One of the privileges of being a Skydeck Chicago Ambassador this summer was the ability to come up with a one-of-a-kind event to put on in the space on the 103rd floor of Willis (formerly Sears) Tower. We ambassadors started with clean slates, and could basically present any idea we wanted to the PR team and management of Skydeck Chicago for approval. For me, incorporating a workout was a no-brainer, because I love fitness and especially because Skydeck Chicago has nothing to do with fitness. I thought that mixing up the two worlds would be interesting and fun. Of course, I couldn’t exactly arrange to teach a cycling class up…
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My Trainer, Bob.
So… The Biggest Loser. I am a Biggest Loser fan. Since day one, actually. My mention of the show probably won’t sit well with everyone: it usually doesn’t. I’ve participated in many debates over the years–in real life and on Facebook–about whether the show and the people behind it are “right” or “wrong”. It seems to me that there are just a few types of people, where viewing the show is concerned: 1. I have seen it and think it’s amazing and inspiring. 2. I have seen it and think it’s not only ridiculous but sends the wrong message. 3. I haven’t seen it. I am, of course, part of…
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Dancing To His Own Beat
He was wearing a bright green t-shirt, a marine blue baseball cap, black shorts, sneakers with neon green accents and a goofy grin. Flailing his arms wildly above his head and then to the side, he was doing his best to keep up with the rest of us in Zumba class. It wasn’t the speed that was a problem. He was able to move quickly, even though his motions were more choppy than smooth. The problem was the variety of combinations. His brain clearly couldn’t process the mixtures of arm and leg movements, or the mishmash of turning one way and then the other in four-count sets. And the hips?…
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Bounce.
In accordance with my new and improved strategy to really focus on taking care of myself and getting my former fitness level back, I filled up a water bottle, put my driver’s license, a couple dollars, and my cell phone in a ziploc bag for safe (and dry) keeping, put on my helmet, and hopped on my bike for the six-to-seven mile ride to the YMCA for my Zumba class this morning. It was my first bike ride over there, and my first class there in general: my instructor, Emily, moved her classes from the studio closer to my house to the Y for the summer. When I left home…
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The Long Walk Back To Me
When I turned forty-two (ouch) last November, I made four simple but clear goals for myself for the year (click here to read that entire post): 1. Lose thirty pounds 2. Move/exercise more often 3. Get my book published 4. Get organized At that time, I had no idea that number three would not only become a reality sooner than expected, but also that it would completely paralyze my progress on numbers one and two. (Number four? Piece of cake; did that in December.) The fact that not only have I made absolutely no progress on those first two goals since November, but that I’ve even GONE BACKWARDS is more…