Day 2 of #MTFFplank challenge is the low plank. Just like the high plank keep your weight spread out evenly. Keep forearms parallel, body in a straight line and neck neutral. The low plank is more challenging because it recruits more of your core muscles to do the work.
Can you do a low plank for 60 seconds? Challenge friend and get #augustabs together!
Start today! Email maketimforfit@gmail.com for your personalized workout program!
When I first moved to Texas my job was during the evening so I was forced to eat dinner at work. Making a lunch is one thing but dinner – I know I had to be smart about what I bring because I’m at work making money not trying to spend it! Plus whatever restaurant I could run to during a break from work would not be healthy!
I try to get a protein, a carb (forget that carbs are bad! Not all are bad!) and a vegetable when I pack my dinners. I usually stick with fish and chicken for proteins. Throw in some brown rice, quinoa, or whole wheat pasta for my starchy carb. My veggie of choice lately has been Kale. It’s very easy to make and I really like the crunch and flavor of baking it. Otherwise I go with frozen broccoli, spinach or sweet potatoes.
Eating well is just a matter of planning. It’s hard to throw things together quickly if you don’t have things in the house or you are tight on time.
There are countless ways to prepare chicken, tilapia, and catfish. Find some recipes that you like and make them ahead of time, portion it out in tupperware containers and you’ll learn what works for you!
Good luck prepping!
I used to get the worst guilt if I missed a workout or ate too much at dinner or even ate a cookie. But it’s important to remember – You are human and you don’t need to be 100% perfect all the time.
It’s simple, try to eat unprocessed foods and if you want a cookie have one maybe two, just not the whole box.
If you put yourself on a zero tolerance diet, you are setting yourself up to fail. Remember the first bite is always the best. Enjoy it then move on. Don’t beat yourself up if you accidentally splurge! Just don’t let it ruin the rest of the day.
One bad meal is just that one bad meal! If you crack your phone screen you don’t take a hammer and shatter the rest of it! It’s about moderation. Each meal, snack, dessert are independent of each other so don’t let one bad meal trigger a chain reaction! Plus, the longer you eat unprocessed foods and load up on vegetables the less you’ll crave sweets and other unhealthy foods!
Good luck, happy eating and here’s a quote I like to read if I get off track.
“Balance is key. In everything you do. Dance all night long and practice yoga the next day. Drink wine but don’t forget your green juice. Eat chocolate when your heart wants it and kale salad when your body needs it. Wear high heels on Saturday and walk barefoot on Sunday. Go shopping at the mall and then sit down and meditate in your bedroom. Live high and low. Move and stay still. Embrace all sides of who you are and live your authentic truth! Be brave and bold and spontaneous and loud and let that complement your abilities to find silence and patience and modesty and peace. Aim for balance. Make your own rules and don’t let anybody tell you how to live according to theirs.”
–Rachel Brathen
Flax seed comes from flax which is one of the oldest fiber crops in the entire world. It has taken the health industry by storm and it lives up to its reputation. Flax seed is loaded with the “good stuff.” It is a great source of omega 3 fat (healthy fat), antioxidants and fiber. It can also protect from colon, breast, and prostate cancers as it has been said to prevent the growth of cancerous cells. Flax seeds can also lower cholesterol, prevent hot flashes, improve blood sugar and helps with constipation due to the high fiber content.
How? Where do you add flax seed to your diet?
Add flax seed to:
Salads, yogurt, muffins, oatmeal, protein shakes, bread chicken, french toast, apple sauce, ice cream, cottage cheese or substitute an egg! There are tons of possibles and more details click here!
Load up on flax seed where you can you will see and feel it many benefits!
Here’s a little hump day break that I hope will encourage you to take a few minutes and reflect how great you are. We are so critical of everything and the most critical about ourselves! Constantly comparing, critiquing our minds and bodies to “fit in.” Before the days of social media you could just enjoy yourself and not be constant bombarded by pictures and posts about this and that. Sometimes I need to remind myself, that if you can’t love yourself, it’s impossible to love anyone else and fully live your life. You aren’t conceited or cocky because you love yourself, you are treated yourself the way you deserve to be treated; with love and respect.
Here is are 30 Ways to Practice Self-Love from lifehack.org
So do yourself a favor, take a deep breath, give yourself a little hug and start practicing the following:
Full the full article click here
If you want to start, continue or revamp your fitness journey email maketimeforfit@gmail.com for your personalized workout program!
I firmly believe that if you have a weak core, then you are weak – plain and simple! Nearly every move you ensure proper form your core must be engaged – which is why a strong core is essential! Today’s move of the day focuses on the sides of your core, the obliques. This move helps create the curved waist and supports the core as a whole. When doing bicycle crunches it’s important to remember to keep your lower back on the ground throughout the move. As your twist bring your elbow to the opposite knee, squeezing through your abdominals. Do this 50x when you wake up and 50x before you go to bed and you’ll start seeing results in 4 weeks!
To get your personalize fitness program email maketimeforfit@gmai.com for your free consultation!
One of the most tried and true back moves out there today – the single arm bent over row, also know as the lawn mower row. This can be done using a bench too, where you rest your knee on the bench opposite of the arm you are working and with a flat back, row up. Don’t use momentum. I like this move to because you isolate your lats and rear delts and can really focus are target the muscles. When you row up squeeze for 1 count at the top and release back down. Try this as a drop set, so you as decrease reps, increase weight.
15x, 12x, 8x – that means – do 15 times (reps) on each arm then 12 reps each arm then 8 reps on each arm. You don’t need to break between sets and your break only needs to be as long as it takes you to switch weights.
There are many variations of bicep curls from dumb bells, barbells, resistance bands and of course cables! I like to change up my machines to target the muscles in a slightly different way. Today’s move is done on cable machine with the rope attachment. Now there are even more ways to change up a standard bicep curl on a cable machine by altering the grip and/or the attachment. The rope adds some isolation that I like because it’s not stable and when you get the the top of the move you can get an extra squeeze as you separate the two ends. Try doing this move for 10-15 reps with 4 sets. Don’t let the weights just drop out at the end, go slow and controlled throughout the move!
I love working my back in different ways. There is the T-Bar machine so it’s really preference because that will get a great workout as well. I like using this set up because I can easily change grips. In the picture I’m using a rope attachment from the cable machines but there are many other ways to do similar moves. You could use a triangle grip attachment or a wide bar attachment or you could place your hands close together and make a more narrow row – the possibilities are endless. I like using the rope attachment because it really engaging not only my back and glutes to keep my back straight and supported but also by biceps are flexed during the move. Be smart when lifting up weight for back exercise – you need to use your legs to get into the proper form – improper form can lead to injury and you won’t be lifting anything for a while!
Try doing this at a weight you can get 10-12 reps for 4 sets!
It’s Monday – dreaded Monday. How about changing the way you look at Monday? Yes, the weekend is over and you have to back to work but hey at least you have a job – simple things we take for granted someone is wishing for. So take this a little reminder that everyday is a opportunity for growth! Embrace each day as a opportunity to get better, big or little just improve something. It can be as little as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, reading a few chapters of a book or getting to work early to get ahead on a project. There are going to be bumps in the road but take this a little reminder that no one is perfect and it’s through our failures that we grow! Take advantage of each day a push yourself to grow physically, emotionally, spiritually or mentally. Days will come and go so today try be the best version of you!
maketimeforfit 