health

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

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

Scale

It was only recently that I actually bought a scale. I’d never owned one before, but then I was reading in a magazine about the Withings WiFi Body Scale. It apparently records your weight, lean mass, fat mass and BMI to a secure website that you set up. With a price tag of $159, I’m not willing to put it on my wish list this Christmas, but I am curious to know if anyone has tried it and what they think.

Not sure how it does what it does or how accurate it is, but I love technology that makes life even simpler. I just love to wait until it costs less.

ScaleMaggie Downie2014-08-04T18:02:57-04:00

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