Showing posts with label healthy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label healthy. Show all posts

Saturday, 19 September 2015

Gett your workout on during a busy day





Gett your workout on during a busy day! Yes I put two t's in there!

Face it, we live in a busy time. Everyone is constantly on the go. We all tend to feel that work, the meetings and errands never end. On top of that we have these long lists of "To Do's" that we feel we will never get accomplished. Although, I feel that an early morning workout is always ideal, I can relate to those busy days where that extra five minutes of sleep takes precedence.
With that said, there are many things that can be done throughout the day that can be just as beneficial as a one hour workout in the morning.


Lower Body:
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Take the Stairs -Everyone talks about it, few do it. I'm telling you folks, this makes such a big difference, especially when we rely on driving to our destinations. Stairs work your quads, hamstrings calves and flutes!


Walk everywhere -  Walking is crucial for blood circulation and burning those extra calories. A small walk around the home, workplace or to the store help keep you active throughout the day.

Squats and Lunges -  Do them whenever you can.  Jumping jacks and burpees are great too, however if you cannot afford to get a bit sweaty lunges and squats are a great alternative. If you work at a desk, take a breather and do 20 squats.

Lateral Leg lifts -  This can be done at a desk, or can be done when your in between activities (waiting for dinner to cook, brushing your hair or teeth etc.). This will help shape your legs and booty.. and we are all about the booty!

Take standing breaks - Believe it or not standing helps burn calories. Its a slow process but it is one that I enjoy when I have a busy day and can't get a full workout in. Stand when you're answering calls, or stand while your studying. (A friend of mine conducted a  study that showed those with ADHD performed better when they focused on the task while standing versus while they sat).

Wall sits - Take 30 seconds every free moment you get and sit against a wall so your legs are parallel to the floor. I personally hate these but only because I can feel the burn so quickly. 




Upper Body:
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Tricep dips -  I think this might be one of my absolute favourites. Anywhere there is a table or a ledge, do at least 20 tricep dips. These can also be done with chairs, and virtually anywhere. I tend to do these at work, when I get a free moment away from the chaos. 

Pushups -   Along with tricep dips, do pushups. You don't always have to be on the ground for these. Its the same workout, but standing up. It is essentially the same workout as the tricep dips, just turned the opposite way.

Sit ups and Planks and Bike crunches -  Do some sit-ups before bed. If you do not have a lot of time, don't fret, just do a hundred ( The number may seem intimidating, but its not a lot, trust me).

Boxing punches -   If you have been following my instagram, snapchat and other social media, you should know how much I love kickboxing. Its a great stress reliever and workout at the same time. Frustrating day? Take a break and just do some squat punches. 



OTHER:
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Drink Water - This will make a huge difference on a busy day. Instead of choosing a carbonated sugary drink choose water. Water serves many purposes and is a fundamental aspect to our daily diet. 


Schedule a 20 minute home workout like a business meeting -  20 minutes.  If this is possible I highly suggest it, even just to get the blood flowing a little bit before/after school or work. 20 minutes may seem like a big chunk of your day but when you think about it, if you spend 20 minutes throughout the day watching tv on your down time why not incorporate a workout while you watch? 


Pick a few a day to do when you can.  If you know you have nothing to do on an hour break go for a quick walk around the block. Your body will thank you and you'll notice results.

Friday, 26 June 2015

Detox Time!



It has been a while since I've shared a post with my readers. Life has been a bit on the hectic side with lots of exciting experiences and adventures coming. I want to continue to inspire my readers and motivate my readers in all aspects of life. 


A beautiful full circle rainbow around the sun while at the lake

But I will be honest here, the past month or so has been filled with crappy food, little to no exercising and I can thank pneumonia for that. I am only now starting to feel better after a month of struggling to get out of bed, wanting to eat healthy food ( but could only stomach unhealthy food), and enjoy the warmer months! With all that being said, my body is feeling a bit neglected and let down. 


First "meal" since getting sick


Its time to detox!

There are detoxes you can buy, juice cleanses and so on. I am looking towards a lifestyle detox instead. As I stated, the past month I couldn't do much so at this point a lifestyle detox is much needed. I have a very active lifestyle, I workout about 4-5 days a week, sometimes 6 if I can squeeze it into my very busy lifestyle. 


So what am I up to?
- Little to no alcohol
- Little to no refined sugars
- Vegetarian / vegan meals
- Raw foods
- Increase in fruits and vegetables
- Increased workout intensity
- Lots of sleep (when possible)

These things already fit my lifestyle for the most part, if anything its going to be more controlled, with less fries (unless they are zucchini fries... I'll post the recipe after). I will also be jotting down my exercises, and daily food intake to track my progress and help keep me on track! 


Now here is my new workout plan that I intend to use in the short term. 


Day 1: Arms and Abs - Day 2: Legs - Day 3: Off or Cardio - Day 4: Back & Abs - Day 5: Cardio - Day 6: Legs - Day 7: Chest, Shoulders & Abs - Day 8: Off 
For Cardio I am mostly using the elliptical ( it is the one machine I am in love with at the moment), however I like to switch things up, between the elliptical - treadmill - and stationary bike. I am also looking into joining yoga classes, start up kickboxing again, and now that summer is here and the weather is nicer, tennis lessons.

Every morning when I wake up, I'm going to motivate myself to do a quick non strenuous workout as well to boost my energy and get the day started. 

20 Jumping Jacks
10 Crunches
5 Push ups
10 Calf raises
25 Russian twists
10 Squats
20 high knees
10 reverse crunches
30 sec plank (maybe up it to a minute once I've gotten comfortable at 30)
15 sec side plank






If you sit down and just take some time to work on new goals, you will find yourself motivated and ready to kick some butt.

As Summer has started, I am slightly adjusting my diet, trying to make the healthiest choices possible. I am ready to give my metabolism a boost, never skip a workout (even if I can't hit the gym, there are home workouts that can be done!). I can even pull out my rollerblades and check out the scenery! So, really there is no excuse for me to be lazy with all the activities and planning around me.

I hope my readers feel motivated, especially if you are like me and  had a set back due to sickness, never give up and keep going after what you want!






- XO






Tuesday, 25 November 2014

Beat the winter blues



 With Holidays coming full speed toward us, it tends to leave us feeling lethargic. I unfortunately feel this way during the holidays and tend to dislike the winter months because of it. I have taken it upon myself to snap out of it and get into a routine of eating right and exercise. This not only makes me feel and look good but it takes me away from the feeling like it is hard to make accomplishments with the cold. With the new year quickly approaching I suggest getting excited by trying something new and fun. Try working off all that stuffing and turkey from the comfort of your home as a start!


Some steps in fighting that winter blues:

  • Plan a vacation get away - could be a few hour drive or if the budget allows, plan somewhere hot with a group of friends or that special someone
  • Plan a night in with some friends to do crafts and baking. Or if you you aren't into either, get together with friends to find something new and unique in your city that you can try as a group.
  • Continuously create goals for yourself - Whether they are small goals or big goals, make them. If you create short term goals for yourself, it allows you to consistently work towards something to keep you busy. It can be something as simple as writing in a journal everyday, or planning your meals the night before. Anything to help make you feel accomplished. Perhaps creating a dream board will work best for you.
  • Exercise - This one is huge (for me anyways). When we exercise we release endorphins that make us happy and feel more relaxed. A quick workout at the gym or home can be a great stress reliever. Not to mention this is a great way to help you feel better about your appearance ( a great workout is better than make up anyway). Best part of all, exercise boosts your energy level. What better way to kick start your day or week?

       Here I have some great exercises that are easy to do at home


Abs:

  • 30 sit ups
  • 50 reverse crunches 
  • 30 air bikes
  • 50 leg lifts
  • 100 oblique crunchers per side 
  • 100 toe touches
Repeat 2x



Booty workout 
  • 30 jumping jacks
  • 20 lunges
  • 10 squats
  • 10 plie squats 
  • 20 side lunges
  • 20 glute kickbacks
  • 15 short bridges
  • 10 side leg circles - each leg
  • 20 glute kickbacks
  • 15 squats 
  • 10 plie squats 
  • 20 jumping jacks
Repeat 2x


These are just some ways you can incorporate some fun activity into your life without getting dragged down by the winter blues.