Planking is one of the most common exercises people perform. The benefits are numerous, and it can be done anywhere! However, unless you have someone helping you adjust your form or you can see yourself in the mirror, it's tough to know if you are doing it correctly.
Read moreRecipe of the Week - Grilled Pesto Chicken and Tomato Kebabs
I've started being more diligent about reading food labels, and I am horrified by the list of ingredients in some of the products I consume. As a result, I'm trying to make as much of our food from scratch as possible. The only sticking point is that I don't have an abundance of time to make sauces, chop veggies and pull everything together. That's why I love this recipe - it takes little to no time to make this pesto sauce.
Read more18-Minute Full Body Workout
Last week, a client texted me asking for some workout ideas. She said she had a set of 5-pound weights and a swiss ball. I LOVE this kind of challenge; it's fun for me to create a workout that only uses specific pieces of equipment. I texted the following workout back to her, and I decided to give it a try, too. I really liked this workout because it was quick and thorough, which is exactly the kind of workout that I want.
Read moreRecipe of the Week - Baked Ziti and Summer Veggies
There is something about seeing all of the fresh, beautiful produce at the Farmer's Market that makes me go crazy. I buy everything I see and leave with pounds of produce that I'm not entirely sure what to do with. Last year, I went a little overboard during a trip to the market and left with bags full of summer squash and zucchini. After making zucchini turkey burgers, zucchini bread, and zucchini meatloaf, I knew I needed another zucchini/summer squash recipe. That's how I stumbled upon this gem of a recipe from Cooking Light.
Read moreAchieving ONE Push-up on Your Toes
One of the strongest moments in my life was when I achieved my goal of 20 push-ups on my toes. There is something about lowering and lifting your bodyweight that makes you feel crazy strong. It's also a fantastic bodyweight exercise that can be done anywhere.
Read moreRecipe of the Week - Skinny Chicken Enchiladas
didn't try enchiladas for the first-time until I was in my 20s, but ever since then, I've been hooked. Sadly, the recipes I like the best are not really healthy; however, I have found a delicious - and healthy - recipe from Skinnytaste. Not only do you make the enchiladas, but you also make the enchilada sauce.
Read more20-Minute Vacation Workout
I enjoy relaxing during vacation, but I don't like to forgo working out altogether. I like to get my body moving for 20-30 minutes each day. This workout was designed for that purpose. No weights are needed, and you are done in 20 minutes.
Read moreRecipe of the Week - Grilled King Salmon with Peach Tomato Salsa
Three Ways to Measure Your Fitness Progress
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.
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