April 27, 2024

Your healthiest year yet… By Nicole Bryan

December 31, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Make 2016 your healthiest year yet…
 
Here’s how to do it:

Adapt a current mindset. While you may have had a traumatizing dodge ball experience in junior high, ask yourself how that is relevant to your current state of fitness? Life is full of experiences, good and not so good. You can see the experience as a blockade or obstacle or as a stepping stone. Ask yourself, are you ready to let go of old unpleasant experiences regarding your health and fitness? If not, what do you need to move forward? Consider consulting a counselor if you’re unsure, joining a club or team for support, or enlisting the aid of a Fitness Professional. Being mentally and emotionally prepared for change is the first step of getting healthy. Physical fitness is merely one aspect of total health. Mental and emotional health and well-being are just as important.

Get a tune up. Just as your car needs a tune up every once in a while, so does your body and overall health. So if you haven’t had blood work done in a few years, do it now. If you have skipped the last few age recommended test, schedule them now. Suffering from aches and pains, irritations, concerns? Go see your doctor and check them off your list. The sooner you deal with whatever is nagging you, the sooner you’ll be on to your healthiest and most fit self.

De-clutter your health-related life. Clear out everything from your toothbrush to old sunscreens to old make-up. Donate your old fitness clothes that are tattered and torn. Spruce up your bedroom (replace old pillows) for a better night sleep. Clean out your fridge and stock with water and healthy foods. If you have old exercise or fitness equipment, for example exercise bands that have been sitting around, a treadmill that isn’t working properly, a stability ball that’s been rolling around the backyard, donate the item, recycle or toss it in the trash. Take this time to inject some fresh energy and clean air into your healthy living.

Stay relevant. Just as there have been advances in the fields of space discovery and engineering, there have been advances in the health and fitness fields as well. Pick one journal to subscribe to (many are free) online to stay up to date on new ideas and practices. Add in a few health websites to your current internet surfing favorites such as www.nih.gov and www.mayoclinic.com. Both are reliable sources of information.

Fitness is merely one aspect of overall health. Take a well-rounded, big picture approach to your healthy living for lasting results and benefits to make 2016 your healthiest year yet!
    

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Appreciate your Fitness by Nicole Bryan

December 23, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Do you appreciate your fitness? You should! You’ve worked hard for it. Appreciate how far you’ve come and how fitness and living healthy has enriched your life. A great way to appreciate your fitness is through giving back. And if you’ve enjoyed good health, it’s important to take a minute and acknowledge that as well. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Encourage a fellow exerciser. Encouraging another exerciser costs nothing and requires no time. Everyone loves positive feedback for their efforts. Offer a few positive words to someone you see working hard every morning at the gym, or someone in your class who’s come a long way or go to a spot on a local race course and cheer on the athletes running or riding by. Your positive words really do matter to others who may be struggling to keep his or her fitness focus. Kind words really do make a difference.

Volunteer for a community event. There are many races in many sports that happen year round. Find one that interests you and ask how you can help. Volunteers help at registration, at the hydration stops and at the finish area, there really is a task for every helping hand. Many race directors also need volunteers for several days prior to the event, so just drop a quick email or phone call and ask!

Register for a race. Consider competing in a race as a victory lap to celebrate all your training and hard workouts mastered. And keep in mind, registering for an organized race doesn’t always have to come with hard core expectations. Racing expectations are set by you. In fact, sometimes racing can simply provide a fun opportunity to get active with others who share our passion for living healthy.

Get active for a cause. Form a team and register to raise funds and participate in an organized event for a cause that’s close to your heart. The process is very simple: recruit your friends, family, co-workers, neighbor’s and sign up! The American Heart Association, Alzheimer’s Association, the Arthritis Foundation, the MS Society, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training are all worthy causes to consider lending your fitness to, just to name a few.

Plan an adventure outing. Why not plan an outing and invite others to join you? Consider a hike in the front or back country, a day long kayak excursion or maybe a bike ride is more your pace. Try a new physical activity or a great way to challenge your fitness even more. An outdoor adventure is also a great way to celebrate a birthday or other significant milestone. It’s also a great way for your guests to see the town when visiting you. And who knows, you all may even find a new activity to love.

Often we’re so focused on race to our end goal or even on setting the next goal immediately, we forget to take in the view and celebrate our progress as we go. Stop! Look around you and acknowledge how far you’ve come in your fitness journey. Congratulations!

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ENERGIZE your Fitness!

December 18, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Short days and cold weather can make motivation tough. Get ENERGIZED by chatting with others sharing your journey to fitness!

Join #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat on Twitter and stay current on top gear, best exercise practices and keys to motivation. Together we solve challenges, share successes and provide accountability and encouragement along the way.

Mark your Calendar NOW:
Every Monday at 5pm(Pacific)/8pm(Eastern) #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat on Twitter.

It’s easy to join in: Simply log into your Twitter account. Enter #HealthyWayMag to follow the chat feed. Questions for discussion are posed as “Q1″ Question 1, “Q2″ Question 2 and so on. Reply to offer your tips, ideas and experiences by notating your answer as “A1″ to designated your answer to question 1,”A2″ to offer your thoughts on the second question and so on.

 

Monday December 21, 2015 #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat is Sponsored by RecoFit Compression Gear.

RecoFit Compression Gear is a go-to for many world class athletes and fitness-enthusiasts alike! Their technical-fit and uniquely designed gear helps you get more oxygen to your muscles, thereby reducing swelling and delaying fatigue. The means better performance and faster recovery! RecoFit is the only compression gear that cuts their fabric in a cross-grain process for effective compression and no-slip positioning! Check out their products such as Calf Compression Sleeves, Shin-Splint Therapy, Full Leg Compression Sleeves, and Arm Coolers to experience the RecoFit difference for yourself. Proudly made in the USA! To learn about product details and upcoming news, follow them on Twitter at @Recofit.

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Considering an Exercise Class? By Jennifer Austin

December 16, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Thinking of joining a class at the gym? Here are a few tips to get you started safely.

Know the class description. Most gyms offer a class schedule (either online or via hard copy) along with a brief description. Still unsure, ask a staff member for more information or do a little google search for more information. Walking into a class that you don’t know about is simply careless.

Be realistic in your fitness ability. Know your capability, what you want to accomplish and know your strengths and weaknesses in the exercise world. We don’t gain our goal fitness in a single workout or single day. If upon reading the class schedule, something interests you, but seems like a stretch in your fitness consider adding it to your three or six month fitness goal list.

Know the fitness that is required. In the schedule, you’ll find a degree of difficulty, beginner, intermediate or advanced. There is a reason for the listing!

Get proper guidance, instruction or set-up. If you’re joining a class that includes equipment or gear, make sure you know how to properly use the equipment. For example, if you’re trying a spin class for the first time, ask the instructor for a set-up. If you’re joining a boot camp class for the first time, ask the instructor for guidance how to perform the exercises.

Be prepared. Knowing what the class entails, also means showing up prepared. In most cases, being prepared means being hydrated prior to the class, having eaten prior to the exercise if that is what you usually do, wearing proper clothing (breathable, clothes you can move in), wearing proper footwear for the activity, bringing a water bottle, bringing a towel, turning your cell phone off during the class,

Pace yourself. Your goal during the first class is to be an active observer. Do the moves if they feel comfortable, but mostly observe to get an idea of the flow and intensity of the class.

Give it a few chances. If the first class doesn’t go as well as you expected, try again! If the second class doesn’t go as well as expected, but you find you do enjoy the style of workout, try a different instructor. Every instructor has a different teaching style, personality and instruction back-ground. It would be a shame to not pursue an interest, on account of not enjoying the instructor’s style.

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Stay Current with your Fitness

December 11, 2015 By Leave a Comment

How do you stay current on new gear, training techniques and fitness opportunities? Through chatting with fellow fitness enthusiasts, that’s how! Exchange ideas and experiences of what works, what doesn’t and why, what opportunities you should explore and how to stay motivated. Consider #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat your weekly virtual fitness training club meeting!

Stay current on new gear picks and fitness favorites with #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat every Monday at 5pm(Pacific)/8pm(Eastern) on Twitter. As a bonus, you’ll super-charge your workout motivation!

 

Here’s how to join:
Log onto your Twitter account and follow @HealthyWayMag to view the chat questions. Questions for discussion will be posted as Question 1, “Q1″, Question 2, “Q2″ and so on. Join in the conversation by offering your opinion and experience via answers to Question 1 noted as “A1″,  your answer to Question 2 as “A2″ and so on.  You’ll chat with others who share your passion for healthy living!

 

Monday December 14, 2015 #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat Sponsored by RunnerBox:

Want to sample new gear like the professionals? Meet RunnerBox! RunnerBox will deliver a box full of products hand selected to enhance your training, racing and recovery! In each box, you’ll sample everything from gels to energy shakes to skincare and training accessories. Whether you’re a runner, cyclist or triathlete, there is a specific box for you. Purchase a subscription, one time box, limited edition or gift box, and long gone are the days of having to purchase new items in bulk only to have them sit on a shelf. Save money and save time. It’s the perfect gift for yourself or someone else! Check out their Gift Certificates as well! Follow RunnerBox on Twitter to learn more.

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Interval Exercise for a Workout Boost by Nicole Bryan

December 9, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Cardiovascular interval training is a fun, effective way to burn calories. Interval training can be performed outdoors or inside the gym on stationary cardiovascular equipment. Interval training can be performed by a novice exerciser and yet will also challenge an advanced exerciser. The intervals can truly be whatever you want to make them. Consider intervals a workout by design approach to your exercise.

The interval training principle is simple; work intervals followed by rest/recovery intervals. After a proper warm up of ten minutes begin your work interval. A work interval is performed at a higher intensity level than usual, your choice. Work just until breathing becomes challenging and you feel unable to continue at the same pace. This is where the rest/recovery interval begins. Decrease your effort and work at a lower intensity level, which allows you to recover and breathe easily again. When you feel about 50% recovered then it is time to begin the work interval again. The interval length will vary depending on the cardiovascular fitness level of the exerciser and desired goal. Novice exercisers should begin with intervals 30 seconds to 2 minutes in length, once a week. Perform as many work/rest cycles as desired based on your fitness goal. Follow your interval training with a cool down period to return heart rate to pre-exercise levels.

Intensity can be monitored by heart rate (ask a fitness professional to calculate your target heart rate zone) or by rating your perceived exertion. Rate your perceived exertion on a scale of 1 to 10; 1 is no effort, 10 is your hardest effort. As your conditioning improves you’ll be able to work at a higher level of perceived exertion. Train safely and appropriately for your fitness level. Never work until you’re dizzy, light-headed or nauseous.

Consult a physician before beginning any workout and perform at your own risk.

A walking interval workout on the treadmill may look like this:
Warm up for 10 minutes gradually increasing speed to maintain 3.0 mph. Start your Work Interval lasting for 2 minutes and performed at 3.8 mph, followed by a Recovery Interval lasting 2 minutes at 3.5 mph. Alternate between work interval and recovery interval for 10 minutes total. Finish your workout with a 10 minute cool down gradually decreasing speed from 3.5 mph to 2.0 mph until your heart rate has returned to its pre-exercise level.

Intervals may be also be performed with incline or elevation on the treadmill utilizing a steady state speed. For example:

Warm up 10 minutes incrementally increasing speed to 3.0 mph. For the Work Interval increase elevation grade to a 4% incline, and maintain a speed 3.5 mph. Move into a Recovery Interval with a 1% incline, and maintaining speed of 3.5 mph. Alternate between work interval and rest interval for 10 minutes total. Cool down slowly reducing speed from 3.5 mph to 2.0 mph, along with decreasing elevation grade gradually every minute or so until flat once again.

The interval training principle may also be applied to the Stationary Bicycle through monitoring RPM’s or resistance level, as well as to the elliptical machine varying ramp or incline, resistance level or strides per minute settings.

Outdoor walking or jogging cardio interval training is easily accomplished by simply alternating between a slow pace as defined by you and a fast pace (again at your determination based on effort and energy output) and monitoring distance via driveways, neighborhood blocks or property lines. Bicycling, walking, jogging, rollerblading, hiking, swimming, all provide fun interval workouts, limited only by your imagination.

Interval training helps burn calories and build cardiovascular fitness all in one workout session.

*Disclaimer: Results may vary from person to person.

 

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Make TODAY the day you choose fitness!

December 4, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Don’t put your fitness on hold until spring, make TODAY the day you choose to be healthy and fit! Getting active outdoors all winter long is easy with a little creativity and commitment. Take the opportunity to find a new sport or activity to love. There truly is a type of exercise for every body, every day of the year even with varying weather conditions! Need motivation? Looking for workout ideas? Want feedback on an exercise challenge? 

You’ll find all of this and more at #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat every Monday at 5pm(Pacific)/8pm(Eastern) on Twitter. JOIN US to super-charge your workout motivation!

 

Here’s how to join:
Log onto your Twitter account and follow @HealthyWayMag to view the chat questions. Questions for discussion will be posted as Question 1, “Q1″, Question 2, “Q2″ and so on. Join in the conversation by offering your opinion and experience via answers to Question 1 noted as “A1″,  your answer to Question 2 as “A2″ and so on.  Consider our weekly fitness chat as your virtual fitness-club meeting! You’ll chat with others who share your passion for healthy living!

 

Monday December 7, 2015 #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat Sponsored by Knuckle Lights:

Great for all outdoor activities from running to hiking to walking your dog! The only light designed to be worn on your hands, at the perfect angle to see your path AND be visible to others. Knuckle Lights are 50% brighter than similarly-priced lights, boast 3 settings including a blinking light, are weatherproof, and have adjustable straps to fit every hand and glove. They are light-weight and easy to carry. Whether your concern is fall prevention, increasing visibility to fellow pedestrians or simply not missing a workout due to the shorter days of winter, Knuckle Lights is there for you. They make a great gift idea, and they offer free shipping to US and Canada! Follow them on Twitter @KnuckleLights.

 

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Build your Fitness this Winter by Nicole Bryan

December 2, 2015 By Leave a Comment

You’re hearing the murmurings and mumblings…winter is coming.  Take advantage of the “off-season”, and wait out winter by trying group exercise classes. Prepare for spring and outdoor athletics now with fun indoor group exercise. Always consult your physician before beginning exercise.

Indoor cycling classes. Group indoor stationary cycling classes have become main stay at most fitness facilities. For your first class, you’ll be met by the instructor who will offer a proper bike fit. There are varying adjustments on the bikes and it’s important that the bike fits appropriately for an effective workout. You’ll try moves like standing hill climbs, seated climbing and sprints. Indoor cycling classes are useful for those interested in learning proper cycling form, as well as picking up some fun drills to transfer to your riding on the road. You’ll finish with a cool down and a stretch; always a useful reminder of productive stretches to do after every ride.

Suspension training. Suspension workouts involve using body weight as resistance. Offered through classes with an instructor you’ll be guided through a workout involving pushing and pulling movements at various angles. This type of training is a great workout for total body strength. The workout requires to use your muscles how you use them in every day function, in groups and in patterns. It also challenges your posture muscles, as it requires holding your body straight.

Pilates mat classes. Mat classes lead by an instructor offer a super effective floor based workout. This takes an everyday abdominal workout way beyond endless crunches. You’ll learn what everyone means when they refer to the “core,” and more than that…you’ll feel every muscle in the core! Even more important is you’ll learn tricks of the trade to do daily as you’re going about your day to engage and strengthen your muscles. Mat classes are not only a workout, but an education as to how your body works.

Boot camp classes. If your warm weather outdoor hobby or sport involves upper body strength like kayaking or paddle boarding, check out a boot camp style class. Usually a fast paced circuit format class, you won’t even have a chance to look at your watch! Squat down, jump up, sprint forward, side shuffle to your right are just a few of the moves you’ll repeat. What tends to be a high intensity workout, you’ll strengthen not only every muscle in your upper body and lower body, but your heart as well. The camaraderie is what many report as their favorite benefit of boot camp style classes. The creative moves which require every ounce of concentration, along with the constant challenging hustle and bustle keeps motivation high.

Start building your springtime sport and hobby fitness base now by taking advantage of indoor exercise classes. Group fitness classes may be just the way to go; you’ll pick up workout tips, discover new drills applicable to your outdoor spring and summertime hobby, and maybe even meet a new training buddy or two. You’ll enter spring stronger, leaner and way ahead of the game!

 

*Disclaimer: Result may vary from person to person.

 

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