Friday was my weekly weigh in, and I was a little disappointed. I lost like .8 lbs in a week. I’ve been eating clean (I did have a bowl of cinnamon toast crunch, but that shouldn’t make a difference). My first reaction was to go and just give up, what’s the point? Then all of my nutrition and fitness classes kicked in. I know what’s going on, and I’m sure that next week I’ll see a better loss. I don’t have a lot of weight to lose in the first place, therefore my body won’t lose fast. Also, my body’s thermostat is set at 140 right now, since I’ve been this weight for about a year. I know it will take time to break through that stat and re-set itself. I just have to continue what I’m doing and not give up!
I found out that I get the Fittv channel! I recorded a couple shows as back-up in case I feel like doing something different. I can’t wait to check them out
Yeah, a lot of people do this activity known as a ‘workout’. But how many actually enjoy it?
Perhaps more people would do it, if it were enjoyable. And perhaps even more people would do it, if it wasn’t called a workout. What if we called it what it is? PLAY.
For many Americans, work is a four-letter word with such a negative connotation that it can be synonymous with other four-letter words that are not suitable for print (at least on this blog!). Stresses of the job make it difficult to even get out of bed and go to work. I am one of those people. Sounds odd coming from a guy in search of a job, right?
In my professional life, I’ve always sought out positions that sounded like fun. As a mascot, Iwas lucky enough to get paid to dress up in a larger-than-life costume and play with kids on a daily basis. For me, writing this blog and the profession of journalism is a playful form of expression that is akin to figuring out a puzzle of a story and then piecing the words together to share the completed puzzle with others.
While others might find it difficult to connect play with their work, there are a ton of literary resources that provide suggestions for finding fun at work. One of my favorite resources is Kevin Carroll’s Red Rubber Ball at Work (www.rrbatwork.com). Carroll profiles several successful business people and what they did to translate their favorite form of play into work. Another great read that I highly recommend is Mike Veeck’s Fun is Good (www.funisgood.net). Veeck, the son of legendary baseball owner Bill Veeck, and a marketing guru in his own right, shares his “Fun is Good” philosophy about creating a work culture where fun is encouraged.
So, back to this idea of ‘working out’. Just as some people find it difficult to go to work, others find it difficult to work out, as they haven’t discovered the joy within the activity. Next time you see an adult (or even myself) running, it’s likely you will see their face contorting into a gruesome physical display of their effort. Would it be that way if they enjoyed it? If it was more a game?
For enthusiasts of this ’sport’, running is a game. And, as is the case with all games, there are rules involved, both spoken and unspoken. As I’ve begun this journey, I’ve done a lot of reading to better understand what running is and what it has become. I picked up two books last night that will undoubtedly become resources that I will draw upon for running and for this blog: Running for Mortals (www.runningformortals.com) by husband and wife team, John “The Penguin” Bingham and Jenny Hadfield and The Runner’s Rule Book (www.runnersrulebook.com) by Mark Remy.
In Running for Mortals , Bingham was a self-described couch potato who got into running at the age of 43. Hadfield is a fitness expert, who also happens to be the trainer involved ith the active.com contest that I’m hoping to be a part of.
In the introduction, Bingham and Hadfield address the child-like joy of running. As I mentioned, the look on an adult runner’s face is one of disgust. Compare that to the face of a toddler just learning to run. The joy is readily apparent, because “we knew as small children that running for no apparent reason at all was one of life’s greatest pleasures.” On any playground, you can see children laughing as they engage in a game of chase or tag.
But over time, something happened that caused us to stop running. Maybe, “we really weren’t all that good at it.” Or ”we stopped because we were afraid of the comparisons that others would make. we stopped because we were afraid we’d look silly or slow, or that others would make fun of us.” That didn’t stop some of us, but perhaps team sports did. As Hadfield writes, ” For me running was a form of punishment I had to endure in sports. If we missed serves, we had to run laps. If we missed a layup, we had to run laps. We had to run laps to warm up for a softball game.”
As a participant in a variety of team sports growing up, I can certainly see the argument here. But in my case it was simply due to an injury, that I gave up on running, because the I didn’t want to subscribe to my dad’s mantra of “No Pain. No Gain.” Sure, through puberty and the addition of more responsibilities as an adult, our bodies and our minds change in ways that make running or any other form of physical exertion a difficult task. But there is something to be said for the joy of running as a child. To steal a line from Springsteen, ” ’cause tramps like us, baby, we were born to run.”
Mark Remy, the executive editor of RunnersWorld.com and author of The Runner’s Rule Book, immediately addresses the need for fun in running in the first two rules. Rule 1.1 simply states “Have Fun”. Remy writes, that running “is inherently, liberatingly fun. There is fundamental joy in movement, in forward motion. After all, there aren’t many animal impulses that we can act on in public without getting arrested.”
Rule 2.2 is “Expand your definition of fun.” Remy writes, “As a runner, your definition of fun-which previously might have included such activities as visiting water parks, watching screwball comedies on DVD, (etc…) must be…well, let’s call it broadened.” Remy suggests that runners might find fun in the following ways:
“Waking up at 5:30 a.m. to run 10 miles; Running in blistering heat; Running in the rain; Running in 400-meter circles; Feeling as if your lungs are about to explode; Paying a race director good money for the privilege of turning your own toes black and blue; or any combination (of these) .”
While I’m not quite on the same page as Remy with these suggestions, I’m hopeful that I’ll be there someday soon.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to find some fun. Maybe, I’ll go for a run.
It’s been two weeks into my healthy new lifestyle and there have been times when I have struggled. In times like these, I look for motivation to stay on track. One of the things I learned was to get into the habit of breaking a bad habit. This is tough but very crucial to having good health. Today, I read an article about turning bad habits into good ideas. It definitely feels good to know that I have already implemented some of these suggestions and that I should keep up the good work.
With the new year now a few weeks old, it’s time to stop and remember those resolutions you made at the dawn of 2010. New Year’s Resolutions are perhaps best known for the likelihood that they will fall by the wayside. If you’re serious, however, one of the best tools for making sure you achieve your new year’s resolutions is your iPhone.
With the vast array of applications available for the iPhone it might be hard to pick the right ones if you want to get in better shape, save money or get a date this year, so we’re going to pick out some of the best for you . First up we’re going to start with applications that will help you get in better shape.
The most popular new year’s resolution of all time, likely due to the expanding waistline that over one month of feast and drink bestows upon us, getting in better shape can be a frustrating challenge. Thankfully there are plenty of good iPhone applications available to help you keep this resolution. Just be warned, none of these apps will actually burn calories for you, they’ll just help you get the feedback and build the routines you’ll need to make that happen.
Note: All links point to the iTunes store.
Lose It!
Price: Free
Rating: 3.5 stars
This free applications has sat near the top of Apple’s Healthcare & Fitness category for a long time. Attractive and easy to use, Lose It! is basically a calorie counter. Tell it a bit about yourself, how much weight you want to lose and it will give you a daily calorie allowance. You can then track what you eat and how you exercise, all with simple charts to see how you’re doing. The newest version also includes the ability to sync your information with a website and even tweet your progress.
iFitness
Price: $1.99
Rating: 4.5 stars
If you want to start building some muscle mass, then iFitness is a great companion app. The application allows you how to track a large number of different weight-lifting exercises. It includes photos, videos and written instructions for how to properly do each exercise and lets you set up custom workouts.
Weightbot
Price: $1.99
Rating: 4 stars
If you want to eschew the bother of tracking every calorie and just want to keep an eye on your weight, then Weightbot is for you. The interface is gorgeous and it’s extremely easy to use. You can chart your progress over time and immediately get your BMI when you enter your weight.
Nike+
Price: Free (for 3GS owners) + $29 for sensor
Rating: N/A
Apple and Nike’s partnership to track your jogging finally arrived on the iPhone with the 3GS. If you have a 3GS, all you’ll need to do is jump into the settings to activate the Nike+ app, and then go out and buy the $29 sensor for your shoe. The app let’s you synchronize your progress to Nike’s website, choose a playlist while jogging, including the famous power song to get your over that hump, and gives you feedback when you’ve reached a milestone. Unfortunately if you have an older iPhone, you’re out of luck.
RunKeeper
Price: $9.99 (free version also available)
Rating: 5 stars
If you don’t have an iPhone 3GS, or just don’t want to use the Nike+ system, RunKeeper Pro is a great alternative, although we should note it doesn’t work on the iPhone 2G. Using your iPhone’s GPS to track your runs, RunKeeper let’s you track your progress, view your routes and control your music directly from the app. Information can also be backed up and viewed on the RunKeeper website. If the $9.99 price for the Pro version of RunKeeper is a bit too rich for your blood, there’s also a free ad-supported version with the same basic functionality.
iCan
Price: 99 cents
Rating: 3.5 stars
Not specifically related to getting in better shape, but a good app for any resolution, iCan is basically a goal tracker with an inspirational bent. Simply enter in any goal and you’ll immediately get an inspirational quote. If at any point you find yourself lagging, simply press a button for more inspirational text. An attractive and simple way to keep track of your resolutions so you don’t forget them and remember what you’ve achieved.
Now that the holidays are over, I finally have time to get back to my blog. There is just something about the holiday season and not having enough time for anything. Who am I kidding, how is that any different from the rest of the year? Oh well, I want to get to the meat of my post and talk about an up and coming mom business whose focus is Spandex. Yep, it is making a return!
Since I am a mompreneur myself, one of my passions is connecting with and chatting about other mom’s ideas and products that I think are unique and useful, especially since I am spreading the word that:
FIT MOMS = FIT FAMILIES = FIT BUSINESS.
Mom-owned company Bskinz is just that, and is simultaneously blazing a path in the compression shorts arena. Bskinz is owned and operated by two stay at home moms from northern NJ ready to reenter the workforce. They started as a small sports team apparel business, which furnished local teams with custom screened apparel. One day a team of cross-country girls approached them wanting hot pink spandex compression shorts to wear under their game shorts. On their quest to find them, they discovered that none of the large manufacturers such as Under Armour or Nike made fashion oriented colors for girls compression. Not satisfied with just the basic black, white and sometimes navy, they decided to launch our own line. It was then that Bskinz was born.
What also sets Bskinz apart is their customization process. When ordering you could get one pattern for your left leg and if you choose, another for your right. How cool is that? My daughter thought that was awesome and based on Bskinz success, she is not alone in her thinking. Bskinz is distinguishing themselves alright.
Bskinz sent me their product to give it a whirl. As a runner, I could not wait to put these to the test on my next outdoor adventure. One of the first things I noticed is the quality of the capris. The stitching is top notch and the spandex itself is thicker, yet still breathable. After having laced up my shoes, I headed out the door.
Alright fellow running junkies out there, you know what “chafing” is and how it is one of the most uncomfortable things that can happen to you out on the road. After a 6 mile run in my awesome Bskinz, I returned home with nothing bleeding! Not to mention, I didn’t have to interrupt my run by having to pull up my pants as with other pants that I’ve tried. Best thing since the Nike Women’s Marathon’s Tiffany finisher’s necklace….well, almost!
Since that first run, I find myself reaching again and again for my Bskinz, even more so since winter. I have discovered that Bskinz makes a great base layer for cold weather running.
What more could I ask for? Breathability, made in the USA, developed and launched by mompreneurs, supporting girl sports teams and the local economy, stylish and true to performance, not to mention it dried quickly. Oh yeah, did I mention a couple of FIT MOMS came up with the idea? Rock on Bskinz, you are definitely FIT FOR A MOM!
Don’t just take my word for it, check out the many styles and patterns yourself over at: www.bskinz.com
P.S. One teeny, tiny recommendation….placing a little pocket on the inside so us FIT MOMS could put a key or a GU in there
Patterned and colorful girls compression wear with a tag line of B-Active, B-You. After all isn’t that what every girl wants – to be active and yet express themselves fashionably! I could not have said it better Bskinz.
Methods of working out have aggressively changed through these recent times when fast pace is the need for every American. It all breaks down to one simple thing, calories in vs. calories out, and of course keeping a healthy, well balanced diet. A fantastic and effective way to get those darn calories out is definitely the Life Fitness 95 Xi Elliptical Trainer. Just like the Precor EFX 546 HR and EFX 556HR elliptical trainers, the 95Xi is a staple in every major health club facility in America. The 95Xi trainer provides an incredibly easy indoor cardiovascular exercise which burns calories in no time. With its moving arms, the 95 Xi is also a great way to tone the upper body muscles and its very smooth elliptical motion makes working out on the 95Xi like walking on air. You can also workout on this machine in reverse mode. Working out in reverse mode allows different muscle groups, such as calves and glutes, to be exercised, thereby increasing the user’s workout benefits. The 95Xi has large, comfortable pedals to stand on that fit most shoe sizes. A top of the line, extremely durable, Life Fitness commercial product and it can also be used in the comfort of your home.
The Life Fitness 95Xi Fitstride Elliptical comes with 30 pre-programmed workouts that include Goal Workouts, Interval Workouts, 6 Customizable Workouts, Zone Training Heart Rate Workouts, and much more workout courses to choose from. The 95 Xi Elliptical has a built in digital heart rate monitoring system. When you put your hands on the sensors (located on the ergonomically moving arms), it will read out your heart rate on the display. Monitoring your heart rate can help you optimize your workout session. The easy-to-use display console also shows the user a workout profile, including how many calories are burned, resistance being used, elapsed time, speed and distance incurred.
The Life Fitness 95Xi Elliptical weighs at 286 pounds and measures 84.75 inches long by 26.5 inches wide by 64 inches high. It is a very sturdy machine and extremely low maintenance. Life Fitness ellipticals rarely have major breakdowns according to Life Fitness service records. If you want a commercial quality product that will last you a long time, then go for the 95Xi Elliptical Trainer. It is worth every penny. These machines go for over $2500 remanufactured or well over $5000 for a brand new one. But why pay more for a brand new machine when you can purchase a Remanufactured or Refurbished 95Xi for a fraction of the cost, in like new condition. A reputable remanufacturing company usually offers a reasonable guaranteed warranty with their product. The longer the warranty, the better it is for the conscientious consumer.
From a very early age I have always known that something inside me was different. I’ve always been able to read peoples minds and manipulate them if I chose to, just by knowing how their mind was, what it really wanted and what it didn’t. I have also had an inner energy tht has helped me learn and control how I have lived my life. I’m not a very emotional person, but the reason for this is very simple and something I will explain at a later date in more detail.
As I grew, my energy also got stronger, my focus became precise, I became ultra fit, and already knew what I would do for a career. I had to try out the hunting ability of my gift, afterall, that is what vampires do best…hunt. We are born to hunt, not sitting around a room drinking cups of blood, or finding a partner to bite or cut so you can engorge yourself on them. The blood issue has very strong bonds with me, another subject I shall go into more detail at a later date.
I shall also be introducing the Codes Of Honor. These are very important to me as I have lived my entire life by them. They will show to many others the true strength of the vampire for what we really are, and not for how people perceive us to be. The sense and psionics honed and used correctly means your life will never be a negative drag. Trust me on this.
The time has come for me to share my mind and soul about what is very close to me. The media and commercial aspects of todays society has taken over the role of what a vampire is. They have created an unrealistic view of how vampires live their lives and how people should perceive them, from the sanguine to the energy vampire, or psychic as some call them. All having weak minds that have no real sense of psionics or abilities.
It’s a trendy fashion now. Everybody loves the vampire, yet they are not taken seriously, and really, can you blame them? The media has created a mythical superhuman. I am here to enlighten others that the vampire has now evolved. We are smart, clever, and use our psionic abilities to sense and know what is right, before it even happens. Prediction is paramount for it saves much time in a society that really is based on lies and cheating.
Over the next few months I shall explain how I have used my gifts in various forms, how people can learn to hone this energy if they so choose, and what my thoughts are on all the other types of so called vampires, most of which I have come across. I will explain how my life as a psionic vampire has evolved, and everything I write is based on real life experiences, all the things I have seen, done, and felt. I hope to cover all aspects of the genre of vampires. Some will not like what I have to say, some will. This is fact based, not fiction. I know it won’t change the whole outlook on how people view vampires, but this is very personal to me and it’s also my destiny to share what knowledge I have.
Lose It!
iFitness
Weightbot
Nike+
RunKeeper
iCan
Now that the holidays are over, I finally have time to get back to my blog. There is just something about the holiday season and not having enough time for anything. Who am I kidding, how is that any different from the rest of the year? Oh well, I want to get to the meat of my post and talk about an up and coming mom business whose focus is Spandex. Yep, it is making a return!