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The last post in my series about eating healthy and finding deals on health food addresses a question many of us have had at one time or another: What does it mean to "go organic," and, "why buy organic?" Once again, Victoria has an awesome and informative post that addresses these questions, then finishes with mouth-watering recipe chock full of organic food.  Thank you for sharing your passion with us Victoria! Making the choice to purchase and consume organic food is a personal one. However, it is a choice that you should feel very good about making. By purchasing organic foods, you are ch......
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In part 3 of our series, Healthy Eating on the Cheap, financial blogger Victoria, happens to also be a health food nut who is passionate about organic eating. She has some great tips for buying organic foods if you are buying on a budget.  Thank you for blogging for me today Victoria! Buying Organics on a Budget Perhaps you have decided that purchasing organic foods is going to be a priority for your family. Although your budget may not have much wiggle room, there are ways to make this lifestyle work. Fortunately with more and more interest in organically grown food, there are many options a......
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We stump, stoop, slouch…so much so that the quality of our everyday lives can be directly affected from these posture problems.  I thought of this while sitting at the computer working, and had to stretch to relieve that nagging tightness between my shoulder blades. At the same time, I noticed a whole slew of other bad habits I was committing, and quickly set about practicing what I preach. Why good posture is important: Practicing good posture can improve your breathing, decrease your risk of injury, help you move more easily through the tasks of daily living, and also improve your sports ......
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Not long ago, if your neighbor had told you she was training for a triathlon, you might have looked at her crossed-eyed and with one eyebrow raised. Once thought of as an endurance sport for athletes who had both an unnatural pain threshold, and oodles of time on their hands, triathlon has in recent years become a sport for anyone who likes variety, has a few hours each week to dedicate toward training, and enjoys challenges small and large. No longer a sport just for the guys, the proliferation of female participants in triathlon events proves its growing popularity: in the late 1990s, women ......
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Did you give yoga a shot once upon a time, only to walk out mid-class, scratching your head and wondering, what was I thinking? It is possible the style you tried didn't match your personality, athletic ability, or just moved at a pace geared more toward advanced yogis than beginners. It isn't uncommon to feel lost during your first several classes, but there is a way to ensure you don't feel too out of place: pick the right style of yoga first. Before you write off yoga for good, try a class that is a better match for your personal style. I've compiled a short list of the most common yoga sty......
Dec

26

Did you overindulge on figgy pudding, sweet potato pie, and stuffing? I did, and then some. So up at 6:30am I was – to work it all off. Ugh. If you are finding yourself in the same boat, but also short on time (as I was), try this circuit training “emergency workout.”

1. Warm up at 50% of your max heart rate for 5 mins.

2. Cycle, run, jog, do jumping jacks, or jump rope for 3-5 minutes at 85% of your max heart rate (you will be winded).

3. Using elastic tubing or hand weights, do one set, 8-10 reps each, of squats, bicep curls, lunges, overhead presses, bent over rows, tricep extensions, push-ups, and bicycle crunches. Be sure to use resistance that adequately fatigues the muscle being exercised in the requisite number of repetitions.

4. Do another 3-5 minutes of high-intensity cardio (remember, this should be challenging!), followed by another set of the exercises in #3.

5. Repeat this cycle at least 3 times, preferably 4.

6. Be sure to include a 5 min (or longer) cool down when you’re done.

7. Stretch well!

* Note: Blue Sky Gym and the author disclaim any liability for any injury, physical or emotional, suffered during or as a result of exercise or activities recommended. As always, you should use common sense and consult your health professional before beginning any exercise routine or program.



Aug

05



What is the number one goal most individuals have when they initiate a new fitness program? You probably didn’t have to flex your brain muscle much on this one — most people want to lose weight. Or put another way, they wish to burn fat! And lots of it.

To burn fat, a few things need to happen:

1) Get in the “200 club!”
The “200 club” is what you get to “join” when you accumulate 200 or more minutes of cardiovascular activity per week. This seems like a lot, but if you break it down by day, that is roughly 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity per day. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be one long bout of sustained effort – 2 to 3, 10 min bouts of cardio will do!

2) Cross-train! If you typically only run, then add cycling. If you are an elliptical machine junkie, try cycling 1-2 times per week. Ideally, you will want to cross-train between 2 or more modalities within the week, but adding variety every couple of weeks is great too. Do what you can, when you can, and mix it up as often as you can.

3) Strength train! Studies show that EPOC (post-exercise oxygen consumption) remains elevated, burning fat for hours after a solid strength training routine (8-10 total body exercises, 8-12 reps per exercise to fatigue, 2-3 sets per exercise).

4). Circuit train! Circuit training is a great way to turn up the heat, add some variety to a stale routine, and I find it makes the time pass more quickly on those days when I’m just not in the mood for 40 mins of cardio or 40 mins of strength training. With circuit training, you can alternate between strength sets and short, but intense, bouts of cardio.

Here is a fun circuit routine to try:

1. Strength sets of Chest Press and Leg Press
2. 3 minutes of cardio at 75-80% of max heart rate
3. Strength sets of Rows and Dumbbell flyes
4. 3 minutes of cardio at 75-80% of max heart rate
5. Strength sets of Calf Raises and Reverse Lunges
6. 3 minutes of cardio at 75-80% of max heart rate
7. Strength sets of Overhead Shoulder Press and Lat Pulldowns
8. 3 minutes of cardio at 75-80% of max heart rate
9. Strength sets of Bicep Curls and Tricep Press-ups

Do 8-12 reps of each strength exercise to fatigue (i.e., the last rep is hard), 2 sets of each with minimal rest between.

As always, combining healthy eating with any exercise routine will produce results more quickly than exercise alone, so eat smart AND work out smart.

Cheers!

* Note: Blue Sky Gym and the author disclaim any liability for any injury, physical or emotional, suffered during or as a result of exercise or activities recommended. As always, you should use common sense and consult your health professional before beginning any exercise routine or program.

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