January 28, 2008

Fitness - Add variety to your workout. Your muscles adapt and stop progressing if you do the same fitness program week after week. Try new fitness classes, new fitness machines or new weight lifting moves to rev up your workout. As your body improves keep challenging yourself in the gym to continue to see results!

Food - Start a food Journal today. Keep track of what you consume for a week and review the information. What we think we eat and what we really consume is much more different then you think. By writing down your daily consumption it’s easier to see were improvements can be made in your meal plan.

Family - Experience something new with your loved ones. Learn a new sport, build/create something, or watch a TV program on an interesting topic you know nothing about. Expanding your horizons with your family and friends can only bring you closer.

JAN. 21st
Fitness - Make time to stretch for 5 minutes after each workout. If you stretch it will help prevent soreness, fight against toxin build-up in your muscles and prepare you for your next workout.

Food - Start your morning with a piece of fruit by itself before you eat your breakfast. This will jump start your metabolism. Let the fruit digest and then eat a healthy breakfast. Remember…try to eat a serving of fruit or vegetables with every meal.

Family - Do your best to call your family and friends once a week. Email and text are the new generations means of communication but there is no substitute to hear your loved ones voices. Set a time aside the same time each week and reach out. You’ll feel better with a real conversation vs. typing away.

JAN. 12Th
Fitness - Try incorporating your workout in the AM. Start off with twice a week AM workouts to get your day started on the right foot. After your body adapts to the early workout you’ll feel more energized through out your day.

Food - Drink more water. We all try but we’re probably not consuming as much as we think we are. Keep a water bottle with you @ all times. Buy a pitcher, fill it with water and keep it at your desk or in a common area. Add fresh fruit to add a little zest to your water.

Family - Plan a family night once a week. Parents and kids live a busy life these days. Make time for a weekend dinner or lunch to catch up on each others activities. Designate 2 hours where the entire family stops what they’re doing and prioritizes what is most important…FAMILY!

It was important for me to blog my experience entering the fitness world. I have been a dancer all of my life and now I’m using my dance background to create a unique fitness program. I want to blog my journey because I feel I should share want I’ve learned along the way with others. Now that I’m 32 I understand that working out alone will not help you achieve your body goals. One must change their diet and their lifestyle along with adding a fitness program to accomplish the healthy body they desire. I would like to offer future participants in my classes a comprehensive wellness program. I am currently working on my A.C.E group fitness certification but I am not a dietitian. I can only advise students on what works for me in my life and hope they see something in my program that might work for them. It’s never to late to make improvements in your life.

You must look at the big picture. Are the bad choices you’re making in your diet really worth it? You can feel unhappy with your body image, tired, depressed and all for what… french fries? Do you really need to have a drink every night to unwind after work? You might experience loss of sleep, headaches, digestion problems and all for what…a cocktail that’s covering the real issues in your life? You have to understand it’s not about giving up things or going on a diet but more about an upgrade to a better life. People who choose to eat healthy while working out can be happier, feel great and are in better physical and mental shape. I don’t promote diets. I emphasise choosing different types of food, healthy chooses for your meals and snacks.

Diet and exercise alone will not get you the body you want. You must take a hard look at the lifestyle you are living. Are you stressed out at work all the time? Are you sad because you have no time to connect with friends? Are you feeling disconnect from your spouse or loved ones? Stop right now and think about what’s really important to you in life. I know you can’t quiet the job you have now or make lunch dates with your friends each week but you can take small steps to move in the right direction. Nothing happens in life unless you make an effort. While you’re in your current working position think about what can I do now that can help me achieve the career I want a year from now? Friends are a big part of who we are in life. If you miss them and you have trouble connecting with them step up a set a date to meet a month or 6 months from now. Everyone is short on time today but with preparation and planning you and your friends can create a time to be together. One of the biggest challenges in life is balancing your personal life and a career. For me my family comes first. What I’ve learned over the last few months is when you strength your bond at home there is no stopping with what you can do with your career. If you have the support of your loved ones you have the confidence that you can accomplish anything. This love and support is PRICELESS!

OK. I’ve shared my thoughts just a bit. Now to the purpose of this blog. Every Monday starting today January 14th I will blog one fitness, food and family tip. I’ll advise using these ideas if they appeal to you as small steps to achieve a healthier lifestle.

Stay Healthy,
LB

JAN. 12Th
Fitness - Try incorporating your workout in the AM. Start off with twice a week AM workouts to get your day started on the right foot. After your body adapts to the early workout you’ll feel more energized through out your day.
Food - Drink more water. We all try but we’re probably not consuming as much as we think we are. Keep a water bottle with you @ all times. Buy a pitcher, fill it with water and keep it at your desk or in a common area. Add fresh fruit to add a little zest to your water.
Family - Plan a family night once a week. Parents and kids live a busy life these days. Make time for a weekend dinner or lunch to catch up on each others activities. Designate 2 hours where the entire family stops what they’re doing and prioritizes what is most important…FAMILY!

On December 28, 2007 in Phoenix AZ I introduced Danzteam Fitness! I gave a class @ Conservatory of Dance to about 15 adults. It was incredible. Danzteam Fitness is a cardio class that makes every student feel like a Pro dance team girl. You learn several different styles of dance, crowd cheers and your moving the entire hour. The music doesn’t stop and you move seamlessly from one style of dance to another. Its a great cardio class that gets your heart rate up and burn major calories. Danzteam fitness falls under the trends predicted for 08 by American Council for Exercise. Dance inspired, fusion, cardio classes are all the rage in group fitness. I plan to teach a class in NYC on Thursday January 24th.