exercise

Is Shoveling a Workout?

Once upon a time I would never have substituted shoveling for a workout. I would never have substituted anything for my workout. If I was going to go hiking (unless of course it was a full day hike like Mt. Washington leaving no time to add and extra workout) for a few hours, I would still go for a run or a swim or weight lift. If I had to shovel or really thoroughly clean a house for hours, I would never have allowed it to replace my workout.

Now I seem totally willing to let daily activities take the place of my workout. Well, at least a little. I suppose I wouldn’t be writing this if I felt it truly replaced my workout.

It isn’t just that I feel like shoveling 20-inches of snow, for example, has suddenly become a good, challenging workout, it’s that there are only so many hours in a day. If I have to shovel our driveway, walkways, and sidewalk, I usually don’t have time for my regular workout routine too. […]

Is Shoveling a Workout?Maggie Downie2017-09-12T19:32:01-04:00

Chocolate Milk

This, perhaps sadly, is some of the best news I’ve read all day–or at least a little exciting.

16 ounces of fat-free chocolate milk within two hours post exercise helps repair muscles better than sports drinks. –Research from American College of Sports Medicine

I’m not going to start chugging chocolate milk now, but I kind of like know that if I do there might be a benefit.

Chocolate MilkMaggie Downie2014-08-04T18:02:55-04:00

What’s Really Important?

On New Year’s day a group of girlfriends came over. One of them mentioned that she wanted to start going to the gym this year, not because she wanted to lose weight, but because she wanted to feel better and she hadn’t been exercising.

I thought that was a really important reminder. Feeling good should be the reason why we take care of ourselves. A weight reduction should be a pleasant side effect, but so often it is the other way around. Since I’ve set a goal to be 130 pounds, I realize there is a level to which the weight is occupying my mind more than whether or not I feel good.

Every Monday morning when I weigh myself, even on weeks when I feel really good, I’m hoping for a particular number. If I ate really well and exercised daily, but my weight went up, because, let’s face it, we can fluctuate a few pounds from one hour to the next just by going to the bathroom, I’d be disappointed. My first thought probably wouldn’t […]

What’s Really Important?Maggie Downie2017-09-12T19:32:01-04:00

Good Days

And somedays it all seems to come easily…

Monday, December 06, 2010

Feel great! Up again at 4:30ish, which I’m not thrilled about, but feel like I got a decent sleep. It helps that I took a nice hot bath and popped a melatonin before getting into bed, but I don’t know if the melatonin actually helped me much last night because I actually woke up a few times.

A hot bath is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle for me. Feels good on my body and mind and the relaxation is a must if I have any chance of maintaining my sanity.

This morning I did an hour pilates ball workout for myself—not too hard, but felt good. Tried working on a lot of different exercises I’d like to add to some classes. Then did a 20-min basic Tae Bo. Feel fabulous. I love workouts on days like this. I wish I knew what made my body feel so good.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Walked at the gym for 30 minutes […]

Good DaysMaggie Downie2017-10-25T15:49:56-04:00

Not Easy

I think people tend to presume that because I’m in the field of health and fitness and I teach pilates that being healthy comes easily to me. But that isn’t true. I’m human. As I’ve mentioned, I really like to eat. And I really like to work out, but somedays I don’t feel like it, which I’m sure you will discover as the year continues. But just so you know that I’m not always a freak of nature who bounds out of bed saying, “Let’s do pilates, followed by a brisk jaunt through the countryside and a poached egg with a side of plain yogurt,” here is a sampling of how the healthy lifestyle has gone so far. I’ve been keeping a journal.

Friday, Dec 3, 2010
Not a good day for the healthy lifestyle—no exercise to speak of. Matt suggested we go out to breakfast (never good for a healthy lifestyle) and I was easily persuaded. Now dinner at Puerto Vallarta’s. I love it here. I am not making healthy choices today. Let’s see if my weekend […]

Not EasyMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:32:01-04:00