I have so much I want to write — and my NYC Half Marathon on Sunday — but work has been so busy and stressful that I just don’t have the energy right now. I did want to tell you all about a very cool content that Dick’s Sporting Goods is holding on my favorite website of all time, the Twitters. I don’t even have to write this, they wrote it all for me:

Enter on Twitter for a chance to become a member of Dick’s Sporting Goods “Starting Lineup.” If you are one of 10 winners, you get to test out new products for Dick’s Sporting Goods!

FAQs:

What does it mean to be on the “Starting Lineup”?

• A chance to try out and preview new products
• A spot on an online panel of experts for one season (for approximately 3 months)
• Access to exclusive online surveys
• A chance to sound off on all things sports

How does someone try for a chance to be on the “Starting Lineup”?

• Follow http://twitter.com/dickssportcmo.
• Vote for yourself (or someone else) by telling @dickssportcmo who should be on the “Starting Lineup” and why. Sample Tweet: “@dickssportcmo my vote is for @TwitterID because…”
• Recruit others to do the same.
• You can only vote for the same person once per day, but you can vote for multiple people in the same day.

*Make sure you’re following @dickssportcmo or your vote won’t count!

The 10 nominees with the most votes by March 31, 2010 win. More details on their Facebook page. This is a very cool contest, so I hope you all have some fun with it. As far as I’m concerned, everything is fun on Twitter. Time to crash.

The next time you hear from me, I will be a full year older and a half marathon wiser.

A few weeks ago I got to tour a company I think is fantastic — The Lite Choice! I took the tour with Katie from Lil Veggie Patch and was happy to have a friend with me. I went to the tour right after a 9 mile training run, which included the NYRR Run for Haiti! Needless to say, I was starving. I also only had 5 minutes to change clothes, so please excuse my appearance.

The Lite Choice seems like frozen yogurt or ice cream, but really they are considered soft serve. They don’t contain the cultures necessary to be called yogurt and they don’t contain NEARLY enough fat to be called ice cream! A few years ago, I noticed that many Tasti Delite locations turned into The Lite Choice. I assumed it was the same thing but did not realize that The Lite Choice (TLC) started as a healthier alternative to Tasti Delite, which uses artificial flavors and fake sugars. Blech to that.

The Lite Choice (to take Katie’s well written explanation), has 70 readily available flavors, 51 of which are USDA-certified organic.  64 flavors are gluten-free, and they’re working on improving those last 6 flavors.  The soft serve is sweetened with beet and cane sugars; no extra sugar is added.  (You can find the nutritional information for each flavor online.) They have 30 locations, with 16 of them being in NYC.

I do want to make a note that I try not to eat dairy much. I generally purchase coconut based ice creams, but I will have dairy every now and again. And of course for this tour, it was no question!

I always thought that the only flavors I could get at TLC were the ones on the board each day:

But really, you can get any flavor at any time! They use natural almond and peanut butters, which they grind right in the stores, for flavoring. They also have a selection of organic and natural syrups. Everything is low in calories as well. Even better? They use green (environmentally friendly) cleaning practices!

And they are certified Kosher for all you religious Dori’s Shiny Blog readers.

In addition to soft serve, you can get milkshakes (OBSESSED with my oreo milkshake), Vitamin B shakes, Protein shakes (made with whey protein, a dairy protein) and coffee freezes. I seriously plan to get an oreo milkshake next time I am there again, it was THAT good.

They make yummy hot fudge sundaes and hot chocolate as well. LOVE the hot chocolate, especially one that is so low calorie and tastes chocolatey and amazing. I’d get this more often if I passed a TLC on my commute.

TLC also has a wonderful toppings bar with pretty much anything you might want. Katie even got Puffins on hers! I opted for my favorite topping, peanut butter chips. Mmmmm…

In their freezer section we sampled bars, ice cream cakes, flying saucers and pints of soft serve. Yes, we sampled EVERYTHING. I particularly loved the almond butter flavor, which was made by blending vanilla soft serve and their freshly ground (right in front of me!) almond butter. Heaven.

You can follow TLC on Twitter for daily discounts and promotions. I do!

Oh — Hi Missy!

Here I am with the founder, Ron and the operations manager, Claudia, and of course Katie:

It was a really great tour. So great I stayed and sampled and learned for 2 hours! Everything tastes so good, fresh and REAL. Which of course cannot be said for all of their “low calorie” competitors. If you’re in NYC I definitely suggest you try out The Lite Choice!

I cannot believe we are almost midway through March. 2010 is really flying by, huh? It’s time for my recap of my Core Fusion Challenge!

What started as a 30 day challenge — and an amazing opportunity made possible by the generosity of Fred DeVito — turned into 2 months of an experience that totally changed my life in so many ways. Back in December, Fred asked me if I’d like to take Core Fusion classes 4-5 times a week and document my experience on my blog and on the exhale website. Of course I said yes. I was struggling with my weight and body image in November and December, having actually gained a bit of weight from October to that time. I felt uncomfortable, I couldn’t fit into my clothing and I was having a hard time making any substantial changes.

Additionally, I was suffering from a chronic gastrointestinal illness that kept me feeling in pain, bloated, uncomfortable and pretty miserable most of the time. I knew things needed to change and this was my opportunity to make these changes.

I had taken Core Fusion a bunch of times, but never with any regularity. The classes are pricey at $35 a class (made less expensive with class/monthly packages and specials on sites like Rue La La) and a monthly membership is more expensive than a regular gym membership. For that reason, I never seriously considered joining. If I had to choose one thing, I figured I’d choose a gym that costs less and offers a great variety (or so I thought).

So in January I began to take Core Fusion classes regularly. But at the same time, a few other changes occurred. My boyfriend and I ended our relationship, which was stressful because I had to move a lot of stuff into a very tiny apartment – but it was like a breath of fresh air at the same time. I had more time to evaluate my goals and priorities. I took better control of my stomach problems by eating smaller portions which really seemed to help my general discomfort.

I was writing more, as per the requirement for this challenge. As a writer, this was the nudge I needed to get back into practice. I was feeling happier and more positive about everything in my life. And, the most important changes from this time:

I was doing Core Fusion almost every day — finding and learning new things about myself, my strength, my capabilities. At the same time, I was networking with a group of amazing women who were participating in the challenge with me — many from home using the Core Fusion DVDs

I know it was a combination of those things that contributed to my feeling so much better, but I do attribute Core Fusion for helping the rest fall into place. Through these classes, I found my real love for treating my body well — for treating mySELF well, really. I never “loved” exercise other than running before. I did it because I felt like I had to. And I never did any strength training. I knew it was important, but I didn’t really know it was important, you know? I knew it because people said it but it never got through to me enough to put it to practice.

So there I was in January, my life drastically different than just a few weeks before. I was pushing myself through Core Fusion classes, struggling with soreness and bad knees. It was hard but I always felt great at the end of class and I was generally enjoying myself. Then I started taking Core Fusion Yoga and found a yoga love there, which I needed in my life. And I continued to attend Core Fusion and each day continued to love it more.

The results started showing quickly. After just two weeks, a friend of mine noticed muscle definition in my glutes and thighs. After a month, I met with Catherine, the health counselor and Core Fusion teacher I’ve been working with, for measurements and photos. We took measurements at the beginning of the challenge, and I was excited to see what the numbers showed.

And oh how the numbers showed! I lost about .5 inch all over and about 4% of my total body fat in just one month. After posting these results, it came to our attention that at least one person was concerned about these numbers. What I failed to explain in my measurements post was the fact that machines like the body fat/BMI machine include a 4% margin of error. I assumed it was understood, but it appears I was wrong. Additionally, food eaten, hydration and other factors can affect this number.

That said, even if the numbers of the body fat percentage were not my specific numbers, the fact that the number decreased after one month is still valid. The margin of error is the same; the only difference is me. However, to address this issue, Catherine and I met again to do all measurements and photos a third time. The numbers were still incredible. It reported a 3% body fat loss from the beginning of the challenge — still an amazing thing for a month and a half! (In the interest of full disclosure, we did these measurements at the end of the day rather than the beginning like the 4% result). My BMI went down by .2, and I lost about 2 pounds from the first day Catherine weighed me.

However, NONE of those numbers mattered at all to me. What mattered to me was the way I felt. Jeans that I could barely get past my thighs in December, much less close the button on, were now comfortable. Beyond comfortable, in fact. I was suddenly able to wear an entire wardrobe I didn’t have access to previously. One pair of jeans, I wore it all day, through breakfast, lunch and dinner — dinner OUT. And I didn’t feel like I was going to suffocate. I felt great!

In addition to how I felt in clothes, there’s also the matter of how I felt health wise. And the answer is that I felt better than I had in two and a half years, since I first got sick. As I said, I started eating smaller portions which of course contributed. But that’s not such a constant, as the amount I eat changes every day. What stayed the same was the fact that I was taking Core Fusion. I don’t believe I would be feeling as good as I am today if not for taking Core Fusion regularly. I was considering having major surgery in April and now I am not. I’m going to ride this whole “feeling good” wave as long as I can, by continuing to do everything I have been doing that seems to be working — and that includes lots of Core Fusion.

I also have mirrors in my home. I look in these mirrors. I can SEE the differences in my body. I can feel the differences as well. I’ve got muscle definition and tone all over. For those of you who are scared of getting bulky, I’ve got none of that. Just tone and definition. I love making a muscle in my arm and seeing my bicep! And I see it when I don’t plan to, like when I’m in the curl position, holding onto my outer thighs, and I look down at my arms and — HELLO MUSCLE!

I am stronger. Much stronger! I can now do long form pushups (!!!!!!!). I can use a heavier weight for upper body than when I started. I can hold planks for a really long time!! My knees don’t hurt when I run anymore — and I just ran 11 miles on Saturday! My legs don’t shake as much when we do thigh work at the bar. I can get much deeper into the curl position during abs and feel my abs burning more. And of course, there is the issue of my flexibility — being that now, I HAVE SOME! My new favorite part of class is round back against the wall, just because it means I get to show off my newfound flexibility to everyone in the room. Yes, my legs shake the entire time. No, I can’t let go of my calves and put my hands under the bar if that is what the rest of the class is doing. But I CAN DO IT. I can get my legs straight up and stretch them in a new way and look in the mirror and admire how straight they are and feel like I made amazing progress. And I have no doubt in my mind that after a couple months of stretching like this (maybe less?) I will be able to lift my hands off my calves and keep my legs straight up without holding on. It will happen.

In the second month of this challenge, I reaped even many more benefits than the first. This is when I noticed my body begin to reshape, which is something exhale boasts but I needed to see for myself. My body truly is a different shape. For the first time in a long time, I don’t hate my body. I hate to sound so negative, but I have struggled with body image issues for a very long time. Now, I look in the mirror and see all the hard work over the last 2 months. Am I as “thin” as I was a few years ago? No. Do I feel even more confident and happy in how I look and feel than I did a few years ago? YES. I don’t go on the scale because I don’t want it to ever be about the scale again. It is about how I look and feel. I look and feel strong. I look and feel great. My confidence has improved greatly.

And, another friend noticed that my arms are muscular and complimented me a couple weeks ago. Validation is always nice.

One more thing I wanted to cover in this very long recap (sorry!) is the social network support I’ve received throughout this time. When I started the Core Fusion Challenge, I opened it up to anyone who wanted to take part, at class or with the DVDs. I expected some people to follow along but I didn’t expect anything like what I got. I met so many amazing women, all striving to be their best, to work hard, to achieve results. They gave me so much support, encouragement and motivation throughout this time. And they still do now, as I remain in touch with most of them! I even made friends through this! I’ve taken Core Fusion classes with some new people as a result of my challenge who I now hang out with and talk to regularly. How amazing! And I know that every time I write a post or need an opinion, I have a support group ready to hear about my Core Fusion experiences and willing to offer their advice and guidance.

And of course, there is Fred, Catherine and the wonderful teachers at exhale spa who I got to work with this entire time. I was so lucky to have Fred to offer support and answer any questions I had. If something hurt, he gave me expert advice and within a couple days I was as good as new. Catherine has been a rock for me throughout this time as well. I went through some very tough times during the last 2 months — a close friend passed away, I had to adjust to moving back to my tiny apartment after a breakup, another friend betrayed me in a horrible way — and Catherine has been there for me every step of the way, doing all she could to make sure I was okay. If anyone ever needs a health counselor (or to take a great Core Fusion class), I cannot recommend Catherine enough.

The other teachers at exhale have also been incredible. I tried taking as many different teachers as possible during this tim. Every one was fantastic and they all have something special to offer. Exhale does a spectacular job at training these teachers (16 week training program!) and as a result, we get teachers who know how to teach well, correct our form, push us harder and make us want to be better with each class.

I tried taking as many different types of classes as possible. Core Fusion was the main goal here, to be supplemented with the other class offerings at exhale.  As a result, I tried Core Fusion Yoga, Music Yoga Flow, Yoga – Level 1 and Core Fusion Cardio. I continue to take Core Fusion Yoga and Core Fusion Cardio about once a week each, as well as Core Fusion a few times a week, and I just love every class. I crave them. As soon as one class ends, I want to go back for more. It is addicting but not in an unhealthy way. It is simply fun. I’m not trying to lose weight, I am trying to be the best version of me I can be. This challenge helped me realize how I can go about this and gave me an amazing starting point.

While my Core Fusion Challenge has officially ended, my Core Fusion experience is far from over as I continue to take class just as much as I have been. The results, the positivity I feel, the calmness and peace at the end of each class — I am not willing to give any of this up. I can tell you with certainty that Core Fusion simply works. It is worth the price because a gym membership won’t get you these results – especially if you are like me and don’t bother with strength training. I brought a few friends to try Core Fusion and they are all hooked. The experience is much more enjoyable than what a gym could give you. It is hard to motivate yourself but the teachers at Core Fusion do the job quite well!

I hope you try it out if you haven’t yet. If you are a brand new student, you can try a week of unlimited classes for just $40. The DVDs are all affordably priced as well on Amazon as well. The brand new DVD which is more like a real Core Fusion class is called Lean & Toned and comes out in May. I will be reviewing it here closer to then and I am very excited about it.

Thanks for keeping up my entire challenge! The Core Fusion Challenge came into my life at the perfect time. I am so happy you got to share it with me.

As you all know, I am running my first half marathon, the NYC Half Marathon, on my birthday — March 21. I am so excited and happy to announce that my long runs have been going so well! No knee pain, no foot tendinitis pain. After (a surprisingly easy) 10 on the treadmill last weekend, I did get a case of the black toenails. It hurt. Turns out Jack Rabbit in NYC fitted me incorrectly and my shoes were too small, so I brought the shoes in and they gave me the larger size. Then I went to the podiatrist (why do I have 2 podistrists that I love and 0 gastroenterologists??) and he drained my toenails. He also confirmed that I am now, in fact, a true hardcore runner. Welcome to the club, Dori!

I was concerned about my upcoming 11 miler but my toes felt much better the day before. And yesterday I ran 11 miles outside in the gorgeous weather and my toes did not hurt! I felt great.

I am so excited for the NYC Half! I know it will be amazing. I am especially excited to run down 7th avenue through Times Square amongst cheering spectators! I think I should make a shirt that says it’s my birthday? Tacky? Thoughts?

My friend Melissa wrote a post the other day where she mentioned a half marathon taking place in Queens on April 3, two weeks after the NYC Half. I was intrigued. The race takes place in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, in my hometown! Just a 5 minute drive from my mom’s house. And the race sounds fun — it is the inaugural 13.1 Marathon — New York. This race is part of the 13.1 Marathon series, which is popping up all over the country. The tagline is “Where the party meets the pavement” and I found out they have live bands throughout the race and a fun after party that might or might not include beer.

I registered.

Am I crazy??! Maybe. But here’s what I’m thinking: I can run another half marathon and won’t have to train!! I will ALREADY be trained. Really, what’s the difference between running 12 miles next week and 13.1 the week after? And then 13.1 again two weeks after? Not such a huge deal. And it will be FUN. And in my hood. My mom can come (read: drive me) and cheer me on. My friends can come. The course is AWESOME. And running two half marathons is kind of like running one full one, just with a 2 week walking break. No?  :)

The race begins at Arthur Asche stadium, where I was fortunate to watch Roger Federer (swoon) play in the US Open this past summer. The race ends here:

[Source]

And there you have it. If you think I am crazy or if you just want to praise me, feel free to comment or email and let me know. I am open to all opinions. Not that it matters, because it’s ON!

Anyone else want to run it too?

If I can run 11, I can run 13.1. Twice.  Let half marathon season begin!

At the last minute, my evening opened up and I decided to take Fred’s Core Fusion class on Wednesday night.

I knew it was different from the beginning.

I knew it was different when I decided to stretch before class while sitting on the floor with my legs extended in front of me. I reached forward and for the very first time in my life — including the 12 years I spent taking dance class — I was able to touch my toes. Yes, I had to severely flex my feet to do this, but that’s neither here nor there. For the first time in my life, I could touch my toes.

I knew it was different when I was able to put my yoga blocks on the level closest to the floor instead of the middle or highest (there are 3 levels) during the stretches of our right leg, when we go into splits (or in my case, tiny attempts at splits). I knew it was different when I was able to abandon the yoga blocks completely during the stretch and split of my left leg, which has always been my more flexible side. But not that flexible.

I knew it was different when the class sat in rounded backs against the wall to put their legs straight up in front of them. I took my strap like always around my right foot, my tighter leg, my foot with tendinitis. I was able to stretch the leg higher than it had been recently.

I knew it was different when I moved the strap to my left leg and my leg stretched up so far towards my face that I couldn’t believe how naturally it happened.

Fred noticed.

He came up to me and told me to put the strap aside. For a second I thought he was going to show me a new stretch but when he told me to lift my right leg too and put my hands on my calves I understood what was happening.

“This is your graduation day,” Fred told me.

I was with the rest of the class. My legs were straight up in front of me. Shaking uncontrollably, yes. But they there. Straight. Up. I was in shock. I was smiling. No, it wasn’t easy. But I did it. Two months of hard work and I accomplished one of my initial goals. A goal, I might add, that I never really thought was remotely possible.

When I started this challenge in the beginning of January, I outlined my objectives to Fred, and one objective was to be able to join the class during this portion. I’ve often been frustrated when I feel like the only person in the room who can’t follow along. I sometimes feel jipped, like I am missing an essential ab workout. Of course, I was not jipped. I am getting there in my own time. Getting my body ready to go there — because everyone’s capabilities are different. Certain things will always be easier for someone else than they are for you. Certain things will always be easier for you than it will be for someone else.

But really, I never expected this to happen. I even told Catherine, the exhale health counselor & core fusion teacher, in our last meeting that I know my body and I know I will never be able to join the class in this exercise.

Ha! What do I know?

But Fred knew.

And it was in his class that I was pushed past any thoughts of “I can’t.” And, instead, I did. I accomplished a major goal. After almost 27 years of living with terrible flexibility and 12 years of dance where I just couldn’t do the stretches; after accepting that I am just not a flexible person, using the excuse that “I have a tight lower back” and being sure I could never significantly improve in this area, I was proved wrong.

There is no question about it. I knew Core Fusion helped me so far with building muscle, gaining strength, improving my core/glutes/abs/arms, transforming my body, helping me fit back into my clothes. But I wasn’t sure if it was helping my flexibility. Until Wednesday night, when all the small improvements I didn’t notice finally added up and became one big – and very noticeable – improvement.

After just two months of taking Core Fusion classes regularly, I can say with 100% certainty that I greatly improved my flexibility.

I will never again say “I can’t.”