Blogging Fitness

Blogging Fitness: Spines in Motion

July 30, 2011 By 4 Comments
spines-in-motion

Whenever I am selecting my featured workout for this column, I always look for the most intense feat. It’s all about speed, sweat and pain…the good kind of pain of course!

However, I was bopping around the gym recently and I spied a flyer for a “spine class.” Even though the flyer did not suggest speed and sweat, I was intrigued. I am always fixated on toning my core or tightening my glutes, but I never offer any tender loving care to my spine.

So I took the encounter with the flyer as a little wake up call and jotted down the information for the “Spines in Motion” class.

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Filed Under: Blogging Fitness Tagged With: back, Kimberly Westphall, spine

Blogging Fitness: Shedding pounds for the Royal Wedding

April 27, 2011 By 1 Comment

American Laurel Wright may not be on the guest list, but she will be flaunting her new figure in her wedding dress

When a young bride is on the brink of her big day, she is often shedding pounds for her stroll down the aisle. But what happens after that dress comes off and is packed away neatly in a box? Naturally, as years progress, a woman may not be as trim as her wedding day. This is not the standard, but a common occurrence.

With Royal Wedding nuptials on the brain, an American gal wanted to don her finest wedding attire as well, so Laurel Wright was struck with the idea that she too would wear her wedding dress for the big event.

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Filed Under: Blogging Fitness Tagged With: Blogging Fitness, royal wedding

Blogging Fitness: High Heels, Sweat, and Burlesque!

February 2, 2011 By 4 Comments
burlesque-fitness-class

Go where no workout has taken you before.

It’s been a while since I have let out my inner sultriness. In fact, the last time was almost a year ago when I attempted a swing around a shiny pole during a pole dancing class at Move Studio in Dallas, TX. And let me tell you, I felt like the exact opposite of a sexpot. In fact, I felt like an uncoordinated, graceless sloth trying to get my feet off the ground during a swing.

With 2011 rolling on, I realized I was slouching into my fitness comfort zone and it was time to truly step outside the walls of the aerobics studio and shake what my mama gave me – which is quite a lot. So I thought “what better way to shake it up” than to throw on some heels and hit up Centre for Dance in Dallas!

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Filed Under: Blogging Fitness Tagged With: blogging fitness dance, burlesque, Kimberly Westphall

Blogging Fitness: Keep your relationship off the rocks by getting on the ropes

November 4, 2010 By 5 Comments

A young couple keeps their marriage fresh by rock climbing and staying active together.

I am always proud to say that fitness is my first love; however, fitness can also play quite well into a relationship. In an effort to keep things fresh and interesting, I believe it’s important for couples to encourage one another to be active and try new challenges.

They do it on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, don’t they?

I am just teasing – I am not suggesting that show is a positive model for a sustainable relationship. But, I do believe couples can become closer when they try new adventures together. Not to mention, get those endorphins flowing and no one will be cranky, right?

I looked to one of my favorite young, married couple at work as inspiration for this article. Morgan and Derek are these edgy, kind-hearted souls who are always on a quest for that next adventure. Whether it is getting hitched in Vegas to rock climbing and belaying each other, they know how to keep the relationship exciting.

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Filed Under: Blogging Fitness Tagged With: fitness, health, Kimberly Westphall, rock climbing

Blogging Fitness: The Secret Recipe – Sweating Through the Sweet Life

August 14, 2010 By 4 Comments
levain-bakery

Work hard. Play hard. This is the notion New York bakers Pamela Weekes and Connie McDonald cling to while living it up. The interesting thing about these two ladies is they are die-hard fitness maniacs…but also love to whip up delectable baked goods.

In my eyes, these ladies have the best of both worlds!

Too many times people are one extreme or the other. They may be obsessed with working out and only eat the leanest and meanest food, or vice versa. I would much prefer to bust it out in the gym for an hour and then indulge from time-to-time in sinfully delicious fare. Life’s way too short to never taste the sweetness it has to offer.

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Filed Under: Blogging Fitness Tagged With: connie mcdonald, cookies, fitness, health, levain bakery, pamela weekes

Blogging Fitness: Body Design Workouts – Do they think I am a robot?

July 18, 2010 By 7 Comments
Kimber_Westphall

The beast of all classes left me shattered and in pain, but strangely wanting more.

Yesterday I took a beating.

A major beating that left me a broken woman.

I ventured home this weekend to visit my family and my mom has been talking up this new workout called Body Design. She takes it several times a week and drones on about how it’s the ultimate challenge.

She asked me if I would go with her and I was like, “Heck yes – let me show you how it’s done!” I thought to myself, no offense Mom, but I teach five classes a week and this is going to be a piece of cake.

So I went.

And oh my gosh – stop me in my tracks. I was far from a pro and I am in amazement that my mom voluntarily endures this abuse on a weekly basis.

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Filed Under: Blogging Fitness Tagged With: Blogging Fitness, body bar, body design workout, Kimberly Westphall

Blogging Fitness: The Skinny on Balancing Vacation Fitness and Splurging

June 9, 2010 By 5 Comments
vacation-fitness-tips

Summer time is around the corner and a sunny vacation might be in order. As the sun is getting hotter, this will naturally require a little less clothing.

Eek! This thought might suddenly cause you to panic.

Fear not. We’ve still got some time to shape up before you ship out on your sizzling vacation.

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Filed Under: Blogging Fitness, Health and Fitness Tagged With: fitness, Kimberly Westphall, vacation fitness, working out

Blogging Fitness: Hustlin’ to Hip Hop

May 7, 2010 By 4 Comments
hip-hop-dance-class-workout

If you have read my articles before, you know how I like to switch things up a bunch when I am working out. Although I have my favorite stand-bys and weekly routine for working out, I definitely crave a shock to the system time and time again.

The worst thing that could happen when you are dedicated to an active lifestyle is losing sight of that inspiration.

To me, it’s like a relationship: when your traditional workout routine is losing its luster, kick it up a notch and step out of your comfort zone. You could potentially find a new love or it could make you appreciate your current workout even more. Either way, you have nothing to lose and it’s a sure way to get your workout in for the day.

Recently, I personally was feeling like my routine was getting a little blasé so I thought, what better way to spice it up than dancing it out!

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Filed Under: Blogging Fitness, Health and Fitness Tagged With: dancing, hip hop, Kimberly Westphall, workout class

Blogging Fitness: The Alyson Stoner Project Fights Childhood Obesity

April 19, 2010 By 7 Comments
alyson-stoner-project-2

Several Hollywood stars head up a new fitness program geared towards children and teens.

Ever since I was a tiny tot, I was always on the chubby side.

In fact, my pediatrician one time put me to tears when he said I was obese and needed to see a dietician. Instead of thinking “screw you, don’t call my baby fat,” my mom took his advice and encouraged healthy eating choices and some much needed cardio.

We called on the expressive chap Richard Simmons to help get my rear in gear. Although I loved “Sweatin’ to the Oldies,” I never felt that I connected with it. It was more of a task than an enjoyable way to spend my time. There were other weight loss methods we tried but I always got frustrated and just accepted the fact that I would always shop in the “Pretty Plus” section at Sears.

I had to wait a few painful years until the baby weight melted away and I discovered my passion for running and fitness. It sure would have been nice to have Alyson Stoner as my dance coach to help rid me of those extra LB’s.

Kevin Schmidt, actor and co-creator of the Alyson Stoner Project (ASP), drew from his own weight loss success story to inspire others.

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Filed Under: Blogging Fitness Tagged With: alyson stoner, alyson stoner project, Kimberly Westphall, workout dvds

Blogging Fitness: D.C. 2010 – This is Gonna Suck!

March 30, 2010 By 7 Comments
suntrust-marathon

Bursting with pride, two best buds rock the D.C. National Marathon

I had been dreading this day, just as much as I had been looking forward to it. I didn’t even realize it was possible to feel two polar opposite emotions simultaneously. I guess that’s what happens when you have your first marathon lurking around your thoughts for eight months.

Two years ago I decided to run a half marathon. Considering the farthest I’d ever run in my life was four miles at once, this was a daunting task. I roped my college roomie, Jackie, into the deal and we dedicatedly began training. Two years and two half marathons later, we decided to put our big girl running shoes on and conquer a full-fledged, 26.2-mile marathon.

Conquer we did. Well, kind of. In our words, we “rocked it.”

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Filed Under: Blogging Fitness Tagged With: Kimberly Westphall, marathon

Blogging Fitness: Get it Right, Get it Tight with Suspension Training

March 10, 2010 By 8 Comments
jd - trainer daddy dallas

Twist it, rock it, and tone it up.

I was doing all of the above with the TRX® Suspension Trainer™.

Many times when exploring new workout routines, I am fixated on cardio-intensive exercises. I need to pull back the reins and remind myself to tone it up. It’s beneficial to partner all the hard work and burning up the fat with a regime that focuses on building toned, lean muscles.

Perhaps I have found the golden ticket.

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Filed Under: Blogging Fitness Tagged With: fitness, health, personal trainer, suspension training, trx suspension trainer

Blogging Fitness: This Daring Young Lass on the Flying Trapeze

February 21, 2010 By 14 Comments
trapeze-fitness

Flying trapeze provides stellar workout for the upper body and core strength.

All eyes on me in the center of the ring, just like a circus…

Well all eyes were certainly on me, but that could be due to the slur of profanities escaping my screaming lips.

My stomach felt as if it had leaped from the trunk of my body to the summit of the arched ceiling at the Trapeze School of New York.

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Filed Under: Blogging Fitness Tagged With: Blogging Fitness, fitness, health, Kimberly Westphall

Blogging Fitness: Blaze It Up with a Scorching, 100-Degree Yoga Workout

February 11, 2010 By 6 Comments
hot yoga class

…And the Yoga was hot, hot, hot

I have made my workout preferences clear, stating that I need a major sweat-drenching routine and that I like it bouncy.

However, I might be changing my tune a bit.

Recently, I have felt my flexibility might be dwindling a bit so I decided to focus some of my attention on Yoga and Pilates. Over the past two weeks, I made it a goal to add in some Yoga and Pilates classes as a supplement to my traditional routine.

Over this short amount of time, I have come to see how people get hooked on this relaxing, but challenging, form of exercise.

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Filed Under: Blogging Fitness, Health and Fitness Tagged With: Blogging Fitness, fitness, health, hot yoga, Kimberly Westphall, pilates, stretching, yoga

Blogging Fitness: Zumba is Taking the Fitness World By Storm

January 31, 2010 By 9 Comments
zumba-latin-dance-class

Spice up your fit life!

Zumba is taking the fitness world by storm – get in on the action!

There is a lot of buzz going around about Latin-influenced dance workouts. I first heard of such classes when I was a student at the University of Kansas. One of the classes was called Zumba.

The name Zumba is sassy and a bit mysterious. I didn’t really know what to expect; I was just hoping I would get my heart pumpin’ and burn it up.

What I actually got was so much more.

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Filed Under: Blogging Fitness Tagged With: Blogging Fitness, fitness class, Kimberly Westphall, zumba

Blogging Fitness Video Diary & Contest: Heat Up Your Workouts in 2010 with Jay Johnson’s Boot Camp Fitness

January 12, 2010 By 20 Comments
kimberly-westphall

[Editor's note: make sure you check out the end of Kimberly's article, where we announce a special Jay Johnson Boot Camp Fitness giveaway for MSF readers.]

Flab and drab are getting the boot in 2010. So heat up your workouts in 2010 by trying something new: Boot Camp Fitness.

The holiday season is over. Our pocketbooks may be a bit lighter, but how ‘bout the bod? It is common and quite often expected to have a chub-tastic holiday and treat ourselves a little too much to the cookies and delectable delights that come with the territory. However, it’s time to whip into shape and take it off; I am talking about the lb’s of course.

Now, let’s not focus just on how we want to look. Instead, let’s focus on how we want to feel: endorphins flowing and energy levels rising.

You don’t need to hear me harp on and on my love for group fitness; however, I just experienced the ultimate group fitness program that seriously left me gasping for air. By my measure, it has proven to be the ultimate workout that I’ve encountered in the last few years.

I am sure a lot of you are searching for that one golden fitness routine that will be the real deal, the one that is going to help you become more inspired, fit, and energized. And I may have encountered exactly what you are searching for.

Whenever you are looking to shake things up and transform your physique, you literally need a change-up. Otherwise, your body will simply maintain and your shape will not change. Looking for my own “shock to the system” I called upon the team from Jay Johnson’s Boot Camp.

Here is a video diary of my first ever Boot Camp Fitness experience:

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Filed Under: Blogging Fitness, Contests Tagged With: boot camp fitness, contest, jay johnson, jay johnson's boot camp fitness, Kimberly Westphall, video, workout dvds, workout videos
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