Puma Power for Flat-footed Athletes

I seriously considered posting a "Non-Scale Victory" badge last week when I finally, yea verily, finally found a pair of running shoes that not only fit my flat feet but also provide adequate support for my left ankle, which is fraught with two steel plates and 10 pins.

Honestly, I almost hollered "Hallelujah!" in the store when I tried on this Puma Women's Cell Flexion shoe. It was so comfortable, in fact, I would have bought TWO pair, had they had a second pair in my size.

The good news is that although the shoes are listed for $100 on the Puma Store web site, I bought the gold and white version at
T. J. Maxx for $39. Tonight, I found the silver and blue style on sale for $39 on this Finish Line site.

This sort of serendipitous good fortune, my friends, does my heart good.

Happy Valentine's Day!

One Foot in Front of the Other

Walking. Seems like such a simple way to derive all these benefits.

The laryngitis I described yesterday turned out to be a strain of flu not prevented by a standard flu shot. DH and I are each on a round of meds; and I'm confined to isolation for 48 hours after the fever breaks. So...I won't be going to the gym while I'm contagious, but I might sneak out for a walk around the neighborhood.

***Later***On second thought, that wasn't such a good idea. My chest really hurts now. I should have read this first:

If your symptoms are from the neck up, meaning you have sniffles, a runny nose, headache and perhaps a very mild cough, it's probably OK to perform a mild workout. The key is to make sure you have no difficulty breathing during or after a workout. Definitely cut back, though, especially if you're a type A at the gym. Experts agree that going at one third your normal pace might be the best way to proceed and if you feel worse a few hours later - give yourself a few days rest.

If you're symptoms are primarily neck down, that is you've got a deep chest cough or a fever, you should skip working out altogether until you feel much better. Chest pain means you most likely have inflamed tissue in the lungs and working out will cause an even worse inflammation. Sleep and rest are the better choice.

Happy Mardi Gras!

And if you're in a Super Tuesday state, PLEASE vote!!

Leslie Sansone's 3-Minute Mini-Walk

Q. What do you call a mother who wears a pedometer?

A. A pe-DOM-mom. (Smile.)

A few days ago, my new pedometer arrived. The big surprise was that using it didn't discourage me. Instead, it helped me see how many steps I already take in a normal day. Merely walking an extra "lap" from my office chair to the coffee pot nearly doubled my daily steps. (That should also give you an idea how much coffee I drink!)

Still, that's not enough steps to get me to the Phase I exercise level.

On one of the Best Life discussion threads, somebody suggested
Leslie Sansone's Walk at Home DVDsas a good way to get started.

Need a free preview? Watch
Leslie's desk-side three-minute mini-walk twice a day as a way to rev up your energy and be more active. Remember, it's not good to sit for long periods without moving.