DAC Fitness Donates $10,000 in Exercise Equipment

Sister Teresa Shields of the Jonestown Family Center for Education and Wellness stands alongside Glenn Marshall, James Davis and Bradley as the donated equipment is assembled. 

DAC Fitness recently donated $10,000 in exercise equipment to the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi. The donation was accepted by Volunteer Northwest Mississippi, a Community Foundation initiative, and distributed to five organizations in and around the Mississippi Delta.

"We take pride in our dedication to boosting the health and wellness of not only our local community, but other communities around the region," said Robert Creech, president of DAC Fitness. "With the help of the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi and Volunteer Northwest Mississippi, we were able to identify five organizations who needed assistance and were happy to provide the necessary equipment to help others improve their health."

Marvin Crawford, Walter Walton and Reshardo Gardner set up the donated equipment.

Recipients include the Jonestown Family Center for Education and Wellness, a health club that offers educational programs on fitness and nutrition; and the Coahoma Agricultural High School football team, whose players will use the equipment for training, and maintaining active lifestyles during the off-season. The towns of Friar's Point, Lula, and Coahoma also received equipment and will use it to promote health and fitness among the town employees.

"We are deeply appreciative of DAC's level of support for the health and wellness of Mississippi Delta residents," said Tom Pittman, president of the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi. "Mississippi leads the nation in obesity, which is killing far too many people, while severely handicapping the ability of many others. The donations from DAC Fitness will improve the lives of countless residents in these small Delta towns."

Indoor Winter Workouts

With a calendar filled with holiday parties and tempting treats available at home and the office, it's time to offset those extra calories with a regular workout routine. While the cold temperatures may have you tempted to stay indoors under a blanket, take advantage of what an indoor workout can do - burn calories in the comfort of your own home, garage or health club!

If you're tempted to continue exercising outside, don't miss our post on motivation in the cold.

If you are looking for a warmer alternative, try the following:

Workouts at Home

Push-ups: Easy to do without any equipment, the push-up is perfect if you have access to a flat surface and know the proper form. For tips, read this Men's Health article.

Jumping Jacks: Also something that can be done without equipment, jumping jacks are fun to add to a routine. If you want to add a bit more difficulty, incorporate hand weights into the mix.

Yoga: Whether you follow a DVD or use a book to find poses that work best for you, grab a mat and get started! To maximize your time, try meditating - it'll help you relax and sort through the day while you stretch and complete different poses.

Jumping Rope: While you may not feel comfortable jumping rope in the house, take advantage of your garage or another enclosed area you have outside the home. It's estimated that jumping rope consecutively for ten minutes can burn nearly 100 calories!

Workouts in the Gym

Equipment: Take full advantage of all the equipment a gym has to offer: stationary bikes, treadmills, elliptical machines, free weights and weight machines. If you're intimidated, seek the guidance of a fitness professional who can show you how to properly use each machine.

Indoor Track: If you don't enjoy using the treadmill or elliptical, many health clubs offer an indoor track for members to use. Whether you walk, run or do sprints, the key is to get moving!

Fitness Classes: If you're tired of doing the same routine each time you exercise, sign up for a class. In addition to shaking up your routine, you'll learn something new and meet new people.

Work with a Trainer: If you're overwhelmed by the gym's options, work with one of the fitness coaches to identify a routine that will work best for you.

Before beginning any new workout plan, please consult a physician.

DAC Donates Fitness Balls to Southaven Second Graders

Robert Creech accepts a Certificate of Appreciation from second-grade teacher Rachel Anglin.

Robert Creech, President of DAC, was honored for the club's recent fitness ball donation to Rachel Anglin's second grade class at Greenbrook Elementary in Southaven, Miss.

Anglin, an active DAC Southaven member, wanted something to help her students improve their posture and approached Creech, who was more than happy to make the donation.

Robert with Rachel in her Greenbrook Elementary classroom.

"There's a definite childhood obesity problem in Mississippi and combining fitness with learning could be one step in solving this devastating issue," said Creech.

Students will use the fitness balls in place of regular chairs for the remainder of the school year. While they were taken aback by the balance balls at first, students are embracing the change.

All of the second-graders made cards thanking DAC and Robert for the fitness balls.

"I don't want my old chair back," said seven year-old Chaney Wilson. "The balls are much more comfortable."

"I think chairs are so boring now," said Tristan Harlen, a seven year-old from Southaven. "I hear the other kids say, 'Man, the kids in that class are so lucky!'"

The students sit on the balance balls during a normal school day at Greenbrook Elementary.

To learn more about this donation, read The Commercial Appeal's online article.

Replacing Workout Shoes

In early January, we discussed the importance of finding the best pair of workout shoes here. After you've taken the time to identify the best shoe for you, it's important to track the wear and tear on the shoes. Much like replacing a vehicle's tires, one must consider a shoe's support and tread breakdown, as well as the mileage and hours worn, which all greatly impact the successfulness of a workout.

Continuing to use workout shoes past their prime can cause several painful conditions, including shin splints, stress fractures and heel spurs.

To prevent this from happening to you, follow a few general rules for shoe replacement:

Replacement Signs: Pay attention to the tread pattern on your shoes. If it's becoming worn down by use (which is natural), it's time to replace. Additional symptoms of a dead shoe include worn heels, wrinkling on the shoe's side or in the sole bottoms and broken down uppers surrounding the ankle.

Mileage: According to Runner's World Magazine, shoes should be replaced every 350 to 550 miles. Translation: If you workout in the same pair of shoes everyday, consider replacing them every six to eight months, depending on the exercise time and intensity.

Replacement Test: If you don't track your mileage or you use workout shoes for non-distance based exercises, you'll need to keep track of the replacement signs. There is a simple test - take one of the shoes and attempt to twist it in the middle. If it easily twists, the shoe's midsoles are worn and it's time to invest in a new pair.

If you're still confused about your specific pair of workout shoes, consider stopping by a shoe store to speak to a knowledgeable salesperson or try an online shoe wear calculator.

Finding the Shoe for You

You've taken the first step and made the commitment to workout. Kudos! To get started on the right foot, you've got to find the perfect workout shoe (pun intended!).

The foot is complex - you have 26 bones, over 30 joints, and more than 100 ligaments, muscles and tendons to protect in each foot. That's why nothing else kills a workout buzz faster than foot pain.

Here are a few items to keep in mind when searching for your perfect pair:

Arch Support: Look for a shoe that will provide a good foundation, i.e. arch support. Whether your arch is small or large, your foot needs proper support. A shoe's arch support protects the arch, while restoring the foot's structure to its natural position. Insoles can also be purchased to enhance a shoe's existing arch support.

Heel Cushion: During a workout, we tend to put undue pressure and stress on our feet, in particular the heel. To prevent this common injury, look for a properly cushioned heel. If you find a pair that fits perfectly but doesn't provide enough cushioning, consider buying padded inserts, which will help protect the heel.

Workout-Specific Shoes: If you rely on resistance training to stay in shape, you have several shoe options. But if you're an avid aerobics junkie, you'll want to invest in a pair of aerobic shoes, which are designed to absorb the shock and impact caused by aerobic exercises. And, runners need to look into running-specific shoes.

If you have questions or find yourself lost in the shoe aisle, speak to a store representative or do a bit of online research before heading to the store.