Search Results for: blog a is for abdominals

The Fitness Blog Week in Review: June 30 – July 6

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One week into July and in some parts of the country, the temperatures are scorchers and down here in Texas, we’re breaking rainfall records and wondering what happened to our sun. The United States celebrated its birthday and in Great Britain two young princes celebrate the memory of their mother on her birthday. It’s been a busy week and let’s explore what we talked about in the Fitness blog this week: Saturday, June 30 Our End of June Fitness Goal Check went down our checklist of fitness goals. The point of these fitness goal checks is to check out how … Continue reading →

A is for Abdominals

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Let’s get serious about changing our thinking on shrinking. In this case, we’re talking about that annoying belly fat that most women suffer from after giving birth. But what you need to focus on is not just that belly fat, but also the entirety of your middle. This area of your body is called your core and it focuses on your abdominals You want exercises that target your entire core. Crunches, for example, are great for your upper and front abdominal muscles. They don’t work your oblique – to work your oblique, you need to perform bicycle crunches. You also … Continue reading →

Proper Plank Exercises

Not be mistaken with planking—the strange fad where a person lies face down in an unusual place and is photographed—planking exercises are a great way to improve stability and strength in your abdominal muscles. The basic plank is to start by lying on your stomach. Lift your body up, resting on your forearms and toes. Your body should be in a straight line…no butt up in the air and no curving of the back. Keep your head relaxed and look at the floor. Hold the position for 10 seconds. As you progress with this exercise, you can hold the position … Continue reading →

A Review of Tracy Anderson’s “Post- Pregnancy Workout ”

Tracy Anderson is a trainer to celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna. I read about her success with her star clients and was very eager to try her “Post-Pregnancy Workout.” However, I have tried a lot of videos in my day, and was very skeptical about Anderson’s. Still, I only heard great things about her exercise method and decided to give it a try. Anderson combines dance aerobics (sold separately) with toning exercises (“Post-Pregnancy Workout”). She incorporates small weights (2-3 pounds) in an attempt to sculpt long lean muscles and to avoid the bulky look. I took dance as a … Continue reading →

Lose That Pouch!

The pouch. Most of us have one unless you are a great fan of exercising. Some of us have more in that area than others. Most of us would love to see it disappear. There is only one way for this to happen and it all falls in your lap. The first step that you need to take in losing your pouch is dieting. If you are overweight any exercise that you enjoy the most will help you to accomplish this. Along with cutting calories, you will see yourself slim down in no time. Since you cannot dictate where you … Continue reading →

Tips for Slimming Down Post-Baby

Just because it’s been a year since you gave birth doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve returned to your pre-baby body. After all, giving birth is only the beginning of life after baby. There are feedings to worry about, diapers, laundry, and new sleep schedules. So, when are you supposed to find time to workout? Experts suggest easing back into your fitness routine after giving birth. In fact, leading obstetricians advocate a gradual approach to weight loss as opposed to crash dieting and exercising like a fiend to shed unwanted baby weight. Doctors say, typically it should take between 9 to 12 … Continue reading →

Creating a Fitness Routine that Works for You

Fall is fast approaching. You can tell by the slight nip in the air, the myriad of school buses on city streets and the huge banners flying high outside of practically every gym in town offering huge discounts to new members. Along with January (can you say New Year’s resolution?) September is the month gym owners say they see the most visitors. With summer coming to a close and the new school year beginning many people are motivated to jump start or return to a regular fitness routine. If you have been holding off on starting a new exercise program … Continue reading →

Body for Life Workout Day #3

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I used to think that a good leg workout necessitated heavy duty equipment like a squat sled and a calf press machine. Then I discovered that a great leg workout can be had at home, or anywhere for that matter, without any specialized equipment at all. Day #3 on Body-for-Life calls for weight training for the lower body (abdominals and legs) and can be easily done at home. I’ve included the Progress Report with this blog for your convenience. Following are the exercises I suggest you try on day #3 and how you can use common household items to add … Continue reading →

Dear Heather …. Where Have You Been?

Dear Heather, I enjoyed reading your Dear Heathers when you published them, but it seems like it’s been a while since you posted one. Also, I have been doing my own workout at home for a few years now, I alternate strength training and cardio and it seems to be a good system. But I do sit-ups every morning before I shower (I know they are strength training, but I have a phobia about my middle) and even though I can do 50 at a time and it’s easy, I still do them. Is there a way I can make … Continue reading →

B is for Bad Form

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We talked about A is for Abdominals a couple of days ago and today, we’re going to talk about Bad Form. Bad form happens when we’re in a rush. You know what it’s like to rush around, you have a dozen errands to do and you may only have 30 minutes to hit the gym while your son or daughter is at their dance class or other activity. When we rush things and we try to squeeze too many activities into too little time, we make mistakes. B is for bad form because when we use bad form, we are … Continue reading →