May 17, 2024

Be Smart with your Fitness

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Be Smart with your Fitness!

Pain means stop. Pain has a very different feeling than muscle fatigue or muscle burn. Muscle fatigue is acceptable, joint pain is not. Don’t work into pain.

Dizziness should not be a part of your workout. Dizziness can be a signal that your body is not meeting its oxygen demands and intensity is too high. Decrease intensity.

Use muscles, not momentum. Swinging weights around uses momentum, not muscles. Momentum is where injuries happen. Ideally, you should be able to control the entire range of motion to overload the muscles adequately. Control the exercise for best results.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make Workout Prep a Priority

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Weekly Workout Prep!

Once Monday hits, the week rolls fast and life gets busy. Make your fitness as convenient as possible so less time is wasted when schedules are tight. Make sure you have what you need for your workout, when you need it. Plan for your workouts for the week NOW!

1. Workouts planned and logged into your calendar.

2. Workout clothing washed, folded and packed in your drawer or gym bag. Shoes too!

3. Water bottle cleaned, filled and chilled.

4. Healthy pre and post-workout snacks portioned and packed in your container or bags.

5. Gym bag placed by the front door.

 

Make up your own fitness!

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Get creative and make up your own fitness!

Remember summer days as a kid when you simply ran wildly without worry or structure or concern with…biomechanics? Revisit your childhood and run, jump, hop and skip. Here are a few moves to get started:

Side Shuffle. Side step to your right 20 paces. Stop quickly, and side shuffle to your left 20 paces.

Forward Hop. Place both feet together and hop forward.

High Skip. Skip forward trying to jump as high as you’re able with each stride.

Jog and Jump. Jog forward 5 paces, on the 6th step jump straight up reaching both arms up overhead, then return to your jog for 5 paces again.

 

*Consult your physician before beginning exercise.

Your Health: Small Changes Stick

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Small changes to health will stick!

Getting healthy does not happen overnight. A common mistake of many attempting to live healthy is doing too much too soon. The result is falling back into old unhealthy habits when times are tough. So how do you stick with it? Make one small change each week and the changes will stick. For example:

Instead of setting a goal to exercise 5 days a week, commit to 3 days.

Instead of vowing to give up all sugary foods, start by reducing by one serving each day.

Instead of jumping right into a high intensity weight training routine, begin with 2 days a week working the full body.

Take a one-at-a-time approach. Can you reduce an unhealthy behavior by 1? Can you add a healthy behavior by 1?

 

Is fear holding back your exercise?

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Embrace your exercise fears!

Is fear getting in the way of your fitness? What exercise or sport would you be participating in if you weren’t afraid, anxious or nervous? Embrace the fear and keep moving forward. Here’s how:

Ask for help. Everyone was a beginner at some point. Don’t know what to do? Ask your friends, a professional, the front desk staff.

Start slow. Afraid you won’t be able to complete an entire spin class? Don’t! Share your thoughts with the instructor and set your goal to complete 30 minutes (with a proper warm up and cool down.)

Break it down. Always wanted to try rock climbing? Great! Break it down by firstly, simply visit your local rock gym. Second, ask if you’re able to observe others climbing. Third, inquire about lessons or classes. Fourth, climb!

 

Motivation…Guaranteed.

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Participate in a Race!

Competition doesn’t always have to be intense, anxiety-inducing and stressful. Racing can, in fact, be motivating, inspiring and fun! Not only does racing yield physical benefits, but many non-physical benefits as well. Here are 3 non-physical benefits of racing and why you shouldn’t automatically rule it out in your athletic journey:

Racing allows time alone with your thoughts. That’s right, if you’re always running here and there, racing allows a set period of time to RELAX, take in the view and gather your thoughts. Or simply blank your mind and don’t think about anything at all!

Racing can be FUN. Remember your care-free days of dashing around the playground at school, or racing through the park with friends? Unless you’re competing for sponsors or qualifications, racing can be pure, easy, adult-allowed FUN.

Racing feeds your spirit. Yes, competition is a great workout. However, racing will also feed your spirit as you witness the friendship among athletes who have just met, the encouragement one athlete offers to another, the support and genuine care volunteers give to competitors. Allow these actions to move you and feed your motivation.

Celebrate Your Fitness!

Celebrate your Fitness!

Join #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat EVERY Monday 5pmP/8pmE on Twitter and celebrate your fitness! Regardless of where you are on your fitness journey, it’s important to stop along the way and acknowledge how far you’ve come, the strength and conditioning you’ve gained and the skills you’ve mastered.

You’ll also pick up workout motivation, exercise accountability and fitness tips for the week. Consider this your virtual fitness club meeting to jump start each week exciting about living healthy and fitness. 

Here’s how to join:
Log into your Twitter account.
Enter #HealthyWayMag to see the chat feed.
Chat with others, offer your thoughts and input on questions, have fun!

 

Monday July 11, 2016 #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat is Sponsored by Running on the Wall:

Looking for a way to acknowledge your running friend or family member on run well done? As “your gift source for running”, Running on the Wall is your one stop shop for gifts for runners. They offer everything to commemorate and motivate running miles from decals and magnets to race bib displays and medal displays. Offer a thoughtful token of congratulations with a small gift to acknowledge their race commitment. And don’t forget to celebrate your own success! Have you completed a racing goal that you’d like to show off? Don’t hide your medals in a drawer or closet when a high quality display is just a click away. And as a bonus, seeing your medals regularly will provide visual reinforcement of your workout and training efforts, super-charging your fitness motivation! On their website you’ll also find apparel, motivational plaques and jewelry for every runner and every distance. Visitors can also commemorate participation in the hot trend of virtual races with running hats, shirts and medals. Follow them on Twitter, @Gift4Runners.

Break Up Your Day with Fitness!

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Add in Fitness Breaks!

Add fitness breaks into your day and decrease tension and stress. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Wall the hallway.

Stretch at your desk.

Drink water.

Grab a fruit snack.

Do a set of pushups, wall squats or planks.

Take 5 deep breaths.

Instead of sending an email, walk to your co-workers office.

Perform a cardio burst of jumping jacks, jog in place or squat jumps.

Lunch time walk outdoors.

Need Exercise Inspiration?

GET INSPIRED with #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat every Monday at 5pm(Pacific)/8pm(Eastern) on Twitter! Every person experiences a slump or setback on your fitness journey. Most important is to not let bumps in the road derail your efforts entirely! Get back on track by relying on others for encouragement, support and accountability. Join our weekly fitness chat on twitter for workout tips, ideas, support and accountability. Stay strong, stay focused and stay inspired!

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.

Offer your opinion and experience via answers to Question 1 noted as “A1″, designating your answer to Question 2 as “A2″ and so on.

Chat with others, exchange ideas and have fun!

Monday May 23, 2016 #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat Sponsored by Handana:
Handana is an innovative sweatband designed specifically to be worn on your hand. Their unique and patented fit allows you to be hands-free when running, cycling, in the gym, or any other sport!  Handana is proudly made in the USA. Using soft, durable and completely machine washable fabric, they fit all sizes and most color preferences. Handana is gentle on your skin, so if you have allergies or sensitive skin there’s no need to worry. You’ll be inspired to reach your finish line! To order yours go to www.myhandana.com!

ENERGIZE your workout!

ENERGIZE your workout every Monday at 5pm(Pacific)/8pm(Eastern) with #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat on Twitter! Pick up fitness tips, workout ideas and exercise support.

The benefit of having training partners is when you don’t feel up to working out, they do! Workout partners also offer accountability to log each workout with full effort and attention. Rely on training partners to offer a motivation pick-up on those days when you’re stressed or distracted. Often you’ll even gain energy from workout partners! Consider #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat your virtual training partner. We’ve got your motivation and accountability covered!

Here’s how to join:

Log into Twitter.

Enter #HealthyWayMag to follow the chat feed.

Questions for discussion will be posed as Question 1 noted as “Q1″, Question 2 as “Q2″, and so on. Offer your answer as Answer to Question 1, “A1″, and so on.

Interact with others, chat, and have fun!