This article contains affiliate links, which means if you click on the link and make a purchase, I receive a small percentage of the sale at no cost to you. These links are not a paid endorsement of a product or service. One of my 2018 goals was to read more books. Since I wanted to make this a SMART goal, I decided I set the goal to read 12 books, 6 fiction, and 6 non-fiction. One of my friends made a recommendation to read Brain Rules, as it had some helpful insights on how to be a better instructor based on scientific studies conducted on the brain. What's this all got to do with exercise you ask? It's that of the 12 Brain Rules outlined in the book, Brain Rule #2 is "Exercise boosts Brain Power." Research has shown that when going from a sedentary lifestyle to doing regular aerobic exercise, after four months executive brain functions vastly improves and memory improves as well. This means your ability to manage time, pay attention, problem solve, and … [Read more...]
#TuesdayMotivation
It's important to ditch negative self talk and focus on positive reinforcement of your goals. The body follows the mind! … [Read more...]
New Fitbit Adventure challenges Unlock Beautiful Photos of Yellowstone
This post contains affiliate links, which provides me a small percentage of sales made through the link. The review in this post was unpaid, and no product was provided to me for this review. A couple of months ago, I got a Fitbit Charge HR ($128.95 on Amazon). Even though I'm already very active, what I found is monitoring my steps has made me even more active. For instance, while Sunday is my usual rest day, I found the desire to get out and hit 10,000 steps has made me work in a late afternoon walk with the dog; which is never a bad thing. It's also led to interesting conversations in the house, like "why are you just walking around the room in a circle?" "Cause I'm 200 steps away from 10,000 and I want to get there before I get to bed!" One of the new features Fitbit released this summer was a new set of Adventure challenges that allows you to take a virtual hike around Yellowstone National Park. With steps of 15k, 24k, or 42k you can unlock beautiful photos like the … [Read more...]
Five Favorite Fitness Articles this Week – 9/18/16
The Only Variable That Matters - When you're following a training program, there are a lot of variables like the number of sets, the number of reps, how heavy the weights are, how long your rest between sets, etc. Here is the only variable that really matters. The 20 Minutes Workout for The Incredibly Busy - Not having enough time is a common excuse for not exercising. If that's your challenge, try this 20 minute workout that hits every plane of motion. Pre and Post Workout Eating 101 - This handy infographic gives good suggestions for simple pre and post workout meals, no matter if you're doing cardio or strength training. How We Train our Brains to Hate Our Bodies - Feel comfortable in your own skin is important to your physical and mental health. This article gives 8 tips on how you can a more positive self-image with your body. 3 Ways to Increase Pain Tolerance in the Gym - I still say No Pain, No Gain is not a thing. Pain from an injury should not be ignored or … [Read more...]
Five Favorite Fitness Articles This Week – 9/11/16
I Don't Know Where I'd Be Without Running - This inspirational story about a man who overcame drug addiction and homelessness by running is worth a read. It's a reminder that physical fitness can help you overcome mental and physical obstacles. 10 Habits for Sustainable Weight Loss - This list of 10 habits for weight loss is great, but even better is the focus of just picking ONE of the habits and focusing on that habit for one week to help build these habits into everyday life. 3 Drills That Strengthen Hip Flexors - These exercises help build up the psoas, a key muscle and stabilizer for squats and lunges. It's a good Pre-hab exercise to include in your routine. Kettlebell Press Challenge - Lauren Brooks has a lot of great kettlebell challenges, and this Kettlebell Press Challenge is one I'm going to try this month. There are modifications here if you need to make adjustments based on your strength and mobility level, so check it out. 10 Minute Homemade Tomato Sauce - … [Read more...]