Learning To Survive The Zombie Apocolypse

I don’t know if you know this about me, but I am a little obsessed with Zombies.

And the Zombie Apocalypse.

Which I will be fully prepared for thanks to the lovely Vera Sweeney.

I do not… I can not… watch horror movies.  Its a thing with me.  When I was small, my Dad let me watch Carrie, Firestarter, Christine… to this day those cheesy old movies terrify me and I can not watch them – or anything newer and gorier.

So how I became absolutely addicted to American Horror Story and The Walking Dead is anyone’s guess.

Lets talk about The Walking Dead for a moment.  Who saw that whole thing with Shane coming?  Oh.my.god!  I did not.  And I have not been able to stop thinking about it since… just what would you do with all those zombies coming after you, like we left Rick and Carl.

What would you do?

Thanks to Zombies, Run!, a new app for your smartphone, you will have to wonder no more.

Zombies, Run! is an ultra-immersive running game for the iPhone, iPod Touch (and coming this spring, the Android), with a story delivered straight to your earbuds.  You choose your own custom playlists before you start running, and the story unfolds in between your tracks …through a series of radio messages and voice recordings.  (I’m getting scared already.)

Just who are you?  You are: Runner 5. Hundreds of lives are counting on you. You’ve got to help your base rebuild from the ruins of civilization by collecting critical supplies while avoiding roving zombie hordes. Can you save them and learn the truth about the zombie apocalypse?

I am addicted already.  As someone who has trouble getting motivated to keep working out and trying to get in shape, I just have this feeling that Zombies, Run! will be just the thing I need. A feature coming soon to Zombies, Run! will record the distance, time, pace and calories burned on your runs.  What’s more awesome than that?  Instant feedback as to what you accomplished.

And if (who am I kidding) when – the Zombie Apocalypse hits your neighborhood, you will have had enough practice that you should know just where you can go – and where you should avoid.

Zombies, Run! is currently available for $7.99 from the iTunes App Store.

I for one can’t wait for it to hit the Android! I’ll be the girl on the run.

You can also catch up with Zombies, Run on Facebook and Twitter.

About The Author:  Liza lives in New England with her 4 favorite boys; her husband and 3 children. She started blogging in 2007, finally getting serious about her passion for writing in 2010. Always the athlete when she was younger, she did not find her inner girlie girl until college. After having 3 boys in under 2 years, she is trying to reconnect with her inner girlie girl (in a house where the toliet seat is always up), while staying on a budget.

Is Yoga A Good Workout? Yes, Ma’am!

I’ve been exercising for like 150 years. OK, maybe it isn’t quite that long, but it feels like it. Why? Because I get bored. Lift weights, hit treadmill, blah, blah, blah. Meh. So over it. What I am not over is how exercise makes me feel – lean, strong and healthy. I recently set out to find a new exercise program that would give me a good workout but be different what I’ve been doing. Enter Rodney Yee’s Power Yoga Total Body.

This is not for wimps. I only recommend it if you have a some yoga experience under your belt. It’s done in a flow style, where one pose flows into the next. Rodney calls the poses by their names, so if you don’t know Warrior One from Downward Dog you’re going to be lost. Even if you are an experienced yogi, this is a challenging workout. It’s meant to help you gain strength as well as flexibility. You will sweat. You will curse Rodney repeatedly (or maybe that’s just me). But in the end you will be damn glad you plunked down the $8.99 plus shipping for this baby. Like I said, I’m an experienced yogi/exerciser and this is challenging for me.

The workout is 60 minutes – that’s one hour of almost constant movement. The pace is quick, not relaxed like you may have experienced with other yoga workouts. This is not for relaxation and centering, it’s for toning and conditioning your body.

I like Rodney Yee as a yoga instructor. Sometimes I giggle at him, but it’s in the privacy of my own home, so it doesn’t count (does it?). Other instructors  irritate me because they talk too much or too slowly or whatever, but I think Rodney gets it about right.

If you’re looking for a new challenge or just want to add new dimension to your workouts, try this video. It’s under $10 and since you do it at home, no one can see you when you can’t get your head off of the floor in Reverse Bow.

Namaste indeed.

Oh! Look what I found at Target! Why did no one tell me about this before?!

Rock Your Way to A Firmer Body

Like most women, I must face the necessary evil of working out if I don’t want to weigh 300 pounds. I don’t mind working out, but I have exercise ADD and can’t stand to do the same thing day after day so I am constantly on the hunt for new fun ways to get fit.

A few months ago, I was channel surfing when an infomercial caught my eye. Before I knew it, I had watched the whole thing! The product I was so fascinated by was a new piece of exercise equipment and the DVD set that accompanied it. I had to hop online and order IMMEDIATELY!

A few days later, my Wave arrived!

When I ordered it, I thought it would be fun and different, but wasn’t really sure how effective it would be. After my first workout, I was hooked! The wave itself is used in a variety of ways: with the flat side down, it’s used as a step for cardio and to do squats and a bit of arm work. Flipped over, it’s used for more cardio and as a base to make push ups even more difficult than they already are!

I didn’t think rocking back and forth on it would be that hard and it’s not, but it absolutely makes your muscles work! I could feel it in my butt and thighs while working out and was sore the next day. The soreness wasn’t bad enough to keep me from hopping back on and going another round. The DVDs that go with The Wave are great. The instructors are just the right mix of tough and perky without crossing the line into bubblegum cheerleader territory and they show methods of using The Wave to make the workout easier or more difficult depending on your ability level.

The only con I have found is when I didn’t use the mat that goes underneath The Wave. Without it, The Wave slips on carpet and it made it difficult to do push ups. Also, the longest workout is 40 minutes so if you are looking for an extended workout you would have to use both DVDs back to back to get over an hour in.

The Wave is a great piece of equipment. It takes almost no room to store and adds an element of fun to what can become a tedious part of the day for me. I don’t use it every day, but I do pull it out when I want to shake things up a bit and get my workouts rocking!

Dance Central For XBox 360 Kinect

Remember my posting that listed my 7 Must-Haves for the Holiday Season?  Well my husband and my aunt were listening because I got three of my Must-Haves for Christmas!  *Squee*

My husband got me Dance Central for XBOX 360 Kinect – as an early Christmas present.  (Isn’t he awesome ladies?)

We have always had just about every.single.video.game.system.ever.  My husband has been a pretty big gamer since we were teenagers.  That was back when I used to sit on the couch next to him pretending to be interested in watching him play.  (Now, I don’t pretend…he knows I am just.not.interested.)  I haven’t been interested in fact, since Nintendo.

It’s true.

When I was small I remember getting an Atari.  It was so exciting!  Then we got Nintendo and I was all over Mario Bros.  My younger sister, brother and I would play for hours.  And then after awhile it was just them playing.  I was over video games.  Fast forward to high school and my then boyfriend now husband and I would spend a lot of time in … arcades (back when kids did that sort of thing) and on the couch at his house playing video games.

Correction.  He was playing.  I was faking an interest.

Right now the XBOX 360 and the Wii get a lot of play in our house.  My boys are following in their dad’s footsteps and love to play as well.  I have had zero interest in any of it… until that is, I was seeing ads for the Kinect.  Wireless?  No controller needed?  I was intrigued.

Then came the ads for Dance Central.  I mean I had to have this suddenly.  I was so excited about this I even wrote to the company that made Dance Central (Harmonix) to tell them how much I loved it immediately after trying it.  I almost never do that!  And about a video game!

For the last year I have been a sometimes avid, sometimes not at all, YMCA user.  We just put a hold on our account for a few months because we just were not getting there as much as we should.  After this winter maybe we’ll have more time to get back there.  But it’s January – which means there are only about five (5!) months till beach season (which equals bathing suits) and the boys are already bugging me about when we get to start hitting the beach again.

I have decided this game is going to be my workout routine.  It’s going to get me bathing suit ready once.and.for.all because the last 3 years I have struggled like you wouldn’t believe.  I’m thinking if I can put in one hour a day (after the boys go to bed), I may just finally look the way I want to.  While not even feeling like I am working out.

The game is rated T for Teens.  It is amazing because it breaks down all of the dance steps slowly for you.  You practice them.  It even shows you what you are doing wrong by highlighting the body part that isn’t moving correctly in red.  Levels on each song vary from Easy, Medium to Hard.  For the first 15 minutes you are playing you’re thinking about how you can’t possibly be exercising … another 45 minutes goes by like that as you move up levels and unlock new songs and suddenly your whole body is feeling the workout.  And all you were doing was dancing.

Oh, and super fun fact.  The game takes pictures of you dancing!  And plays them back for you!  A visit to Kinectshare.com allows you to access and share photos and videos from your Kinect games.  Unfortunately Dance Central isn’t on the list yet.   But WHO does not love to dance, while losing some extra weight in your own living room.  And (not that I have tried) but this could be a pretty fun game to pull out when you’ve had a few drinks and some friends are over (provided you are over 21).  Dance Battle feature.  Need I say more?

Songs on Dance Central range from Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” to Bel Biv DeVoe’s “Poison”… even Wreckx-n-Effect’s “Rump Shaker”.  Just shake your rump!  When you get tired of the songs that came with the game?  You can also go online and download new songs for about $3.00!

While all Kinect games retail for about $49.99, you can find it on Amazon.com for as low as $39.99!  Want to join me online?  My gamer tag is “Liza Rae”.

Stamina InMotion Elliptical Trainer

Two separate things have come up in my life recently to inspire me to get in shape, get healthy and drop these extra 80 – 100lbs I have weighing me down and keeping me from doing things I would love to do.   These things lead to the purchase of the Stamina 55-1610 InMotion Elliptical Trainer.

First, my husband and I will be going to Orlando in June 2012.  There is a Delorean National Car Show in Disney and my husband has never been down there.  I want us to be able to do it all.  Disney, Universal and Disney Studios, formerly MGM.  The problem is…  that’s a lot of walking.  I don’t excel at walking for long stretches of time.  I want to enjoy the trip and I want my husband to enjoy the trip without a wife whose back/feet/legs/knees hurt all. the. time.

Second, my sister-in-law will be getting married either Fall 2011 or Spring 2012.  IF we are invited, no really…  IF, I will see all my former best friends who are now all friends with her and not me.  I have every intention of looking spectacular.

Given these two inspiring reasons:  one practical and the other completely vain, I purchased the Stamina 55-1610 InMotion Elliptical Trainer. My home is tiny… like under 1000 square feet tiny, so a regular elliptical machine was out of my space range. And also? At $400 to $600 for a decent one, completely out of my price range as well.

This little workout wonder is the perfect size at 24″ x 20″ x 12″. Also at under $90 it was definitely within my price range. After having this mini-elliptical for two weeks, I am thoroughly impressed. And sore. My calves are sore, my thighs are sore and the most surprising part of all? My abs are sore.

This little machine is all about balance since there’s nothing to hold on to. You’re forced to keep yourself upright and have good posture. Given the tenderness of my abs, I’d have to say this is also a right good core workout. You feel it in your leg muscles when you’re on it. You feel it in your core the next two days.

The other feature it has is that you can turn it around 180 degrees from the position it is in when you’re standing on it and sit down and use it like a recumbent stationary bike which was an unexpected but wonderful option to have. It keeps my hands free if I have to do something else like crochet or read or write reviews for Buy-Her.

The digital read out counts steps, distance, time and calories. The only drawback is that it is not customizable to weight, so I don’t know how accurate the calories burned figure is, but since I am heavier than the average person, I assume I’m burning a bit more than the number displayed. I don’t worry about all of that too much anyway, so it’s perfectly fine with me.

All in all, I’d have to say this is a wonderful little piece of exercise equipment. As a hater of the treadmill this is a perfect alternative and I could not be more pleased. I have a feeling if I keep with it, I’m going to see some results in no time.

Orlando, here I come!! And to my former friends? Eat. your. heart out.  I’m a woman on a mission.

Gear Up: Spin Class

The New Year is fast approaching and we all know what that means – resolutions!  January 1^st is when most people want to shed those holiday pounds, and move toward a healthier lifestyle.  A great way to do that is to take a spin class.

What’s a spin class?  It’s a group cycling class that utilizes stationary bicycles and is led by an instructor that keeps you moving for the entire hour.  It’s a fantastic cardiovascular workout, and with the loud music and an enthusiastic instructor, it’s a whole lot of fun!

For your first class you don’t need any extra gear except a water bottle and a towel.  You can wear your regular gym clothes and tennis shoes, as most spin bikes have double-sided pedals with toe clips on one side while the other side can accommodate bike shoes.

When you go to your first class make sure you arrive early. Tell the instructor it’s your first class and ask her to help you adjust your bike for a proper fit. Make a mental note of where they moved each component so that you can do it yourself the next time.

The instructor will probably also explain the commands and hand positions they are going to be shouting out during the class.  If they don’t, just ask them if there is anything else you need to know about the class.  They want you to have a good experience and don’t mind your questions.

Most classes last about an hour.  During that time you’re going to hear commands to go faster, and to increase or decrease your resistance.  There will be times you sit on the seat, the “saddle,” and times you will be up out of it.  Go at your own pace.  This is your workout!  Challenge yourself, but keep it real.  You don’t have to increase your resistance every time the instructor says to, and you don’t have to be out of the saddle every time the class is. You are less likely to want to do this again if you push yourself into the barf zone during the first class. I recommend taking it slower for your first class so you can make it through the hour and see what a full class is like. There’s plenty of time to really push it later!

Make sure you are hydrating throughout the class to replace the fluids lost to the 84 gallons of sweat you will produce during one class. A water bottle you can use one-handed is best.  I like the Camelback bottles because the bite straw is convenient.

After your first class you’re going to have a pretty good idea whether you want to do this again.  Hey, it isn’t for everyone!  You’re also going to be pretty sure you want some padding for your butt, because you will be sore even with padded shorts.  It takes about a month to break in your sitting area, but I promise it does get better.

You can spend anywhere from $30 to $100 on bike shorts.  I bought a $30 liner that goes under my regular shorts, but I plan on buying a pair of cycling shorts like these Pearl iZUMi shorts because the compression of the spandex really does help your legs tire less quickly.

Some people bring gel seat covers to class with them, but I’m not a fan.  They’re inexpensive at about $30 and they offer padding, but they also soak up sweat and the ick factor is a deterrent for me.  I like that I can peel off my shorts and throw them in the wash.

If you start to get serious, you might want to invest in cycling shoes. Most spin classes use SPD (Shimano Pedal Design) pedals, but ask your instructor to make sure before you buy. There are a lot of options out there, so there is something for everyone. My favorite are the Shimano WM61, which are women-specific mountain bike shoes that have a ratcheting closure you can tighten or loosen on the fly. You will need to buy the SPD cleats separately, but most retailers will install them for you if you purchase them together.

Spinning is a fantastic workout and I hope you love it as much as I do!

Featured photo by Ben Alford/Flickr

New Balance Sneakers v. Fancy Kicks. (Or, Trust Your Instincts.)

I’m from New Jersey, and you need to know that those MTV stereotypes are lies. I’m paler than pale; I don’t even own hairspray or hoop earrings; and I haven’t been to the Jersey Shore in years. Also, the only people with that awful accent are New Yorkers.

I will confess, though, that the mall stereotype is true. I spent my 1990s teenagerhood in a mall. (And I paid the price: I used up a lifetime of mall tolerance in one decade. Thank the baby Jesus for Amazon Prime.)

So if you told me in 1995 that I’d be writing about shoe shopping in 2010, I’d get it – but if you told me I’d be a runner? I’d have snickered over my Orange Julius, hitched up my handful of purchases (probably a plaid oxford shirt, a tiny pair of silver earrings, and the latest cassette single), and told you to get lost. Me, a runner? No way. I was not an athlete. Mostly, although I wouldn’t have admitted or even realized it, because I was scared to try.

Fast-forward 15 years. I’ve just gotten my black belt in tae kwon do, I do yoga, rock climbing – and, yes, I run. As long as 10 miles, and about 20 5Ks, but usually just a couple of miles a few times a week. It took me long enough, and I’m not the best, but I’m here and I love it.

Not having being athletic growing up, though, means I never had a coach, I never went shopping for new gear or kit with my parents: in short, I haven’t a clue what to buy.

So when I started to actually think of myself as A Runner, I became skeptical of my faithful New Balance sneakers. Sure, they were comfortable, but what did I know? I’d never really used running shoes for running. How did I know if they were any good?

There’s a fancy running-shoe store 90 minutes from me: a cavernous place with a patented super-high-tech way to fit you for sneakers. They would know, right? So I drove all that way. Stood barefoot on a special mat so a computer could map the pressure I put on different parts of my feet. Ran on a treadmill so another computer could analyze my gait. Listened to the experts discuss my results. And I ended up…

…with a pair of expensive running shoes that I hated. I kept convincing myself that they’d been Chosen For Me and I just needed to get used to them. I trusted the fancy process more than what my own body was telling me. I spent six months with blisters before I wised up. I admitted the truth and got a pair of New Balance 738s. I absolutely adore them.

I’ve got wide feet, regular arches, I don’t pronate, I crosstrain, and I’m usually only running about 5 miles a week. I absolutely love New Balance athletic shoes, and I’d recommend them to anyone, but your mileage with these particular sneaks may vary. (Pun intended.)

And that’s my whole point. That’s why I love Buy-Her: because your mileage does vary. See, what matters is not what the sales pitch says or what the experts say you’re supposed to like. What matters is what it feels like for real people like you and me. And the more we trust our own reactions, the better we’ll be at choosing purchases that really help our lives.

GE Strong As Steel – A Good Laugh And A PRIZE!

I get a lot of emails from PR people who are both very serious and very excited about their very serious and important products.

I usually roll my eyes because, really?  We’re jumping up and down about razor blades?  No.  Not really.

Not that we don’t need razor blades, mind you – but let’s not pretend that OUR LIVES! THEY ARE CHANGED! BY THIS AWESOME RAZOR BLADE!  THAT I HAVE BEEN COVETING!

This is not, by the way, a post about razor blades.

What this is, in fact, is a post about a marketing campaign that made me laugh so hard that I couldn’t wait to share it with you.

Ladies (and gentleman), I give you the latest craze in workout videos…

Strong As Steel from Strong As Steel on Vimeo.

My witty and insightful commentary – after the jump.

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I finally found the perfect workout pants!

For the last four years, my favorite workout pants have been a pair of maternity yoga capris.

Yes, maternity.

No, I’m not – nor have been in the last four years – pregnant.

But these were the only pants I’d found that were comfortable and flattering, probably in part because of the extra support in the belly.  Unfortunately, while I have no shame in wearing maternity clothes for years after I’ve given birth, I’m not willing to walk into a store and buy maternity clothes when I am obviously not pregnant.

But I’ve been tempted.

I’ve started taking a weekly cycling class and they demand you wear pants to class.  I’ve also taken a pilates class and showed up to the gym to use the elliptical routine – and all of those activities require pants as well.  For months I’ve struggled to find workout pants that I loved as much as my solitary pair of maternity capris.

I’m happy to report, my quest for the perfect workout pants is finally over.

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Friday Flops: MBT Shoes and Sandals

The world has lost its damn mind.

That’s the only plausible explanation I can come up with for how in the hell MBT shoes not only exist, but are purchased and worn by adults.

What are MBT shoes?

Apparently, they are very technical shoes that work out your legs and core muscles and improve your posture when you wear them.

But Britt, that sounds awesome!  I can have great legs without ever having to exercise just by putting on a pair of shoes?  What’s not to love?

People, please.  Will you look at these things?

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