Maggie Downie, Author at Personal Euphoria: Pilates & Fitness Classes in CT

About Maggie Downie

Thank you for giving your time to stop and read my blog. I hope it encourages you to keep moving. Move and the body will be happier. And when you're moving you can hike, run, swim in Jell-O, race over non-Newtonian fluids, travel the world or build igloos--if that's your thing. If not, you can watch me do it. This is just a spot to try and feel good about life.

Smoothie Challenge: Do It With Friends

Though I didn’t set myself a deadline, I’m falling behind on my smoothie challenge. I set a goal of making all 30 smoothies from a new cookbook I got. Right now I doubt I’ll have tried 30 by the end of the year, which was definitely my intent at the beginning. I’m only on number five. I thought I’d try three a week. I’m lucky when I make two.

I’ve started recruiting my friends to make it more fun. This week I made one for me and Matt’s sister and then I made a group of friends try one on our regular Survivor night get together.

The one I had with Cindy was my favorite so far. Survivor night’s was bland, but refreshing. It takes a real trooper to try the smoothies. I like to play a game where you guess what’s in it, so there is a bit of trust […]

Smoothie Challenge: Do It With FriendsMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:34:31-04:00

No More Sexy Hip Sway When Walking!!!

Plank in Bryce Canyon. Plank is one way to strengthen your glute medius and prevent a sexy hip sway!

I just read an article online that was coaching women on the proper way to sway our hips to appeal to men when walking. Apparently, you can’t over-do the sway too much or it will look like you’re trying too hard; it’s got to be subtle and look natural. The writer suggested throwing on a pair of high heels and just letting the sway come naturally. Then they posted a video of two women walking in heels, hips swaying and described it as the “RIGHT way to walk.” The Pilates instructor wanted to cry a little.

I get it. We want to be sexy. And maybe no one cares about proper walking mechanics and why women shouldn’t try to sway their hips. But just in case, here is why you should care. Walking properly, with a neutral pelvis, can help keep your joints safer […]

No More Sexy Hip Sway When Walking!!!Maggie Downie2018-04-06T08:47:13-04:00

Do You Need A Coma To Inspire You?

When I ran the Surftown Half Marathon in September I ran about a mile with a guy I’d never met. We struck up a conversation because he was thinking of doing a RagnarRelay and I was wearing a Ragnar Relay t-shirt. I’ve decided an amusing shirt is a good tool on a long run. It becomes a conversation piece. Next time I’m going to try to come up with something even better than an old Ragnar shirt.

As we chatted he told me that he had a snowboarding injury that left him in a coma. The doctors gave him a list of activities he’d never be able to do again. So he decided to prove them wrong. This year he was running a half marathon and training for a triathlon to prove he could run, swim and bike. He’d never done any of these activities prior.

After a mile, I slowed down and we parted ways, but in a brief time a man I didn’t […]

Do You Need A Coma To Inspire You?Maggie Downie2014-08-04T18:02:20-04:00

Better CT: Feet

If you didn’t get to see the segment on feet that I did on Better CT earlier this week, you can watch it here. Maggie on Better CT.

The show was a lot of fun and the segment went by so fast!

Personal Euphoria

Better CT: FeetMaggie Downie2014-08-04T18:02:20-04:00

Stop Cravings Fast

The older I get the more cravings I seem to have. Chocolate and salt show up a tad too often in my daily life. But it turns out clenching your fists might help you keep from grabbing that late night snack. New research showed that when people tensed a muscle for 30-seconds they were more likely to control impulses. Does it work? I’m not sure, but it’s worth a try. Maybe just trying will be such distraction, you’ll forget about your carving.

So next time you feel like binging, try clenching your fists instead.

(That picture is from last year at the Big E when I devoured a bacon cheese burger on a donut–talk about a sweet/salty craving.)

Personal Euphoria

Stop Cravings FastMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:27-04:00

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