womens workout

How to Avoid Taking a ‘Gym-Cation’ During the Holidays

Are you on holiday gym-cation? (A vacation from the gym?) Its December — you’ve got too much to do, not enough time so the first thing you do is put a hold on your visits to the gym? Yes, taking a mini-vacation from the gym is the easiest way to find more time in your schedule, but it might not be the smartest or the healthiest.

I completely understand your necessity for more time — especially during the holiday season. Between parties, shopping, crowds, wrapping, traffic and work, any ‘extra’ time we can squeeze into our schedule becomes that much more valuable. Usually the easiest way to squeeze in some extra time is to cut your time spent in the gym. To justify your ‘gym-cation’ you tell yourself you’re too busy, you’ll try to eat better, and that as soon as the holidays are over you’ll be back in the gym.

Flat Stomach Workout: TRX Upper Body Workout

If your winter has been anything like mine – you’ve been stuck inside for WAY too long! Last week the weather finally reached some warmer 2-digit numbers and the sun tried to stay out for more more than 2 hours which meant I could FINALLY get outside to try my NEW TRX Straps!

What is TRX?

Flat Stomach Workout: Sculpting Sexy Shoulders

I LOVE LOVE LOVE shoulder workouts — I love the burn, I love how they look — I love them! Having defined shoulders is one of my favorite looks on a woman. To me it shows dedication to a workout program, dedication to the gym and its just a great part of the physique! Not to mention that if you have defined shoulders it helps to make your waist look smaller!

What do You Wear to the Gym — Pants or Shorts?

I was getting ready for the gym yesterday morning and was trying to figure out what to wear – shorts or pants?

No its not the biggest decision in the whole entire world – but its one that WILL affect my workout.

Its January – its cold – the gym opens at 8 and I plan on being there at 8:05. There are some days when the heat isn’t on yet and the gym is FREEZING – other days when the heat is BLASTING and its SUPER warm (those days are my favorite). Not to mention the fact that my legs are WHITE. Oh yes — no tan (its winter and this girl doesn’t fake bake) – if the sun reflects off my legs I feel like you need a pair of sunglasses if you catch my legs in shorts in the winter and I don’t want to blind everyone in the gym!

Then I had to consider my workout — it was leg day — I don’t usually like having pants on when I do legs – it makes me feel constricted – I know spandex expands – but it can get awkward – ya know?

Yes – this is the ridiculous conversation I had with myself in the morning and I’m wondering if I’m the only one.

We all have reasons why we do or don’t do things. Even if its as simple as figuring out what to wear to the gym.

I know many women don’t wear shorts because they don’t like their legs and when I recently posed this question on Twitter and Facebook – I found some even more intriguing answers — no shorts = no germs – something I never even thought of.

I ended up settling for capri/leggings that day (which brings up a whole other world of issues I will save for a future post). I was SUPER hot especially doing cardio — but they made my bum look nice – hehe! This conflict will arise again as I pack my bag for the gym tomorrow – I’ll probably put both shorts + pants into the bag and figure it out when I get there – depending on my mood.

So…after all my ranting – I hope I’m not alone….ladies…

What do you wear to the gym – Pants or Shorts or Capris? Why?

Flat Stomach Workout of the Week – Full Body Workout for a Flat Stomach

Need a quick workout this week? Not sure what to do in the gym? Need a flat stomach workout that will work every muscle?

Here it is!

Check out this week’s flat stomach workout of the week — its  a quick full body circuit that will have your heart racing in NO time!

This workout can be added into your current routine or it can be done on its own.

Note: If you are adding this workout into your current weight routine — make sure you are giving your muscles at least 24 hours to recover between weight sessions. Recovery time is just as important as workout time when trying to lose weight.

Have a good workout!!!

4 Health Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

Back aches? Headaches? A runny nose? No one really likes going to the doctor but if these symptoms occur more often than not it may be time for you to make an appointment with your doctor in order to avoid the long term affects of these symptoms.

Get Beach Body and Bikini Ready – Part 1

Beach season is FINALLY here! WOOhoO!! Beach season also means a a COMPLETE wardrobe change. No more bulky sweaters – its shorts, tank tops and cute summer dresses. Are you beach body ready?

For some women the changing of the season means is a miserable time as the shorts from last summer are too tight or your arms no seem to be a bit more ‘jiggly’ than they were in your favorite tank top last year. Its a time for a quick scramble to the gym to try and shed those few pounds to avoid buying a whole new wardrobe.

Need some suggestions to get beach body ready?  I’ve created a quick series of three videos with some of my favorite flat stomach workout moves to help you get beach body ready – with a flat stomach – in time to feel confident and sexy in whatever you wear and wherever you go this summer.

Today’s video has three of my favorite exercises to help you get a flat and sexy stomach. Add these moves to your current routine or do them quickly at home and you will be on your way to a flat stomach in NO TIME!

Flat Stomach Workout – Upper Body Band Workout

With summer around the corner – which means tank top season and sleeveless dresses – its time to pump up the upper body workouts and get our arms tight and toned. This week’s flat stomach workout of the week is a change from the usual routine – spicing up your usual routine and increasing results.

Scarlett Johansson’s Super Hero Workout for Iron Man 2

Why You Aren’t Getting the Tight, Toned Butt You Want

There is always a reason why you aren’t getting the results you want – especially when you are trying to get a tight and toned, cellulite free butt.  Its figuring out WHY you aren’t getting these results after working out week after week that becomes the challenge.

When you don’t see results you want – in this case you’re butt just doesn’t seem to get firm no matter how many lunges you do – it becomes frustrating. This frustration can often lead to you giving up on your goals – never really getting the butt that you want.

But no more – there is something you haven’t taken into consideration yet and there is one muscle group that is prohibiting you from getting the butt of your dreams.

Your hip flexors are preventing you from getting a tight and toned butt.

How?

Your butt is the biggest muscle in your body – made up of three different muscle groups. In order for the glutes to work properly you need to make sure that your hip flexors are not tight.

When your hip flexors (located in the front of your hip) are tight your glutes basically shut down.  When your glutes shut down it is nearly impossible to get a tight and toned butt.

Why?

If you have tight hip flexors it prevents your glute muscles from firing properly.  This means that your glutes to work to the best of their ability. The tightness of your hip flexors causes your glutes to become weak as you cannot work your glutes properly.

Not only will tight hip flexors not get you a cellulite-free butt – it can also increase the risk of injury as your hip flexors start to take over some of the jobs that your butt is suppose to do. Such injuries include back injuries, knee injuries or even injuries to your hamstrings.

You can do squat after squat, lunge after lunge or even bridge after bridge and you will not get the butt you want.

What to do?

The only way to get rid of tight hip flexors – to prevent injury and get a cellulite-free butt is to stretch them.

The best stretch? The Warrior Stretch.

• Kneel on your right knee – with your left foot on the ground in front of you.
• Place your hands on your left knee.
• Without moving your body – tilt your pelvis forward so you feel a stretch in your right hip flexor.
• Hold for 10-15 seconds.
• Switch sides and repeat for opposite side of your body.

The Warrior Stretch is an important stretch to end to the end of your your workouts to get your glutes working again. This one simple move – to fix the one little muscle that has been preventing you from getting the butt you want – will help get your but working again so you have the tight and toned butt you want in no time.