FITspiration

What can YOU do in 6 weeks?

That is the question for two of our Living Fit Run Club regulars, who are participating in Orangetheory Fitness Columbus’ 6-week Weight Loss Challenge, starting today. For both Peggy and Jennifer, motivation has been lacking lately (more on that to come), so this challenge seemed like the perfect way to jump start the new year toward their personal FIT goals.

The challenge itself is pretty simple: you must attend at least 3 sessions per week at your Orangetheory home studio and weigh-in at the studio both at the beginning and at the end of the challenge. You cannot attend more than one OTF session per day, but you are free to engage in other exercise. The Grand Prize is $1,000, and a male and female prize of $250 for each Columbus studio (Dublin, Hilliard and New Albany).

Let’s meet our runners & recap their goals…

Get to know Jennifer:

Jennifer and her husband Andre live in Dublin with their two children, Cole (5) and Claire (3). She is a Columbus native and works at the Ohio Supreme Court as an attorney with Disciplinary Counsel. When Jennifer is not working or trying to keep up with her kids’ activities, she loves all things outdoors. Jennifer has been an OTF Dublin regular since her first visit in August 2014; however, for the last six months she has not been attending sessions as much as she would like. Jennifer’s 2016 FIT goals include 3 duathlons this summer and the Detroit International Half Marathon in October.

Jennifer’s FIT goals:

Partipate in OTF Dublin’s 6-week Weight Loss Challenge
Lose 25 pounds
Get back into a regular FIT routine that includes healthy food choices, OTF, hot yoga and running

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Jennifer (on right) enjoys running, yoga, biking and various other fit activities

Get to know Peggy:

Peggy is an almost 59 yr old mother and grandmother. Her daughter, Teresa Gellenbeck, encouraged her to become a member of the Living Fit Run Club and also introduced her to Orangetheory. She has attended OTF Dublin twice previously and enjoyed the crazy, challenging workouts. After becoming too sedentary over the past several months, Peggy has joined the OTF challenge and will be attending sessions at least 3 times per week, eating clean, giving up alcohol and preparing for whatever run/walks in which Living Fit may be participating.

We’ve featured Peggy previously in a post, Featured Success Stories – Fitness After 50.

Peggy’s FIT goals:

Participate in OTF Hilliard’s 6-week Weight Loss Challenge
Lose 12 pounds
Firm and tone (especially my saddlebags!) to feel & look better
Regain and maintain the Living Fit lifestyle

Peggy enjoys run/walking, light weight lifting & exercising for a cause! Pictured here, she completed the Cap City Half wearing this Pack H20 backpack.

Peggy and Jennifer will check in with us on their OTF Challenge journey, so stay tuned. We will be blogging, posting updates on social media & sharing their before and after photos [at the conclusion of the challenge].

Good luck ladies!

Want to learn more about OTF? Check out this article from The New York Times about what makes the Orangetheory workout so unique: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/03/nyregion/orangetheory-workout-new-years-resolution-fitness.html?_r=1

OTF challege

SUNDAY SHOUTOUT & FIT SPOTLIGHT [Amy Crandall]

I met up with Amy Crandall last week for a cup o’ Joe at our local Winans coffee shop. She truly inspires me on so many levels and is an uh-mazing person! Fit. Positive. Real. Absolutely beautiful. And one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Not to mention that she blogs, does photography and drinks coffee. She is pretty much my soul mate!

Expertise [Bio]:

Although her degree and post-college experience was in photography, Amy is now typically on the other side of the camera. She has done modeling for numerous companies, many local, including Bend Active, Thread, Capital Style, Bohindi, The Blowout Bar and more. Her modeling career happened very organically as her positive attitude & open [creative] mind showed her the various facets that life has to offer.

Looking and feeling good doesn’t just happen, she works for it! Amy has earned several fitness certifications including yoga, personal training and pilates. She is a personal trainer and class instructor at PEAK Human Performance in Dublin as well as the creator of a fitness website and blog, Active Body, Creative Mind. She is excited to soon be launching an online personal training component to Active Body, Creative Mind. The training will pilot as a complimentary two week shape up plan that will include nutrition, training and well-being advice.

Amy was an open book during our chat, sharing many of her fitness tips and routines…

Motivation for Living Fit?

“Aging gracefully!” Amy has clients in their 70s that still exercise, proof that taking care of yourself will help you remain youthful & healthy. Fitness allows you to feel good, confident, peaceful, happy. The more surface level accomplishments [for instance, body & physique] will follow!

Best fitness accomplishment?

Her team just finished leading the first 8 week challenge at PEAK. The two month journey not only connected people, it also helped them achieve and notice results ~ emotional, physical & mental ~ from weight loss to cultivating healthy habits.

Typical workout routine?

“I love to lift weights – it will transform your body!” Amy lifts twice a week, doing a whole body routine and jumping rope between sets. This serves as her cardio [although I’ll keep trying to get her to join us for a group run sometime]! She also does pilates once per week and tries to squeeze in a yoga session when she can.

Amy leads an extremely active lifestyle and in addition to her workouts, enjoys hiking, walking and acroyoga. Dates with her main squeeze often include a workout, such as spending Valentine’s Day at The Butcher Shop in German Village and their recent trip to SnowShoe for Wanderlust.

Oh, and she foam rolls & stretches. Every day.

Typical Diet or Nutrition Plan?

Amy is a creature of habit & has similar foods at each meal. A sample day may look something like this…

Breakfast – Ezekial bread, almond butter, banana, apple, chia seeds [healthy fat & good for runners]
Lunch – two scrambled eggs & lots of veggies, cooked with coconut oil
Dinner – Protein [chicken, ground turkey] veggies, healthy fat or carb
She also typically eats ½ avocado per day to get her healthy fat and limits dairy

Some of Amy’s favorite things…

Favorite FIT place around Columbus: Peak Human Performance!

Known for their athletic performance enhancement, she loves [and teaches] the Fitmix class & Pilates. PEAK provides “Smart Training” – an assessment of what your body really needs.

Favorite cheat food: TimTam Australian cookie with tea and other treats; allows herself to indulge now and then!

Coffee drink: French pressed coffee with cream and raw sugar. Her daily dose of half & half is about the only dairy she really consumes!

Any advice for others on their journey to get or stay FIT? “Create healthy habits. Be patient with yourself, and allow the time your body needs to adjust.”

Was blessed to have spent some coffee time with this amazing lady. Can’t wait to see her out on the fitness scene in Cbus!

FIT-spiration [10 facts about Christine!]

Living Fit [Columbus] run crew member highlight – Christine Loncaric

Expertise: Christine was active while growing up (dance and cheerleading mostly), and after graduating college, bounced between cardio machines, free weights, and some group fit classes. She found a passion for personal fitness and a healthy lifestyle a few years ago, which grew even deeper after becoming a mom in 2013. Though she would previously not have considered herself a runner, she challenged herself to run The Nationwide Children’s Hospital 1/2 Marathon in 2014. After registering [and slightly panicking] she found the Living Fit Columbus group shortly after, and hasn’t stopped running since! She has since completed two half marathons, is signed up for the fall Columbus half again this year, plus many other races. Along with running, she has fallen in love with yoga as a way to cross train and build both mental and physical strength.

Ten FIT facts about Christine

What is your motivation for LIVING FIT? “I have always had an awareness of fitness and the need for a healthy lifestyle, but found a new dedication once I had a child in 2013. Not only do I want to be a good example for my daughter, but I have realized how important it is to have a healthy outlet for myself. I am a better wife, mom, friend and co-worker when I am taking care of myself, and for me that means solid work outs and a balanced diet.”

What does your diet look like? “It’s all about balance for me! I honestly love healthy foods – lean proteins, greens, healthy grains, fruits and veggies — and these things make up a large marjority of what I eat on a daily basis. But, I am also not afraid to indulge and treat myself too! My absolute favorite foods to eat are big salads, pizza, greek yogurt & berries, sweet potatoes, bananas & chicken wings. Nice mix, right!?? And add a glass of bubbly and I am 100% happy! I know food is fuel for my body and try to use it as such, but life’s too short to beat yourself up for treats [pizza, chicken wings, whatever!] here and there.”

What does your typical exercise routine look like? “I run about 3x a week, and incorporate a combo of yoga, boot camp classes or HIIT workouts throughout the week as well. My goal is to sweat 6 days a week!”

Some of Christine’s Favorite Things…

FIT place around Columbus: The running trails in Dublin & the many yoga studios around town — current favorites are Harbor Yoga and V Power Yoga.
Healthy Meal/Food/Recipe: I always start my day with a big & healthy breakfast (and coffee of course!). My two favorite weekday breakfasts are: greek yogurt topped with chia seeds, fresh (or frozen) berries, chopped up banana, raw oats, and a sprinkle of sweetened granola; OR scrambled eggs with bell peppers, roasted sweet potatoes, topped with salsa and an avocado (if in season).
Race Distance: This is always changing for me. Half marathon for the sense of accomplishment after months of training. But I love 5Ks and the challenge of keeping up speed for 5 milers or 10Ks
Yoga Pose: I love doing a series 5 or so basic sun salutations to center my mind and get my blood flowing. My current goals are to keep working on improving my crow pose, and to be able to do headstand away from the wall.
Pump up music: I love a good pop song with a strong beat while running — I use the Women’s Running Magazine playlists on Spotify and love them!
Favorite Workout gear: For running I love my Under Armour Women’s UA HeatGear Armour Sports Bra; Lululemon Speed Tights; and Spibelt to hold my phone when I’m running alone or fuel when on long runs. For yoga I need my Under Armour headbands and prefer Lululemon Wunder Under pants. I also love my Bend Active Columbus pants and LFC tank to wear around town!

Any words of wisdom or advice for those looking to get [or stay] FIT? “A truly healthy lifestyle didn’t stick for me until I let go of the idea that I should work out and eat less so I could achieve a goal weight. Now, I acknowledge my body for all the things it does for me — it carried a beautiful baby when doctors weren’t sure it would; it allows me to explore the world around me on foot as I run; it gives me energy and focus to do well at work so I can provide for my family; it allows me to hold plank a little longer, run a little faster so I can PR at a race, do a stronger, more controlled chaturanga during yoga, which help make my heart and muscles stronger. I acknowledge that I am lucky that, for me, this lifestyle means I accept my body AND I also now fit into a smaller size of clothing than I did a few years ago. But acceptance and appearance truly came after this became a lifestyle and not about holding myself to a regimen of consuming and burning specific calorie counts. Every body is different, and I love the lightness that has come with accepting mine for all it does and all I know it can do.”

More fun facts [that humble Christine would never say about herself!]

She is one of our strongest [speediest!] runners and will often be the leader of our pack, even while pushing her little gal, Marj!
She helped create the Living Fit Columbus IG account & takes great fitness photos. 🙂
She PRd in her second half marathon, crushing her goal of breaking two hours.
She is one of the kindest, most humble, compassionate people you will ever meet! So glad she found LFC!

If that doesn’t leave you feeling inspired, nothing will! Go get healthy! 🙂

Thanks for your time, C!

Check out some of our previous interviews on our FIT-spotlight page.

FIT-spiration // 10 facts about Deedra!

Living Fit [Columbus] run crew member highlight – Deedra Nicolet

Deedra (left) & Teresa (right) pacing at the HOKA Cbus 10K

Deedra was with us when we started our original running group, ‘Hilliard Grand Run Club’ in the summer of 2012. A sprinter at heart, she has grown fond of distance running over the past few years. She usually saves her kick for the end of the run and is known to push us to finish strong. “D” is also a cyclist lover and races for the Pelatonia each year.

As a side note, I [Teresa] am so thankful for Deedra’s dedication to running! She kept our group going during my maternity leave, kept me motivated post-partum and even talks us into cold winter runs – must be her Wisconsin frozen-tundra roots! She also just convinced me to be a pacer for the first time ever… and helped us finish right on track!

Ten FIT facts about Deedra

Favorite way to sweat: Running. Although distance running is slowly growing on her, shorter distances are her preference. A former sprinter, she typically ran the 100 and 200 m dash.

Fuel/Diet: She does not get too caught up in dieting, counting calories, etc. Everything in moderation.

Favorite FIT places around Columbus:

Running…
- Dublin Rd trail, where our Living Fit group runs
- Hilliard’s Rail to Trail path
RPAC on campus, as she works at the OSU Medical Center

Favorite cross-training activities: Biking & Pilates

Go-to healthy meal or snack: Fruit, mostly berries

Cheat meals? Chocolate [loves milk] and pizza!

Race distance: 5K

Workout music of choice: ipod goes on shuffle, usually country with a sprinkle of 80s rock

Workout gear of choice: Underarmor pants, Nike sports tanks & tops

FIT goals:

Mile Goals: 12+ miles/week
Mat Goals: 120 minutes/week

One more question (I think this now makes 11). Since we often end our runs at Winans coffee shop, what’s your go-to order? Hot chocolate!

Thanks D!

Check out some of our previous interviews on our FIT-spotlight page.

Sunday Shoutout, FIT Spotlight & Tour of Columbus [Rachel Kerr]

We have been lucky enough to meet up with Rachel Kerr several times in the last couple of months. We first met over coffee and have since collaborated on some fun fitness projects.

A little bit about Rachel…

Rachel grew up in West Virginia and has lived in Columbus for the last ten years. She’s spent years working in marketing & events, yet recently realized she’d be much happier working in her yoga pants! Rachel followed her passion and sought out to complete her 200 hour YTT certification, while planning The Beauty Barre, a space for women to be empowered. Her BB site has plenty of goodies for the fitness lover including healthy recipes, powerful workouts, killer retreats and a daily dose of happiness.

When she isn’t planning events or teaching yoga classes, Rachel spends time with family & friends. She loves all things healthy, including yoga, barre, hiking, biking, boating and anything involving the outdoors. We keep hoping she’ll join us for a run sometime!

As of this interview, she is busy teaching at VUE Columbus, V Power Yoga, Bend Active, System of Strength and Fair Trade Yoga Studios.

TOUR OF COLUMBUS

We’ve been touring Columbus to visit Rachel at various locations. Our first class with her was a hot Vinyasa Power Flow at VUE Columbus. It was a beautiful venue and surprisingly, heated right up, even in the middle of winter. We enjoyed her 60 minute flow and all [of course] headed for coffee after.

Our latest collaboration was a RUN + YOGA event at Bend Active. The runners met at Bend for a 3.1 mile loop around Upper Arlington – check out our route HERE.

After the run, Rachel led us in a 30 minute YOGA FOR RUNNERS class, focusing on stretching, hip openers and specific poses & sequences great for runners looking to cross-train, gain flexibility and/or prevent injury. Check out our previous post on Running, Yoga & Hips and check out our flow below!

FIT SPOTLIGHT

We did a little Q & A with Rachel on all things FIT. Here is what she had to say…

What is your motivation for LIVING FIT?

I want to feel good and live life to the full potential. It’s hard to do that when you feel sluggish, mentally unhealthy, or just unhappy in your skin.

What does your daily diet look like?

I eat ALOT. A past roommate once told me it’s funny how much I eat. Due to that I try to eat pretty healthy, but I don’t prohibit myself from anything. I typically have a protein shake and coffee in the morning, mid morning snack of apple and peanut butter, salad with pita for lunch, mid evening snack of randomness and dinner to include veggies, fish and some type of potato. I believe red wine and chocolate should definitely be included in the food pyramid.

We definitely agree!

What are your favorite ways to sweat?

Power Vinyasa Yoga or some type of boot camp class. It’s really hard for me to workout alone so I love the energy and atmosphere a class and instructor bring.

We are big on meeting for coffee after runs. What is your go-to coffee shop beverage?

I’m pretty plain jane…I just love good old fashioned coffee.

Some of your favorite FIT things?

FIT place around Columbus: System of Strength & Native Cold Pressed

Healthy eat(s): Chocolate Banana Protein Shake ~ chocolate powder, organic peanut butter, almond milk, banana, ice

Inspirational mantra: Live the life you’d be envious of if you saw someone else living it

Tell us more about The Beauty Barre!

It’s a space for women to come to be empowered, healthy and beautiful. We do this through awesome workouts, restorative retreats, accountability partners, health and life coaching while surrounding you with a community of inspiring and like-minded women.

Any words of wisdom for others who want to begin or continue a FIT lifestyle?

Just start somewhere; you don’t have to wake up at 5am with a green juice or be able to run a marathon. Healthy looks different for everyone.

Anything else you would want us to know?

I love traveling [Guatemala and Aruba recently] and exploring new adventures!

We have really enjoyed getting to know Rachel and look forward to many future fitness encounters.

Most photos taken by Living Fit Columbus. Other photo and info credits to The Beauty Barre.

Marathon training – what we learned

[Guest posts by L Nguyen & M Ahmed]

L Nguyen: What we learned from marathon training

Marathon (n.): a long distance running race, strictly one of 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195 km).

Why would anyone in their mind be crazy enough to run this distance? There are a million reasons we can tell you, however, one of the biggest is simply our passion for running. Most training programs are an average of 16 weeks long. Yes, that is a long period of time- 1/3 of the year. While training for the Columbus Nationwide Marathon, we have really learned a lot about ourselves. Here are some lessons learned;

Listen to your body! Keeping a balance between life and work can get exhausting some weeks. While going on a run when you’re stressed and tired may sound like a good idea, on occasion, it may be better to either cut back some mileage or just take a rest day. Yes, to a runner, that is devastating news. We have learned to move on and make our next runs better.
Nutrition. Towards the middle of training, mileage begins to get intense (average 20-30+ miles depending on the week). As runners, people think we will eat everything in sight (and we have). However, it is important to intake the right foods including fruits, veggies, proteins and carbs. During runs, carry gels, blocks, chews, snacks-
whatever works to curb mid-run hunger.
Weight gain. Both of us had a mini life crisis when we realized that around the first round of our 20 milers, we had packed on a few pounds. It. Will. Happen. We were reminded by our coach that it will be ok! And it was. The extra weight went away right at the start of taper.
Accountability. 16 weeks of marathon training does take a chunk of time. Finding accountability buddies keeps us motivated and gives you an ongoing cheerleader.
Shoes. Running shoes do get expensive. But then again, so does a medical bill for a knee injury. We both listened to our bodies when our shoes became worn out. We know that we should get a new pair on average every 6 months or so, depending on your mileage. We always think we can outwear our shoes a little longer. A new pair definitely makes long distances bearable and pain free!
Running buddies. Find a running buddy for those long weekend runs. We learned this one much later in the training. But better late than never! When running a long distance anywhere from 13mi+, it can get boring regardless of scenery. Having a running buddy to chat with definitely makes the miles go by faster. Perhaps find a local running group… maybe Living Fit Columbus!
Yoga. Long miles of pounding the pavement do a number on a runner’s body. Often, we forget to stretch after runs, which results in knots. We found yoga to be our solution to not only stretch, but also get some cross-training workouts into our repertoire.
Have fun!!! That feeling of accomplishment after every run has taught us why we began training in the first place… To have fun and enjoy ourselves. Running is one of our favorite hobbies.

This was Lan’s second marathon and a new PR! Here she is, a proud finisher, ringing the PR gong.

M Ahmed: Running my first marathon

There’s something amazing about seeing and living the world through a fresh pair of eyes. Whether it’s a baby mesmerized by the new sounds and colors that come with the rustling of the fall leaves, experiencing excitement and success as you reach your destination without backtracking in New York City, or having a friend witness their first Buckeye game with the infamous dotting of the “I”… Our first experiences always leave a special mark and become our reference point for the future. We sometimes take for granted those “ah-ha” moments and the astonishment that comes with accomplishing a goal as things slowly turn into habit.

It was not too long ago I never thought I could run again let alone a marathon, and I hope I never lose that sense of “so this is what it feels like.” But the process of getting there was something I reflected on throughout the race.

Everyone asked why a marathon, why this race. I definitely had my own personal reasons for starting the marathon. But by the end of the race, I found it to be for something even greater than myself. At one point…I think mile 18, I started thinking…”I really should’ve turned left and finished this race 5 miles ago.” But then somehow I would keep going because at each mile of Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon, there would be a picture that was dedicated to another child that was battling the fight against various illnesses. The miracle mile was an emotional stretch being reminded of those that lost their lives to the fight. But seeing the families and how they honored each child, supported each of us runners and stood out in the cold for hours to remind us…it was a humbling experience to say the least. I started the race thinking, “Oh I wish maybe there was a sign someone I knew would be holding for me”, but found an ARMY of supporters cheering all of us to the finish.

I realized this race was about something even greater…I got to run through the most beautiful parts of this city seeing humanity at its finest as the volunteers would help refuel us, the police kept us out of harms way, the Red Cross was there to get us back up and the masses out to leave us candy and motivational posters to read along the way. The camaraderie amongst the runners was truly something to be witnessed. Even leading up to the training, yoga instructors and running enthusiasts were incredibly supportive and willing to help any way they could. It was an event that brought the community and it’s people together to make a positive impact on this world when despite so many times we hear the opposite.

This was one small goal I wanted to accomplish, but with all those that ran, it was a heroic effort to help this world and its people. It’s a beautiful thing to see strangers come together and wanting everyone to reach their goals and support an effort outside their own. . I really learned during this race what it means to live for something greater than myself. And I hope I never forget this feeling.

Whether you’re starting your first 5k walk or training to be an ultrarunner… Sometimes finding a reason greater than our own is all the motivation we need to reach that finish! 🙂

Mahvish out on the course – working towards finishing her first marathon!

A note from Living Fit Columbus:

Mahvish and Lan are truly an inspiration to not only our fitness/running/yogi-ing group, but to all humans everywhere. They are two of the most positive, ambitious, motivated women we know, yet remain humble and kind during the process. We are very proud of their marathon finish and can’t wait to hear more about their FIT adventures in 2015!

FIT-spiration [10 facts about Mahvish!]

Living Fit [Columbus] run club member highlight

Mahvish was a part of our original running group, Hilliard Grand Run Club, back in 2011. She is one of the most positive, cheerful yogis we know, who also happens to dabble in running. In fact, she just finished an 18 miler as we write this! Mahvish recently moved back from NYC and we are so thankful to have her here in good ol’ Columbus, Ohio. We tracked her down to check in on some of her FIT philosphies and favorites…

Ten FIT facts about Mahvish

Motivation for LIVING FIT: It makes me feel good physically and mentally. I feel a spiritual connection. And I’ve made my best friends through fitness.

Diet beliefs: Listen to your body, what works for others may or may not work for you.

Favorite ways to sweat: Alternate running with yoga, including a morning daily home yoga practice.

Favorite FIT places around Columbus:

running the Scioto River & downtown streets in the evening
Harbor Yoga
Thank yoga

Favorite healthy meal: Lentil soup…I can live on it!

Check out her recipe, along with Josh’s HERE

Not-so-healthy-can’t-live-without-food-item: macroons…to go with my tea = perfection 🙂

Favorite race distance: the full marathon, currently training for Columbus Marathon

Workout clothing item you can’t live without: I just got these women’s whatevers good yoga pants from reebok…Tara Stiles designs for their yoga line. I don’t want to wear anything else, they are so comfy it feels like I’m wearing clouds!

Inspirational quote you live by: “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says, “I’m possible!” –Audrey Hepburn

Fit Goal(s): Yoga 200 level teacher training for 2015 – can’t wait!

Thank you Mahvish! Stay tuned for her guest blog post, coming soon!

Check out some of our previous interviews on our FIT-spotlight page. Make it a great week!

Five reasons you need a fitness challenge

Stuck in a fitness or health rut? Why not participate in a FITNESS CHALLENGE? Five reasons to consider starting one…

Get yourself motivated – set new goals and CRUSH them!
See quick results – many challenges will help you see FAST positive changes if you do them properly. [Just make sure you choose a healthy one… living on cabbage soup for a week is not healthy!]
Break up the monotony of a regimented fitness routine. Sometimes we just need a change or some extra inspiration!
Squeeze in some social time. Although you can certainly conduct a challenge on your own, there is strength in numbers! Enlist a buddy or find a group to complete the challenge with.
Why not?

Here are some ideas to get you started…

Check out a new fitness place around Columbus. Cheat on your favorite yoga studio and try someplace different. Take a break from your weekly running path and go test out a new one. Our running group aims to try a new fitness routine or location at least once per month. Lately we have checked out Thank Yoga and hosted running field trips at the Scioto Mile and Antrim Park. Explore your city!

Group run @ Bicentennial Park & Scioto Mile

Find an online or social media challenge. Simply searching for ‘Fitness challenges’ on Google or Pinterest will bring you lots of new ideas. One I found online was through Whitney Carlson ~ a personal trainer and wellness coach that works with tons of other [famous] fitness professionals and offers a variety of online fitness challenges [with prizes!]. I grabbed a friend, tried her 21 day Jump Start challenge and we both had amazing results! You can find anything online, from 30 day yoga challenges [check out OURS] to plank challenges to eat clean challenges. There is even a site called Fitness Challenge. If you love photos and hashtags, Instagram has lots of fitness challenges for the runner, yogi or health nut inside of you.

Try a running program. Not a runner? Try a couch-to-5K program. Like running, but only short distances? Why not train for your first 10K or half marathon? Setting new running goals will keep you motivated and focused. We are soon going to start a 12 week run builder program created by HeAndSheEatClean.com in partnership with MomsRunThisTown.com ~ looking forward to incorporating more strength training into our running routine! Moms Run This Town has a mom’s running group that meets in Dublin for group runs – find them on FaceBook for details.

Do something simple that gets you MOVING. I am currently doing a SEVEN PARKS IN SEVEN DAYS challenge with my family. This is free, easy and gets us out the door to explore a new place each day! Seven-ten days is also a good amount of time to get you motivated, but not burned out. Start simple, then increase your challenge once you have succeeded! Some achievable short-term ideas…
- Do 15 minutes of _____________ [walking, running, yoga, etc] each day from Sunday to Saturday.
- Set the timer for 10-15 minutes and just MOVE [dance, play, clean, etc] around your house each day when you get home from work ~ before you sit down on the couch ~ for one work week.
- Add vegetables to each meal for a week.
- Take the stairs at work at least once per day for two full work weeks.
- Visit a new ________________ [park, running path, hiking trail, etc] every other day for at least ten days.

A fitness challenge may be just what you need to stay focused or get yourself back on the health train. Feel free to send your ideas or seek support at LivingFitColumbus@gmail.com ~ Good luck!

10 reasons we love lululemon athletica [& yoga day 14]

[T Gellenbeck]

For my birthday in August of 2012, my sister & mother in law got me gifts and gift cards to lululemon athletica. I’ll be honest, I had never shopped there before. At the time, I thought it was just for yogis, which I wasn’t. And I was happy with my mix of workout clothes from Nike, Northface, C9 [Target, if you didn’t know], and whatever else looked cute, fit well or was on sale.

A couple months later I finally went to spend my gift card. And so began my obsession with the clothes, the store, the brand. I shop there, I help lead a run club in partnership with our polaris store, I have my students do a case study on their corporate culture, they [along with my sis-in-law] inspired me to give yoga another chance… you could say I have a crush on lululemon.

Here are TEN reasons why we [our Thursday night running group] LOVE lulu…

1. They share Living Fit’s favorite passions; running, yoga & other sweaty pursuits. And of course, blogging.

A tagline on their blog reads ——>
A tagline on one of their ads reads ——->

2. The lululemon manifesto. These inspirational rules to live life by speak volumes about the company’s mission and core values. “We are passionate about sweating every day and we want the world to know it. Breathing deeply, drinking water and getting outside also top the list of things we can’t live without.” Find your favorite quote and write it on a post-it to see every morning. Better yet, frame it. Filling your mind with positive thoughts and energy helps you live a happier, healthier life!

3. Their Educators are awesome. They have kind, knowledgeable associates aka ‘Educators’ – we have worked specifically with Jackie, Lisa, Jess & Betina at the Polaris store and they are amazing. The Polaris staff is so friendly, I’ve literally even stopped in to get opinions on dressing my husband for a wedding with an outfit from Macys. No joke! I’ve also been to the Easton location and Chicago, Michigan Ave location and both were equally friendly.

4. Goal setting is a company priority. Staff have their goals posted around the store, they ask what your fitness/sweat goals are and they even have resources on their website. We have used these with our runners and I’ve used them in my classroom with my high school students. Use them to set your next set of personal, health and career goals!

5. High quality, high fashion, anti-stink apparel. You will be the best dressed person on the mat or trail, I assure you. And the silverescent technology helps prevent stinky-ness so you don’t have to rush home to shower. They also offer accessories (headbands, water bottles, yoga mats, bags), men’s clothing and a cute little tote with every purchase.

6. Artistic photography. Many of the ads feature a unique style of photography that we happen to love. Organic. Minimalist. Some of the summer ones are vintage & sun kissed. Love!

7. They are all about COMMUNITY. Lulu hosts and organizes so many local complimentary events, just to encourage people to sweat and have fun doing it. POGA, SUP, Sunday Fundays, Run clubs, CrossFit sessions… we’ve tried a lot of them and you will surely leave blissed-out. And often you’ll have met new fitness lovers like yourself. They also promote local fitness facilities and yoga studios through out their store. This is our community, lets make it awesome and FIT!

Keith from Polaris CrossFit

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lululemon + Harbor Yoga

POGA @ Scioto Audubon Park

POGA @ McFerson Commons/Arch Park

town run club Thursdays @6:30PM

8. Yoga, run, party ~ take me to the Sea Wheeze Half Marathon please! We WILL get here someday. It is on our bucket list!

9. They have outlets. Bet you didn’t know that? Add it to your bucket list to visit every single one.

10. Humor. The ads and corporate culture make us laugh! And who doesn’t love laughing? As seen below, they are often found supporting local runners at races, holding signs that will make you smile for miles.

So there is a quick rundown of our reasons for crushing. If you haven’t checked it out, stop in sometime. But beware, it can be addicting. And the following pic was found while creating this post… I can’t guarantee it will happen, but it could.

Yoga Challenge – Day #14

While we are on the subject of lululemon, may as well use their blog and yoga resources for today’s practice! Visit Yoga Info 101 for information, videos and more.

We [me and my little guy] are heading out for a 3 mile run with the jogging stroller, so I’ll do lulu’s pre and post run yoga stretches and poses for my practice today. You can find these on lulu’s blog or on our earlier post.

Don’t forget about #independencearmy challenge if you are doing that too. Today’s pose is a tough one – tittibhasana or firefly. This move is another advanced one that we aren’t quite ready for, but it is impressive to watch.

Kino is crazy flexible, she even does walking firefly!

Check out Kino’s how-to video HERE if you want to witness her awesome-ness and [gulp] try it for yourself.

Follow our yoga challenge from the beginning HERE.

If you made it this far, you deserve an award! Watch for two giveaways coming soon, maybe you’ll win!

See you soon 🙂

Sweat Pink [& yoga day 12]

[t gellenbeck]

I recently became a Sweat Pink ambassador through Fit Approach.

A running friend asked me the other day, ‘What does that even mean?’ I laughed and explained it was just a way of inspiring and helping others to live healthy lives. Their motto is…

“Sweat Pink Ambassadors live the Fit Approach mission every day: they sweat hard, play hard, and inspire those around them to achieve their best selves.”

Here are my beliefs that align with SWEAT PINK’s philosophy…

I believe in helping others begin or continue their journey to a healthy lifestyle through exercise, clean food [with the occasional glass of wine, coffee or bite of chocolate :] and a positive FIT attitude
I believe that strong is the new skinny
I believe in overall fitness and although I’m a runner at heart, I know that cross training [biking, hiking, yoga, strength training] is important too. I am eager to learn about new fitness and foodie ideas, connect with other FIT minded people and share what I learn with others… YOU!
I believe in the color pink! Whether you’re trying to look good or support breast cancer… pink is a great color 🙂

Fit Approach is a community for fitness minded _____________ [ <—- insert your choice term there ~ professionals, enthusiasts, bloggers]. So check it out sometime!

Sweat Pink

My first few days as an ambassador began the FIT Approach 10 day Instagram challenge.

You can follow me @tgellenbeck1 or just view a quick rundown below…

Favorite healthy summer meal/snack

Favorite workout gear

Summer vacation activities

Celebrate red, white & blue

Favorite yoga pose

Nature ~ #sweatpink outside

Favorite way to #sweatpink = running

summer reading

#sweatpink with a friend

Summer activities = practicing more yoga and playing with my little guy!

Follow along as we achieve health and fitness goals together!

Yoga Challenge – Day 12

We had our group run this AM so yoga for today is just some light stretching and poses [mountain, runner’s lunge, forward fold]. This counts, right?

For some good resources including videos on yoga for runners, visit Runner’s World Yoga Center. And don’t forget your day #12 yoga pose from #independencearmy; Buja Pidasana or shoulder pressing posture. We will keep working on this one…