Fitness Countdown: New Year’s Eve

January is around the corner and in just a few short days people of all shapes and sizes will rush to their local gym to fulfill their dreams of washboard abs, bulging biceps and bikini ready thighs. Fitness magazines will fly off the shelves and healthy food will be in vogue.

Why wait until January to get the ball rolling, now is the time!

Starting your dedication to a healthy lifestyle right now will allow you to reach your fitness goals sooner and put you in a better state of mind for the New Year. Plus the self-esteem boost will serve you well during New Year’s Eve as you grab the attention of the hot guy or girl holding the Champagne glass a few tables away.

Check out the following fitness videos for some ideas:

Monday: Pure Sculpt, Crazy Legs
Tuesday: Yoga Latte
Wednesday: Sexy Arms, Slim Thighs
Thursday: Yoga Latte
Friday: Enjoy the New Year!

Each day try to incorporate 30 to 45 minutes of cardio into your routine to raise your endurance and reduce your body fat!

Fitness Past, Present and Future

One of the most enjoyable things about the holiday season are the movies. One of the most popular movies is “A Christmas Carol” in which the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future visit Ebenezer Scrooge. We can learn some valuable lessons from this classic children’s story as we evaluate our progress toward reaching fitness goals.

Fitness Past: As we grow older and our lives are filled with more responsibility, the time reserved for ourselves will often be reduced significantly. In our younger years we had more free time allowing us to dedicate more time toward doing things we loved; whether that included dancing, hiking, running and a myriad of other fitness activities with friends.

Fitness Present: Now that time is short and the “to-do list” is larger than before we find ourselves skipping trips to the gym, canceling fitness outings with friends and viewing fitness as more of a chore than an activity of pleasure.

Fitness Future: Continuing down this path causes a number of health problems (i.e. obesity, high blood pressure, stress, diabetes and the list goes on).

Although it may seem that taking control of your fitness is an insurmountable task, it is achievable if you develop a strategy and commit to it.

Fitness Strategy #1: Make the Commitment

• Define your fitness goal.

• Determine what steps must be taken to achieve the fitness goal (i.e. workout consistency, particular eating habits)

• Sign the contract. Write out your goals and the steps necessary to achieve them on paper and sign the proverbial “dotted line”.

Fitness Strategy #2: Checks and Balances

• Designate a day each month to re-evaluate your progress with a fitness buddy, personal trainer or loved one.

• Identify the areas of strength and weakness then determine a plan of action to overcome those weaknesses.

Fitness Strategy #3: Consult the Professionals

• Start reading nutrition and fitness related literature to keep fitness “top of mind”

• Schedule a consultation with a personal trainer and nutritionist to enhance your knowledge and obtain additional guidance.

Fitness on Holiday?

During the holiday season it is very easy to put your fitness goals on the back burner. This is understandable given the numerous obligations one faces during the holidays such as gift shopping, preparing for the in-laws, cooking, cleaning and the list goes on.

How does one incorporate fitness on a “to-do list” that seems insurmountable?

Take it one day at a time!

Each evening plan out your day. List the tasks that you’d like to get done and make sure that you schedule a time for fitness. Staying in shape should not take a break during the holiday season but it certainly will if you don’t include it on your “to-do list”. Develop a general idea of how you’ll continue to include healthy eating habits into your day (this may mean packing a lunch or knowing where the healthy restaurants are in your neighborhood).

Keep your eye on the prize!

After the family fun of the holiday season, the New Year’s celebration is just around the corner. Wouldn’t it be great to look hot and sexy as you bring in 2010?

It starts today!

No one is perfect and there will be days when you “fall of the wagon” with your fitness pursuits but each evening evaluate your progress, identify things you can improve and take action.

Check out the following videos for some fitness ideas:

• Yoga Sculpt 2
• Beautiful Chest, Gorgeous Back, Magnificent Abs
• Creative Total Body Sculpt

Budget Fitness: Top 5 Exercises

What do you do when your money is tight and your clothes are a little too snug? Oftentimes our fitness pursuits will fall to the wayside. Fitness should always be an investment and can still be part of the budget even when money is an issue. Here are 5 great indoor exercises that you can do at home to help tighten your belt (without squeezing your wallet):

1. The Push Up – Begin in a “plank” position, hands on the floor shoulder width apart and legs about hip width apart or wider (to reduce the intensity). Firm your abdominals and draw the thighs toward the sky to keep the body flat like a board. As you inhale lower the body toward the floor evenly and on the exhale push up to starting position. Check out my video Push Up for some interesting variations.

2. The “Chair” Squat – Stand a few inches away from a chair, as if you were about to sit down. As you inhale, bend your knees and lower your hips down so that they hover a couple of inches away from the chair (you know you’ve gone far enough when your legs begin to engage). Exhale as you press through the feet and firm your gluteus maximus (aka “glutes”) to lift yourself up to a standing position. If balance becomes an issue extend your arms toward the wall in front of you as you lower your hips.  Make sure to keep your toes and knees pointing forward. Check out my video Creative Total Body Sculpt for a fun variation.

3. The Reverse Lunge – Stand with feet hip width apart. Lift your right foot off the floor and extend it, allowing the ball of the right foot to touch the floor a few feet behind you. Slowly bend both knees to allow for a ninety-degree bend in the front and back leg. Once you feel your legs engage press through the front foot and bring yourself to a standing position. Repeat with the left leg. Check out my video Dynamic Power Workout for more advanced variations.

4. Pilates Side Kicks – This classic series is amazing for sculpting lean thighs and firm abdominals. Check out my video Pilates Side Kicks for a demonstration.

5. Mountain Climbers – Begin in plank position; draw your right knee underneath the chest as you draw the abdominals toward the spine. Extend the right leg back to plank position and repeat on the left side. Continue switching sides at a controlled and rhythmic pace. Check out my video Training Session for a demonstration.

Weight Loss (Made Easy)

Ozzie Jacobs, Health and Fitness Expert, presents a podcast to help you overcome the obstacles that can prevent you from reaching your fitness goals.

 

 Weight Loss (Made Easy) [3:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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