Quick Body Refresh

Try doing this workout right before you shower.

GOOD LUCK! 

Four Ways to Become Active WITHOUT the Gym

Who says becoming fit means lifting weights and running a few miles each day?

Who says turning into the best version is not fun?

Who says you have to do it all on your own?

The truth is... 

You don’t have to always be running the track or be at the gym. It can be fun and YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO IT ALONE.

One of the most effective ways that got me into shape was playing team sports. I was on dance, soccer, and rugby teams. Most of the time, those sports were organized through the city recreation systems or on school teams.

Today, I am not on any league teams, but I still play sports now and then. I actually enjoy going to the gym, but that doesn’t tickle everyone’s fancy.

For those individuals who don’t particular enjoy lifting as their sole physical activity, I present you with FUN WAYS TO GET ACTIVE!

Grab a ball!

Just because you are not playing in a league, does not mean you can’t play certain sports. Rally up the gang and plan out an activity each week! Everyone is busy, I get that. So pick one day/night a week to play a sport.

Who cares if you’re “not that good.” You’re going to be active and have FUN. Not only is this beneficial for you, but it is a way to keep in contact with good friends you just have not had the time to hang out.

Go pole dancing!

This one is almost TOO good to pass up. This past summer I got to join my sister and her group of friends in pole dancing lessons. It is easily the most fun, hard, and rewarding workouts I have ever done! To read more about my experience there, click here.

Get in the water!

One of my new favourite things to do for cardio is swimming. Although I am very new (and not very good) to this workout, I found so much more happiness through it! I love being in the water. I am pretty sure I was meant to be a mermaid. Anyway, there are so many water workouts you can do. Prevention has an effective high-intensity workout here.

Yoga!

This one is for those are not very competitive like I am. Becoming fit does not just mean the body, but it includes the mind. Yoga can be done ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, and with ANYONE. Shape has 8 reasons why you should be doing yoga TODAY.

There you have it, guys! Four ways to be active, while including your friends and fun (and excluding the gym).

Let me know in the comments below which activities helped you enhance your health and your happiness!

The Sexiest, Most Fun Workout EVER

ATTENTION: Pole dancing does not mean you are becoming a STRIPPER. It means you are becoming SEXIER.

This past summer, I had the opportunity to participate in pole dancing lessons. It was easily the best, most fun workout I have EVER done. I came home sore and satisfied. It was even more fun because I was with my sister and her friends.

We went to the Brass Belles Studios for our introductory class. I actually bought a Groupon for the introductory class (click here) to save a few bucks. They offer a variety of classes, but I have only participated in the pole dancing.

At the beginning of my first introductory class, I felt really awkward and unexperienced. My sister and her friends had already gone to one class prior, so they were more comfortable than I was. I cannot express how grateful I was to be there with people I knew.

Each class starts with a warmup. The warm ups are really legit! You work your lower back, core, legs, and arms. You become familiar with the pole you are using and learn how to move your body well.

Then the lesson begins.

I think the instructor could tell I was nervous, so she comforted me by explaining that pole dancing just takes practice. The instructors there were really helpful and we had such a good time! By the end of the class, I was excited to the next one. I did not feel awkward anymore.

As you progress in each class, you become more confident and you feel sexier because you really do improve within each class. I really do not know what is it about spinning around a pole that makes you feel sexier, but it just happens, especially when you nail a specific move.

I genuinely enjoyed pole dancing a lot! It was a good way to bond with the girls and a fun way to become active. I definitely recommend it and look forward to participating a few more classes.

Leave your comment below to let me know what you think about pole dancing! Have you or are you willing to try it?

Find the Time

“Running late, sorry!”

“ I can’t go. I have too much to do.”

“I really do not have time.”

Why can’t we find the time?

Between school, jobs, and our social lives, finding time to workout is a major obstacle. Although we want to be healthier, more fit, and happier with our outward appearance, the priority to workout and eat well plummets quickly down our to-do list.

Common mentality claims we have to be in a gym to be working out. WRONG. Going to the gym can be time consuming, but working out can take ten minutes. That sounds more manageable than an hour at a fitness facility, plus commute time.

Throw on a sports bra, tie up your runners, and get moving. Working out does not mean hitting the gym. Click here to find a quick workout routine you can do at home, in a park, in between assignment, or virtually anywhere.

Personally, I do feel more motivated when I am at a gym, but when I am swamped with work and I really can’t afford the commute time, a workout at home suffices. A few high knees, planks, and mountain climbers feel a lot better than not working out at all. A short workout is better than no workout.

Still feeling like it is impossible to find time to exercise?

Here are four tricks that will help you be more productive and allow you to have more time to spare.

1.     Go to bed early!

Set an alarm half an hour before your set bedtime to remind you to start getting ready for that beauty sleep we all need. Once the alarm goes off, put everything away. It is you time.

2.     Pick out your clothes the night before!

Check the weather ahead of time, and pick out that “glam” outfit before bed. Instead of debating for ten minutes about what you want to wear the morning of, all you have to do is put on the snazzy outfit you decided on the night before and head for hair and makeup.

3.     Don’t hit the snooze button!

The trick to getting up earlier is to not hit snooze. Just get out of bed and stretch!

Throw on your gym clothes and go for a walk, run, or go lift. Oh, you like to workout in the evenings? Totally okay! Hit the showers or, grab your homework and get a head start. Make yourself a nice breakfast and pack a lunch. There is SO much you can get done in the morning, if you just get up when your alarm goes off.

4.     EAT!

Remember to eat and eat well! BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER. Let’s not forget snacks! Pack a lunch the night before and include some good veggies and fruits. Not eating consistently will make you feel sluggish and drained. Essentially, you won’t be productive. Fuel up with some carrot sticks, while you write your paper!

You’ll feel so much more accomplished, if you execute those four tricks. You’ll discover that there is a lot more time in the day than you once believed.

Set aside time, prioritize, and you’ll get them done. Remember, your health and fitness is just as important as anything else in your daily activity.

Let me know what you think the comments below!

You can do it!

Quick Full Body Workout

Make this quick workout worth it. Crank the tunes and PUSH YOURSELF. 

No more than 30 second breaks between each exercise.
Ready? GO!

20 crunches

15 Pushups

20 Arm Circles 

30 Calf Raises

30 Second Plank

15 Jumping Jacks

20 Squat

20 Second Wall Sit

WELL DONE! Round 2?

Health Benefits of Lemon Water

I used to have sporadic breakouts.  I told my naturopath about them, and he recommended that I drink hot water with lemon every morning, right after waking. He explained that the antioxidants in the lemon juice help decrease blemishes and flushes out toxins if taken early in the morning, thereby maintaining skin’s radiance.

That was about six years ago and to this day, every morning consists of a cup of hot lemon water. I really didn’t believe it would help my skin, until I made it a part of my morning routine.

Hot lemon water has a lot of other healthy benefits such as:

1. STRONGER LIVER

Strengthens liver by adding energy to liver enzymes

2. Freshens your breath

CAUTION: the citric acid from lemons can erode enamel, so hold off brushing right after you drink it, or brush before drinking it

3. Excellent source of potassium and vitamin C

Easy way to boost your immunity

4. Helps you lose weight

Lemons contain a fibre called “pectin” which helps reduce hunger cravings

5. Aids in digestion

Drinking lemon water after a really greasy meal, or Thanksgiving dinner helps loosen toxins in digestive tracks

There are so many more benefits. So, go ahead and make lemon water a part of your daily routine and experience better health in no time! You can click here to get my simple recipe for lemon water.

Let me know in the comments below about how lemon water has helped you.

Lemon Water Recipe

Lemon water has so many health benefits. Click here to explore further.

Necessary Ingredients 

1 Cup of boiling water

1/2 a lemon

Thin slice of a lemon

Instructions

1.  Boil water
2.  Pick your favourite mug while the water is boiling.
3.  Cut a lemon in half and squeeze juices into the mug
4. Poor boiling water into your favourite mug
5. Cut a thin slice of lemon and place into mug.
6. Occasionally, I’ll put a cube of ice in there to cool it down faster.

DRINK UP! It’s good for you!