That’s an appealing title isn’t it? It seems that in this day of fitness a great majority of people want results with little to no effort. People wonder why it takes them so long to reach their goals but won’t approach them in a logical manner. If little to no effort is how you got the way you are now, then how can you expect to have the opposite effect on your body from that same approach? If you are saying in your head “something is better that nothing” right now, then I’m speaking to you.

What is your INTENSITY level when you exercise? Do you expend all the energy you have in the shortest amount of time, or do you try to conserve energy until the predetermined time has elapsed?……….Plain coming english in 3,2,1……Do you 1. Go hard, catch your breath, then go hard again? OR 2. Go through the motions until your 30min. or however long you decided to workout has past…….on your cellphone, talking to your friends, reading a book, looking at everyone else like they’re crazy cause they’re sweating all over the place. Walking out the gym looking the same way they did coming in. Then get online talking about how you got it in at the gym today. (are you uncomfortable reading this right now?) Understand this, no matter what it is in life, your approach dictates your outcome. If you want mediocre results then give a mediocre effort. If you want life changing results then give a life changing effort. If you want the effects to last short term then give a short term effort. If you want the effects to last long term, then give a long term effort. Simple logic. These post are a direct result of what I see everyday. I have people coming to me on a regular basis asking how can they reach their goals, but wait til the VERY last second to start achieving them, with a laundry list or things they don’t want to do. It seems everyone wants that spectacular “after” photo, but will put more effort into searching for the easiest way to get there, with as little effort as possible, than actually working towards that goal.

Take a look at these pics and decide who’s going to reach their goals quicker……

no intensityintensity resizeno intensity1 resize

intensity3 resize

The reason I chose this topic is because this is how the fitness industry makes BILLIONS. They tell you what you want to hear…..QUICK, EASY, CONVENIENT. Well I’m going to tell you the exact opposite. Get up! Get out the house! Skip putting on make-up (ladies)! Put the phone down! Close the book! AND GO HARD! Go until you need to catch your breath. Go hard until it burns. Go hard until you need to lay down in the middle of the floor no matter where you are. Get up and do it again…….and after that, get up and do it again. This is how you change your life.

~it’s about what YOU see in the mirror~

[twitter style=”vertical” float=”left”]

[twitter_follow language=”en”]

[tweetmeme]

[digg float=”left”]

[fblike style=”standard” showfaces=”false” width=”450″ verb=”like” font=”arial”]

[fbshare type=”button”]

[linkedin_share style=”none”]

[google_plusone size=”standard”]

baby feet resize

Your feet  are very, very  important! You must take care of them.You use them for standing, balancing, running, jumping, and simple walking. Think about it, if your feet are not prepared, your activity will suffer. Kinda like buying the top of the line sports car, with all the bell and whistles, 0-60 in 4.3, but putting the cheapest tires you can find on it. I for one have feet that can get really bad if they aren’t taken care of. The soles of my feet callus up, my heels can split, and bleed. Not a pretty sight. TMI, maybe but if you have a problem or run the risk of developing foot issues then this may help you.

I’ve experimented with some different options for daily maintenance to help keep my feet in a satisfactory condition. Some of them yielded better results than others.

baby oil resize

First I tried baby oil: It didn’t soak in too well or protect my feet my feet overnight.

vaseline-1

Next I tried good ol’ Vaseline: It absorbed into the thick skin and my feet were conditioned nicely

glycerin resize

3rd I tried 100% glycerin: It did soak in but didn’t last all night. It was kind of mess also.

zinc resize

4th was Zinc Oxide: I was impressed with the way it accumulated in the creases and cracks, but zinc oxide keeps moisture out not in. My feet felt dry the next morning and were not soft at all. This may be an option foryiou is your feet sweat.

desitin resizevicks resize

5th I tried a combination of Destitin (which is basically petrolium jelly) and vicks lemom scent vapo rub. I figured the Vicks would open the pores and the Desitin would soak in and moisturize my feet. It worked well. Probably just as good as the Vaseline alone.

Bi-weekly pedicures are great if you can afford them but I try to be a little more practical with my spending. I have a Ped Eggpedegg resize. This is great for exfoliation (removing dead skin), which is something you should do before moisturizing. Take a little extra time every night to devote to your feet. Don’t wait until you’re incapacitated before you address the issue.

~its about what YOU see in the mirror~

 [twitter style=”vertical” float=”left”]

[twitter_follow language=”en”]

[tweetmeme]

[digg float=”left”]

[fblike style=”standard” showfaces=”false” width=”450″ verb=”like” font=”arial”]

[fbshare type=”button”]

[google_plusone size=”standard”]

 

exercise recovery resize

Getting fit is more than just the activity you perform. Your recovery time is just as important.

I don’t have to tell you to get your butt in gear…..well some of you I do. What I might also have to tell you that spending hours lifting, running, and jumping day-in-and-day-out will stall your progress. Rest and recovery are essential components to any strength and conditioning program and most coaches and trainers would argue it’s just as or more important than the lifting itself. Recovery must occur before progress can be made. It’s important for staying injury free, long-term consistent training, and maxing out from time to time.

Here are some recovery tips I’ve gathered from varios sources to help you.

Rest– Getting plenty of sleep and resting your body may be the most effective treatment. 8 to 10 hrs of sleep a night is ideal. You actually burn calories in your sleep while your muscles recover from resistance training.  

Hydration – Drinking plenty of water can help flush out toxins from your body and prevent dehydration, which can make muscle soreness even more painful. While there is no consensus on how much water you should drink, somewhere around 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water per day is a good starting point.

Blood flow: Circulation of blood in and out of a stressed body part improves speed of recovery. Techniques that can improve blood flow include cooling down after your workout with a walk or easy bike ride, performing light stretching during or after each workout, alternating every 30-60 seconds between hot and cold running water in your post-workout shower, taking an ice bath after a very strenuous weight training workout or long run, and performing a light walk, swim, or easy exercise routine the day after a hard workout.

Pre & Post-Workout Nutrition – My formula for this is to consume a healthy carb (usually 1 cup of raw almonds,walnuts, and dried fruit) and water pre-workout, and a healthy carb (piece of fruit) and protein (1 boiled egg) post-workout.

Topical Creams – creams like Ben Gay and IcyHot provide the perception of pain relief, but have no effects on the underlying muscle.

NSAIDS – nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil and Alleve can help relieve the discomfort of muscle soreness. It’s not advisable to use NSAIDS on a consistent basis, but rather for an acute bout of soreness.

Stretch! Stretch! Stretch!– it is very important to legnthen the muscles for good range of motion. Most cases of muscle pulls are because the muscle hasno elasticity. You see this alot with body builders. Their biceps are so tight that the can’t straighten their arms. Tight muscles are one of the main causes of pulled hamstrings.

The top 3 inhibitors to making progress in your training are….

1) Lack of sleep

2) Lack of proper nutrition

3) Overtraining

The best way to avoid very sore muscles and improve recovery is to use a progressive exercise program where workouts become harder at a measured pace over time. Remember not to try to accomplish all your goals in one day. Pace yourself. It took you this long to get to wherever you are now. Give yourself time train and time to recover.

~its about what YOU see in the mirror~

[twitter style=”vertical” float=”left”]

[twitter_follow language=”en”]

[digg float=”left”]

[fblike style=”standard” showfaces=”false” width=”450″ verb=”like” font=”arial”]

[fbshare type=”button”]

[linkedin_share style=”none”]

[google_plusone size=”standard”]

 

http://www.mensfitness.com/

http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/

You don’t have to be in the gym to get a great workout. Try these fun activities to reach your goal.

Model mit Kettlebell

Kettlebells


One of the most effective fitness tools Iv’e found, kettlebells will boost your cardio, sculpt your body and improve your strength with every move. Kettlebells come in a wide range of weights, giving you the ability to start easy and work your way up as your fitness soars. My suggestion is to get the Empower Fitness 3-in-1 Kettlebell, which gives you five-, eight-, and 12-pound options. It also comes with Gin Miller’s Swing Yourself Fit DVD, which features three different workouts that will change your body. Kettlebells will not only tone you from head-to-toe, they are also a fun way to bust fitness boredom.

skating

Rollerskating

 

Remember the good back in the day when all your friends had their birthday parties at the skating rink, and you spent hours racing around the floor? Recapture the fun by grabbing a pair of quads or inline skates and hitting the pavement. You’ll love the feel of the wind in your hair, and you’ll be psyched to know that the average 150-pound woman burns roughly 450 calories during an hour of skating.

trampoline resize

Trampolining

 

Trampoline gyms like Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park are popping up all across the country. That’s because jumping on a trampoline is excellent exercise — and it’s just plain fun.

If you don’t have a trampoline gym in your area, create your own jumping workout using a home trampoline. Representatives from Springfree Trampoline suggest performing a total-body strengthening workout incorporating straight jumps, seat drops, pike jumps, hands-and-knees drops and jumping jacks. A 20-minute routine will leave you feeling both exhilarated and worn out

trx training

Suspension training

Suspension training using a TRX or Jungle Gym XT trainer can help you gain excellent full-body balance and strength wherever you are. These easily transportable devices engage large and small muscle groups while you perform pushups, squats, lunges and other body-weight exercises.

cycling resize

Outdoor cycling and Alternatives

 

Indoor spinning classes can be fun, but nothing beats the thrill of a real ride. Pick up a bike and hit the roads and trails for a consistently fun challenge. Constant changes in terrain will also offer a challenge. You can make it up that hill!!!

If you shy away from cycling because you can’t stand the butt burn, check out a few of the new outdoor cycling alternatives such as the Trikkeand the ElliptiGO. The Trikke engages your legs and core as you power the three-wheeled standing cycle around town, while the Elliptigo functions as an outdoor elliptical machine, allowing you to run on wheels!

zumba resize

Dancing

 

Dancing is a great way to exercise while having a blast, and the best part is that you can do it anywhere there’s music. Simply turn up your stereo and create your own routine to your favorite playlist. Zumba is a great group activity that is sure to burn 100s of calories. Cut up a shirt and show’em what you workin with!

pole dance resize

Pole Dance

Pole dancing fitness can contribute to significant weight loss for individuals when combined with other fat burning exercises. In one single class you can burn as many as 250 calories which is the equivalent to a good gym session, says Weightlossresources.co.uk.  Pole dancing will also build and tone muscles, increase flexibility, and boost confidence.

 

I don’t recommend skipping resistance training as building muscle will accelerate your fat loss and increase strength. Whatever you choose to add to your program, pick an activity that you enjoy. You want something to look forward to when exercising. This will keep you coming back even if you don’t feel particularly motivated that day. Tomorrow a client and I are slipping on the boxing gloves. I hope she’s ready!

~its about what YOU see in the mirror~

 

[twitter style=”vertical” float=”left”]

[twitter_follow language=”en”]

[digg float=”left”]

[fblike style=”standard” showfaces=”false” width=”450″ verb=”like” font=”arial”]

[fbshare type=”button”]

[linkedin_share style=”none”]

[google_plusone size=”standard”]

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.sheknows.com/

http://www.medicaldaily.com/

protein supplements resizemeat resize

I had a friend ask me about protein today. She wanted to know about protein shakes. So for Promise and the rest of you, here’s the facts…….

The only stimulus to make muscles larger and stronger is to stretch them while they contract against resistance. When you lift a heavy weight, your muscles start to stretch before they start to contract. This tears the muscle and causes soreness on the next day. If you rest and let the muscle heal, it will be stronger than before you stretched it. You improve by performing hard workouts so your muscles can grow and heal while you recover on your easy days.

Anything that helps you recover faster from a hard workout will allow you to do more work to make you stronger. Scientists have known for years that you recover faster by eating immediately after you finish your hard workout. Now we know that eating extra protein helps you recover even faster. Muscles are made primarily from protein building blocks called amino acids. Muscles heal from a hard workout when amino acids and other nutrients travel from your bloodstream into the muscles. Eating any food, particularly foods with plenty of protein, immediately after you finish your workout helps your muscles heal faster so you can do more work. The sooner you eat protein after you finish your hard workout, the quicker you will recover.

However, you don’t need to take expensive supplements; ordinary foods provide high-quality protein and taste better. I am against putting unnecessary chemicals and processed foods in your body. Also once you get done with the supplements, you still have to eat. Learn to use your food. Remember, your body cannot store extra protein. If you don’t need all of the protein you have eaten, it is broken down into ammonia and organic acids, which are used for energy. Any excess is stored as fat.

How much protein do we need?

Our protein needs depend on our age, size, and activity level. The standard method used by nutritionists to estimate our minimum daily protein requirement is to multiply the body weight in pounds by .37. This is the number of grams of protein that should be the daily minimum. According to this method, a person weighing 150 lbs. should eat 55 grams of protein per day, a 200-pound person should get 74 grams, and a 250-pound person should eat 92 grams.

What have we learned?

1. Extra protein is only needed to recover from resistance training

2. Protein is not stored. If you don’t use it or need it, it will be broken down and converted to energy or fat.

3. The way to not add calories to your diet is to use your food to your benefit. Otherwise you run the risk of gaining weight from what you perceive to be healthy food.

Therefore, there is no benefit to ingesting large amounts of protein in shakes, supplements, fortified foods. Considering the S.A.D. (Standard American Diet), we consume meat with evey meal so its not like the average person will be deficient. Now, let’s stop listening supplement companies trying to sell us dreams of lean sculpted bodies in a can, powder or pill.

 ~its about what YOU see in the mirror~

[twitter style=”vertical” float=”left”]

[twitter_follow language=”en”]

[digg float=”left”]

[fblike style=”standard” showfaces=”false” width=”450″ verb=”like” font=”arial”]

[fbshare type=”button”]

[linkedin_share style=”none”]

[google_plusone size=”standard”]

 

 

 

http://www.drmirkin.com/fitness/protein_and_muscles.html

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/nutrition/a/protein.htm

fat-vs-muscle body 1 resizefat-vs-weight-body 3 resize

 

We talked about how muscle weighs more than fat but it takes up less space. As you can see here, the woman on the on left (the top on mobile screens) actually added  almost 10lbs of muscle but she’s smaller. Her thighs are smaller, her waist has slimmed, her butt is lifted. As a whole her weight is carried differently. The woman in the right pic (bottom on mobile screens), is 5 lbs heavier but she looks smaller also. What I’m trying to show you is they didn’t get big like a bodybuilder by doing resistance training. They added enough muscle to get their bodies the way they wanted them. Another benefit to building more muscle is, you will automatically burn more calories in your everyday life. There’s many ways to achieve more muscle. Body weight exercises, free weights, machines, resistance bands and tubes, etc. I myself, alternate between free weights, body weight, and cardio in one continuos circuit before I take a break. This gives me a total body workout, burning the most calories in the least amount of time. I’m usually done within an hour. The problem with all cardio is it doesn’t build or preserve muscle. Therefore it takes more time to burn the same amount of calories. Also it takes for people to step outside their comfort zone and to deviate from their regular routine of treadmill, elliptical, rowing machine, and exercise bike.

No.1  Don’t focus on how much you weigh.

No.2  Don’t put your resistance training on the back burner and only emphasize cardio. Do them together.

No.3  Let consistency be your goal. Keep your schedule , at least 3 times a week, every week.

No.4  Use tape measure or your clothes as a indication of your progress.

Do this and one day sooner than you think, you’ll come to find you need to buy new clothes.

~its about what YOU see in the mirror~

[twitter style=”vertical” float=”left”]

[twitter_follow language=”en”]

[digg float=”left”]

[fblike style=”standard” showfaces=”false” width=”450″ verb=”like” font=”arial”]

[fbshare type=”button”]

[linkedin_share style=”none”]

[google_plusone size=”standard”]