Archive for News
What a great group of swingers this past Saturday! Excellent work to all of you that came out for the challenge! Starting December 2nd, we will be adding an additional Swing class at 6pm on Wednesdays. Make sure to clear your schedules and come join us for an extra swing dose! Check out the pic from Saturday’s Tracy Rif’s swing class!
Here’s an awesome article that explains the performance enhancing and numerous health benefits of supplementing with Glutamine. Most people seem to think that Glutamine should be used by athletes only. Now you’ll get to see why I feel this supplement has to be something that non athletes should consider taking regularly.
By Barbara Weingold
Have you spent hours running or at the gym on the treadmill, elliptical, stair stepper, rowing machine to no avail?
Have you jumped from diet to diet without lasting results?
That was me…2+ years after my 3rd pregnancy and I was still in bad shape. I was eating healthy (or so I thought) and getting plenty of good exercise (or so I thought), but admittedly not getting enough sleep! I had a closet full of clothes that no longer fit. I certainly wasn’t where I wanted to be physically, but more importantly I was tired…and sore from the beginnings of psoriatic arthritis! I needed a change!
My friend suggested that I try a Kettlebell (KB) class at the gym with her. There was no way I was going to do this. I had done the weight training thing in college and all I did was get bigger. I wasn’t doing that again! I felt I had no upper body strength and would fail miserably because of it. The only upper body work I had done in the last decade was the rowing machine…and carrying around my 3 children. I was unable to do more than 2 situps. I hadn’t done push ups in about 20 years.
Then I watched Karen Smith teaching a class. I was intrigued. She looked great and was throwing around some serious weight. I was still skeptical, but I signed up…once a week for 8 weeks.
The first class was fun…lots of swings, lots of squats. An 18 lb bell was heavy, but I did it. I felt empowered…until 2 – 3 days later when I was so sore I could barely navigate the stairs…or sit down on the toilet! I was still sore a week later and wanted to blow off the next class…but I am not a quitter! I went…struggled through, but felt remarkably better after the workout. I was hooked. I finished the eight classes with some forearm bruises, torn up palms and a new tool in my arsenal – “the snatch”. I wanted more. Unfortunately Karen was moving. I was bummed, but she raved about Darius and told us about the Dynamic Solutions (DS) opening. I took a few more classes with Karen before she left, bought my own KB, and then did a free training session with Darius. There I also met Kristina and Julie. I was impressed with all of them and knew immediately that I would be signing up for classes. I couldn’t wait for them to begin.
Since September my life has changed…for the better…and DS has played a part in this. I have been taking classes 3 times a week (sometimes 4) and loving every one. I can’t say enough about Darius, he is an amazing trainer. Classes are always different and never boring. In fact, Kristina, Julie, Karen, Ellen (I miss her yoga instruction), Doc, and all the trainers at DS have been fantastic! I have dramatically increased my strength (even swung an 88 lb bell recently), I do push ups, my balance has improved dramatically, and my core has never been stronger (IN MY LIFE!). I completed a Nutritional Boot Camp at DS with Kristina this winter. I don’t diet anymore, I now eat healthy (according to my metabolic type)…most of the time. I have dramatically increased the protein in my diet and even started eating Kale…and liking it! I have lost 13 lbs (including belly fat)…and kept it off without a lot of effort. Most importantly, I feel great…especially after a workout…I have a lot more energy than I used to…and have made some great new friends. I still wake up with joint pain sometimes, but it always seems to disappear after a KB workout. I am getting better at the good night sleep thing…and my children are learning the importance of living a healthy lifestyle!
Okay, I am not where I want to be physically, yet…I don’t always eat perfectly…I like a good Vodka drink on occasion…I am living in my basement without a working kitchen…and I have regrettably missed a few workouts lately. Life happens!
……But I am stronger and healthier. I am wearing most of the clothes in my closet…and I feel empowered!……….and one of these days I’ll be able to do a pistol!
Val, Darius, and Barb hanging out at Gravelly Point
