When it comes to goal setting, most of us think about the New Year. That’s the time when resolutions are made. But summer is a perfect opportunity to do the same. If there is ever a season to really be committed to a fit lifestyle, summer is it. It’s the perfect time of year to start eating healthier and incorporate more physical activity into your day. So with that, here are 5 fitness goals you should have for the summer. The first goal is to eat more fruit. Not only is this the season for some of the freshest fruits … Continue reading →

I don’t know what the weather is like in your neck of the woods. But here in Wisconsin we are experiencing unusually warm weather. In fact, I was just watching a newscast this morning and the weatherman said that normally we might experience a day or two in any given week with temps in the 90’s. But the temperatures have been in the 90’s, with high humidity consistently for days now, with no relief in sight. Now for those who are used to this or live in areas of the country where it hits triple digits, I’m probably not getting … Continue reading →

Skinny person discrimination? Didn’t know there could be such a thing until I read a story about a gym in Canada that has actually banned skinny people from entering. In fact, you must be plus-sized in order to workout, the rules set forth by the gym’s owner at “Body Exchange” in Vancouver. Hmmm…I sense the possibility of a trend starting here. Now I have to admit, there may be something to this. I know that for some people, going to a fitness center can be really intimidating. Especially when you walk in and everyone in sight looks fit and toned. … Continue reading →

I talk a lot about motivation when it comes to fitness. That’s because it is key to starting up and maintaining a fit lifestyle. Motivation has two general definitions. The first is “the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way.” So this means that an individual’s reasons for wanting to be fit are unique to that person. For some people it is to get healthier. This can be a huge motivation for those who are diagnosed with certain types of health conditions such as heart disease or diabetes. For other people their reason is … Continue reading →

It is important to challenge yourself when you make the decision to try and lose weight or tone up your body. While I also believe in making small changes and setting realistic goals, it can’t be so relaxed that you don’t feel challenged. This can be tricky to figure out. You want to create a plan that is doable yet not so easy that it doesn’t push you. Here are some ways I have learned to make this happen. First, set a target. In addition to goals (such as exercising three times a week or cutting out soda), have a … Continue reading →

You are probably familiar with the phrase “take it one day at a time.” There are many times in my life when I follow this mantra. However, it doesn’t necessarily work for fitness so I have adopted “take it one week at a time.” When I first decided a couple of years ago to really get serious about fitness, I knew from the start that I was going to battle with it. I get bored easily and I lose motivation. So I had to figure out a way to combat both. The problem for some is that they believe in … Continue reading →

I didn’t know there was such a thing but apparently there are fitness enthusiasts who can actually exercise too much. In fact, there are people out there who almost break down when they miss a day of exercise. While that sounds like a better struggle than what I sometimes have, it is a real concern for some. In fact, people can have an unhealthy obsession with working out. They can also deplete the energy that exercise is supposed to increase because they are doing too much. And pushing yourself too far in your workout routine can also lead to injuries. … Continue reading →

Bad habits can be hard to break. But if they are standing in the way of you achieving the fit lifestyle you desire to have, it will be worth the hard work of breaking them. While everyone experiences their own challenges, there are some bad habits that are fairly common. See if you recognize yourself in any of these. The first bad habit is setting unrealistic goals. When you raise the bar too high, it can cause you to quickly lose motivation. You can’t run a marathon when you haven’t been off the couch in ages. Set small, achievable goals. … Continue reading →

In my last blog I talked about knowing your triggers…the things that cause you to slip from making healthy food choices or staying consistent with exercise. I mentioned that sadness is my trigger for eating the wrong things and stress for failing to exercise. Hopefully you have taken the time to really consider what it is that triggers your lack of consistency. It can be the biggest detriment to living a healthy, fit lifestyle. Recognizing those triggers is just the first step. You now have to do something with that knowledge. You should come up with some helpful ways to … Continue reading →

Consistency is key to a fit lifestyle. Yet it can be very difficult to implement and stick with. I think one of the ways we can win the war on this is by recognizing the triggers in our life. What are the things that prevent us from remaining consistent? I was recently thinking about this as it can be a huge problem for me. I can be doing well for a time with my eating and then suddenly I am back to making unhealthy choices. I am in my groove with exercising at least five days a week and then … Continue reading →