embrace your fitness

I have a love/hate relationship with working out.

I love how I feel while exercising and afterwards.

I hate waking up early to run when I could be sleeping in on a weekend.

I love letting all of my stress out on my weights.

I hate stressing over when I'm going to work out.

I love working out with friends, pushing myself and them as well.

I hate finding the motivation to push myself alone in the gym.  

Although our relationship seems a bit turbulent, it truly is one of the joys in my life.  I like to take pride in my health and fitness, and so I wanted to share some of my favorite workout moves with you.  I decided to ease into this with just two.  I don't actually workout at a nice big gym anymore.  Instead, I workout in the comfort of my own home and the small gym in my condo complex.  Because of this, a lot of the moves use simple pieces of equipment that you most likely already have.

Disclaimer: I'm not a sport physician, an athlete, or trainer.  I'm just a seasoned gym attendee, bootcamp experiencer, yoga DVD lover, and Jillian Michael's crushee.  

This is great for your abs and arms!     

1. Start in plank pose.  Make sure that your shoulders are right over your wrists.  This is different than push-up position.2. You are going to jump both feet towards your hands, then jump back into plank pose. Tips: Try to get in as many reps as possible in 30 seconds.  Do not stop back at step 1, instead hop right back into step 2.  Contract your abs the entire time to ensure that your back stays straight.   

This one is great for your abs, thighs, and arms!

1. Start with a fitness ball between the small of your back and a well, feet hip-width distance apart.  Hold 8-10 lb. dumb bells shoulder level.

2. Squat down while pressing your weights up.  Return to start.

This is a power movement because so many body parts are working together at the same time, allowing you to burn max calories.  

Tips: Pull your stomach in towards the ball, as if your belly button is touching the ball.  As your squat down, use your firm stomach as strength to push your weights up.  If need be, decrease the weight of your dumb bells.  Try doing 3 sets of 15 reps.  For an additional challenge, hold your squat for 15-30 seconds with weights resting on your legs.  

There you go!  I hope these are useful to you at home and that you embrace your fitness!