Archive for the ‘ Fitness ’ Category
Strength Training With Kettlebells
The first time I saw a kettlebell was several years ago at the gym. A guy was working with a personal trainer, standing on a wobble board and hoisting something that looked like a large cowbell. I honestly couldn’t figure out what they were doing, and half expected to hear the “bell” ringing as if […] Read More
Finding Balance with BOSU
With all due respect to the company, there’s something about the name BOSU that just sounds silly. I can assure you that after a serious workout with one of these half-dome gadgets, you won’t be laughing anymore. The BOSU acronym originally stood for “both sides up,” meaning that it could be used on either side, […] Read More
Setting an Example
When I started my Team in Training workouts back in the spring, it never occurred to me that there was a tiny little person watching my every move. After a few weeks, he would start asking questions at breakfast. “Is today a running day or a kickboxing day?” he’d ask. “Don’t forget your water bottle!” […] Read More
Go for a Walk
With all of my emphasis on higher-impact aerobic and strength training, it’s easy to gloss over the importance of walking for exercise. The truth is, it’s a great low-impact form of aerobic activity that’s not only good for your heart, it’s also good for improving your mood. Just like what I love about running, walking […] Read More
Taking a Hike
I live in northern California, and October is the perfect time of year for a hike: the summer heat has given way to cooler temperatures, but the winter rains haven’t yet made a muddy mess of the trails. When most people think of hikes, they assume they need specialized hiking boots, a day pack and […] Read More
Cardio Kickboxing
Those who know me well are probably surprised that it’s taken me so long to post about kickboxing, a workout that I adore. I’ve waited, partly because I didn’t want this to be the Running and Kickboxing blog, and partly because in my experience, there can be tremendous variation in class style based on the […] Read More
Exercise and Pregnancy
I have more than a few friends who are either due in the coming months or hoping to be pregnant soon. Often they ask, “Did you exercise when you were pregnant? Was it safe?” The answers are yes and yes, followed by a disclaimer that everything I did was with the full knowledge and consent […] Read More
Food Diaries
I keep a food diary using The Daily Plate at Livestrong.com. Yes, I know that’s a dieter’s trick, but that’s not why I started. When I began my serious race training, I wanted to understand what I was eating and why. Was I getting enough protein? What was my carb/fat/protein ratio? But it’s also made […] Read More
You’re Only As Old As You Feel
Betty was on the living room floor, coffee table pushed aside, doing bicycle crunches. The Olympics were on TV and they were doing some sort of video montage of an athlete’s training. Elbow to knee. Elbow to knee. Left. Right. Left. Right. “Get down here and do this!” she shouted, laughing. Left. Right. Left. Right. […] Read More
Coveting the TRX
I’ve never seen a TRX in person, but I heard about it from my Team in Training coach, and I have to say, I’m a little bit obsessed with the idea of it. This thing looks like the ultimate in strength-based core training, and I’m dying to try one. My world does not have room […] Read More
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