Suzie Trains Maui BLOG

photo by Simone Reddingius

As most of you know, SUP or stand up paddling is a big part of my life and I enjoy teaching others and sharing the health benefits of this sport.

Here is an article I wrote for ATHELTA to share my knowledge and enthusiam for how I see the sport shaping the world but more importantly, how it’s getting more people healthy.

I encourage you to read and share how SUP has benefitted your health!  Click here to read the full story:

http://www.athleta.net/chi/2010/08/20/stand-up-and-%E2%80%9Csweep%E2%80%9D-your-way-to-better-health/

Well, by the overwhelming response and stories I read as one of the judges for  the most recent ATHLETA and SIREN SUP contest, one can say that any age, any person  can “sweep” their way to better health, just about anywhere there is water. People all across the world are “sweeping” their way to better health and having more fun than they ever imagined. “Sweeping” is a slang term used to describe the sport that is going viral faster than any social networking media and changing the world of sports on any body of water — and just about anyone can hop aboard.

Stand up paddling, paddle surfing, or SUP is helping people of all ages and  sizes catch the surfer’s glide, and helping people in all walks of life get fit and healthy, faster and safer. People are simply getting addicted. The Wall Street Journal recently reported on the rise in popularity — not just for those, like me, who are fortunate enough to live in Hawaii or California, but anywhere there’s an ocean, lake, bay, or even river rapids, you can find this world phenomenon catching on. There are SUP fitness boot camps and clinics popping up anywhere there is water. You may have noticed more races and events happening in your community too.

Below are some photos of a recent FREE women’s Sup clinic last month, and these gals were wonderful.  In the first hour, there were smiles across the ocean and a new found ticket to health.  I do these monthly to ensure the health of our community and introduce women and men to a new way to get fit! For “fun” I had the girls attempt a few push ups. They were amazing. On the right is Amy Hampton, the Director of Maui’s American Heart Association, getting her heart pumping!

WHAT’S SUP?

According to Wikipedia: Stand up paddle surfing (SUP), or in the Hawaiian language Hoe he’e nalu, is an emerging global sport with a Hawaiian heritage. The sport is an ancient form of surfing, and began as a way for surfing instructors to manage their large groups of learner surfers, as standing on the board gave them a higher viewpoint, increasing visibility of what was going on around them — such as incoming swell. To begin with, this started with using a one-bladed paddle, whilst standing on a normal length surfboard. The popularity of the modern sport of SUP has its origination in the Hawaiian Islands. In the early 1960s, the Beach Boys of Waikiki would stand on their long boards, and paddle out with outrigger paddles to take pictures of the tourists learning to surf. This is where the term “Beach Boy Surfing”, another name for Stand Up Paddle Surfing, originates.

THE BENEFITS OF SUP

Not only can you lower your blood pressure, improve your cholesterol and feel more energized after a session, but the overall experience of being on the water is often touted as “aqua therapy.” The benefits of having a sport you enjoy and can do on a regular basis can alter many of the morbidity factors that decrease our health and plague our society.

I use this sport as a cross-training tool for almost all my clients who are comfortable in the water and who can swim.  It is low impact on all joints and is also being used to improve balance and core strength for people recovering from serious injuries.  I used my stand up paddle board to recover from a serious bilateral leg and ankle accident.  I have also witnessed this sport transform people’s lives overnight, by instilling a new found level of confidence and achievement, making them feel invincible!

As a sponsored team SUP rider for Naish International, instructor, and SUP clinic organizer, I love to introduce the sport to everyone who visits Maui, and help others perfect their paddling stroke  — from flat water fun to waves, and the really popular coastal long distance down winders we do here on the North Shore of Maui.

But, before you hop aboard, I’d like to offer my professional experience and expert resources about water safety, board and paddle selection, and how to maximize your fun to maximize your health so you can glide into your later years with a smile and healthy body!

WATER SAFETY

Continue reading ATHLETA Article: Stand Up and Sweep Your Way to Better Health by Suzie Cooney August 2010

Why Diets Fail and Tips on What You Can Do To Be A Success

Suzie Cooney, CPT

Are you a chronic dieter?  How many fad diets have you tried? Diets statistically just   don’t work.  The pounds come off you put them on again, and so the yo-yo cycle continues.

When we set out to go on a “diet” we are not truly committed. Take the word “diet” out of your language and replace with “lifestyle.”  Also, instead of using the word “lose” replace with “shed”. It also requires you to dig deep and discover what is the true convincing factor, as to why you want to shed the weight once and for all. It has to come from deep within and include daily reinforcement.

Most diets are simply not sustainable.  It’s going to take more than just a book, a few low- cal recipes and a DVD they sell to go with it, to make the critical mental shift. Depriving yourself, viewing your diet as a miserable journey adds to the failure component.

Diets also fail because our expectations are too high. We are a society of instant gratification. One needs to be patient, make simple changes and recognize your mistakes and not beat yourself up over them. Move on.   Long term goals are good, but set short term goals that you can achieve daily and weekly will add to your overall success.

Fad diets set you up to fail. Right around the corner of a good day, a ferocious binge awaits. Surround yourself with supportive people who don’t sabotage your efforts.

For every 3-5 pounds you lose, everything starts to feel better! You have more energy, your stress levels drop, your blood pressure drops and your joints of your body and move more freely.

In closing, my clients who are seriously successful with their shedding of weight are serious about their portions and measuring their food. They are also very good at keeping simple food journals to help them keep on course.

Keep up the good work everyone! Aloha,

Suzie Cooney, CPT

http://www.suzietrainsmaui.com

If I can help you achieve your short and long term “lifestyle” goals, I’m here to help! You can reach me at suzie@suzietrainsmaui.com

Find me on Face Book : http://www.facebook.com/suzietrainsmaui

Interval vs. Long Steady Cardio

We’re learning more and more about interval training vs. longer bouts of cardio efforts. Making your cardio time count is the key without over training. Regular bursts of high intensity training followed by moderate recovery is the really the way to go, not to say that there isn’t the place for a longer scheduled cardio period.

Studies suggest one may burn up to 1 1/2 times the calories during the same duration if you had done long and steady cardio. In addition, you will even burn 75-125 additional calories after the workout. Also keep in mind that long and steady helps enhance your metabolism. I’d like to suggest to do intervals 75% of the time and then mix it up with another 25% of Long and Steady to help reduce your chance of injury by over training.

One of my favorite cardio programs that I do for myself in 30 minutes is this:

Treadmill, spin bike, treadmill, spin bike; alternating between each song from my IShuffle. Guns n Roses, Welcome to the Jungle, does it for me!  By the time I’m reaching 20 minutes into my cardio, I try to not sit on the bike AT ALL , until I’m my 30 minutes is up. But, I’m also careful and know that I can’t maintain and all out effort for the entire 30 minutes. I’m probably pushing hard about 6-7 times all out for 45 seconds to a minute, then allowing for small recovery but never fully recovering of course. Then up again!

My heart rate is definitely high but I’m having way more fun by approaching it this way. Then after this, I’ll do my strength training, followed by some balance training with all my fun gear, like the new Gigante by INDO Board. 

Or, if time allows, I grab my SUP board and do fast sprints from point to point. I’ll even head into the wind for and extra challenge.

If you’re just starting to get into interval training, take it easy and don’t allow yourself to crash halfway into your workout. I might suggest that you simply do 2 -3 small bursts of high intensity bouts at 20 30 seconds and work your way up. To do a whole song at 3 minutes can easily deplete your energy stores if you aren’t careful. Another reason to eat about 45 minutes well before you do this.  A little high quality carb or fiber, like a banana or oatmeal is good.  And then remember after your workout, you should consume a little carbs and protein to rebuild what you broke down and replenish your fluids.

Kicking your metabolic after burners on high is truly the key.  This will keep your metabolism  in a higher gear day and night!

Let me know how you do!

In good health,

Suzie Cooney, CPT  Suzie Trains Maui
http://www.suzietrainsmaui.com

See more of Suzie’s portfolio here:

How Much Exercise Prevents Weight Gain?

Maximize Your Fitness Results by Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

It’s time to sweat, huff and puff and get uncomfortable!  Can you really get a 12 pack in 5 minutes? Want to lose those lingering last 10 pounds you can’t seem to shake?

I’m here to tell you, you must be a little uncomfortable in your training sessions and when you work out some of the time, otherwise wouldn’t everybody workout?

I have a saying that I whisper in the ears of my clients who are ready to give up on that one little last rep, or if they feel another bead of sweat rolling down their face:  I smile big and quietly say,  “ this is where your body changes”.

Here are a few tips to bust that plateau and push a little harder:

Music:  Rock out, find that song that makes you move and groove. Sure works for me. Now you can enjoy your tunes on the water! How fun is that. If you’re paddling a long distance paddle, just don’t turn it up too loud so you can hear a whale breaching or spouting behind you ( only on Maui )

Self Message: What’s your mantra? What can you say to yourself so you get through that tough set? Come on you wimp!   What would you say??

Setting goals EVERY workout to meet your long term goals:  Track your results so you can see progress. Without benchmarks you have nothing to weigh your performance against.  At your next work out, tell yourself you’ll do 50 hard ab crunches or add and extra10 minutes to my treadmill time.

Change It Up: You want a hard body, you must train hard in many different ways. If you’re bored I guarantee your body is more bored and content to stay the same if you do the same. Simply by adding 25 jumping jacks between each set, look out that can add up and be a great training variable!

Keep in mind, there is a difference between pain and a little stress on your body. Be prepared to be a little sore once in awhile. Muscle soreness is a part of the body recovering and even on the second day after a hard work out, you can feel it the most.

Intense training is good, but equally important is rest and recovery. Learning about how to eat for training and recovery will allow you prepare, get through and recover through a harder training session.

Suzie Cooney, CPT

Coleen is a delightful, lovely, strong surfer who also happens to be an outstanding physician in our community and saves  people’s lives everyday here on Maui. I’m pleased that she has come forward to share her experience with you with the desire to help others get out of their training rut and make positive life changes.  We are making tremendous progress and stay tuned for her results at the end of this month.

She writes:

“A few months ago I had to face the fact that me training me was not working so well. I would work out at the gym, go on brisk walks uphill, and eat reasonably. Then I would look in the mirror and realize that my way was not really working. Two ladies recommended Suzie Cooney and it was obvious that my regime was not very fruitful. We met for an interview to see if we would click. Wow, she was fit and knowledgeable about exercise and diet. What she also excelled at was motivation and creativity. She did a very thorough initial evaluation complete with pictures and measurements.

That was the day I discovered that you are in fact what you eat. I looked like a potato with dark, curly hair. I also had several chins and the posture of an old woman with osteoporosis. Yikes!! I NEED Help. I let this woman, who is quite stunning; measure me in all of my flabbiness. The most remarkable part of this evaluation was how comfortable she made me feel. I never felt belittled or less than her. Beautiful, blond women who are svelte and fit are inherently intimidating to short, out-of-shape, brunettes. Not this lady. She is beautiful inside and out.

My workouts with Suzie are not only designed to get maximum results which I would notice with each and every workout they were also really fun and different every time!  I told her to kick my butt and that she does. I make fun of my flab and Suzie will tell me how much progress I have made. She makes me see that I can do more and get the results I want. She designs her programs individually and they are geared so the client will be successful.

I welcome your call or email and highly recommend you meet with her to see how she can change your life too.”

Coleen Haynes, M. D.

808-264-5784
coleenhaynes@yahoo.com

Aloha and Merry Christmas! As we approach the New Year, it’s time for many of us to take special inventory of family, life and our own personal health. I am so thankful for being on Maui and to surf on Christmas; a tradition in my house!

Not everyone is as lucky to live in Maui and surf, eat fresh fish, and simply enjoy the natural healthy lifestyle that surrounds us. But even if you are in the coldest place in the world, you can embrace health even in the simplist ways:

1. Make YOU a priority each and everyday to exercise or do an activity you enjoy.

2. Embrace your life as it is today, and strive hard to make ever lasting healthy lifestyle choices. Surround yourself with people that challenge you, inspire you and believe in you. It really makes a difference!

3. Look in the mirror and like what you see. Having a healthy body image and loving yourself inside and out is contagious and I think very attractive.

4. Forget New Years resolutions…. they don’t work. Chunk it down and be realistic with your fitness goals. Reward yourself with a new workout top, new surf board, or whatever makes you happy!

And 5. Reflect back and see where you are now and where you want to go; in life, love and health.

Wishing you all that you love to come your way. Be strong in every step you take. Try something new!

Happy Holidays,

Suzie      Photo by Simone Reddingius :http://www.flickr.com/photos/by-simone/

Although the Thanksgiving Holiday is a time of family and friends, giving thanks and maybe a football game or two, it’s also a time, for some, a food free for all that can quickly add unwanted inches to your waistline.

But, if you have a game plan you can enjoy the day without adding the extra wobble!  Here are a few tips to keep your weight loss and fitness goals on track:

1. Don’t exercise as an excuse to indulge. You might say to yourself, “oh I’ll have a second serving of mash potatoes.” Well, that extra 300 calories you can eat in under 15 seconds, will take you at least 40 minutes or more of moderate cardio to burn that off.
2. Slow down. Allow your body to register the food you are putting in your mouth. For those fast gobblers, your body and brain can’t keep up with your mouth to know when it’s full.  So 20 minutes is a good target amount of time to eat. Also include a sip of water before each bite.
3. Cook with low-fat ingredients. There are many healthy substitutes for cooking a delicious meal. For example, try low fat, sodium free chicken broth, or low fat or fat free sour cream for the mash potatoes.  Also, sugar substitutes can save you hundreds of extra calories. And remember to cook the stuffing outside of the bird vs. inside. Reach for white meat vs. brown meat.
4. Holidays can be stressful times for many and is one of the main factors why people over eat during the holidays.  If there are too many relatives, kids or barking dogs all sitting around in one room, instead of reaching for 2 extra bread muffins, or another beer, take a break, get up and walk outside for some nice fresh air. If you’re the one who is so kindly cooking, plan ahead and have everyone bring a dish.
5. Watch out for pre dinner grazing. Sure, if you’re the cook, you can taste a little here and there. If you’re simply passing by the kitchen to “test” a few things before they are served, before you know it that could be an extra 500 calories.
6. Lastly, wear tighter fitting clothes! Leave the elastic pants in the drawer or use them to wash the car.

Here is a helpful link to help you prepare healthy, low-fat dishes this Thanksgiving. Brought you to by the Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/thanksgiving-recipes/NU00643

I give thanks to all my friends and ohana on Maui.

Happy Thanksgiving

Suzie Cooney is a certified personal trainer on Maui. Learn more about her and her services at www.suzietrainsmaui.com/blog

She can also be reached e: Suzie@SuzieTrainsMaui.com

Suzie Cooney is a contributor the The Maui Weekly.

Click here to read more about Increase Muscle Mass and why you should too:

http://www.mauiweekly.com/page/category.detail/nav/5015/Suzie-Trains-Maui.html  

To contact Suzie Cooney, CPT
808-283-2121
e: Suzie@SuzieTrainsMaui.com

  The Maui Weekly printed today:

Break out of the workout trap, and don’t be like others stuck in the same routine—and the same body.

Ever notice at the gym: You see the same person on the same treadmill or weight machine doing the same routine? But, do they look any different? Here are a few tips to avoid falling into the same workout trap.

More is not always better

Lifting too much weight can compromise the alignment of your spine and may cause muscle and ligament injuries. Heavier is not necessarily better. Watch your form and avoid swinging weigths or overloading the cables. For example, the lat pulldown machine can be very dangerous with too much weight. Maintain a controlled movement and pace. Avoid the rocking back and forth movement that tends to come with too much momentum or weight.

There’s more to train than just a bicep!

Most people love to train the bicep muscles, because they tend to respond to training rather quickly. Have you noticed that when you’re at the gym, everyone’s doing a bicep curl? Yeah, it looks great, but it’s the smallest upper body muscle. Don’t forget your legs, back, shoulders and abs! Balance your workout for total body conditioning.

Where’s my six-pack?

Continue reading The Workout Trap This weeks Maui Weekly Article October 8th 2009