Saturday, October 30, 2010

Let's get some shoes!!

Every time I hear of someone working out in bare feet it makes me cringe (other than yoga/pilates, of course). In my opinion, the right shoes are so incredibly important to how well the workout goes. For me (I have rather weak ankles) so I make sure to wear a shoe with some lateral stability, especially when I am doing Turbo Kick, Turbo Jam, or Turbo Fire. There is so much side-to-side motion in those classes, that it's crucial to have this type of support. I have 'rolled out' on my ankle, more than once, and it is NO FUN! Actually one time, I rolled out so badly that I sprained my ankle and couldn't do ANY cardio for 4 weeks! Yeah, that didn't make me happy, AT ALL.

I also have really flat feet, so picking shoes that do not have super-high arches are a must for me. Otherwise, about 30 minutes into the workout, I'm ready to stop altogether because the arches of my feet hurt so badly. I'm not looking for an easy-out here, it's just my sad little truth.
My shoe of choice is a Nike trail running shoe. This shoe provides lots of stability, as it should, since it is made for running on crazy terrain. It's a little bit of a heavier shoe, but I just tell myself that it is making me stronger since they weigh more. :) That said, many people can get away with regular crosstrainers when doing these classes or other typical gym workouts.

As far as shoe replacement goes, I believe that the general consensus is: crosstrainers and aerobics shoes should be replaced every 100 hours, running shoes every 400-500 miles, and walking shoes every 500 miles. However, if you feel that your shoes aren't providing you with the support you want/need...get new ones! Besides, who doesn't love shopping!!!?

Maybe you don't have the same issues as me - maybe you have different issues. Regardless, do yourselves a favor and go to a store, try on lots of different pairs of shoes, and pick what really works for YOU. You will be so happy that you did!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Underactive Thyroid and Food

Being hypothyroid for the past ~8 years, I have done quite a bit of my own research on what foods I should and shouldn't eat. More foods than you realize may affect how thyroid medication is absorbed, so it is important to know the potential effects of different foods BEFORE you eat them. I am including a link to this article because these are the foods that most individuals agree on. There are others out there, that I will bring up another day, that are more controversial (soy, for instance).


http://www.livestrong.com/article/255372-healthy-foods-for-an-underactive-thyroid/


It is important to remember to take your medication everyday (synthroid for me). I take mine first thing in the morning with a giant glass of water on an empty stomach. Per the directions: I wait one hour before eating anything (which makes for a hungry workout!!) and avoid vitamins, minerals, and supplements for at least four hours. This is why I drink my Shakeology for LUNCH not breakfast - better to be safe than sorry!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

And I ran...

...no I didn't, but I love 80's music, so I couldn't resist!!

So, I am really not a runner, I can't even pretend to be one.  Remember that episode of 'Friends' where Phoebe ran?  Yeah, I could be her sister.  That said, I have lots of friends who ARE runners and I have mad respect for them (many of them take my Yoga class :) ). 

I get asked, pretty often, what is an at-home fitness program that could work for them on their off-season from running.  Well, I have an article to answer that very question!  The answer is P90X...the article is here...http://running.competitor.com/2010/10/ask-the-experts/ask-the-experts-is-p90x-good-for-runners_15874.  I am sure there are other programs that could be used as well, but I thought this article documents the experience perfectly.  Enjoy!

Sunday, October 17, 2010

...burn it up!!!

I personally LOVE Turbo Fire!! I started out with Turbo Jam and then moved to Turbo Fire. Since I teach Turbo Kick at the gym, it is great to see what people can do -at home- for themselves!! If you want SUPER high intensity cardio drills, you gotta go with Turbo Fire...they are NOT playin' around! I'm currently doing the 'Advanced' portion of the program and it's for real! I actually look forward to my workouts and seeing how hard I can PUSH!


Saturday, October 16, 2010

How it all started...

So, after teaching Turbo Kick for a while at the gym, I saw a commercial for Turbo Jam.  I had to know more, so I ordered it.  I finally had something to do at home without my having to "think" the whole time.  I know, you're thinking, you teach this stuff, why not just do what you do in class, at home?.  Well, sometimes it's much more fun and motivating to have someone else telling you what to do (you know how that is) - I LOVED it!