Hey there! Here’s the seventh in our series of guest post from Lance Rogerson, who has partnered up with us for his Ironman training. Read on for this week’s update.
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Hello again, di’lishiNATION!

This past Monday marked two months until the Ironman. So I thought it would be fitting to update you on how my training is going.

Running has always been my strong point. So my focus has been more on my swimming and biking. Having the group that I meet with every Friday has really helped to keep me motivated. Not only do I have people to swim with, but also I’m able to swim part of the racecourse once a week. I have gotten up to swimming 1.5 miles with each workout.

Biking is going good as well. I get my short rides in during the week using my bike trainer. Saturdays are when I manage to get in most of my miles. I still have a long way to go with the biking portion, but I feel confident in my progress. I have a couple of buddies that I ride with on Saturdays, which makes the 35-50 miles we’ve been doing together a lot easier.

With September approaching I’ll be taking my swims up to two miles and moving the biking up to 60-80 miles. This will be the month that things get the most intense. I’m looking forward to the challenge and the fro-yo I’ll eat after my training sessions.

If you aren’t busy on October 26th, then mark your calendars and head on down to Wilmington. There are over 800 people signed up for the full Ironman — I have no doubt it will be an amazing race!

Hey there! Here’s the sixth in our series of guest post from Lance Rogerson, who has partnered up with us for his Ironman training. Read on for this week’s update.
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Hello di’lishiNATION! I hope all of you are doing well and that you have been out there getting active. After all that we have talked about with getting active, I thought that it would be good for us to cover another important component of being active – resting.

Obviously, I’m going to start by telling you that you need to get an adequate amount of sleep each night. You cannot hope to stay active if you are not getting enough sleep. No matter what you are doing or what you are training for, sleep is a vital part of a successful routine.

Next: the rest day. Never underestimate the importance of a good day of rest. Any good workout/activity routine should include at least one rest day a week. The Ironman training schedule I’m on factors in a day of rest each week. Your muscles, and your body as a whole, need time to recharge. Adding on to that, taking time to rest can help to prevent injury. Take a look at any training schedule for any big race. The week before will be one of rest. This doesn’t necessarily mean the schedule calls for you to sit around and do nothing, but it does call for you to tone it down. The same is true for your rest day each week. I don’t mean to say you have to sit on the couch all day (although we all need one of those days every once in a while). It is simply finding a way to dial it back a little at allow for some relaxation. Keep in mind relaxing looks different for everyone. One person’s relaxation might be another’s heavy activity.

Much like getting active – finding that time to rest isn’t about doing a particular thing. It all depends on your level. For example, for one person walking a mile each night might be their way of getting active. However, for someone training for a half marathon walking a mile would be a good way of getting rest. In the past I would have considered surfing to be a lot more of a rigorous activity, but being in the middle of training for an Ironman I now think of surfing as a way to relax and unwind. Maybe you relax by getting out into the garden or playing a game of catch in the back yard. It doesn’t matter how you do it, so long as you find a way to allow your body to recharge.

In the same way that we must refuel our bodies each day with good nutrition – and good fro-yo! – we must also recharge our bodies by taking time to rest. Be sure to get rested up so you can get out there and keep getting active!

Hey there! Here’s the fifth in our series of guest post from Lance Rogerson, who has partnered up with us for his Ironman training. Read on for this week’s update.
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Hello again di’lishiNATION! I hope all of you are doing well and I hope that you’ve been getting out there and getting active. Last week we talked about some good strategies on getting started. This week I want to talk about staying motivated.

Having a friend to workout with, like we talked about last week, is of course a great way to keep yourself motivated to be active. However, there are times that even with someone to push you, it can still be mundane. It can be easy to get into that rut of doing the same thing day in and day out. Your progress starts to slow and then one day you find yourself not working out or being active for the basic reason of being bored.

My advice: mix it up. Change things up and keep it interesting. If you are a runner, change your route – or just go out one day without a route in mind and turn whenever you want to turn, see what adventure you can find. Maybe even find a local running club. The people you will meet will definitely keep things interesting. I go for a swim every Friday morning in Banks Channel down at Wrightsville Beach. I meet up with a group of people. We have a blast meeting out there every week. It’s the people that have helped to keep it interesting for me. If you lift weights, keep changing up the workouts. Don’t stick with the same thing every week. Change things around to make it fun. You don’t have to have an actual weight in your hand to work your muscles. Use your body weight, do some pull-ups or pushups. We often forget how effective those basic workouts are.

Don’t be afraid to get out and try a new activity. It doesn’t have be what most think of as a “workout” for you to get in a workout and be active. This past weekend I took my youth whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River in Tennessee. We had a blast. We had so much fun we didn’t even realize the workout we were getting. Maybe rafting isn’t for you, but there are loads of things out there to do that are a really fun way to get active. Next time you are down at the beach take some surf lessons – there are loads of places here (and at just about every beach) that offer surf lessons for a reasonable price – you’ll be amazed at what a workout it is and how much fun it is all at the same time. Whatever your interests are, find a way to make them into a fun way to get active.

Wherever your adventures take you, don’t forget to grab some di’lishi fro-yo to go so you can refuel. And if you are coming down to the beach for some surfing, be sure to bring me some!

Hey there! Here’s the fourth in our series of guest post from Lance Rogerson, who has partnered up with us for his Ironman training. Read on for this week’s update.
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Alright di’lishiNATION, I’ve had a chance to introduce myself and tell you more about why I partnered with di’lishi. Now it’s time to get active! I wanted to talk this week a little bit about how you can start getting active, because I know starting out can often times be one of the hardest parts.

Start small. Don’t feel like you have to start out with a goal to run a marathon. Being healthy is a lifelong journey.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. –Lao-tzu

Set a goal. Find something that will challenge you but at the same time is attainable. Maybe it is to run a 5k (there is always one happening near you), to start lifting weights, doing yoga, or maybe it’s just to walk around the block once a day. It doesn’t matter how big or small so long as it’s something that challenges you and gets you active.

It is always smart to talk to your doctor before you begin any type of physical activity. Also, find someone who can advise you. For example, if you want to start running, find a friend who has done some races. They cannot only give you helpful info but they can also help to inspire you. No matter your level of dedication, you will always have those days that you do not want to get out and get active (beyond just your normal rest days). That’s where having a friend to motivate you will be very helpful. Also find someone who has similar goals. A training partner is always motivating.

Don’t forget that getting active and getting in shape has a lot to do with what you do in the kitchen as well. Remember to start small. Don’t feel like you have to change everything all at once. Look for ways to make healthier choices. If you drink multiple soft drinks throughout the day, cut out one or two a day. Small changes will make a big difference.

Lastly, find healthy ways to treat or reward yourself. Head to your local di’lishi and grab some fro-yo. Your taste buds will be happy and you’ll feel good about your snack choices.

I want to hear from you di’lishiNATION — post on the di’lishi Facebook page and let me know what you are doing to get out there and get active.

Hey there! Here’s the third in our series of guest post from Lance Rogerson, who has partnered up with us for his Ironman training. Read on for this week’s update.
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Hello di’lishiNATION, greetings from Belize! I’ve been here for the past 7 days doing missions work (and managing to squeeze in a couple of fun things) with some of my older youth.

It’s been awesome to get involved with my worldwide community and to find interesting ways to get in some training while I’ve been here. We’ve been doing some construction on a Sunday school building for a church and doing a VBS camp for the kids in the community. It’s always interesting to me that whether its 1 mile or 1,000 miles separating people, you can always find ways that you are alike if you take the time to get to know someone. There are few better ways to get to know someone than working along side them to achieve a common goal. The great part about getting involved in your community is that it doesn’t require getting on a plane or spending any money at all. There are loads of ways to work along side someone - all you need to do is volunteer.

One day our schedule changed at the last minute (as it often does on mission trips) and we had to stop working. So we made the most of our afternoon - we set off down a dirt path and searched out some Mayan ruins. I had no trouble at all getting in some training when we got to the high temple. I have no clue how many steps it was, but I do know it was a good workout. It can be tempting at a time like that to stay at the bottom and just look. That’s when I try to break out my adventurous side and tackle the challenge. The view from the top was definitely worth it. Today was our last day here and we wanted the youth to get to do/see something that Belize is known for (this was planned before we got to go to the ruins). So we went snorkeling. I tried to make the most of my time in the water and get some swim training in. I think I was pretty successful in that I know I won’t have trouble sleeping tonight.

I have loved my time in Belize, but I can’t help but wonder why there isn’t a di’lishi here!

Hey there! Here’s the second in our series of guest post from Lance Rogerson, who has partnered up with us for his Ironman training. Read on for this week’s update.
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Greetings di’lishiNATION! I got a chance last week to do an introduction and tell you a little about myself. I figure many of you may be wondering, “Why did you partner with di’lishi for this Ironman?” So, I thought I would take the opportunity this week to dive into that as I tell you a little more about myself.

As you probably know, di’lishi got its start in Asheboro, NC. Asheboro is a place very close to my heart. I spent 5 summers (during college and grad school) working at Camp Caraway, the boys camp located just outside of Asheboro. I even got to spend a 6th summer there as the Director. Asheboro became like a second home to me. I only wish that di’lishi had been open when I was there. I’m sure I would have kept them in business myself.

Beyond my ties to the community there, I love that di’lishi seeks to provide everyone with the highest quality frozen yogurt possible along with amazing, fresh toppings. It’s great to be able to get a snack that is both good for you and tastes so good.

Then there is of course di’lishi’s commitment to being involved in their communities. I hope that through this partnership I can help di’lishi further give back as I try to inspire people to get active. It might sound crazy for an Ironman in training to partner up with a frozen yogurt bar, but I think it couldn’t be more perfect. With a partner like di’lishi I think we can help people to see that being healthy and eating healthy doesn’t have to be something to dread. In fact, it can be a lot of fun.

See you next week di’lishiNATION! In the mean time, post on the di’lishi Facebook page and let me know what you are doing to get out there and get active.

So… all of my well-intended attempts at blogging over the last few weeks have failed and I hang my head in shame. ::makespitifulface::

These weeks of summer have been so amazing and full of di’lishi dates on the calendar, it’s like to some degree, everything from June 1st until now has been a blur. I hope that you all have enjoyed a wonderful season of fun and memory-making at it’s finest. We’ve been busy working towards our di’lishiHICKORY opening later this week and we’re so excited to finally see this location at the newly-restored, historic Holler Hosiery Mill open its doors to the public. Check out their FB page to find out about grand opening times and events. ::holler::

We’ve got something pretty awesome in the works for late summer into fall with a phenomenal athlete and friend, Lance Rogerson – or, “Lanceman” as I’ve always called him. Lance is going to be participating in the Beach2Battleship Ironman in Wilmington, NC this coming October and di’lishi is sponsoring him! He’s going to be guest-blogging for us on Fridays with lots of great pictures and information about his training and nutrition. He’ll also be making personal appearances in all of our di’lishi locations for meet and greets, along with fitness events of different kinds. I can’t wait to follow his progress as he takes on preparing for this worthy goal and conquers the Ironman! So without further adieu, I want to let Lance introduce himself to you and I’ll do that by the technological magic we call, “ the old cut-and-paste trick”.
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Hello di’lishiNATION! As Marlo already told you, I am Lance Rogerson, and I’m a 30 year-old youth pastor from Wilmington, NC. I wouldn’t call myself a fitness fanatic, but I do like to try to stay in shape. I definitely have to stay in shape with my job – because working with teenagers is a workout in itself! However, my main motivation to keep myself fit is my son, Bo. Bo just turned 1 and he’s already a handful. I want to be able to play and be active with him as he continues to grow. And one day many years from now when I have grandkids, I hope to be able to run around with them. I want to make sure I’m around to see my son grow up and my grandchildren as well.Staying fit will most definitely help me accomplish that!

I’ve always been an active person, but never really got into the whole working out/fitness thing until the spring of 2009 when a buddy of mine told me he was going to do a marathon. I had wanted to do a marathon one day, so I figured I would join him. In November of 2009 I ran the OBX Marathon. I had only 2 goals: 1) to finish 2) to run the entire thing. I accomplished both. I was amazed at what I was able to accomplish when I set my mind to it and pushed myself. A couple of weeks after completing the marathon I got into P90X and I have been doing steady weight lifting ever since. I was again amazed by my accomplishments. I began to really enjoy pushing myself and striving to become more healthy and fit.

Over the past few years I’ve done a good number of different races: the OBX ½ Marathon, the Wilmington YMCA Triathlon, the Spartan Race, a Jingle Bell 5K, and the Banks Channel Time Trial. However the most memorable race I’ve done, I’ve actually done twice – the Palmetto 200. It’s a 200-mile team relay race from Columbia, SC to Charleston, SC. Basically it’s around 30 hours in a van with 10 other people going on about 3 hours of sleep. I’ve found having an upcoming race as a goal to work towards is a good way to keep myself motivated to stay in shape.

My fitness regimen is not exactly a set routine - because basically, I’m just never sitting still. I do weight lifting 5 to 6 days a week and I like to bike to work whenever possible. I got my black belt in karate when I was in high school and I’m currently working towards a black belt in tae-kwon-do. On Friday mornings, I join a group of folks at Wrightsville Beach for a sunrise swim in Banks Channel. Any time I can manage I like to get my board out and do some surfing.

Doing an Ironman was something I had always thought would be cool, but I always said, “I do not have the time to train for that.” Then one day I realized that was just an excuse I was hiding behind. his past October I took some of my youth to the haunted battleship that they do on the USS North Carolina. I didn’t even realize it was the day of the Beach2Battleship Ironman. Driving downtown I saw the runners and the Ironman bug bit me. I knew I had to do it. I guess sort of as a challenge to myself to see what I could accomplish. I’m both scared and excited. I keep reminding myself of the feeling when I finished that marathon a few years ago. I felt like I could do anything in the world.

Everyone has basically the same reaction when I tell them I’m doing an Ironman and what it entails – they say, “You are crazy!” I guess maybe you’ve got to be a little crazy to set out to do an Ironman. However, I think it’s going to be a lot of fun training for it and then competing in the race. I hope along the way to inspire others to get active – which is where my sponsorship with di’lishi comes in. I am really motivated to visit the different locations and help inspire the citizens of di’lishiNATION to get active and accomplish their health-related goals with excitement! It doesn’t matter what you are doing, as long as you get moving! People will often comment about their slow running speed and my response is always the same, “It doesn’t matter how fast you are going, because you’re lapping everyone on the couch!” It’s fun to make getting fit a family or group thing. My wife, Amber, joined me in the Jingle Bell 5k in Raleigh this past December with a friend from college. In April of 2014 we will be doing the Rock ‘n’ Roll ½ Marathon in Raleigh with a member of the di’lishiHQ staff, Kate Steele, and her husband Billy. Getting fit is contagious. Start getting active and you’ll be surprised at how many people will join you!

In the coming weeks I will keep you guys in the loop through my blogging. I’ll share lots of info, pictures, videos, and details on when I’ll be running into a di’lishi near you. First things first, though… I’m gonna be stocking my freezer with a lot of di’lishi pints to go, so I can cool down after my workouts with the highest-quality frozen yogurt I have ever eaten. I could get other fro-yo here where I live… but it wouldn’t be di’lishi! Which begs the question… when is a di’lishi coming to Wilmington?

Well our long awaited weekend has officially arrived, di’lishiNATION! It looks like everything is in place and on go. All of our trade show materials are together, our corporate shirts are ready to be picked up from the dry cleaners, our Statesville store had a wildly successful friends & family night last night, their bar is absolutely gorgeous and they’re ready to open their doors today and grand open tomorrow … so that just leaves one last, albeit not least, item on the checklist I shared with you at the beginning of the week – and that is …

Stephen and Gracie’s wedding!!!!

Like I told you already, Stephen and Gracie are the managers of our home bar here in Asheboro – but they are more than that, because Stephen is my nephew and come tomorrow evening … Gracie will be my niece … or niece-in-law, or something like that. Whatever the official title might be, she is already family in my heart and so this wedding is merely a formality. 🙂

Both of them started out right beside me when I first opened di’lishi in 2011 and they hit the ground running - quickly becoming a team that I could count on to do most anything that needed to be done. Stephen is one of the most fiercely honest people I’ve ever known and so when it came time to give the responsibility of the daily operations of the bar to someone so that I could transition to our new corporate office, Stephen was the obvious choice to take the reins. Gracie is his right hand woman and together, they tackle everything with integrity and a work ethic you just don’t see in young people very often these days. My son, Benjamin, says, “If there was a 4-way intersection in the middle of Death Valley and approaching it you could see for miles in all directions – Stephen would come to a complete stop at the stop sign and look both ways before driving through.” That about sums it up – and THAT is the kind of man I want managing my shop!

The story about Gracie that always comes to mind is one day about 5 months after we had opened, I came into the shop earlier than expected one afternoon. I walked into the kitchen and I didn’t see anyone but I could hear that someone was in there. Walking around the prep table I looked down and Gracie’s rear-end was sticking up out from under the 3-compartment sink and I said, “Gracie? What are you doing?” She backed out, looked up at me and said, “I’m scrubbing the drain. I noticed that it was looking a little stained from the red velvet cupcake getting rinsed out and so I wanted to get it clean.” I stood there looking at her with a face that looked a lot like O_o and then proceeded to tell her how amazing she was. She grinned that cute grin she has where her little nose wrinkles up and then climbed back under the sink and started cleaning again. Seriously? She thought the drain looked a little stained? The floor drain? How many employees would even know there was a floor drain under the 3-compartment sink, much-less feel motivated to clean it on their hands and knees without being told to do so? So … ummmm … yeh, there’s that.

Clearly, I love these two in a professional sense, because they are an amazing gift to what I do every day in the fro-yo world … but much deeper than that, I love them because they are my family and completely wonderful in every way.

So on this beautiful first weekend of June, 2013, if you ask me if I want William Stephen Wiley to take Grace Michele Miconi to be his lawfully wedded wife and live happily ever after – then my answer will be a jubilant, resounding …

I do.

Congratulations guys, we love you so much. I hope this weekend is everything your Pinterest wall dreamed it would be. 🙂

As you will remember, di’lishiNATION, I gave you a list of events for this coming weekend – which when I think of them all at once, feels like I’m standing on a beach watching a tsunami headed our way and all I have is an umbrella. It makes my right eye twitch, ever so slightly. LOL

Actually, truth be told… that is how I FELT as this week has been approaching – but now that it is here, my amazing staff and di’lishiCREW members are totally on top of everything. All the hard work, planning and executing finds corporate and the company bar running smoothly and right on time. I’m so proud of them. Ahhhhhhh, systems are wonderful things.

So in today’s blog, I want to tell you about the second of our weekend happenings, because it’s a landmark for us and we’re so excited about it finally getting here! On Saturday and Sunday, June 1&2, we will be attending our very first franchise trade show in Raleigh, NC, and I have an amazing team assembled to help me meet and greet all of the eager attendees.

Up until now, we have only been responding to inquires made from in-store experiences and that has been and continues to be phenomenal. I think we’ll always have a high percentage of franchisees that sign on because of what they felt in our bars. It’s what makes us so different. We truly have created an experience centered around a destination – and it’s compelling. Nevertheless, I have known we needed to throw our cup into the trade show ring, and the time has come.

I think as much as anything it will be a great learning tool for us, as I have absolutely no idea what to expect. Putting me in the middle of a crowd of people to talk is like throwing Br’er Rabbit into the middle of the briar patch… so no worries there. I can’t wait to see what it’s like and make connections with people who are actually seeking out a franchise to own – in other words, they’ve already made that decision and they’ve paid to come see what is out there. I’m really psyched about that.

So we’re down to just a few last minute details, like picking up our backdrops and banners and setting up on Friday. We got our fliers back yesterday and they look amazing… and our team is prepped and ready to shine. So, I guess that leaves us pretty much ready to go – which makes my right eye stop twitching while I put my umbrella down, face the tsunami and say, “Yeah, bring this baby onnnnnn!”

Reports and pics when it’s over.
xoxo

Ladies and gentlemen, the captain has turned on the fasten seat belt signs and asked that you buckle up and prepare for one di’lishi week of excitement!

Well, it’s here, di’lishiNATION. We’ve had this particular week circled on the HQ calendar for quite some time because when you hear everything we have going on this coming weekend, you will understand why the captain has turned on the fasten seat belt signs. You will also understand why I am considering adding Xanax to our toppings bar. LOL. (JUST kidding!)

This coming Saturday, June 1^st, we have the following events all taking place:

1. The GRAND OPENING of our Statesville bar
2. Our very first national franchise trade show in Raleigh
3. The wedding of Stephen and Gracie – the managers of our home bar, in Asheboro. Stephen also happens to be my nephew.

I will dedicate today’s blog to the first on this list and will talk to you about the other events later this week. It’s all so di’lishi – I want to spread it out!

As I said, this coming Saturday will be the official GRAND OPENING of our long awaited Statesville, NC store. We are so excited for our franchisees – as they are so psyched up and ready to serve the people of Iredell County with passion and commitment. The owners are Geoff and June Sullivan, and their business partner, Joe Martucci. They also have an amazing gal, Oonagh Clarke, who is helping them with all of their events and social media. I’ve been so impressed with how much this group has connected with the platforms of our company and how they are working diligently to not just become another business there… but to show the people of Statesville that they are there to be a vital part of the community. You all know how important that is to di’lishi and what we strive for. My vision for all of our stores is that they paint an authentic picture of business and community walking hand-in-hand. I think this team of owners is ready to show that with huge exclamation marks! I’m so excited to see how it takes off and soars.

People always ask me if all of our shops look the same. Obviously, because we go into existing spaces, our design team has to come up with individual lay outs to meet the needs of each location – however each is distinctly di’lishi in every way. It’s always so fun to see how they’ll be unique and yet – the same. Statesville’s store is our first to have the glass party room at the front of the bar and it’s SO cool. I absolutely love how it looks from the outside and the inside. I would say this is the most unique aspect of the layout – but it creates such a funky twist to the floor plan. It’s the perfect place to host a party, meeting, or special event… so Statesville is in for a real treat there.

They have lots of events planned for Saturday – including limited edition t-shirts to give away, a prize wheel to spin, a drawing for free fro-yo for a year … and all kinds of other goodies throughout the day. They also have a superb line-up of opening flavors on tap, including (as always), one sugar free and one dairy free option for those with special dietary needs. Grand openings are always amazing… enough energy to light up a whole city! The action will begin there at 11am – so if you’re anywhere near – please make plans to attend. Here’s where it’s located.

We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome this newest member into the di’lishi family. She’s a beauty!