baltimoresun.com

December 9, 2011

Oh dear. The Internet is upside-down again.

In the loopy world of blogs, this is the first post you'll see. For us, it's the last.

From the time this blog launched with several contributors, it has always been in a bit of a gerrymandered space between the sports and health worlds, with some transportation and food thrown in.

We've lost some voices in the year since then, so it's with some relief that those of us still active move to Picture of Health this month. We hope you'll come with us so we won't have to miss you.

It's been fun. Thanks for all the comments!

Photo credit: Getty Images

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 6:09 AM | | Comments (2)
        

September 16, 2011

Short walk!

Here’s a totally nonathletic, short, free walk for newbies, people up for a morning stroll at the Inner Harbor and anyone interested in a few tidbits about little-known services promoted by the state’s court system.

The District Court of Maryland Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and the Mediation and Conflict Resolution offices are holding a 3K walk around the Baltimore Inner Harbor on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 9 a.m.- noon.

Info tables will spotlight groups that offer conflict resolution services for families, schools, neighborhoods and more – think mediation, community conferences, conflict coaching.

Chief Judge Robert M. Bell of the Court of Appeals will make opening remarks. The walk goes to the Pier 5 Lighthouse and back to Rash Field, and includes a scavenger hunt with prizes.

Register today and you'll get a free t-shirt and a tote bag that says: Walk for peace in our communities. They’ll also be available, first-come basis, on Walk Day. To register: click here.

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 4:08 AM | | Comments (0)
        

August 19, 2011

Reading on the treadmill

I watch tv while on the treadmill, mostly because I can do it with no effort. Also because when I did more elliptical, I wasn't coordinated enough to flip through a magazine while on there elliptical without seriously slowing my pace.

No way I could do it with the magazine on the stand and me going up and down on the machine -- I couldn't see the moving words and was getting a headache.

The other evening, on a treadmill, I was flanked by people who were reading, and both of them were going faster than I was, definitely more than 4 mph.

I'm going to try it -- not going faster -- but reading while I walk at just under 4 mph.

You treadmill walk and read?

What do you do so you don't get a headache from the combination?

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 5:29 AM | | Comments (8)
        

July 22, 2011

More free yoga

Here's a good - and free - opportunity to try yoga:

The free outdoor yoga classes that started in May at West Shore Park on the Inner Harbor Promenade are now set to continue through Aug. 20. Weather-permitting, they’re every Saturday, 9 - 10 a.m.

The pre-tourist hour is early enough to be before you think it’s too hot to move a muscle. No yoga experience necessary.

The park is between the Visitor's Center and Maryland Science Center.

They are led by Charm City Yoga’s Camille Moses Allen and Jessica Rodgers. Sponsors are CCY and the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore.

If you've stopped over there this summer for free sessions, tell us about it!

Photo courtesy Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore

 

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 5:00 AM | | Comments (2)
        

June 17, 2011

Combine exercise with commuting

If you’ve been thinking of combining exercise with getting to work by bicycle, an "A Smarter Way to Get There" workshop this month may be for you.

A free primer on bicycle commuting, Smarter Way part of an initiative to promote transportation options for Harbor East and other waterfront locales in Baltimore.

The 2-hour workshop will start at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 30 at 650 S. Exeter St., Seventh floor courtyard.

Topics include good-to-know-info: choosing equipment, routes and safety. Another good reason to go is that everyone who does will be entered to win a TREK 700 hybrid bike.

Registration is required. Email beth@waterfrontpartnership.org or call (443) 743-3308.

Sponsors: Waterfront Partnership and Bike Maryland.


Posted by Andrea Siegel at 6:50 PM | | Comments (0)
Categories: Bicycling, City of Baltimore, Events, Newbies, Traffic
        

June 16, 2011

We have a winner!

The winner of the “Deadline Fitness” book stepped up to claim it.

The book went to Jen!

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 5:48 AM | | Comments (1)
        

June 10, 2011

Free outdoors yoga extended

If you need a reason to get up and out on a weekend morning, consider this: Free outdoors yoga classes in Baltimore are being extended through July 30.

Charm City Yoga and the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore are offering free yoga classes at West Shore Park on the Inner Harbor Promenade through the end of July. They are 9 - 10 am, every Saturday, as long as the weather cooperates.

Leading the classes: Charm City Yoga’s Camille Moses Allen and Jessica Rodgers.

You don't need to be experienced in yoga to participate.

The location is between the Visitor's Center and Maryland Science Center on the Inner Harbor Promenade.

Info: (410) 528-1523.


Posted by Andrea Siegel at 11:01 PM | | Comments (1)
        

June 4, 2011

National Trails Day & reopening of Heart Smart Trail

A healthy outdoors option for Sunday, which just happens to be National Trails Day:

Walk the Heart Smart Trail at Gunpowder Falls State Park.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Franklin Square Hospital Center are scheduled to reopen it with festvities from 1 to 3 pm Sunday, according to a news release we received.

The walking path is one mille long.

Events include a ribbon cutting ceremony, health awareness activities, and raffles, prizes and outdoorsy fun. Pets are welcome.

And of course there are health benefits to taking a walk.

The action will be at the park's Sweathouse Branch Area, Belair Road / Route 1 in Kingsville.

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 2:09 AM | | Comments (0)
        

June 3, 2011

Healthy marinades for the grill, recipe too

This is the time of year when we love to make dinner on the grill. But watch the marinades. They can be full of salt, sugar and grease, as well as the calories you’ve been trying to burn off.

“What I encourage folks about making a tender marinade without adding salt and fat is to use flavored vinegars, fresh herbs, onions and garlic,” says Ann Caldwell, registered dietician at Anne Arundel Medical Center.

Whisk in barely a tablespoon of olive oil, and brush some olive oil on the grill, too.

Can’t make your own? She suggests grabbing a bottle of fat-free Italian dressing and turning that into a marinade for chicken, fish or meat.

This marinade is one of Caldwell’s favorites on chicken.The recipe is from the American Institute for Cancer Research.

Blueberry Marinade with Tarragon and Ginger

1 c. Fresh Blueberries
2 Tbs. Balsamic vinegar
2 Tbs. Olive Oil
1 tsp. Honey
1 ½ tsp. Dried tarragon
1 tsp. Fresh ginger root, peeled and minced
1 Garlic clove, minced
½ tsp. Ground black pepper

Place all ingredients in blender or food processor and puree for 10 seconds.
Pour in jar with tight lid – let stand for 15 minutes to let flavors meld.
Shake vigorously and then pour over poultry or fish, coating all sides.
Marinate, refrigerated, for at least 30 minutes; turn at 15 minutes.

Remove from marinade and place on grill over medium-high heat


Posted by Andrea Siegel at 1:56 AM | | Comments (0)
Categories: Diet, Newbies, Nutrition
        

May 20, 2011

Abs-core book winner, and another chance for a fitness book

We have a winner of the abs-core book: Congrats to Peter. He told us -- like a number of you did -- that planks are a key part of his abs/core workout.

Me, never done them, but you're motivating me to try.

If you're goal-oriented -- timewise, that is -- you might be interested in another book. This one's called "Deadline Fitness," and it's by Gina Lombardi, celebrity fitness coach, with health-workout author Linda Villarosa.

The idea here is to assess your eating and exercise habits, then set goals that are realistic for you to achieve in three months. This means that with a reasonable short-term commitment, you can, for example, see toning in your arms that you can show off in our hot summer, trim you middle and feel great about reaching goals.

I think the section on exactly how to ratchet up your exercise as you work toward goals is particularly helpful. There's also one on dealing with an emergency one-week deadline, instead of three-month program -- which looks extreme to me, but sure gives you perspective on fitness and weight loss.

Interested? Same deal as last week. This time, tell us what one-week exercise program has helped your body "emergency" and you're in the running for the book. Emails by Monday night!


Posted by Andrea Siegel at 5:07 AM | | Comments (1)
        

May 13, 2011

Abs and core book giveaway

The belly dancing post and comments got me thinking about abs and core muscles. I wasn't doing crunches, just thinking.

In their recent book, "The New Rules of Lifting for Abs," conditioning specialist Lou Schuler and strength coach Alwyn Gosgrove point out that you could look ripped but still have a weak core. And you could have a strong core -- including abs -- without the glamour abs. But, they write, no matter the appearance, core muscles' strength and stability are important for health and spine safety. All of that is aside from diet and nutrition, let alone weight control.

I've skimmed through the book. It's aimed not just at men. It is billed as for men and women looking to develop a strong core.

It has an abs workout program that the authors recommend doing three times a week. It also has a three-phase strength program (with pictures of buff people demonstrating exercises) and it includes options for exercising when you've got space or social anxiety restrictions. Many exercises require nothing beyond a floor to stand on, but some use suspension trainers, kettlebells and other equipment.

Interested in getting the book? Between now and Sunday night, give us a description of a core/abs exercise that's working for you. No crunches! Names go into a bag, and we'll yank out a name at random and contact the winner.

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 5:49 AM | | Comments (14)
        

May 6, 2011

Belly dancing

I heard that belly dancing is a great workout, especially for abs and core. So when my gym offered a free trial class the other week, I was there. I was sore for a few days, which is probably a testament to my need for it.

As a first-timer, I spent most of the hour trying to figure out how to isolate hips, abs and shoulders. Each body section essentially does its own thing to give the dancer graceful movement and, ideally, a toned body. I was anything but coordinated as I tried what the instructor called a washing-machine hip shimmy. And I nearly fell over raising one hip to complete a multi-step circle. I tried swirling a scarf in my arms the way my experienced classmates were doing, but got tangled in it. So much for being graceful. As much as this is exercise, it's clearly an art.

Only two of us in this small group were first-timers. Most of the women had been taking the class for a year or less and they said it helped their posture, strengthened their arms and abs. One woman has been doing it for years, and it shows.

I expect that I'll return to the class occasionally. It was a fun, low-impact break from my regular exercise routines, and that's something we probably all need every so often. If only I could be graceful at it!

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 5:38 AM | | Comments (6)
Categories: General Fitness, Gym, Newbies
        

April 15, 2011

Walking - but not too far

You're seeing all these 5Ks and up in listings everywhere, and you scroll past them because that's just too far to walk, much less run. But being a newbie or non-marathoner isn't a sign that you should plop back on the couch with a bag of chips.

Don't skip over the notices so fast. Plenty of these, especially the fund-raisers, have walks. Walks, jogs, strolls -- whatever you want to call them -- get you outdoors and moving. You're going at your own pace and at a distance that suits you better, typically up to a mile, and you'll have lots of company on your walk.

For example, on Saturday morning, the Baltimore State's Attorney's Office has a 5K run to raise money for an emergency fund for crime victims. But it also has a 1-mile walk. The event is in Patterson Park. Registration, $25, for the 9 a.m. event, opens at 7:30 at the Virginia S. Baker rec center.

In Annapolis, on May 21, the police department presents a one-miler to benefit Special Olympics Maryland. Registration is $25, but less for kids. Some entrants will do a 6-minute mile, but the program is geared to include walkers. You can take home an award even if you aren't the first to cross the finish line. They're promising to include awards for such non-athletic categories as best costume.

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 5:00 AM | | Comments (2)
Categories: Events, Newbies, Outdoors, Walking, Weekend
        

March 28, 2011

Coming soon: Bike sharing in Baltimore

Baltimore is in the final stages of selecting a vendor for a bike-sharing program.

Baltimore lagged a bit behind its neighbors in the Zipcar department -- we finally got them last summer, long after Washington and Philadelphia -- but it looks like we might not be so poky when it comes to an organized system of public bikes for pay.

Continue reading "Coming soon: Bike sharing in Baltimore" »

Posted by Patrick Maynard at 11:49 AM | | Comments (0)
Categories: Bicycling, City of Baltimore, Newbies, Outdoors, Traffic, Washington
        

March 25, 2011

Gardening and exercise

Gardening is a combination of diet and fitness: Burn calories and tone muscles while you work to grow the good food you'll be eating.

I love seasoning tomatoes I grow with herbs I grow. I enjoy the beauty of flowering plants and shrubs, with all the butterflies, hummingbirds and even bees they attract. And relaxing in the shade is terrific, including as a place to cool down with an iced tea after exercise.

Last weekend, I was torn between going to the gym and going to the backyard to start preparing the veggie/herb garden and the like.

I did a little of both. Anyone who has gotten busy with their garden knows those activities work arm, leg and back muscles. I actually tried doing a lunge with a little shovel in my hand to attack weeds. It wasn't all that efficient for gardening, but it made for great lunges.

I checked around on the calorie burn and fitness value of gardening. Lots of numbers are out there, and fyi, weeding by hand is good for about 182 cals in 30 minutes. But I found this item, though it's not brand-new, particularly interesting. It shows gardening has health benefits way beyond growing your own yummy organic foods:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/blog/zimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use/gardening-is-good-exercise/

If you've got some gardening-exercise tips, share them with us!

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 5:00 AM | | Comments (1)
        

March 18, 2011

Dump Your Plump winners

He's the biggest winner and biggest loser: Leonard Frett, a Fort Meade pet care worker, got an armload of goodies for being the overall and individual male biggest loser in the military base's Dump Your Plump contest. He couldn't be happier, and not just because this week he was awarded an iPad, gym bag and more.

Frett, 30, lost 24.8 percent of his body fat and 65 lbs in the 2-month program. And since the last weigh-in earlier this month, he dropped another 10 lbs. Now at 251 lbs, he says he has about 50 to go.

"I got up and 4:30 every morning so I was at Gaffney, the gym, at 5 when it opened. I ran and walked 2 miles on the treadmill," he told me. "Then I did 30 mins on the bicycle and 30 minutes on the elliptical." That was "very hard," but seeing results and staying ahead in a friendly competition with his manager kept him focused.

Top female winner: Air Force Master Sgt. Kat Collins. 17.8 percent of her body fat and 25.4 lbs -- gone. This was the third year of the DYP challenge.

Continue reading "Dump Your Plump winners" »

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 5:00 AM | | Comments (1)
Categories: General Fitness, Gym, Newbies, Nutrition
        

March 11, 2011

Treadmill incline level?

Trying to work certain muscles a little more and burn more cals, I set the incline on the treadmill to 14. I walked briskly. My legs were a little sore after the first day, so I lowered the incline -- barely -- the second day.

Not that I took the hint from my legs. On Day 3, the incline was nice and high, and by the time I had walked 3 miles, I thought my shins would crumble. I lowered the ramp level to a slight incline, but of course it was too late, and I couldn't even think about the treadmill on Day 4. Regular walking during the day didn't bother me.

This was clearly a sign that the ramp was up too high. When I tried again a few days later, I
started at 14, then kept dropping the incline and felt fine. Obviously the message was that a little of incline level 14 was OK, but there is such a thing as too much of it.

Anyone else have that happen? And what did you do about it?



Posted by Andrea Siegel at 5:54 AM | | Comments (1)
        

March 4, 2011

Dump Your Plump home stretch

As Dump Your Plump, the 8-week weight-loss/fitness competition at Fort Meade, goes down to its final hours, we talked with a member of Dead Weight, the team in first place on the home stretch.

At the start in January, Matthew Wise, 31, weighed 295. “I’m at 250 now,” he says. Another member lost 17 lbs. And the other two dropped about 15 lbs.

The foursome, civilian youth program workers, has competed every year of DYP. Wise says he, Alonzo Coley, Fran Jamison and Jim Dey ate their way through the winter holidays, made too many fast-food runs and bulked up in time for the start of the third year.

Halfway through this year’s contest, “we all weren’t doing so well. We needed to step it up,” Wise says. That meant stricter adherence to diet and more exercise.

The hardest part? Not cheating on a diet that has junk, burger runs and meal-size snacks off-limits. “Resisting the temptation to grab a slice of pizza when it’s right here in front of you, it’s the hardest,” he says.

Exercise? Twice a day. For Wise, a.m. is a half-hour stationary bike and abs, p.m. is an hour of running or other aerobics.

Motivation? “We don’t want to finish second again,” he says.

We'll find out how this turns out. Meanwhile ...what motivates you in your weight-loss and exercise plan?



Posted by Andrea Siegel at 5:58 AM | | Comments (2)
        

February 25, 2011

Fitness and aging

Just as another cold and icy day this week left me with no inspiration to head for the gym, inspiration arrived. The AARP magazine -- yes, the one from the organization for people age 50 and up -- has a piece about the benefits of exercising as we age.

The article includes a fair share of aging medalists who train and still compete. But beyond that, it points to studies of adults who exercise -- and that can be running, playing tennis, swimming, anything that's physical activity. Those show that some of what we've come to think of as inevitable debilitating effects of aging aren't all wrapped up in growing older.

Studies that compared sedentary adults to those who exercised showed that being a couch potato apparently is a huge risk factor for declines in strength, endurance, aerobic capacity and muscle mass in people approaching middle age and beyond.
The people who were fit -- not surprisingly, their aerobic capacity had declined by half as much as in the sedentary middle agers.

For me, that's inspiration to watch tv while I'm on the elliptical instead of on the couch.

To read the article, click here

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 6:00 AM | | Comments (6)
        

February 24, 2011

Go Caddy winner!

Congrats to Dianne -- the Go Caddy goes to her.

Dianne told us that she had fallen not for a high-tech or new-fangled or high-priced accessory, but for a visor.

Keeps the sun out of her eyes, isn't as constricting as a hat. And now, a bag to go with it.

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 2:17 PM | | Comments (1)
Categories: Apparel, Newbies
        

February 11, 2011

Slacking off on weights

More shopping and partying but less workouts, and all those weekends when I deserved to sleep late and spend no time at the gym -- I am paying for it now.

I slacked off big time. When I went to use the weight machines the other day for the first time in too long, I kept to my previous settings. Was that ever a mistake.

I was sore down to my pinkies afterward. And that is pretty sad, because even my regular settings are wimpy. And I had worked up to those.

Goes to show you how quickly muscles "forget" the routine. This weekend -- I do weights only on the weekend -- 5 lbs comes off on every machine. Maybe 10. I'm wondering how long it'll take to work back up to where I was.

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 6:00 AM | | Comments (1)
        

January 28, 2011

Treadmills, ellipticals for home use rated

Treadmills are the top home exercise machine. Frankly, one that I once had got more use drying clothing than it did anything else. It now lives in someone else's house.

In the February issue, Consumer Reports tested home treadmills and their cousin, ellipticals. The verdict: You don't have to buy the fanciest or priciest to get a decent machine and a decent workout.

The nonprofit consumer organization gave its best-buy rating to seven treadmills, three nonfolding and four folding. Even so, the highly rated nonfolding PaceMAster Platinum Pro VR costs some $2,000. A highly rated folding treadmill, the Horizon T202, costs $800. Three ellipticals got a best-buy rating: the Nautilus E514, the Horizon EX-68 and the Schwinn 420.

Among their tips: Ellipticals elevate you, so make sure you've got enough ceiling clearance. Test out treadmills to make sure they're long enough for your running stride. Spending more $$ on a treadmill usually gets you more horsepower and a sturdier machine. Sturdy design, a good warranty, your comfort and features you really will use are what to look for.

How many shirts it will hold for drying wasn't part of the evaluation.

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 6:00 AM | | Comments (2)
        

January 25, 2011

New events in the area include a race at Cylburn Arboretum, Ho.Co. Duathlon

I've had e-mails for a few new events pop up in my e-mail box recently. 

First, Falls Road Running Store will be hosting a 5k at Cylburn Arboretum in April. Spring will be beautiful at the arboretum, and even though I'd sworn off 5ks, the setting might make this one worth it.

Here's what the store's e-mail had to say about it:

We have a new event in Baltimore City -- The Paths of Cylburn 5K on April 10th.   This is one of Baltimore's  best kept secrets, garden paths and wooded trails in Baltimore City.  

Registration is now open at the links above.

Another event that I wish I'd known about before I, in a moment of insanity, signed up for a triathlon is the DUthe2, a duathlon in Howard County

The DUthe2 is on August 7, and consists of a two mile run, a 26-mile bike, followed by a four mile run. I believe this is a new event, but can't tell from the website.

Also, in my inbox, was the list of Falls Road-sponsored races for this year. Here it is:

3/12/2011       St Patrick's Pub Run
4/10/2011       Paths of Cylburn
6/25/2011       Dreaded Druid Hills 10K
8/13/2011       Full Moon Run
10/2/2011       Falls Road 15K
11/24/2011      Gobble Cobble Turkey Trot
12/17/2011      Celtic Solstice Five Miler
 
 
Posted by Anica Butler at 12:15 PM | | Comments (1)
        

January 14, 2011

New gym opens

A new fitness center a short drive from Thurgood Marshall BWI Airport and Arundel Mills will hold opening festivities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, with games and prizes and, of course, enrollment deals.

"We are a small boutique luxury club," Danny Tyler, general manager for Merritt's two-week-old Buckingham location near Route 170 and 100, told me. Buckingham is a new community in Hanover.

The plan is to go 24-hours a day soon.

The setup is based on what's called a life fitness journey concept, the company says. It focuses on individual goals with three "neighborhoods" of equipment - cardio, resistance machines and free weights. Within each "neighborhood," machines are grouped by level of fitness.

The idea is that beginners, for example, can start at their level, where most of the equipment is easier, and then as they progress on their "journey," they can move to more challenging resistance machines and free weights in intermediate and advanced levels.

Meritt's Canton center is remodeling using the same concept, and plans are being made for the rest of the company's Baltimore-area locations to get that makeover too.

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 6:00 AM | | Comments (0)
        

January 7, 2011

Vacation fitness

Something to consider in business and vacation travel planning: nice hotel gyms.

Many hotel gyms have gotten an upgrade from the dingy closet-like afterthought with three iffy pieces of equipment to a well-kept, spacious fitness center -- if not in the hotel, then a pass to a nearby one. Some hotels tout them on their web sites along with other amenities they've improved in recent years, like the addition of Wi-Fi.

Most don't charge extra, unless that's their arrangement with a fitness center or pool within walking distance -- but you should always ask if there's a charge. Some hotels lend bicycles and fitness gear to guests -- but again, ask about a charge.

Looking for more on this trend? Click here.

And click here

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 6:00 AM | | Comments (1)
Categories: Articles/Reports, Bicycling, General Fitness, Gym, Newbies
        

January 3, 2011

Trainer Tips: Make your New Year's resolution stick

Contributing trainer Becky Conti is back, and this time she's sharing her tips on how to make your fitness resolution last beyond January.

We all make New Year's Resolutions because we think of the New Year as a new beginning or as a chance to make changes to things in our lives we aren’t happy with.  Perhaps the most popular resolutions come in the form of changing our eating and exercise habits with the goal of losing weight.  It’s easy to make a goal and be motivated around the New Year because everyone’s doing it … but what happens a month or two down the road when the motivation wears off?  How do you stick to your weight loss goal long enough to achieve it?  

Research shows that after 6 months, more than half of people have given up on their New Years Resolutions and, after one year, that number is close to 90%! Change is difficult and we often want “quick and easy” results that require little effort. When we don’t see results quickly enough, we get discouraged and lose the motivation to continue. The problem is, diet plans and weight loss products that claim to deliver immediate results are often the most dangerous to your health. Also, those fast-results plans usually require you to follow strict rules and, once you go off those rules, you’ll gain the weight right back! Instead of feeling frustrated if you don’t see instant results, try these tips for keeping yourself patient and motivated to continue:

1. Write down your goal and make it visible to you every day.  When we make a goal in our mind it may seem clear and definite to us in the moment, but our focus tends to fade over time.  Writing down your goal and seeing it in front of you each day will help re-motivate you and keep your aim on the target.  


2. Be realistic with your goal and the time frame in which you want to achieve it.  A weight loss goal of 50 lbs should not be set for 2 months from now. Instead, set a goal to lose 5 lbs in 4 weeks (that’s just over 1 lb. per week), and then when you reach that goal, make another one. Setting a series of small goals and reaching them will keep you motivated for the long haul.


3. Establish a plan containing the steps you will take to achieve your goal. If you are trying to lose weight for the first time, you need a plan that is right for you.  Try hiring a personal trainer or nutritionist for a few sessions so he or she can set up a structured program for you to follow. If you can’t afford to hire anyone, read up on the topic ahead of time, jot down your own plan, and show it to someone you know who is knowledgeable on the subject of fitness.  Just make sure you have the correct knowledge and tools you need for success!


4. Prepare yourself mentally. A goal of weight loss and lifestyle change is not easy and takes hard work, preparation, persistence, and determination.  Make sure you are mentally prepared for such an undertaking before you start!  Prepare yourself for the fact that your journey isn’t going to be perfect, and you will probably have setbacks where you “fall off the wagon” for a day or two.  Instead of calling it quits at the first sign of discouragement, be ready for the hard times and keep moving toward your goal.  Remember that persistence is key!

Becky Conti is an American Council on Exercise (ACE) Certified Personal Trainer and an ACE Certified Weight Management Consultant.  She works as a trainer and nutrition consultant at Merritt Athletic Club Canton and also trains clients through her website www.beckyconti.com.  She has been featured in magazines such as Oxygen, Fitness & Physique, and has appeared on the cover of Performance Press Magazine.  She also writes fitness articles for Fitness & Physique Magazine and Bodybuilding.com.  Becky also competes in national fitness and figure competitions each year.

If you have a question for Becky, or a question you'd like us to ask a trainer on your behalf, leave a comment or send an e-mail to anica.butler@baltsun.com. 

Posted by Anica Butler at 3:18 PM | | Comments (5)
Categories: Gym, Newbies, Trainer Tips
        

December 31, 2010

Upcoming fitness classes

If joining a gym or fitness organization isn't your thing but a structured setting would get you to exercise, don't overlook classes offered by hospitals near you.

Many hospitals have gone beyond providing illness support groups and disease information sessions to offering exercise classes. And there's a pretty good mix -- self-defense, yoga, strength training, massage and more.

Many classes run weekly for a few months, so you aren't making a long-term financial commitment, which has a lot of appeal. Most hospitals charge for classes, but some classes are free. For example, Anne Arundel Medical Center charges for T'ai Chi, and Good Samaritan is home to a free chair exercise program for older people. And a number of fitness classes are either ongoing or have a session that will start soon.

Classes are listed on a hospital web site, but may take some poking around. Look under classes, events, calendar and wellnes. An occasional one-session nutrition program may be in the mix.

This is by no means every area hospital, but it will get you started:
For Anne Arundel Medical Center, click here.
For Baltimore Washington Medical Center, click here.
For Howard County General Hospital, click here.
For Good Samaritan Hospital, click here.

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 6:00 AM | | Comments (1)
Categories: Events, Newbies, Yoga
        

December 24, 2010

Fitness Expo

Mark your 2011 calendar:

The Severna Park Community Center, a not-for-profit, no-membership center, is having a free fitness fair Jan. 8. The center is still lining up vendors from around the region, Anne Arundel Medical Center is working with the center on this, and a schedule of classes, demonstrations and seminars is being finalized. The program includes fitness and exercise, health and wellness.

This is the second year of the Fitness in the Park Expo. Last year, more than 250 people came. This is a good way to sample different exercises without making a commitment and to check out new things on the market. Classes and programs at the expo include not only the ones that operate at the center, but those offered elsewhere in the area. Events for kids, adults, seniors -- they are all part of this. That might give you some good ideas and motivation for the new year. More info will be on the center's website as the 8th approaches.

The center also is home to a free exercise class on Monday nights. The idea is to get you started, whatever your level. Show up with your towel and bottle of water.

For the center's website, click here.

And if your organization has upcoming fitness events, tell us.

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 6:00 AM | | Comments (0)
        

December 17, 2010

Dump Your Plump

For the third year in a row, Fort Meade is rolling out Dump Your Plump after the holidays. A free exercise program of about eight weeks, it's got mandatory weigh-ins, is modeled on TV's "Biggest Loser" show, and has a fitness and wellness focus.

It's open to variety of people with a Ft. Meade connection, including contractors. While individuals can sign up, the focus is on the team approach. Nobody wants to be person dragging down the team down.

"You don't need so much internal motivation. You've got external motivation," Scott Myers, chief of community recreation, told me.

In its first year, the program had 112 participants. Last year, it had 260. And Myers said many more are expected to sign on for the January 2011 program.

Last year, the top four-person team, Fat Fire 4, dumped 123 lbs.

Myers said anyone trying to start a fitness program after the holiday binge or just starting up shouldn't jump-start it with weights that are too heavy and with tiring runs.

His tips:

1. Walk. Set a comfortable pace. Outdoors is nice, but don't use winter weather as an excuse to plop down on the couch. Indoors is fine -- gym, mall, wherever you're comfortable. 45 minutes a few times a week is an excellent start.

2. If you go to a gym, try recumbent bikes and cross-trainers. Swim. Low-impact exercises are good.

3. Don't feel pressured because the guy on the next treadmill runs at 6 mph. Go at your own pace.

4. Have a team, or group that you exercise with. It's more fun. And nobody wants to disappoint the team.

Information on Dump Your Plump: ftmeademwr.com



Posted by Andrea Siegel at 11:55 AM | | Comments (0)
        

December 10, 2010

Runner romance

A little romance among runners? Kate O'Neill competed in the '04 Olympics in Athens and recently wed another former All-America runner.
Read about the romance and wedding, click here.

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 5:00 AM | | Comments (0)
        

December 3, 2010

Kitchen exercise

Doing a lot of holiday cooking? The kitchen, says Kaitlin Watts, an exercise physiologist, is a convenient place to add basic exercises.

"You’re going to be baking cookies for the holidays, right? So these are good things to do," says Watts.

A cardiopulmonary rehabilitation therapist at the Baltimore Washington Medical Center, she suggests these exercises to her patients recovering from heart or lung ailments and surgery who she thinks can handle mild exercise.

Try these:

1. Do pushups agains the sink and counter. Stand up straight facing the counter, grab onto it, and without moving your feet, lean forward to the counter and push yourself back to a standing-up-straight position.

2. Lift weights. Put those 1-pound cans of cranberry sauce or bags of nuts or chocolate chips in your hands. Do bicep curls by bending your elbows. Work your triceps by doing the curls over your shoulders.

3. Mix batter by hand. That will work your arms.

4. Work those legs while peeling potatoes. Doing that standing by the sink? Alternating legs, slowly lift the heel of your foot to your butt. Sitting? Alternating legs, lift each leg from the knee down so that it it sticks straight out.

5. Waiting for the timer to buzz? Hold onto the counter and roll up onto your toes to work your calves. Use the counter for balance and do squats.

She suggests starting with one set of 8 to 15 reps, then a good stretch. You can work up to more, but don’t overdo it, Watts says. "You don’t want to be sore a day later when you’re going shopping."

Read on for more of hers, and let's hear some of your kitchen exercise ideas.

Continue reading "Kitchen exercise" »

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 6:00 AM | | Comments (3)
        

December 1, 2010

Tops in fitness: Share your thoughts

Where's your go-to place for a long run? What's the area's best-equipped gym, most accessible swimming facility, hottest new exercise class?

We're hoping that over the next 10 weeks, you can help us figure out the answers to those questions and more. 

Next week, we'll launch 10 weeks of fitness Top 10s. We'll list a topic, take your suggestions, add some ideas of our own, and compile them into lists. 

We're tentatively thinking of listing places for running, biking swimming and doing yoga. But we're also considering top recreation sports (and leagues), places to hike, best non-traditional fitness, best classes.

If you're got some ideas for a top 10, or if there's anything you'd like to see, let us know! 

Posted by Anica Butler at 8:00 AM | | Comments (2)
        

November 19, 2010

Fitness with friends

Especially if you're starting out, the gurus say, you're motivation is helped by exercising with others. That's true whether that's a walk-and-talk with a friend or a water-aerobics class. Really, do you want to dance alone?

I spoke with Bernice Giles of Arnold, a nonathlete who took an Annapolis Striders 5k beginner class last spring and liked it. But she knew the only way she'd continue was with others, and she was comfortable with the people she'd started her program with. Here's a boiled- down version of what she said:

Q: Why form a group?

A: "After the class ended, I think in July, there were about 10 of us who wanted to continue on. First, we didn't want to quit. Second, we wanted to keep up what we had learned. ... One beginner instructor volunteered to continue."

Q: You could have run alone, whenever you wanted, depending on the summer heat, and not sticking to a schedule. Why not do that?

A: "I think for all of us, if we didn't meet, we were not going to run. There was accountability... we've all admitted that it wasn't going to happen unless we did it together."

Q: How often and how far?

A: "Two or three miles. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning at 8. Sometimes one of us said it's so hot, how about 7, but we stuck with 8."

Q: And when the summer ended?

A: "We're still doing it. All of us, except one who got hurt -- she hurt her foot two weeks into it -- are still here, we're in the 10K class."

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 6:00 AM | | Comments (1)
        

November 12, 2010

Not 10,000 steps

And the number of steps I took the other day was ... a disappointing 6,821. The goal, experts say, is 10,000. Obviously my regular activities aren't enough. This was a wake-up that I need to get moving, especially on the days I don't get the to the gym.

I don't make it to the gym every day, and I didn't on this day. A couple miles on the treadmill would have pushed me over 10,000.

Now, that was on one pedometer. It was my Rice Krispies clip-on one. And it was uncomfortable enough.

I'm going to try this again, taking the steps instead of the elevator and doing other easy things to increase the number of steps.

I'll use the pedometer periodically to see if the number goes up.

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 5:26 AM | | Comments (3)
Categories: Newbies, Walking
        

October 29, 2010

When a smoothie won't do, have some pie

My fitness friends are very into their fruit smoothies, but to me a smoothie is a poor excuse for the chocolate milkshake I really want. If I'm going to get out the blender and have to wash it -- you can forget fruit and yogurt.

Some ready-made fruit smoothies have very little fruit, but do have 300-plus calories, and that’s for the small ones. So if calories are a concern, read the nutrition label before downing it.

But sometimes fruit and yogurt is what I want. So I make something else: a pie or a pudding-parfait.

It may not qualify as health food, but it has fruit, protein and carbs, though not much fat. It takes a few minutes and no great skill or fancy kitchen tools.

My recipe for the pie:


Continue reading "When a smoothie won't do, have some pie" »

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 6:00 AM | | Comments (2)
Categories: Diet, Newbies
        

October 22, 2010

Lifting to morning tv


I'm now trying to squeeze in a few minutes of lifting arm weights every day or so. Here's how: I watch TV. Really. The few things we all try to hear before leaving for work are the weather, traffic and headlines. That's about 2 or 3 minutes of TV.

As long as I am paying attention to that, why not do a few arm basics that are reminiscent of the first exercise class you took? It's too early for anything fancy or involving too many steps. So here's my routine, holding a 5-pound weight in each hand:

With feet shoulder-width apart...
Lean forward and ...
1. Bicep curls: Do 12.
2. Tricep pumps: Do 12.

Stand tall and ...
3. Hold arms straight up with elbows forward and bend arms to the back, but be careful not to clunk your shoulders with the weights: Do 12.
4. Bend arms, hands to chest, straighten arms to the front, pull in to chest, out to side, return to chest: Do 12.

Repeat all four if you've got time. Or continue through the commercials. Done.

I started doing it this week. I was a little sore Day 1, but by Day 3 I wasn't. And I can tell the difference in my arms. Easy and fast to do, quick results - I like it for my starting point.

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 6:00 AM | | Comments (4)
Categories: Newbies
        

October 15, 2010

No biting, please!

Fall is almost perfect for a walk, run, hike, skate -- just keep moving -- on a trail, where you can see the foliage change color and the temperatures are moderate. I say "almost" because biting and stinging insects still want a piece of you. Some advice:

Wear light-colored clothing. It's easier to see insects that land on your clothes. Cover as much skin as you comfortably can, tucking in pant-leg bottoms, having sleeves fit snugly at the wrist, etc. Obviously, if you're running, you'll probably want to be less covered, but we're beginners here, so we'll move more slowly and be more covered.

Some tips from Dr. Mark Landrum, chief of infectious diseases at Howard County General Hospital:

Watch out for ticks. Lyme disease gets publicity, but the tick has to be attached for at least a day to get you sick. "If it's less than 24 hours, there's no real risk," he says. Far less common, but potentially very serious, are tick-borne bacterial diseases are in the ehrlichia family. Sometimes a black dot appears at the bite site a week or so after the bite, and often there are flu-like symptoms to go along with what's called "Spotless Rocky Mountain
Spotted Fever." Ehrlichiosis is detectable through a blood test and responds to antiobiotics, he says. Online reports say ehrlichiosis can be, but is not usually, life-threatening.

Most important: Check your clothing, your body and your fitness companion for insects. "If you find attached tick, the most important thing to do is give a call to your physician," Dr. Landrum says. Some may suggest a preventive dose of antibiotics.

Watch out for mosquitoes. The good news is that doctors don't see as much West Nile virus as they did a few years ago, he says. But it's better not to get bitten and scratch.

Stay out of tall grasses, brush and overhanging branches, he says. Stick to the trails. If you're on a broad, paved trail, like the B&A Trail Park, there's less in the insect department to worry about than at woodsy Patapsco Park. Know your trail and insect repellents. You may need none or hardly any in a wide-open, fairly dry area.

Apply repellent before you go and keep it with you. He recommends a product with a low concentration of DEET to last a few hours. I tried a high concentration in a towelette and it took my nail polish right off, and yes, I know there have been some health concerns about pouring on DEET. You also can use a permethrin-based repellent on clothes, and you can buy permethrin-treated clothing, Dr. Landrum says. I've gone with the "natural" and permethrin repellents. The bottom line for me: They all stink, and they all sort-of work, and you have to know if and when to reapply. I usually put more on the sides of my shoes -- the non-canvas part. Other suggestions?

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 6:00 AM | | Comments (3)
Categories: Newbies, Outdoors, Running
        

October 8, 2010

From zero to marathon

Philip Caroom is an Anne Arundel County Circuit Court judge and he’s always running, but not for office. He went from being a couch potato to serious runner more than 10 years ago in part so he could feed his milkshake addiction. Training came via a get-started program of the Annapolis Striders. He runs most days, then pours it on for marathon training. He does at least one, often two, marathons a year. I asked him about his training and for a few pointers, and here’s what he told me:

About his routine training: "My theory is that it’s easier to be in shape to run a marathon year-round that not be in shape to run a marathon. If you stay in shape so that you can run 15 miles, it’s easier to train to run a marathon."

About having a sedentary job: "Occasionally, if I’m dictating, I will stand up and pace a little bit. Occasionally, on breaks, I do stretches." Sometimes, he runs home from the courthouse in Annapolis, which is about 7 miles away in the Cape St. Claire area. (For security reasons, judges don’t say exactly where they live.) Other activities: yoga (various types), swimming, hiking, gardening.

If he’s not in training? He does 15 to 20 miles a week, with a 3 to 5 mile run some weekdays, then a long run on either Saturday or Sunday. If he’s pre-marathon, it’s 20 to 30 miles a week, with runs closer to 5 miles on weekday, on terrain with more hills, and a longer run on the weekend. He is, however, looking to cut his best marathon time of 4 hours 12 minutes to under 4 hours. He doesn’t say exactly where he runs (security, again!), but we know he runs on pavement and on trails because ...

Best tip? "My best tip for trail runners involves how not to get pebbles in your shoe. I attract more pebbles in my shoe than anyone. There is a product, dirtygirlgaiters.com, it’s like a stretch bathing suit fabric that hooks into the front and on the back of your shoe ... pebbles cannot get in."

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 6:00 AM | | Comments (3)
Categories: Newbies
        

October 1, 2010

Getting started

I’m Andrea Siegel, and nobody would mistake me for a fitness buff. I don’t do triathlons, or consult a personal trainer, or monitor my personal bests at the gym. I don’t stress out over things like having skipped my big walk with the dog the other day: My beast refuses to go for a stroll when it’s wet out, and dragging a dog for a mile sounds dreadful for both of us, though we both need the walk. And I know I shouldn’t have had all that chocolate last Sunday.

Obviously, some level of fitness is part of a healthy lifestyle. So I am pleased that I made it onto the cross-trainer and treadmill at the gym a few times last week. Some of us won’t get past the beginner level, or aren’t coordinated enough for fancy aerobic workouts or don’t have the time to devote to a major fitness initiative.

I’ll be looking at activities that are fun, easy to sneak into a busy schedule and simple to follow, along with ideas for eating more healthful foods without feeling deprived, and ways to get started with a fitness program.

With that in mind, I plan on sharing not only what experts tell me, but some of my experiences. I’m looking forward to you sharing yours.

Posted by Andrea Siegel at 6:00 AM | | Comments (2)
Categories: Introductions, Newbies
        
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About Exercists
Andrea Siegel, a reporter at The Baltimore Sun, covers mostly crime and courts in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, as well as legal issues. She wishes she was more physically fit, and, as she's more fond of chocolate than exercise, fitness is a challenge. Her partner on a one-mile-plus daily walk is the family dog, a mixed breed named Moxie, and she exercises at the gym where the D.C. snipers once worked out.
Jerry Jackson has been a photo editor at The Baltimore Sun for 14 years and an avid cyclist for more than 30 years. Inspired by the movie "Breaking Away," he started racing as a teenager in Mississippi when leather "brain baskets" were still the norm. He regularly commutes to work by bike and still enters several mountain bike races a year for fun.
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Patrick Maynard, who will be writing about running and walking, has been a producer for baltimoresun.com since 2008. In 2009, he tweeted on-course for the Sun from the Baltimore Marathon, finishing in just under 4 hours and almost managing to run the whole time. He sometimes walks to the Sun offices on Calvert Street.
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Leeann Adams, a multimedia editor at The Baltimore Sun, also dabbles in content for the mobile website and iPhone app and covers the Ravens via video. She did a triathlon to celebrate her 40th birthday and continues to swim, bike and run -- none of them quickly, though. Her biggest fitness challenge is to balance working, working out, spending time with her husband and being a mom to a 6-year-old boy.
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Anica Butler, the Sun's crime editor, is a former high school runner and recovering vegetarian who spent more of her early-adult years on a bar stool than working out. She is currently training (though poorly) for a half marathon and is trying to live a generally healthier lifestyle. She also hates the gym.
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