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Janine McGann is one of those ladies that can really get you pumped and excited. She has hit every challenge with full force. Not only is she a TRX enthusiast, but she has made it a family affair, including her husband and 3 sons. Talk about a fit family! Above you can see her perform some of her favorite TRX exercises. Here is her interview, smiley faces and all.
Brief Background Bio:
Live in Cary NC. Married to Mike, a former USMC Capt. who's now working in corporate America. Have 3 boys, Luke -12, Seth -11, and Ben -8. Own my own personal training business, P.O.W.E.R. LLC - Personally Owned Workouts Equal Results. Am a speech pathologist by education, but have been in the fitness industry since 1989. Always worked part time in a gym, until 2004, then went full time as a trainer. Just this year got the gumption and courage to quit and start my own business. I focus primarily on females, but have a few dudes that I just can't get rid of!!
How did you first hear about the TRX?
I saw an ad for the TRX in one of my IDEA issue back in spring of '08. I love new and innovative fitness programming and tools, so I took a look at the website. It was love at first site. As a former competitive gymnast, body weight training just makes natural sense to me. Always has. As the owner of a fitness studio that focuses mostly on females and redefining fitness, eliminating excuses, etc. it was the exact piece of equipment I had been waiting for! From the moment it arrived on the front porch it has been not only a part of my own training, but that of my entire family and now my clients.
What excited you most about the TRX?
Oh gosh, I can't answer this. Too many things. I think the same things that excite all of us TRXers - the versatility, the metabolic "rush", the RESULTS!! :-) From a trainer's standpoint, I love that I can preach about "no excuse workouts" and now have a piece of equipment to back me up!!
How have you incorporated the TRX into your workout routine/lifestyle?
It is an integral part of my own personal workouts and those of my clients. I was sold immediately on it. My husband, not so much. You would think after 16 years of marriage he would finally listen to me. In December '08 he ruptured his ACL and needed reconstructive surgery. I like to think things happen for a reason. During his rehab and recovery, I helped him use the TRX to keep the strength in his other leg and upper body. He also has 2 ruptured discs in his back, so we've been working on some core strengthening as well. As a former body builder, he had a bit of a difficult time making the mental program shift from past routines (you know, single joint) to the programming of the TRX (mulitplanar approach). After just a few days, he was completely sold. Ummmm, do you hear an "I toldya so"?? !! ;-) In my own routines, I love to fuse the TRX with w/ a variety of equipment. Two of my favorite workouts are water running and TRXing and TRX/BOSU Fusion. My boys are hysterical on the TRX. Oh to have the core stength of an 8 year old!! My 11 and 12 y/o both play high level soccer. They love a good competition, so when Fitnessanywhere started their monthly challenges, my boys couldn't help but jump right in.
Where do you typically workout using your TRX?
We've converted our garage into my studio. We have a 10' pull up bar that runs the width of the garage. I have all of my TRXs hanging from that. We also have an amazing park by our house with limitless places to hang it from. As well as some cool overhead lattice at our pool.
What are your fitness goals?
Gosh, it's just been a part of my life for so long that I have no "real" goals. For awhile fitness was very "goal based", first as a gymnast, then a runner. About 2 years ago, when I began to have some hip and back problems (I live in a well worn model and have no interest in trading in for a new version or pieces or parts!!) I was forced to change my focus. Now, it's all about balance. Fitness is no longer a means to an end, whether it be a certain size, weight, time, distance, or race but instead, a journey. I'm keenly aware of the messages my body sends me now. I listen and respond appropriately. I have found this allows me to continue to do what I love (TRXing!!!).
How do you stay motivated?
That's easy. My boys. My husband and I both agree that when it comes to raising our boys, actions speak louder than words. Even before we had children, fitness was such a cornerstone in defining who we were. There was never a question, that even after having children, this would change. Creativity and priorities become crucial factors in determining how to make it all work. It is so important to both of us that our boys are being raised with the notion that you're SUPPOSED to run 26.2 miles, that your SUPPOSED to have TRXs hanging from your garage ceiling, that you're SUPPOSED to wake up and start your day at 5:00am lifting weights, throwing kettlebells around and jumping rope. I know if I stop or slack off any time, I am giving them permission to do the same. More importantly, our hope is that they see BOTH of us maintaining a healthy well balanced lifestyle. So that some day, when they are married, and come home from work and there's no dinner, laundry piled everywhere and kids screaming and their wife says "I need to go for a run", they will simply step over the laundry, grab a kid, kiss their wife and say, "Go."
What does it mean to you to be fit and why do you think it is important?
My definition of fitness has morphed so many times over the years. What I defined as "fit" in my 20s, was drastically different in my 30s and continues to change as I enter my 40s. I think where people get into trouble is in holding on to this preconceived notion of what being fit is. We must be able to let go of past definitions and embrace new ones. For a lot of women my age, sports were nonexistant when we were young, our mothers certainly weren't in the gym working out (and if they were, like mine was, it looked more like "Jane Fonda/Richard Simmons" workouts!!) and we simply didn't have a clear definition of being fit. Even today, I believe that women think that fitness is either defined by competing "in" something, whether it be a 5k, marathon, triathalon, etc. or by being a certain size or shape. My daily battle in my job is to help and encourage women to redefine what it means to be fit. To help define fit, we do what I call a "stool check" every day. Nope, not that kind of stool, although it is important to check that as well. :-) Are all 4 legs of your stool balanced on a daily basis?? Your family leg, work leg, health and well being leg and your spiritual leg. This past month on my website I asked women to send me their definitions of what it meant to be fit. One woman's response:
Fitness: a means to achieve a sense of our own well being– physically (in good health and physique), mentally (strong state of mind) and spiritually (having strong faith and sound soul). Everything we do to achieve fitness gives us the knowledge to know ourselves intimately, the ability to love ourselves for who we are, and the power to maintain that sense throughout our lifetime and through everything that life throws at us.
I couldn't have said it better myself.
Anything else you would like to add?
I am currently training 2 teams of women to compete in the USMC Ultimate Mud Run Challenge. It's a 4.2 mile run w/ 29 obstacles along the way. Now if that's not the ultimate definition of being fit, I don't know what is!! We are quite the eclectic mix of women. Trying to redefine fitness, while balancing work, children and life. We are making a video scrapbook of our journey to race day. The TRX will be a critical element from now until Septmeber 19!!
