I need your help!

If you've ever wanted to sound off, here's your moment! What would you like to see on Oxygen's website? More training? More videos? More behind the scenes interviews with your favorite fitness gals? Let me know - we're making a few tweaks and would love to know what you'd like to see on our site! All ideas welcome! Talk to you later in the week...

Boot camp blast!

I've chatted before about how much I like to break out of my comfort zone - be it trying a new place to travel or a new activity - and so I grabbed the opportunity to try a boot camp this week when in Vancouver....what a blast! We did two minute circuits of all kinds of resistance training and cardio - everything from back rows to pushups to mountain climbers to jump squats - yikes! Thanks to Josie in Vancouver who led the hour long class through all the circuits. I love to strength train and run as you know but the odd time it's great to shock your muscles (and your mind) by taking on another challenge. Have you ever tried a boot camp? Or anything else? (btw, my muscles felt it two days afterwards!)

Perspective is everything!

You shared your favorite quotes with me on this blog (thanks for all!) and I find, like you, that I go back to the same words/inspirational thoughts time and time again whenever I feel I need a little something new. (particularly when I'm injured and frustrated!). But I also think a good perspective is important too - so here is another one to share:

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."

It makes me feel tremendously excited about the potential that lies in anything new - do you have any opportunity where you have to get out of your comfort zone and stretch a little? Scary, but exciting, yes?

holiday strategies????

Next week is Thanksgiving for many and I want to say a big Happy Thanksgiving to all! This is definitely a weekend to get lots of sleep, eat well and be good to yourself prior to the big feast!!!!! What are you doing to make it a healthy and happy one?Any tips to share?

Sometimes we need a little mojo!

My daughter and I had a great chat this weekend about motivation and she teased me mercilessly about my thoughts on what motivates others in health and fitness... I do think it's important to share stories. Here's a favorite quote I read somewhere that keeps me inspired!

"If you are going to doubt something, doubt your limits!"

Send me your favorite quotes - would love to see them! Talk soon!

Gotta love Edison!

I don't know about you but I absolutely loved watching Chilean miner Edison Pena take on New York City (and David Letterman) last week with such exuberance! And he crossed the finish line of the NYC marathon with a painful knee no less! Such an inspiration to all of us! Quick kudos to the city of San Francisco for trying hard to tackle childhood obesity. They are trying to get the free toys out of kids calorie-laden fast food meals - a good start in the right direction! Can you see any other way we can try to get a handle on this growing problem? Or do you think the San Francisco initiative is wrestling control out of parents hands?

#1 person in your life?

In our latest Off the Couch Oxygen Special Issue, we ask you to tell us what you think. And, as usual, you did! Here is a story that I found particularly moving about a gal whose dad began a slow road to recovery - and that's who motivates her!

Here's her story:

About 10 years ago, I bought the house across the street from my parents. At that time, I started working out at a gym, hired a personal trainer, got in "tip top" shape, got certified myself and life went on. A few years later, my father had triple bi-pass heart surgery, and it put him out of commission for many months. The day I wallked into the hospital, I saw my father, hooked up to a breathing machine, with the body of a muscular and toned 30 year old. At the time he was almost 70. I watched him endure the pain of "not being able to workout" (it was his passion as it is mine) and have to start at the beginning to build himself back up. I watch my father every morning at 5:00 a.m. head out for his hour walk, I watch my father head off to the gym for his 3-4 days a week workout, and I know the pain he endures doing it (he has very bad back and leg problems) and to me...this man is my strength. So, it encourages me and drives me to get up, get at it and be the best that I can be. I"m lucky, it's in my blood.

Thanks for this bit, Amy! Is there anyone who motivates you? If so, why?

Yoga for dummy (yours truly!)

As one of the few beginners (let's admit it - the only one!) in a class full of veterans who make the tree pose look easy, I have to say yoga is humbling. I have new found respect for yoga practitioners, truly. With the growing realization that all my work running and lifting weights isn't quite enough when it comes to keeping limber I signed up for a Yoga for Runners course Monday nights. And so, tonight I'll be in the warrior pose (or half-heartedly at least) while the pros around me make it look easy. I have to admit to feeling frustrated by it, but am hoping it gets easier.....wonder when I'll feel like a pro? Do you think I ever will?