A Full of Year of Health & Fitness Tips and Activities

Make 2011 a year of healthy habits and a better lifestyle. Take the opportunity to try new sports, workouts or other activities. Make new goals and set a plan in place to achieve them. Find tips for living a healthier lifestyle. Join me to make 2011 your best year yet!!!

Monday, February 7, 2011

February 7 - RECESS!!!


One of the problems with working out is adults think of it as work. But exercise can and should be fun. So I challenge you to visit exercise for the next few days the way a kid does. Think of it as recess.

So for the next two weeks I am going to play at exercise and record the results.

Today is JUMP ROPE DAY!!

20 mins
Calories Burned - 268

Sunday, February 6, 2011

February 6 - Take a Walk


When looking for ways to get in shape sometimes we forget the simplest things. Walking is a great workout for many reasons.

Walking is not only great exercise but it can be used as a time to reflect and reduce your stress. It can also be a fun activity to do with a friend.

The benefits of walking are not news to you, I'm sure but here's a reminder.

Benefits of walking 30 mins a day:
  • It reduces your risk of dying from heart disease or stroke
  • It lowers your risk of diabetes
  • It lowers high blood pressure
  • It protects against falling and bone fractures in older adults
  • It may help protect against certain types of cancer, such as breast cancer
  • It increases the number of calories your body uses, which helps to control your weight
  • It helps control joint swelling and pain from arthritis.
1 Hour of walking (4 miles) - Calories Burned: 437

So take a walk today

Saturday, February 5, 2011

February 5 - Here's a Reason to Enjoy Your Housework

No one likes to do housework, but it is a necessary evil. So why not look at the bright side. House work can be a great way to burn some extra calories.

I spent 3 hours deep cleaning my kitchen; floors, cabinets, stove/oven, refrigerator, windows, and basically every surface in the room. And while I was very tired at the end of the cleaning frenzy, I was very pleased to find my calorie burn for the activity.

Total calories burned: 1200

Woohoo! After seeing that I didn't mind the work so much. And my kitchen is spotless!!!

Friday, February 4, 2011

February 4 - Rebounding


No matter how many calories you burn rebounding, I would encourage you to do it because it is simply FUN!

Let your inner kid take over and enjoy yourself jumping on this mini trampoline. There are workouts you can do with your rebounder but even if you simply spend 15 minutes jumping on it the benefits are so great.

Calories Burned in 15 minutes: 80

Benefits of rebounding:
- 68% more efficient than jogging (NASA, Journal of Applied Physiology 49(5): 881-887)

- Fights fatigue by strengthening the glandular system to increase the capabilities of the thyroid gland, the pituitary gland and the adrenals.

- Rebounding has a natural analgesic effect on the body which helps to relieve joints and pain in the neck, back, and head through the increase of circulation and oxygen flow.

- Conditions and strengthens the heart which allows the resting heart to beat less often. This in turn sends a stronger surge of blood through the veins.

- It provides an extremely effective 'no impact' exercise - especially important for those with less mobility or undergoing rehabilitation.

- Rebounding has been found to lower elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

- It increases metabolism which assists the body in burning more calories.

- One of the primary causes of aging is the declining performance of the heart and circulatory system. Rebounding is incredibly effective in increasing the performance of both the heart and the circulatory system and thus slows the aging process.

- Rebounding specifically stimulates the flow of lymph fluid through the lymphatic system. The change in gravitational forces allows for greater blood flow and this increases the amount of waste and toxins flushed from the body. Rebounding can increase lymph flow by up to 15%!

- Rebounding has also been found to enhance digestion, relaxation, sleep patterns, nerve impulses and muscle fiber.

- Blood pressure can be significantly reduced by rebounding. This is achieved by boosting the muscle tone of the middle arterial muscles and the improvements to the circulatory system.


So get jumpin' today!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

February 3 - TRX Training


TRX Training is a new phenomenon at Serenity and let me tell you it ROCKS!!!

TRX is a comprehensive body workout. It is appropriate for all fitness levels. And the best thing is it allows you to challenge yourself as you choose the intensity of your workout based on the angles of your body during the workout.

It is truly one of our favorite classes at Serenity.

One of our clients, Michelle, tracked her calorie burn during one of her TRX training classes recently and I'm so excited to post it.

Total calories burned: 1133 -WOW!!!

TRX ROCKS!!!!

Get to a class now!!!!!!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

February 2 - Let's Bowl!

I don't know if it's a southern thing, but growing up bowling was a regular activity for my family. I loved it. I don't do it often anymore but I thought I'd revisit it for this project.

So Joe and I had a bowling date. We bowled two games each. It took about 40 minutes (which I thought was fast).

Total Calories Burned - 300

And FYI I bowled a 140 and a 150 game! Woohoo!!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

February 1 - The Beginning of 28 Days of Movement


For the entire month of February I will participate in a different activity and record the calories burned. Some of the days it will be exercise and some days it will be a regular daily activity.

I thought it would be fun to make the first entry about an activity that I know everyone will love (well most everyone). Shopping!

Meghan and I took off to run errands. A shopping trip to Target, Staples and BJ's that took 3 hours.

Total Calories Burned: 770

Didn't reach my target heart rate but I kept moving. To add to the experience I parked further away from the buildings and pushed the cart.

So when you are shopping you can feel good about burning a few extra calories.