What's Next?

"What's Next?" I have been asked this question hundreds of times. I am an extremely goal oriented person and am always putting goals out for myself and my clients to reach so I guess people get used to me working toward - "what's next?" So they are always asking me this. The funny thing is I am way more focused on the process and experience of reaching that goal than I am on the actual outcome of the goal. Putting that goal out there give's me something to work toward to continue the process of pushing myself physically and mentally.

I completed my Ironman last year, a huge goal for me that took 6 months of focused training to close in on and successfully accomplish and then the question came- "What's next?"

My next goal was my first Powerlifting competition where I set a National Record and won 1st place which was way more than I ever expected to do. Wow! The Youtube video of me was passed around and I showed off my medal and then the question came again-"What's next?"

In the mean time I had received an email that I qualified for the triathlon world championships in Vancouver, Canada and had earned a spot on Team USA. I couldn't pass up this opportunity so I had an answer to "what's next?" I went and represented Team USA at the World Championships, had a great experience and had a personal best and now once again am getting the question- "What's next?"

At this point, I have not come up with a "What's next?" but instead am focusing on doing something everyday to better myself physically along with working towards goals for my business. I am continuing the process without having a "what's next?" Is it possible to push yourself as hard without a "what's next?"

Who knows- maybe I'll decide to do powerlifting again, or another triathlon or maybe I'll get back into the Figure competition world. But in the mean time I will wake up and train everyday to continue the process of pushing myself physically whether I have a "What's next" or not.

I challenge all of you to also focus on the process and not the outcome. Everyday wake up and do what you need to do to continue the process of working toward your goal. The process of becoming who you have to become to accomplish the goal is the rewarding part. The outcome, accomplishing the goal, is the cherry on the top!

I'll keep you posted when I figure out "what's next..." :)

Perform Better 2008- Take action!

I was so honored and excited to be a part of the Perform Better Seminar this year. I spoke at 2 events- in Rhode Island and in Long Beach. Perform Better puts on the best fitness conference I have ever been to with practical, useful information and excellent speakers. The best part was that I spoke on Friday at both events so I was able to relax and enjoy the rest of the conference as an attendee and learn from the other speakers. My talks seemed well received with a lot of good feedback. I really enjoyed speaking and being able to share what I have learned over the ten plus years I have been training people.

My entire staff attended the Long Beach conference and came back with a ton of useful information. We are going to be meeting this week to discuss all of the changes we will be making. The key after a weekend like that is taking action implementing your new ideas. It doesn't do you any good to learn new stuff if you don't take action and use it. I have asked my staff to each write down ten things they learned, want to implement or took away from the conference. I do this at every conference or seminar I attend- I leave with 10 "to do's" that I am going to put into action immediatley.

We also had Martin Rooney and Bill Parisi do a staff training before the conference at our gym and John Berardi do one after the conference. Our staff got a huge education this weekend and took a giant step ahead of most trainers in the industry to being the best and now we need to take action!

World Championships 2008

Wow! What an amazing experience! That is the closest I'll probably ever be to being in the olympics and it was amazing!

I accomplished my goals with the race- to hold my own in that group of amazing athletes from around the world, not to be last and to have a personal best. I actually did 2:40 which is about 15 minutes off my personal best at Olympic distance. It is amazing when you are competing among the best there is, how much you step your game up. I can't believe I did 2:40. I actually ran under an 8 minute mile which is the fastest 10K I have ever done but again when you have the fastest people in the world running by you you tend to step it up.

They did change the swim to an 1100m swim but it was freezing cold with tough currents and waves and they actually canceled it shortly after my wave went for the rest of the competitors. I couldn't believe they canceled the swim at the world championships but I guess the conditions were that bad so I was that much prouder that I finished the swim. It was the hardest swim I have ever done. None of the men got to swim. Crazy! So, I decided that I get credit for doing full olympic since it was such a tough swim. I think I ended up swimming 1500m anyway.


It was so amazing to be in the race wearing Team USA and have people from all over the world. There were a lot of Great Britain people and Australians, Brazilians, South Africans, Ireland, and I am sure more. Go USA! At the finish line they handed me an American flag to carry across the finish line which was such a great feeling.

What an amazing experience! I am so glad I went!

Opportunity of a lifetime!

Tomorrow I leave for Vancouver, Canada for the Triathlon World Championships. I am so excited and honored to have been chosen for Team USA to represent our country in the sport of triathlon at the world championships.

I am sure this will be an exciting weekend. I am going into it for the experience and ofcourse all of the Team USA gear :) and to be a part of Team USA. This is especially exciting on an Olympic year. I don't have any expectations for the actual race. I had a really good race at Wildflower


so I am feeling good about it but the level of competition is a little beyond my comfort zone so I am just going into it to enjoy the experience and hold my own against everyone else.

I will give you a recap when I get back!

Perform Better in Rhode Island

I just got back from doing my first presentation with Perform Better. If you haven't heard of Perform Better they have become the #1 conference in the industry for trainers to learn and get continuing education from so I was extremely honored to be on the agenda this year among other names in the industry such as Mike Boyle, Gray Cook, Juan Carlos Santana, Martin Rooney, Diane Vives, Anthony Diluligio and ofcourse my husband Alwyn Cosgrove.

My topic was strength training for women and it seemed to be well received. I have to say I was nervous being in that line up of well known speakers in this industry. I think women in this industry and men working with women are looking for guidance and I was able to offer some advice after coaching women for so many years and from a woman's perspective. So I had a good turnout in my room and lots of great feedback.

The last Perform Better conference takes place in Long Beach on June 13th,14th and 15th. If you are on the west coast, don't miss it! The information packed in to these three days is something you can't miss if you are a trainer or someone who wants to get into the fitness industry. Check out their website for more info at www.performbetter.com.

Our entire Results Fitness team of fitness coaches will be in attendance!

Kona Bound! Congrats Erika!

Erika Lilley(above at Ironman Wisconsin) who has been my training partner, a fitness coach at my gym and a friend of mine qualified for Kona this past weekend! She is also co author with me on our book, So You Want To Train For Your First Triathlon. She raced at the California Half Ironman and came in second place and got a Kona slot! When I met Erika about a year and a half ago she first contacted me to help her with her training and told me her eventual goal was to go to Kona. I started training with her as a training partner and helping her plan out her training and have watched her grow as an athlete and push herself day in and day out to achieve this goal. I am so excited for her, what an amazing accomplishment! She set this goal and has accomplished it!

SHe is a talented athlete but more than that she works extremely hard to bring out the best in herself. Going in to this race she was not without obstacles. For one she has been busier than ever at work as a fitness coach training more clients than she has ever trained before so her time was limited and her energy was being used up...but this was not an excuse for her...also about 2 weeks before the event she crashed on her bike and it completely cracked and she had bumps and bruises and could have easily bowed out at that point...but that didn't stop her, luckily a local bike shop hooked her up with a new frame and put it together for her so she had a bike to ride.

She stayed focused no matter what and had a great race and now is going to Kona!!!!

Congratulations Erika! I am so proud of you!

First Powerlifting Competition

I am always looking to challenge myself and get the best out of myself and joining one my employees at a powerlifting meet seemed like just the thing to push myself beyond my normal limits. Last weekend I participated in my first powerlifting competition. I competed in deadlift only since it transferred over to triathlon the most of any of the lifts. I still have a Half Ironman I am training for on March 29th. Check out the video of me below lifting 297.6 pounds and setting an American record winning a gold medal at the competition!(The video is squashed a bit so I appear shorter and wider than I really am but the lifting is what your watching anyway :))

What a great experienceI had! Never would have thought. If you never try, you never know...