NIRSA 2013 Las Vegas

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!

Not really when you’re a part of NIRSA, an organization that prides itself on networking, connection making, and taking what you’ve learned at national conferences back to your institution in some way, shape, or form.

This past week, myself and 8 other OU campus recreation professionals traveled to Las Vegas, NV for the 2013 NIRSA National Conference! The conference didn’t start until Monday afternoon, so we had all day Sunday to tour the city.

Chef Gordon Ramsey’s shrine

The Belagio

Paris

Heaven! Or it would have been if their sales tax wasn’t 8.1%

Vegas really is larger than life; so beautifully designed and spaced out. I truly took in all the scenery when I went running on Monday morning; (little did I know that I’d have to fork over $10/day to use one of the hotels dinky gyms) jogging the streets is the best and cheapest way to sight see! And me and a handful of other runners may have been the only one’s out to take in the scenery at 7:00am..partay animals.

The conference began with the opening session; a renowned MSNBC television host, political science professor, author, academic, and keynote speaker, Melissa Harris-Perry tied in the theme of the conference, Inspiring Communities of Wellbeing, and set the stage for the rest of the week. Afterwards, it was the Katie show!

I had the opportunity (again!) to teach a variation to the Total Body High Intensity Intervals class I led in Tampa, only this time it was Round 2 duh-duh-duh. The deets:

• EMOM= 7 burpees, 5 push-ups
• alternating lunges, speed skaters, dive bomber push-ups, plank (3X)
• plie squats, mountain climbers, side planks, ins & outs (3X)
• plank jacks, triceps dips, shoulder presses, knee tucks

Nervous/anxious at first, considering the “gym” the class was held in was a ballroom with chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, on carpet flooring, with tables and chairs behind us filled with spectators to watch, not participate..Luckily, I had ~50 people come and sweat with me! It turned out awesome and I was super pumped afterwards! It was a great way to start the conference off on the a healthyright foot :). Thanks to everyone who came!

Most of the sessions I went to focused on fitness, student/professional leadership, student development, health and wellness, assessment, learning outcomes, and implementing programs. I learned something in each session that I can take back to Oakland and implement it in a way that works for us. I also had the opportunity to participate in Take a Student to Lunch, where I met a professional from a different university wanting pick my brain about how I started this blog.

The conference came to an ending at the Honors Award Banquet, where I finally got to see and be with my Oakland family!

All-in-all, the conference was a success! I can’t wait to put what I learned at NIRSA into reality at Oakland U! I’m already excited for the 2014 NIRSA National Conference in Nashville, TN next year!

Return of Body Pump

TGIF! I’m writing from Pittsburgh..my real home :). People always ask me “where do you actually live?” because I did my undergrad in Raleigh at NCSU, then went straight to grad school in Rochester Hills at Oakland, all while traveling to and from Pittsburgh. Can you see the disconnect?

After teaching Abs, Glutes, and Thighs (which was an amazing class BTW! Participants are always full of energy and up for ANYTHING, even when the classes continue to get more challenging), I hit the rush-hour traffic road and arrived in Pitt a little after 9:30. Salmon, grilled veggies, and a humongous piece of cake my family were awaiting me on the table (not my family); it makes the looooong drive so much more worth it when a home-cooked meal greets you! Right to sleep afterwards; sleeping in a queen-sized bed beats an extra-long twin sized bed’s bootay.

There’s really no point to this trip since I leave tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 5am to head straight to lululemon, but a girl needs some winter clothes! Why I didn’t bring any jackets, pants, UGGs, or winter scarves with me is over my head but it gave me an excuse to see my family :-D.

A relaxing morning

 (hi Kathy!)

and a long-but-not-forgotten body pump class

was what I had planned since my family has this silly thing called work. You guys remember how I was taking a break from heavier-lifting? I haven’t participated in a full hour-long lifting session until today and it felt great to get back to it! Sure some of my strength has dwindled but my endurance has improved and I was able to finish the entire workout- not missing one rep :).

What I used to lift in a Body Pump class:

• squats= 40-50lbs
• chest press= 15lbs
• back track= 20lbs
• triceps & biceps= 10-12lbs
• lunges= 15-20lbs
• shoulder track= 10-12lbs

What I lifted today:

• squats= 17.5lbs
• chest press= 10lbs
• back track= 12lbs
• triceps & biceps= 7.5lbs
• lunges= 7.5lbs (added plyometrics to this track)
• shoulder track= 7.5lbs and 8lb handweights

I felt I could have lifted heavier than I did but the above weight was perfect for my goals. I’m still not looking to get “bigger”, but rather continue toning, sculpting, lifting, and improving muscular endurance.

The rest of the day I plan on spending time with my family, drinking wine, eating a steak-ish dinner, and enjoying a real piece of cake!

What else made this trip worth it?

Hello Oakland University!

What a busy week it’s been!

Moving up to Michigan on Sunday, unpacking all my junkthings, setting up my room, making trips to Target, getting some-what settled, and saying bye to my parents all happened in one day.

One. Day. I tell ya..my family is really starting to get used to all of this moving-to-a-different-state-and-back-in-one-day business. I’m not sure if that’s something to brag about but I’m very blessed to have wonderful parents :). Not to mention our family-love for Starbucks helps fuel the trips :-P.

I made it passed the first week as a GA! It’s definitely going to take a longer-ish time to get adjusted but that’s to be expected, no? I’m taking one day at a time and planning for the best; thankfully I came from one OUTSTANDING fitness program with AMAZEBALLS people to another one with lots and lots of opportunities. Being at OU and working within Campus Recreation, it is much different from my work as a student director at NC State but in a good way; I’m anxious to get the semester started come September!

I spent the majority of the first week meeting the professional staff, attending staff meetings, learning the fitness equipment, navigating offices, and meeting the student staff that’s here for the summer (we don’t start fall semester doesn’t until after Labor day (yay!), so things are pretty chill around here). Since I’m the GA of group fitness, I want the next couple of weeks to be focused on learning the ins and outs of the program, the instructors, the rules and policies, and the equipment available before we start the fall schedule and students expect things from me! It’s really the perfect opportunity to get acclimated with the program before being the semester gets crazy..in a good way :-D.

 The first OIAJ at Oakland! In the mix:

• the remaining cookie butter
• oats
• yogurt
• almond milk
• chia seeds

 Pre-made salads from Trader Joe’s! The meal plan I have on campus doesn’t start until September and since I’m close enough to Pitt that I can go home on the weekends before school starts, I’ve been relying on pre-made salads and easy to assemble lunches and dinners to feed me. Once the semester begins, I’ll be staying at school more and then I’ll finally stock-up on groceries!

Here’s a kick-butt workout I completed earlier in the week:

• walking lunges, jump squats, elbow planks & glute extensions, sumo burpees. 20-16-10-6 reps, 1X through.
• 10 T-push-ups, 20 mountain climbers, 30 floor jacks, 40 bicycles, 50s. plank. 2X through.
• 10 v-sits, 20 plank knee-tucks, 20 russian twists, 20 back extensions. 2X through.

And for all of my FALL lovers out there..is this a sign?