Coach Spotlight – Sarah Gahagan

I love Coach Sarah’s enthusiasm for life! What I have found in the time Sarah has been on the team is that she is not competitive at all, hates being outdoors and doesn’t have much to say. 🙂 Seriously though you can’t pretend to have passion, and I think most of us who find our way sleepwalking through life could take a lesson here. I am sorry to say that I see Sarah remaining single, because qualification #2 (read below) just ain’t happening!

sarah1Writing autobiographies are dreaded for some, while others may thoroughly enjoy writing them either because they like to boast about their own accomplishments, or simply because they like to boast about the many blessings in their lives that make them who they are.  I am of the latter.

My name is Sarah Elizabeth Gahagan and I am a proud daughter of Hayes & Linda Gahagan (married 41 years!), and sister to four older brothers (yes, they’re very handsome and that’s why I was popular).  I was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on August 20, 1984.  After living there for 6 years, the family moved to Maine (home state of both parents) and took residence in Southern Maine before locating to Presque Isle, one hour South of Canada and North of Nowhere.  Presque Isle is proudly considered my hometown (yes, I picked potatoes and wore Carharts), and it’s a town “where everyone knows your name.”

Ever since my brothers and I could walk, our parents put us in any sport they could (not to get us out of the house, but to give us that lifestyle…hmm, I think).  As the youngest and only girl, my mom desperately tried to make me a girl in every way.  My brothers played hockey and I figure skated.  I was in ballet, gymnastics, and wore pink and ruffles…until I was old enough to have a say in the matter.  I laced up the hockey skates and played goalie, I looked at comics and baseball cards, I played with Legos, I did everything outside, I played contact sports, and I wore my brother’s old jeans (I will never forget how excited I was when they finally fit!).  I loved my brothers and I wanted to spend every minute with them.   I was a tomboy to the core.

sarah2I loved my brothers because my parents loved us.  Never a day goes by that I don’t thank God for the blessing of my amazing parents and the role models they have been for me.  I will never know the sacrifices they made to give us the life we had, but I will always know that their love for us grew stronger and stronger each day we lived.  Why do I deserve such a wonderful family?  I did nothing to earn it; it is by the rich grace of God.

Yes, God.  I said I was a proud daughter of Hayes & Linda, but more than that, I am a daughter of God.  I know that I was created by Him and for Him.  It is He who has given me these healthy lungs, this heart, and the hands to help those around me.  It is Him I thank when I complete a race or while I’m out training by myself.  My health is a gift and it is my desire to take care of that gift and honor the One who gave it to me.  There is freedom in knowing that I belong to Him and He will be faithful to me, and there is joy in knowing that His will for my life will indeed be good for me!

So that brings me to His will for my life…after high school I attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science.  I had the naïve idea that I would be married right after college and wouldn’t have to work…false.  I chose the degree because I loved to exercise and was fascinated with the human body, not necessarily because I thought I’d use it.  When senior year came and the fact that I had four older brothers probably kept me single (read on to know why), I realized I needed to find a career!  Ever since high school, I enjoyed giving people massages and I was told that I was good and that I had “magic fingers.”  I knew I had a gift, a gift God gave to me, to bless others.  So I decided that I would go to school and make it an effective blessing.  While I was in school, I got a job at a gym as a personal trainer, which would eventually turn into their massage therapist as well.  During that time, I started seeing my own massage clients while learning more about personal training and coaching, and developing a love to help others, to inspire them to reach their potential, and to help them see their worth.  Everyone must see their worth before change can be made.

sarah3 After some time, I moved away from Virginia and spent my summers in Alaska and winters in Maine (yes I know, I’m strange).  I was a tour guide on a historical train in Skagway, AK that followed the path of the 1898 Gold Rush into the Yukon in the summer and a substitute teacher and middle school ski team coach back in my hometown of Presque Isle in the winter.   I eventually cut the ties with AK and resided in Presque Isle for 3 years.  I started my own massage therapy and personal training business, was a ski team coach, a youth ski program director, an outdoor adventure director, volunteered at our local mountain bike/Nordic ski club, and had frequent lunch dates with my amazing mom, gleaning much wisdom and guidance for my life after being gone for 6 years.

“The County” as my area is referred to, was truly a wonderful place but it came time for me to leave again.   At 28, I decided it was time to move so I began the hunt.  There were three reasons I wanted to move:  1) To be near a local Presbyterian Church (I drove to Canada an hour away), 2) To have a bigger market for business, and 3) To have a larger pool from which to fish… J After some searching, Concord was the winner, mostly because of its close proximity to my New England-based family, as well as Get Fit and the methods of their training.  I was intrigued to know more, to work with others who are smartie pants, and to go where I didn’t have any connections…a reason to rely more on God.  So I became a Get Fit Coach in September 2013!

sarah4By now, many of you know that I’m not married.  I’d love to be, but I blame it mostly on my brothers and Dad.  Their love and care for me over the years, and their care for their wives has set the bar so high that it’s hard to settle.  For now, I’m confident knowing that God has a good plan for my life, and I’m content that until the day comes when I meet someone, my faithful Dad has my heart in safe keeping and I will always be grateful for his love.  But if you’re curious – my two main qualifications are 1) He must love God more than he loves me, and 2) He must look good in spandex. J

Through high school I played soccer, softball, and was on the ski team, and now I road and mountain bike, strength train, swim, run, roller ski, Nordic ski, and snowshoe run…and anything else that can be done outside!  I love to train and I love to race, but oftentimes it’s by myself.  Another blessing that I have is you.  Yes, you and all the others who I have trained in the past.  It is you who I think about when I’m out training and pushing myself to be better.  So, thank you for choosing Get Fit to help me be better.  I hope that I, along with the other coaches, will be a blessing to you as you seek to better yourself.

Writing my Coach Spotlight was not a dread to me.  It’s not a dread to write about the great blessings I have in my life that make me Sarah Gahagan.   Ask me more about those blessings and I’ll talk forever because my cup overflows!

Cheers to seeing your worth and finding joy in life! J

sarah5

Is This Moderation? You Decide.

Junk Food “I eat sweets every once in awhile”, “I have just a few treats each week”, “I eat pretty good”

These are just a few statements I have heard as I review and look at nutritional food logs each week. Recently I did a comparison study of actual food logs.

Now before you say, “I would never eat that, I eat healthy”, I want to say prove it.

Do a three day food log. Make one of those days a weekend. Then turn it in to me for review.

Are you going to take me up on my offer? Why not?

Are you living a lie and don’t know it?

Are you eating foods in “moderation” not realizing they are hindering, if not stopping the progress you want to make?

Is moderation really moderation?

These two food logs are loaded down with a lot of  vegetables. Both of these have more vegetables in the average log I look at, and that is a good thing.

But what else is in there?

Food Log #1

  • Summer Squash           28
  • Lettuce            8
  • Asparagus       8
  • Pasta Sauce     35
  • Salad    33
  • Salad    33
  • Carrots            35
  • Tomato Sauce 25
  • Salad    33
  • Salad    33
  • Celery 2
  • Carrots            12
  • Green Beans    43
  • Salad    10
  • Pasta Sauce     47
  • Green Beans    86
  • Yellow Peppers          12
  • Pasta Sauce     35
  • Broccoli           51

Total Calories           569

–           Loaded with Vitamins, minerals, and fiber

Same food log…

  • Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup    230
  • Subway Cookies         400
  • Frosting           140
  • Swedish Fish   140
  • Dove Chocolate          210

Total Calories           1124

–         no nutritional value

Food Log #2 

  • Peas   100
  • Veggies 120
  • Spinach 5
  • Peppers 19
  • Carrots   35
  • Peas  62
  • Lettuce 15
  • Tomatoes 11
  • Cucumber 23
  • Carrot 23
  • Broccoli 2
  • Salsa 20
  • Spinach 5
  • Peppers 19
  • Carrots  35
  • Peppers  31
  • Peas 100
  • Spinach  5
  • Spinach    5
  • Lettuce  15
  • Tomatoes 11
  • Cucumber  23
  • Carrots  23
  • Broccoli  2
  • Lettuce  15
  • Tomatoes  11
  • Cucumber  23
  • Carrot  23
  • Broccoli  2
  • Peppers  19
  • Spinach 7
  • Peppers  19
  • Spinach  5
  • Carrots 35

862 calories

–  Loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber

Same Food Log:

  • Lindt choc   230
  • Chocolate chips    210
  • Chocolate chips    210
  • Reeses p-nut butter cups  210

Total Calories 860

no nutritional value

The take home

The calories consumed by the few sweets on the first food log doubled the amount of calories eaten by the same person through veggies. The bigger factor is that the ‘sweet’ calories provided nothing for the body as far as nutrition.

The calories from moderate eating of sweets on the second food log equaled the calories in that long list of veggies eaten. This person really did a great job getting their vegetables in, and it shows you the power of veggies. LOADS of vegetables. relatively few calories. I bet it took longer to prepare, eat and enjoy them.

I could go through that much candy in about 3 minutes, you?

But where is the “moderation” in this? If your plan called for 1700 calories a day you are eating half in sugar, which not only saps your body of nutrients but is taking the place of nutritious calories, like in lean protein and healthy fats. And if you are just adding it on top of everything else you eat, is it really a mystery you are not losing body fat like you want to?

Like Dean says, moderation isn’t always the end all, and you have to be realistic in what moderation really is.

Something to think (and act) on.

I am waiting for the food log.

Coach Nancy

Are You Incompetent?

incompetenceWhat you say?

I am being mean, you say?

Not at all. In fact a willingness to declare your incompetence is the first step to getting better at something.

Here is the definition of incompetence: “The inability to do something”

What’s mean about that? It’s kind of a fact of life, that we all aren’t naturally good at something and actually have to work at it to get better.

Have you been watching any of the Olympic Games?

Do you think these amazing athletes popped out of their mothers wombs ready to ski, skate, jump and fly at a world class level?

No, rather they found their level of incompetence and then worked to overcome it.

Too many times in my own life I have reached a certain level of success in an endeavor, hit a roadblock, and given up.

“It’s too hard”

“I can’t do it”

“I’ll never be good enough”

Self – SHUT UP!

As coach Erin says, you need to Reset Your Mindset.

“Not now” doesn’t mean never.

Too often we give up, just before we were about to break through.

Determination and Perseverance are what separate achievers from mere dreamers.

The successful from the discouraged and disappointed.

And the Olympic Champion from all the rest.

Don’t get down on yourself for what you “can’t do”.

As one of my mentor’s Martin Rooney likes to say “The way to seeing you are making improvement is by finding the things you cannot do.”

And then going out and doing them anyway.

Make It Happen,

Coach Dean

 

 

Training for a Cause February Edition!

This is going to be a fun one!

On Saturday, February 22, 2014 we are going to get our sweat on for another great cause. You guys completely rocked it last month and we hope to do the same thing this month except this time in EPSOM! (Yes, Concord that means you have to travel over the bridge and through the woods all the way to Epsom!)

This will be an outdoor “Winter Wonderland” training. We have always had a great time with these!

We are looking to gather toiletry items for a local charity called Rise Again Outreach, which is a local faith-based ministry looking to serve people in crisis. We are looking to fill the Get Fit NH mobile with all your donations, so please bring your friends, family, and co-workers to Epsom February 22, 2014 at 10 AM!

The admission price is one or more of the following items:

bathroom tissue
body lotion
cotton swabs
dental floss
deodorant
foot powder
personal hand sanitizer
thick hand wipes
razor
shaving cream
shampoo
conditioner
soap
toothpaste
tissues
toothbrush
diapers
wipes
baby powder
band aids
laundry detergent (individual size)

It’s gonna be a blast, so don’t miss it (and pray for snow) 🙂

Best of Awards Voting Is Open!

best2014_logoCan we make it a 5-Peat?

Hard to believe, but the voting is open for the annual Hippo Press “Best of…” Awards, and we are asking for your support!

Last year we were just honored as “Best of The Best” gym , which made 4 years in a row we have earned “Best of” in that category.

Coach Nancy took top honors as “Best of the Best” Fitness Instructor for the 3rd straight year (I know, I’ve been hearing for years I am second best), and Coach Dean was selected “Best of Concord” for the 3rd time in 4 years.

As I have said before these are team awards, and we couldn’t do what we do without Erin, Meagan, Sarah and Esther, so when you are voting for us you are voting for them as well. We just don’t want to split the vote.

The competition is always tough, so please spread the word and vote in the following categories:

Best Fitness Instructor: I am still kinda partial to Coach Nancy 🙂

Best Gym: Get Fit NH Concord

Please Vote Here

Thanks again for Making It Happen!

Lessons from the Big Game

footballWorking my way through a continuing education module this weekend, I heard something that really made my ears perk up.

Martin Rooney of TFW was giving the lecture, and he was talking about some of the different systems that are out there, and how his (and our) philosophy is different.

What he said was this:

“You don’t have to do the extraordinary, you have to do the ordinary extraordinarily well”.

What he meant by that is you don’t have to do some of the crazy stuff that is out there on YouTube that only about .03% of the population can even attempt, never mind perform well. You have to focus on mastering the basics first, then worry about the fancy stuff. Even some of the exercise progressions in here are not appropriate for everyone who walks in the doors, sometimes for a very long time.

Simple exercises are not always as simple as they seem.

For instance name an exercise that:

  • Activates the stretch shortening cycle
  • Increases heart rate
  • Elevates core temperature
  • Fires up the Central Nervous System
  • Strengthens the foot (if performed barefoot)
  • Works shoulder mobility
  • Works thoracic extension

That’s right, it’s the Jumping Jack.

Usually treated as a “throw away, too easy” exercise, there is far more to it than that. Master the jumping jack and you have a lot going on!

I was reminded of this concept during the Seahawks dismantling of the Broncos last night.

From where I sat, Seattle’s defense was not doing a lot of fancy stuff. They stuck to what they do, which is go hard after the passer, stay in their lanes, go fast to the ball, and tackle cleanly. This is all “basic” stuff you learn in PeeWee which led to them earning the title of NFL Champions.

There is a lesson to be learned here.

Don’t worry about all the stuff that you are “not currently able to do”.

Focus on mastering what you can do, and getting a little better, every single time you step into the gym, every single day.

“You don’t have to do the extraordinary, you have to do the ordinary extraordinarily well”.

That’s what leads to being the best you that you can be!

Make It Happen,

Coach Dean

 

 

 

From Fat to Fit: Spotlight on Coach Dean

Methinks I should have gone first on these Coach Spotlights so the bar was not raised so high with Meagan, Erin and Nancy!

How about some fun facts to know and tell?

As Nancy shared we met in school, and because we had the same last name we shared a mailbox (it was a small school). For a couple weeks I would find anonymous “interest” notes in the mailbox and couldn’t figure out where they were coming from. Duh! In my defense I just didn’t think anyone as beautiful and wonderful as Nancy would have any interest in me – who knew? Always makes you wonder when the ugly guys end up with the good looking wives. Anyway, we have been married 28 years as of Saturday February 8th, so I guess it worked out ok! 🙂

family

The Carlson Family (sans Kimberly)

Besides the whole last name thing, there was some other things we had in common. Her dad and my dad are both only children. Her dad and my dad are both Civil Engineers, and her mom and my mom are both nurses. And no, she is not my sister!

I grew up playing sports, and was really not an exceptional athlete at all. I went to a small private school and lettered in 3 sports (basketball, baseball and my first love soccer), but I probably would have gotten eaten alive at a larger school. My strategy now is to outlast all those guys that used to kick my butt back in the day. I actually am doing pretty well so far at that one!

I served 3 years in the Army at Ft. Benning, GA, which is where my son Tim is now stationed, and where he and Jeff spent the first couple years of their lives. Went back there for the first time in over 25 years when he graduated from selection school late last fall, which was kind of cool. Next time we go down I look forward to spending a little more time poking around.

After leaving the service I got a job with Domino’s Pizza in Manchester as an assistant manager, eventually working my way up to store manager and assistant supervisor of all three Manchester stores. That is really where my fitness journey began, because that is where I started to pack the weight on. It is a tough environment to be in. Fast paced, late night, grab and go – really just excuses I know, but those excuses eventually turned me into a serious fat boy.

Fast forward a few years, Tim is 15, Jeff is 14 and surprise – Nancy is expecting again! God certainly has a sense of humor, because we thought we were well done with kids. I am so glad now that He had another plan, but that was a doozy. I was working in the CAD department at A&B Lumber in Pembroke, and Nancy still had the daycare. Obese, pre-diabetic, and in a couch coma most of the time. Go to work, eat too much junk, sit on the couch and watch TV after work, go to bed and repeat. I still tried to play some pickup basketball here and there, but I am not sure I ever realized how poor of shape I really was. I got a clue at a church picnic, in fact the same one the picture on the wall in the Concord gym was taken at. There were some games and activities, and I came in dead last at a couple of the more active ones. I figured it was a normal part of getting older, I mean I was 33 or 34 after all – practically an old man! Never dawned on me that I could (or should) actually do something about it.

And then the wake-up call. Nancy is 5 months pregnant with Andrew (who is now about to turn 11) and I get a call on my phone at work from my son Jeff, who was homeschooled. “Derek is not breathing. Mom is working on him.”

And life changed forever.

Derek died of SIDS three weeks shy of his first birthday. We thought the stress was going to cause Nancy to lose Andrew. And yet by the grace of God here we are, over 11 years later, with 2 little girls added to our family, and with a whole second family called Get Fit NH.

When Derek died it made me realize I was wasting my own life. I couldn’t keep up with my teenage boys, and our family was going to get bigger soon. How would I ever be able to keep up with Andrew when he was 13 or 14 if I can’t even get off the couch now? At that time I weighed somewhere in the neighborhood of 280 pounds and wire tight 46” pants. 9 months later I was down to around 200 pounds, and that is where you all come into play. I loved training again, having lifted weights in some capacity since I was 14 lifting the old Sears concrete filled barbells in the barn. People asked me how I did it. This is America, so I figured I would make them pay me to find out! 🙂 Seriously though that is when I started my education in fitness training, including a 3 year mentorship with King Sports International, and now have earned more training credentials than are worth talking about. And I continue to work at my craft because now I have a passion to be a better version of who I was for so many years.

 

photo (1)

The Get Fit Family!

I started training some clients one-on-one at the house, still working full time at A&B, and then starting mulling around doing group training. Really it was Dan Yeaton (that is Danno to you) that finally got me off my butt and in May of 2008 we started Get Fit NH outside, in my yard under a halogen light connected to my basketball hoop. We had eight friends of mine (including my best friend Nancy) coming, and then 2 days before we were going to start we got our first paying client sign up through the website – we were in business!

And it has blossomed from there. Sometimes (usually) I still can’t believe it. By the grace of God, the support of more people than I can name, especially Nancy, and a bit of hard work I now get to do what I love – which is train you! We have been so blessed with a fantastic team of coaches through the years, and of course I think we have the best clients in the world.

How cool is that?

Thank-you for all you do, and keep Making It Happen!

Coach Dean

On My Way: How I Lost 50 Pounds in 7 Months

A few notes from Coach Nancy – Cara put this out on Facebook. She is daily putting herself out there. She is journaling in public. While some of you may not want to put it out for all to see, Cara’s been accountable to many because many people ‘see’ her posts and they will ‘see’ if it is making a difference. Did you notice the first line of what Cara wrote “A few of my friends”, I bet many more are watching Cara to see if she is going to make her goal.

Cara also uses another powerful tool to help her, she puts visuals around her house. Her before pictures are near or on her fridge and on her bathroom mirror are sticky notes with the number of pounds she has left until she reaches her goal. Cara has goals and like her journaling she is not the only one who knows her goals. She daily does what it takes to make her longer term goal a reality.

Since she posted this, she has peeled two more sticky notes off that mirror. Keep making it happen, Cara!

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January 16, 2014 at 8:06am

A few friends have asked me to write about how I have had some success in losing weight:

My journey with weight loss began when I saw pictures of myself last spring, 2013. I no longer recognized myself. At my highest weight ever.  Who had I become? My big struggle set in after a medical crisis I had experienced 9 years ago. I survived , but was left no muscle and it turns out you kind of need muscle to burn fat. Add another problem. 4 years ago I took a job, involving 4 hours a day in the car, and very little time for exercise. I ate whatever, whenever, and my body paid the price. I gained 40 pounds in 3 years, on top of old weight, that crept on after having 3 children, etc. Add another stressor: becoming the sole guardian and repsonsible for the all the  care and decision making for a parent. Recipe for a health disaster.

Going back, as a child I was athletic, I swam, skiid, ran, rode horses, biked, hiked, you name it we were outside, and in the mountains almost every weekend. In my 20’s and 30’s I went to the gym quite a bit, and maintained, and was able to lose weight after having the first 2 kids. However, there pieces of habits that were not good. I never learned what a portion was growing up, it was a huge plate of food always. Dessert was a habit in my family. Body image issues were also in my family. I didn’t have all the tools I needed.

So in April 2013,  I knew I had to start something I could handle and build some stamina, so when I was ready for the next step I would have some strength. I started walking. It hurt. My feet, ankles and back hurt.

I did it anyway. I levelled out at walking about 3.5 miles a day, and did that at least 5 times a week. I felt a lot better. I lost about 15 pounds from April to July. I started to work on portion size in this time. I removed fast food, soda, and desserts ( with a few exeptions now and then). I focused each month, on taking one type of poor choice out. So things were going well, but I knew I really wanted a BIG change. I wanted to change my body for real.

I started searching around. I had tried a beautiful gym the year before, but I never connected to the programs there, and never got any help. It was a waste of money and too far away. And frankly their coaches sucked and should not be called coaches. They cancelled my first training session. I did spend some time in the pool their with my daughter. But I actually gained more weight in that time frame.

So then I stumbled on Get Fit NH, a bootcamp training program. It was about 15 minutes away and I read online a lot of positive things. I didn’t call, I just decided to show up and take  a look. I had seen the transformation pictures and was inspired. I went and it was different than anything I had seen or done before. No treadmills, no bikes, no tv’s , no mirrors. The program is a group training session with individual coaching as well. We do very short intervals of challenges exercises using weights, bands, and our own bodies to create resistance. It’s a mixture of cardio and weight training, that blasts fat off like no other program. The workout is different every single day. Your body never gets used to it so you are always challenged. I lose weight every single week. I work hard when I am there. I train 3 days a week, for 1 hour. I started with 2 days a week. I was so sore I couldn’t even move across the bed at first. the next week was better. And better. Then I moved up to 3 days a week, and now I do some of the Saturday events which puts me at 4 days a week, when I can.

My coaches are amazing. They have so much knowledge and I have learned so much. The program focuses on turning us into fat fighting machines through building muscle, and we all work at our own levels. Somedays I’m sure I am the weakest link in that room and it doesn’t even matter because I am doing it, moving and making progress and everyone cheers you on.

I move more, on the days I am not training. I am now jogging, hiking ( even in the snow) and doing other things at home on my non training days.

My next step was to dive into the nutrition. Clearly I had never really learned what to eat, how, when, or why to lose weight. This program focuses on having us eat Protein, Produce and water at each meal. They give us a shopping list, recipes, menus. and yes we eat that for breakfast too. My coach Nancy had me just focus on eating a PPW breakfast for 2 weeks in the beginning and I dropped 5 pounds.  If it is not protein, produce or water I don’t eat it. I allow myself 1 treat meal a week, but it has to be worth it and many times it isn’t.

I drink water, 100 ounces a day. Sometimes black tea, or green tea, and yes I do drink coffee but that is on it’s way out too. This is not easy but I have eliminated: pasta, all processed foods, potaotoes, candy, ice cream, desserts, and anything fried.  I was addicted to sugar, and carbs, period. Those foods, for me, do not allow weight loss.  I am not perfect, and my trainers help work with us during the holidays, etc with a plan. I lost 10 pounds during the holiday time frame.

Another note that may help some of you. And I’m here to bash other programs or those that folllow them. But here it is. I tried Weight Watchers 3 times. First time with success. The next 2 I actually gained weight. And here is why. Those programs have you counting and saving points and somehow making you think you have saved enough to eat that sundae. But in the end, that food doesn’t serve me and doesn’t allow my body weight loss. It kept me trapped in the sugar cycle. I needed to get off that wheel, which always led me back to eating the wrong foods. Here is the second reason that program did not work. I was always always STARVING.

Now off from sugar, carbs, etc….I am FULL when I eat PPW and NOT hungry, and have almost no cravings.

Excuses? I was the queen of all of them. Time? At times I have the job of 2 people in my work. I still travel. We have 2 girls who dance 5 times a week. I have high demands at my work, and at home.

Money? I know, I may step on some toes here. But I wish someone had stepped on mine years ago.  I am going to ask you now, what you spend on drive through, soda, beer, fast food, pizza, take out, cigarettes, and your copays for medications for high blood pressure, diabeters,  or high cholesterol. What does that add up to? Imagine the health and the money you will have when you save on all of those. You can afford to go to the gym. Time? How much time to we all watch tv, or are we on facebook? The time is there.

Visuals: I keep sticky notes on my mirror that cheer myself on, and that state my short term goals of what, by when and why. Know your why and never let go of it, it is powerful and you are worth it. I have pictures up that insprire me.

My next goal is to lose another 14 pounds by mid March. Then on to another 20 off by the end of May.

My why’s : to be a great example to myself, my children and husband, so I can live a full, complete, long life and enjoy it all. I don’t want to be limited by my mind or body.

Forgive yourself for the past and pick yourself up and move today. Do something. Then do more tomorow. Get help. You are worth it!

Cara

Passion and Perseverence – Coach Spotlight Erin Constantin

Coach Erin is our longest tenured coach and has been a huge part of Get Fit NH Concord’s success. Her enthusiasm and passion are infectious. BAM! Her story of persevering through injury and never giving up is both instructive and inspiring. No matter how many times she has been down, she always gets back up!

unnamedI have always been involved in sports.  My main sport and first love was soccer but in 8th grade the varsity track coach at my high school decided that since I was a goalkeeper and had upper body strength I would do well with throwing the Javelin, Discus, and Shot-put.

While practicing with the javelin in very slippery conditions I dislocated my shoulder.  That was followed by months of intensive physical therapy and eventually surgery in the spring of my 8th grade year.  Following four months of recovery, I was allowed to return to soccer and get ready to be the starting goalkeeper for the varsity team.

Within the first week of practice I tore my shoulder up again and had to have another surgery.  After recovering, I played soccer all year round every chance I had until the end of my junior year of high school.  During my junior year of high school I suffered 6 concussions and the doctors advised me to discontinue contact sports.  I was looking for something to stay active during my senior year of high school so I joined a local gym and started working with a personal trainer.  I fell in love with weight lifting and got in great shape which helped prepare me for Rowing at the University of New Hampshire.

Wedding picture family in backThrough my love of sports and fitness and battling through injuries, I decided to major in Exercise Science at UNH.  I knew I wanted to help other people achieve their health and fitness goals.  I also wanted to help others reduce their risk of injuries.  While at UNH I had the privilege of being a member of the Rowing team for 2 years, but rowing contributed to severe back strain.  It was even more discouraging when after graduation from college; I injured my knee and had to have yet another surgery followed by a 4 month recovery.  Let’s just say, I became good friends with my orthopedic surgeon in Boston!

I can certainly empathize with professional athletes and how injuries impact their careers. While there are times I wish I didn’t have so many injuries,  I think it has prepared me for my career  in health and fitness and given me an ability to understand what my clients go through when they have injuries.  My past has enabled me to understand the human body better and how it responds to different exercises due to orthopedic issues.  It is also why I am so passionate about the Functional Movement Screen process to help reduce the risk of injuries to others.  I truly love working with people and helping them achieve their goals.  I am so blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful people at Get Fit NH!

Quick Facts:

Hometown: Foxboro, MA. Home of the New England Patriots!  Born in Denver, CO. where I was a young Denver Broncos fan before moving to Foxboro when I was 4.

Sports teams:  Huge Patriots fan!!!  Also love Manchester United (soccer team in England).

Animals: We currently have a cat but I LOVE dogs and take every chance I can get to dog sit.

Hobbies: Lifting weights, hiking, reading, spending time with my husband, friends and family.

Ten Things You Might or Might Not Know About Coach Nancy

(in no particular order of importance or significance)

  1. nancy2I have three brothers and one older sister. My brothers are to blame for any competitiveness you see in me. They are also the reason for me being on the winning team of anything I play. My siblings and their families all live in or near Indiana, which is where my parents still live. I of course had to make sure I won the “moved farthest from home award”.
  2. I stalked Dean for about three weeks before he noticed me. Yes, I was a secret admirer. I wrote him notes and left them around where I knew he would find them. Eventually I fessed up and we’ve been together ever since. And of course, I won the award for “meeting my spouse in the most unusual way”
  3. Dean and I will soon celebrate our 28th anniversary. While I didn’t win the award for being married first in my family. I did win the award for having the most children. Tim, 27, Jeff, 26, Derek, Drew, 10, Karalynn, 9, and Amy, 7. My youngest brother has since tied me with six children but I did it first!
  4. While I have worked in many different jobs, the longest was owning my own day care. I had this day care in two different states in three different locations. I operated the day care for almost 17 years. Again, I am the only sibling to own her own business.  I win that category as well
  5. nancy2When I met Dean my name was Nancy Carlson. Think about that for a minute…… My married name is actually Nancy Carlson Carlson. I just happened to fall in love and coaxed a man with my same last name to marry me. This makes for a very difficult situation when we tried to explain to our kids going to grandparents and Aunts and Uncles. They were almost all Carlson’s. So now I am winning and making unique impressions on more than just my side of the family. I have yet to meet another person who has done the same thing.
  6. In high school I played football. Yes, my brothers are responsible for the competitive edge. In fact I am so competitive, in my high school yearbook each senior picture had a list of accomplishments during their school years. I wanted my list to be long so I joined as many different clubs and teams as I could. If being well rounded was an event back then, I would have won. Some of the crazy things I did was be a Pom Pom girl, cross country, swim, French club, football, several plays, and other things that I can’t even remember.
  7. I was raised to love my God, my country, and my family. I remember so clearly the celebration of loyalty when our country turned 200 years old. I am still in love with this great nation. I am a patriot through and through. Sure I wish some things were different. There is not a perfect place on this earth.  I have so much joy in traveling around seeing all the great monuments and natural occurrences in the USA. I wish I could say I’ve been to all 50 states but I have not. In fact I have only been west of the Mississippi to travel to Texas, where Dean was stationed and our first son was born. If I could give out an award it would go to the best country ever.
  8.  Nancy skydivingI am a swimmer through and through. I swam competitively from 6 years old to high school. I love being in the water or near it. My parents have a small cabin in Wisconsin. We would stay there all summer as kids. My dad was a firm believer in making sure his two daughters could do everything his sons could do. (maybe that is where I get my competitiveness from). If I went fishing I found all the worms I would need, put the worm on the hook, as well as cleaned the fish too. I enjoy fishing to this day. By the way, I can drive a standard car and change oil because my dad made sure I could if needed.
  9. I would follow Dean to the end of the earth. There are quotes from the movie: Show Me the Money, “You had me at Hello” and “You complete Me”. That sums up Dean and I. He has always wanted to own his own gym. It was a no brainer when he suggested Get Fit NH. I was in. I would do whatever I could to make his dream come true. In doing so I have found my love of coaching. I was a shy kid. It would shock most people to know I talk in front of people. The Get Fit NH family has made me break out of my comfort zone in more than just this one way.
  10. God is a very important part of my life. I have gone through too much, seen too much in life not to think it was organized and put together by someone greater than myself. All that is good in me, is from God. I trust you see it.

I love my Get Fit NH family. I am so thankful you choose to train with us. The stories you’ve created because of stepping out of your comfort zone inspire me and your Get Fit NH family. Continue to Make It Happen.

Coach Nancy