Sabrina Peterson’s blog

Remember my article about crunches being so last millenium?  I hope you all have been doing the ab routine I spelled out for you.  If you have you should have seen a difference in the strength of your back, shoulder and abdominal muscles. 

If you haven't, shame on you!! (I'm kidding, but only slightly...)

I bet you didn't know you have two different but synergistic muscle systems in your core - the stabilization system and the movement system.

The movement system is comprised of the core muscles that are closer to the surface of your body (i.e. your rectus abdominis, glutes, obliques and hip flexors) are the muscles that allow you to move and bend.  These are the muscles most people concentrate on or THINK they are working on when they are doing ab exercises like crunches, leg lifts and bicycles.

The stabilaization system is comprised of the deeper muscles of the core such as the multifidus which is a ropy muscle that runs down either side of the spine and supports it, the transverse abdominis which is like a girdle and is the muscle you activate when you "suck in" your stomach, and your pelvic floor muscles.  These are the muscles most people do not work.  The plank exercise is the best way to work this particular group of muscles. 

Concentrating on strengthening the stabilizing muscles of the core will not only improve your posture but will help you perform any exercise better!  Using perfect posture includes activating the core stabilizing muscles.  You will also improve kinetic chain dysfunction. 

You can do any kind of crunches or other abdominal exercises and add stabilization to them (like holding your position for a few seconds at the top of each rep) but to really improve your posture and balance and to protect yourself from injury you need to focus on doing exercises like the plank or hip bridge in order to really strengthen the deeper muscles of your core.

Core stabilizion strength is the basis for any level of fitness you hope to achieve.  So get to work!

Sabrina Peterson

Personal Trainer, Weight Loss Coach, and Corrective Exercise Specialist

I love the olympics!  Especially the summer olympics because those are the sports that I can compete in.  I don't ski, never have.  Never ice skated either.  I prefer my bones unbroken, thank you.

Next month the world is going to be treated to the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.  Remember ABC's Wide World of Sports intro with Jim McKay (RIP)??  Wish I could find that video to share with you. 

I love watching almost all the summer olympic sports but my favorite part of any olympics competition are the profiles and stories of the individual athelets.  If those don't inspire you then you are dead inside. 

Then there are the moments where the underdog wins the gold medal or the favorite runs out of steam halfway through the competition (think Paula Radcliffe in the Women's Marathon in 2004...sad, though Deena Kastor was amazing to watch as she took the bronze medal in that race.) 

Remember Kerri Strug in the 1996 Olympics when she had a badly sprained ankle, and yet, on her final vault she stuck the landing on one leg and won gold? 

There is a constant parade of fit, sexy people on your TV when watching the olympics....maybe with the exception of power weight lifters or male and female hammer toss/discus throwers/shot putters.  Maybe I'm biased because I started playing sports at a very young age and I've always been attracted to athletes.

Playing any type of sport (ok, poker is NOT a sport, ESPN!) is a great way to get in shape.  I believe having fun is an important part of any exercise program.  You can get a great workout without it feeling like work, depending on your sport of choice.  Even when I weighed 291 lbs. I took tap dance for about a year and had the best time.  Believe it or not I was still quite agile at that weight.  I didn't lose a pound but I had a great time and it was good exercise. 

So pick up a tennis racket, basketball, soccer ball or go join one of your local parks and recreation sports teams.  You will make new friends, get in shape and enjoy the outdoors all at the same time. 

For me, I think I'm ready to get back distance running again.  It's been far too long since I've run a race.  Now I'm slow and not winning any races (I'm a born sprinter so distance running is a real chore for me) but I finish, and that's all that matters. 

I recommend you watch the olympics and be inspired.

One of these days I'll have to tell you the story of how comedian Ralphie May brought tears to my eyes on the show VH1's Celebrity Fit Club. 

A few of you brave souls allowed me to give you a fitness assessment in Las Vegas.  And you do have some work ahead of you to fix your musculoskeletal imbalances, but I guarantee it will be completely worth it. 

I am looking forward to seeing what exactly will go into something like this so I appreciate that you guys/gals will be my guineau pigs. 

If you want to participate in this I will need to assess you, which I can do if you have a webcam and can follow a few simple directions while I look at various parts of your kinetic chain (i.e. joints/limbs). 

Also, if you choose to be part of my 'test subject group' you will need a foam roller which can be purchase online here:

http://optp.com/index.cfm/pageid/242 

The size you need is item #FR126.  

 This is the best price I have found anywhere, even with shipping costs. 

This tool is a crucial part of the program.  It's worth every penny.  

Let me know if you want to do this, and for those who already "opted in" please let me know when you get your foam roller. 

With the exception of purching a foam roller this course will be free for the inner cirlce.

If I could also get your feedback on a weight management course, that would be helpful! 

I will get back to blogging about fitness and such another day. 

I'm taking my 14 year old daughter to see The Police in concert tonight.  I'm a pretty cool mom, sometimes.

Right now I'm taking a bunch of blogthings quizzes and posting them at my other blog.

Hope you all have a great weekend. 

Sabrina Peterson

Personal Training and Weight Management Plans

Check out my latest blog about what you need to do if you are serious about losing weight and maintaining your weight loss.

Sabrina Peterson

Personal Trainer and Weight Loss Coach

After a whirlwind week of many, many Starbucks stops and shopping for everything from cameras and computers to Xbox360 games to new designer clothes, I am in need of a day of rest after my friend Donald's  visit!

It's a tough job being a tour guide.

I hope everyone had a great 4th!

More soon...

Choosing to compete in a sport or specific event is a great way to get in shape and test your abilities. 

A few years ago I was running 5ks, 10ks, and half marathons on a regular basis.  Which meant I had to train specifically and regularly for my sport.  I loved it.  It was a great physical and mental challenge.  I am a born sprinter (wanna race me 100 yards?  I'll smoke you.) so distance running - anything over half a mile - is tough for me. 

The best part of any race (for me) is crossing the finish line. It's such a feeling of accomplishment!  Plus earning a medal is way way cool!  I have a collection of them somewhere.

One of my clients is competing in a half triathlon today.  I am so proud of her.  She has trained hard and consistently and did not give up even after having to take a week off from training because she was terribly sick!

I have told her countless times that I am so impressed with her decision to do a triathlon (running, biking and swimming in the same event for those of you who aren't familiar) because I just don't swim well enough to do it in a competition! 

Just since I have known her (2 1/2 months) her fitnsss level has doubled...a lot of it with some help from me!  All her friends think she is crazy.  I don't.  I know how competition can shape your mental outlook and focus in all areas of your life.

I know she is gonna do a great job today!  I've enlisted her friend to make sure she rests and recovers and takes several epsom salt baths (for inflammation) this weekend.  It will be a hard task because Heather doesn't sit still for long!

You don't need to run races or become a bodybuilder (unless that's your cup of tea) to compete in a sport.  You could join your local parks and recreation sports leagues.  Dating Coach April would say definitely choose the co-ed teams if you are going to join one!

Find something you love to do and do it a few times a week along with a program of simple strength training and cardiovascular exercise.  I guarantee you will see a vast improvement in your fitness level in as little as 4 weeks!

Sabrina Peterson

Personal Training and Sports Conditioning

Nice teleconferencing with everyone this evening.  I think I should not have talked so much. 

I haven't been feeling the greatest the past few weeks and found out yesterday that I have what is called Exudative Pharyngitis.  Or according to this website, strep throat.  And a raging case of it. 

Now I know why I've had such a hard time teaching this past month.  The doctor got on my case after she noticed a BIG, ugly white spot on the back of my throat and said," You haven't been feeling well for a few weeks now have you?"  I couldn't disagree.

But when I get sick, I'm committed to being sick.  I really should have gone to the doctor on Monday but I didn't feel awful, just had a bit of a scratchy throat. 

So, a $250 bottle of antibiotics and some Magic Mouthwash (no kidding!  That's what the prescription said!) later, and lots of Ibuprofen (now why didn't I get that Vicodin prescription filled?????)  I'm somewhat on the mend.

Thank you all for inquiring about how I'm doing tonight.  You guys are so nice. 

I should be a new woman by tomorrow, or Friday at the latest!  And, yes, I can drink while taking my medication!!

I really enjoy blogging at vox, reading your blogs (you guys are mucho talented), reading your comments on mine and others' blogs, and just generally having a great experience.

Kevin is just too smart and passes along what he knows works along to all of us!  Just in the month I've been on Vox my search ranking has come up tons. 

If you search Sabrina Peterson from the Yahoo! main page, you can find me on 5 out of 10 of the first page results!  For a while it was only 1 out of 10.

If you google my name I get first, second billing on the first page.  And at the bottom of the page (#10) you find: Dazzlingly Beautiful Sabrina Peterson - Vox (I look posessed!)

Thanks to April, my beauty is recognized on the web!!  :) :) :)

Thank you...I'll be here all week and don't forget to tip your waitress! 

If you search for my name from the msn.com homepage you find me in 5 out of 10 listings, though some OTHER (imposter!) Sabrina Peterson who is a passion parties consultant is taking up way too much space in the top 10... 

(FYI, according my my friend and expert in this area, Raven, do not waste your money...they sell toxic toys.)

Whatever...when you're in great shape you don't need artificial means to have great sex! 

So...

thank you everyone for helping in this group effort

April, for being the cheerleader, Steve for keeping us aprised of gas prices and great sales tips, David Power for not only having the coolest name in hypnosis hands down but for showing us how hynposis can improve our lives, Rob Northrup for giving us the best information about starting and protecting our corporations,  Sonya Lenzo for teaching us about business insurance and what to ask your agent, Jennifer Skinner for teaching us what to wear and what to get rid of!

Matthew Shields for showing us how to save energy and green alternatives to power our lives,  Yann Vernier for teaching us life skills as well as keeping his office mice-free, John Wadsworth for giving us simple to understand mortgage and credit information, Aaron Agostini for giving us awesome communication tips, and The Road Warrior for helping us find great travel deals and ways to get from here to there without losing our minds! 

Tim Birch not only aggravated me at times but kicked my butt to get one of my sites looking better.  Sue Crutcher for helping all of us who spend too much time in front of the computer how to alleviate stress and tight muscles, Sheridan Randolph for teaching us copywriting secrets, Boston's Hottest Mom, Lisa McLellan for giving us great parenting tips, Peter Helton for all the incredible skin care information (my skin is glowing after using his products for a week), Michelle Matteson for finding time to comment on our blogs and pics though she doesn't even have a spare moment she's so busy right now, and Andrew Records for entertaining us with stories about stupid criminals and great tips on computer viruses.

Also I know I'm more than a week behind putting your links and blurbs on my website but I will get it done eventually!

Again, I appreciate all of you and have learned so much from reading your blogs and websites. 

yesterday was easily one of the most f''ed up days I've ever experienced.

BUT, I have updated my website.

Take a look if you please...

www.sabrinapeterson.com

I want to thank all of you for your comments and suggestions.  What I did was copy and paste the sales letter from the copywriter.  Then I had to focus on the horse race and then the kiddos so I will make sure to correct all the glitches!

Thanks for the input!

Sabrina :)