What is it?: A 6-week progressive training program geared towards improving overall athleticism. Each session lasts for an hour and a half with both indoor and outdoor components. The 6 week cycle is split up into three phases. Each phase lasts for two weeks and is designed to build off the previous phase with increasing amounts of difficulty. Medicine ball throws, hurdle jumps, sprints, and general weight training tactics will all be employed to increase the speed, agility, and strength of the participants.
Where is it?: The outdoor half of the session is located at Nunziato Field in Somerville (Corner of Putnam and Summer Street), while the indoor session is located at The Training Room (691a Somerville Ave.)
Who is teaching it?: TR Trainers Jason Pak and Lauren Perreault will be teaching one half of each session (either the indoor or outdoor component). Expect a high level of attention as the athlete:instructor ratio never exceeds 6:1!
When is it?: Once a week. Saturdays 11:30am – 1:00pm beginning May 14th.
Humans have engaged in endurance running for millions of years1, but the modern running shoe was not invented until the 1970s. For most of human evolutionary history, runners were either barefoot or wore minimal footwear such as sandals or moccasins with smaller heels and little cushioning relative to modern running shoes. We wondered how runners coped with the impact caused by the foot colliding with the ground before the invention of the modern shoe. Here we show that habitually barefoot endurance runners often land on the fore-foot (fore-foot strike) before bringing down the heel, but they sometimes land with a flat foot (mid-foot strike) or, less often, on the heel (rear-foot strike). In contrast, habitually shod runners mostly rear-foot strike, facilitated by the elevated and cushioned heel of the modern running shoe. Kinematic and kinetic analyses show that even on hard surfaces, barefoot runners who fore-foot strike generate smaller collision forces than shod rear-foot strikers. This difference results primarily from a more plantarflexed foot at landing and more ankle compliance during impact, decreasing the effective mass of the body that collides with the ground. Fore-foot- and mid-foot-strike gaits were probably more common when humans ran barefoot or in minimal shoes, and may protect the feet and lower limbs from some of the impact-related injuries now experienced by a high percentage of runners. (Abstract from: Naturehttp://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v463/n7280/abs/nature08723.html)
Irene Davis’ work on barefoot running has recently brought her to Cambridge, and we are excited to hear her present at The Training Room on April 20, 2011 at 6:00pm. This event is free and open to the public, and we encourage Training Room clients and runners of any kind to come hear her talk. The presentation will consist of lecture, followed by a Q&A and a practical running demonstration. Space is limited, so you must sign up for this free event here.
Unite with fellow cyclists and the American Cancer Society in our effort to save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. With this event, we’re hoping to help people stay well and get well, raise awareness and funds, and contribute to finding cures and fighting back against cancer. Team G was formed in honor of a cycling enthusiast who recently lost her battle with cancer.
Options- to participate, or just come by and donate.
When: Saturday, May 7th, 2011 from 1pm to 5pm Where: THE TRAINING ROOM
691a Somerville Ave.
Somerville, Massachusetts 02143
Spinathon participants can ride any length of time – from 1/2 hour to 4 hours. Suggested donations: $15 for each 1/2 hour slot, $25 for each hour.
Checks are to be made directly to the American Cancer Society.
Bikes are limited so register early! Event day registration welcome if slots remain open.
To pre-register: Go to www.thetrainingroomboston.com, click RESERVATIONS, scroll down the class calendar for the May 7th event, and then pick any 30 minute segment (you’re welcome to sign up for as many time slots as you’d like). If you have registered for a class at The Training Room before, just sign in with your username / password and if you haven’t, create an account (just follow instructions listed).
Together, we can contribute toward a world where cancer doesn’t steal another year from anyone’s life.
If you have any questions or if you are interested in joining TEAM G please contact: Suzanne Schwartztimsuz@rcn.com Cindy Ditulliocaditullio@comcast.net
It’s almost that time of year again! The Training Room’s Outdoor Bootcamp Program is starting up on May 2. We are now offering a pre-sale discount through March 31, and our regular pricing will go into effect on April 1.
The TR’s summer outdoor bootcamp program is a great way to have fun and vary your workout routine. Are you in need of some structure, accountability, and motivation to push yourself to that next level? When you sign up for outdoor bootcamp, held three days per week, you gain access to the knowledge and motivational techniques of a certified personal trainer at an affordable price.
At our bootcamps, you’ll learn how to effectively use bands, medicine balls, agility ladders, hurdles, kettlebells, heavy ropes, body-weight resistance exercises, and even playground equipment to give you a total body workout every session! If you’ve ever thought about joining a bootcamp program, or just need a reason to get yourself moving, then join us at Conway Park on Somerville Avenue every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at either 6 AM or 7 AM. Suitable for all fitness levels.
This year, Outdoor Bootcamp can be purchased and reserved in several ways:
Option #1: Purchase a 30-day Outdoor Bootcamp Pass for $135 online (pre-sale price online now: $120). With this option, you have unlimited access to any of our Outdoor Bootcamp classes for 30 days from the date of purchase. You must reserve space online in the classes you want to attend during your 30-day period. (All packages pre-sold before the May 2 start date will expire on May 31st.)
Option #2: Purchase and reserve space online in any single Outdoor Bootcamp class for $17. Training Room clients who purchase our Monthly Unlimited class package (Monthly Unlimited class package is $109 and applies to indoor classes only) are eligible for a special $10 drop-in rate for Outdoor Bootcamp classes during the active dates of their Monthly Unlimited class package. The $10 drop-in classes must be purchased in person at The Training Room, and cannot be purchased online.
Option #3: Purchase a 4-month Summer Outdoor Bootcamp Pass online for $480. This pass is active from May 2 – August 31. Come as often as you like to any Outdoor Bootcamp class all summer long! With this option, you do not need to reserve space in the classes you wish to attend online. Attend any class, anytime, with no restrictions!
Option #4: Pay in cash at the field. Drop-in rate is $20.
NOTE: All Outdoor Bootcamp Classes and Packages are non-refundable, but they are transferable! If for any reason you become unable to attend Outdoor Bootcamp, you can transfer your package to a friend!
*All Outdoor Bootcamp Classes are subject to change or weather cancellations. In the event of a class cancellation, the class will be held on the following day (Tuesday or Thursday). Classes cancelled on Friday will be made-up on the following Tuesday.
Suzanne Schwartz, local cycling instructor and avid triathlete, is teaching two more 5-week cycling intensives at The Training Room in Somerville! The classes, 105 minutes each (90 minutes on the bike), are geared toward outside riders and triathletes. Participants work on cycling fitness, progressing though workouts each week to improve strength, endurance and power on the bike.
Week one focuses on form and technique on the bike, with an eye toward understanding different tempos/cadences. Participants also establish a base level of fitness by the end of the first class, checking perceived or actual exertion with both a set of intervals and an endurance climb. (So, if you’re a returning participant, you can compare your new base level of fitness to your previous one.) All classes have a combination of endurance, speed and interval training. As the classes progress, the strength exercises increase in intensity and Suzanne lengthens endurance efforts. The classes build toward longer intervals at higher exertion with less recovery. The final class returns to the same set of baseline intervals and endurance drills as the first class in order to evaluate the improvement in perceived exertion and fitness. Heart rate monitors are highly recommended.
Cycling Intensive Details: The Training Room 691a Somerville Ave.
Somerville, Massachusetts 02143
Monday Session: 7:15PM-9:00PM, February 28 – March 28
Sunday Session: 9:00AM – 10:45AM, March 6 – April 3 *participants must register for either the sun. or mon. session sign-up now
cost: $99
February 2011 - The Training Room is taking Small Group Training to a new level.
TRX Suspension Training + Kettlebells = an ultimate workout
The Training Room strives to help clients maintain a balanced fitness routine that fits well with their personal and professional lives. By combining strength training and metabolic circuits in one 60-minute workout, your body will get more bang for your buck.
TR owners Heidi Brown and Maren Kravitz have created a 6-week progressive training program with these two versatile pieces of training equipment for a total body workout that can be easily integrated into your local gym or at-home routine.
Why spend countless hours on cardio machines in conjunction with 3 sets of 12 repetitions on every weight machine in the gym? You can be more efficient combining training styles, working harder for less time. Change it up – spend the extra time working on preparing healthy meals that will help to give you the change in physique or increase in strength that you daydream about while reading the latest fitness-crazed diet fad on the elliptical.
out with the old… in with the new!
What is TRX Suspension Training? Suspension Training bodyweight exercise develops strength, balance, flexibility and core stability simultaneously. It requires the use of the TRX Suspension Trainer, a highly portable performance training tool that leverages gravity and the user’s body weight to enable hundreds of exercises for every fitness goal.
What is Kettlebell Training? Take a cast iron cannonball, add a handle, and you get the extremely efficient fitness tool that originated in Russia. Kettlebell training has quickly become a staple of functional training in the fitness industry. Most commonly associated with a “swinging” movement, these unique tools allow you to perform a variety of total body and core strengthening exercises with just one piece of equipment. Help increase your cardiovascular endurance while building strength and burning calories!
Three separate weekly sessions will be offered:
-Tuesdays @ 6:15pm – 7:15pm
-Wednesdays @ 7:30pm – 8:30pm
- Sundays @ 11:30am – 12:30pm *6 participants per class, must attend the same day/time each week
Since the article seemed to bring up a lot of questions, I wanted to take a minute to analyze the study and explain my thoughts on the topic. Please note that I am a little “behind the times” (no pun intended) on this post, as the article was written during the holiday season, but I feel that it is a topic that should be considered all year round.
If you don’t want to take the time to read through the article in full, here is a synopsis:
A new study published in the Journal of Physiology suggested that exercising before breakfast (i.e. in a fasted state) will significantly lower your chances of gaining weight and becoming insulin resistant.
THE STUDY: In the study there were three different groups of 7-10 healthy, active young men: Group 1 would not work out and they would eat a diet composed of 50% more fat and 30% more calories overall. Group 2 would complete a rigorous workout 4 times per week. Before their workout they would eat a hefty, carbohydrate-rich breakfast and drink a carbohydrate rich sports drink during their workout. Group 3 would complete the same rigorous workout 4 times per week. They would not eat anything before their workout, and then would eat the same hefty, carbohydrate-rich breakfast after the workout was complete.
THE RESULTS: Group 1 gained weight and became insulin resistant. Group 2 gained less weight than group 1, but still gained and also became slightly insulin resistant. Group 3 gained close to no weight and did not become insulin resistant.
THE CONCLUSION: Working out before breakfast (in a fasted state) means you are less likely to gain weight and become insulin resistant.
I have a few problems with the study itself, before I get into my concerns with the actual analysis of the study. First of all, a 28-person sample size is far too small to draw such generalized conclusions. Not to mention the group was all male, and the article is written for both male and female readers. The study was also only 6 weeks long which is really not enough time to track any sort of long term effects of the methods they were using. Also, the general diet of the group members seemed very arbitrary. They increased the amount of calories that they had already been consuming by 30 percent, rather than having everybody in the group take in the same amount of calories each day. This left each member’s diet (besides the specific breakfasts) to be very ambiguous. A person eating donuts and pasta all day would see different results than a person eating grilled chicken and vegetables – whether they exercised before breakfast or after! The article said there was a 50% increase in fat, but there are very big differences between types of fats (ex. trans fats are known to be very bad for you, whereas mono- and poly-unsaturated fats are very good for you.) Not specifying which types of fats the men were consuming more of was also a mistake in my opinion.
With all that said, my main concern with the analysis of this study is that they seemed to jump to the main conclusion, that you should exercise before eating, without looking further into the real reasons that group 2 gained weight and group 3 didn’t. At first glance, after seeing the results, it seems perfectly logical to conclude that workouts on an empty stomach are more beneficial than workouts after eating. However, food choice was not taken into consideration and this is where I feel the analysis of the study went wrong.
There is a big difference between the way your body processes carbohydrates and proteins.
carbs and proteins are not created (or metabolized) equally!
In the study, groups 2 and 3 were both eating high-carbohydrate meals for breakfast. Carbohydrates are a very good source of energy, and therefore when you eat a high-carb meal and then workout, your body will use the readily-available energy from the ingested carbohydrates for fuel. This means that during your workout, you will only be burning off the carbohydrates that you just ate, and not using any stored energy (fat) to fuel the workout. Group 3 went into their workout without any carbohydrate “fuel” and therefore used stored energy during their workout. This made their workout more effective because they were burning off stored fat, rather than ingested carbohydrates. Another reason they did not gain weight from the high-carbohydrate meal after their workout is because your metabolism is in an elevated state after an intense workout. This means that the carbohydrates after a workout are metabolized more efficiently than they would be before a workout, and therefore do not get stored as fat in the body.
Now, I realize that all of this information is still suggesting that it would be best to workout before eating. However, the one BIG thing that was left out of this study was any inclusion of protein in the groups’ diets! Like I said before, not all food groups are alike. Ingested proteins (such as eggs, lean meats, Greek yogurt, etc.) are not a good source of immediate energy, and if eaten before a workout, will not likely be able to provide the fuel or energy that the body needs. Therefore, if you eat a protein source before a workout, your body will still need to go after previously stored energy (*fat*) for fuel. If you then eat carbohydrates after your workout, your metabolism will be in an elevated state and will burn those calories faster.
People have different preferences as to whether they like to eat before a workout or not because of how it makes them feel. Some people don’t like to eat beforehand because it makes them sick to their stomachs and they don’t feel that they work out as effectively. However, others feel that they need something in their stomach before embarking on an intense workout and this is just fine! In that case, it is my suggestion that you do not skip out on breakfast or work out on an empty stomach, but rather choose your food source wisely. Pick a protein-rich breakfast such as eggs or protein shakes/smoothies. Since eggs are pretty self-explanatory, here is a quick and easy smoothie recipe that I like to use for a pre-workout meal:
Strawberry Vanilla Smoothie:
YUM!
One scoop vanilla whey protein powder
1 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 cup low-fat or fat-free milk
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp ground flax seed (high in omega-3 fatty acids)
Combine all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. It’s delicious, nutritious, and a perfect option for a pre-workout morning meal! Enjoy!
Happy New Year everybody! I hope everyone had a fun, safe and healthy holiday season!
Taking a look back at 2010 as a whole, we have seen some amazing things from our clients at the Training Room. Our whiteboard has been filled with goals set and goals met. These included losing body fat, competing in athletic events, achieving new personal records for lifting weights and more. Everyone who has stepped into the TR has made an impact on themselves and those around them by improving their health and for that they should be extremely proud.
With that said, if the Training Room was to name a “client of the year” Kelly D. would most definitely be in the running. Kelly came to me at the end of May, 2010 with a pretty lofty goal – to lose a total of 60lbs in 2010. By the time she came to the Training Room she had already lost about 20 lbs on her own by starting on a weight watcher’s diet plan. With 40 lbs to go in 7 months, I knew it would be tough, but possible with proper training and nutrition combined with Kelly’s determination to reach her goal.
I addressed Kelly’s nutritional habits first because as hard as I trained her in the gym, she would not have made the kind of progress she was looking for without also fixing her diet. I could have taken the easy way out and decreased Kelly’s caloric intake to 1000 calories a day with no carbs, no sugar, no fat, etc (with starvation being the only sacrifice.) This would have been a sure-fire way to see that Kelly lost the weight. This would have also been a sure-fire way to see that as soon as she hit her goal weight, she would gain everything right back.
One of the main reasons rapid weight loss techniques never work is because rather than making lifestyle changes, people make temporary changes in order to lose weight as quickly as they can. What ends up happening is that once the person loses the weight, they fall right back into their old habits because they didn’t actually learn how to be healthy, they just learned how to lose weight quickly- and these are NOT the same thing.
In order to make true lifestyle changes, I asked Kelly to adjust one eating habit each week. This is a much more manageable method than trying to do a complete overhaul. Kelly explained the process well, saying:
“In the beginning, instead of eliminating several “bad” things from my diet right away Lauren made a plan that included small changes in increments – first just changing my “Chai and Bagel” breakfast routine and then looking at ways to increase protein, decrease processed carbs, increase fruits, veggies and whole grains, and manage calories.”
Bagel: BAD breakfast choice
Eggs: FABULOUS breakfast choice
Even though Kelly had lost some weight on the weight watcher’s diet, she had not learned anything about her poor nutrition habits. By making habitual changes, eating well stopped feeling like work and started feeling like her normal day to day routine. Kelly’s compliance and dedication to changing her eating habits were incredible and a huge attribution to her success.
The rest of Kelly’s success came from her hard work in the gym. Though she was an athlete in high school and part of college, Kelly was admittedly very out of shape and hadn’t seen a gym in quite some time. In the 7 months she has been with us at the Training Room, she has turned into a workout machine. Kelly wasn’t afraid to lift heavy weights and work extremely hard to attain her goal. Many people – women in particular – have an aversion to lifting heavy weights in fear of “bulking up.” These misguided fears are derived from images in body building magazines of women who take steroids and/or testosterone injections. In reality, women do not typically have high enough testosterone levels to “bulk up” like that, and lifting heavy weights is the best way to speed up metabolism, burn fat, gain lean muscle mass, and look great! Kelly took my advice to focus the majority of her workouts on weight training and it paid off. Not only did the weight start falling off, but she actually had fun in the process! She added,
Another major lifestyle change is that I *gasp* enjoy working out! I like how I feel after working out and I like taking time to focus on doing something for myself. I used to think that you have to run or jog to lose weight. I had no idea how fun and effective weight training could be.
Watch Kelly in action in the videos below. These are just a couple examples of how far she has come and how much strength she has gained.
It should definitely be noted that while Kelly was going through this major transformation, she did not have the luxury of spending every waking moment focusing on her weight loss. Between working full time, going to graduate school part time, and having a social life, Kelly was extremely busy. A crazy schedule like hers often leads people to make excuses and to fall off the wagon, but I never heard ONE excuse from Kelly. She had committed to putting her health first and she never wavered on that commitment, no matter how busy life got.
When asked what has made the process of losing so much weight a little easier, Kelly answered,
Ever since I first walked in to the TR, I have felt welcome and supported. The co-owners, my trainer, other trainers and even other clients give encouragement and I truly feel like there is a team of people committed to my success.
But even with all the support in the world from the TR and her husband Ryan (who was amazingly supportive and kept an eye on Kelly for me when I couldn’t be there to see what food choices she was making!), there were still challenges along the way that tested Kelly’s willpower. When asked about her biggest challenges, she responded,
I have really changed my eating (and drinking!) habits and learned healthier ways to enjoy food – but I still have a tough time with parties, holidays and group get-togethers where the “old Kelly” would stand around the food table and shamelessly pick at the hors dourves.
But more often than not, Kelly made the right choices in and out of the gym which is how she managed to go from the “Old Kelly”:
Kelly in December, 2009
To the “New and Improved Kelly”:
The pants that Kelly was wearing in the "Old Kelly" picture!
By the time January 1, 2011 came around, Kelly had lost a total of 58lb in one year. Though 2lbs short of her goal, it is most definitely an incredible accomplishment! Kelly’s journey is not over and with a new year comes new weight loss goals. Kelly says her main motivations are,
To be healthy, feel good, look good and also to prepare my body for a healthy pregnancy sometime in the future.
So, here is to Kelly and all of you who have accomplished your goals in 2010! Congratulations and good luck on all your endeavors in 2011!
Nathan is probably one of the funniest clients that I’ve had the pleasure of training. He came to the Training Room with a specific goal in mind: lose 24 pounds in three months to reach a body weight of 196 pounds for his wedding in November. That was his main goal; his side goal (although he may contest that his side goal was actually his main goal) was to look like this guy from the movie Fight Club:
Fight Club
No; not Brad Pitt, but the extremely intense guy to the right of him.
THAT Guy
During his initial session, I took Nathan through a series of assessments. Being a computer engineer, his job required him to sit at a desk for the majority of the day. Not surprisingly, his flexibility was that of a 2×4. Before every single workout, I had him foam roll and perform various mobility and flexibility drills for at least fifteen minutes to help combat his sedentary lifestyle. Not only would this help him move better during the session, but also reduce the likelihood of developing lower back pain, neck pain, or other ailments down the road.
Before starting at the Training Room, Nathan went from a peak weight of about 232lbs down to about 220 simply by eating better. Check out this scale that recorded and graphed his body weight measurements online since December of ’09:
Note the sharp decline from August to November
After hitting a plateau, he enlisted our help and began to lose weight again. The very first thing I had him do was set up a food log and track everything he ate. This not only helps me to get a clearer picture of his diet, but it also serves as an eye-opener to him. All too often, I train clients who say they eat “pretty well” and can’t figure out why they’re not losing weight. Once we start recording their food intake, they realize that their eating habits could be a lot better.
Instead of going all Jillian Michaels on him after reviewing his food log, I had Nathan change just three things:
1) Drink a protein shake for breakfast instead of his usual sugary breakfast smoothie
2) Eat fewer carbohydrates in his meals and more veggies
3) Eat more fish and lean protein sources
After a couple of weeks of implementing these changes into his diet, Nathan noticed that controlling his portions became a lot easier because of the increased protein intake, which led to increased satiety. We then started to incorporate nutrient-dense foods like Greek yogurt along with various fruits and his diet gradually became very well-rounded. Salmon and roasted vegetables became a staple in his diet; I actually think there was a point in time where he ate salmon for dinner five nights in a row (note: I didn’t recommend this but, hey, the result was a four pound weight loss that week). By not completely overhauling his diet right from the get-go, I think the gradual changes really helped Nathan to stick to the game plan and not go crazy.
Salmon - delicious and nutritious
Nathan trained with me three times a week in the weeks leading up to the wedding. Contrary to popular belief, I did not have him perform steady, long distance cardio. We focused solely on strength training and followed a simple system that I use with all of my beginners called progressive overload. All it means is that with each workout you need to strive to become stronger at your main lifts (squat, deadlift, lunge, chin-up, chest press, etc.). Now, “stronger” could mean more weight or it could mean more repetitions with the same weight. Either way, if you don’t improve in either category you’re just maintaining your results from the previous workout.
Once or twice a week, I’d have Nathan go through some rigorous metabolic work for about 10 minutes at the end of his session. This was generally in the form of bike intervals with various work to rest ratios, and it’s main purpose was to burn as many calories as possible. I prefer the bike to most cardio apparati, because you can work at a high intensity with a low risk of injury. Sure, I could’ve had him lose weight with just cardio and high intensity circuits alone like in the Biggest Loser (kill me now):
But I have no doubt in my mind he would’ve been completely burnt out and would have hit a plateau before he got to his target weight. Purely cardio/metabolic-based workouts do very little in terms of building lean muscle mass, which is crucial in terms of elevating your resting metabolic rate (the amount of calories you burn doing absolutely nothing). They are; however, an extremely effective supplement to your fitness regimen if your goal happens to be fat loss.
Not only do I want my clients to lose weight, I also want them to gain lean muscle mass in order to improve their overall body composition. In just three months, Nathan got pretty strong. He went from not being able to do any pushups to doing 15 of them at the end of a workout with a 45 lb. plate on his back:
He also went from not having a prayer to pull himself up to performing 5 neutral grip pull-ups:
The key to Nathan’s success was his dedication and determination. He never missed a workout. He slammed down “not so delicious” protein shakes in the mornings and after his training sessions. He sacrificed some foods he really enjoyed for healthier options. Even if he had some slip-ups at social events, he got right back on track the next day instead of losing control. He went out of his way to make sure he cooked his meals, even though takeout or a Lean Cuisine would have been more convenient. There is very little room for error if you want to knock out 24lbs. in three months. Nathan took off 26.
Before dieting at around 23olbs and ??% body fat:
Nathan Being Extremely Happy
Before the Training Room at 220lbs and ~26% body fat:
Nathan and Liz in their engagement photo, along with their dog, O'Malley.
After at 194lbs and 18.9% body fat:
Nathan after his final workout before the wedding - note how much happier he is with his Christmas tree than with me.
Standing almost 9 feet tall, The Nutcracker (TR client Ryan D.) chased a crazy Nut (Co-Owner Maren) along the 3.1 mile Jingle Bell Run through Somerville.
Luckily, the Nut was able to blend in with the 6,200 runners, weaving her way to the finish line before getting cracked open.
You can run, but you can't hide
Ryan, a graphic designer, with a keen eye for developing life-size costumes out of foam and other various materials has successfully participated in the last three Jingle Bell Runs.
Dressed as a Giant Ginger Bread Man (2008) and a Towering Snowman (2009) – Ryan is becoming a local legend at the annual Jingle Bell Run. Snapping pictures before, during and after the race, The Nutcracker was a hot commodity. Requests for pictures came from runners, spectators and even families that seek out Ryan for their yearly photo-op.
Say cheese
I am sure Ryan’s wife Kelly (pictured above on the left) is thankful that her hubby creates one heck of a costume that doubles as a fantastic holiday card.
