Hope everyone enjoyed our beautiful weather over Memorial Weekend!
Did you get out and do something or did you lay around and relax? Either way, we all deserve to treat ourselves.
Now that Summer is upon us, if you haven't set any new goals, it's time! What better way than to sign up and participate in one or more of the organized events scheduled around our county! Don't know where to find out about a walk, run, ride, etc.?
Go to www.active.com for info and dates on all kinds of activities! The best part is while you are training and improving your fitness, you can help raise money for a worthy cause!
Get focused, get fit and get committed!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Thai Grilled Chicken Thighs Recipe - Food.com - 99156
Here is a great recipe that you can make for dinner today or tomorrow. I use Split Chicken Breasts instead of the thighs. I leave the skin on while cooking to protect the breast from drying out!
It also works well with skinless, boneless chicken although I think the meat stays juicier with the skin left on!
Thai Grilled Chicken Thighs Recipe - Food.com - 99156
Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
It also works well with skinless, boneless chicken although I think the meat stays juicier with the skin left on!
Thai Grilled Chicken Thighs Recipe - Food.com - 99156
Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
I Challenge You!!!
Howdy ho!
In case you haven't been in my classes lately, I am incorporating something you are all familiar with, PUSH UPS! Okay, so it doesn't sound exciting or different, but what I am challenging my class participants to do, on their own (they will be doing this in each of my circuit classes), is at least 3 sets of push-ups every day for 6 weeks. I've been doing some reading and attacking push ups, in this way, will make you so much stronger, not only when doing push ups but in everything you do!
If you want to take on this challenge, this is what you are going to do. By the way, if you can't do a push up, you can start on your knees or place your hands on a higher elevation like a table. If you can do a few regular push ups, start there.
First, make sure you hold a strong plank position, which means your head, neck, torso, hips, knees and toes (if you are doing a full push up) are all in a strong, straight line. Also, rest about 20-30 seconds in between sets.
First Set: Place your hands under your chest with the thumbs touching. Do as many push ups as you can in this position, with good form. If you need a number to reach, try to do 15-20. Remember to keep a long neck and the shoulders down & away from your ears. If this position feels like you are scrunching your neck, try and focus on keeping your upper arms next to your torso instead of flaring the arms out. You'll notice your triceps will be doing much of the work.
Second Set: Place your hands just outside your first hand position. (Your hands will be at shoulder width or a little bit wider). Again, do as many push ups as you can.
Third Set: Place your hands outside your second hand position (very wide hand position). This will probably be the easiest position of the three. Do as many push ups as you can.
You are done! If you really want to challenge yourself, repeat all three sets starting from the outside hand position and work your way back to having your thumbs touch.
IMPORTANT: When you first start, your push ups may not be very deep, but the goal is to get your chest as close to the ground as possible with each repetition. Once your hips start sagging, your head drops and you lose form, stop! You definitely do not want to get hurt by performing your push ups incorrectly.
Also, once these get easier, crank it up a notch by going to a lower table, bringing your knees off the ground or placing your feet up higher than your hands! If you really want to improve on this exercise, you have to challenge yourself!
Good Luck and Happy Push Ups!
P.S. If you want help, write a comment on this posting or send me an e-mail and we can work on getting together!
P.S.S. I AM VERY SORE!!!! :)
In case you haven't been in my classes lately, I am incorporating something you are all familiar with, PUSH UPS! Okay, so it doesn't sound exciting or different, but what I am challenging my class participants to do, on their own (they will be doing this in each of my circuit classes), is at least 3 sets of push-ups every day for 6 weeks. I've been doing some reading and attacking push ups, in this way, will make you so much stronger, not only when doing push ups but in everything you do!
If you want to take on this challenge, this is what you are going to do. By the way, if you can't do a push up, you can start on your knees or place your hands on a higher elevation like a table. If you can do a few regular push ups, start there.
First, make sure you hold a strong plank position, which means your head, neck, torso, hips, knees and toes (if you are doing a full push up) are all in a strong, straight line. Also, rest about 20-30 seconds in between sets.
First Set: Place your hands under your chest with the thumbs touching. Do as many push ups as you can in this position, with good form. If you need a number to reach, try to do 15-20. Remember to keep a long neck and the shoulders down & away from your ears. If this position feels like you are scrunching your neck, try and focus on keeping your upper arms next to your torso instead of flaring the arms out. You'll notice your triceps will be doing much of the work.
Second Set: Place your hands just outside your first hand position. (Your hands will be at shoulder width or a little bit wider). Again, do as many push ups as you can.
Third Set: Place your hands outside your second hand position (very wide hand position). This will probably be the easiest position of the three. Do as many push ups as you can.
You are done! If you really want to challenge yourself, repeat all three sets starting from the outside hand position and work your way back to having your thumbs touch.
IMPORTANT: When you first start, your push ups may not be very deep, but the goal is to get your chest as close to the ground as possible with each repetition. Once your hips start sagging, your head drops and you lose form, stop! You definitely do not want to get hurt by performing your push ups incorrectly.
Also, once these get easier, crank it up a notch by going to a lower table, bringing your knees off the ground or placing your feet up higher than your hands! If you really want to improve on this exercise, you have to challenge yourself!
Good Luck and Happy Push Ups!
P.S. If you want help, write a comment on this posting or send me an e-mail and we can work on getting together!
P.S.S. I AM VERY SORE!!!! :)
Monday, May 21, 2012
Excuses, Excuses!
How often do you give yourself permission not to do something? Do you set goals, create lists, set a calendar? Do you complete your tasks regularly, reach your goals and keep your appointments? To be successful in your daily lives, you probably do keep to a schedule and check off your tasks in a timely manner.
But, how often do you include workouts on your To-Do List? How far ahead do you plan your healthy menus? Have you made these tasks a regular part of your checklist and actually "check them off" just like your trip to the grocery store, bank or dry cleaner?
Most of us complete our daily and weekly tasks, but when it comes to healthy food planning and exercise we can probably create pages of EXCUSES. Why do we allow ourselves to excuse ourselves from taking care of our own bodies when we wouldn't dream of excusing ourselves from feeding our families, making our bank deposits and running our dozens of errands?
Are we lazy? NO. Are we THAT BUSY? NO. Are we that broken? NO! So why then?
Because its easier to complain about our bodies than work hard to burn a few calories! We don't see the benefit immediately, so we give up! We don't like feeling sore! AND WE NEVER THINK WE'LL GET THE WEIGHT OFF OR TONE UP, SO WE'D RATHER GIVE UP ON OURSELVES.
But really, what is more important than getting or staying healthy or having energy to do all the other things we have to do? NOTHING
So lets do ourselves a favor. Set time on your planner to work out and plan your meals for the week. Then during the week, every time you have an excuse to keep you from your workout or meal, write down your excuse. Place the excuses in a coffee cup or jar and at the end of the week, read through them. If every one seems like they were completely warranted, great....you were too busy. But if some or all of them seem frivolous or lame, write them on a sheet a paper or pin them to a bulletin board.
WHEN YOU PLAN YOUR NEXT WEEK, ADD YOUR WORKOUTS AND MEAL PLANNING TO YOUR PLANNER AGAIN AND DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO USE THE EXCUSES ON THAT LIST OR BULLETIN BOARD!
I bet you'll get in a few workouts AND you'll eat cleaner! If you do this for 4-6 weeks, by the end of this time period, you will have a set workout schedule that is more of a habit than a "special appointment."
Once you get on a regular schedule, use this same technique to plan extra cardio or specific weight training or increasing your workout days.
I promise you will start to feel better, stronger, more toned and maybe even have lost some weight! I know this because it is exactly what I did to get my rear in gear and stop coming up with excuses!!!
Good Luck!
But, how often do you include workouts on your To-Do List? How far ahead do you plan your healthy menus? Have you made these tasks a regular part of your checklist and actually "check them off" just like your trip to the grocery store, bank or dry cleaner?
Most of us complete our daily and weekly tasks, but when it comes to healthy food planning and exercise we can probably create pages of EXCUSES. Why do we allow ourselves to excuse ourselves from taking care of our own bodies when we wouldn't dream of excusing ourselves from feeding our families, making our bank deposits and running our dozens of errands?
Are we lazy? NO. Are we THAT BUSY? NO. Are we that broken? NO! So why then?
Because its easier to complain about our bodies than work hard to burn a few calories! We don't see the benefit immediately, so we give up! We don't like feeling sore! AND WE NEVER THINK WE'LL GET THE WEIGHT OFF OR TONE UP, SO WE'D RATHER GIVE UP ON OURSELVES.
But really, what is more important than getting or staying healthy or having energy to do all the other things we have to do? NOTHING
So lets do ourselves a favor. Set time on your planner to work out and plan your meals for the week. Then during the week, every time you have an excuse to keep you from your workout or meal, write down your excuse. Place the excuses in a coffee cup or jar and at the end of the week, read through them. If every one seems like they were completely warranted, great....you were too busy. But if some or all of them seem frivolous or lame, write them on a sheet a paper or pin them to a bulletin board.
WHEN YOU PLAN YOUR NEXT WEEK, ADD YOUR WORKOUTS AND MEAL PLANNING TO YOUR PLANNER AGAIN AND DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO USE THE EXCUSES ON THAT LIST OR BULLETIN BOARD!
I bet you'll get in a few workouts AND you'll eat cleaner! If you do this for 4-6 weeks, by the end of this time period, you will have a set workout schedule that is more of a habit than a "special appointment."
Once you get on a regular schedule, use this same technique to plan extra cardio or specific weight training or increasing your workout days.
I promise you will start to feel better, stronger, more toned and maybe even have lost some weight! I know this because it is exactly what I did to get my rear in gear and stop coming up with excuses!!!
Good Luck!
Monday, May 14, 2012
Gearing up for the Bathing Suit
First of all, don't micro critique your physical appearance.
Today you are the youngest you will ever be and even though you can get leaner or thinner, genetics will determine the tautness of your skin.
So, having stated the obvious, we have to work on making our assets more appealing and our minuscule faults invisible....HOW?? Don't obsess over them!
If you have nice legs, show them off and do a few extra lunges to enhance their definition. If you have a nice back, find a suit that has interesting straps to draw attention to it. Don't worry about tan lines since you should be slathering yourself with sunscreen, right?! Also, when is the last time you tried pull ups? Maybe work them into your workout a little more. Use a pull up bar and bench or TRX if you can't do a regular pull up(don't worry, most of us can't!)
If you have a wide mid-section or a little too much pooch, look for a plunging neckline to draw attention upward and/or a broken pattern (pattern on top, solid or subtle through the middle).
Big booty?? YES! Think JLo and go with it! If not there are a lot of little skirts or shorts attached to bathing suit bottoms this season.
Finally, increase your water intake, eat a few more servings of raw bright colored veggies and stand up straight! Look around, even the skinniest girls have a pooch when they slouch!!
See, bathing suit season isn't so bad after all!
Today you are the youngest you will ever be and even though you can get leaner or thinner, genetics will determine the tautness of your skin.
So, having stated the obvious, we have to work on making our assets more appealing and our minuscule faults invisible....HOW?? Don't obsess over them!
If you have nice legs, show them off and do a few extra lunges to enhance their definition. If you have a nice back, find a suit that has interesting straps to draw attention to it. Don't worry about tan lines since you should be slathering yourself with sunscreen, right?! Also, when is the last time you tried pull ups? Maybe work them into your workout a little more. Use a pull up bar and bench or TRX if you can't do a regular pull up(don't worry, most of us can't!)
If you have a wide mid-section or a little too much pooch, look for a plunging neckline to draw attention upward and/or a broken pattern (pattern on top, solid or subtle through the middle).
Big booty?? YES! Think JLo and go with it! If not there are a lot of little skirts or shorts attached to bathing suit bottoms this season.
Finally, increase your water intake, eat a few more servings of raw bright colored veggies and stand up straight! Look around, even the skinniest girls have a pooch when they slouch!!
See, bathing suit season isn't so bad after all!
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Island Prime!
Just had an amazing dinner at Island Prime celebrating Mackenzie's 19th birthday!
Gotta run tomorrow!
Gotta run tomorrow!
Awesome Anniversary Workout at C3
Had a hard morning team workout at C3 Fitness celebrating 3 years of sweat, fun & fitness! There was a great workout, prizes, food and friendship!
So great we are doing another competition style workout event Saturday, June 2nd! Membership Drive, bring your friends, neighbors and co-workers for a free workout and prizes!
Check www.c3fitnessstudio.com for details.
So great we are doing another competition style workout event Saturday, June 2nd! Membership Drive, bring your friends, neighbors and co-workers for a free workout and prizes!
Check www.c3fitnessstudio.com for details.
Friday, May 11, 2012
EXCITED TO RE-LAUNCH MY BLOG!!
HI THERE! I started this blog to enhance a fitness challenge I set up for employees at my husband's company back in 2010. I decided to start it up again to help clients, friends, relatives and info seekers with their health and fitness goals.
There are lots of postings that I have updated and made relevant to everyone, so please take a minute to read through them or commit to reading a few every so often. Just by rereading what I wrote has inspired me to kick my own fitness efforts up a notch!
ALSO, please feel free to comment, criticize, share or vent! We all need help sometimes and to make this blog worthwhile, I welcome all comments!
Thanks for joining my blog, for sharing your achievements and struggles AND let me know if I can help you with your fitness goals!
GET FOCUSED, GET FIT!!
ALEXIS MARTIN
There are lots of postings that I have updated and made relevant to everyone, so please take a minute to read through them or commit to reading a few every so often. Just by rereading what I wrote has inspired me to kick my own fitness efforts up a notch!
ALSO, please feel free to comment, criticize, share or vent! We all need help sometimes and to make this blog worthwhile, I welcome all comments!
Thanks for joining my blog, for sharing your achievements and struggles AND let me know if I can help you with your fitness goals!
GET FOCUSED, GET FIT!!
ALEXIS MARTIN
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