Running is fun!

I started running almost 2 years ago and it's become such a huge part of my life.  I absolutely love it!  I constantly try to get people to join me for runs and I've heard every excuse in the book. 

So if you're one of those people who make excuses for working out, running, being active, etc, etc, check out the following artilce.  Hopefully it'll encourage you to get started, which we all know is the hardest part. 

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/03/28/2179304/running-out-of-excuses.html


Ps-If anyone wants to get out for a run, let me know.  I could always use more running partners! =)

Rachelle

Stretching Pictures!

Below are some suggested stretches you should do before playing volleyball in order to help prevent injury.

The Importance Of Stretching

Before and after physical activity it is very important to do some stretching. Stretching will greatly reduce the risk of injury by helping prepare the body for the activity you are about to do.

Volleyball is very hard on your legs with all the shuffling and jumping and it is not uncommon for ankle injuries to be a frequent occurence.

Before games it is vital for players to stretch out their legs completely. This will lead to safer, and better volleyball games :)

Stay tuned for the examlpe pictures of some basic stretches that you can do.

Busted !

So if I hadn’t been doing badly enough in my bracket (3^rd last), last night my fate was sealed. My number 1 pick to win it all, Duke, was eliminated last night against Arizona. They were pretty much my last chance at placing in the top 5 in our Victory pool since 2 of my final four were already out. I even entered in the 2^nd chance pool to try to redeem myself in another bracket. I kept my top pick as Duke in that one as well though so this morning, I am 3^rd from last in both pools. Not sure how I managed to do so terribly in both pools, but I’ve learned that March Madness brackets are not for me. I guess it serves me right for picking a bracket name in any way associated with Charlie Sheen. He is clearly not ‘winning’ and I will not even come close in this pool.  

March MADNESS

Never having joined in the on the “March Madness” that is the NCAA tournament, I didn’t know what I was in for. Rachelle suggested we make a Victory pool and open it up to anyone interested for a chance to win a years worth of volleyball registration. I know nothing about America College Basketball so I figured I would just pick teams that I recognized and cities that I like J. I never realized how into it and obsessed I would become until the first games started yesterday. I was constantly checking scores, filling in the bracket results and looking at the standings. I started off well and by a few games in, I was in first place. This made me even more excited and I was telling everyone around me how well I was doing. An hour later, I was in 7^th place. On the first couple days, I’ve learned there are so many games that you can move from first to last in a matter of minutes. Now I am eagerly (and impatiently) anticipating the start of the next round of games to start.  Maybe next year, I’ll base my choices a bit more on research and notsomuch on the cities I like (ahem, Northern Colorado). I’m still rooting for Duke to win it all though! GO DUKE!

PS You can follow our progress here http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1/group/131599

Eating Healthy Tip #1

As the warm weather approaches we are all focused on getting our beach bodies in order. For some people this means avoid carbs like the plague.

This is definately not necessary or healthy for anybody.

When you eat carbs your body breaks it down into glucose (which is used for energy) and stores excess as glycogen. Once your glycogen levels are full, then the body stores the carbs as fat. When you exercise (or participate in any physical activity), your body uses the glyocgen stored in the muscles as an energy source.

Without getting too complicated here, the bottom line is that carbs are not bad. Your body needs them and uses them as a fuel source.

Obviously more active people use up more glycogen and therefore can eat more carbs without gaining the fat that people automatically assume carbs give you.

If you are not as active, you do not have to not eat carbs, because it is near impossible. You just have to be smart and limit your carb intake.

Quick Tips:
- Eat good carbs (fruits, vegetables, whole grains... lots of them out there do a quick search)
- Eat carb heavy meals pre workout or post workout in order to not let the carbs store in the body
- If you do want to limit carbs you should eat majority in the morning so that your body has fuel for the day.
- Don't eat less than 2 hours before bed

The great debate

After moving to a new city and beginning my placement here a Victory, I was debating between getting a  gym membership and joining  a yoga studio as far as exercise for the winter.  I really enjoy yoga, and find that it relaxes and calms me and also gives me a great workout. I was one of those naysayers not too long ago who argued that when I work out I like to sweat and feel like I’m actually getting fit. Now I realize that people who say that haven’t actually experienced yoga firsthand at a studio. I joined a great studio in Barrie where the owner was a former Olympic athlete and runner. I also run so I figured I would give it a shot and see what it was like. I really enjoyed it and was definitely sweating by the end. While I like to run outside, it’s tough in the winter months so I would rather do yoga in the winter and run occasionally than just join a gym where I don’t particularly enjoy running on a treadmill and don’t find the yoga classes as good. While debating between the two, I received an email for a deal of the day thing I registered for. It happened to be a great offer for classes at a yoga studio about 10 minutes from my new place. I took this as a sign that I was supposed to do this instead of the getting a gym membership. The site I found it on was www.livingsocial.com.

Wish me luck!
Meghan