Exercise Finder

I know we all have a spot on our body that we would like to tweak or slightly improve. Here is a great website that allows you to click on any body part you and it gives you recommend exercises to tone that area. The best part is you can do everything at home and don't need a gym membership.

http://www.divine.ca/en/health/exercise-finder/c_266/

20min workout

If you are short on time but still want to break a sweat here is a 20 minutes treadmill workout! A great trick is print this chart out "wallet size" and tape to the back of your cell phone. Then prop it up on the treadmill as you run.

Great workout at home!

You don't need a gym to stay in shape. Here are some great workout classes you can do right from your living room.

Yogis Anonymous Log in at scheduled times for live, expert lead 90-100 minutes classes
Live Exercise  Registar for a gratis membership and you'll get access to weekly kickboxing, sculpting and cardio classes. Plus you can create a personal profile which allows you to connect with other members so you can swap ideas and workout tips.
Pilates Anytime Only $18 per month lets you watch unlimited HD sessions, and new classes are added weekly
TRX TV  This is a site for the unbiquitous suspension -training device. For only $10 per month you can download 12 TRX moves and follow 30 minute instructor lead workouts.

So you no longer can use the excuse of bad weather not to work out :) Happy monday!

Shape Magazine April 2011

Sweating by the Numbers

There was a great article in Shape magazine this month that looked at research studies on how if you exercise NOW it can prevent over 25 diseases and health conditions later one.

Workouts lower your risk of.....

• Breast cancer by 30%
• Colon cancer by 40%
• Depression by 28%
• Heart disease by 50%
• Hip fractures by 41%

Why are you waiting!?! We all say we are busy yet we find time to blog, facebook and surf the web, so tomorrow cut your online time in half and get moving the second half.  Just think MOVE MORE, and do what you love. If you like shopping- walk the mall, if you like to garden start digging, or use your cable on demand feature for tons of free workout videos.  No more excuses!

Mark your Calendars!!

Here's are a list of websites courtesy of Fit Friends where you can find races and events in your area.
www.active.com
www.runningevents.net
www.runtheplanet.com
www.runwalkjog.com
www.coolrunning.com
www.running-events.com
www.runningintheusa.com
www.njshorerun.com
www.njrrc.com
www.runningnj.com
www.jsrc.com
www.coolrunning.com
www.runnersworld.com
www.pretzelcitysports.com
www.getsetpa.com
www.runwashington.com

Save $$

Its that time of year again.... the mountains are open! We recently just took a family vacation up to the Pocono mountains and had a great time. Not only do you burn a ton of calories but you have a blast doing it! Use these sites below to help save money on your next trip.

www.onthesnow.com - photos, live ski cams and snow reports help you determine the best resort. Plus you'll find tips on sneaky ways to save on lift tickets, lodging and there is a trip planner tool that organizes it all.

www.liftopia.com- Save up to 85% by prepurchasing lift tickets for 170 resorts nationwide

www.skiandsnowboardmonth.org - want to venture beyond the beginner slope? During January resorts throughout the country will be offering free or discounted lessons as well as deals on rental packages.

Fitness Magazine Jan 2011

Activity comes in all shapes and sizes

Play frisbee or play catch with your friends
Clean your house

Take a hike

Garden

Go horseback riding

Play outside with your kids

Hate the outsdoors, try mall walking (plus you can shop too!)

Park further away

Take the stairs instead of the elevator

Remember you don't need a gym to add activity into your daily routine. Use some of these examples to get started but remember the trick is you must enjoy it. So if your not someone who wants to join the latest Zumba class at the gym, try salsa lessons or ballroon dancing. Make it interesting so you don't give up!

Rethink and Reorganize your day!

1,440

Number of minutes in a day. Use just 30 of them to exercise and you'll see a tigher body in no time!

Street Strider

The Street Strider is the greatest new way to take your love of the gym elliptical outdoors. You may have seen this product on The Biggest Loser or Dr. Oz as it combines the benefits of jogging, skiing and cycling to offer a total body workout. They even have a smaller version for kids. Visit www.streetstrider.com to preorder yours now as they aren't available until the beginning of next year.

Workout Trick

For decades we've been told to calculate our peak heart rate (a gauge of how hard to exercise) by subtracting our age from 220. But now researchers from Northwestern medicine say that formula yields numbers too high for women- meaning we've been working too hard! Their new female- friendly math: Multiply your age by 0.88, then subtract that number from 206. Stay within 65-95% of that peak heart rate to get the most bang for your cardio buck. HOW TO TELL IF YOUR HITTING THE TARGET: Stop mid exercise and count your pulse for 15 seconds, then multiply by 4 to get your heart rate. If it's too high, slow down, if it's too low and you feel good, step up the pace.

Health Magazine November 2010

Meet the FitBit

The FitBit is an incredible product that is a celebrity favorite. This small piece can be attached to a belt or undergarments and it tracks your fitness and sleep. It records the time you went to bed, the time it took you to fall asleep, times awakened, time you went to sleep for and actual time slept. It also records amounts of steps taken, miles traveled, calories burned, calories consumed, and your activity level (light- very active). Its wireless so the health stats are automatically updated to your computer when your within 15 feet. How cool is this technology! Its only $99 and you can visit their website for more information.

Still The Best Butt Firmer Around!

I just finished reading the latest issue of Shape Magazine and Rollerblades are back! I still remember at the age of 12 getting a pair but rarely using them because they were so pretty and I didn't want to scratch them up. Looking back I wish I used them more. But I have a second chance; the Rollerblade Spiritblade XT is a new skate that is wider for stability and perfect for any beginner. Not only is this a perfect fall activity to spend time outdoors as the weather cools but you will torch more than 700 calories and hour!

Getting Back on Track!

I had a great question from one of my readers that I wanted to take a moment and answer.

Question- "I need a post on how to get back in the swing of working out after a holiday weekend with entirely tooooo much good eating!"

First of all thank you for the question! I think we can all agree that we encounter this issue probably one too many times each year. When the holidays are over we find ourselves reaching for bigger and looser clothing and lack the motivation to get back on track eating right and exercising. It can be a vicious cycle but we can break it!

•Get moving. It may be the last thing you feel like doing, but getting the blood flowing is the perfect remedy for a food hangover. Think simple -- walking, light strength training, or yoga. Even a few minutes can boost your mood and your energy levels.
•Drink water. That bloating you're experiencing could be due to an overload of salt, which can cause water retention. Many holiday favorites contain way more salt than the body needs, so drinking extra water can help you get rid of the extra bloat.
•Eat lightly. After eating too much, you may be tempted to declare, "I'll never eat again!" You may also be amazed that you're actually hungry after all that eating. Starving yourself, however, isn't the answer. Nibble on light fare such as salad, soup, sandwiches and fruit to give your body nutrients without overloading it with calories.
•Make a plan. One of the worst side effects of eating too much is the guilt that comes after. Guilt is sometimes inevitable, but you can use that feeling to motivate you into something better. Make a plan for the next few days for how you'll get back on track with your eating and exercise. Just the act of planning can make you feel better...just make sure you follow through.
•Plan for the future. Last, take some time to think about the mistakes you made this season and what you can do to avoid those same mistakes in the future. Doing this can also help you make good choices more consistently so that overindulgence isn't a frequent problem.
*About.com

Also as we enter the fall season enjoy this gorgeous weather and exercise outdoors. We will also begin to get back into a routine now that summer is behind us, so take some time to plan activity into your calendar.

Finally toning shoes that look like normal sneakers!

Ok so secretively I have really really wanted to purchase the new toning shoes on the market but never did because they are so big and bulky and call attention to your feet. I don't want the entire world to know that I have on toning shoes!


New Balance just launched their new TrueBalance Toning Shoe line and they look like normal sneakers!!!! Their tag line is "Tone Your Body Without Toning Downing Your Style". So now you can burn calories, while toning your legs, glutes and core and no one will know your secert :)

I can't wait to go check these shoes out!

Mountain Club of Maryland

Local mountain clubs are a great way to exercise outside while taking in the beautiful views. Last year my husband quit the gym because it was getting to expensive so we looked into other alternatives for activity. We both love the outdoors so we decided to join the Mountain Club of Maryland. This group included hiking trips year round on Wednesdays and the weekend, canoe trips and backpacking trips. You could attend as many events as you wanted and it costs my husband and I $25 for BOTH of us, for an ENTIRE year!


All excursions are lead by volunteers and take you to various trails in MD, VA, WV, DE and PA. Plus if you wanted to bring a guest it only costs $2.00. These clubs are organized in almost every state and are a great way to see areas you never would visit or just a way to spend time outdoors. We actually are going on a 7 mile hike this Sunday enjoying this gorgeous weather!


Happy Trails :)