When I was fat – sorry if that word offends you; I don’t use euphemisms for it when I’m talking about myself – all sorts of exercise intimidated me. I was embarrassed to try something new and look foolish. I was nervous because it was unfamiliar, but even more so because of my physical size. … Continued
Frankly, I’ve been debating whether or not to write about this. Why? Because there’s still a tremendous stigma surrounding mental illness (even these words are hard for me to type), and in a culture where social media has us all believing that everybody else is doing great, admitting that you’re struggling is pretty terrifying. But … Continued
It’s early January and as predictable as swallows flying to Capistrano or rain falling in Seattle, my gym is packed once again. Don’t get me wrong; I hold no animosity toward those who join a gym in January. They’re following through on their New Year’s resolution to get fit and healthy, and what’s not to … Continued
I love, love, love it when a reader’s question gets me thinking about something in a new way. Really, there’s nothing better than a little brainstorming sesh with somebody to get the creative problem-solving juices flowing! So here’s the question that a reader posed to me recently about breaking through her “exercise plateau,” followed by … Continued
There are four elements of fitness; does your workout hit them all? They are: strength, stamina, flexibility and balance. You could argue the balance one with me, but really why would you? (Besides, it’s my blog, so I win.) No, I’m teasing (mostly). But seriously, balance is a very important part of functional movement, especially as … Continued
I didn’t know it before I lost weight, but inside of me lies the heart of a competitor. One of the reasons I enjoy pursuing fitness so much is because I’m constantly striving to improve; I want to get faster, go farther, get stronger. Seeing progress is incredibly motivating. It’s one of the reasons why … Continued