Workout of the Week

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Suspension Exercise :: You vs. Gravity

My favorite piece of gym equipment has got to be the TRX®.  It was developed by a Navy SEAL, who wanted a way to work out without weights or machines while traveling.  The result is a multi-functional suspension strap that lets you hit every major muscle group, while engaging your core the entire time.  It's a little intimidating to look at but once you learn a few moves, you'll be hooked. 

And no I am not a paid spokesperson. I wish!

I have a few favorite moves that I put in my workout rotation and am always on the lookout for new ones. The possibilities are endless on this thing.

I seriously think it's underutilized at most gyms I go to.  When they were first installed at my local gym, people used the anchor bars to do pull ups, completely ignoring the whole point of the set-up.

Here is an easy way to get that back sculpted.  The further my feet are from my body, the closer my butt to the ground, the more intense the workout. It's you vs gravity.

Obtaining Those New Year's Resolutions

New Year, New You, right? That's the plan for most people. I think the #1 New Year's resolution has got to be to have a healthier approach to the year ahead.

While I think a healthier lifestyle is always a great idea, how realistic are you about your goals?  If you haven't prepped food before, been to the gym in a while and generally avoid kale - you might need to ease into your new approach to health.

 

I think the vast majority of people tend to get excited about an idea, make a rough outline of their goals and jump in with both feet without considering obstacles.  When they hit a road block, and we will, many people throw in the towel and go back to a more comfortable way of living. Usually that way involves a Seamless account.

 First and foremost, get rid of the idea that foods are categorized into "Good" and "Bad."  There are foods that aren't beneficial to your fitness goals or health in general, but they aren't bad.  They haven't bullied so called, "good" foods or vandalized your refrigerator.

Having a healthy relationship with food is an important step to having a healthier life.  Once you get the idea of "good" food, "bad" food, out of your head you'll have a better shot at success.

 

Why? Well, remember those road blocks I mentioned? They’re real and they come in the form of after work happy hour, birthday cake, Sunday Funday etc. In other words, life. We can't stop living or put our social lives on hold while we shape up, only to pick up where we left off three months down the line.  That's why so many people fail.

Balance is key, as I’ve stated before, and this is where it comes into play.  If you have that slice of birthday cake, don’t throw caution to the wind and eat the whole damn cake. Or just as bad, chain yourself to a treadmill for 2 hours.  Enjoy the slice of cake and move on with life. Have a lighter dinner in anticipation of said cake. Punishing yourself won’t undo the caloric intake and it won’t make you likely to stick to your plan.

I think the best and most reasonable approach is to start small. Set small goals, attain them and then set slightly larger goals.  When I signed up for a half marathon a few years ago, I didn’t lace up my shoes the morning of and hit 13.1 miles in an effortless run. I worked my way up over the course of several months. I ran 3 miles, then I ran 5 miles, then I ran uphill, then I did intervals of sprints. You get the point.

I mapped out a plan, set small goals and put in the time to achieve my ultimate goal of a half marathon. It was incredibly difficult and incredibly rewarding.

If you’ve never prepped meals before, make a promise to yourself that you’ll bring lunch to work at least twice this week.  Working your way up to a week of homemade lunches.  The idea is more daunting than the task itself, I promise.  Cutting up veggies for salad add-ons or grilling chicken in advance isn’t difficult or time consuming.

Think of your fitness as a marathon, not a race. Break it down and make it happen. It might not be easy at first but before you realize it, it’ll become habit. A habit you’ll want to carry into the following year.