Seacrest Says...

Even Ryan Seacrest has trouble fitting a workout in!  Earlier today he tweeted:

RyanSeacrest:

"One of the greatest challenges is finding time to workout during my day...gotta do it before I get home for christmas eve fondue!"

I bet he would tell you to read this!!   Don't forget this week's challenge.  Fit 15-30 minutes of exercise into every day!!  If one of the busiest dudes on the planet can make time...so can you!  If you miss a day, don't be discouraged, just become even MORE determined to fit it in the next day!!
 

Wishing you Good Health & Happiness!!

--RoxyB

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Tip of the Day!

Veggies for breakfast anyone?  If you're like me, your immediate response is, "ew."  But hear me out.  IF you like eggs, veggies are an easy addition!  Toss in some spinach, bell peppers, mushrooms to make a quick omelette!  It's healthy AND delicious.

Did you know that the USDA recommends 2.5 cups of veggies EVERY day?! (based on 2000cal diet)  You can hit that mark by starting with a bang at breakfast!! image via

Wishing you Good Health & Happiness!!

--RoxyB

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Squeeze it In!!

I don't know about you guys...but I am in a phase of life where my days are anything BUT regimented.  With 2 babies at home, I have to be flexible to allow for their needs and just kind of go with the flow!  Plans change at the last minute on a very regular basis!  And free time is hard to come by! For this reason, my workout schedule is completely and totally random.  I'm not following a detailed workout plan.  I don't workout at the same time every day.  And, since my baby is too young for the gym's childcare area, I RARELY make it to the gym.  So, I typically work out at home.

Make a commitment to yourself this week!  Dedicate 10-30 minutes of each day to exercising.  Whether you go on a 15-min run (or jog/walk!), work in some squats/lunges/push-ups in front of your fav TV show, or bust out those dusty dumbbells to do a quick upper body routine, just commit to making it happen!  Creating a habit is the hardest part, but you've gotta start somewhere!  Let this week be the week!  You might be surprised how much better it makes you feel!

--Peace. Health. RoxyB!

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Sick of Crunches?

Here are some additional exercises that engage the abdominals!!  (please be patient as I work on loading how-to videos for each exercise!)

1. Leg Raises
2. Hanging Leg Raises
3. V-ups
4. 1/2 V-ups
5. Planks
6. Side Planks
7. Lumberjacks
8. Standing Cable Pull-Downs
9. Supine Body Ball Passes
10. Squat Jumps
11. Cable Twist
12. Prone Hamstring Walks
13. Bosu Around the World
14. Push Ups

Wishing you Good Health & Happiness!!

--RoxyB

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I'm not sore...and I'm kind of sad about it.

I tweeted earlier about an intense core workout and had a request to post about it!  Let me just tell you this:  it was big time!  However, I am barely sore today!  Some of you might think that's GREAT news...but I was actually looking forward to an uncomfortable reminder of my workout with every sneeze & giggle  :)  Contrary to popular belief, the absence of soreness DOES NOT mean that you didn't work out hard enough.  The better shape your muscles are in, the less soreness you will experience.  So, if it's been a while since you hit the gym...count on a bit of soreness!  And even if you are in stellar shape, you are likely experience soreness when you work your muscles in a new way!

To Rani, you mentioned that you wanted some new ideas for working your abs.  I did a few exercises that focused on my abs, but the rest were moves involving all of the core muscles.  Did you guys know that the "core" actually includes much more than just your abs?  Be on the lookout for more info on that in the next few days!  I'll post tomorrow about some alternatives to the same old crunch/sit up routine!

Wishing you Good Health & Happiness!!

--RoxyB

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Tip of the Day

Having trouble staying motivated?  Get a workout buddy!! 

Study after study has shown that those who workout with someone else are more likely to maintain their workout routine, and are thus more fit!

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Lift Weights for Better Posture!!

Okay.  So I didn't watch the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show...but I saw a million tweets referring to how incredible they all looked!  Strutting down the runway, shoulders back, heads held high.  Well, good news!  We can all look a littttttle bit more like that!  Posture is a HUGE contributor to giving you a taller, leaner appearance!  And one of the absolute GREATEST ways to improve your posture is to use proper form when doing a resistance workout.

So, the next time you hit the weights, follow these steps to ensure you're using proper form!

1. Stand with feet shoulder width, arms dandling at sides, face forward, shoulders back but relaxed
2. Inhale DEEPLY. (Feel your head and shoulders rise? You should be a little taller at the end of an inhale!)
3. Exhale slowly & completely without letting your height decrease (If I had my hand on your head at the end of your inhale, it should still be touching the top of your head by the end of your EXhale!)  Keep that head held high and let your shoulders roll back naturally.  This requires activating your core!
4. Now hold this exact position as you do your bicep curls, shoulder presses....whatever.   Your head/neck/shoulders shouldn't move an inch during your lifts!  This teaches your upper back muscles to hold you body in this upright position at all times, thus improving your posture!

Not only will improved posture make you a little happier with what you see in the mirror, but it decreases your chances of pulled muscles, neck problems, and lower back pain!!

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Here We Go!!

Finally!!  A focused outlet for everything fitness-related that I have to share with you!  Quite a few of you have asked me if I had a website or a blog where you could access my stuff...well, now I do!! Thanks for the push :) As a nationally-certified personal trainer, lifestyle/weight-management consultant, and nutrition advisor, I relish being a go-to girl for all things fitness!

I specialize in weight-loss, pre/post natal exercise, nutrition makeovers, working out for overall fitness, and light sports performance training.

I will post daily tips to help in your quest for fitness, as well as touch on subjects that YOU want to know more about!  Anything I DON'T specialize in, I can at least point you to someone who does!  Remember, fitness is a way of life, not a temporary weight-loss solution!  Let's do this thing together :)

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