You are what you eat!

Food has so much effect on your feelings, attitudes and your appearance! Here are few foods that are good for skin!

  • Tomatoes
    Why: They’re full of lycopene, a phytochemical that provides red pigment and health benefits. Lycopene helps eliminate skin-aging free radicals caused by ultraviolet rays – in other words, it protects against sun damage. To reap the most benefits, heat them up: A half-cup of cooked tomatoes, for example, packs 16 milligrams of lycopene. A daily dose coupled with sunscreen will help block the burn.
  •  Mangoes, Papaya and Apricots
    Why: Got that washed-out look? Load up on some fruit. Mangoes, papaya and apricots are full of pigments called carotenoids, which are stored in the layer of fat directly beneath the skin and can improve color. “They peek through, giving you a rosy glow,” says registered dietitian Karen Ansel, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and co-author of “The Calendar Diet: A Month by Month Guide to Losing Weight While Living Your Life.”
  • Cocoa Powder
    Why: Flavonals, the antioxidants in dark chocolate, reduce roughness in the skin and protect against sun damage. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that women who drank cocoa fortified with 326 milligrams of flavonals a day had better skin texture and stronger resistance to UV rays than those who didn’t get as much of the antioxidants. Just a few ounces a day – or a standard Hershey’s Dark Chocolate bar – is sufficient. Another tasty way to get enough? Spoon some cocoa powder into your morning coffee, Ansel suggests.
  • Flaxseed
    Why: Think of these as tiny wrinkle fighters. They’re packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which erase spots and smooth fine lines. In one study, participants who had about half a teaspoon of omega-3s daily for six weeks had less skin irritation and redness, as well as better-hydrated skin, according to findings published in the British Journal of Nutrition. That’s likely because fatty acids attract water to skin cells, plumping the skin and reducing wrinkling.
  • Sweet Potatoes:
    Why: They’re full of vitamin C, which smooths wrinkles by stimulating the production of collagen. One study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found people who consumed 4 milligrams of vitamin C – about half a small sweet potato – daily for three years reduced the appearance of wrinkles by 11 percent.
  • Spinach:
    Why: Want to protect yourself against skin cancer? Take a page out of Popeye’s book. A study published in the International Journal of Cancer found that folks who ate the most leafy greens (more than four times a day) developed half as many skin tumors over 11 years as those who ate the smallest amount (once a day or never). That’s likely because the folate in spinach helps maintain and repair DNA, reducing the likelihood of cancer-cell growth
  • Canned Tuna:
    Why: It’s packed with selenium – a nutrient that preserves elastin, which keeps skin smooth and tight. Selenium also prevents free radicals that are produced by UV rays from damaging skin cells, protecting against sun damage.
  • Safflower Oil
    Why: If you have dry, flaky or itchy skin, take note: This common cooking oil doubles as a moisturizer. It contains omega-6 fatty acids, which keep cell walls supple, allowing water to reach the skin. Some research suggests consuming safflower oil can help ease skin problems such as dermatitis, inflammation, acne and dry skin.

Slider workout!

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Sliders are all you need for a great full body workout! Sliders cause you to burn more calories during an exercise because it requires you to engage your stabilizing muscles. The more muscles being used during each move which results in more calories burned!

Mt. Climber [advanced: twisting Mt climbers]
Bear Crawl [advanced: add push up]
Scissors
In and outs
Single leg in with wiper
Push ups – all kinds a challenging variations.

Check out my instagram for video examples of some of these moves!

If you don’t own sliders you can use towels on wood for or even paper plates!

Tired? Go for a walk!

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Sometimes you hit that wall, sometime around 2 or 3pm you just dont know how you’ll make through the rest of the day; what do you do? Grab a cup of coffee? Snack on something to keep you up? Take a energy drink?
While all those may “work” the most effective way to get an energy boost – physical activity. Crazy right? Go exert energy to gain some? But that’s exactly right!

“We live in a society where people are always looking for the next sports drink, energy bar, or cup of coffee that will give them the extra edge to get through the day,” says researcher Tim Puetz, PhD, also of UGA. “But it may be that lacing up your tennis shoes and getting out and doing some physical activity every morning can provide that spark of energy that people are looking for.”

If you get to the point where you can barely stay awake – go take a 10 minute walk around your office or walk out to your car and back in. You’ll be surprised how much a little physical activity will increase your energy level for the rest of the day!

 

Referenced article

How to do a push up

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!

Get fit while watching your favorite sports!

With the NFL in full swing and MLB playoffs heating up don’t forget about your health! Watch all the games you want but get fit while doing it! 👊💪

So put the pizza and beers down 🍕🍕 🍻🍻 and do these workouts with friends, family and kids!

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There’s always time to make to for fit!

Go O’s and Redskins!

Try something new

We all get into a routine or pick exercises we like but the way to results is to push yourself to a new limit! 👊
Many gyms offer all sorts of classes, no harm in trying one out. You may find a new passion! If you don’t like it, try a different one. ✔✔ Whether it’s yoga,  pilates,  kick boxing or a spin class the variation will target your muscles in a different way. 💪💪💪
I did my first spin class today and it was tough🔥🔥🔥.  Am I gonna go back?  Definitely. I’ll try to improve and get better each time.  Don’t think you’ll be a pro right away, work into the class and I bet you’ll see the results in your body and the way you feel!

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