One of the privileges of being a Skydeck Chicago Ambassador this summer was the ability to come up with a one-of-a-kind event to put on in the space on the 103rd floor of Willis (formerly Sears) Tower. We ambassadors started with clean slates, and could basically present any idea we wanted to the PR team and management of Skydeck Chicago for approval. For me, incorporating a workout was a no-brainer, because I love fitness and especially because Skydeck Chicago has nothing to do with fitness. I thought that mixing up the two worlds would be interesting and fun. Of course, I couldn’t exactly arrange to teach a cycling class up…
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My Trainer, Bob.
So… The Biggest Loser. I am a Biggest Loser fan. Since day one, actually. My mention of the show probably won’t sit well with everyone: it usually doesn’t. I’ve participated in many debates over the years–in real life and on Facebook–about whether the show and the people behind it are “right” or “wrong”. It seems to me that there are just a few types of people, where viewing the show is concerned: 1. I have seen it and think it’s amazing and inspiring. 2. I have seen it and think it’s not only ridiculous but sends the wrong message. 3. I haven’t seen it. I am, of course, part of…
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Dancing To His Own Beat
He was wearing a bright green t-shirt, a marine blue baseball cap, black shorts, sneakers with neon green accents and a goofy grin. Flailing his arms wildly above his head and then to the side, he was doing his best to keep up with the rest of us in Zumba class. It wasn’t the speed that was a problem. He was able to move quickly, even though his motions were more choppy than smooth. The problem was the variety of combinations. His brain clearly couldn’t process the mixtures of arm and leg movements, or the mishmash of turning one way and then the other in four-count sets. And the hips?…
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Bounce.
In accordance with my new and improved strategy to really focus on taking care of myself and getting my former fitness level back, I filled up a water bottle, put my driver’s license, a couple dollars, and my cell phone in a ziploc bag for safe (and dry) keeping, put on my helmet, and hopped on my bike for the six-to-seven mile ride to the YMCA for my Zumba class this morning. It was my first bike ride over there, and my first class there in general: my instructor, Emily, moved her classes from the studio closer to my house to the Y for the summer. When I left home…
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The Long Walk Back To Me
When I turned forty-two (ouch) last November, I made four simple but clear goals for myself for the year (click here to read that entire post): 1. Lose thirty pounds 2. Move/exercise more often 3. Get my book published 4. Get organized At that time, I had no idea that number three would not only become a reality sooner than expected, but also that it would completely paralyze my progress on numbers one and two. (Number four? Piece of cake; did that in December.) The fact that not only have I made absolutely no progress on those first two goals since November, but that I’ve even GONE BACKWARDS is more…
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Saturday Night Special: Embracing The Pain
Momo Fali is one of my bloggie besties. She is always a pleasure to talk to, whether it’s on the phone, on Facebook, on Twitter, or of course, in person. (And whether we’re speaking English OR French.) I adore her. My Momo and me The other night, we were on Twitter, having a discussion about her first day of boot camp and her reentry into a health and fitness plan. The conversation was just too good to leave there in the black hole of Twitter archives, so I preserved it in possibly one of the funniest things I’ve ever created. (Thanks for the comedy gold, Momo! And I made you…
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Lazy Is As Lazy Does
Jim and I went out for our first snowshoeing workout of the season yesterday. I decided to bring Roxie with us because she hasn’t gotten too much exercise lately, the temperature outside wasn’t too cold, and I thought we’d really tire her out by taking her out into the deep (for her, a beagle) snow. I’ve taken her out with me (by myself) several times in the past couple of years, and I practically had to drag her home because she was so tired. Hmm. This year, unfortunately for us, because she’s no dum-dum, she figured out that snowshoeing would be easier–and more enjoyable–for her if she just trotted behind…
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Getting Some Shut-Eye
One of my favorite walking routes is a black-topped path through a huge park not far from my house. The path is not a straight one; it gently winds in pleasant curves around the natural landscaping, helping to create an enjoyably scenic journey for those who wish to travel from one end of the park to the other. On Monday, which was a gloriously beautiful fall day around here (before the gusty winds and coldness hit), Roxie and I headed out to walk there. The sun was shining, the tree branches full of yellow-to-orange-to-red (and some still green) leaves were gently swaying back and forth in the light breeze, and…
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Call Me Selfish, But I’m Keeping Zumba Just For Me.
Believe it or not, I was not active as a younger person. Unlike my sister, who began playing soccer as a child and continued into college as I recall, I never participated in any sports other than the occasional trip to the bowling alley. I was more of the Couch Potato variety. When Jim and I moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin, I was 24 and decided that I should start exercising. I found a little women’s-only gym, got a tour from the owner, and signed up. I remember vividly how I used to be very jealous of the ladies who would get on the stairmaster for a full thirty minutes: whenever…
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Midwest Mania Wrap-Up 2010
I don’t know about you, but I’m still recovering from the weekend. Remember that picture I shared last week, in an attempt to describe to you how I’d feel after the weekend? Well, I was right. That’s not to say that the weekend wasn’t fun, though. I had a great time, but I worked SO, SO hard. Midwest Mania, for those of you who, like me, have been too busy to catch up on all of the blogs you read, is a fitness conference that is put on by SCW. Because I am an ACE-certified group fitness instructor, I need continuing education credits (CECs) to recertify, and going to a…