The scale or a measuring tape should never be the only markers you use to determine if your fitness routine is working. Your cardiovascular health, your muscles' flexibility and your overall strength are often not visible with those measurements. That's why I believe in creating benchmark exercises or benchmark workouts.
Read moreRecipe of the Week - Broccoli, Cheddar & Brown Rice Cakes
Cooking Light's Broccoli, Cheddar and Brown Rice Cakes are a new favorite dish in my household. We try to make at least one vegetarian meal a week, so I'm always searching for new recipes. This one was a success!
Read moreQuick Workout to Get You Ready for Summer
I'm encouraging my clients to add an extra walk, swim, weight lifting session or workout each week in May to help ready them for summer. For many of us, it's been a long winter, and diving into our favorite summer activities sometimes isn't as easy as it was when we last did them in August. I think May is a great time to put out a little extra effort, so you are ready for summer.
To help you get started, here's a quick workout you can do in 20-minutes or less.
Read moreRecipe of the Week: Broccoli Grape Harvest Salad
My friend's husband jokingly refers to this as my "lady salad." Although it does look like something you would enjoy at a ladies lunch, it is popular among both genders! My husband and dad like it as much as I do! This delicious pasta salad that will be your go-to potluck dish! Try it out and let me know what you think!
Read moreWhat is Dynamic Stretching?
f you've read any fitness magazines or perused online workout videos recently, you've likely encountered the terms "dynamic warm-up" or "dynamic stretching." A dynamic warm-up is a method of stretching at the beginning of a workout that moves your body through various range of motion movements that are similar to a lighter version of your workout.
Read moreRecipe of the Week: Cauliflower Crust Stromboli
This recipe was my first attempt at a cauliflower crust, and I was so pleased with how it turned out! This is a delicious recipe, and you can customize the filling to your taste. We've made this stromboli with both ham and sausage. I think it's a delicious and healthy answer to pizza/calzone cravings.
Read moreTop 7 Home Gym Essentials
When training my clients, I try to use pieces of equipment that are affordable, so they can purchase them for their home. There are so many different exercises you can do with just one piece of equipment. By having a few options to choose from, you can really increase your strength and add variety to your workouts.
Read moreRecipe of the Week - Cooking Light Crab Cakes
Whenever we go out to eat, I find myself ordering crab cakes (or trying to talk myself out of ordering them in order to try something new). However, depending on the restaurant, they aren't always prepared with the healthiest ingredients. These Cooking Light Crab Cakes are different - they are both healthy and delicious.
Read moreLower Body Isometric Burn Workout
I am a huge fan of changing up the format of your workouts: intervals, as many rounds as possible (AMRAP) in a set time, superset strength training workouts, tabata workouts, etc. I designed this workout with the hope that it would change up your routine.
Read moreTop 12 Fruits/Veggies To Buy Organic
The dirty dozen and clean fifteen lists are a great way to ease into buying organic produce. These lists reveal the most pesticide-laden produce items as well as the 15 produce items with the least amount of pesticides. The lists guide you in what products you'll want to buy organic and what products you can opt not to if you are tight on money or lack selection in your local grocery store.
Read moreRecipe of the Week - Mustard-Herb Crusted Chicken Breast
I struggle to find recipes that are (1) healthy, (2) fairly easy to make, and (3) kid-friendly. This recipe meets all three criteria! I'm a huge fan of Skinnytaste's recipes, and this recipe is another winner. My son loved his chicken "tenders," which is not something he often says about dinners that I prepare.
Read moreHip/Knee-Friendly Workout
Many of my clients need workouts that are hip and knee-friendly. I am a firm believer that chronic injuries don't have to derail us from working out. As long as you find ways to exercise without causing harm to the injured or sensitive area, you can find a way to be active. This workout was created to cater to individuals with sensitive knees and hips.
Read moreRecipe of the Week - Whole Wheat Banana Coconut Vegan Muffins
I'm a huge fan of the baked goods on Two Peas & Their Pod's site. Everything I've baked from the site has been amazing. These muffins are no exception - they are so, so good. The muffins are easy to prepare, and they will be gone before you know it!
Read moreWhat Happens to My Body if I Stop Working Out?
Getting yourself motivated to workout can be a challenge for both a seasoned exerciser and a beginner. It's so tempting to hit snooze on the alarm clock or skip your workout for some TV time. So, what happens to our bodies if we stop for a week, month or several months?
Read moreRecipe of the Week - Homemade Granola Bars
These bars might not have less calories compared to store-bought granola bars, but they are made from ingredients you can actually pronounce. Added bonus: they are DELICIOUS. I love making these bars for my family and friends. The bars are rich in flavor, and they fill you up! They take about 10 minutes to pull together and another 30-60 minutes to set up in the refrigerator.
Read moreThe 22 Workout
Last year, a client of mine was participating in the #22PushUpChallenge. After being challenged by her to do 22 push-ups, I created a workout to incorporate 22 repetitions of several exercises for all of my clients.
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Recipe of the Week - 140 Calorie Cheesy Sausage Quiche
This crustless cheesy sausage quiche from Sally's Baking Addiction is one of my favorite meals to make for dinner. It's so good that you don't even miss the crust. It doesn't take long to pull all of the ingredients together, and leftovers heat up really well.
Read moreToned Arms Workout - No Weights Needed!
Bingo wings, bat wings, lunch lady arms - these are some of the colorful terms I hear my clients use to talk about their upper arms. Ab workouts and arm workouts are what my clients request the most. The tricky thing about arm workouts is that you can't just do a few sets of arm exercises and immediately have Michelle Obama arms. You also have to throw in some cardio if you have any fat on your arms. You can build muscle, but if you have excess fat on your arms, it's going to be harder to see the muscle. (Also, what you eat can affect this, too. Make healthy choices! )
Read moreRecipe of the Week - Naked Greek Feta-Zucchini Turkey Burgers
Skinnytaste's Naked Greek Feta-Zucchini Turkey Burgers recipe is one of my favorites! I love how fresh these burgers taste, and they are quick and easy to pull together.
Read moreWhy Are My Muscles Crazy Sore Two Days After a Workout?
Have you ever felt like your post-workout soreness was worse two days after your workout? You know the soreness I'm talking about - when it's hard to sit on the toilet or you feel every muscle in your abs when you laugh. If you are experiencing more intense soreness on day two following a workout, you are likely experiencing Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness (DOMS).
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