Stride Stretcher-Claims

1. A stride and leg stretching system for enabling stretching of a user’s musculo-skeletal system generally at or below the user’s hips, said stride and leg stretching system comprising:a foot-engaging portion for securely engaging a foot, said foot-engaging portion having a front side, a rear side, a left side, and a right side, said foot-engaging portion being detachably attachable to a foot, said foot-engaging portion having a sole adapted to prevent a foot from bending while providing freedom of articulation for the ankle joint, said sole having a lower side for engaging the ground and an upper side for engaging a foot, said sole of resilient material sufficient to support a person’s weight and to provide pedal support for said person’s footsaid lower side of said sole having at least one side of a hook and loop fastener pair exposed thereon, said sole adapted to provide easier adjustment for various size feet via said at least one side of a hook and loop fastener pair;said sole being approximately three-sixteenth inch thick, being approximately ten inches long, having a front width of approximately four and five-eighths inch, and having a rear heel insert area of approximately three inches;said sole having said left side and said right side raised approximately one inch in height tapering to approximately two inches in height at approximately said heel insert area;said foot-engaging portion further having a harness coupled to said sole and adapted to detachably engage a foot to hold said sole on said foot, said harness further having a rear ankle strap and a front securing strap with said rear ankle strap adapted to secure an ankle upon a heel portion of said sole and said front securing strap adapted to secure a front part of a foot upon a front of said sole;said rear ankle strap approximately two inches wide, approximately thirteen inches long and approximately three-eights inches thick and constructed of soft, pliable material;said front securing strap approximately two inches wide and approximately twelve inches in length;a manual-engagement strap for manual engagement by a person wearing said foot-engaging portion, said manual engagement strap attached on a first side to said left side of said foot-engaging portion and attached on a second side to said right side of said foot-engaging portion said manual-engagement strap including soft, pliable woven material,said manual engagement strap being approximately six feet in length, being approximately one and one-half inches in width, and being approximately one-sixteenth inch in thickness;said manual engagement strap defining a hand insert;said hand insert having a first opening approximately eighteen inches from a point of attachment of said manual engagement strap with said foot-engaging portion, said hand insert being approximately five inches long and having approximately four loops adapted for engagement by a hand, each of said loops separated by approximately two inches whereby a user may use a hand to articulate said manual engagement strap and said foot-engaging portion;a removable handle adapted for engaging an opening in said manual-engagement strap, said removable handle enabling better manual engagement of said manual-engagement strap and resulting flexible articulation of the person’s foot;said removable handle further having a hook portion for removably engaging said manual-engagement strap and a handle portion coupled to said hook portion, said handle portion adapted for manual engagement and controlling tension on said hook portion; whereby a person may attach said foot-engaging portion to his foot and subsequently stretch his stride and/or leg associated with his foot by manipulating and engaging said manual-engagement strap either manually or with said removable handle.

More to Follow.

The Road Now

[Via http://stridestretcher.wordpress.com]

New Year's Resolutions and Goals!

Happy New Year to everyone!  As we jump into 2010, we often set “New Year Resolutions” in January, with our goals usually falling into the following categories:

*Lose Weight

*Start Exercising

*Stop Smoking

*Continue with your formal Education

*Get a better paying job

*Spend more time with our families

 

If you find that your goals fall into any of the above categories, this blog can definitely help you to get and stay motivated!

 

In order to lose that 10,20, 50 or 100 pounds you have to first have a plan of action.  Your plan of action (POA) can be written in the following format:

 

1. What is/are my goal(s)?  If you don’t define what your goals are, how will you track your success?  For example, if you goal is to lose “some” weight, some is anywhere between 1/8 of a pound and 1,000lbs.  Know what you want and go for it!                                                                    

2. Why is this a goal? This may seem like a silly question, but it’s very important.  Are your goals yours, someone else, or what you perceive you should want?                                              

3. Are my goal(s) realistic? If you goal is to lose 30lbs in 1 month, or to start exercising 6-7 days a week, when you’ve previously never exercised, you could be setting yourself up for a big disappointment. Hiring a Certified Personal Trainer can help you get started or to get you back on track!

4. What am I willing to do to achieve my goals? Are you willing to change your dietary habits? Are you willing to write down your daily food intake? Are you willing to ask and or seek assistance?  

5. What tools do I need to achieve my goals? Do I need a new pair of walking/running shoes? Do you have a workout buddy? A Personal Trainer? What exercises should I do?  Sitting down to write what you need to achieve your goals will help you to get started.

6. Who is part of my support system? It’s important to surround yourself with positive people who will encourage you on to success. 

7. How long will it take to achieve my goals? Start off making small changes that will make a big difference down the road.  Remember, if weight loss/fat loss is a goal, you never want to lose more than 2 pounds a week.  Any weight loss more than that will usually be water, and your precious lean muscle.  Log on to www.MyTaylormadefitness.com or email me at tmfitnes@pacbell.net to get more information on our Personal Training and Nutrition Programs. 

 

Take the time to look back on 2009 with fondness not anger and remember that everything happened for a reason.  It’s what we choose to do with what happend  that can make the biggest difference.

 

Have a healthy, happy, fit and wonderful new year.  Email or call me for your 2010 fitness support!

 

Fitfully yours,

 

Lisa

Taylor Made Fitness

619.987.9691 cell/text

tmfitnes@pacbell.net

www.MyTayorMadeFitness.com

[Via http://obtrainerlisa.wordpress.com]

Resolution Time...

So I’m keeping my resolution semi cliche’ this year. Going for 10-15 lbs to lose and being HEALTHIER overall (i.e. making healthier food choices etc).

2010 here I come…

So far, have the Cherry Blossom 10-miler on my list. What other athletic journey should I embark on… perhaps another marathon by the end of 2010? That’ll put me up to 3 marathons! Sounds like a good number to me…

I will consult with runwashington.com and come back with a more specific racing goal! Now as I write this, I’d like to challenge myself to running a faster 5k and 10k. I’m fully capable of getting myself in shape, perhaps I need a coach… hmmm……

In a few hours my dear gentleman friend and I are going snowboarding for 3 days in a row in the beautiful Seven Springs Resort in PA, about an hour SE of Pittsburgh. Hopefully I won’t come back too sore seeing that I worked out for 2 hours today after taking a 3-week hiatus. Another resolution – go to lifetime fitness gym more often!! I pay so much as it is… the gym is beautiful

Thanks for taking the time to read and I hope you have a successful and joyful 2010 <3  

[Via http://verysheri.wordpress.com]

who asked you?

Unsolicited advice at the gym is just that…UNSOLICITED!  I don’t need a fellow gym-goer telling me how to work out.  That’s what a trainer’s for.  I get it…you’re trying to be nice.  But if I wanted your opinion, I’d ask.  Only I didn’t ask!  When I go to the gym, I want to be left in peace.  It’s my alone time, when I like to relax, listen to music, and not think about anything or anyone.  Unless my arms has fallen off and is lying next to my machine, do not approach me with your fitness “expertise.”

Thank you.  That is all.

~neen

ps:  Just for the record, I’m not some imbecile that doesn’t know how to use the machines properly.  I’ve been working out for years and do, in fact, have a trainer whose advice I value.

[Via http://nycneen.wordpress.com]

Aerobic Exercise and Good Health.

When Jane Fonda’s aerobic exercise cassettes hit the market 3 decades ago the whole world got to know about aerobics and how to lose weight fast. Least did we realize that aerobics is nothing but simple exercises that help the heart rate to hasten, helping in reduction of fat. Whether you take a stroll at the malls or walk on the beach or cycling to work. Aerobics helps one and all to lose weight and keep fit. Here are 4 exercises that’ll sure help you to lose weight fast.If you want to do an easy workout, then avoid these. These will have you panting for air… big time. Here’s how you do them. Just squat up and down as fast as possible. Two key things to remember… keep your back as straight as possible and touch or swipe your finger tips on the floor during each repetition. By touching your finger tips to the floor you know you aren’t cheating the movement and you’re going down all the way.

The more muscles that move during a workout, the higher the chances of expending more calories. Since aerobic exercises employ most large groups of muscles in the body, it is likely that you can create the suitable environment for losing more fats. Take low-paced jogging for example. Because virtually all lower body muscles and some upper body muscles are used through jogging, a person who does this workout can expend around 300 calories within 30 minutes. This number of calories slashes off significant amounts of fat in your body. Coupled with other exercises that are more demanding, you can actually use up more calories than you take in.

The key to an aerobics workout is to get your heart rate elevated at least 20 minutes, with warm-up and cool-down time of 5 minutes on either side of the workout. In order for the household activities to have aerobic value, then, they must keep your body in constant motion for 30 minutes. This requires some planning but there really are enough household duties to get the job done. In fact, if you develop the habit of doing these things aerobically you may actually gain extra time because of the much faster pace. Plan your aerobic exercises (chores) so you’re doing them for 30 minutes, 3-4 days per week. To make it more fun and easier to keep active you can play some upbeat music while you’re doing you’re housework aerobics.Aerobic exercises are the most common exercises that many people start when looking to lose weight, and there is a good reason why for this. Aerobic type of exercises can be very beneficial in helping you give your entire body a workout, and most importantly exercising your heart and lungs for better and improved health. Understanding the benefits of aerobic exercise will help you see why you should start doing aerobics if you are looking to improve your level of physical fitness or lose weight efficiently.

For exercise to be truly considered cardio, it should consist of steady-state activity which uses large muscle groups in a rhythmical manner and elevates your heart rate to somewhere between 60-90% of your maximum heart rate. Generally, activities such as jogging, running, power walking, cycling, swimming, group exercise classes, rowing, and using a skipping rope are the mainstay of aerobic activities but ultimately, any activity which significantly elevates the heart rate for an extended period of time can be considered aerobic training.To be honest, the modality used makes very little difference and you should choose the one you like most/dislike least!

Visit for more useful information on aerobic exercises and eye exercises also butt exercises .

[Via http://anneyshine.wordpress.com]

Lincolnwood Turkey Trot 5K - November 22, 2009

Workout #44

Most turkey trots happen on Thanksgiving Day, but luckily there are a few that happen the weekend before so that all of us who might be bogged down in holiday plans are still able to share in the fun. 

I love this time of year, and Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  Anything remotely related to Thanksgiving is ok in my book, so today I participated in the Lincolnwood Turkey Trot 5 and 10K run.  I chose the shorter distance because I am also in Half-Marathon Training with Chicago Endurance Sports, and one of our long runs was schedule for the day before this trot.   

It was the perfect temperature outside for an event like this; the sun was shining, the breeze was light, the temperature was cool, but not frigid like last year, and there was no snow or moisture on the ground.  The starting horn blew at exactly 8:45am, and I felt excited to get going.  Each race like this always starts out the same way:  I get no sleep the night before, I’m excited and smug in the beginning, saying things like “Oh, it’s only 3.1 miles, no biggie,” and then when the horn blows and the realization sinks in I spend the whole first mile cursing my existence and wondering why the heck I’m torturing myself like this.  Sure, it’s “only” 3.1 miles, but I still have to run them. 

By the time the second mile starts I find that I am in a comfortable groove and starting to relax, and that’s when I can look around and enjoy myself.  Invariably there are always people along the side either cheering on runners they know, or cheering for people just because, or simply looking on with curiosity.  All of these people are important to runners because we each have some sort of sense of certainty that any one of them would probably call 911 if we had a grabber right in front of them, and there’s comfort in that knowledge.  Sometimes they bring snacks too, and that’s just as good.  There is also that unique class of volunteer along the route that isn’t there to block traffic for you, or hand out water, or direct you around the correct corner, but one who simply came to yell encouragement to you even though there’s no possible way you could win this race, or any other for that matter.   God bless those people for being them!

Without too much drama, I near the third mile and decide to sprint the last bit of distance into the finishing chute.  My normal time for a 5K race is somewhere around 36 minutes (yes, I’m quite slow due to asthma), but today I was feeling especially light and cheerful, so my time is going to be close to three minutes faster than the regular pace.  I did not win the race, but having a good run can be just as satisfying.

[Via http://heykb.wordpress.com]

A Very Foodie McBody Christmas

I had a great Christmas. It was one of the nicest Christmases I can actually ever remember. Even though I was out shopping late Christmas Eve, something I swore I would not do, I was still in good spirits throughout.

Foodwise, I had a pretty decadent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I am certainly up a few pounds. But that’s really the end of it. (I am so relieved!) I don’t have any big plans for New Years’ Eve, and I don’t celebrate Boxing Day. I don’t even know what Boxing Day is. I guess I could look it up. Okay, so they say it’s a day of “cold buffet” (ie., leftovers?!) and parlour games.  That just seems… um, obvious?

On Christmas Eve, we went to our neighbors’ house for their traditional jumbo breaded fried shrimp and cookie and champagne fest. Ah, it was so good. I had two champagne cocktails, about 4-5 giant shrimp and about five cookies. Which I can tell you is a fraction of what I ate last year, and previous years. I enjoyed every bite of those things, and I felt full but not painful when I left.

Yesterday we had ham, turkey, some incredibly decadent scalloped potatoes, creamed spinach.  All of it (except the scalloped potatoes) we got from the Honeybaked Ham store. Now I know that HB ham is probably not the most nutritious thing on earth. I know it’s all injected with glucose and salt and chemicals and stuff. Do I care? Hmm. Last year and before, I’d say probably not. But for me, Christmas dinner has to be all about EASE. I can’t cope with shopping, cleaning, wrapping etc AND cooking some multi-day meal. Maybe if I lived near a bunch of relatives where everyone makes a dish. But it’s pretty much all on me so it has to be easy.

Our easy Christmas morning breakfast is traditionally those giant Pillsbury cinnamon rolls, yeah the Cinnabon kind. We wake up, make the giant rolls, then open presents. It’s that typical Christmas morning smell. It’s also.. yeah, easy. But I felt kinda sick after my roll yesterday and felt like, I wish I’d made a nice caramelized onion frittata or something else proteinish for breakfast. Again, no time. Next year I might consider tweaking this particular tradition. Or maybe not. Hey, it’s just ONE DAY. I don’t need to eat another Cinnabon for another year.

I got some fabulous presents this year. Some of the best ever. One was a BodyBugg, which I have been desiring ever since I started watching Biggest Loser. I am very excited about really knowing the calories I’m burning. I have not quite figured it all out yet. I was hoping to get it rolling this morning but I’m still having some technical difficulties. So I’m gonna have to wait until tech support is on hand, probably Monday.

I also received a panini press, which I have been wanting for eons. I am so excited about this. I love warm sandwiches. I love grilled cheese. The great thing about this is that it makes warm sandwiches without having butter all over the bread, which is a huge calorie saver. And I can also use the great thin low-point bread. So it’s all good! We had some leftover ham-and-cheese paninis just now and they were amazing. I’m excited that you can also grill meats (like chicken breasts!) and veggies (like eggplant!) on this machine. I am jazzed, baby.

Santa also brought our family an ice cream machine. I admit this is not exactly a WW endorsed product (HA) but I am feeling happy and confident. Just because we have an ice cream machine does not mean we are going to be eating ice cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But right now there is some homemade vanilla churning away and I am excited.

One of the gifts I gave myself yesterday is that I registered for the Kaiser Permanent Half Marathon in Golden Gate Park on February 7th. A friend of mine is having a Big Birthday that day and she asked for friends to join her in this event.  What a great way to celebrate, right? I am not at all sure my ankle will be able to put up with much running but I’ve decided to racewalk most of it and jog a little if I can.

Last night we watched Julie and Julia on DVD. I love that movie so much. A feature film about a blogger! A food blogger! That alone made me so happy. As did all the food. And best of all the beautiful relationships between the women and their supportive husbands. It made me laugh and cry.

So it was a great Christmas, one of the best ever. It’s the day after, and I am not awash in regret and self-loathing. I’m quite happy. And now I’m going to the gym!! Hope you all had a great holiday. oxoxo

[Via http://foodfoodbodybody.wordpress.com]