Power up your plank by adding a side leg lift

Challenge your core with this move. Begin in a high plank, on your hands and toes, body straight. Then, lift your right foot off the ground about 2 inches. Keeping your torso and shoulders still, lift your right foot up toward your right hand, and then return to your starting position. Next, lift your left foot up off the floor. In a smooth, controlled motion move your left foot toward your left hand, and then return to your starting position. Do 6 total reps.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Power Up Your Plank

Roll your quads

Similar to massage, using the foam roller to gently massage your muscles, may just be the key to improving post-workout recovery. Grab a foam roller and roll out your quads post-workout. Begin kneeling on the floor. Place the roller across both thighs. Move your body forward over the roller, supporting your body with your forearms and elbows. Roll up and down your thighs, about 3-4 inches, in total. Start with 20 seconds of rolling. Stop if you feel pain.

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Roll Your Quads Post-Workout

Fit Mind:

Complete 1 Action.

Anyone can have a plan, but the plan only works when you TAKE ACTION. Don’t know where to start? Feeling anxious and overloaded? Afraid to do healthy living wrong? Use your energy, fear and anxiety to take action, do something, execute your plan. Here’s how to start RIGHT NOW:

Drink 1 glass of pure water.

Take a 10 minute walk.

Choose extra veggies at your meal.

Skip one sugary drink.

Take 3 deep breaths.

Healthy Lifestyle Step 1: Complete ONE Action

Look for fitness opportunities around you!

Exercise does not always have to be structured to count toward your fitness. There are fitness opportunities all around you- LOOK! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

While waiting in line: Toe Raises/Heel Raises.

While shopping: Carry what you can. Skip the cart.

While waiting for an appointment: Abdominal bracing. Sit up tall. Pull your belly button in toward your spine. Hold for 10 second intervals.

While watching your kids soccer game: Stand! Don’t sit.

While stuck in traffic: Inhale/Pull your shoulders up. Exhale/Pull your shoulders down and back.

While on the phone: March in place.

Fitness Opportunities

Take a health inventory

Your number on the scale is merely one component of your health and fitness. Your clothing size is also simply one component, that many would argue isn’t relevant to gauging health at all. Instead of focusing on being thin, focus on your total physical, mental and emotional health. Here’s your new checklist:

How do you feel during your day? Do you have energy?

How do you function during your day? Can you lift and carry everything you need to? Can you bend and reach easily?

How is your emotional state most of the time? We’re not talking about the every so often sadness, frustration or anger. Is there an emotional trend you notice?

Do you experience any systemic or bodily malfunctions? For example, regular digestive distress, regular aches or pains?

If any of your answers make you uneasy or aren’t what you want, need or expect, time to visit your physician.

Health Inventory

Healthy Mind:

Fitness takes dedication.

Not every workout will be easy, convenient or go as planned. However, every workout will be worth it.  ALWAYS. Why? Workouts gains are cumulative. Not one workout will make or break your fitness. Every little bit counts! So how do you stay dedicated to your fitness?

Every day when getting up, recommit to making fitness a priority, pushing through negativity and logging a high-quality workout. Consider every workout as Day 1.

Break down your goals, set mini-workout goals, split up workouts for time-challenged days, enlist a training partner, club, or group workouts.

Set periodic fitness tests or workout challenges in the form of races or community-events. You’re less likely to miss a workout when your ego is on the line!

How’s your fitness dedication?

Commit 100%

Fitness commitment doesn’t have levels that vary up or down. Fitness commitment doesn’t wane when times get tough, when schedules are difficult or when you experience doubt. Simply put, either you’re in or you’re out. Are you IN?

Step 1: Choose a fitness goal.

Step 2: Map out an exact plan. Write down all the details.

Step 3. Find a way. For example: Get up early, stay up late, make up your own workout at home, join a gym, exercise in at a park or beach, use a school or community track, pull up a YouTube workout, use streaming workouts, walk your errands, walk your dog, join the community center, join a club, ask a friend to be your accountability partner, create a noon-time fitness club at work, ask your family to exercise with you on the weekends.

Fitness commitment doesn’t have levels

Healthy Mind:

Your Fitness= Try and Try Again, and then try again until you find what inspires and motivates you.

If you’re not finding fitness that suits you, try and try again. There is something for every one, every ability, every personality, every time constraint, financial situation, gear availability and age.

Your Fitness= Try and Try Again!

Fit Mind:

Find Your Fitness Second Gear!

When the going get tough, the tough _______! Or do you back down and back off? Find your fitness second gear by:

Practice clearing your mind of distractions and over-thinking what you’re doing. Choose one word to repeat over and over again until your mind is clear.

Focus on your inhale and exhale by counting out load. Count your inhale to 2-3 seconds and your exhale of 3-4 seconds. Repeat.

Choose someone who inspires you and repeat their name as you move through your fitness challenge. Dedicating your effort to a loved one will give you power and focus to complete the task at hand.

Find your Fitness Second Gear

Fit Body:

Inspect your fitness equipment

Fitness equipment needs to be cleaned up, and replaced every so often. Working out on equipment and gear that is less than par not only leads to a less effective workout, but could also increase your risk of injury. Examine your workout gear every 4-6 months, or even more often if you’re exercising outdoors. Here are the pieces that need your regular attention:

Exercise band. Closely examine the tube, as well as the handles. Small tears or cracks increase risk for breaking. Replace it.

Jump Rope. Over time the plastic ropes can thin and even break depending on your jumping surface and style. If your rope has lost its shape, time or a new one.

Stability ball. Sit on the ball. If your hips are below your knees, time to add air.

Yoga or exercise mat. If they are looking worn and have lost their grip, you are at risk for a slip or fall. Replace it.

Free weights and Barbells. If your free weights have collars, inspect them regularly to insure they are secure and are not stripped of their locking device.

Do you inspect your fitness equipment?