Monthly Archives: January 2021

FitLabPGH Movement Tips & Lifestyle Hacks 4:21

Movement Tips & Lifestyle Hack Videos


@FitLabPGH Movement Tip & Lifestyle Hack Videos
movement is the normal not the abnormal because #movementisalifestyle

FitLabPGH is a Pittsburgh area podcast and promoter of the ethos movement is a lifestyle, not just an activity.  Each week we bring you 3 movement tip & lifestyle hack videos to help you treat movement as normal, not abnormal.

Week 4 of ’21 working hard doesn’t have to be hard on your body, look for excuses to move more & “recess” is good for adults too!!

Want to tell your movement story, or the movement story of your 4 legged friend our FitLabPGH Feature gives you that opportunity.  This week we featured Jess Mann

Learn more about our Features and submit a questionnaire to be highlighted.  If you are from outside the Pittsburgh area fill out a Movement is a Lifestyle Features.

FitLabPGH Features 4:21 Jess Mann

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FitLabPGH is a podcast about movement and movement opportunities in the Pittsburgh, PA area.  Once a week we also highlight a FitLabPGH mover…someone who understands that movement is a lifestyle…not just an activity.  The questions are lightly edited to allow for easy readability.  Click FitLabPGH Features for more info if you want to be featured/know someone who should be featured.

This Week: Jess Mann

Are you a Pittsburgh native? If not, what brought you to the Pittsburgh area? If so, why are you still here? Yes. I love Pgh and its people. I’ve dedicated my career to positive and ethical community development so why not start where I live?

What are your three favorite movement activities in the Pittsburgh area? Running, Biking, Kayaking

Describe the best vacation you’ve ever taken? Where did you go? What movement activities did you include? Europe- walked everywhere. Swam in the ocean, hiked, just soaked everything in on my own 2 feet

What is your favorite pre- or post-workout snack? Banana with PB and nuun!

What is your favorite thing to eat in Pittsburgh? Note: it does not need to be healthy. Aiello’s pizza and a beer is my favorite long run treat

Do you have a movement activity on your “bucket list”? If not, what’s a movement activity/event you’re looking forward to in the next year? I’d love to complete an ultramarathon. I’m coming back from a hip fracture, so I think I’ll only manage a half marathon this year but I’m looking forward to building back up my strength and endurance and hitting the races stronger than before

What do you think is the biggest obstacle to getting people to move more? Confidence and accessibility

What do you feel is the most adventurous movement activity you’ve ever done? Tough Mudder

What is your favorite recovery or self-care practice? Float tanks (shout out to Levity in Squirrel Hill!) and my percussion gun for sore muscles

What is your favorite spot in Pittsburgh? (Bonus points if it is a “hidden gem”) August Wilson park in the Hill District. A hidden gem not many folks know about, but a beautifully restored park with a breathtaking view

Contact info for Jess Mann:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jsjourney2healthhappiness/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/J_MannPhD

Winter Workout Gear from Head to Toe- a Video Podcast

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:11 — 6.8MB)

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This week’s FitLabPGH Podcast release is a video podcast to help you keep moving outside through the winter…with a guide for winter workout gear to keep you comfortable from head to toe. If your extremities are cold, you are unlikely to enjoy your outdoor movement session…and you may even be putting yourself at risk of frostbite or hypothermia.

You can listen to the audio, but we think you’ll enjoy the video, so sit back, watch, and then put on the appropriate gear, and opt outside!

First tip: Your Mom was right…you SHOULD wear a hat when it’s cold outside! If it’s just chilly, you can get away with choosing a hat for fit or fashion…like the synthetic Sweatvac beanie that Ben likes to wear under his bike helmet. When chilly becomes cold, Ben switches to wool. His favorite lightweight wool hats are from Smartwool and Voormi (the Dual SURFACE precision blend beanie). For the coldest days, Ben swaps the lightweight wool for a heavier blend, like the SURFACE HARDENED thermal wool precision blend beanie from Voormi. Still cold? Put your jacket hood up over your hat.

Tip 2: the neck…a positive takeaway from the pandemic? Ben discovered he likes wearing a neck gaiter year-round. For warm to chilly days, Ben likes a synthetic gaiter that wicks sweat when it’s hot, and keeps your neck warm when a chilly wind picks up. Shown in the video: “Year of the Coronavirus” neck gaiter from Carson Footwear. Double up the gaiter, and it doubles as a face mask. When temperatures get colder, Ben once again opts for wool. A couple of brands of wool neck gaiters to try? Buff and Smartwool.

Tip 3: the hands…if your hands are freezing, you’re likely to throw in the workout towel. We recommend having a range of gloves…and possibly mittens…available to keep your hands happy. On chilly days, Ben likes the wool gloves from DeFeet…bonus: when it gets colder, the DeFeet gloves make good liners under heavier gloves or mittens. A couple of bike glove recommendations: for cold rides, check out Aero Tech Designs (a Pittsburgh company); for REALLY cold days, consider the Sturmfist 5 from 45 Nrth. Note: nothing from 45 Nrth is cheap, but if you’re looking for durable, cold weather cycling gear, it’s the best we’ve tried. Second note: Lisa’s hands get cold when temps drop below 60 degrees…how does she hike with the Labs through the winter? With liner gloves, AND MITTENS, AND handwarmers in the warmer pockets of the mittens!

Tip 4: finally, socks are the final piece of today’s puzzle. If it’s above 50 degrees, select the synthetic sock that speaks to you. Ben is a fan of DeFeet. Bet you can guess what Ben chooses when temps get chilly? Yep, wool…lightweight wool socks we’ve enjoyed come from CloudLine, Stance, and DeFeet. Ben’s favorite heavyweight wool socks come from Darn Tough.

Take home message: build a wardrobe of hats, gaiters, gloves, and socks that will keep you moving…comfortably, and safely, throughout the winter.

Contact Info for FitLabPGH:
Email: fitlabpgh@gmail.com

Twitter: @fitlabpgh

Instagram: @fitlabpgh

We update via Facebook too!!

Movement Tips and Lifestyle Hacks – YouTube channel (posted on Instagram too)

Fill out our FitLabPGH Features form to be a FitLabPGH featured mover…or fill one out for your 4 legged movement partner (dog, cat, goat or horse!!)

Check out our sister podcast Moving2Live concise but interesting podcasts for the movement and exercise professional and amateur aficionado.

Attribution for Intro/Exit Podcast Music:
Marathon Man by Jason Shaw from the album Audionautix: Acoustic, licensed under an Attribution 3.0 United States License. Available at www.FreeMusicArchive.org

FitLabPGH Movement Tips & Lifestyle Hacks 3:21

Movement Tips & Lifestyle Hack Videos, , , , , , ,


@FitLabPGH Movement Tip & Lifestyle Hack Videos
movement is the normal not the abnormal because #movementisalifestyle

FitLabPGH is a Pittsburgh area podcast and promoter of the ethos movement is a lifestyle, not just an activity.  Each week we bring you 3 movement tip & lifestyle hack videos to help you treat movement as normal, not abnormal.

Week 3 of of 2021 move more & stress less, be accountable to you & tackling barriers to move more

Want to tell your movement story, or the movement story of your 4 legged friend our FitLabPGH Feature gives you that opportunity.  This week we featured Nick Venuti

Learn more about our Features and submit a questionnaire to be highlighted.  If you are from outside the Pittsburgh area fill out a Movement is a LIfestyle Features.

FitLabPGH Features 3:21 Nick Venuti

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FitLabPGH is a podcast about movement and movement opportunities in the Pittsburgh, PA area.  Once a week we also highlight a FitLabPGH mover…someone who understands that movement is a lifestyle…not just an activity.  The questions are lightly edited to allow for easy readability.  Click FitLabPGH Features for more info if you want to be featured/know someone who should be featured.

This Week: Nick Venuti

Are you a Pittsburgh native? If not, what brought you to the Pittsburgh area? If so, why are you still here? Pittsburgh native

What are your three favorite movement activities in the Pittsburgh area? playing hockey, playing tennis, kayaking

Describe the best vacation you’ve ever taken? Where did you go? What movement activities did you include? The best vacation I have ever taken was a trip to Sedona, Arizona. Discovering new trails and practicing yoga on the vortexes.

What is your favorite pre- or post-workout snack? My go-to snack is my Spaceballs- dates, hemp seeds, peanut butter, and walnuts. I blend all the ingredients and shape them into bite-size balls and set them in the freezer.

What is your favorite thing to eat in Pittsburgh? Note: it does not need to be healthy. Pizza. Too many good options in the city!

Do you have a movement activity on your “bucket list”? If not, what’s a movement activity/event you’re looking forward to in the next year? I always wanted to hike the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia and experience the mirror to the sky.

What do you think is the biggest obstacle to getting people to move more? The biggest obstacle I see is failure to plan. I always say, “If you fail to plan; you plan to fail.” [Quote by Benjamin Franklin] Behavior change is the one of the hardest things to do. With proper planning, you can build habits that last you a lifetime.

What do you feel is the most adventurous movement activity you’ve ever done? Ice skate on a frozen pond! The cracking under your feet is not for the faint of heart.

What is your favorite recovery or self-care practice? Percussive massage guns morning and night.

What is your favorite spot in Pittsburgh? (Bonus points if it is a “hidden gem”) The Verona Village Inn!

Contact info for Nick Venuti:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehealthyyinzer/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHealthyYinzer

FitLabPGH Movement Tips & Lifestyle Hacks 2:21

Movement Tips & Lifestyle Hack Videos, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


@FitLabPGH Movement Tip & Lifestyle Hack Videos
movement is the normal not the abnormal because #movementisalifestyle

FitLabPGH is a Pittsburgh area podcast and promoter of the ethos movement is a lifestyle, not just an activity.  Each week we bring you 3 movement tip & lifestyle hack videos to help you treat movement as normal, not abnormal.

Week 2  of of 2021 take a walk, tips to move in the winter & there is no such thing as bad weather…just poor clothing choices!!

Want to tell your movement story, or the movement story of your 4 legged friend our FitLabPGH Feature gives you that opportunity.  This week we featured Rick Petyk

Learn more about our Features and submit a questionnaire to be highlighted.  If you are from outside the Pittsburgh area fill out a Movement is a LIfestyle Features.

FitLabPGH Features 2:21 Rich Petyk

Podcast, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


FitLabPGH is a podcast about movement and movement opportunities in the Pittsburgh, PA area.  Once a week we also highlight a FitLabPGH mover…someone who understands that movement is a lifestyle…not just an activity.  The questions are lightly edited to allow for easy readability.  Click FitLabPGH Features for more info if you want to be featured/know someone who should be featured.

This Week: Rich Petyk

Are you a Pittsburgh native? If not, what brought you to the Pittsburgh area? If so, why are you still here? Born and raised in Perryopolis. Left after graduating from Cal U. Went to Harrisburg/Lancaster for 7 years and then to New England for 3.5 years. Returned for parents’ health and my work was routinely bringing me back to PA for pipeline projects.

What are your three favorite movement activities in the Pittsburgh area? Mountain biking in Frick Park and surrounding areas. The numerous rail trails including the GAP. And, probably the city steps although I don’t get to walk or run them as much as I would like.

Describe the best vacation you’ve ever taken? Where did you go? What movement activities did you include? Oh man so tough. Two years ago the wife and I did a 5 week western trip with mountain biking in Sedona, Bentonville, Palo Duro, Santa Fe, and we topped it off with snowboarding at Ski Cooper in Leadville, which was so amazing. We also did some hiking and snowshoeing, which was a first for us.

What is your favorite pre- or post-workout snack? Pre- would be banana chocolate oatmeal with blueberries. Post- maybe a Probar or watermelon in the summertime.

What is your favorite thing to eat in Pittsburgh? Note: it does not need to be healthy. Tough question but I would say Pizzeria Davide or Spak Brothers cheesesteak.

Do you have a movement activity on your “bucket list”? If not, what’s a movement activity/event you’re looking forward to in the next year? I deeply desire to spend a winter season in the west snowboarding. Events that I’m considering in 2021 include another go at Crush the Commonwealth, the GRUSK Venti 200 mile bikepacking route in WV, and I hear there’s an 850 mile gravel bikepacking route dropping soon in PA.

What do you think is the biggest obstacle to getting people to move more? I think people are too afraid of being uncomfortable and I’ll include myself in that trap. But once you get out there you realize you won’t melt in the rain, or freeze, and that with the right clothing and mindset being outdoors year round is extremely enjoyable.

What do you feel is the most adventurous movement activity you’ve ever done? I really think 2017 Crush the Commonwealth was probably the most adventurous. However, I did recently complete a 3 day solo bikepacking trip around the Laurel Highlands that involved paralleling the LHT (Laurel Highlands Trail) and stealth camping one night.

What is your favorite recovery or self-care practice? Without a doubt foam rolling.

What is your favorite spot in Pittsburgh? (Bonus points if it is a “hidden gem”) Toss up between Emerald View trail in Mount Washington and the Slags/Summerset trails in Frick Park. I also really like the abandoned ghost road next to Carrie Furnace, any place off the beaten path.

Contact info for Rich Petyk:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rpetyk150/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.petyk

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-petyk-1936a2126/

FitLabPGH Video Podcast: Are You Measuring Heart Rate When You Move?

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 7:19 — 6.1MB)

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Email | RSS | More


This week’s FitLabPGH Podcast release is a video podcast to help you meet your health goals for 2021 and beyond.  We have included the audio only link, but encourage you to check out the video.

If one of your goals is to improve (or monitor) your fitness level, consider adding a Heart Rate Monitor to your movement routine. Tracking distance and pace of your movement sessions may not paint a complete picture…to gauge exercise intensity over a variety of routes and forms of exercise, a Heart Rate Monitor is an excellent tool.

It’s January, so your social media feed is full of people telling you how to “CRUSH” your workouts…but if overall health / longevity is your goal, those intense workouts should be a small part of your overall movement routine. A heart rate monitor can tell you when you’re working “hard enough,” but it can also tell you when you should focus on recovery. A morning check of your resting heart rate may help you monitor your body’s readiness…when your resting hear rate is elevated, consider rest or active recovery. For most people looking for overall fitness, the bulk of our movement time should be spent in Heart Rate Zones 1 or 2 (not “crushing” it).

NOTE: BEFORE you begin a new training program, consult a qualified professional.

There are many options for Heart Rate Monitors. Perhaps the “easiest” way to start monitoring your heart rate is with a GPS fitness watch (that you may already own). Ben and Lisa both wear COROS watches; popular brands include Garmin, Polar, and Suunto. While the watches offer a convenient way to track heart rate, they aren’t always accurate…especially if your activity includes a lot of wrist movement or gripping.

The MOST accurate way to measure heart rate (outside of a clinical setting) is with a chest strap like the Polar H10 or the chest strap from Wahoo, shown in the video. The downside of the chest strap? Not everyone enjoys lifting up his/her shirt and affixing a damp chest strap at the start of a workout (the monitor should be damp to increase conductivity and improve accuracy)…especially if it’s winter…and you’re exercising outside…

A great option that offers accuracy AND convenience? The mioPOD; it’s worn on the arm and is easy to set-up and use (see www.mio-labs.com for more info). Ben loves his MioPod, for its battery life, convenient charging port, and ability to pair with his COROS watch and Strava. Another fun feature of the MioPod? If you use the Mio App, you can program the strap to display colors corresponding to each heart rate zone, so that you can easily monitor your heart rate during your movement session.

For more information on Heart Rate Monitors and Heart Rate Training, look for a pair of recent interviews from our sister podcast Moving2Live featuring Don Moxley, Applied Sports Scientist (released 12/16/20), and Marcelo Aller, CSCS, of Mio Labs (released 1/6/21).

Take home message: long-term health has more to do with consistent movement than with “crushing” this week’s workouts…but whatever your fitness goals, a heart rate monitor may help you measure your progress

Contact Info for FitLabPGH:
Email: fitlabpgh@gmail.com

Twitter: @fitlabpgh

Instagram: @fitlabpgh

We update via Facebook too!!

Movement Tips and Lifestyle Hacks – YouTube channel (posted on Instagram too)

Fill out our FitLabPGH Features form to be a FitLabPGH featured mover…or fill one out for your 4 legged movement partner (dog, cat, goat or horse!!)

Check out our sister podcast Moving2Live concise but interesting podcasts for the movement and exercise professional and amateur aficionado.

Attribution for Intro/Exit Podcast Music:
Marathon Man by Jason Shaw from the album Audionautix: Acoustic, licensed under an Attribution 3.0 United States License. Available at www.FreeMusicArchive.org

FitLabPGH Movement Tips & Lifestyle Hacks 1:21

Movement Tips & Lifestyle Hack Videos, , , , , , , , , , , ,


@FitLabPGH Movement Tip & Lifestyle Hack Videos
movement is the normal not the abnormal because #movementisalifestyle

FitLabPGH is a Pittsburgh area podcast and promoter of the ethos movement is a lifestyle, not just an activity.  Each week we bring you 3 movement tip & lifestyle hack videos to help you treat movement as normal, not abnormal.

Week 1 of of 2021make time to move, movement is the norm & simple ways to move more

Want to tell your movement story, or the movement story of your 4 legged friend our FitLabPGH Feature gives you that opportunity.  This week we featured Brendon Slotterback

Learn more about our Features and submit a questionnaire to be highlighted.  If you are from outside the Pittsburgh area fill out a Movement is a LIfestyle Feautures.

 

 

 

FitLabPGH Features 1:21 Brendon Slotterback

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FitLabPGH is a podcast about movement and movement opportunities in the Pittsburgh, PA area.  Once a week we also highlight a FitLabPGH mover…someone who understands that movement is a lifestyle…not just an activity.  The questions are lightly edited to allow for easy readability.  Click FitLabPGH Features for more info if you want to be featured/know someone who should be featured.

This Week: Brendon Slotterback

Are you a Pittsburgh native? If not, what brought you to the Pittsburgh area? If so, why are you still here? No. We moved here in August because of a career opportunity.

What are your three favorite movement activities in the Pittsburgh area? Walking around Frick Park, scrambling around waterfalls in central PA, and riding the trails and gravel in the Laurel Highlands

Describe the best vacation you’ve ever taken? Where did you go? What movement activities did you include? I spent three days hiking to remote hot springs in Northern New Mexico

What is your favorite pre- or post-workout snack? Peanut butter banana and spinach smoothie

What is your favorite thing to eat in Pittsburgh? Note: it does not need to be healthy. A slice of spinach and feta pizza from Colangelo’s

Do you have a movement activity on your “bucket list”? If not, what’s a movement activity/event you’re looking forward to in the next year? Hiking the Appalachian or Superior Hiking Trail.

What do you think is the biggest obstacle to getting people to move more? People could walk and bike a lot more if we calmed traffic and made more protected space for bikers and walkers

What do you feel is the most adventurous movement activity you’ve ever done? Whitewater rafting on the Arkansas River

What is your favorite recovery or self-care practice? Lying in bed with a hot cup of coffee and a book

What is your favorite spot in Pittsburgh? (Bonus points if it is a “hidden gem”) We’re new here, so don’t know all the good spots yet, but I love anything on the south side!

Contact info for Brendon Slotterback:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bslotterback/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bslotterback