What is HIIT???

HIIT is the acronym for “High-Intensity Interval Training” and it serves as a great workout option for someone who wants to burn a serious amount of calories in a small amount of time.  Basically, HIIT workouts consist of periods of max or sub-max effort exercise utilizing the larger muscle groups (legs, chest, back, etc.) combined with shorter rests or low activity phases.

The goal of HIIT is to fatigue the muscle group quickly without allowing enough time for the muscle to fully recover during the rest period.  This will cause the pexels-photo-209968muscle to lack oxygen and enter the anaerobic phase, essentially burning more calories.  These exercises can be done with or without external weights, depending on your level of fitness.

A good example of a HIIT exercise program is Tabata, which entails doing an exercise, such as Mountain Climbers, at your highest intensity for 20 seconds then resting for 10 seconds and repeating 8 times for one set.   One full set should equal exactly 4 minutes, which may sound easy…until you try it!  Depending on how much time you have will determine how many “sets” to do.  Only have 20 minutes to squeeze in a workout?  Then go for 1 set of 4 different exercises, leaving 4 minutes for a cool down/stretch at the end (you WILL need it!).

pexels-photo-175708Studies have shown that HIIT exercise is a great way to increase muscular strength as well as improve cardiovascular performance.  This type of training can be a fun way to spice up a mundane workout schedule and will continuously challenge your muscles in new ways.  So give it a try the next time you’re pressed for time but want to get it a quick, yet effective, calorie burner in…you’ll thank me!

Remember…go at your own pace, small progress IS progress just the same!  Love yourself.  Love your body and ALL that it does for you.  YOU are beautiful!

Secrets to a Smaller Waist

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A smaller waistline…the #1 item on most ladies’ fitness Wish List!  But how do you achieve a smaller waist???  100 Crunches a Day?  No Carb/No Fat Diet?  Hours and hours of running on the treadmill?  NOPE.

I have done all of the above (and then some) in attempts to achieve a thinner, leaner tummy and what I am about to share with you is what is REALLY going to give you that smaller waist you’ve been searching for.

 1.  Drink More Water! 

That’s right W-A-T-E-R…you know, that clear stuff that trickles out of your SPICKET (that’s Jersey-Girl term for “Faucet”).  Well, that stuff is drinkable and YOU should be drinking it!  And if your tap water isn’t clear, just mosey on over to your local market and pexels-photo-113734pick up a case of the bottled stuff;)    But seriously, our bodies require a lot of H2o in order to function at it’s best throughout the day.  Water helps recharge and cleanse your internal organs.  It also helps move built up toxins out of the body.  Ideally women should be drinking about 9-11 eight ounce cups of water a day.  That may sound like a lot, but if you can get yourself into the habit of drinking one cup every hour during the day, I promise you will feel AND see a difference in just a few days!

2.  Work that BACK!

You can do 1,000 crunches a day-7 days a 7636a617bda748c2b031ebf6713d2aa0week and still not be able to achieve that sought after Hour-Glass physique.   In order to achieve a proportional waist-to-upper body “V” shape, you need to work your upper and mid back muscles.  A lot of beginners don’t spend much time or focus on the back muscles because…Well, let’s be REAL ladies…you don’t hear too many people shouting Yo honey…Nice Lats! or Check out the Rhomboids on that Chick!.   However, incorporating the major muscle groups off your back into your workout routine will not only support better posture and lessen back pain, but it also creates the illusion of a smaller waistline.

3.  Build A BOOTY!

Just as building muscle in your back region creates the illusion of a smaller waist, the same can be said for your lower half, aka the BOOTY!  The more prominent your dairy-air is, the smaller your mid section will seem.  As a naturally bottom-heavy female, I can not tell you how happy I am that BIG butts are now the “in thing”!  For years top fashion industry models boasted unrealistic stick figure-like physiques that would have women over-training and starving themselves to replicate.  FINALLY we have come to our senses and realized curves are beautiful, curves are SEXY!!!  And what better curve is there than the one on our backside???  So, definitely be mindful of adding some good ol’ Glute exercises into your next workout.

4.  Be Good to Your GUT!

Gut health can have a serious impact on bloating.   Poor gut health can turn a tight-tummy into a beer-belly any long-haul trucker would be proud of!  *Kidding*  But seriously, maintaining a healthy digestive system can make a huge difference in the appearance of your physic, especially your mid-section.  WNBF Bikini Pro and registered dietician, Kara Corey, created the below video going in detail how important good gut health is and some tips on how to achieve it.

Obviously I am not saying to toss sit-ups and crunches out the window entirely or giving the green light to go ahead and eat a crappy diet…so long as you do these 4 tips.  What I AM saying is that if you feel like you’ve hit a plateau in your  physique transformation or just aren’t seeing the results that you want to see, trying these 4 tips might just do the trick!  Just remember to be the best YOU!  Don’t get caught up in comparing yourself to anyone other than the person you were yesterday.  LOVE your body and all that it does for you.  YOU are beautiful!!!

 

 

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Athlete Spotlight

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We are looking for inspiring athletes to spotlight each week.  Tell us your story:

  • What made you decide to start your fitness journey?
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  • Who inspires you?

Each week we will showcase a new athlete and their fitness story.

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Being Accountable

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What does accountability mean to you?  Does it mean tracking macros or the number of steps you have taken in a day?  Or does it mean establishing a goal and doing all steps necessary to reach that goal?  Whatever accountability means to you, the key to being accountable is HONESTY!

Whether you’re reporting your progress to a personal trainer or just keeping records for your own personal knowledge, being 100% honest is the only way to decipher if the steps you are taking are effective or not.  We’ve all had “cheat days” where we indulge in foods or drinks that aren’t part of our scheduled diet or skipped a workout for whatever reason.  This is completely OK!  Again, we’ve all done it… I mean, donuts are freakin delicious, right?!?

But what happens when we choose to simply “pretend” our slip-ups never happened?  Who are we really cheating if we are not honest and accountable for our actions?  Ourselves, that’s who!  Having a perfect meal log looks petty on paper, but unless it is accurate, that is all it is, a pretty piece of paper.  How do we know what works and what doesn’t without the facts?

Here are a few ways to help stay accountable:

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Technology has made being accountable for your fitness progress easier than ever.  Most smartphones come with fitness apps pre-installed or  you can download one of the many available for purchase or, better yet, FREE!  Most of these apps offer a list of registered food items with the macronutrients already calculated per portion size.  There’s also a wide variety of wearable technology that can make tracking your daily activity, such as walking, easy as well.s

While these technologies are a great aid for getting an estimation of your progress, they may not be 100% accurate.  Human error plays a big role in some of the inaccuracies, and sometimes it is unintentional errors.  Forgetting to log a meal or not charging your wearable tracker are a few unintentional human errors that can lead to inaccurate progress logs.

Another method for tracking progress can be extremely accurate, however, it also requires a good deal of knowledge, commitment and accountability…that’s right:  the old-school notebook and pen.  By keeping a physical log of activities and meals, you get a visual snapshot of current and past progress.  In the beginning, measuring food portions, looking up macros and handwriting workout logs may seem time-consuming, but after a while you will be amazed at how familiar you’ll become with certain foods and exercise caloric expenditures.  Also, your notebook can be a good place to jot down quick notes or comments to yourself to review later.woman-hand-desk-office-large

Which ever method of progress tracking you choose, keep in mind that the key to any successful fitness program is within YOU and the choices you make.  Being accountable for your choices and honest with yourself will make reaching your goals possible.