Testing Skechers Shape-Ups

As promised, I bought a pair of Women's Skechers Shape-Ups, and I have been trying them out for the past two weeks. One of the things I like most about Skechers as a brand is their consistency; their size 7 sneakers always fit my wide feet. However, Shape-Ups tend to run large so I don't recommend buying them online like I did. Right now, I have to wear thick cotton socks and tie the shoelaces tight to ensure that the shoes don't slip off. I would have exchanged them, but my right foot is slightly bigger than my left foot so going down a half size probably would not have worked for both feet.

Aside from fit, Shape-Ups are comfortable. You can tell by looking at the picture just how much cushion there is underneath the sole of your foot. My high arches are so well protected that I don't need to insert an additional innersole.

Walking in Shape-Ups requires some learning, and each pair comes with a mini-booklet and a DVD that explains how to walk in this innovative tennis shoe. I don't have any problems walking forward, but when I stand, my feet sometimes wobble from side to side. Shape-Ups will force you to work on your balance, and if you have a tendency to pronate, you will need to make an extra effort to center your weight in these shoes.

Initially, I couldn't tell much of a difference when I exercised in my Shape-Ups, but yesterday I put them to the test. During a "Learning to Love LA (again)" day, I walked 4.95 miles in my Shape-Ups, as I enjoyed the sites of downtown Los Angeles and the Museum of Contemporary Art's latest exhibition. I wore my Shape-Ups for seven solid hours, and by mid-day, my feet were sore even though the terrain was mostly flat. Last night, my inner thighs were burning. I can only contribute the pain to the Skechers because I know walking in regular tennis shoes would not have caused it. While they may not be able to do everything that they claim, Shape-Ups are shaping up to be my new favorite walking shoes.

AWW – XoXo

P.S. According to my research, the only difference among the Skechers Shape-Ups is style, not construction. I own the Fitness Junkie Sneakers Silver/White.

Testing Skechers Shape-Ups

Prep Part 2—Legs and Back Can Bite Me

Although my official EMAO plan doesn't begin until Monday, I decided to work out yesterday. I chose to do the P90X Legs and Back routine. Keep in mind that I haven't exercised in almost two weeks; yet, I selected a difficult, one-hour, killer leg and back workout that includes pull-ups, weights, and too many lunges to count. I also wore my new Skechers Shape-Ups to see how they felt.


Outcome: What the hell was I thinking? Seriously, I burned 384 calories, stayed in my target heart zone for 50 out of the 60 minutes of the workout, and at one point, my heart rate hit 171bpm (i.e., too high). I accomplished all of this misery by exercising in my living room, using little equipment, and avoiding my large dog (accidentally kicked him one time though). I recorded some of the exercises in the Fitlink widget located on my sidebar, but you cannot customize it so it is not indicative of everything I did yesterday. Maybe I should reconsider this crazy idea ...

Legs and Back Workout Results:

• 60 minutes, 50 minutes in target zone
• Average heart rate: 141bpm
• 384 calories burned
• Soreness factor: 7 (1 – 10, 10 meaning I cannot walk the next day)
• Body parts that snapped, cracked or popped: hips, knees, ankles, elbows

AWW – XoXo

P.S. I'm still drinking that Slimquick stuff so I'll keep you posted. Don't think it's doing much though in terms of "appetite control."

Prep Part 2—Legs and Back Can Bite Me

Screw the Gym

You'll notice from my 10 Tools to Exercise Your Ass Off post that I don't recommend joining a gym. That's because I hate going to the gym. Hate it. I have paid for two gym memberships in my life, and both times, I wasted my money. I cannot get motivated to drive somewhere else to exercise when I can do it in my own home. Here are my reasons for saying screw the gym. I don't like:

• Waiting for equipment—what a waste of time
• Dealing with ogling men when I'm hot, sweaty, and gross—go away already!
• Driving to the gym, trying to find parking, and then walking a few blocks—more time wasted
• Showering in a strange environment—I need my loofah and personal bath products, thank you very much

I acknowledge that it takes time to acquire the necessary equipment, but in the end, I have saved more money by working out at home. Of course, where you choose to exercise depends on your situation. However, I know a single mother who lost 15 pounds while she kept an eye on her toddler. She couldn't afford a babysitter or a gym membership so she bought some free weights and a jump rope. She exercised five hours per week (i.e., one hour per day) while her daughter watched her favorite show on television. Although she complained at first, her daughter became used to the sound of mommy's rope in the background. I think this mother's exercise plan was ingenious, and more importantly, she lost weight.

While I do not have a child, I contend with a stubborn 185-pound Mastiff who doesn't appreciate it when I work out near his dinnertime, but he would rather have me at home than away at the gym. He often blocks my path, but I work around him. Besides, he knows when I say, "I'm almost finished" that his dinner is on its way!

AWW – XoXo
 

Screw the Gym

10 Tools to Exercise Your Ass Off

Before I go any further in this experiment, I should state that I am not a fitness expert despite seventeen years of dancing (i.e., ballet), six marathon completions, and a few years of teaching P.E., drill team, and dance. I am not a certified nutritionist or personal trainer; I only know what works for me. Therefore, in my humble opinion, here are 10 tools that every woman needs to exercise her ass off:

1. Set a goal—It doesn't matter what your goal is ... drop weight, lose inches, finish a marathon, fit into your favorite jeans, or look fabulous for your 20-year high school reunion, having a goal is crucial to sticking to any workout routine. I admire my husband because he works out practically every day without any specific long-term objective beyond staying in shape. Honestly, I need a more substantial goal than maintaining my appearance!
   
2. Lift free weights—I never appreciated the value of weight training until I hit my thirties. Since I prefer to be toned rather than overly muscular, I opt for light weights: 3lbs, 5lbs, and 8lbs with lots of repetition (i.e., 12 – 15 curls per set). Don't spend a lot of money on weights; the pretty ones will not do the lifting for you.
   
3. Pull resistance bands—Often used in yoga, resistance bands are a terrific alternative to weights. Depending on the exercise, I will use bands in lieu of weights especially if 8lbs is not challenging me. I like the Beachbody B-line kit; it comes with three sets of bands that provide 15 – 30 pounds of resistance. I'll let you know if I ever break out the 30-pound bands!
4. Squeeze a ball—Made by Beachbody, the Squishy Ball will complement your abdominal workout. Honestly, I never felt my abs work until I tried doing crunches while squeezing the ball with my thighs. Initially, I avoided buying the ball, but it's so cheap on Ebay—just do it.
5. Balance with a Yoga Block—I waited to buy a yoga block because I thought I didn't need one. Yoga blocks, however, are good for people who think they cannot do certain yoga poses because they are not flexible or in my case, not as flexible as they used to be. Yep, I had to lose the ego and buy a block from my local Sports Chalet.
6. Monitor your heart—When you are doing cardio exercise, it's imperative to know if you are in your fat-burning zone. Since I used to have a heart condition due to Grave's Disease, it's important for me to make sure that my heart rate does not exceed 165bpm. I recommend the Polar Heart Monitor; it is simple to use and reasonably priced on Amazon.
7. Walk in Skechers Shape-ups—I haven't actually walked in my Shape-ups yet, but they should arrive any day now. After reading many positive reviews and hearing some stories from friends, I had to buy a pair. I justified spending the money by telling myself that Skechers are one of the few brands of tennis shoes that fit my wide feet perfectly, and that my current athletic shoes have been through more than one marathon so they're toast. I'll keep you posted on the Shape-ups.
8. Strengthen with P90X—I first saw this program on a late-night infomercial. If I had known that it wasn't for beginners, I probably wouldn't have ordered it from Ebay, but I'm glad I did. The workouts may be tough, but the variety makes the challenge worth it. The one thing I hated about training for marathons was the tedious daily workout on the treadmill, but P90X is never dull. With resistance/weight training, yoga, cardio, and kenpo (think karate), you feel like you are becoming stronger by the minute. *
9. Dance with Yoga Booty Ballet—I was very skeptical about Yoga Booty Ballet (YBB), but the dance routines looked like too much fun. I also needed a break from the grueling P90X workouts. There are few ballet moves in YBB, but Teigh and Gillian make up for it with high energy dances (i.e., cardio) followed by yoga. Moreover, YBB has the best ab workout ever! *
10. Take vitamins daily—You should check with your physician before adding any supplements to your diet, but most women do not get enough calcium, and many women lack sufficient vitamin D (your doctor can run a test) in their diets. If you suffer from arthritis like I do, I also recommend glucosamine. In addition, I take a multi-vitamin, which contains iron and the vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, and C, fish oil supplements, and acidophilus to aid with my digestion. 

Now you know what 10 tools I plan to use in order to Exercise My Ass Off. You'll notice that I never mentioned going to the gym. I'll tackle that subject in my next post.

AWW – XoXo

* P90X and YBB are exercise programs that I like, but as long as you find or develop a workout that balances aerobic (e.g., walking, running, cardio routines), anaerobic (e.g., strength/resistance training, weight lifting), and flexibility (e.g., yoga, pilates, stretch) activities, you will meet or even exceed your exercise goal!

10 Tools to Exercise Your Ass Off