Most women who've been pregnant and given birth are reading the title of this blog and thinking, "No kidding!" But this week's workout is about more than your body changing. It's about how bringing little ones into the world and realizing that you're responsible for the people they turn into can change your whole outlook on life.
“My daughter will say, mommy come run with me and in my old life that never would have happened,” says Sara Miller. Two years ago, she weighed 269-pounds. She’s now nearly half that – and she credits her family – in part, for her weight loss. “I started running as an anniversary gift to my husband.”
Her husband does triathlons … he’s an exercise enthusiast. It was his dream to one day do a race with his wife. “So I said okay, I’ll train to do a 5K.” Sara remembers, “it was really because I didn’t have an anniversary gift picked out yet !”
The gift to her husband is the gift that keeps on giving. It’s helped her shed more than 120 pounds over the last two years after struggling with her weight her entire adult life. “When our son Lincoln was born, it was very easy to say ‘it’s a boy so he’ll watch Dave and be just like Dave.’ I thought he wouldn’t struggle with weight because he’d model after his dad and be okay.”
The birth of Sara’s daughter – a day before her 30th birthday - changed everything. The minute the doctor said, “it’s a girl,” - Sara says knew she could no longer hide from her responsibility. it was *her turn to be the role model. “You know I’m looking at this little girl and thinking about all the promise that this baby has in this tiny little body and realizing there’s no reason my body can’t have that promise, because at one time it did.”
Sara started monitoring her diet the day after Coraline was born. Six weeks later, she joined Weight Watchers. Fruit replaced doughnuts and she started viewing food as fuel. Her attitude about “diets” changed entirely. “I don’t feel like I’m doing this until I get to a certain point and then I can be done – hallelujah!” she laughs, “I will probably be doing this until the day I die because it’s that important to me. I don’t want to let this go.”
Sara now measures everything she eats and even makes her own yogurt, to avoid preservatives and extra sugar. And on the side of the fridge, there’s another motivator. It’s a two year old picture in which Sara is about twice the woman she is now. “Dave says I walk differently and just carry myself differently and I feel like that self-confidence comes from not necessarily having a smaller body, but from accomplishing something I set out to do.”
Sara made good on that anniversary promise and finished her first 5-k last year. Her children were there to watch their mom – and role model – cross the finish line.
Sara also writes a blog, which she says helped her work through some of her issues about weight and food.
http://weightylife.blogspot.com/2012/01/control.html
Here's to a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
How's your gait?
There is new technology at a metro fitness store that could help you get more out of your workouts. It promises to prevent injuries by putting you in the right shoes. The shop in Ankeny where you’ll find it is called “Kyle’s Bikes” but you’ll also find shoes… and Bill Lorenz.
He starts by interviewing us, and finds two very different athletes. Sonya runs about five times a week, putting in at least five to ten miles every time. Bill asks me how far I run and how often. “Never,” I say. He starts laughing. “I’m not kidding,” I respond.
Bill says it doesn’t matter. He has us take off our shoes and socks and hit the treadmill. He’s using the Dartfish Gait Analysis System. While we run, it records.
In slow motion it’s possible to see a person’s biomechanics. Sonya’s are normal and Bill wants to record her running in her shoes. The program allows us to see the recordings side-by-side.
“So you can see the angle is the same whether you have the shoe on or not, so the shoe is not changing anything about your biomechanics,” he explains, “my opinion would be that you’re in an appropriate shoe. Yay for you!” he laughs.
For me it’s a much different story. After I spend a few seconds running barefoot Bill says, “Come down and look at how you run, you may find this interesting.” More like horrifying! Where Sonya’s feet stayed mostly in a straight line, mine roll toward the inside. Bill explains that this is “over pronation”. It means my feet and ankles have trouble stabilizing my body and shock isn’t absorbed efficiently. A lot of people have this biomechanical abnormality and it’s easy to correct with the right shoes.
“This is what we call stability shoes,” says Bill as he comes out of the back room with an armload of boxes, “these are all appropriate for a pronator.” I try three different brands built to keep my feet from rolling around and pick the pair that feels best to me. “Aren’t those nice?” Bill asks me, “you could become a runner, yet!”
What we found out is that whether you’re hoping to try a 5k like me, or planning to train for your sixth marathon like Sonya, gait analysis can help you get there. “This software is the 21st century way to fit people with the correct running shoes,” Bill says with a grin, “I may’ve just changed your life!”
If you want more information, I found this great article on the Runner’s World website:
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-319-327-7727-0,00.html
Gait analysis is FREE at Kyle’s Bikes!
515-965-0333
http://www.kylesbikes.com/
Here's to a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
He starts by interviewing us, and finds two very different athletes. Sonya runs about five times a week, putting in at least five to ten miles every time. Bill asks me how far I run and how often. “Never,” I say. He starts laughing. “I’m not kidding,” I respond.
Bill says it doesn’t matter. He has us take off our shoes and socks and hit the treadmill. He’s using the Dartfish Gait Analysis System. While we run, it records.
In slow motion it’s possible to see a person’s biomechanics. Sonya’s are normal and Bill wants to record her running in her shoes. The program allows us to see the recordings side-by-side.
“So you can see the angle is the same whether you have the shoe on or not, so the shoe is not changing anything about your biomechanics,” he explains, “my opinion would be that you’re in an appropriate shoe. Yay for you!” he laughs.
For me it’s a much different story. After I spend a few seconds running barefoot Bill says, “Come down and look at how you run, you may find this interesting.” More like horrifying! Where Sonya’s feet stayed mostly in a straight line, mine roll toward the inside. Bill explains that this is “over pronation”. It means my feet and ankles have trouble stabilizing my body and shock isn’t absorbed efficiently. A lot of people have this biomechanical abnormality and it’s easy to correct with the right shoes.
“This is what we call stability shoes,” says Bill as he comes out of the back room with an armload of boxes, “these are all appropriate for a pronator.” I try three different brands built to keep my feet from rolling around and pick the pair that feels best to me. “Aren’t those nice?” Bill asks me, “you could become a runner, yet!”
What we found out is that whether you’re hoping to try a 5k like me, or planning to train for your sixth marathon like Sonya, gait analysis can help you get there. “This software is the 21st century way to fit people with the correct running shoes,” Bill says with a grin, “I may’ve just changed your life!”
If you want more information, I found this great article on the Runner’s World website:
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-319-327-7727-0,00.html
Gait analysis is FREE at Kyle’s Bikes!
515-965-0333
http://www.kylesbikes.com/
Here's to a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Wanna Fight?!?
Hello fitness fans!
This week Sonya and I were pushed to our limits in a challenging, FUN class.
We arrived expecting a tough workout from a place built around Mixed Martial Arts. If it sounds intimidating, don’t worry. You don’t have to be interested in fighting … just interested in pushing yourself.
It only makes sense that Joe Brammer would run this sort of gym. He’s a professional MMA fighter. “We incorporate a lot of Mixed Martial Arts movements in there, but you’re not going to be getting punched a kicked yourself,” Joe says with a grin, “but you are doing those movements to get the workout.”
Welcome to Elite Edge Gym’s “Lean Body Boot Camp” where Joe and his team of trainers push participants in new ways every day. “We always constantly change it to make sure nobody hits a plateau and also to keep people interested so they don’t get bored.”
That’s unlikely. For instance, on the day we visit the gym the workout is split into three stations. Each station contains four exercises and we’re going through them three times.
We start with the station built on MMA skills. When we’re punching the focus mits Joe wearing the emphasis is on power and speed. Hitting a heavy bag ten times and then doing burpees requires a ton of endurance. Tapping the constantly moving double-end speed bag tests our hand-eye coordination and it takes a surprising amount of agility to pounce on the dummy that just lies there on the floor! This section also helped us identify our strengths and weaknesses. Sonya excelled on power punches but couldn't hit the double-end bag to save her life while I was the exact opposite.
By the time we’re done with this station, we’re pumped up – and exhausted. There’s no time to rest though, because the trainers are screaming at us and it’s on to the next two rounds. The format is the same … four exercises, three times through.
We’re done with the punching and kicking. These two stations are all resistance work. We’re doing everything from squats and pushups to hamstring curls and overhead presses and there’s very little down time.
By the time the class is finished we feel tired, but great. Maybe we’re not ready for the ring, but we’re definitely tougher than when we walked in the door. Joe says that’s the idea. “We want to keep it fun but we want to make sure everybody hits their goals too … that’s what we’re here for.”
For more information on Elite Edge Gym and Lean Body Boot Camp:
http://eliteedgegym.com/
http://lean-body-boot-camp.com/
Here's to a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
This week Sonya and I were pushed to our limits in a challenging, FUN class.
We arrived expecting a tough workout from a place built around Mixed Martial Arts. If it sounds intimidating, don’t worry. You don’t have to be interested in fighting … just interested in pushing yourself.
It only makes sense that Joe Brammer would run this sort of gym. He’s a professional MMA fighter. “We incorporate a lot of Mixed Martial Arts movements in there, but you’re not going to be getting punched a kicked yourself,” Joe says with a grin, “but you are doing those movements to get the workout.”
Welcome to Elite Edge Gym’s “Lean Body Boot Camp” where Joe and his team of trainers push participants in new ways every day. “We always constantly change it to make sure nobody hits a plateau and also to keep people interested so they don’t get bored.”
That’s unlikely. For instance, on the day we visit the gym the workout is split into three stations. Each station contains four exercises and we’re going through them three times.
We start with the station built on MMA skills. When we’re punching the focus mits Joe wearing the emphasis is on power and speed. Hitting a heavy bag ten times and then doing burpees requires a ton of endurance. Tapping the constantly moving double-end speed bag tests our hand-eye coordination and it takes a surprising amount of agility to pounce on the dummy that just lies there on the floor! This section also helped us identify our strengths and weaknesses. Sonya excelled on power punches but couldn't hit the double-end bag to save her life while I was the exact opposite.
By the time we’re done with this station, we’re pumped up – and exhausted. There’s no time to rest though, because the trainers are screaming at us and it’s on to the next two rounds. The format is the same … four exercises, three times through.
We’re done with the punching and kicking. These two stations are all resistance work. We’re doing everything from squats and pushups to hamstring curls and overhead presses and there’s very little down time.
By the time the class is finished we feel tired, but great. Maybe we’re not ready for the ring, but we’re definitely tougher than when we walked in the door. Joe says that’s the idea. “We want to keep it fun but we want to make sure everybody hits their goals too … that’s what we’re here for.”
For more information on Elite Edge Gym and Lean Body Boot Camp:
http://eliteedgegym.com/
http://lean-body-boot-camp.com/
Here's to a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Welcome back!
Hello fitness friends!
The Workout of the Week is back after a holiday/caucus hiatus. We're ready to jump back into a routine, how about you?
This week we're focusing on partner training and it turns out tere are several reasons to work out with a buddy. They can motivate, encourage and compete with you. But that’s not all.
“Research is showing that when you work out with someone, doing synchronized movements, it releases endorphins,” says Angie Gallagher, a certified personal trainer.
Endorphins are chemicals produced by the body that make you feel good. And if that’s not enough to get you to team up with someone, consider this:
“Research shows you lose about a third more weight than if you’re exercising on your own.”
After a warm up, Angie shows us some moves designated for a two-some. The plank gets a makeover by adding a little twist, which works more of your core. And the glute bridge is a lot tougher when a partner ups the resistance.
Throwing in some gear adds another dimension to the workout. Angie hands us some resistance bands. While one person pushes, the other pulls. So while one person works their chest, the other works the muscles in the upper back.
These moves force you to work together or you can challenge one another – another benefit of working out with a partner.
“Your intensity increases when you work out with a partner because of that little bit of competition to keep up with each other,” says Angie.
And last but not least, a work out partner keeps you accountable, no matter what exercise you’re doing.
“Someone’s expecting you to show up. They’re relying on you so your accountability is going to increase.”
In other words, someone leaning on you – literally and figuratively – can make all the difference when it comes to your work out.
Here's to a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
The Workout of the Week is back after a holiday/caucus hiatus. We're ready to jump back into a routine, how about you?
This week we're focusing on partner training and it turns out tere are several reasons to work out with a buddy. They can motivate, encourage and compete with you. But that’s not all.
“Research is showing that when you work out with someone, doing synchronized movements, it releases endorphins,” says Angie Gallagher, a certified personal trainer.
Endorphins are chemicals produced by the body that make you feel good. And if that’s not enough to get you to team up with someone, consider this:
“Research shows you lose about a third more weight than if you’re exercising on your own.”
After a warm up, Angie shows us some moves designated for a two-some. The plank gets a makeover by adding a little twist, which works more of your core. And the glute bridge is a lot tougher when a partner ups the resistance.
Throwing in some gear adds another dimension to the workout. Angie hands us some resistance bands. While one person pushes, the other pulls. So while one person works their chest, the other works the muscles in the upper back.
These moves force you to work together or you can challenge one another – another benefit of working out with a partner.
“Your intensity increases when you work out with a partner because of that little bit of competition to keep up with each other,” says Angie.
And last but not least, a work out partner keeps you accountable, no matter what exercise you’re doing.
“Someone’s expecting you to show up. They’re relying on you so your accountability is going to increase.”
In other words, someone leaning on you – literally and figuratively – can make all the difference when it comes to your work out.
Here's to a healthy week!
EEK
Erin.Kiernan@whotv.com
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