1766 Sir Monty's Drive Mississauga

Are you looking to enjoy a quiet neighbourhood in Mississauga?  How about swimming in your pool (there is still time to get in lots of swimming)?  How about a game of tennis?

Well, here is the home for you.  It will give you everything you desire.   Enjoy breathtaking view of the Credit River as you enjoy the lazy days of summer from the gazebo.  Enjoy the summer breezes on your porch overlooking the pool and the backyard.   Enjoy the sounds of the waterfall and pond in you private sitting area.

This home sits on a pie-shaped lot with a courtyard fountain to great your guests and you as you come home to relax from a busy day.  Very quiet and child safe Cul De Sac.

Newly renovated kitchen with an island and granite counter tops.  This home boasts a finished walk-out basement.  For those of us who do laundry....you have to see this laundry/mud room!  There are so many more upgrades....

Want a tour?  Contact me directly at 416 427 1875.  There is so much to see.

Let's together and take a look at this home.

Betty Bartusevicius, Sales Representative  ASA
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage
DIRECT: 416 427 1875
EMAIL: betty@bettybart.com

My Journey Continues

I am late, again, in reporting on my journey towards Physical Fitness.  I haven’t been writing about it, but I have continued to go to the gym 5 days a week and STILL working out as best as I can.   Some days have been more difficult than others, but a little push and support from many of my friends, I get to the gym.  That’s a big step.  Once you’re there, well, you might as well work out.  Right?  At least that's what I tell myself!

I can’t believe that it’s been a year already!  That’s a year of working out with my Personal Trainer.  Actually, it was a year at the beginning of June.  What changes have I noticed?  Well, there’s a whole list.  First though, I would like to thank Alwin for sticking with me and helping me to keep going.  Has it been easy?  By no means.  Has it been worth it?  Absolutely.  There’s still a ways to go.  There has been some ‘sailor’ type language, some tears, and a lot of frustration on my part.  I guess the frustration is that at times I feel that I have disappointed my Trainer, and myself a little bit.  Alwin is very supportive and tries to push the boundaries but my stubborn streak in me has prevailed.  I have even managed to get Alwin angry a couple of times.  YUP!!!  The young man that has been nothing but kind I have managed to frustrate.  (Alwin, I truly am sorry for those days).

I have learned what exercises do the most good for me and which are just a fad.  I have a lot of fun most days, and I truly enjoy working out.  I think that this is extremely important.  If you can’t have a little bit of fun and enjoy it, you won’t stay with the workout.  For me, routine is very important.  I can give myself an hour early enough in the morning where it doesn’t interrupt any work for my clients.  I put in my ear plugs for my iPod and away I go.  Except on the days when I have a trainer, then it’s thinking cap on…ears on alert….and I display as many listening skills that I can muster up.  I continue to have a lot of questions.

I have learned that free weights, or resistance training, is the routine that has worked best for me.  It challenges my muscular endurance and builds tone, proper from, posture, and coordination.  Now, the next step, to look a little leaner, I have to increase the weight (which I have done) to push my muscles to failure under heavier loads (which I have also done).

How important is this journey?  Well, for me…it’s no longer tedious, but it has become a way of life.  There have been a few times that I don’t last an hour, but even getting there for 45 minutes is still more than most of us accomplish.  I have allowed myself some ‘me’ time.  That was huge.  I still am not comfortable exposing myself and my emotions but I am working on that.  I still shy away from compliments and feel like an oompa loompa many days.  I still shy away from a camera and just want to blend in with my surroundings.  Compliments are very difficult for me to accept.  I am able to walk up the stairs with clients without huffing and puffing.  I don’t get tired as quickly. I think my mental sharpness is much better.

I will continue to work at this, but I will not be posting on a regular basis.  It will become a small note that I write about when there is a significant change.  Yes, I have stalled, or reached a plateau as some may say, and am trying to find something that will trigger the next progression.

If you see me at Life Time Athletics in Mississauga, feel free to say ‘hello’.  If I’m working out, I will apologize in advance for not stopping.  I will nod and give you a smile.  You will have to be patient and wait until I’m done the exercise I am doing.  I would love to hear your story and how you are doing.  I see a lot of successful journeys in that gym.   

I continue to wish all of you luck with your journey.  It certainly has not been as easy as everyone thinks it is.  But, if I can persevere, so can you.  Don’t give up!!!  I haven’t.  Congratulations to those who have achieved a change…and it doesn’t matter how much.

Again, this is just for something different.  I’m not just a Realtor but I enjoy life outside my job.

Until next time…let’s see what results I can tell you about.

Betty Bart416 427 1875

The Journey Is Not Yet Complete

I'm still here, although I am a little tardy in my post this month.  My journey is still not over and I continue to work out at the gym.  Still 5 days a week and still kind of having a little bit of fun.  Things change.  In my last post I wrote that I had lost a wee bit of weight, well I had...and now I have hit a 'plateau' and I'm getting a little frustrated with this.  We all go through it.  We do well, and then when we hit the pause button we either stop doing what we're doing or we go head-first through the wall.  Well, I'm going head-first.  I haven't broken through, YET!!!

Much has been said and written about this exercise and weight loss programs and the challenges that they present.  It takes commitment.  I guess you have to be a little mentally prepared and have a plan to be successful.  Reading what I just wrote, I realize that applies to everything in my life.  I have been known to those around me that I am persistent at completing tasks.  It shows when I'm at the gym.

When I first started my goals were different than they are now, but my priority was to lose weight.  Well, I've accomplished some of that but I have quite a ways to go.  I also have been told that I am very hard on myself.  If not me, then who will be?  I'm not hard on myself I am just a wee bit stubborn and have this desire to do better.  I give myself a month to achieve a certain goal, and if it is not met...well, a little devil on my shoulder starts to laugh and frustration comes out.  BUT I DO NOT QUIT.

Sometimes I establish a new goal - lift a little more weight, last a little longer on the elliptical, increase speed and resistance on the elliptical, play some basketball (against myself) -- all of these are changes that I make on my own.

I still do a regimented routine at the gym that I do not like.  I do it because it has provided the results that I want.  BUT, at the same time, I try to do exercises that I really enjoy and it helps keep the daily habit of going to the gym.  Also, having a Personal Trainer who keeps coming up with surprises is helpful.  There are also many friends and supporters that I have that get me through those days where I truly would rather just throw my hands in the air and ask myself - "why am I doing this if it's not working".  These are the people that get me off the chair and into the gym to begin my day.  Yes, I may appear to be strong (and I have also been told that I appear to be a little bull headed) but I do need encouragement and motivation.  I do not need pity or over-embellishment on my progress.

More and more I have increased my natural movement - moving my body without the constraints of machines.  Machines 'could' limit our performance potential.  I find that I get more out of a workout using free weights - bending, twisting, reaching, pulling and pressing - and trying to keep my balance in check by staying upright.  I have fallen.  But, with my Trainer spotting me, he at the very least catches the weights so I don't get hurt.

Do you remember your gym teacher telling you: "No Pain; No Gain" or "Go Hard or Go Home".  I have learned that this type of mentality increases physical strain and potential injury.  My Personal Trainer keeps a record of what I do at every single workout.  He makes sure that I do better today than I did the last week on that same routine.  He has taught me proper technique to prevent injury.  By the end of every workout with him, he is judging to see that I am moving better than at the beginning.

Am I more energized?  Yes.  Do I have a ways to go?  A resounding YES!!!!  My energy levels have definitely increased.  My stubborn streak has not decreased (ask Alwin Mascoll my Personal Trainer).  The additional and new exercises that he has surprised me with has frustrated me to some extent, but then I get over it. 

If you see me at Life Time Athletics in Mississauga, feel free to say 'hello'.  If I'm working out, then you will get a nod and perhaps a smile.  You will have to wait to chat after I'm done.

I continue to wish all of you luck with your voyage.  It's certainly not as easy as everyone thinks it is.  But if I can persevere, so can you.   Don't give up!  I haven't!

This is just for something different - I am not 'just' a Realtor.  I am a much happier Realtor.

Until next month at which time it will be a year with my Personal Trainer.  Let's see what those results will be after a year.

Betty Bart
416 427 1875

And The Journey Continues

One third of 2014 is now in the books.  The workouts continue.  I have increased what I do and yet, there are those days when I feel that I haven't accomplished very much.  BUT, I have.  It will be a year, very soon, when I signed up with a Personal Trainer to get proper instruction and some advice as to why my trips to the Gym were not working.  Well, I finally admitted to myself that I have lost a little bit of weight and my stamina for my daily jaunts have certainly increased. 

As for many of you, getting up and off the couch/chair becomes difficult as we have busy lives to deal with and when that R&R hour arrives, all we want to do is rest.  Let me tell you, once you get to the gym and complete some sort of workout, you feel MUCH better.

If you have the opportunity to talk to a few people at the gym and ask them who provides their information to them on their fitness routine, you'll probably get different looks because they probably won't understand what you're talking about or the responses will be varied.  Most will be doing what they see others working on, and especially if this person is with a Personal Trainer.  Surely, the Trainer will give them the advice that is required.  Some are working on the exercises prescribed in a magazine: 'LOSE THOSE INCHES IN A MONTH AND GET READY FOR SUMMER'.  I love that one.  Then there are those like me, get a Personal Trainer.  These guys honestly know what they are doing.  BUT, if you find that the one you choose is not to your liking, CHANGE TRAINERS.  In the end, you will find that efficiency and commitment is the advice that works the best.  If you only go when you 'feel' like it, it's not going to work.  No one wants to spin his/her wheels at the gym - WE WANT TO SEE RESULTS!  Having said all that, not all routines will get you the results you are craving. 

I have looked back at when I started at the gym to where I am now, and have noticed that different fitness machines and routines affect me.  I cannot, and DO NOT, compare myself to anyone around me - not even hubby, son, or daughter - because what will work for me won't work for them.  I don't care how MUCH weight they can lift, I don't care how long they can run on the treadmill, or how long they last punching a punching bag or their trainer.  I have been taught to concentrate on the proper technique and to use equipment that keeps me coming back to the gym.  There are machines in the gym that I never thought I would be using.  My Personal Trainer has shown me otherwise. 

I'm not training for a marathon but my objective is to able to run up and down the stairs as I show homes to my Buyers and not be out of breath at the end of the work day.  Have I accomplished that?  Yes, to some extent.  I am very committed to going to the gym 5 days a week.  It does not interfere with my schedule.  I go early enough in the morning when most of you are just waking up.  I am a morning person and have found that it works best for me.  Being in Real Estate, I never know what I'll be doing that afternoon/evening.

It's not just working out at the gym, but now that most of us have come out of hibernation we are starting get outside and take a walk and talk to our neighbours or we just go for a walk along the waterfront.  If you are fortunate to own a home with some sort of backyard/patio/balcony - you might start to get into gardening.  Remember - exercise is just a stimulus on the body.  It triggers a change, in co-ordination, aerobic capacity, strength or speed.  This occurs between your workouts. 

Within myself, I have learned that you don't have to hurt to have a great workout.  Also, you don't have to sweat.  There are so many workouts that have produced great results with little sweat but do get my heart rate up and then the recovery time is much shorter than it used to be.  To push yourself to the extent where you strain yourself is just looking for injury. 

I judge a great workout by how I feel after I am finished and how much better I do from one workout to the next.  A month ago, I couldn't do what I am doing this week!  I feel much more energized at the end of each workout.  Yes, there are those days....but I have learned to get over them.  I also have the privilege of having a wonderful Personal Trainer and friends that support and encourage me on those days.  And yes, my Trainer will get me moving even if I don't have a session with him that day.  He says he's always watching...sometimes I wonder but I'm sure that he is.

Next time you see me at Life Time Gym, you should come and say hello.  Remember, I'm there to work out so if I tend to ignore you, I apologize.  I still have the tiny stubborn streak in me that will never go away.  I will always chat for a few minutes while I'm on the floor, and you would like to sit in the Café after, I would be more than happy to buy you a beverage.

I am wishing you luck and success in this voyage.  It's not easy.  But then again, anything that is worth it is not easy.  If I can persevere, so can you!  Just don't give up if you don't get immediate results.

This is just for something different - I am not 'just' a Realtor.  Now, I am a much happier Realtor.

Until next month.

Betty Bart
416 427 1875

I Haven't Quit, YET!!!!

With 2 months into the New Year of 2014, I haven't quit my journey towards good health!  How many times have you heard, "Strong is the new skinny"?  Do you really care?  Do you care more about being 'skinny' than about being 'strong'?  If you're getting strong, you are getting leaner and more fit - healthier.  The mind is a beautiful thing...if you're getting leaner it says, "Hey, Betty, you're getting thinner and you look a little younger".  And I do laugh at this because I haven't noticed much of a change, yet!

I have never liked the compliments that I get, when mentioning that I am looking thinner.  (These coming from those at the gym)  I don't care.  In my mind, I know how I look and depending on who says it, I take it with a grain of salt.  I am one who is very hard on myself.  The people that I care about and those who have taken a piece of my heart are the ones that do not notice changes (or are smart enough not to say anything because they have seen my reaction).  And I believe that's because they didn't notice, or didn't comment on, when my body image started to change a good 8 years ago.  So if they don't notice....(and I'm not going to finish the sentence)

I have been on diets all my life and then I joined a gym.  If you have read my last 2 Blogs, then you will know that I worked at 'getting fit' on my own for a while.  I was not one who enjoyed Strength and ResistanceTraining.  I am now doing more of this and have noticed that, yes, my muscles ache after ALMOST each session.  My daughter is the one that mentioned to me:  Mom, if you're not sweating just a little bit or if you do not feel that you are working out, then you MUST increase the weights.  My Trainer is a believer somewhat in what she says.  He is adamant that your form and technique are #1 in achieving the most notable changes in health benefits.  He chooses my weights that work for me.  He makes me lift heavy enough to put forth that same effort on successive days.  Yup, there are days where I am a little sore and then I cannot match that same weight on another day. 

Studies have shown that once you achieve decent nutritional habits, then the next item on your list should not be to jump on the treadmill for long sessions, but to pick up the barbell.  Remember one thing...if you are going to work strength training then make sure you get a good Personal Trainer, one who knows what he/she is doing, before you injure yourself and all that work that you put in is for naught. 

Dieting will reduce that number on the scales, but if you are looking to have a leaner, muscular look...then Strength training is a must. 

I have been very fortunate to have a Personal Trainer that actually is passionate about what he does.  And, he actually knows what's going on.  I know I frustrate him at times and I will 'negotiate', or at least try to, to lessen the workout.  My famous sentence, 'FIND ME SOMETHING ELSE TO DO"!  But, after these months of working together he has learned not to let me get away with too much.  The fluttering of the eye lashes and the complaint that I am 'too old to do this' is not working any more.

Maybe next time you see me, you may think that my image has changed.  Please, don't say anything to me about how I look.  I just walk away because I have a lot farther to go before I will allow myself to accept the compliment.  If you see me at Life Time Gym at Hwy 403 and Winston Churchill, and you recognize me, come on over and say hello.  I can introduce you to my Personal Trainer, Alwin Mascoll.  Perhaps you will even consider taking a few Training Sessions with him.  Your decision!

My energy levels have increased to get my work done.  I still have a little bit of a stubborn streak in me (ask my Trainer) but I don't think that will ever go away.

 I wish all of you luck in this voyage.  It's not easy.  But if I can persevere, so can you.  Just don't give up if you don't get immediate results.

This is just for something different - I am not just a Realtor.  But now, I'm a much happier Realtor.

Until next month

Betty Bart

The Continuing Saga

It's been a month of a brand New Year, 2014.  We have endured an extremely cold month of January and, for a lot of us, our resolutions for the New Year are now a distant memory.  We tend to forget what we strive for when we open a new door in our lives.

My journey through physical training continues.  I was reading another story this morning about an elderly, perhaps the correct word would be 'mature', gentleman in his own journey.  He hasn't quit!  Why have you? 

I know there are days when I drag myself to the gym and watch all these young things having a social morning and I arrive in my baggy t-shirt ready to try to get my muscles to wake the rest of my body up.  After my warm-up the heart is pumping and blood starts to flow.  On those days when I do free weights, my mind fights my body in achieving what I feel it should be able to do.  Body Wins!!!

Most days I leave the gym feeling better than when I walk in, but there are those other days.  When I leave the gym on a good day, I'm ready to tackle anything my clients/customers throw at me.  Remember, I am not a body builder nor do I have time (or the patience) to spend hours at the gym.  I go in...get my work out under my belt...and get out there to continue my day.

After about half a year with a Personal Trainer (you have heard me talk of him often - Alwin Mascoll at Life Time Gym), I have noticed that I walk taller, I have more energy than I have had in a very long time.  I'm not looking for compliments on how I look.  I KNOW the changes that are taking place.  I am able to concentrate without any effort and those stairs that I climb to show homes to clients, have become less of a task.  I am human (some may disagree).  Given the chance, I will take the easy road to complete a workout.

I cannot stress on getting the professional help in getting this done.  As it says in the article: "If you have the self-motivation, you can do it on your own.  But it's always advisable to have help at first so you're doing what's appropriate and doing it correctly." 

There must be a few of you who are reading this that belong to Life Time in Mississauga at Hwy #403 and Winston Churchill!  I'm there 5 mornings a week.  If you see me, come on over and say hello.  We have something in common - we are working out for our health and happiness. 

Let's see what the next month brings!

Betty Bartusevicius, Sales Representative  ASA
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage
416 427 1857

Getting Into Shape in 2014

Some of you may have been following my escapades at Life Time Gym for the past few months.  I have been trying, and at times I feel succeeding, my journey to get into shape for the spring/summer of 2014.  AND, it hasn't been easy.

When I first joined the gym, I thought I knew what I was doing so for a few months I tackled an exercise routine on my own.  I was fortunate that the Gym provided support for new members with a Personal Trainer.  Well, it so happens that this old broad was a little more stubborn that these young Trainers could handle.  The first young lady -- very nice and polite as all begone -- just told me what she would have her mother do.  Well, she was just too kind and I took advantage of this.  After a couple of sessions with her I realized that I wasn't getting anywhere.  So, found Personal Trainer number 2.  This one was recommended to me by my hubby.  I will insert something here - my hubby and I are polar opposites.  He did fine, and once again, I had a Trainer that was uncomfortable in pushing me do something that he KNEW was good for me.  And my subborn streak would show up and it was once again "NO".  Before I got to really know this young man, he left the gym.  (And, no, I don't think it was my fault) 

Now, I continued my journey.  Because I have been in the 'people' field for most of my life I decided that I was going to watch the Trainers that were already working with Clients.  I felt that maybe I could find someone that would be a good fit for my personality.  Now, that's not an easy task.  One young man always stood out in the crowd.  Not only is about 6 feet 5 inches tall, but built like a Mac Truck.  I watched him closely, almost like I was stalking him, for about 2 months and then I decided that I had had enough of not producing results and approached Alwin (maybe I should call him Mr. Mascoll - ah, heck no) and requested an appointment.  Well, the rest is history.  I still have not achieved what I thought I would to this day, but I'm hoping that he has it in him to keep pushing me.  As an addendum, I must say I have the utmost respect for this young man.  He has put up with a lot of "stuff" from me.  I congratulate him for lasting this long.

What brought this blog on?  Well, I was reading in the paper this morning about becoming stronger physically and mentally, perhaps losing a few of those nasty pounds that have been creeping up in the past few years of my life.  The Personal Trainers that have contributed to the article all started with a cardio workout.  Yes, I do cardio.  I will NOT use the treadmill and therefore, Alwin has introduced me to an elyptical machine that I have learned to like.  We started out, and remain, having sessions together twice a week but he has introduced me to core training.  He is adamant that I use proper form.  He is an athlete (semi-pro football) and therefore knows about this stuff.  We have gone to weight training and are now introducing different exercises to wake some more of my muscles up.  The article in the paper gives you a list of how to introduce yourself to exercise.  After a few months of 'going it alone' they all recommend a Personal Trainer to make sure you're using proper form.  Get one before you do damage to your body.  This I have repeated to many...even my own family...hubby and son are both getting Training from Alwin.  I cannot stress how important it is to have a professional trainer guide you towards your goals.

I go to the gym for sure 4 times a week (it's only an hour out of my day) and truly strive for that 5th day.

Those who know me, when next time you see me you may not recognize me.  I have found I do have a lot more energy to get my work as a Realtor accomplished.  I am not as stressed as I used to be, but I still have a little bit of a stubborn streak in me (ask my Trainer). 

If you're ever around at Life Time Gym in the mornings, look for me and come up and say hello.  I wish all of you luck in this voyage.  It's not easy.  But if I can persevere, so can you. 

This is just for something different - I am not just a Realtor.  But now, I'm a much happier Realtor.

Betty Bartusevicius, Sales Representative
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage
416 427 1875