Functional Fit: Backwards Dress?

By: Cool J
Functional Fits can take many forms- a versatile outfit that crosses over from work to evening, a simple blazer that can complete several outfits in different seasons, or a tunic that can be worn as a top or a dress... (Read about all of our previous Functional Fit posts HERE!)


I recently discovered a new kind of functional fit when I happened to take a fall while running a few weeks ago. I scraped up my knee and my shoulder. The injury was really not too painful but it was not very pretty...

So as last Monday's "Share our Strength Hotlist" event approached, I had to figure out what I could wear on a hot summer evening, without putting my injury on full display.


I had planned to wear the Rachel Roy dress that I received at the Fashion Swap from my friend Laura. (Read all about the Fashion Swap here)


In this picture, the dress (on the left) is on the hanger "correctly"- i.e. forwards. You can see that the right shoulder would be exposed.

I discovered that the dress actually was exactly the same, however, if I wore it "backwards". 

 I just had to remove the tags in the front, and this functional fit would safely hide my injured shoulder at the event! 

FUNCTIONAL FIT TO THE RESCUE!

And no one knew...until I posted it on my blog of course...

Fits on the Road: Bismarck, North Dakota

By: Cool J

Hello from Bismarck, North Dakota!

The D-man and I are here for my mother-in-law's wedding. It was a long, uneventful drive, but we did break it up by visiting this handsome fella in Jamestown, ND.

WORLD'S LARGEST BUFFALO!

His name is Dakota Thunder. Isn't he handsome?

We arrived in Bismarck yesterday in time for the rehearsal dinner.

 (Picture from the rehearsal)

This morning we decided to go for an easy jog around the town before I went to the salon for hair/make-up.

Hair and make-up in Bismarck:

Before:  No makeup. No styling of the hair. Yikes!

During:

After:

Okay, so back to the FITS ON THE ROAD part!

We headed out early this morning (around 6:30 am) to beat the heat and explore the area. We're staying at the Radisson, which is a little less than a mile from the state capitol grounds. There were a few other runners on the grounds, but it was mostly deserted.

Below is a picture of the North Dakota State Capitol, commonly thought of as the least interesting capitol building in the nation! 

Even though the actual capitol building was not very impressive, the grounds surrounding the capitol were very green and enjoyable.

(Petrified wood)

We jogged through the grounds and back to our hotel, for an easy 4 mile run.  It was a nice way to get a little bit of a sweat before the busy day ahead of us.

No matter how short the exercise, it still makes me feel so much better to work out while traveling. I know that today we will be eating and drinking more than normal, so I was very happy to still be able to find my "FITS ON THE ROAD" in Bismarck, North Dakota!

*Stay tuned for pictures from the wedding! 

Our bridesmaids dresses are simple black cocktail dresses.

Featured Fit: Training for a Half

By: LL
I'm one of those people that really needs to be registered for an upcoming road race in order to stay on a strict running schedule (unlike Cool J who runs 15-20 miles even when not training). So, I'm excited to have the Chicago Half Marathon coming up this September, giving me something to "run" for this summer. This will be my 7th half marathon and 3rd time running the Chicago Half. In fact, this will be my third time running with ECan. (A photo from one of our previous races is here.) But, this will be my first half with my sister, CJ, and this will be her first half ever (yay)!

So, for this half, the three of us are running with different goals in mind. CJ has the goal of running her first half - the longest distance for her so far (marathon soon after?). ECan has set the goal of running under 2 hours (and she was very close last weekend at the Summerfest Rock 'n Sole). For me, I have the goal of coming in right around my PR, which is 1:51.07 and was set at the Capital City Half a few years ago (back in my youth). As you can imagine, each of us has a very different training schedule for the next few months. To start off, I am going to highlight my plan, which starts this coming weekend. I'm changing it up from what I normally do in hopes that I will add some much needed strength to my core for the race.

Week 10:
Day 1: Run 4 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 2: Yoga Sculpt
Day 3: Run 5k (race pace)
Day 4: Run 1 mile sprint followed by Yoga Scuplt
Day 5: Rest
Day 6: Run 5 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 7: Cross train

Week 9:
Day 1: Run 5 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 2: Run 2 miles (race pace), weight lift (light weights)
Day 3: Run 4 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 4: Yoga Sculpt
Day 5: Rest
Day 6: Run 6 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 7: Rest


Week 8:
Day 1: Run 5k (race pace)
Day 2: Yoga Sculpt
Day 3: Run 6 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 4: Rest
Day 5: Run 2 miles (race pace), weight lift (light weights)
Day 6: Run 5 miles (race pace)
Day 7: Cross train

Week 7:
Day 1: Run 2 miles (race pace), weight lift (light weights)
Day 2: Yoga Sculpt
Day 3: Run 5 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 4: Yoga Sculpt
Day 5: Rest
Day 6: Run 8 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 7: Rest

Week 6:
Day 1: Yoga Sculpt
Day 2: Run 5 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 3: Yoga Sculpt
Day 4: Run 4 miles (race pace)
Day 5: Rest
Day 6: Run 10 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 7: Cross train

Week 5:
Day 1: Cross train
Day 2: Run 5 miles (race pace)
Day 3: Yoga Sculpt
Day 4: Run 7 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 5: Rest
Day 6: Run 12 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 7: Rest

Week 4:
Day 1: Yoga Sculpt
Day 2: Run 5k (fast pace)
Day 3: Yoga Sculpt
Day 4: Run 5 miles (race pace)
Day 5: Rest
Day 6: Run 9 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 7: Rest

Week 3:
Day 1: Yoga Sculpt
Day 2: Run 4 (race pace)
Day 3: Run 5k (comfortable pace)
Day 4: Yoga Sculpt
Day 5: Rest
Day 6: Run 6 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 7: Cross train

Week 2:
Day 1: Run 5k (race pace)
Day 2: Yoga Sculpt
Day 3: Yoga Sculpt
Day 4: Run 5 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 5: Rest
Day 6: Run 6 miles (race pace)
Day 7: Rest

Week 1:
Day 1: Yoga Sculpt
Day 2: Run 4 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 3: Yoga Sculpt
Day 4: Run 5 miles (comfortable pace)
Day 5: Cross train
Day 6: Rest
Day 7: RACE DAY

Each year, I try to do one half road race. Last year was the Germantown Half Marathon (which actually turned out to be 13.6 due to some miscalculations on the part of the organizers), which was fairly hilly at the end. If I remember correctly, the biggest downfall of the Banco Popular Chicago Half is that the majority is out on Lakeshore Drive - on the concrete, in the sun.

I'm also looking at running the Maple Leaf Run 1/2 marathon in La Crosse, WI at the end of September. It coincides with the city's large Oktoberfest celebration, but I haven't decided. Anyone run it before?

Fitting Debates: Home Gym

By: LL
My husband and I recently bought our first house. After years of renting, we finally have a place that is all our own. And, I couldn't be more excited! Even before we closed, I had already started to move in my mind and redecorate.

Our house has a finished basement, which is nice but good lord, it was red. Not just red, but quiet possibly the worst red paint job EVER. It was anything but a place you wanted to hang out in. That was until this past weekend when we painstakingly covered the red with a serene sand color. It is a whole new space, which my husband and I are both drooling over. He sees a ping pong table, dart board and a TV area. I see a home gym. Think of the money we will save on gym memberships?!?! I will only need to have a package at a yoga studio now!

I'm sure that everyone who is "married to fitness," as my brother-in-law has so nicely labeled it, has had a similar experience. Yes, a ping pong table and dart board would be great fun for socializing/entertaining, but a treadmill and weights can be fun too! Group run? No? Maybe I could open up a private spin studio ... might be enough room for three bikes.

It is amazing how fit fanatics think ...

Fresh New Fit: Blow-Dry Bars

By: Cool J

The day has finally arrived- Minneapolis has a blow-dry bar!



Actually, in a few weeks, we'll have two blow-dry bars.
But as of Monday, the Blast Dry Bar opened  at the Shoppes at the West End!
(The WOW Bar opens in a few weeks in Edina)



Something about having a professional style my hair looks 100 times better than when I style it myself, and it lasts so much longer as well. I have usually booked blowouts at Spalon Montage for special occasions (weddings, etc), where they run between $40-$50. But Blast and WOW specialize in JUST blow-outs. They do them quickly, efficiently, and for only $35/pop!



Since Monday was the opening day at Blast, a blow-dry was only $17! I figured it was worth a shot, so I booked one to prep for another "Share Our Strength HotList" event, (where I wore the bold Rachey Roy dress that I received in April from the Fashion Swap)

The facility was very chic, with all white decor. I was offered cucumber water and a cupcake, as well as an Ipad to select my "style" from a number of options (I chose the "Flirt") and then I could watch movies during the service.

I loved that they offered you several different styles (as I mentioned, I went with the "flirt":

the blåst - our signature blowout   Smooth, body & a touch of curl at the ends … just like you … it's Minnesota nice meets sexy confidence.

the skinny - super sleek & straight Here’s the skinny … no way is sleek & sexy just for the coasts.

the glam - big time curls Luscious curls for luscious girls.

the bombshell - bodacious body Classic bombshell waves with voluptuous volume is always in style and always in demand.

the boho - bohemian waves Twist & shout … this is our fresh twist on bohemian chic. It’s cool, hip & feminine.

the flirt - flirty & bouncy Good luck boys … looks like you will be picking up the check tonight for you are merely a humble slave to this flirty style.

the surfer girl - beachy keen waves Surf's up! look like you let your hair dry on the beach. You will have heads turning from the shores of Lake Minnetonka to the sands of White Bear Lake.

the shortie - short on length … long on fun Hey short stuff! Loose waves make your style pop.

the uptown - updo u Take it up a notch! Choose the updo that suits you always elegant … add a little spice if you like … $60 & $75

the braid - for your inner Cindy Braidy … whoops … Brady $10. Don't be afraid to add a braid.

 

Since it was their first day, and it was a Monday, it was quite quiet in the salon, but they said that they are booked pretty solid on the upcoming weekends.

My one complaint was that the style took a little longer than I expected. I thought it would only be 30 min- 45 minutes, but it took over an hour. I have also heard that the Juut Academy in uptown offers blowouts for just $15, which seems more reasonable for a more frequent style.

My style icon Kate Middleton gets a blow-out twice a week! And she has AMAZING hair….Now we know her secret!

To check out a professional review of Blast, read this blog- and whaddya know, there I am in the picture- the sole customer on opening day!

http://blogs.mspmag.com/alishops/2012/06/26/first-impressions-blast-blow-dry-bar/

Fundamental Fit: Bathroom squats?

By: LL
As I previously mentioned, due to our relocation back to the Midwest, I started a new job this past April. You know how it is when you start a new job - there is the learning period where you absorb the rules and polices and try to establish your patterns. That has been me these last two months. I've had to adjust my routines to accommodate my new commute and work schedule. My fitness routine has been the main thing to change. My previous job allowed me a flexible schedule (in by 7 and out by 4) and my commute was a mere ten minutes.

I quickly was able to set up a new "outside of work" fitness plan (even though it will be changing soon as I start my 1/2 marathon training next weekend), but it is my "at work" fitness that I am still working on - I'm referring to the simple physical activities that help keep me awake and counteract the fact that I am sitting at my desk most of the day (and will soon require high, flat ass jeans ... cue the SNL song: "Mom jeans, mom jeans, put on your mom jeans, with an applique vest").

My PA started slowly with a few leg lefts and abdominal squeezes at my desk, followed by once per hour laps around the building. It has escalated to squats in the bathroom stall and sprints up the three flights of stairs to my department. See, no one is that active work, except for my "four-pack" partner who also walks periodic laps. I try hard not to seem creepy. (There is nothing creepy about bathroom squats!)

{courtesy of www.kalisthenixfitnessblog.com}

Luckily, when driving back from a client meeting the other day, I stumbled across a small park tucked away near the office. It has a baseball field, a few pieces of playground equipment, but most importantly, a track that is 75% shaded by trees. Score! In the most recent weeks, this has become my lunch-time escape. I pack a simple pair of comfortable flats and spend 30-45 minutes walking around the track. One day, I was super ambitious and tried to do a 30 minute run. Bad idea! My work does not have a shower, so I went back to work sweaty and uncomfortable sitting in the cold A/C the rest of the day.

Point of this account - it might seem difficult or creepy (okay, maybe squats in the stall are creepy), but it is so important to find little ways to be active throughout the work day - especially if your job is a lot of sitting at the desk (you don't want to develop chair ass).

Fresh New Fit: Stand Up Paddle Boarding

By Cool J

“We’re heading up north this weekend”

Such a stereotypical Minnesota statement, especially in the summer.

Or a Wisconsin statement too!

My family grew up going to my aunt and uncle’s cabin “up north”, and now in my married years, my husband and I are often heading to his family’s “cabin” in northern Wisconsin.

Growing up, the D-man’s dad was adamant about no motorized recreational “toys” at their cabin. This meant no jet skis, no motorboats, etc. The D-man often resented this rule as a child, yet he has come to appreciate the quietness provided by this restriction. With no public access to the lake, we are often the only ones on it, so you can’t help but relax while listening to the loons or observing a bald eagle high on a tree.

Paddleboards seemed like the perfect addition to our type of cabin weekend. We had tried paddle boarding once in Hawaii on the Big Island (MUCH harder than on the lakes) and enjoyed it quite a bit. With the proximity of the lakes to our house in the city, we also felt that we would utilize the boards on the weekends at home as well.

Part of our attraction to this activity was the thrill of getting out on the water and exploring nature. But we didn't overlook this sport’s benefits as a healthy, safe form of exercise. We all get tired of spending hours indoors at the gym, and are often looking for a change in routine. Why not head out to a nearby lake or river to give your body a great workout?

From my research, it appears that for an average person, recreational paddling can burn up to 225 calories in an hour.  However, once you really get going, you can burn 500 calories in an hour. Should you start racing, you’re looking at a calorie burn of around 850 calories an hour – that’s similar to long-distance running, but without the stress on joints.

And beginners, you should not be intimidated! Stand-up paddle boarding is not nearly as complicated as surfing (I've tried both, and surfing was a bit of a "failed fit" for me!) Most paddlers can get up and going in less than an hour.

Once they do, it won't be long before they start seeing the benefits of their labor. Stand-up paddlers strengthen the core, and your balance will also improve. You are using all of the intrinsic stabilizing muscles that aid you in your balance . . . muscles that usually get neglected in the traditional time at the gym.

How to Do it:
The main thing that stand up paddle boarding requires is good balance. The board itself is generally larger, wider, and thicker than a surf board with one or more fins on the bottom. As a beginner, you start by kneeling on the board and beginning to paddle moving into an upright kneeling position. 

Then, when you are ready, you stand up with your feet in the same wide, evenly spaced stance and feet parallel position that your knees were in. You want your position on the board to be with your weight centered on the board.

(Matilda watches patiently for me on the dock)

And then you paddle. That's it. It doesn't sound like much, and to watch someone do it, it doesn't look like much, but the secret is in what is going on with your body.The work behind SUP is all isometric and resistance. 

Your legs and your core muscles are working at all times to keep you balanced on your board. Every time you paddle, not only are your arms and back working to move the paddle against the resistance of the water, your legs and core muscles all work to counteract the resistance and hold your body upright against the movement of the board. The fact is, it really doesn't feel like that much work, but your body is busy! And yet the experience is calm and relaxing, gets you outside and into nature.


And if you're interested in an additional challenge, try letting your pup hop on the board!