Fit Chick in the City » Tips

Tools of the Trade

Jess — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:37:09 +0000

Early this week I wrote about how I need to make a few changes. Here are three tools I’m using right now.

#1 A New Play-list

The one thing that hasn’t been slacking are my workouts. However, nothing pumps new life into your workout like a new play-list.

#2 Calorie King

I love Calorie King! I realize that free programs exist such as sparkpeople, but I’ve had a calorie king subscription for years. Its my old standby. When I notice my clothes aren’t fitting quite right, this is my go to for reigning it back in. The program is pretty accurate for me since I’ve entered in my RMR (resting metabolic rate).

#3 Online Stopwatch

I read about this on Caitlin’s blog. Let’s just say that this little tool is changing my life!

I tend to have a self diagnosed case of ADD that keeps me from getting things done. My work style at home tends to be “a little of this, a little of that.” The problem is that it takes me forever to actually complete something. It also helps when I feel overwhelmed by the number of things that need re-organizing in my apartment.

This past weekend, I made a list of chores that need serious attention. I then picked one thing from the list and focused on that task for exactly 20 minutes without interruption. The result has been outstanding. This has taught me that I really can get a lot done in 20 minutes if I focus solely on the task at hand. Seriously the best tip I’ve gotten from the blogosphere.

What’s the best tip you’ve gotten from the blogosphere? Please share!!

A Good Class

Jess — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:58:31 +0000

This past Sunday, I took a yoga class at a yoga studio for the first time in months. I usually practice yoga at home for free. For a few weeks now I’d been craving a guided yoga flow with a community of people breathing and moving together so I indulged in a $25 class. Let’s just say that I wish I could have a refund.

The studio felt like a commercial gym not a yoga studio. I had been to this “yoga gym” a few times before but wanted to give it another chance. Boy, did I regret it. Instead of complaining about the class even more, I decided to give you guys my list of 10 things you should expect from your group class instructor.

I’ll admit that I set the bar pretty high and expect a lot out of my classes. Its especially true because part of my normal job is hiring and evaluating instructors.

10 Things you should expect from your group class instructors:

1. Class should start and end on time.

2. Instructor should ask the class if anyone has any injuries or if its their first time in the class and introduce themselves.

3. Play appropriate music at appropriate levels.

4. Offer variations of moves, asanas, etc.

5. Never make a participant feel bad about not doing something or put pressure on them to do something that is outside their limits.

6. Explain each move with verbal cues that will improve the participant’s form or help them to utilize the correct muscle groups.

7. Don’t assume everyone knows what your talking about when you say “salabhasana” or “burpee.”

8. Don’t give participants false information. I once had a yoga instructor tell me that I couldn’t stretch my hamstring if my knee was bent.

9. Thank the class for coming.

10. The class should not be the instructors workout!!!

What specific things turn you off from returning to a group class?

Battle of the (head) Bands

Jess — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:46:44 +0000

Drugstore vs. Designer: To save or spend?

Headbands are an important staple in any fitness wardrobe. There’s nothing more annoying than having hair in your face or poking you in the eye while your huffing in puffing. When I workout, I don’t want to waste energy worrying about my hair.

In the first corner we have the Goody stayput headband. In the second corner we have the Lululemon slipless headband.

The Goody stayput headband has been a “must have” accessory in my fitness wardrobe for the last few years.

Pros:

Affordable: Drugstore.com offers 3 for $4.99!
Available in many colors and varying widths.
Cute enough to wear when you’re not working out.

Cons:

Stretches out overtime.
Washing it seems to breakdown the elastic.
Does not “stayput.” I’ve lost a few of these on runs. I also see stray ones on the ground in Central Park quite often, indicating that other people have encountered this same problem.

I picked up the Lululemon slipless headband sometime this past spring.

Pros:

Doesn’t stretch out over time.
Washing doesn’t seem to alter it in any form.
Available in different colors, but unable to find this specific headband in different widths.
Does not slip. I’ve yet to see one of these lying on the ground.

Cons:

Price: Retails for $12.00 each
Not cute enough to wear when I’m not working out (although other lulu headbands are).

The key to lululemon’s success:

I think this is a classic case of “you pay for what you get.” The fabric and “slipless” strip seem to be what makes this headband standout when compared with the goody headband.

I’ll continue to wear the goody stayput headbands for running errands and for training clients, but won’t be wearing them for running since discovering the lululemon slipless headband. Its totally worth spending the $12!