Category Archives: Health and Beauty

Hot Fitness Trend: Getting R.I.P.P.E.D.

Posted on by October 25, 2011

Have you heard about the new fitness trend, R.I.P.P.E.D.? Think Zumba, meets P90x, meets Tae Bo and good old-fashioned interval training.

Terry Shorter, me, and Alex Isaly

R.I.P.P.E.D. was created by two California boys in 2008 and it stands for Resistance, Intervals, Power, Plyometrics, Endurance and Diet. Naturally these two guys’ bodies, embody all that is “ripped.”

My trainer thought it’d be a good idea to bring the R.I.P.P.E.D boys to our gym to offer the class to its members. … Read more ...

Wordless(ish) Wednesday: In Raising Breast Cancer Awareness, Is this Tasteless?

Posted on by October 19, 2011

Consider this:

According to the American Cancer Society, “the use of alcohol is clearly linked to an increased risk of developing breast cancer” and the National Cancer Institute says “even moderate drinking has been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer.”

So… What do you think of liquor companies connecting their products with breast cancer awareness. Is this offensive? Increasingly some breast cancer awareness advocates have become critical of companies jumping on the pink bandwagon.

Or do you think it’s OK to raise … Read more ...

A Girls Getaway: Finding Sanity And Fun On Our Vacation in Bermuda

Posted on by October 15, 2011

Pink sands. Turquoise water. Baby blue skies. It’s Bermuda, and man is it perfect.

Bermuda HotelAbout a year ago, eight girlfriends began planning this vacation. An escape to paradise with college roommates, sorority sisters and 7th grade pals. We chose Bermuda because it was a place that none of us had visited and as a getaway, it was perfection.

Bermuda is about 640 miles east of North Carolina, or basically a 2 hours flight for much of the East Coast.

 

The Hotel

We stayed at … Read more ...

One Year Later: My First Marathon

Posted on by October 10, 2011

*I wrote this Oct. 22, 2006

When I crossed the starting line, I was terrified and wondered “What in the hell am I doing?” It was very cold with wind chills in the mid-to upper- 30s and a little drizzle here and there on the course.

But the only chills I got was from hearing the crowds cheer, especially because I shamelessly had my name plastered in big yellow letters across the front of my black shirt. (A friend of mine gave me … Read more ...

… I Think I Want To Run A Marathon

Posted on by October 10, 2011

*I wrote this on Oct. 15, 2005.

Are you there God? It’s me… Melanie… and I think I want to run a marathon.

Yes, a marathon. A 26.2-mile, life-changing journey. The grueling feat that has claimed lives, millions of hamstrings and probably billions of toe nails. I don’t know why, I just have a yearning to do it. Well, to try to do it. I’ve been running off and on for two years. Usually just one or two three-mile runs a month. Then in … Read more ...