FitAdina's Blog Spot

[Adina Zanolli]

The Sprout

I noticed a tree in my front yard yesterday. A new little sprout of a tree. Probably six inches tall or so. It was growing through the concrete in my driveway.

I started to pull it up, but that little tree reminded me of something.

I thought about all that little sprout had to do to get to where it is.

That little seed had to make its way through that hot concrete to find enough ground to grow in.

Then, although mired in darkness, it had to find some light.

And it had to take water through the only opening available. One little hole.
Then it had to force its way back up through that concrete.

And it had to get big enough and strong enough till finally it could say, “I’m here Look at me.”

And isn’t life this way? Whatever is holding you back, you have to be like that little tree.

You have to find your way to a soil you can survive in.

You have to find the light. The place where you can be happy and overcome.

You have to take what you need to move on from where you need it. Even if it’s a simple as buying healthy food from the grocery store or as complex as finding the shelter or support group you need.

But then comes the good part.

You make your way back through that concrete. And while you went in a tiny, scared little seed. Knowing you were small enough to get through the tiny whole you found, but not sure if you can push your way out.

But you do. You absolutely do.

And what comes out is so much more beautiful than what went in.

And you’re strong.

And you push that concrete aside like it’s nothing.

And it crumbles at your new found strength.

And it was all because you found one small place in that concrete that would allow you to become the person you were all along. You just didn’t know it.

Keep on pushing….because I’m pulling for you.

[GirlyMuscle]

Ahhhh...I love this time of the morning. A hot cup of coffee and a little Adina to get me started on the right foot today. Thanks!

[Adina Zanolli]

Ahhhh...I love this time of the morning. A hot cup of coffee and a little Adina to get me started on the right foot today. Thanks!

I like it when "little" is anywhere in the vicinity of my name!!!

[Adina Zanolli]

Morning Gym Time

I’m going to let you in on a little secret that you may or may not know:

You control the attitude of your gym.

Yes, you. Personally.

I do my cardio at 5:00 every morning. And I walk through that door like a lit firecracker.

My gym buddies are used to this. I don’t walk through the door, I burst through the door. It’s just more exciting for me this way.

As soon as someone asks me how I am, I clap my hands and say, “Woo Hoo!”

I really don’t get to say it much any more, because as soon as the guys see me walk in, one of them will say it for me. Because of course, there is a reward for being the first one to say it. Whoever says it first gets this reply, done is sing-song of course, “You are looking hot today, baby!”

Then I hop on the treadmill. And every day Rod will ask me, “Adina, where are you going?”

And…to make him laugh, every morning I tell him, “You know I’m going to your house, Rod.”

And the rest of my cardio goes much the same. I greet everyone who walks in the door…and yeah….do a happy clap as they walk in.

I’m just wired this way!

But I was reminded of something when I received an E-mail from my classmate last week. He said my enthusiasm for exercise was contagious.

But you know what? Attitude is contagious. Period.

Perky people don’t have a corner on the market.

If I were to drag myself through the door, eyes down, frown on my face, I would still control the mood of the gym. It’s just that it would go in a different direction.

Every morning when I walk through that door, I have two choices. I can liven up the place, or I can bring the mood down. And y’all know which one I choose….

You would be surprised how much walking through those gym doors with a smile will affect everyone around you.

And yes…I’m putting that in the form of a challenge. I triple dog dare you.

[GirlyMuscle]

Damn those triple dog dares! Those are the ones ya HAVE to do!

Maybe when I show up at 4:30am the 3rd shift girl (at my work gym) will wake the heck up when I walk in a shout "woohoo!" Today she was sleeping sitting up when I walked in. Never even opened her eyes.

[Adina Zanolli]

Damn those triple dog dares! Those are the ones ya HAVE to do!

Maybe when I show up at 4:30am the 3rd shift girl (at my work gym) will wake the heck up when I walk in a shout "woohoo!" Today she was sleeping sitting up when I walked in. Never even opened her eyes.

Yep...and I expect to hear that myrth occured at your gym today.

I would SO own that little worker bee! Because sleeping or not, I WOULD still say woo hoo. And days later, even at home, she'd still jump out of bed saying, "I'm up!"

[Adina Zanolli]

ScorpioChic and KarenfromCali

Where are my girls?

I am in need of updates!!!

[GirlyMuscle]

Yep...and I expect to hear that myrth occured at your gym today.

I would SO own that little worker bee! Because sleeping or not, I WOULD still say woo hoo. And days later, even at home, she'd still jump out of bed saying, "I'm up!"

Provided I remember to throw my flip video camera in my purse I will do it and VIDEO it. Then I'll post it up for you. If I'm taking a triple dog dare I gotta have proof!

[Adina Zanolli]

Provided I remember to throw my flip video camera in my purse I will do it and VIDEO it. Then I'll post it up for you. If I'm taking a triple dog dare I gotta have proof!

That would be so great!!!

[Adina Zanolli]

To make my diet work for me, I have to do some quirky things.

You see, I have an EXACT diet that I follow. I eat six meals a day. It’s not like I can cook every few hours, so I pack a cooler the night before.

I do an hour of cardio on an empty stomach, so I even scramble my egg whites the night before and heat them at work for meal number one the next morning. Invariably, someone will turn their nose up at my food. They say they don’t like the look of it or the smell of it. Usually the person saying it is eating donuts, or something of the like.

It’s funny that I don’t walk by someone eating a Big Mac and French Fries and say, “Ooooh. Gross.” I mean, I’m thinking it, but I don’t say it. It USED to smell good to me…now it smells like an extra hour on the treadmill.

People have no problem telling me my Whey Power shake and Ezekiel Bread look disgusting, but I would never say anything to the 300 pound person chowing down on some candy and a coke. I want to say, “Look. You’ve got a problem.” Again, I just think it, but I don’t say it. I never offer advice that is not asked for where weight loss is concerned. I have learned better!

On the reverse though, a non-healthy person has no problem with telling me I have a problem. That I’ve taken this whole “fitness thing” too far. They don’t just think it; they say it!

Funny. I didn’t know you could take fitness too far. I didn’t know that following a meal plan that is perfectly suited to me shows that I have a problem. That I am too disciplined. Too strict.

Of course, it’s usually overweight, unhappy, or unhealthy people going over my diet with a fine tooth comb.

But in the end, I let it all roll off my back….because I am happy, healthy, and fit. And no Big Mac-chomping, donut-eating, cola-slurping, out of shape person can tell me otherwise!

[GirlyMuscle]

Some things I've heard and what I say back...

"That looks/smells awful!"
"Good thing you don't have to eat it then!"

"How can you eat that?"
"are you kidding? This one is my favorite meal of the day!"

"I could never eat that stuff."
"Good! Cause I'm not sharing and I'm not cooking for two!"



Had a little crisis at work in the last in the last 12 hours where an employee quit without notice. We're already shorthanded so we've pulled together to cover shifts, etc. The manager and I are pulling the bulk of the extra hours. So this morning the manager came in to relieve me at 2am I noticed when she walked through the door looking like death warmed over from lack of sleep. Keep in mind I'd been up 22 hours plus had already worked 12 of those hours. I was going home to grab a 3 hour nap and come back. So here it is 5:50am and I'm sitting in the car outside the gym ready to go in to relieve her when I think back to the way she looked when she walked in. I think to myself WWAD? (What would Adnia do?) I walked in as chipper as I could muster, assured manager that I was ok with only 3 hours of sleep in the last 26 and sent her on her way. I work front desk so I put on my happy face and cheerfully greet everyone that walks in the door. I walked through the gym for the once over and saw my two mexican morning eyecandies (my name for hot guys inthe gym) squatting at the smith rack. Sergio is using 3 plates on each side. Keep in mind this is a general fitness gym. We don't have PLers or BBers here. That's more weight than I've seen anyone lifting in here in a along time. As I walk by, Sergio finished up a set. Once he racks the weights I yell over, Sergio! He looks startled and I give him the thumbs up on his set with a big smile. He grins ear to ear, knowing I mean the thumbs up for his big weights.

Lots of people would stand here and retell the story of the inconsiderate employee and their own lack of sleep, playing the martyr card, oh woe is me. No one needs to know. No one really cares. They all have their own problems without having to hear mine. All I can do is give them a happy smile, and maybe in some small way contribute to the good start of their day....in a happy gym.

[Adina Zanolli]

Some things I've heard and what I say back...

"That looks/smells awful!"
"Good thing you don't have to eat it then!"

"How can you eat that?"
"are you kidding? This one is my favorite meal of the day!"

"I could never eat that stuff."
"Good! Cause I'm not sharing and I'm not cooking for two!"



Had a little crisis at work in the last in the last 12 hours where an employee quit without notice. We're already shorthanded so we've pulled together to cover shifts, etc. The manager and I are pulling the bulk of the extra hours. So this morning the manager came in to relieve me at 2am I noticed when she walked through the door looking like death warmed over from lack of sleep. Keep in mind I'd been up 22 hours plus had already worked 12 of those hours. I was going home to grab a 3 hour nap and come back. So here it is 5:50am and I'm sitting in the car outside the gym ready to go in to relieve her when I think back to the way she looked when she walked in. I think to myself WWAD? (What would Adnia do?) I walked in as chipper as I could muster, assured manager that I was ok with only 3 hours of sleep in the last 26 and sent her on her way. I work front desk so I put on my happy face and cheerfully greet everyone that walks in the door. I walked through the gym for the once over and saw my two mexican morning eyecandies (my name for hot guys inthe gym) squatting at the smith rack. Sergio is using 3 plates on each side. Keep in mind this is a general fitness gym. We don't have PLers or BBers here. That's more weight than I've seen anyone lifting in here in a along time. As I walk by, Sergio finished up a set. Once he racks the weights I yell over, Sergio! He looks startled and I give him the thumbs up on his set with a big smile. He grins ear to ear, knowing I mean the thumbs up for his big weights.

Lots of people would stand here and retell the story of the inconsiderate employee and their own lack of sleep, playing the martyr card, oh woe is me. No one needs to know. No one really cares. They all have their own problems without having to hear mine. All I can do is give them a happy smile, and maybe in some small way contribute to the good start of their day....in a happy gym.

I love those replies! My standard reply is, "You just don't want it as badly as I do!"

And...girl...that is EXACTLY what Adina would do. Well, since I don't work at the gym, I could get by with..."Sergio, you are smokin' today!"

That was the right thing to do, because once you let the negative thought escape as a whine, you can't have it back.

People start to avoid you, because you become the one who whines.

Our voice is heard either way. Yes, flies are drawn to honey. But I live in Texas and every pile of cow poo I pass is covered with them too. So...you can be the honey or the cow patty...and I am proud of you for being the honey!

And...people come back for more honey...they don't come back to step in the poop again!

WAY TO GO!!

[Ondrea]

I love Adina's blog!! Just thought u should know! lol

[GirlyMuscle]

Oh I've already told Sergio he's hot. He's got a great build and smokin' arms. I got embarrassed when I told him he's looking hot but I could also tell he ate it up. His friend is hot too but doesn't speak English. I'm gonna have to give him something in sign language. LOL

[karenfromcali]

I'm here!!! Having a heck of a week so your stuff is definitely being read by me before I hit the road each morning. Yo have no idea how much it makes a difference. I am so glad you found us over here!!! My "real" family (i.e. my mom) is about to be relegated to non communication status. I don't need her insanity.