Tag Archives: fitness

Polo Sport by Ralph Lauren: My Top 5 Fitness Apparel Picks

12/09/2015 R.C. Liley 1 Comment

This post is sponsored by Vocalpoint and Dick’s Sporting Goods. All opinions are my own.

When it comes to shopping for all things sports and fitness related, it’s a good idea to choose a sporting goods store that is truly passionate about what they sell. At DICK’s Sporting Goods®, you’ll find just that, along with excellent service and great prices on name brand equipment, apparel, and accessories. From gym-sized exercise equipment to fishing lures, DICK’s has the quality products you need and want. So, it should come as no surprise that they now carry Polo Sport® by Ralph Lauren, a new collection of men’s activewear.

Found in select DICK’s Sporting Goods locations, I ventured to the nearby DICK’s at The Parks in Arlington, TX to treat myself to a few of the new Polo Sport items. I thought it might be hard to navigate my way to find where Polo Sport was located within the large sporting goods retailer, but it was hard to miss the bold sign proclaiming its presence.

I’m just glad I didn’t have to stop and ask this guy. I think he was in the middle of auditioning for Iron Mannequin.

Hey, I claim to love puns, but never said I’m good at them!

The layout was filled with activewear designed for top notch looks and performance in the cold or heat. The cold weather gear was tempting, but I find myself indoors or in a heated garage since Avery is usually with me when working out, so I gravitated towards the shorts and short sleeved shirts.

I found plenty of items I wanted to take home, but lets face it, spending a lot on myself right before Christmas would just be wrong. Obviously, I can wait to return that scratchy wool sweater from Aunt Sally and then go back to buy more! 😉

With the approaching holiday in mind, I narrowed my selection to 5 favorite fitness apparel items to bring home and start “playing” with right away. Having had the chance to wear and workout in my chosen items, I figured I’d share my top 5 with you.

Polo Sport Men’s Performance Jersey T-Shirt – This is my new favorite shirt. I love the deep blue color and the comfortable fit allows me to move as it keeps me cool for the indoor workouts I’ve been doing lately. Not covering our floors in sweat is vital to stay in good standing with the wife too!
Polo Sport Men’s Performance Jersey Long Sleeve Shirt – Same as the T-Shirt but with long sleeves, I like having this for when I venture outside and it’s actually cold here in North Texas. Right now it’s been in the 70’s so I still wear my T-Shirt when going out for a run/walk/playground time.
Polo Sport Men’s Tech Fleece Hoodie – Even as a lover of heat, there’s just something I enjoy about a good hoodie, and Polo Sport got it right with this one. When I can wear winter clothes that won’t interfere with my chosen workout for the day, well, that’s just awesome. Somehow, this comfy hoodie manages to keep me feeling warm and doesn’t get in the way of doing back squats and kettlebell swings in a cold garage when the heater stops working.
Polo Sport Men’s Stretch-Fit Performance Cap – My big noggin usually will not accommodate anything but the hair growing out of it, but after trying on this hat, I’m willing to reconsider. It’s designed for ultimate performance during intense workouts, but I like just having a hat I actually enjoy wearing. Yes, so much so that I even take smiling selfies of myself with it on.
Polo Sport Men’s Jersey Active 10” Shorts – Helllloooo, comfort! I’m extremely peculiar about having good shorts, and when I find a pair I like, I’ll wash them every day just so I can keep wearing them. Just a pull of the drawstring gives me a custom fit and their moisture-wicking fabric keeps me dry and stench free. Not to mention the 10″ inseam protects from any “exposure issues” when working out. All good things for something who likes to use the rower.

Bonus points for being able to right to playtime after an intense workout and not smelling or dripping sweat like a wet dog. Avery appreciates it.

Any or all of these would make a great gift someone you know or for yourself. Hey, only you really know what you want, right? With color options ranging from light colors like Andover Heather or Pure White, dark colors like Pacific Blue (my favorite!), and vibrant colors like Shocking Orange, there’s plenty of options to suit any taste.

Looking to buy some nice activewear for the man in your life? Polo Sport has what you need to keep him looking good and maybe even motivated to stay in shape. Win-win!

Motivation comes in many forms, and what you wear definitely plays a big role in your desire to get up and MOVE! Polo Sport has just what any fitness-minded guy would love, so head over to DICK’s Sporting Goods or visit online by clicking here.

Going Strong

A Full Body HIIT Strength and Cardio Circuit During Naptime

11/20/2015 R.C. Liley 2 Comments

Here’s a quick but efficient HIIT circuit I created to knock out during naptime. I love working out with Avery, but sometimes, you just need space. Otherwise, they’ll walk right into the dumbbells you are holding as you perform your workout. Not good for anyone!

You might need another pair of dumbbells for the lunges with a curl to overhead press, but work with what you have on hand. Hey, if your kid is awake, use them as the weight!

I put leg work first since legs are such an integral part of our body and literally carry us each and every day at work and at home. Treat them well, keep them strong, and feel awesome! Plus, you need to make sure you’re ready for an impromptu playtime session anytime, anywhere.

She wouldn’t let me cook, so I gave in for a little #playtime in the #kitchen. #daddysgirl #crazykid #toddler #loveher

A photo posted by RC Liley (@going_dad) on Oct 8, 2015 at 12:33pm PDT

What I love about this circuit is that it can be tailored to any fitness level depending on the weight used, rounds completed, and intensity it’s performed. Even if you have only one set of weights, try completing the circuit faster than the last time.

With the colder weather setting in, I love having routines like this to satisfy my need for fitness while staying indoors. Give it a go and please, let me know what you think. Looks like Avery is ready to rock!

Guess that means no naptime…..

Life, Parenting

What Toddler Yoga Really Looks Like

11/06/2015 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

Perform a Google search for Toddler Yoga and along with the glut of mommy & baby/toddler yoga info sites, you’ll find images of cooperative toddlers in yoga poses with their mom.

I’m not sure I could even get into that pose, much less hold it for more than half a second, but here this kid is doing it with apparent ease. They even have classes at yoga studios specifically for babies/toddlers and parents. I’ve seen it around before, but still hard to imagine things actually going as well as they portray on their site.

Look up the definition of yoga and, well, never mind, I’ll do it for you…

After observing my wife attempt to have a yoga session at home with Avery joining in, Toddler Yoga brings to mind another word.

Come to think of it, cooperative toddler fits into this definition too. Not always, but c’mon, you know it’s true.

With the end of my squat every day routine, I mentioned that I’ll be bringing some of my workouts inside. With the help of fitness DVDs, I will be able to workout while simultaneously keeping Avery entertained and maybe even joining in.

She still tends to walk in front of me or try to climb my back during certain exercises that could result in injury (for the both of us), but when it’s just us two, she’s usually pretty good. Maybe because she’s around me all day, but Avery is always more clingy to her Mommy, which makes it very hard for my wife to do the same workout videos.

The other day, feeling the need to relax and calm down, Kelley chose to do the yoga video we have. Great choice when relaxing is the goal according to the definition, but what about that extra variable….our toddler.

Yep, there she is, sitting on Mommy in the Corpse Pose. Probably not a pic you’ll see on any yoga studio’s website trying to promote their Toddler Yoga class. Avery did get off to strike her own pose like Mommy for a bit.

Using Kelley’s sweatshirt as her personal yoga mat, I’d say she was doing pretty good. At least they both look relaxed. But then…..

….. as evidenced by the mischievous smirk on her face, her cling-o-meter was reading low and something had to be done fast!

How’s this, Mom, is this in your way? Not that it mattered, under Mommy was NOT clingy enough.

There we go, back to the Corpse Pose; perfect opportunity to sit on Mommy again. Hi!!

I was beginning to wonder if Kelley was still in the Corpse Pose, or actually suffering from lack of oxygen. Obviously, I was extremely concerned since I still took pictures. No worries, I had Avery check her breath for me.

Phew, she was still breathing!

Yep, she's good, Dad. — Yep, she’s good, Dad.

I missed several shots of Avery doing the Downward Dog Pose, but I’m sure I’ll get the chance again. She actually did that one pretty well, so I’ll be sure to share once we capture it on camera.

Have you ever tried doing something relaxing with your little tot(s)? Success or failure?