Wednesday WOOT! Factor!

Go Rae Rae!! Kids, I'm happy to share my BFF Rae Rae who lives WAAAAYYY over there in Kangaroo land (Australia!) but formerly of the U.S. Can't wait to hang out with this awesome woman in person soon because she ROCKS. Totally. Check out my WWF interview with Rae Rae (as I call her) below.

And remember, Wednesday Woot! Factor is brought to you by the fun group of kids at the Sears(R) Fit Club! If you haven't joined us, please do- CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE SEARS FIT CLUB ON FACEBOOK!

Sears carries just about every possible fitness gadget, cardio machine and weight training tool you can imagine. Plus, they are the exclusive provider of NordicTrack and they have a ton of cool MMA type stuff (um yes, totally added to my wish list for Santa!). Check out Sears.com to get an idea.

1.       When did you first start working out and why?

I started doing ballet when I was 5. From there I did heaps of gymnastics and dance; was always involved in some sort of sport-track, volleyball etc. I actually started teaching aerobics when I was 15.

When I was 20, the guy I was dating was a bodybuilder and that's when I was first introduced to and fell in love with weights.

2.       Are you at your “Happy Place” right now – meaning more of a maintenance mode, or are you still in a weight loss mode?

I would have to say yes! With the exception of a few regular aches and pains, I feel damn good! Their have only been two times in my life that I have actually been in "weight loss mode"-the first was when I turned forty and was the heaviest I think I've ever been (128lbs-at 5'1") I wasn't paying attention to what I was eating, wasn't putting as much effort into my training and was drinking ALLOT, so I kicked things into gear to lose that extra weight-that's also when I decided to do my first figure comp.

The second time I was in weight loss mode was earlier this year, when I decided to do another figure comp. I had only gained a few pounds really, but figure comp requires that ultimate lean look.

3.       If you are in maintenance mode, do you feel that you work just as hard to maintain your level of fitness as you did to lose it?

Since I love working out, I'd have to say yes! Obviously I don't have the same food intake as when I competed, and when I was getting ready for the comps I trained with weights 4 days a week instead of just three; John trained me one heavy day each week. Plus, I did allot more cardio for a comp as well-like twice a day 6 days a week. But for maintenance I still work out consistently and go hard. Just not as much cardio. My eating is pretty healthy...both my husband and I just like to eat well and be fit.

4.       What does your current workout “routine” look like now?

I workout with weights three days a week:

Sunday=Chest & shoulders

Tuesday=Legs & abs

Wednesday=Back, Bis & Tris

5.       What do you do for cardio? How often?

These days I've jumped onto the running bandwagon. I run Monday, Wednesday & Friday-about 30 minutes at this stage.

6.       Do you workout at home or the gym?

Since John & I have a personal training business-we've converted the attached garage into a fabulous training studio-so we have the luxury of working and working out at home.

7.       What do you say to those that haven’t gotten fit and complain that they don’t because they “can’t get motivated”?

You either want to be fit or you don't! I never understand people that "can't get motivated". I mean-if you just don't care about being healthy, fine-don't talk about it and don't complain...if you want to get fit you will. Where there is a will there is a way, ALWAYS!

8.       What about any/all of the excuses like “No time”, “No money”, “no gym”, “no support”?

Again-if you want to, you will find a way. These are all lame excuses that people say when they really don't want to bother with their health and feel guilty about it so try justifying their lack of effort. No time-that person can often be found sitting in front of the computer playing facebook mafia wars or sitting in front of the TV daily; time that could easily be spent doing a quick little intense interval training session. No money-it doesn't cost a dime to go outside and walk or run!

No gym-Push ups and sit ups don't require anything but a person's body. No support-there are heaps of books, magazines, blogs, DVD's and websites out there to help people get on track and figure out a fitness plan. Also, once you get started-you might be able to talk a friend or two into joining you. Plus, if you do decide to go to a gym or fitness centre or take a class-you'll find heaps of like minded people!

9.       What does your “diet” look like i.e. how you eat, what is your Philosophy?

Glad you put "diet" in quotes because you know I hate that word! My daily food intake is pretty easy-Real Food. I stay away from highly processed crud as much as possible. I do cheat and use pre-made salsa in a jar, and pasta sauce and I eat some low-fat stuff like cottage cheese and milk; but over all I get lots of fresh veg, fruit and meat in daily. Our lifestyle is pretty laid back so I do have the luxury of cooking all of my meals daily but I always recommend to people on the go take one day a week to cook up some stuff in bulk. Sometimes staying healthy does require a bit of extra thought-but when it comes to the health of you and your family-I think people should take the time and plan it out a bit.

I eat and try to encourage my clients to eat about five times a day. This is mainly so that we don't totally stuff ourselves at meal time. If a person is not hungry-then yeah, don't force it; but I find most of the time people are hungry at various times during the day-not just "meal time". So to encourage better eating-spread out the healthy stuff. If you have some fruit and nuts at 10am, you are less likely to grab a bag of chips and/or cookies with your salad at lunch!

10.   What changes have you made over the past several years in your diet and/or workout approach and why?

The biggest change was that I quit drinking. Admittedly, I had a huge problem with alcohol. Luckily, everything else I did as far as health and fitness was spot on-so I haven't suffered from my past addiction. But, I can honestly say, now that I have had well over a year without touching a drop-I feel better than ever-physically, mentally and spiritually.

11.   What is your food weakness?

There was a while there, just before my last comp, that I was daily eating cooked up Ramen noodles with egg and soy sauce-I know...Everyone gives me a super odd look-but there is just something about the salt and the texture! I haven't touched that since before the comps though. Other than that-I am a cheese and cracker fan, and I do have some organic chocolate (MILK chocolate!) in the fridge. The key is to just eat the less-than-perfect foods occasionally and in balance.

12.   What is your favorite healthy breakfast?

I eat two "breakfast" meals-one before my workout or cardio and again after.My first meal is always coffee w/milk and honey, gluten free toast w/natural peanut butter & honey. My second meal is very often a boiled potato (or 1/2 depending on the size-I like the little red ones), and 3 egg whites with one yolk cooked like a large fried egg together with salsa and Plain Greek Yogurt (regular fat, not reduced!) If I have a done a super good, hard workout-like a bench press max out, I'll treat myself to some pancakes-egg white, cottage cheese & oats w/real maple syrup!

13.   When did you start blogging and why?

Back just before I turned forty, I was at a low spot. I wasn't eating very well, drinking heavily and not focused with my workouts. We had just moved to a fairly secluded area, gone through a cat 4 cyclone and I just wasn't particularly happy with life in general. Well-one day I looked in the mirror and said I needed to snap out of it, got on-line and started looking on myspace for fitness minded people in Australia; that led me to blog land and from there it just exploded! After reading and commenting on blogs in Australia and America I decided to start my own. 

It's been through several changes since then...but once I started competing and training people for our PT business, I sort of found my spot in the world of blogs.

14.   How has blogging enhanced your fitness efforts?

It keeps me on my toes to continue practicing what I preach. More than anything, these days it's a way for me to help others-in fitness as well as with addiction.

15.   What is your Twitter/FB/Email?

http://www.facebook.com/raechelle.thomas

http://raechellesblog.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/Raechelle11

http://www.oneononefit.net/

16.   What haven’t you done (fitness wise) that you’d like to try?

Well, since I started running regularly, I would very much like to do some sort of charity runs in the future.

17.   What motivates you to keep at it?

There are several things that motivate me to keep working out and eating healthy.

 When I see someone who is my age or in their 50's or 60's and they are already hunched over with osteoporosis or can't lift anything that weighs more than a vacuum that motivates me to keep eating well and working out. I don't ever want to be that person.

When I see someone who is 80, 90 or 100 and still bench pressing, swimming, jogging or doing yoga (and there are plenty of those folks out there!), that totally motivates me because I WANT to be that person!

Being able to bench press my own body weight, do 10k (22lb) dumbbell curls, push ups and pull ups as a 43 year old woman who is only 5'1" and 122lbs really motivates me! Yes, it's an ego pump...can't help it!

18.   Are you a morning workout person or evening or lunchtime?

Morning all the way. That's definitely when I have the most energy; plus, living in the tropics-afternoon workouts just aren't inviting at all.

19.   What is YOUR biggest excuse that you find yourself battling in not wanting to workout a certain day?

I suppose days that I am feeling a bit more tired from a not so good night's sleep or hormonal fluctuations I start off a bit slower and do need to slap myself a bit. Plus the occasional aches and pains that are from many years of lifting heavy weights even w/an S shaped spine from scoliosis...those days are a bit tougher. However, once I get going, and figure out the exercises that don't hurt whatever is aching I can't help but get into it.

20.   Do you weigh yourself or measure yourself?

I do weigh myself about weekly and pretty much know before I get on the scale if I'm going to be a bit heavier due to some extra food intake or PMS bloat. I find that the best measurement, though, is the way the clothes fit....and I am still wearing clothes that fit me from about 8 weeks out from my last comp-so I know I'm OK. 

21.   More from Rae Rae:

As I said before, where there is a will there is always a way. Excuses are for people who really don't want to be fit and healthy. I have a client who is in her 50's, has 4 foster kids AND is working on getting a degree in social services and still makes time to visit me an hour a week and does some weights & walking at home. She was never a fitness minded person in the past-but had reached a point with her body that she just couldn't take any more....and she was a very, very large woman (she's now lost 30 kilos-66lbs-much of which she did on her own before even coming to me!). She even just said to me today "I've made my mind up, and I'm never going back to what I was before-I feel so much better & have so much more energy! If I can do it, anyone can- there is always a way to make the time!"

Also- as promised, here's a little vlog-ditty for y'all- I DID IT!! SHORTER VLOG. It uploaded in like an hour, but it worked!! WOOT!!

Comments

[Chelle]

Congrats Rae babe, you totally rock! xo

[Raechelle]

Thanks Chelle...my number one fan...LOL..I've got that autograph ready for your next arrival! xoxo

[@AmyLBurford]

I want one too!! You are a wonderful mentor and teacher across all the miles! Thanks for being so genuine! :D

[Raechelle]

You're so sweet Amy! Just for that, I'll have an autograph ready and waiting when you visit Aus...lol!