when I have to say no to stay within the budget.

At the end of each month I check in with Katie and tell her how much I paid off, and what I did good and bad. It has led to much progress.

Taking Action. I only had 3 credit cards, and I cut them up one by one.  It was really hard for me to let go of that last one.  It was my security blanket.  So my boyfriend cut it up while I wasn’t looking…

Getting used to discomfort.  I’m not cut out for credit cards.  I never bought anything too extreme when I did use one, just some trips to TJMaxx, Target, and those “but it was on sale!!” purchases that add up over time. 

Thanks to my credit card, I had never allowed myself to feel the discomfort of saying NO.  Crazy, isn’t it?  The more I face the discomfort, the easier it gets.  I still don’t like it, but now I can tolerate it.  I think getting used to discomfort is the best thing you can do for your life, your career and your goals.

Create systems that work for you.  I’m on a cash only system now.   Who wants to shop en masse with cash?  No one.  If I get tempted, it’s easy to look in your wallet and say, “I truly cannot buy this.”

I stay out of stores.  Sometimes this requires closing my eyes while walking past (you should see all the awesome stores around my office-they are my enemies).  I know, it’s ridiculous but its true.

I also plan  far ahead.  Again, so basic but something I wasn’t doing.  I always figured it would “work itself out.”  I spent a lot on gifts and said yes to every dinner invitation. Not anymore.  I have to plan ahead for my hair appointments, wedding gifts and car maintenance. 

Make sacrifices.  I decided to move out of my 25th floor Gold Coast apartment to move into a less glamorous neighborhood with Katie. I’m doing this because it is helping me reach my goal faster.  It is also a factor of admitting that what I was doing wasn’t working.

Rinse and Repeat. With the help of your cheerleaders and a bit of focus, you will get comfortable being uncomfortable.  Being uncomfortable is what leads you to change.  Create systems that don’t allow you to fail.  Keep it up over time.  Review (and celebrate!) your progress regularly.

Let us hold you accountable

• What were your 2010 goals? 
• What systems did you create for yourself to avoid temptation and falling back into your old habits?
• Are you afraid of changing in order to get yourself to where you want to be?
• If you fell off the wagon this year, why did you?  Do you plan on getting back to your goals?

As part of Extra’s “3pm Snackdown Challenge” (Pick up a pack, put down that snack!- love it) I was invited to get on a call with Bob Harper, celebrity trainer from The Biggest Loser.

I’ve been on these types of calls before. I fully anticipated being one of 97 bloggers packed on to the line, all vying for the chance to ask even one generic weight loss question at the mercy of an unenthusiastic moderator. So I was confused when I heard a man with a slight southern accent say, “Hey Nicole!”

Um… Hi Bob!

Since I had 40 fabulous minutes to myself with Bob (oo la la!) I had the chance to ask him questions about the types of things we discuss here on mscareergirl.com.

How Bob Harper’s Career Began

Bob Harper didn’t go to college and said it wasn’t even an option for him. He started his career working at a bank and feeling very out of place there. After realizing this career path wasn’t for him, Bob took the initiative to get certified as a personal trainer.

Bob knew if he wanted to make it big in personal training, he’d need to go to L.A. so he packed his car up and moved from Nashville to L.A. to become a celebrity fitness trainer. I asked him how people in his life reacted to this career shift. He said some people thought he was crazy but as soon as he started being a personal trainer he knew he found his life’s purpose. As Bob approaches his 10th season on The Biggest Loser, it’s apparent that ignoring the naysayers in his life was a great choice.

Fitness and Weight Loss

Of course we did talk about fitness and weight loss too. Although Bob has trained some of Hollywood’s finest, he said that he much prefers to train the average person rather than someone he needs to get from a size 2 to a size 0. He thinks of himself as their cheerleader and says he needs to “constantly ram positivity down their throats until they start to believe it themselves.”

I asked Bob if he thinks a lot of The Biggest Loser contestants have genetic issues contributing to their weight issues. He said, “Very, very rarely” and believes that most of the folks he sees have an unhealthy emotional relationship with food. I did confirm that contestants receive psychiatric evaluations before coming on the show, and have access to a therapist throughout.

And what about all the controversy surrounding life after the show?

Bob says that has been one of his biggest challenges over the years. He gets so close to the contestants while they are on the show and tries his hardest to stay in touch with all of them after. He said he thinks of himself as an ER Doctor and said, “I try to give them as many tools as I possibly can to get them back into their normal lives.” He feels that after the show it is the individual’s responsibility to take what they have learned and apply it each day.

One of the tools trainers like Bob suggest is Extra’s 3pm Snackdown challenge.  Rather than reach for a snack when you feel hungry, chew sugar free Extra gum instead. Bob says it is a great way to avoid mega calories because it puts something in your mouth and gives you a little bit of sweetness.  The calories you save really add up. It’s a trick they use a lot on the show apparently.

The major takeaways I got out of my conversation with Bob Harper are:

• Follow your passion no matter what anyone says.
• Weight loss is not rocket science, but it is a choice, a lifestyle and something you have to work at every single day.
• Replace snacks with Extra Sugar Free Gum.

Bob also asked that you all enter to win a trip to The Biggest Loser Resort in Utah along with a personal training session with him for you and a guest.

Now for the fun part!

Extra has sent me tons of gum to give away to you guys! I’m going to split the free gum up between 4 readers. Please comment on one of the 4 items below and I will randomly pick one winner from each and send them some Extra gum!

1. Have you made a new years resolution to lose weight or get healthy this year? If so, what have you done to stay on track? Be honest, it’s OK if you say “nothing”!

2. Did you have an aha moment that made you realize you were working in the wrong field? What did you do about it?

3. What other tools do you use to ward off cravings and hunger pangs? Have you ever tried the gum trick?

4. Have you ever thought about switching fields but been too afraid of what others may think?

Next Wednesday (1/13/2010) I’ll be on a call with celebrity trainer Bob Harper from “The Biggest Loser!”

Bob Harper and Extra Gum have teamed up to create the “3pm Snackdown Challenge.”

For those of you who work in Corporate America, you’re probably familiar with the typical 3pm slump: sugar cravings, lethargy and perhaps even a little boredom-snacking to get you through to the end of the day.

I love the tag line for the 3pm Snackdown, “pick up a pack, put down that snack!” According to the snackdown site, “experts say that even small decreases in calories can have a big impact in the long term. Chewing Extra^® gum, at only 5 calories per piece, can be a useful behavior modification tool to help manage calorie intake.”  Sounds good to me!

The site has a cool little calculator which shows common fatty snacks that some of us reach for while at the office.  I picked my personal favorite- a chocolate chip cookie- and learned that a cooke is about 190 calories.  If I ate one per work day for a year, that is 9,620 calories.  This habit would add up to an extra 2.8lbs.

So, now what I need from YOU!

Wrigley has offered mscareergirl.com readers tons of free Extra gum just for asking Bob Harper your questions about fitness and weight loss.  Please put your questions for Bob in the comments section below.  I will report back with his answers to your questions after the call.

I will randomly select winners in the follow up post after our call!