By Guest Blogger David Snively

I’ve been training clients for more than 25 years now, mostly women, and I’ve heard my fair share of workout goals from the opposite sex.  For the most part, they are body part related– the eternal quest for thinner thighs, flatter stomachs, and more toned arms, and that has continued till this day.  I have learned to listen to their requests, sympathize with body image discontent, and do my best to deliver results.   I combine my own agenda as a trainer with 25 years of experience and constant learning,  my life experience as a human being,  my clients’ goals, and I deliver the very best workout advice I can.

I feel very blessed that I do something in life that I truly love, and I especially love working with women.  Being a gay man, I can relate to this whole body image focus.  It’s all about big pecs, washboard abs, and nicely shaped buttocks in the “oh so shallow” party scene of the gay world. And yes I was once a “Bad Boy Dancer” at the Leather Ball Circuit Party, Black and Blue weekend.  I have since retired from the party scene, it was really never my thing. I married the love of my life, and we have a beautiful two year old daughter via gestational surrogacy.   All this information is unrelated to training tips, but it somewhat connects me to woman and their issues, and let’s face it ladies, no one can appreciate you more, or is going to tell you the truth like a gay man.  Enough about me, let’s talk about you.

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I first want to apologize for not having added more meat to this week’s blog posts. As you know, I started writing the book this week, and I’ve been trying to catch my breath, and figure out how to juggle the book writing, the blog writing, and the website upgrade all at the same time. I’ve really had very little time for anything or anyone this week, it’s been all about the work. But I look at it as a short term sacrifice, and then things should settle down a little. So I’m full speed ahead for now, with severe cramps in my fingers from typing so quickly, because the thoughts come to me at such a rapid rate, I want to get them all in the book. It’s been interesting. I haven’t worked this hard in a long long time, to be honest.

All this writing has kept me quite isolated, quite tired and a little more away from the kids than I’m used to. All this to say, I’m feeling the guilt. Oh the guilt. What a crappy feeling.  I’m having major flashbacks of the time when my stress level was at a feverish pitch, right before I sold my business, and my son would look at me and say, “I miss you mommy. How come you’re leaving again?”  So,  I would like to give a “HOLLA” (yes, that’s the sort of thing Jay Z and 50 Cent shout out at the Grammy’s), to my wonderful MOTHER. She has been my saving grace for the past two weeks when things started to get very hairy. She has been there to help out with the kids, and to nurture me emotionally. When the kids are with her, or my mother in law, I never feel guilty. I can work with a clear head. I’m lucky to have these ladies in my life.

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A Blackberry Shot from the book cover photo shoot today! Okay, going to have lunch now.

xoxEDxox

Have you every heard this expression? I have a very good friend who always says this, and I believe it to be true. If you’re a mommy reader, I think you’ll be able to relate.

It’s Monday evening, and I officially began writing my book today. I completed the outline last week, and got it back from my editor this weekend. There weren’t too many corrections, I was happy to learn. This morning, I dropped my babe off at school, and then I took to Starbucks. I worked from home last week, and was starting to lose all self respect. It went something like this– shower, put on cozy sweats, leave in the minus 25 with wet hair, carpool, and back home to work. At  least I had enough self respect today to put on a pair of skinny jeans, some blush and lip gloss, and leave my house.

Me in bed for a change in my bathrobe and no makeup! My son snapped this shot!

And while I am enjoying the incredible ride my Blog and book have taken me on, and my hubby is getting his groove back at work, my kids have been off lately. My big son had a very tough week last week. He woke up unhappy to go to school and complained about a few things that bothered him.  He was crying, not eating, and not himself (well the eating part was himself. He hardly eats, period). But, he usually LOVES school.  So I emailed his teachers last week to see what was going on. There were a multitude of things that transpired last week, but in the end, I will NEVER let him miss a week of school again. When he missed the first week back while we were in Florida, he fell behind. And unfortunately for him, he is EXACTLY LIKE HIS MOTHER and panics when he falls even a little behind. I can’t blame him. I was the exact same way. Anyhow, he is all caught up now, and awoke and came home happy today, so I’m thankful.

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Many of you have asked my opinion on this week’s announcement that cancer-stricken Elizabeth Edwards has left her husband, former presidential candidate John Edwards. I covered this story before, as I found it fascinating why some women choose to stay after infidelity.

The big “fence” question I asked in Blog Post Elizabeth Edwards, A Woman On The Fence, one that high profile women like Hillary Clinton and Governor Eliot Spitzer’s wife also faced, was

“Why stay in the marriage? Personally, I feel they stayed for many reasons. But, I can only imagine the incredible pull in two directions. To stay with a man who had shared his bed with another woman time and time again,  or leave and lose your marriage, and your power and status that has come as a result of being this power couple.

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So, as you know, last week I announced I was writing a book. What could she possibly be writing about, you may have thought?

Well it turns out this opportunity presented itself and I just couldn’t pass it up. It was everything I absolutely know and love, and have 15 years experience in. WOMEN, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, BUSINESS AND BALANCE.

Let me explain. There is a book series that will be coming out this year, the first 10-Book Women’s Series ever to be launched, all 10 at the same time, and I was asked to be the 10th book in the series. The brand is:

The 99 Things I Wish I Knew Before…

Dontcha love it? As in, the 99 things people wished they knew before– planning their wedding, retiring, having “the talk” with your kids, taking up golf, etc… It’s a self-help series, and will be sold as a gift set when it comes out (then sold separately afterward), available at bookstores, online at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com, on The Kindle, IPhone, etc… The concept behind it is, life is hectic, and sometimes we need great quick tips and techniques without reading a 300 page book. So, it’s 99 points, one point per page of lessons and tricks. Sort of like your own personal “coach in a pocket.” You may know one of the authors, Indy 500 race car driver champion, Sarah Fisher. She will be writing, 99 Things Women Wish They Knew Before… Getting Behind the Wheel of Their Dream Job.

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By Man On The Fence

I know he made a very recent appearance, but I felt so connected to his topic, that I couldn’t resist bringing him back.

Here he is again, Mr. Anonymous.

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The life of a single father (or mother) is a complex one. It’s a whole different beast altogether. I take pride in doing my very best to be an attentive and hands-on parent during the time spent with my precious children. I also try to be respectful at all times about the intrusion of mobile devices and computers in my life. Allow me to start by saying that this has become an issue for both sexes. Parents must stand united in how they deal with what has become “mobile madness” or this invasion of electronics into our private lives. Things have really gotten out of hand.

I truly believe that if either parent sets a bad example of what is acceptable mobile/computer etiquette, you will pay handsomely for years. And studies back me up on this, I kid you not.

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