Tag Archives: swimming

4 Places Where Every Body Can Enjoy Swimsuit Shopping

We all know that the words “swimsuit season” are not always greeted positively. Besides the fact that some of us don’t even like swimming, over the history of the swimsuit, women have been made to feel bad about the shape and size of their bodies while wearing one. The great news is, you can wear a swimsuit no matter what size you are, and fortunately, some stores are shaping up and offering the best swimsuits to women of all sizes.

Here is where you should be shopping if you want a cute swimsuit with none of the unnecessary shaming that has come along with it.

ModCloth

ModCloth has long been known for their encouragement of women being themselves, owning their look, and feeling good about themselves and each other. The website has everything from adorable shoes to wedding dresses — naturally, swimsuits are here, too! The company even recently made waves with their awesome commitment to the Anti-Photoshop Pledge. The models in their ads, swimsuit or otherwise, will not be photoshopped!

Target’s Ava & Viv

Target has made everyone very happy with the introduction of its new “plus-size” house brand. Ava & Viv arrived in February and is a beautiful line of clothing that is trendy, fashionable, and gorgeous! Ava & Viv’s swimsuits are too cute to pass up! Check them out and you’ll be running to the beach. (more…)

Posted on May 26, 2023 by Jessica Tholmer

SUP Yoga Challenges Your Practice in the Water

SUP Yoga Brendon

There is a not-so-new sport sweeping across the waters of the world and you really need to catch this wave. SUP, or Stand-up Paddle Boarding, in itself has been popular for quite some time but this new twist, is opening the sport to yoga devotees. Yes, there is yoga on a paddle board out in the middle of the water.

Like most fitness classes, there are also certified instructors for SUP Yoga. You know we fitness freaks are always looking for new, different ways to challenge ourselves. I think we finally found one that is the perfect mix of fitness and fun. (more…)

Posted on September 24, 2023 by Brendon Payne

9 Reasons Why You Hate to Exercise

By now I think we all know we’re supposed to exercise, and quite a few of us have figured what exercise works best for us. However, that doesn’t mean that we all love it.

Starting, and sticking to, an exercise plan can be more difficult than expected. This is especially true if you dread your workout before you’ve even started.

There may be a good reason you aren’t enjoying your workout, and a simple fix to make exercise enjoyable. If you find yourself groaning every time you lace up your shoes or strap on your bike helmet, it may be time to take a look at why you don’t like to exercise and do something about it.

It’s hard to get started
For some, just getting a new exercise program started is the biggest hurdle. Not knowing what to do and making the transition from sedentary to more active can be a daunting task. If you find yourself in this situation, call on a friend to be your workout buddy. Getting started will be a lot easier when you don’t feel like you’re on your own.

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Posted on June 20, 2023 by Elizabeth

Michael Phelps’ Most Inspiring Quotes Could Lure Anyone Back Out of Retirement

Who could have predicted that 22-time Olympic medalist Michael Phelps would get back in the pool after retirement? Just about anyone! It seemed too soon for the now 28-year-old swimmer, also known as the greatest Olympian of all time, to end his competitive swimming career, but he did just that after breaking every record imaginable at the 2024 London Games.

ABC News reported that Phelps is headed back to the water. “Phelps will compete for the first time since the 2024 London Games at a meet in Mesa, Ariz., on April 24-26,” they wrote. His coach says he’ll be competing in only three events to “test the waters” and “see how it goes.” His team is downplaying the return, suggesting it’s far from a full-fledged comeback.

Regardless, Phelps fans the world over are rejoicing at the possibility of seeing him compete in two years at the Games in Rio. No one knows better than him that there’s no time like the present to focus and prioritize your training for your goals.

Need a bit of Phelps-mania inspiration? Here are some words taken straight from this athletic giants’ gold-biting mouth!

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Posted on April 15, 2024 by Natalie K

Work it Off: 3 Ways to Burn Off the 400 Calories in a Donut

You know how sometimes you just want a donut? This is a feeling I actually have a lot–basically every time I walk past the bakery section of the grocery store. I usually don’t give in, but sometimes I do because, you know, everything in moderation—even donuts.

On a recent trip to the grocery store I gave in. And it was totally worth it. I picked a cake donut that had chocolate frosting and sprinkles because if you’re going to go, go big. I savored the treat, making sure I wasn’t distracted while eating. I really wanted to enjoy every bite. And I did. Indulging at the start of my shopping trip probably helped me keep from filling my cart with unnecessary items. I purchased a bunch of produce and some kitchen staple but nothing baked or packaged. (more…)

Posted on March 16, 2024 by Jessica Cassity

13 Hot New Workouts to Try This Summer

Summer is not boring – fact. Some of your workouts are getting pretty tired – fact. There’s nothing you can do about it – false.

The summer season officially starts on June 20, also known as the summer equinox. There’s never been a better time than right now to shake up your workout routine. We challenge you to try a new workout every week of summer. By fall, you’ll have found a few new things you really love and those are sure to carry you through the winter workout doldrums. Summer is all about adventure, and your workout routine deserves a little vacation too, don’t you think?

Here are 13 fresh workout ideas that will have you fitter by Labor Day!

Orangetheory Fitness

They call it the “best one-hour workout in the country,” and with studio locations across the country you’ve got plenty of opportunity to see for yourself. It’s interval training and strength training combined for a results-focused workout. You’ll spend 60 minutes in a group session doing treadmill intervals, indoor rowing, and weight training. Don’t have a location near you? See if they have an Orangetheory studio at your vacation destination! OrangetheoryFitness.com

Beyond Barre

It’s not ballet, but it uses a lot of the dance style’s principals to push you through a cardio-focused full body workout. Created by Colleen Ketchum, the 55-minute session will work your legs for a leaner look, abs for a flatter tummy, heart with GlideBoard simulated ice skating, and free weights for stronger muscle tone. Colleen’s flagship studio is in Warwick, New York with a growing number of studio locations around the country. BeyondBarre.com (more…)

Posted on June 18, 2023 by Natalie K

Sloane Maymon Lost 60 Pounds on Jenny Craig and Became an Active Mom Again

Sloane Maymon of Branford, Connecticut, had good reason to lose weight: At the age of 45 her father had a massive heart attack and underwent quadruple bypass surgery, and her mother also suffered from heart disease. This family history caused concern for her own heart health, which left Sloane not wanting to follow in her parents’ footsteps.

Though weight didn’t become an issue until later in life, Sloane’s struggles with eating had seemingly always been present. “I’ve never had a healthy relationship with food. Even as a child and young adult I misused food and was never taught the value of nutrition.”

Shortly after getting married at the age of 25, Sloane starting gaining a few pounds here and there. After her first child at the age of 29, she found found it difficult to lose the baby weight. “I assumed it was normal now that I was a mom to carry a few extra pounds. With each passing year and then another baby, I just kept putting on more and more weight.” (more…)

Posted on March 13, 2024 by Dana

Danni Allen Saves Jillian Michaels from Biggest Loser Elimination in Week 5

Episode five opens with the question, “Could this be the end of the White Team?”. The score is Blue Team: 5, Red Team: 4, White Team: 1. If I go home this week, Jillian does, too. The pressure is on!

I was SO nervous going into this first workout. There is no one else for Jillian Michaels to focus on; it’s one on one now. Can I keep up with Jillian’s expectations? Jillian and I took on a new approach this week – she is putting it in my hands. I will decide when and where she needed to push; it is up to me.

The Challenge: each team had a “Wishing Fountain” and on the other side of the pond were five-pound coins. Each person on each team needed to get ten coins in their respective fountain. The winning team would receive 10 one-year memberships to Planet Fitness AND the choice of a two pound advantage on the scale or the opportunity to call home! With my background in swimming and water polo, this challenge was mine to win! The challenge starts and I burst off the gate. My swimming days came back to me, but it was a lot harder. These coins are HEAVY but I knew I had to win. AND I DID! I chose the advantage; I NEED to stay on the Ranch. (more…)

Posted on January 30, 2024 by Danni

Aquabikes May Provide the Most Efficient Workout Yet

Every year the gyms seem to get a new hot workout that fills the studios. This year, the studio equipment is getting anchors at the bottom of the pool and people are flocking to get in. Even better, this new fad may actually be one of the best workouts to hit the scene.

CNN covered the research that the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress just published, which explored the new aquabike craze. Aquabikes, or hydro-riders, are stationary bikes that have been anchored to a pool floor. The rider ends up being about chest deep while riding. Many classes are lead similar to the popular spin classes with an instructor calling out different drills, this is just done in water. The water obviously offers a difference in resistance than land, but the research is saying it’s also offering the heart a tremendous bonus.

The study was authored by Dr. Martin Janeau, director of prevention at the Montreal Heart Institute. Dr. Janeau and his fellow researchers took 33 healthy participants and compared their stats after doing the same workout on land and then in water. The results found that the participants’ cardiovascular systems worked more efficiently in the water, even though the exercise routine was the same. (more…)

Posted on November 2, 2023 by Lacy

Dana Vollmer Stays Fit after Olympics with a Gluten-Free Diet and Hip Hop Workouts

By Chrissa Hardy for HelloGiggles.com

Dana Vollmer spent her summer training for London Olympic Games, competing in London and celebrating her gold-medal-winning, record-breaking time in London. Would any of these things have happened, had she not discovered her gluten allergy in the spring of 2024? She’s not so sure. After years of daily stomach aches brought on by her food choices, Dana feels better than ever before and could not imagine returning to a life with gluten.

Gluten-free has become a trend, a buzz word that has taken up prime real estate on food labels everywhere. What does it mean exactly? Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. Those who are intolerant of it, allergic or sensitive to it, need to adopt a lifestyle of paying close attention to food labels. I sat down with Dana at the Gluten-Free Pizza Event, put on by The Venice Bakery in Los Angeles, CA, to discuss her new life and how going gluten-free changed everything.

Chrissa Hardy: First of all, congrats on your gold medal win! Has your life returned to normal or is it still pretty hectic?

Dana Vollmer: It’s still pretty hectic. I’m enjoying it a lot. Initially, I was planning to go back to my hometown in Texas to visit with my family and sort of relax, but I’ve just been traveling non stop and I love it. It’s been really great. It’s one thing to have the excitement of the Olympics but, now it’s so great to see the kids and how their faces light up when they get to wear the gold medal. I remember when I was 12 and I saw my first gold medal, that’s when I decided that I wanted to become an Olympian. (more…)

Posted on October 17, 2023 by HelloGiggles

Fit in 5: Best Exercises for a Lower Body Injury

By Pamela Hernandez

Whether it comes from a workout or simply stepping off the curb the wrong way, a lower body injury is bound to occur at some point or another in our athletic lives. Injury, of any kind, can be extremely frustrating. Some injuries can be mild, like an ankle sprain, and simply require a few days of rest. Others, like a broken foot, can mean weeks off your feet.

Our bodies feel the effects of not working out very quickly. While your body does need extra nutrients to heal, it’s often not as many as you burn with your workout. Energy goes down and we can feel more “jiggly” and less strong. When we’re sidelined we can also feel the effects mentally, not only losing the post workout endorphin rush but also a part of our routine and identity.

The good news is, unless specifically forbidden by your doctor, there are exercises and activities you can do to keep working without aggravating conditions such as plantar fasciitis or a sprained ankle. The following exercises are my top picks for those fighting a lower body injury. Just remember, when healing especially, rest is important, too. Take your intensity and frequency down a bit until your body is ready to take on more. (more…)

Posted on August 24, 2023 by Pamela

Tag Archives: swimming

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