Tag: full body

Remember to stretch after your workout!

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You finish your workout and are ready to walk out the door. Just before you leave you see a few people stretching and you think “I probably should, but i just wait to get home.” Well well well let me tell you that just because you can’t SEE the results of stretching – it is just as important to help reach your goals, whether it’s losing weight or wanting to compete.

Stretching can lead to better posture, fewer aches and pains, greater confidence, and EVEN a cheerier outlook on life (yep! sure can!). Sitting can be hard on your glutes and your back. Stretching helps keep from these muscles from atrophying over time. If stretching hurts – it’s cause you really need it. Breathe through the stretch and imagine your muscle tissues releasing. Practice makes perfect. The more you stretch the easier it is and better you will feel over all.

Here is my cool down stretching routine. Find whatever works for you! I promise with consistent stretching you will feel like a new you!

Walk on treadmill til my heart rate is down (wear a heart rate monitor so you are always aware of your heart rate). Then legs a little wider than shoulder width apart, stretch down feeling it your hamstrings, go to the right side then the left and finish back at center – holding each for about 10-15 counts.

Hip flexors right leg back in a lunge position and press hips forward and squeeze right glute, then straighten left leg and lean forward to feel the stress in your hamstring. I do this 5 times alternating hip flexor and hamstring holding about 8 counts for each stretch. Then do this same thing with the left leg back squeezing that glute and pressing hips forward then straighten right leg out for hamstring stretch on that side, again holding for 8 counts each.

Next I sit on the mat and stretch my glutes by bringing my right ankle to the top of my left knee and you’ll feel that pull in your glutes. The closer the leg is to your body the deeper the stretch. Then do a spinal twist turning to the right – repeat this on the left side.

Then I lay on my back and do some spinal twists with bent knees.

Stretch out my neck from side to side then reach high then I’m done!

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Reference here

Fun Fitness Friday – Pyramid Run

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I was very active in high school and college playing sports so running has been apart of my life for basically. I actually love love love running, but let’s be honest running on a treadmill can get kinda boring!

So I came up with this pyramid run to change it up a little bit. With this run you are constantly changing paces and the longest period of running at the same pace is 5 minutes! 5 minutes anyone can do 5 minutes! These little time goals during my run help me to keep me going!

The pyramid run alternates between running at a “race pace” (RP) and “recovery” (R).

If you don’t know your race pace I suggest setting at a mile time goal.  For example, if you want to run a 10 minute mile as your RP go 6 mph and on the R you can adjust to mph slower so 4-5 mph.
The best part is that you can always adjust as you go.

What I love about this type of run is that it fits with any type of runner from the novice to the marathon runner because you adjust the speed to whatever works for you!

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The key to remembering how many minutes that the RP minutes increase 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and the R is 2 minutes except on the 1 minute RP.

Having little 1-5 minute goals really pushes me to keep going since I know can recover!

Hope you guys enjoy this run as much as I do! And I promise it’s not as easy as it looks! ;););)

Start today! Email maketimeforfit@gmail.com for a free consultation for a personalized workout program!

Stay on track even when dining out

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Headed out for dinner? Here are some tips that can help you stay on track with you fitness lifestyle goals!

One tip I use when dining out is to order half my meal. Just ask the server to box up half for you before you get it.
You’ll be surprised how much food half is, and you trick your brain because when you clean your plate you won’t feel terrible afterwards!

Another tip I use is to always get the side of vegetables! Fries have zero nutritional value, just don’t get them -you’ll be OK I promise!

You know you can order those veggies dry? They won’t be raw but they won’t use a half a stick of butter when sauteing them.

This is half of my dinner from the other night

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I got a chicken caprese sandwich with a side of zucchini and squash. That doesn’t look like half a meal does it? Portion sizes are outrageously large in restaurants and often times our eyes are way bigger than our stomach! Go to the restaurant with the mindset to order half and you’ll get to enjoy your meal without the guilt! PLUS you get leftovers!

Need a workout program? Start today! Email maketimeforfit@gmail.com for a free consultation to get your personalized workout program!

Memorial Day Weekend Workout

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Hey hey hey!  Hope everyone has a great long weekend! It’s definitely important to let loose and relax but don’t lose sight of your goals! 💪 💪
Here’s a Full Body workout you can do anywhere…hotel room, beach, at the house..anywhere! So you have no excuses to skip a workout!

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Have a great weekend and remember to maketimeforfit! 😄😄;);)

Start today! Email maketimforfit@gmail.com for your personalized workout program!

This isn’t working…

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Ever have the feeling no matter what you do, you aren’t getting the results you want? Maybe it’s time to take a look at your routine and see if there are things you can change.

Isolating small muscle groups – Doing isolated exercises like bicep curls and tricep kick-backs will NOT get you any significant results. These one-muscle-at-a-time moves simply don’t stimulate enough muscle fibers to build lean muscle or expend enough energy to maximize your calorie burn.

Too much cardio can be an issue with many women who are not as comfortable lifting weights or fear they will get too bulky. I promise you; you won’t get too bulky, you need a ton more testosterone and if you aren’t supplementing that – don’t worry.

If you want to build lean muscle while burning fat so you can get serious definition, you need to perform exercises that stimulate as many muscles and expend as much energy as possible at the same time.

Try super settings moves or adding jump rope, jump squats or a cardio boost between sets.
Try doing full body moves that work both and small muscle groups. Ex. Lunge with over head press, step ups with lateral raise.
For added difficulty try adjusting your balance – the smaller the the base the more challenging the move.

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How to do a push up

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Push ups are great full body move. They require not only upper body strength from chest and shoulders but also the core, glutes and legs for stabilization and good form throughout the move. So many people end up doing push ups wrong thus putting them at risk for injury. 
Here are two modifications that will help you gain the strength needed for regular push ups.

Move 1: one leg push up

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Start with knees on the floor but as you lower yourself straighten one leg.  This move helps strengthen your core, helps prevent low back sag and replicates the form you’ll want to have during a regular push up.

Move 2: power up push up

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This move is a step closer to a regular push up.  It allows you to practice lowering yourself with no assistance but placing knees on for at bottom of move to press up, power up, through chest. Again this move helps with proper form and technique of av regular push up.

Try incorporating these moves 3-4 times a week and I promise you’ll gain the strength needed to do a regular push up with good form and technique!