exercise

Where I’ve Started

Okay, it might be cheating, but I started my healthy lifestyle early—on November 28th to be exact. It may have been a bit early, but I felt like I wanted to start and I wasn’t about to postpone that feeling and try to put it on hold for a better date.

Still, I recorded daily how it was going so that you didn’t have to miss out on a thing in this thrilling detail of my exercise and eating regime. It’s probably important to know where I started from—my weight, measurements, etc. Perhaps I’ll be brave enough to post them tomorrow.

Where I’ve StartedMaggie Downie2014-08-04T18:02:55-04:00

Let the Healthy Lifestyle Begin

Okay, we have some catching up to do. This year I’m going to be turning thirty on March 27th. I’m really excited in the way I was excited to turn twenty-one when I was twenty. And I’ve set a goal to get in the best shape of my life.

That might make some people laugh if they know me as a pilates instructor. But while I am in good shape, I’ve been in better shape. As a teenage and in college I played sports, and throughout college I ran–usually about six miles a day. I’m not doing that now and I don’t really want to be an avid runner anymore. That is part of what is going to make this challenge so hard, but I think I can do it. I believe in myself (Thank You, Mom).

I’ve spent many hours debating how I will judge if I’ve gotten into the best shape of my life. I know I can’t base it on weight because when I was in college I would fluctuate between 120-125 pounds, and […]

Let the Healthy Lifestyle BeginMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:32:02-04:00

Biking for Free Food

The Crown Plaza Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark will give you a free meal voucher if you ride a bike and produce 10 watt hours of electricity–that’s about 15 minutes of riding for an average fit individual.

I totally want to go and ride and get my free meal.

I love when businesses do cool things to promote health and wellness!

Biking for Free FoodMaggie Downie2014-08-04T18:02:55-04:00

Wednesday Challenge: Pilates

Many of our classes are on a break this week, but that doesn’t have to be an excuse to skip your pilates workout. Start or end each day this week with 10-minutes of pilates. Do your favorite exercises so that you’ll want to do it again the next day.

Need a good reason not to skip pilates? Here’s some recent research:

Pilates helped improved balance and autonomy in women age 60-78.

People who take pilates classes report having better sleep and a better mood

Wednesday Challenge: PilatesMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:32:02-04:00

The Best Workout Ever

I enjoy working out. I find it fun, but I need variety to keep me motivated so I’ve tried my hand at a lot of different activities. Here are just some: running, hiking, pilates, Tae Bo, yoga, walking, kayaking, golf, volley ball, soft ball, boot camp, jump rope, hula hooping, swimming, biking, ellipticals, challenge courses, rock climbing, stairs, hills, pole dancing, and weights.

I’m sure I’ve done other things, but those just easily come to mind without having to think very hard. Some I enjoy more than others, sometimes I fall in and out of love with some of them. And some are harder than others, but, lately, I have been discovering the most challenging workout of all: KIDS!

A couple weekends ago I baby sat for a one-year-old. She cried for about an hour and a half, but I was able to get her to calm down by entertaining her with physical activity. She would tire of everything after at most 15 minutes so I kept having to change it up. She seemed to most enjoy me […]

The Best Workout EverMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:32:02-04:00