About this column:
Editor Aiyana Baida writes about fitness and healthy living. She interviews local health experts who share their advice each week for wellness and better living in Largo.I don’t know about you, but when the sun is shining the last thing I want to do is workout in a gym. Running on a treadmill or mindlessly cycling on a bike while the mid-day soaps are on television will undeniably set me back on a binge or on a fitness strike. On hot summer days like today I crave outdoor fitness routines. They’re so much fun and I hardly feel like I’m working out. In my search for creative ways to stay in shape I’ve come across these five activities that provide cardio, toning and strengthening while having a blast in our beautiful Florida sunshine. 1. Beach Yoga: Since Hot …
Never again will I walk into a fitness class and think, “this is going to be easy.” Because if history repeats itself, I’m in for another butt kicking. On Monday I walked in to a 45-minute ab class at the Highland Recreation Complex. I was a few minutes late and the instructor Marci Vucich had already started. Five students were standing over their mats warming up, by the looks of things it seemed like an easy class. I was expecting a light workout. And because I like to challenge myself, it even crossed my mind to walk out. But that would’ve been a huge mistake. It wasn’t 10 minutes into …
I found it, finally. It took many calculations, tests and trials but I did it. I found a fitness routine that works for me. It wasn’t an easy task, but one that I was determined to bust, whip and get a handle on. After trying various fitness classes at Largo’s recreation complexes and doing some fitness training on my own, I realized that what I like most about working out is being around other people, who like me, are determined to get in shape and live healthier lives. So I crossed working out alone off my list. It’s no fun. I need to be motivated and perhaps running next to women who look…
It was like any other Saturday, at 8:15 a.m. I was groggy, hitting the snooze button on the alarm clock like it was a piano and hating my blackout curtains for letting the sunshine peek through and hit me in the face. But wait! It wasn’t like any other Saturday. I had a Hot Yoga class to get to, in 15 minutes. This is what being 30 is all about. I have to stick to my commitments. There’s no more, tomorrow, later or one day. I made a New Year’s resolution to live a balanced life and here is where it starts. I felt anxious as I walked toward the room at the other end of the gym and saw the …
Now that 2010 is over, most of us are assessing our activities and deciding our New Year's Resolutions. What did we accomplish? Did we reach our goals? After indulging in holiday feasts and treats, weight loss ranks high on many people's lists. The additional activities and parties can wreck our fitness routines, and we find ourselves a few pounds heavier. What's the best way to get healthier? Make a realistic goal. Sometimes, we're so excited about our new resolution, that we set unattainable goals. If you're sedentary, make a goal to walk three times a week, or for 15-minutes at a time. If …
If you're like me, you probably spent most of the last few months thinking about how 2011 is going to be the year of getting in shape. Here I am, six days into the New Year and I still haven't exercised a bit. I haven't made one step toward fulfilling that New Year's resolution. Not one sit-up, aerobics class or even walk around my block. Nothing, nada, zip. But the city of Largo has come in to give us wannabe-toned people a hand. For the first week of January, classes at both recreation centers are free. The city's Move it to Lose It program allows residents to try out a fitness class for …
Since those tubs of bite-sized candies debuted for Halloween, the end of the year can seem like a continuous season of overindulgence. The holidays are in full swing and your calendar is marked with family dinners, special school assemblies, parties and get-togethers. Trying to squeeze the most out of your 24-hour day may mean knocking some things off your to-do list, like exercise. The holidays can undo many people's fitness goals because additional activities disrupt their regular routine. The stress, anxiety and exhaustion increase as you run from one activity to another. The last day …
