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Pangea Organics ~ Up to 40% Off
July 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Lose that Lower Gut Flab
June 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
From LOSING IT! With Jillian Michaels
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Lose That Lower Gut Flab
Ugh, the lower gut — it’s often the last thing to go, right? Lower-abdominal flab can be downright persistent, but it can be reduced with the right diet and exercise regimen. If your gut instincts are telling you to start crunching, you’re on the right track. Although crunches by themselves won’t burn belly fat, they will strengthen your core, burn intramuscular fat, and help you build lean, calorie-burning muscle. If you want an exercise that specifically targets the lower and transverse abs, try the Reverse Crunch.
Reverse Crunch
- Lie on your back with your feet off the floor, knees bent, and ankles together. Bring the tops of your quads inward and onto your stomach so that you don’t swing your legs to gain momentum during the movement. (This also helps you isolate your lower abs during the crunch instead of engaging the hip flexors.) Relax your head, neck, and shoulders, resting them on the floor. Rest your arms at your sides, palms facedown on the floor.
- Lift your pelvis off the floor, and curl it toward your rib cage. Make sure to exhale fully while you’re crunching in order to maximize the contraction.
If you really want a challenge, hold your arms out at your sides and several inches off the floor. This helps to further isolate your abs, prohibiting your arms from assisting in the crunch by pressing off the floor with your hands.
Lose that Lower Gut Flab
June 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
From LOSING IT! With Jillian Michaels
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Lose That Lower Gut Flab
Ugh, the lower gut — it’s often the last thing to go, right? Lower-abdominal flab can be downright persistent, but it can be reduced with the right diet and exercise regimen. If your gut instincts are telling you to start crunching, you’re on the right track. Although crunches by themselves won’t burn belly fat, they will strengthen your core, burn intramuscular fat, and help you build lean, calorie-burning muscle. If you want an exercise that specifically targets the lower and transverse abs, try the Reverse Crunch.
Reverse Crunch
- Lie on your back with your feet off the floor, knees bent, and ankles together. Bring the tops of your quads inward and onto your stomach so that you don’t swing your legs to gain momentum during the movement. (This also helps you isolate your lower abs during the crunch instead of engaging the hip flexors.) Relax your head, neck, and shoulders, resting them on the floor. Rest your arms at your sides, palms facedown on the floor.
- Lift your pelvis off the floor, and curl it toward your rib cage. Make sure to exhale fully while you’re crunching in order to maximize the contraction.
If you really want a challenge, hold your arms out at your sides and several inches off the floor. This helps to further isolate your abs, prohibiting your arms from assisting in the crunch by pressing off the floor with your hands.
Taking Your Workout to the Next Level
June 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment
From LOSING IT! With Jillian Michaels
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Taking Your Workout to the Next Level
Ever hear the expression “Nothing changes if nothing changes”? If you do the same resistance routine the same way week after week, the day will come when your body will have adapted to that particular workload. In terms of weight loss, that’s not a good thing. If your body isn’t challenged beyond its comfort zone, you won’t see continual results.
Mixing things up to prevent plateaus doesn’t take much. That’s why every two weeks, my program will challenge you in new ways. Varying the number of reps and sets will constantly surprise the body, which is one way to make sure your workout continues to push you forward.
Apart from changing the number of sets and reps per exercise, you can also change the way you perform a rep. During a weight-lifting exercise, your muscles contract in three distinctly different ways:
- When you lift the weight, your muscles contract positively, or concentrically.
- At the midpoint of the exercise, when you stop moving the weight but you’re still holding it, your muscles contract statically, or isometrically.
- When you lower the weight, your muscles contract negatively, or eccentrically.
You can adjust the way you do your reps by shifting the emphasis among the three forms of muscle contraction, which provide you with three ways to do almost anything in the weight room — and endless ways to switch around your routine to keep it fresh and motivating.
Taking Your Workout to the Next Level
June 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment
From LOSING IT! With Jillian Michaels
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Taking Your Workout to the Next Level
Ever hear the expression “Nothing changes if nothing changes”? If you do the same resistance routine the same way week after week, the day will come when your body will have adapted to that particular workload. In terms of weight loss, that’s not a good thing. If your body isn’t challenged beyond its comfort zone, you won’t see continual results.
Mixing things up to prevent plateaus doesn’t take much. That’s why every two weeks, my program will challenge you in new ways. Varying the number of reps and sets will constantly surprise the body, which is one way to make sure your workout continues to push you forward.
Apart from changing the number of sets and reps per exercise, you can also change the way you perform a rep. During a weight-lifting exercise, your muscles contract in three distinctly different ways:
- When you lift the weight, your muscles contract positively, or concentrically.
- At the midpoint of the exercise, when you stop moving the weight but you’re still holding it, your muscles contract statically, or isometrically.
- When you lower the weight, your muscles contract negatively, or eccentrically.
You can adjust the way you do your reps by shifting the emphasis among the three forms of muscle contraction, which provide you with three ways to do almost anything in the weight room — and endless ways to switch around your routine to keep it fresh and motivating.
Operation Smile ~ A Smile Is Worth a Thousand Words
June 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Have you ever heard of Operation Smile? If not, don’t feel bad. There are so many charities and organizations today that some seem to get lost in the shuffle. But, this is one that will never get lost in the shuffle for me because it is very close to heart. In fact, as I blog this I am fighting back the tears and choking on the lump in my throat. Why? Well because the love of my life (my son) was born with a cleft lip and palette. April 30th, 1992 I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and found within minutes he had to be rushed to intensive care because he wasn’t breathing right, had fluid in his lungs, and had a cleft lip and palette. Well me being 20, not knowing what they meant by cleft lip and palette and the fact I didn’t get to hold him for only a few minutes before they took him I was scared to death. I didn’t know what I / or he was in for.
Well it has not been an easy 19 years between Doctors, Dentists, Surgeons, and all the running but we are all done. Whew…
But, did you know there are hundreds of children born with clefts that have to live their whole life like that? That is where Operation Smile comes into play. Just take a minute to look at their site and see what your donation can do to help ~ Operation Smile
I am proud and excited to also let you know that Campus Book Rentals is partnered with Operation Smile. So you can help out either by donating straight to Operation Smile or by helping out your college kids by renting text books.
Help these children live happy, healthy lives. A smile is worth a thousand words… Let them give you a big smile 
Operation Smile ~ A Smile Is Worth a Thousand Words
June 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Have you ever heard of Operation Smile? If not, don’t feel bad. There are so many charities and organizations today that some seem to get lost in the shuffle. But, this is one that will never get lost in the shuffle for me because it is very close to heart. In fact, as I blog this I am fighting back the tears and choking on the lump in my throat. Why? Well because the love of my life (my son) was born with a cleft lip and palette. April 30th, 1992 I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and found within minutes he had to be rushed to intensive care because he wasn’t breathing right, had fluid in his lungs, and had a cleft lip and palette. Well me being 20, not knowing what they meant by cleft lip and palette and the fact I didn’t get to hold him for only a few minutes before they took him I was scared to death. I didn’t know what I / or he was in for.
Well it has not been an easy 19 years between Doctors, Dentists, Surgeons, and all the running but we are all done. Whew…
But, did you know there are hundreds of children born with clefts that have to live their whole life like that? That is where Operation Smile comes into play. Just take a minute to look at their site and see what your donation can do to help ~ Operation Smile
I am proud and excited to also let you know that Campus Book Rentals is partnered with Operation Smile. So you can help out either by donating straight to Operation Smile or by helping out your college kids by renting text books.
Help these children live happy, healthy lives. A smile is worth a thousand words… Let them give you a big smile
Herbs, Spice & Everything Nice!
June 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Basil
Parsley
Mint
Cilantro
Cinnamon
Garlic
Chili Pepper
GingerTaken from Hungry Girl
Three Easy, Anywhere Moves
June 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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Swimsuit season is just around the corner! If the thought of baring all has you running for cover (literally), tone up fast with these simple, no-equipment-necessary moves! Upper body – Straight-Leg Squat Thrust Step 1: Start in Plank position, with your feet hip-width apart. Step 2: Keeping your legs as straight as possible, jump both feet forward simultaneously so you are in a crouch position. Focus on using your lower abs to draw your tailbone up toward the ceiling as you are jumping. You should end in a position where you are bent at the waist, with legs straight, touching your toes. Abs – Plank Twists Legs & Buns – Jumping Squats Step 1: Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Lower yourself down until your quads are parallel to the ground, abs tight, and shoulders are over the hips, just like a regular squat. Step 2: From the midpoint position, exhale and explode upward, jumping as high as you can. Land back down in a firm stance, reset quickly, and repeat. Need more inspiration to spur your summer fitness routine? How about a transformative, four-night retreat in luxurious, tranquil surroundings, being pampered with massages and gourmet spa cuisine… Followed by six months of unlimited access to diet and fitness plans, daily advice and wellness tips just for you! Enter the Get Fit for Summer Giveaway, presented by SpaWeek.com and JillianMichaels.com, for a chance to win a trip for two to the world-renowned Golden Door Spa in Escondido, CA, plus an at-home stay-fit package! |
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Easy Side Dishes
June 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
From LOSING IT! With Jillian Michaels
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Two Easy Side Dishes for Busy Nights
This week you get a twofer — a pair of incredibly easy and tasty vegetable side dishes. Pair one of these with some organic rotisserie chicken from the deli counter or a nice piece of grilled fish and you’ve got a sensationally healthy meal.
Roasted Broccoli With Lemon
Ingredients
- 4 cups organic broccoli florets
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1 dash freshly ground black pepper
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges
Preparation
Preheat oven to 450°F. Toss broccoli with oil, salt, and pepper. Place on a large baking sheet (not air-insulated) and roast until the broccoli is tender and blackened on the bottom, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve immediately, with lemon wedges.
Nutrition Facts
Number of Servings: 4
Amount Per Serving Calories: 54
Total Fat: 4 g
Saturated Fat: 1 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 165 mg
Total Carbohydrate: 4 g
Dietary Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 2 g
Orange-Infused Roasted Green Beans and Red Peppers
Ingredients
- 1 pound organic green beans, trimmed
- 1 organic red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4–1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Preparation
Preheat oven to 450°F. Toss green beans, bell pepper, and oil in a large bowl. Add orange zest, salt, and crushed red pepper to taste; toss to combine. Spread on a large baking sheet. Roast the vegetables, turning once halfway through cooking, until tender and slightly wilted, about 15 minutes.
Nutrition Facts
Number of Servings: 4
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 78
Total Fat: 4 g
Saturated Fat: 1 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 298 mg
Total Carbohydrate: 11 g
Dietary Fiber: 5 g
Protein: 2 g
Recipes reprinted with the permission of EatingWell.com.
