I have 3 pair of sneakers that I usually rotate during my workouts, 3 for these reasons: The first pair is meant exclusively for running; they were chosen because of comfort and durability. they aren’t the most stylish shoes in my closet but this is where you need to focus on function over form. The second pair is usually worn when I work out outdoors. They have the same comfort as the running shoe but they are more rigid, have more grip and I really don’t care what they look like after my workouts. The third and final pair are just substitute sneakers. In order to maintain a fresh life on the other 2, I rotate the 3rd pair in and out of the weekly workouts. They have some of the qualities of each shoe so I guess these are my “utility” pair.

With all of that said, I realized that I was wearing all three of these pair of sneakers to the gym. Although I had sneakers dedicated to running and outdoor workouts, i didn’t have a pair dedicated to the gym. So it was time to go shopping. The shoe of choice is the NIKE Free TR. I have worn them for a little over a week and I’ll give you my opinion.

Concept:
NIKE’s “FREE” line incorporates a composite sole that is divided several times from toe to the heel. This allows for full extension of the foot when you take a stride. So imagine starting your stride BAREFOOTED. You push your momentum forward and your center of balance moves from your heel along the bottom of your foot all the way to your your toes as you push off of them preparing for your next step. with a typical shoe, your one-piece sole does not allow you to flex the ball of your foot; your steps are usually only felt by your heel and toe. NIKE FREE recreates barefoot strides.

Design:
As I mentioned with the sole, the entire sneaker is actually made out of composite materials. Additionally, in order to stay in line with recreating the barefoot experience, there is minimal support throughout the sneaker. Along a regular running shoe’s side, there is foam and cloth covered plastic to keep the sneaker snug against your foot. What NIKE FREE has done is remove these items and replace it with 2 structure points; one right along the outside ridge of your foot and the second on the inside by the ball of your foot. These structure points are actually pieces of composite string (Liquid Crystal Polymer Fiber) that NIKE has trademarked called VECTRAN covered by a thin flat piece of exterior material. If you look at the photos close enough, you can actually see the VECTRAN or “FIREWIRE” fibers; there are 8 on each structure point. This not only lightens the shoe considerably, but it also allows the sneaker to continue to mold to your foot from the time you tie it to taking your first step.

My Experience:
Wearing them on the street: I wore them out in the city for the first day. I was out for about half of the day and did a lot of walking. The shoes were not only comfortable, but they did get looks so they scored stylish points in my head. What I did notice early is that the FREE thing wasn’t a gimmick. Allowing my foot to roll fully from the front to the back on each step ended up working out my calve muscles and man did I feel it!

In the gym: NIKE FREE’s lasted as expected through my seated and standing exercises in the gym. The real test to me was going to be the treadmill. So in regular fashion, I first placed the treadmill on an incline of 6 and a speed of 4 and walked a hill for 10 minutes. After that I decreased the incline and sped it up to 6 mph. I must admit that on the treadmill, I felt unbalanced and felt a burn in my calve muscles that I have never experienced in the gym before. Now they say barefoot running and the subsequent products like NIKE Free are supposed to work core muscles because of your foot’s full range of motion. I obviously felt that part in being unbalanced. The calve muscle workout was unexpected, undesired and uncomfortable so I cut my run short that night.

On the Stairs: After the gym I usually run the stairs at a local school that is between my house and the gym. There are 48 stairs and I typically run them 6 times as a wind down to my workout. After this day in the gym, although my calves were on fire, I still got in my 6 roundtrip climbs. I felt like I had extra bounce on the stairs with every step which added new found energy.

OVERALL: The sneakers were a solid purchase at $85 providing a stylish, comfortable, functional gym sneaker.
CONS: May take awhile for you to get used to the new step pattern your foot will have, your calve muscles will definitely get a good workout even if you just wear them out for a casual day in the city.

PROS: The shoe is designed to give you the the feel of barefoot running/walking with the protection from outdoor elements of a traditional sneaker. No matter what foot issues you may suffer from, whether it be pronation or arch issues, barefoot running is supposed to be your best option as your body knows unconsciously how to compensate to provide a smooth, painless natural footstep and stride.

Anybody else have these or another barefoot trainer? Let me know your thoughts.

I have just ended week two of the God Body Diet with a tough workout. This morning we met at Stone Mountain. First we climbed the mountain then walk/jogged around it. That was a total of 7 miles. I was near death by the end of it but very proud of myself for finishing. While on the walk, Reggie and I have decided to do the 5 mile distance around the mountain on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

This week I was faced with a challenge of not being prepared for dinner. This made me venture out and try an organic burger place. It was delicious and I didn’t feel as guilty as I would have going to a fast food spot. Otherwise… Drinking the gallon of water is getting much easier. I was telling Russy today that I have gone a year without drinking as much water as I have had in the last two weeks. Now that I’m fueled by water and healthy foods, I feel much better and more energized. I see the God Body diet becoming my way of life.

-Danielle McGhee

Week 2: So I just stepped off the scale and I’m down to 192lbs. That’s a 10lb loss in a matter of two weeks. I find myself going to sleep earlier but having more energy than usual throughout the day. I’ve decided that I’m going to go the extra mile for these last took weeks and get all I can get out of the GodBodyDiet. Holla at ya’ll next week.

- Reggie Ward

Now Scott chimes in on the #GodBody Diet:

-Abstinence from Alcohol
Abstinence from Alcohol is probably the single most important factor to achieving fitness goals. After consumption of about 2 cocktails, the liver becomes saturated with alcohol and the body’s ability to burn fat is turned off completely. This phenomenon lasts for about 48 hours. In short, even with a perfect diet, alcohol will cause weight gain and your grilled tilapia may as well be Popeyes chicken..

- Abstinence from Sex
No comment! If Russy thinks it’s important, I’m all for it! If you feel as though sex impedes your focus and detracts from your fitness regimen, by all means remove it from your life. I personally like the extra abdominal work!

-At least 6 hours of sleep every night
Proper rest is key to any fitness plan. Muscles grow, fat burns, and the body recovers all during sleep. If you are not getting a minimum of 6 hours of sleep per day, go lay down!

-No packaged food unless it is signified as Organic
Packaged foods are typically loaded with additives, preservatives, and sodium, which are all negatives in the fitness arena. Your food is your body’s fuel and you want to always burn high octane. Eat lean, green, fresh, and organic.

- Consume a gallon of water every day
Most people live in a state of dehydration. Without adequate water, your body begins to retain water as a survival mechanism. A gallon of water per day will actually allow your body to release the water that you are retaining as well as help to detoxify you. Drink up!

- No farmed fish or meat
Same principle as the no packaged food bullet. Burn high octane fuel for a high performance body!
- Dairy products must be cage free, non- homogenized
Homogenization makes dairy products much harder to digest. Some people that assume that they are lactose intolerant are actually experiencing digestive issues due to the homogenization process. You want to always eat foods that the body can process easily in order to keep the metabolism up and keep you body running like a well oiled machine.

- 3 days of cardio workout. Can include core workouts for strength training (i.e. Yoga, Pilates, Swimming)
3 days of cardio per week for at least 45 min each along with a sensible nutritional program is all you need to lose weight. Vary the type of cardio, and the results will come much faster because your body will constantly be forced to adapt to new circumstances. I don’t care if it’s swimming or salsa…Get It In!

So last night, the devil bka Walmart got me again. I went in just to get some water, Gatorade and Redline and I ended up letting my eyes get the best of me on my way from the back of the store to the register.I noticed this Pedometer and started wondering how many steps I actually took a day. So, today I decided to put it on my belt during simulated workplace hours to see what the average me would walk. I wore it from about 8am – 6pm today and I took 8,912 steps. Check out this info I found online regarding average steps/day:

If you add just 2000 more steps a day to your regular activities, you may never gain another pound. So says research by Dr. James O. Hill of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. To lose weight, add in more steps.

Move More
Sedentary people in the USA generally move only 2000-3000 steps a day. Previous studies have shown that moving 6000 steps a day significantly reduces risk of death, and 8000-10,000 a day promotes weight loss.

How far is 2000 steps? It is about a mile. But the benefits for health and for weight management don’t depend on you walking a mile all at one time, but simply adding in more steps throughout the day.

Based on the best evidence as of the end of 2003, Dr. Catrine Tudor-Locke recommends the following:
Classification of pedometer-determined physical activity in healthy adults:

1) Under 5000 steps/day may be used as a “sedentary lifestyle index”
2) 5,000-7,499 steps/day is typical of daily activity excluding sports/exercise and might be considered “low active.”
3) 7,500-9,999 likely includes some exercise or walking (and/or a job that requires more walking) and might be considered “somewhat active.”
4) 10,000 steps/day indicates the point that should be used to classify individuals as “active”.
5) Individuals who take more than 12,500 steps/day are likely to be classified as “highly active”.

I realized that if this was a good representation of my average day, then I live a “highly active” lifestyle. I took the pedometer off a good 8 hours before I go to sleep and more importantly, I usually go to the gym in the evening, so I know I would easily hit 12,500 steps in a day.

I encourage you all to buy a pedometer and give it a try… make sure you are at least taking 7,500 steps a day, but aim for 10,000…
Stay fit my friends
#GodBody Diet

Got an email this morning from a friend and fellow HU Alum DJ Parlay sharing a new video from a Hip Hop Rock band that he is a member of. Pretty DOPE

STATS: Lost 45 lbs in 6 months. Lowest weight was 163 in October 2009. Gained 5 lbs and maintained at 168 for another 9 months. As of today, July 16 2010, I am 165. Goal is 150 by my birthday, October 18 2010 or 2011. The goal is to win and not to give up.
This is the longest I’ve ever kept this weight off. I’ve gone from a size 20 to a 10 to a 14 to an 8, never keeping the loss off for long. What is different this time? I’ve been set up, man. Set up to win. I am constantly monitoring my mind, my environment to support my goals and do away with anything and anyone that doesn’t positively contribute to that goal. Surrounding myself with good thoughts, good food, good people makes all the difference. It’s why I tweet, tumbl and FB about the God Body Diet. The GBD follows these rules:
Abstinence from Alcohol ▶ I don’t really drink. So easy one for me. But do wonder how this becomes a lifestyle for those who do.

Abstinence from Sex ▶ I don’t… well let’s just say it’s been a slow Summer. But eventually I’d like to start-up again. I think this rule and the first rule is to help with discipline and learning to say “no” to your desires.

At least 6 hours of sleep every night ▶ So very important. Your body has to rest so you can lose that weight. Rest is essential for weight loss. Less stress. More focus. Plus if you are sleeping, you are not eating.

No packaged food unless it is signified as Organic ▶ I got off of Lean Cuisines. I am, however, on a grocery budget and will buy the $3 conventional spinach vs the $5 organic spinach. Tastes the same to me.

Consume a gallon of water every day ▶ A challenge. I’m up to 2 liters.

No farmed fish or meat ▶ If I got a double coupon for Oscar Mayer boneless chicken strips I’m getting it.

Dairy products must be cage free, non- homogenized ▶ I love eggs. I wish they could all be free. But will be paying $1 for eggs as opposed to $4 for the cage free ones. #FoodEconomics I do stay away from milk and yogurt. Too much sugar.

3 days of cardio workout. Can include core workouts for strength training (i.e. Yoga, Pilates, Swimming) ▶ I like this especially as there are so many options to include exercise into your daily life. I’m trying to learn how to hula-hoop again.
Though I dont follow the God Body Diet’s rule-by-rule, I am an advocate and enthusiastic fan of it. Here’s why: It is a gentle and solid start for building a healthy lifestyle. Some of the GodBody rules (ie no sex) are not realistic for a lifelong way of life. If you can, however, follow those rules for two weeks, a month, then you are learning discipline, you are learning how to read a nutrition label, you are becoming hydrated and becoming conscious of your body—what you put into and what you do with it. I like that kind of thinking! I cheer the “creator” of the God Body diet, RoundUpRussy, an “everywhere, into everything” kind of guy, for sharing it with his friends. To hear this young guy speak on his health concerns, weight gain and then come up with a way of life that address those issues (issues that plague many people in America) is a positive effect. Many people will follow. And they have.
Check in with the rest of the participants on the GodBodyDiet Lifestyle:
Jill Person aka JI double L
Julie McShay, ASouthernSocialite
Leilah Reese
Does this diet address the negative and pervasive effects of sugar, or the difference of good carbs (whole wheat) vs bad carbs (wonder bread) or the psychology of entitlement and overeating? No it doesn’t. For those like me trying to battle the last 15lbs, most of it being visceral, belly fat, I’ll have to follow a more comprehensive approach (more on that later). For those just starting out, looking for a reboot, trying to maintain, the God Body Diet is a great starting point to a gradual and steady change into healthy eating and living.
- Krishna “Billy” Brown
Read More About the God Body Diet HERE
And HERE

So, as of recently, A couple of beautiful ladies & friends have decided to take the plunge and give the #GodBody Diet a chance. So with a tweek of the title, I present you the Beautiful Ladies of the #GoddessBody Diet:

Jill Person
On August 3, 1985 in beautiful Los Angles, CA Jill I. Person was born. Her mother & father raised her 2 be an independent young lady and was taught to always go for what she wanted in life. At the age of three years old she was placed on her 1st tennis court & that wouldn’t be the last! She is the eldest of two siblings & a mother of a three year old boy. The very talented tennis player was offered a full scholarship to Tuskegee University and used her skills to earn 3 championship rings along with a degree in Social Work. Jill took her degree & applied it towards the Department of Family & Children Services in Atlanta, GA. Due to her lack of interest in the field she decided to move back to her hometown. She is currently in LA chilling : )

Jill has converted her blog to document the next 30 days of her diet including photos of meals & her progress in slimming & trimming. You can also follow her on Twitter through her day by clicking this photo:

Juli Mcshay
A native Floridian residing in the southeastern United States, The Southern Socialite is a lover of just about all things Southern. Currently studying law, she has promised herself that this is definitely her final collegiate degree. She enjoys traveling, so much so that she has lived in every time zone in the continental US, except MT. Education is the key to her heart. She received her high school diploma from America’s flagship African American boarding school Piney Woods Country Life School in Mississippi; a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Historic Talladega College; a Master’s degree in Public Administration from The Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern; and is completing her Jurist Doctorate degree someplace down in Dixie!
Juli has added a #GoddessBody Diet page to her blog to document the life of a socialite and managing healthy eating, juggling law school & a wonderful social life. You can also follow her on Twitter through her day by clicking this photo:

Please feel free to send me your story as well, I’d love to add you to this post and add to the encouragement of anyone who is thinking about getting healthy or detoxing in 30 day intervals. If you are on Twitter, keep an eye out for HashTags #GodBody and #GoddessBody Diet.

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Coming to Miami for American Black Film Festival? David Banner wants to hook you up.. Enter Discount Code ‘DOAPS” to receive $50 off weekend package.

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Alumni Roundup is a unique working environment. Being our first internet based company we are constantly learning, growing and working toward being a better company.

It’s a process….

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