Today's blogger: Janet Lee, Shape's deputy editor
I was halfway through my regular Friday afternoon group-cycling class the other day when I looked over at the woman across from me and was horrified to see she was texting! I’m always amused when I see people on their phones at the gym anyway (despite signs banning them in many places). I’d think they would cherish having a little time away from the demands of life. But to text in cycling class? I was stunned. If you really can’t bear to be away from your phone for 45 minutes, just stay home. Don’t take a bike from someone who really wants to squeeze in a workout and who can’t wait to forget about their boss or their husband or kids for awhile and just sweat.
    I’m so anti-phone at the gym (unless you’re a doctor on call or an attorney waiting for the jury to come back in the trial-of-the-century) that I dare you to go cell free the next time you work out. I guarantee you’ll be able to focus more on what you’re doing, which means you’ll get a better workout and stop wasting time. If that feels good, consider going cell-free in other places too. Can you make it through a meal at a restaurant without having your phone on the table? (Your date will no doubt appreciate it.) Can you work for an hour or two without texting your friends? Your boss will definitely appreciate that! Try weaning yourself away from your phone for more and more time and remember what it feels like to truly focus on something (whether it’s a strength circuit, a filet mignon, or a book).

Have you tried massaging your muscles with a foam roller? I’m totally hooked. After every workout (and often before, too) I sit on a roller, cross one leg over the other, and then roll back and forth to ease tension in my glutes. Then I repeat the process on my lats, hip flexors, and hamstrings. When I hit a really tight spot I stay put, applying steady pressure until the ache turns into an aahh. I’ve found that doing this regularly has helped reduce some of the stiffness I feel after sitting at a desk all day.

You can buy a foam roller at Target or any store that carries fitness gear. To get the benefits on the cheap, follow this tip from celebrity trainer Ashley Borden (who’s worked with Christina Aguilera, Mandy Moore, and Natasha Bedingfield): Use a piece of PVC pipe (you can buy it for about $5 at a hardware store) in place of a roller. A warning: It’s not as forgiving as foam, so go easy!

Today's blogger: Janet Lee, Shape's deputy editor

I’ve been working in the fitness industry for 15 years now so I’ve come across dozens of people who have inspiring stories about how and/or why they decided to get in shape and live a healthy, active lifestyle. Yet one of my constant sources of inspiration is my mother. She began eating better many years ago as a way to reduce her cholesterol, and she started a regular exercise program shortly after that—all while being a very stressed out, full-time caregiver for my father, who was terminally ill. Today, at 68, she consistently makes healthy eating choices, even at restaurants (where I have a hard time sticking to my diet), and she still exercises most days of the week. She never succumbed to the dreaded “meno-pot” and the woman looks better in a pair of workout tights than I do! She walks outside when she can, cross-trains on different machines at the gym, and lifts weights. Despite some heart problems—which her doctors say would be worse if she didn’t take such good care of herself—she’s the healthiest and fittest of her friends.
    No, she didn’t lose 50 pounds by training for a marathon or recover from a life-threatening illness and go on to climb the world’s tallest mountains (both very admirable pursuits). She simply—or perhaps not so simply, considering how tough it is for many people—took control of her health, made it a habit, and has stuck with it for close to 20 years. It’s become a way of life for her. She doesn’t feel deprived. She has plenty of energy (she still mows her own lawn). And she always says she feels great when I ask. That’s how I want to grow older and I’m hoping my mom will be around to inspire me for many, many years to come.