I just found the perfect blog for those of you who want to combine two loves: love of hiking with love of wine! CaliforniaWineHikes.com is a a great wine-hiking resource! Whether you live in California and need some new fitness ideas, or are someone out of State, who likes the idea of combining a winery vacation with some good exercise, here is a great site for you! Remember, both activities - drinking wine and hiking - are great for your health and will help you stay Fit After Thirty!

Check out the ten humorous reasons hiking is better than a gym membership! To buy the above wine carrying case, or to search through many other wine accessories, check out Winevine-imports.com

Growing up in Arizona, I was indoctrinated into the belief that fruity, sweet slushy beverages are God’s nectar, not so much by what my mother said, but by what she did. Let’s just say, the blender was her favorite appliance, and also her closest ally in the never ending quest to keep five kids and their friends hydrated during the sweltering summer days of our childhood.

It can be hard to convince adults, let alone kids, to leave the swimming pool long enough to guzzle a glass of bland water when they don’t feel thirsty.  But throw ice and any bright liquid in tall, plastic mugs with straws sticking out of them, and watch what looks like a mass exodus from a body of water that rivals any beach scene from Jaws.

My mom wouldn’t have to say anything; all she had to do was bring the smoothies outside, set them on the mini lawn tables, and step back to avoid the stampede of dripping bodies as we raced from the pool to get the glass that was filled the highest. 

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In keeping with the theme of marriage, happy couples, and honeymoons that we started with our Broke Ass Bride honeymoon contest a couple weeks ago, (and are finishing in true Valentine’s Day-fashion) I am announcing our contest winner!!!  

Who is the happy couple in the photo above, you ask? Drum roll please………Kristen and Matt Townsend of Texas! (Who knew I had *f.a.t. readers in Texas?) The best part is that they are newlyweds! Kristen says she became a daily *f.a.t. follower after googling for how to stay fit in her thirties. This couple breaks a lot of *f.a.t. stereotypes:

1. You don’t have to be 30 to enjoy *f.a.t.!! (Kristen is only 29! Though counting down the days to enter our exclusive 30 and over club, I presume!)

2. You don’t have to be a woman to enjoy *f.a.t.!! (Matt reads and likes some of the *f.a.t. articles……Porn Industry Bailout is his fav.)

3. You don’t have to be fat to enjoy *f.a.t. (Matt and Kristen stay in shape by walking, running, kayaking, and drinking good wine.)

Thank you, Kristen for entering our contest and for joining the *f.a.t. sisterhood. We’re counting on you to encourage your fellow Texans to help us redefine “fat”!!!!

We can’t wait for a followup photo of the two of you enjoying Paradise Pointe Resort! Here’s a teaser:

How and when did she poop on this long trek? Did she go in her wet suit? Did she get in the boat every time when she had to do number 2? Is there a panel on the wet suit that opens in mid-swim? Curious minds want to know, people!

This excerpt from an NBCSports.com article explains some of the details  of her near-30 day swim:

Figge woke most days around 7 a.m., eating pasta and baked potatoes while she and the crew assessed the weather. Her longest stint in the water was about eight hours, and her shortest was 21 minutes. Crew members would throw bottles of energy drinks as she swam; if the seas were too rough, divers would deliver them in person. At night she ate meat, fish and peanut butter, replenishing the estimated 8,000 calories she burned a day.

But I’m still curious about the pooping part, so if anyone knows how bowel functions are handled by these distance swimmers, pray tell! Comment at will!

Also, after you read the article, you are no longer able to use your age as an excuse for not achieving any of your fitness goals and dreams! Jennifer Figge is truly a Fit After Thirty woman!

Okay, everybody, as promised, we have one day left for the contest for your chance to win a getaway to a San Diego Resort! If you are one of our male readers, don’t be scared off by the “wedding theme” of this contest! You can win this contest and take your woman!

We are kicking off our *f.a.t. Bliss pre-wedding weight loss plan with a little inspiration from Dana, our blogging bride from The Broke Ass Bride. If you missed yesterday’s post, I want to get you started on your fitness plan by motivating you to be fit and trim in a bikini first……… while helping Dana achieve her fitness goals to get in shape for her wedding!! We are warm and fuzzy for things like Valentine’s Day and weddings, so we are giving you the chance to win a getaway for two to Paradise Point Resort!

Therefore, the drawing will be held Valentine’s Day! If you missed yesterday’s post, you must grab a glimpse of the instructions here. By helping Dana get to strut her bikini body on a Costa Rica Honeymoon, you could win a getaway to a San Diego resort!

Now that you are all in the post-inauguration mindset of change, it’s time to apply the idea to your workouts! It is easy to get stuck in a rut when you’ve found a routine that works for you, but all the best trainers seem to agree that continuing to do the same exercises day in and day out, is not the best approach for achieving optimal results toward your goal of being fit.

We all know logically, that we’d be better off to vary our workouts more than we do, but sometimes it’s hard to push ourselves through the discomfort of change. But think about it this way: Remember that boyfriend in your past you stayed with a little too long out of fear of change? What happened when you finally dumped him and started playing the field for a little while? You met a better dude! Same with your workout regimens! 

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If you read number 8 on my list of Resolutions for 2009, you know that we recommend building muscle with weight bearing exercise. I’ve uncovered a list at How To Maximize Your Health of some great reasons to incorporate strength training into your routine!  Don’t worry; lifting weights does not have to make you look bulky and burly.

You only have a few more days to come up with your resolutions for 2009. We suggest staying Fit After Thirty with some of these commitments in the new year!

Fit After Thirty’s Top 10 Fitness Resolution Ideas

1. Give up looking frumpy when working out. Buy cute and comfortable workout apparel and dress for the activity. Looking good makes you feel good, which invigorates you for a great workout.

2. Make a conscious effort to incorporate stress reduction activities into your lifestyle. A yoga class twice a week, 15 minutes of meditation per day, five minutes of deep breathing morning and night, are ideas on how to start.

3. Train for a 5K or 10K – setting a goal helps motivate you to stick to a workout schedule, and keeps your heart in shape for number 4 on the list.

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Listen up singles! If you haven’t already planned a skiing or snowboarding trip for this season, then it’s time to get your warm clothes out of the closet, buy your plane ticket and get ready to meet other singles on the slopes.

Yup. That’s right. We’re giving you the best places to combine both skiing and singles life this winter. I call them “skingles” trips, and they are the best use of your free time if you want to get some great exercise while having fun and meeting the opposite sex! You may just find a skiing partner who can also keep you warm by the fire in the lodge when the day is over! So to make your planning easier, I’ve gathered some information about some of the best ski destinations for singles in 2009!  Get your plane ticket ready, it’s time for a “skingles” trip! 

1. For the fifth year, Jackson Hole Singles Ski is planning it’s Singles Ski Week, January 18-January 24th. Singles fly to Jackson Hole, Wyoming from all over the country to ski and snowboard among hundreds of other singles. This is a beautiful destination spot, where you will enjoy the outdoor scenes during the day and indoor nightlife during the evening.

2. Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort was ranked the top spot to ski and stay in North America by TransWorld SNOWboarding magazine 2009. This place has won many media awards and reader surveys through the years, and in 2004, was named the “Best Singles Adventure” place by SKI Magazine. They offer an adult ski school and an adult board school, which offers more than just a lesson environment, but an ambiance to connect with other people. They even have women’s only classes for those women who don’t feel comfortable falling on their ass and doing face plants in the snow in front of male classmates. Other things offered at the resort are ecotours, snowshoeing, dog sledding, helicopter tours, and horse drawn sleigh rides!

3.Vail Colorado has some of the best skiing in the nation. Skiing in Vail tends to attract wealthy, good looking people, so if you are looking for an elite crowd on one of the best skiing mountains around, head to Vail.

3. Mountain Creek Ski Resort in Vernon, New Jersey is just an hour and a half from New York City. It attracts a young crowd, and is known for the great nightlife, as well as good skiing.

4. Winter Park, Colorado is just an hour from Denver, making it easily accessible to all the young, athletic men and women who live in Denver and Colorado Springs. And there are a lot of them!

5. Park City Ski Resort is located in Park City, Utah and is the one place in Utah that seems to be home to a great nightlife and lively, singles crowd. Unlike other parts of Utah, alcohol flows freely here. Obviously, since this city hosted the 2002 winter Olympics, the skiing is also amazing, which is why it is a mecca for people all over the nation!

6. Killington Ski Resort, located in Vermont, just three hours from Boston, has plenty of pubs and restaurants around the mountain to keep you busy when the ski day is over. This resort is having some great New Year’s specials if you want to ring in 2009 on the slopes!

7. Heavenly Mountain Resort in Lake Tahoe, California has great skiing terrain, but because of it’s proximity to casinos, it is the perfect place for partying and socializing when you’re not skiing. 

8. Breckenridge Colorado Ski Resort offers plenty to do whether you stay in town or slopeside. This town attracts a lot of great skiers, which tends to mean singles rather than families. It is also known for great snowboarding parks, which tends to be a male dominated sport. Therefore, if you’re a single woman looking to meet men, grab your board and head to Breckenridge!

9. Mont Tremblant, Quebec -The village at the base of the mountain makes it easy to mingle with other singles. This town attracts a lot of U.S. east coasters.

10. Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort in California is not only beautiful, but it’s a great place for any level skier. This is also a great place for snowboarding, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling. Even though this place attracts a lot of families, there are tons of single people that inhabit the mountain and surrounding establishments.

Singles Vacation Organizations:

Planning your winter ski vacations through a service or organization can be a great way to plan a trip for the single person who doesn’t have a lot of single friends to travel with. It’s also great for a group of singles who want to be part of a larger group. The best part is, all the planning is done for you. They have pre-scheduled trips planned that anyone can take part in. You will meet tons of other singles! Here are a few to try:

NorthAmericanSnow.com

MeetMarketAdventures.com

SinglesTravelService.com

Also, every major city usually has a ski club that offers similar ski trips and social opportunities. Search the web for your specific area for more information.

With just a few days left before Christmas, I’m sure some of you may be looking to buy some in-home gym equipment to give as a gift to yourself or someone you love. No doubt about it, having fitness equipment right there in your own house will make it easier to fulfill your fitness New Year’s resolutions to get Fit After Thirty! But some of you may be under the impression that owning gym equipment is something only wealthy celebrities can afford. Nothing could be further from the truth.

With retail stores in a desperate position due to the troubled economy, you will undoubtedly be able to find some very good deals on new ellipticals, treadmills, rowing machines, exercise bikes and weight machines. But if, after checking sale prices for new equipment, you still aren’t finding anything within your budget, it’s time to consider one of the best kept secrets since period panties - refurbished gym equipment. 

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