Irrelephant
World's Largest Bunny
World's Tallest Model
The Origins of 9 Charities Named After People
Evolution of the Crayola Crayon
Balloon Dress
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Benefits of Water
Drink up folks ...
According to "ShapeFit":
The human body, which is made up of between 55 and 75 percent water (lean people have more water in their bodies because muscle holds more water than fat), is in need of constant water replenishment.
Your lungs expel between two and four cups of water each day through normal breathing - even more on a cold day. If your feet sweat, there goes another cup of water. If you make half a dozen trips to the bathroom during the day, that's six cups of water. If you perspire, you expel about two cups of water (which doesn't include exercise-induced perspiration).
Water is crucial to your health. It makes up, on average, 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water.
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Ashley's tips:
#1
I bring a 1 liter bottle of water with me wherever I go during the day and try to get through it 2-4 times before I go to bed. 4 liters equals about a gallon of water, so if this doesn't sound right for you, I recommend trying to get through 2 liters per day instead of 4! As you may know, toooooo much water can be a bad thing :)
Also, I work in an office, so I have the ability to use the restroom all day long. I do NOT recommend trying to get through 4 liters of water if you are out about and on the go all day long. As you can imagine, the need for a restroom can come up quite often when you're going through that much water. However, keep in mind that your body is being flushed with this water, and that you are not drinking it for nothing.
#2
When you think you're hungry, drink one or two tall glasses of water first. Thirst and hunger are often confused ... and if its thirst you can make your tummy feel better without the calories!
#3
If you just don't enjoy drinking water, don't worry. I didn't used to like it either, but now that I've MADE myself drink it ... I crave it! You can too. OOR, sometimes when I'm bored with the plain taste of water I'll add some crystal light ... or I'll even purchase "Clear," the sugar free, naturally flavored, sparkling water bottles (click here to see)
GOOD LUCK DRINKING! DO YOUR BODY WELL!
According to "ShapeFit":
The human body, which is made up of between 55 and 75 percent water (lean people have more water in their bodies because muscle holds more water than fat), is in need of constant water replenishment.
Your lungs expel between two and four cups of water each day through normal breathing - even more on a cold day. If your feet sweat, there goes another cup of water. If you make half a dozen trips to the bathroom during the day, that's six cups of water. If you perspire, you expel about two cups of water (which doesn't include exercise-induced perspiration).
Water is crucial to your health. It makes up, on average, 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water.
**************************
Ashley's tips:
#1
I bring a 1 liter bottle of water with me wherever I go during the day and try to get through it 2-4 times before I go to bed. 4 liters equals about a gallon of water, so if this doesn't sound right for you, I recommend trying to get through 2 liters per day instead of 4! As you may know, toooooo much water can be a bad thing :)
Also, I work in an office, so I have the ability to use the restroom all day long. I do NOT recommend trying to get through 4 liters of water if you are out about and on the go all day long. As you can imagine, the need for a restroom can come up quite often when you're going through that much water. However, keep in mind that your body is being flushed with this water, and that you are not drinking it for nothing.
#2
When you think you're hungry, drink one or two tall glasses of water first. Thirst and hunger are often confused ... and if its thirst you can make your tummy feel better without the calories!
#3
If you just don't enjoy drinking water, don't worry. I didn't used to like it either, but now that I've MADE myself drink it ... I crave it! You can too. OOR, sometimes when I'm bored with the plain taste of water I'll add some crystal light ... or I'll even purchase "Clear," the sugar free, naturally flavored, sparkling water bottles (click here to see)
GOOD LUCK DRINKING! DO YOUR BODY WELL!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
World Record for the Smallest Waist!
This woman, Cathie Jung, has a waist about the same size as a regular jar of mayonnaise. She's been wearing a corset every day for the past 12 years! I hope beauty pageants never go this route ... YIKES! Her waist is smaller than Barbie's!
I am Not Miss Illinois
I am Miss Ilinois USA. There is a difference :)
According to Wikipedia, The Miss Illinois competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Illinois in the Miss America pageant. The Miss Illinois pageant started in 1927, several years after the initial Miss America pageant. There have been 5 Miss Americas from Illinois.
In the Miss America Pageant women are judged on personal interview, talent, lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit, evening wear, and an onstage question.
****************************
The Miss Illinois USA pageant is a competition that selects the representative for the state Illinois in the Miss USA pageant.
Illinois is one of the most successful states in the competition. It is one of only four states to have won four or more Miss USA titles and one of only three states to win two Miss USA titles in consecutive years. All four winners came from the early history of the competition, with their last Miss USA being Karen Morrison, who held the title in 1974.
In the Miss USA Pageant women are judged on personal interview, fitness in swimsuit, evening wear, and an onstage question.
*****************************
So now you know :)
According to Wikipedia, The Miss Illinois competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Illinois in the Miss America pageant. The Miss Illinois pageant started in 1927, several years after the initial Miss America pageant. There have been 5 Miss Americas from Illinois.
In the Miss America Pageant women are judged on personal interview, talent, lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit, evening wear, and an onstage question.
****************************
The Miss Illinois USA pageant is a competition that selects the representative for the state Illinois in the Miss USA pageant.
Illinois is one of the most successful states in the competition. It is one of only four states to have won four or more Miss USA titles and one of only three states to win two Miss USA titles in consecutive years. All four winners came from the early history of the competition, with their last Miss USA being Karen Morrison, who held the title in 1974.
In the Miss USA Pageant women are judged on personal interview, fitness in swimsuit, evening wear, and an onstage question.
*****************************
So now you know :)
Friday, January 8, 2010
New Cardio I Tried
It's a toughy! For the best workout, find a place that has "real" stairs ... not the stepper machine at the gym. I used the highschool's weight room and ran the bleachers at the pool.
10 min on treadmill (intervals)
... 7.0 speed, 2.0 incline, 1 min
... 5.2-5.5 speed, 0 incline, 30 seconds
... repeat for a total of 10 minutes
5 minute run up/down stairs
5 min treadmill (intervals)
... 6.5-7.0 speed, 2.0 incline, 1 minute
... 5.2-5.5 speed, 0 incline, 30 seconds
... repeat for a total of 5 minutes
3 minutes alternate butt kick/high knee every 30 seconds
2 minutes jump rope
1 min jump jack
1 minute side step up stair left foot first (2 stair at a time)
1 min stand squat
1 minute side step up stair right foot first (2 stair at a time)
1 minute stand squat
2 min jump rope
1 min jump jack
5 minute treadmill interval
... 6.7-7.0 speed, 0 incline, 1 minute
... 5.0 speed, 0 incline, 30 seconds
10 min on treadmill (intervals)
... 7.0 speed, 2.0 incline, 1 min
... 5.2-5.5 speed, 0 incline, 30 seconds
... repeat for a total of 10 minutes
5 minute run up/down stairs
5 min treadmill (intervals)
... 6.5-7.0 speed, 2.0 incline, 1 minute
... 5.2-5.5 speed, 0 incline, 30 seconds
... repeat for a total of 5 minutes
3 minutes alternate butt kick/high knee every 30 seconds
2 minutes jump rope
1 min jump jack
1 minute side step up stair left foot first (2 stair at a time)
1 min stand squat
1 minute side step up stair right foot first (2 stair at a time)
1 minute stand squat
2 min jump rope
1 min jump jack
5 minute treadmill interval
... 6.7-7.0 speed, 0 incline, 1 minute
... 5.0 speed, 0 incline, 30 seconds
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Does Fashion Head South for the Winter?
I saw the nuttiest outfit this morning. Some girl was wearing sweatpants over her jeans tucked into black boots and a teal jacket with a pink sweatshirt poking out of the bottom. She had navy blue gloves on, a purple scarf wrapped around her neck, a black hat, and a red scarf wrapped around her head and face on top of that. Her nose was red as a stoplight, and she was walking so fast I thought she was going to knock someone over. Hah. What a dork. Oh, but by the way … hehe … it was me.
What does a girl have to do to stay warm in Chicago!?!?!
Typically during my 2-hour commute from home to the office I spend some of the time people watching – mostly because I can’t find a more exciting way to pass the time! I observe the funny quirks of the man who is always late for the train and the way he scrambles to get his dollar in the parking meter before the train doors shut. I watch for the woman with the blonde ponytail each day, because she carries the best purses. I wonder constantly how women’s hair continues to look so nice after it has been blown around by the Chicago wind (I certainly haven’t figured out their tricks). And I wonder what the stories are behind the people begging for money on the sidewalks – there must be some to tell.
But above all, I loooooove looking at the fashions … and during my walk from the train to the office I see lots of different styles. Now, of course, not everyone in Chicago has the greatest fashion sense, but many do … and so, I observe. Cute skirts, fancy boots, layers, accessories, jackets and more all make their way on to the streets of Chicago. It’s like inStyle magazine for free and in real life – woohoo!! But now, as the winter weather is fully upon us, the great Chicago fashions are slowly going into hiding. Shucks!
It seems that as the temperature gets to be below 30 degrees Fahrenheit and the breath of the people outside is there for everyone to see, the women care less and less about the way they look and more and more about keeping their ears from getting frostbitten – go figure! From time to time I see women walking in single-digit temperatures with no hat or gloves on and I can seeeeee the redness of their skin aching with numbness, poor girls. But others, wrapped from head to toe with warm fuzzy layers walk as quickly as possible to their destinations to keep their body heat up and to get out of the cold sooner.
Guys, on the other hand, seem to brave the weather a little more boldly than the women. I see men without hats or scarves much more frequently than women (typically with less hair on their heads too), and even some with frozen fingers, clenched tightly inside their pockets without any kind of additional protection. Come on guys! You don’t need to impress us with your strength against the freezing weather – we want you to bundle up! It’s the same thing when men refuse to carry umbrellas. Silly, silly boys, we’re not judging you … we know that by carrying them you just want to make it to your destination warm and dry! Geez Louise!
So anyway … as my walk to work becomes less interesting in the chills of winter, I can at least look forward to the warm weather that will soon enough arrive, and the cute fashions that will break out from beneath those big, puffy winter jackets. In the mean time, I think I’ll grab some hot chocolate … because I can’t feel my toes anymore! Brrrrr Chicago!!!
What does a girl have to do to stay warm in Chicago!?!?!
Typically during my 2-hour commute from home to the office I spend some of the time people watching – mostly because I can’t find a more exciting way to pass the time! I observe the funny quirks of the man who is always late for the train and the way he scrambles to get his dollar in the parking meter before the train doors shut. I watch for the woman with the blonde ponytail each day, because she carries the best purses. I wonder constantly how women’s hair continues to look so nice after it has been blown around by the Chicago wind (I certainly haven’t figured out their tricks). And I wonder what the stories are behind the people begging for money on the sidewalks – there must be some to tell.
But above all, I loooooove looking at the fashions … and during my walk from the train to the office I see lots of different styles. Now, of course, not everyone in Chicago has the greatest fashion sense, but many do … and so, I observe. Cute skirts, fancy boots, layers, accessories, jackets and more all make their way on to the streets of Chicago. It’s like inStyle magazine for free and in real life – woohoo!! But now, as the winter weather is fully upon us, the great Chicago fashions are slowly going into hiding. Shucks!
It seems that as the temperature gets to be below 30 degrees Fahrenheit and the breath of the people outside is there for everyone to see, the women care less and less about the way they look and more and more about keeping their ears from getting frostbitten – go figure! From time to time I see women walking in single-digit temperatures with no hat or gloves on and I can seeeeee the redness of their skin aching with numbness, poor girls. But others, wrapped from head to toe with warm fuzzy layers walk as quickly as possible to their destinations to keep their body heat up and to get out of the cold sooner.
Guys, on the other hand, seem to brave the weather a little more boldly than the women. I see men without hats or scarves much more frequently than women (typically with less hair on their heads too), and even some with frozen fingers, clenched tightly inside their pockets without any kind of additional protection. Come on guys! You don’t need to impress us with your strength against the freezing weather – we want you to bundle up! It’s the same thing when men refuse to carry umbrellas. Silly, silly boys, we’re not judging you … we know that by carrying them you just want to make it to your destination warm and dry! Geez Louise!
So anyway … as my walk to work becomes less interesting in the chills of winter, I can at least look forward to the warm weather that will soon enough arrive, and the cute fashions that will break out from beneath those big, puffy winter jackets. In the mean time, I think I’ll grab some hot chocolate … because I can’t feel my toes anymore! Brrrrr Chicago!!!
Monday, January 4, 2010
A New Year
Happy 2010! Have all of you been good since the start of the new year? Have you followed your resolutions up to now? Well, I must say ... all of the people in Homer Glen who resolved to join a gym and get back into fitness have most certainly been keeping by their word thus far. Hooooolllly SMOKES was the gym crowded this weekend! I was there three times and not once was I able to get a machine right away. I felt like a stalker ... watching the patrons on the equipment I wanted until they got off, hoping I could be the first person to jump on next. Geesh! It did get me thinking though -- what can you do when you can't get a machine, OR ... when you can't get to the gym at all?
Well, I will admit ... when I get to the gym prepared for a workout with my trainer, Toni, I am the most frightened of what's to come when I show up and the only equipment she has out is a 5 pound dumbbell and a stretch chord. For some reason, working out with my own body weight is just as challenging as when we are pumping iron together, or doing suicides and sprints. It is not difficult to put a body-weight workout together if you know what areas of the body you want to work -- and let me be the first to say, with just that simple dumbbell and stretch chord you can work the whoooooole thing!
Buuuut, don't get too excited, because I haven't gotten a chance to put anything together for you yet. :( Check back soon!
Well, I will admit ... when I get to the gym prepared for a workout with my trainer, Toni, I am the most frightened of what's to come when I show up and the only equipment she has out is a 5 pound dumbbell and a stretch chord. For some reason, working out with my own body weight is just as challenging as when we are pumping iron together, or doing suicides and sprints. It is not difficult to put a body-weight workout together if you know what areas of the body you want to work -- and let me be the first to say, with just that simple dumbbell and stretch chord you can work the whoooooole thing!
Buuuut, don't get too excited, because I haven't gotten a chance to put anything together for you yet. :( Check back soon!
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