Fuel Your Body through Healthy Eating

Christina Modeling Ellie's Double Threat Tank and Little Black CapriI have a post at Ice-Dance.com on the “Top 10 Ways to Fuel Your Body through Healthy Eating.” Here’s the beginning of the post:

Ice dance and dance in general often require the ideal “dancer’s body”. The measures that skaters and dancers take to get this “dancer’s body” can be extreme and dangerous at times. Since ice dancing is a sport, it’s more important than ever to protect your body to help ensure its longevity.

Ice dancing is becoming more technically difficult all the time. This really takes a toll on the body, increasing the risk for injuries. Therefore, fueling your body through healthy nutrition is one of the best things you can do to lengthen your career.

Here are my top 10 ways for you as a dancer to both fuel your body and maintain a “dancer’s body”:

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July 6, 2013

Fitness Fun with Ellie Activewear Plus a Giveaway!

Fitness Fun with Ellie Activewear Plus a Giveaway!It’s fun to not just think about what you’re going to wear for the day but what you’re going to wear for your workout. It also makes your workout exciting when you look good and feel good.

This post is special because it shows women at different stages of life. I’m representing a woman in her 20s, my sister-in-law Chea is a woman in her 30s (and mother-to-be!), and my mom is a woman in her 50s and a grandmother-to-be! It’s fabulous that Ellie clothes suit all stages of life and various body types!

Read the entire article.

June 27, 2013

Clothes That Are Great for Dance, Sports, and Workouts

As a dancer, athlete, and fitness specialist, finding great clothes that fit these areas has been a priority. Until I found Ellie activewear, most of the good brands I found were very expensive. Also, I love to feel stylish in what I’m wearing. With every piece of Ellie clothing, I feel stylish.

As a dancer, I look for sleek, form-fitting, supportive clothes with interesting straps and back designs. As an athlete, I like fun, sporty-but-stylish designs that I can wear to or from the rink or whatever activity I’m doing. As a fitness specialist, I like unique, stylish tops and bottoms that are perfect for working out in and fun to wear. I found that Ellie’s versatile activewear line has tops and bottoms that are perfect for all of these areas, whether it’s just for dance or whether it’s for your sport and working out.

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April 28, 2013

How to Train for Competition

Will (13) and Christina (8) Chitwood at 1998 Broadmoor Open Practice Session

Will (13) and Christina (8) Chitwood at 1998 Broadmoor Open Practice Session

Once you become a competitive skater, it can help you grow in many areas of life if you train for a competition properly and use the competition as a learning experience.

After you and your coach have decided on a specific competition, set some goals for that competition. Then, each week, set weekly goals that will help you achieve your competition goals. (See New Year, New Goals.)

Leading up to any competition, you should utilize your practice time well. If you are in a lesson, focus as much as possible, and make notes after your lesson that you can use before your training sessions on your own.

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February 6, 2013

How to Choose Music for Performance

Christina Chitwood and Mark Hanretty performing to “Bei Mir Bist Du Schön” from The Swing Kids at the 2009 European Championships. (Photo by Liz Chastney)

Christina Chitwood and Mark Hanretty performing to “Bei Mir Bist Du Schön” from The Swing Kids at the 2009 European Championships. (Photo by Liz Chastney)

Most of us listen to music every day. However, if we were asked what would be good music to perform to, would it be easy to answer? Maybe or maybe not.

Whether you’re choosing music for a show performance or for a competition program, here are some tips for choosing music, especially in figure skating.

1. Start with finding a notebook and pen.

2. Write down any pieces of music you really like and make you feel like moving.

3. Listen to these pieces of music while standing up (if you have the pieces of music – or you can search for and listen to them on the Internet). See how the songs make you feel, if you naturally begin moving to them, and if you can imagine skating to the music.

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November 30, 2012