Category Archives: Fitness

If only I could do The Dailey Method, daily

  By Amy | June 28, 2012 - 8:27 am | ,
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For real.  I have enjoyed the challenge of my first six classes so much.  It’s a good challenge.  I can’t say I always feel like I’m up for the challenge and even sometimes in the middle of class, I feel like a wet noodle but always, always after class, I am so thankful that I went and endured the challenge.  I officially feel stronger, more balanced and more energetic.  It’s a really good feeling.

I have made an attempt to take a class at least three times per week.  If I could make it to The Dailey Method classes daily, I would.  I have had to adjust my schedule a bit here and there but so far, there hasn’t been a problem getting in during a time that works for me.  Classes are offered every single day, morning until evening.  My husband doesn’t get home until early evening, so the evening classes have been working out like a charm for me.  Having an accountability partner, like Melisa, has helped, too.

In case you haven’t checked out what all the fuss is about yet, here is a video to whet your fitness appetite:

What Is The Dailey Method? from Doug McIntosh on Vimeo.

From what I gather, if you haven’t tried The Dailey Method yet, your first class is free. There are studio locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Nevada and Utah. Locations in Canada and Europe, too. It’s a growing phenomenon, people. I’m an official Dailey Method backer. My back loves it.

Girl, look at that body

  By Amy | June 19, 2012 - 2:00 pm | ,
2 Comments

TDM-Naperville

I wanted to publish this post, like, hours ago but I was restricted by my blog. After a lengthy argument, I was permitted to re-enter, provided I blog more often. Ok. It’s a deal.

Now that you know about my frustrations, spending half a day trying to regain access to my neglected blog, I can refocus and tell you all about my new-found endeavor.  It’s called…EXERCISING.  But not just any old form of exercising, I’m doing the kind that builds strength and balance and all of that good “inside” stuff.  It’s called, “The Dailey Method” and it’s aaa-mazing.

I’ve been given the opportunity to take an unlimited number of classes from The Dailey Method for thirty days.  After gaining 20+ pounds over the past 7 years, how could I say no?  My focus has been on being a mom, wife, employee, etc.  I kind of de-prioritized  concerns about my physique.  Not such a great idea.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a couch potato.  I trek up and down stairs everyday, take walks with my kids, go to the zoo, move around doing this and that, etc.  But, unfortunately, that kind of movement doesn’t strengthen my muscles or tone my body very much.  I know this because after attending my first three Dailey Method “Principles” classes, it’s obvious how much of a weakling I’ve become.

I’ve taken yoga and aerobics classes in the past, so, I’m familiar with an exercise class atmosphere.  The Dailey Method class/studio set-up is very similar:

TDM-Naperville-Studio

The Dailey Method Studio – 5th Avenue Station, Naperville

Like I mentioned, I’ve participated in three classes and already, I feel stronger and a little more balanced.  It’s a tough workout but the results are worth it.  My goal is to ultimately change my body shape and shed extra weight, but I know what’s initially important for me, getting in-tune with my core and getting stronger.  I’m preparing my body for the change, from the inside-out.

TDM_sock

So, stay tuned.  I plan on updating my progress over the next 30 days.  Oh, my accountability partner is the one and only, Melisa Wells (Suburban Scrawl).  We’re on this mission together.  Pow!

To learn more about The Dailey Method, go here.

*Big thanks to 2 Moms Media and The Dailey Method for this opportunity.  I fully disclose that I’m not paying for these classes.  I was selected, along with a number of other bloggers, to participate in an unlimited number of classes for up to 30 days and write about my experience.  All opinions are my own.

Ok, I’ll exercise

  By Amy | May 11, 2011 - 3:10 pm | , , , , , ,
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mom-on-the-run

I go through phases of wanting to exercise and not wanting to exercise. I’ve been in a very long phase of not wanting to exercise. I feel like I may have snapped out of it today.

The weather has warmed up significantly, as in, it’s May but it feels like August.   So the girls and I went out for a walk yesterday.  I’m usually the one complaining but it wasn’t me this time, it was the 5 year old.   She’s been fighting a chest cold and I thought it would do her some good to sweat it out a little bit.   It was 80 degrees at 9:00 am, so, sweat we did.

This morning after preschool drop-off, I took the 22 month old out in the jogging stroller.  I have never jogged with it.  We’ve had it since 2007, so there ya go.  There’s a first time for everything, right?

teagan

jogger shadow

I’m not saying it hasn’t been jogged with, on the contrary.  The mister used to take Hailey jogging and now that she’s outgrown it, Teagan is the lucky one.  Anyway, I decided to take a stab at it this morning.

Verdict: It was very hot.  The breeze was nice.  I was really slow.  It felt so good!  I do believe I will make this jogging with the toddler in the stroller a regular thing.

jogging path

We have this Jeep Overland Limited Jogging Stroller:

jeep_overland_limited_jogging_stroller

I know I wrote about it a long time ago but I can’t find my review for the life of me.  I’ll link up to it if I ever find it.  Anyway, it’s been a great jogging stroller (per my husband).  Let me jog with it a few more times and I’ll let you know my thoughts.  It’s great for walking, this I know.

I also used the Runkeeper iPhone app to track my progress.  It’s not the first time I’ve used this app and it won’t be the last.  There are some new features that I need to check out and then I’ll post my review of it over at TechGeekSphere.

I dont’ feel the need to weigh myself and I have already planned on cutting back on the junk that I usually eat.  I am more or less looking to get more active.  Hopefully you will see many posts like this one in the near future.

Holiday indulgences and whatnot

  By Amy | December 7, 2008 - 9:29 pm | , ,
1 Comment

With the holiday season fast approaching, it never fails, the moment you walk into the grocery store, you are faced with special deals on sweets and items for holiday baking. I don’t know about you but it’s temptation central for me. Even if I had no intention of baking those six different Christmas cookies, I’m always suckered in once I see those bags of red and green wrapped Hershey kisses, Reese cups and bags of brown sugar.

I’ve never been one to follow a weight-loss program. I suppose that could be why I have the weight concerns that I do today. Although, I have become increasingly more interested in the Weight Watchers program. I recently discovered that they have some pretty neat online tools to make balancing your eating habits a pretty simple task. I’m all about the simple.

Weight Watchers now has this “Snack Widget” that you can get for your desktop or embed into your website, which allows you to simply type in a snack food that you want and the widget will produce a variety of Weight Watchers snacks to choose from instead.

Check it out for yourself here:

You can get this widget HERE.

You can find Weight Watchers on Facebook (I just became a fan) where they offer free recipes and great weight watching tips. You can also find a lot of great healthy eating information on their website HERE.

Like I said, the closer we get to celebrating the holidays, the harder it is to eat sensibly when you’re faced with all of those fabulous goodies.  Keep Weight Watchers in mind when you head out to that next holiday party.  Know that they have a great online resource that you can turn to when you need a boost in confidence and some healthy eating tips.

Dad On the Run: Week 3

  By Amy | December 1, 2008 - 7:51 pm | , ,
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Yeah, I know this post comes a little on the late side, but there was turkey day and all last week. I do find myself asking why am I trying to do this around the holidays? Trying to do this amongst the eating and drinking extravaganzas otherwise known as Thanksgiving and Christmas is a good way to end up being miserable or getting frustrated and quitting. I know I often feel that way, but, at least for now, I’ve made it through. I took a few days off early in the week, but stretched out the rest of my runs and ended up with 12 miles jogged during week 3. It all, however, seems to be adding up to a whole lot of weight loss stagnation and frustration.

Even though I’m “trying” to eat “better” I’m not really doing such a good job at it. Heck, I had a whole bunch of Red vines today and that’s not helping anything. Do you have any tips for me and the rest of the readers out there? It’s not as if I don’t know what and how much I should be eating, I just don’t seem to be making it happen. Let’s give it another go in week 4. Anyhow, here are the totals:

Weekly Weight Loss: -2.6 lbs
Total Weight Loss: -5.6 lbs

Prior Dad On the Run Posts:
Introduction
Week 1
Week 2

Dad On the Run: Week 2

  By Amy | November 24, 2008 - 7:04 pm |
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Woah, I’m a few days late with this post, but better late than never, right? So the second week of Dad On the Run was a bit of a hectic week. I jogged only 12.02 miles (according to the treadmill) but (again) fell off the wagon in regards to eating good stuff again. I ate too much, drank too much, and took a few days off towards the end of the week. No worries though, this isn’t going to happen overnight.

Now Thanksgiving is on Thursday but it might present some problems. How to get around it? Just exercise some portion control and lay off the holiday drinks. That along with a hefty dose of pre-meal exercise should, hopefully, keep me on the right track this year. So after week two, things are as follows:

Weekly Weight Loss: -0.2 lbs
Total Weight Loss: -3.0 lbs

Prior Dad On the Run Posts:
Introduction
Week 1

Dad On the Run: Week 1

  By Amy | November 14, 2008 - 7:06 am |
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So yeah, I took my own advice and started slowly and actually made it through the first week of Dad On the Run with flying colors. I jogged a total of 13 miles in six days which really isn’t all that much, but it’s a start.  Check back in six weeks and hopefully my weekly mileage will be almost twice that.  The one place I fell a little short was in the “healthy eating” department, but there are two ways I can look at this:

“I can either get crazy and neurotic about everything I eat or I can take things as they are presented and not feel bad about eating the leftover Halloween candy.”

For the sake of my sanity and the sanity of those around me (yes, I mean Amy) I’m going with the second option.  Sure, I probably won’t get to my goals as fast, but this isn’t about some crazy diet or unrealistic exercise plan, Dad On the Run is about a lifestyle change. So even with a little “cheating” here and there, I’m still resolved to eat stuff that is better rather than worse for me.  Those pita chips I just ate aren’t (however) making me feel any better about all this.

Anyhow here’s where I’m at after week one:

Weekly Weight Loss: -2.8 lbs
Total Weight Loss: -2.8 lbs