Fit Lab Deep Creek

08/01/2025

The right gear helps you keep moving. Winter is here. If that means keeping your movement practice inside until Spring, that’s fine. But with the proper gear, you can enjoy moving outside year-round. Maybe that means a snowblower or plow so that you CAN get outside to move. Maybe that means a Labrador or 2 to motivate you to brave the weather to get outside to move. Or maybe that means investing in the right toys (fat bike, snowshoes, skis, etc…) and clothing (wool or synthetic layers) to let you enjoy moving outside in the winter. Sometimes you need to experiment to find the gear that works best for you.

Move more. Move often. Find the gear that lets you keep moving year-round.

06/01/2025

LabLessons from FitLab Deep Creek.

Make Time for Recovery.

The Labs ALWAYS want to Move More. Especially on cold, snowy days. However, their humans recognize the value of an active recovery day (an “easy” day). So we build rest days and active recovery days into their movement plan.

Move more. Move often. Whether you have 2 legs or 4, make time for rest and recovery in your movement routine.

LabLessons from FitLab Deep Creek.Make Time for Recovery.The Labs ALWAYS want to Move More. Especially on cold, snowy days. However, their humans recognize t...

03/01/2025

Happy 2025! We’re taking a brief break from releasing movement tips videos to enjoy a snow day in Western Maryland...and to record new content, including a few longer videos, which will be coming out soon. We’ll be back to our regular schedule on Monday with a new Lab Lesson and next Wednesday with a new movement tip. Until then, we hope your 2025 is off to a movement-filled start. Stay warm and safe!

Move more. Move often. We’re thankful for time to move with family and friends!

❄️

01/01/2025

Happy New Year! Setting goals is an art as well as a science. Every year, Ben sets movement (time or distance) goals. For the past 7-8 years, Ben’s actual movement far exceeded his goals…until 2024. Why did we spend less time moving this year? 1. We moved from PA to Maryland…that kind of moving takes time away from movement. 2. Maggie the Black Lab was diagnosed with cancer. Taking care of her was more important than long hikes or bike rides. 3. Abbie the Black Lab knocked Ben off the deck, resulting in a cracked rib and a month off the bike for Ben. While he didn’t reach his goals, Ben was able to move most days. We’re entering 2025 grateful for the opportunity to move with loved ones (2- and 4-legged) in an environment we enjoy.

Move more. Move often. Set realistic goals. Acknowledge that sometimes life gets in the way of those goals. Keep moving.

Happy New Year! Setting goals is an art as well as a science. Every year, Ben sets movement (time or distance) goals. For the past 7-8 years, Ben’s actual mo...

20/12/2024

promotes w a Labrador Lesson- This week Thanks 4 Keeping Us Moving (from the humans) & weekly Movement Tips- Winter Survival Guide:Head Start & Review of the Movemmate Active Standing Board
Link to Videos: https://tinyurl.com/fldctips50-24

20/12/2024

Today’s Movement Tip is a Lifestyle Hack for your standing desk. We’re reviewing the Active Standing Board. Hint: we love it! Ben spends a lot of his workday at a computer, often at a standing desk. To keep from standing still, Ben has used a variety of wobble boards and an incline board. A few months ago, Ben gave in to temptation and ordered the Movemate. The board has lines to help you position your feet equidistant apart, and it articulates in a variety of planes. It feels good on your feet and keeps your body moving. The Labs like the production quality of the wood, and so far, we’ve had no incidents of paw pinching.

Move more. Move often. Consider a standing desk with a Movemate or wobble board to help you keep moving while you work.

Today’s Movement Tip is a Lifestyle Hack for your standing desk. We’re reviewing the Movemate Active Standing Board. Hint: we love it! Ben spends a lot of hi...

18/12/2024

Winter Survival Guide: Head Start. We’re continuing our winter survival series with a guide to keeping your head (and ears) comfortably warm when temperatures drop. Our top tip: wool hats! Side note: we wear hats year-round…for sun protection in the Summer and warmth in the Winter. Wool hats keep your head warm even when they get wet, and you’re less likely to feel clammy compared to synthetic hats. During hunting season, we add visibility to our hat wish list. makes a lightweight and a heavyweight merino wool hat in blaze orange. On really cold days, Ben wears a “sleeping bag” for his head from . When visibility is less of a concern, Ben switches to more muted colors, but he sticks with wool. Our favorite brands? , , , and Minus33. Final note: hats make great stocking stuffers for the outdoor mover on your holiday shopping list.

Move more. Move often. Keep your head comfortably warm, so that you can keep moving through the winter.

Winter Survival Guide: Head Start. We’re continuing our winter survival series with a guide to keeping your head (and ears) comfortably warm when temperature...

16/12/2024

LabLessons from FitLab Deep Creek:

Thanks for Keeping Us Moving.

Today’s Lab Lesson is a message TO the Labs: thanks for helping us make movement part of our lifestyle. When Ben got his first Labrador, he cut back on organized racing. He realized he’d rather spend more time on trails with dogs than traveling to various races. (Nothing against racing; this was Ben’s personal choice). Ben may be moving more slowly, but he’s having fun in the woods with the Labs. Dog walks may lack the speed of race training, but they offer consistency. Too many rest days = crazy Labs! This holiday season, we’re grateful to the labs for keeping us moving…even when wintry weather or a cracked rib makes us want to stay home.

Move more. Move often. If you’re lucky enough, move with dogs.

LabLessons from FitLab Deep Creek:Thanks for Keeping Us Moving.Today’s Lab Lesson is a message TO the Labs: thanks for helping us make movement part of our l...

13/12/2024

promotes w a Labrador Lesson- You Make The Rules!! & weekly movement tips:

Our Movement Tips: Do What You Can Do & Winter Survival Guide- Feet First

Link to Videos: https://tinyurl.com/FLDCtips4924

13/12/2024

Winter Survival Guide: Feet First. We’re kicking off our winter survival series with a guide to keeping your feet comfortably warm when temperatures drop. Our top tip: wool socks! Side note: keep those socks away from the teeth of energetic Labradors. Wool-blend socks are durable and keep your feet warm even when they get wet. When trekking through snow, Ben opts for crew height socks. On cold, dry days, Ben prefers a 2-4” cuff (high enough to keep out trail debris). Our favorite brands? and

Final note: socks make great stocking stuffers for the outdoor mover on your holiday shopping list.

Move more. Move often. Keep your feet comfortable, so that you can keep moving through the winter.

Winter Survival Guide: Feet First. We’re kicking off our winter survival series with a guide to keeping your feet comfortably warm when temperatures drop. Ou...

11/12/2024

When you treat movement as a lifestyle, do what you can do. Last week, inside the fenced-in yard, Abbie knocked Ben off the deck. Picture her making a tackle in an NFL game. Ben is left with a cracked rib and the knowledge that he should have kept his eyes on Abbie. He’s also facing some time off the bike. Instead of focusing on what he can’t do, he’s focusing on moving in any way he can. For now, that means hiking with the Labs (no running yet).

Move more. Move often. Do what you can do. Keep moving.

When you treat movement as a lifestyle, do what you can do. Last week, inside the fenced-in yard, Abbie knocked Ben off the deck. Picture her making a tackle...

09/12/2024

LabLessons from FitLab Deep Creek:

You Make the Rules.

The Labs are always on leash when they’re outside (except in our fenced-in yard). Last week, inside the fenced-in yard, Abbie knocked Ben off the deck. Pictures her making a tackle in an NFL game. Ben is left with a cracked rib and the knowledge that he should have kept his eyes on Abbie. But he doesn’t hold it against her; she was just doing what he let her do. And he’s thankful he can still hike with the Labs. This is his reminder that we make the rules for our dogs. The Labs mostly accept the rules and are thankful for snow.

Move more. Move often. Setting boundaries for your dogs is good for dogs…and good for you.

LabLessons from FitLab Deep Creek:You Make the Rules.The Labs are always on leash when they’re outside (except in our fenced-in yard). Last week, inside the ...

04/12/2024

Sometimes life gets in the way of social media…We’re extending our brief break from releasing movement tips videos to record a few longer videos; prepare for our podcast re-launch; and tackle a few home improvement projects. Stay tuned for the new content! We’ll be back Monday with a new Lab Lesson and next Wednesday with a new movement tip. Until then, we hope your holiday season is off to a wonderful start, movement-filled start.

Move more. Move often. When life gets busy, do your best to keep moving.

27/11/2024

Happy Thanksgiving Eve! We’re taking a brief break from releasing movement tips videos to enjoy the holiday...and to record a few longer videos, which will be coming out soon. We’ll be back Monday with a new Lab Lesson and next Wednesday with a new movement tip. Until then, we hope you have a safe, happy, movement-filled holiday.

Move more. Move often. We’re thankful for time to move with family and friends (2- and 4-legged).

25/11/2024

LabLessons from FitLab Deep Creek:

Eat well. Feel well.

The Holidays are coming…while every day is a holiday for the Labs, they know this is a special time for the humans. As you get together with friends and family and enjoy foods you might not eat the rest of the year, the Labs want to remind you that what you eat in the moment impacts how you feel later. Left to their own devices, the Labs will “snack” on sticks, acorns, pine cones, even animal 💩…this snacking may result in an upset stomach. The Labs have staff to monitor their snacking, but humans are on their own to enjoy the holiday food offerings. We’re not suggesting you avoid all holiday treats. Just remember that what you eat today may impact how you feel tomorrow.

Move more. Move often. Eat foods that leave you feeling good and ready to keep moving.

LabLessons from FitLab Deep Creek:Eat well. Feel well.The Holidays are coming…while every day is a holiday for the Labs, they know this is a special time for...

22/11/2024

w weekly movement tips & a Labrador Lesson Remember Your Pets Over the Holidays

Our Movement Tip: Just Ride Your Bike is our only tip this week...cause It's Snowing and we are out playing & shoveling:)

https://tinyurl.com/fldctips4724

22/11/2024

Snow Day! It’s the first real snow of the season in Garrett County, Maryland. We’re taking the day off from posting a movement tip video to make more time to enjoy the wintry scene...and to record a few longer videos, which will be coming out soon. We’ll be back Monday with a new Lab Lesson and Wednesday with a new movement tip. Until then, we hope you have a safe, happy, movement-filled weekend.

Move more. Move often. Make time to enjoy the changing seasons.

❄️ ❄️