by Lizzy Wingate | Jun 5, 2018 | Fitness, Fitness Resources, Resources, Workouts
Non-Traditional Workouts That Will Get You Excited About Fitness
Have you ever dreaded going to the gym because you can’t stand the thought of running on the treadmill? Or have you ever skipped your workout because you didn’t want to do the same boring things again and again? If you answered “yes,” then don’t worry. You’re not alone. It’s a common problem that people of every fitness level struggle with.
Boredom and monotony are two of the biggest culprits of fitness motivation burnout. If you’re dreading a boring workout, you’re more likely to come up with excuses to stay home. But on the other hand, when you are excited and pumped to go do a workout, you’re less likely to skip it.
How do you break out of the humdrum in your workout routine?
As a fitness enthusiast and personal trainer, I come across this problem regularly. The minute I feel myself, or my clients, start to lack motivation or excitement to exercise or workout, it’s time to brainstorm ways to mix things up. That means it is time for some nontraditional workouts!
Changing your workout routine can feel close to impossible. You’ve gotten into a routine; you have the fitness equipment that you need for what you’ve been doing; And there is a learning curve whenever you are starting something new. I’ve found various workouts that will motivate you and excite you, while also keeping your anxiety down. These are tried and true workouts that will help you reach your fitness goals while staying motivated!
Break Out of Boredom with These NonTraditional Workouts
1. Playground Workout
Is there anything more fun than a playground? Playgrounds and parks are meant for enjoyment. Shouldn’t exercising be enjoyable, too? If your local playground has the following equipment, then you’re ready to go have some fitness fun!
- Bench
- Push-Ups: You can either do pushups with your hands placed on the edge of the bench and your feet on the ground or you can do them the opposite way (hands on the ground and feet on the bench)!
- Tricep Dips: Place your palms on the bench and lower your body to the ground. Then raise yourself back up.
- Swing
- Swing Knee Tucks: You will be in the plank position with both feet positioned in the swing seat. Bend your knees and tuck them to your chest, bringing the swing with you.
- Swing Split Squat: With your back to the swing, place one foot in the sing seat. Lower your body like you are doing a squat.
- Monkey Bars / Bar
- Pullups: Hold on to the bar with both hands and try to pull yourself up!
- Hanging Leg Raises: With both hands on the bar, hang straight and bring your knees to your chest. To make it harder, keep your legs straight and lift your legs to a 90 degree angle.
- Fireman Pole
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- Climbing: Try to climb to the top!
2. Jump Rope Workout
Jump roping is one of those nontraditional workouts that is a great way to get a high intensity cardio workout in a short period of time. HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) is a very effective training method in the fitness industry. HIIT is a type of interval training where you alternate very high intensity with low intensity. Jump rope for a period of time (high intensity), then take a break (low intensity). There are several variations you can do in your jump rope workout.
3. Kickboxing Workout
Kickboxing workouts make you feel like a fitness warrior. Kickboxing exercises engage almost every muscle in your body; so, you can get a full body workout (including cardio)! Workouts can be done at a gym or at home. It is slightly more enjoyable when you have a punching bag; there’s something about getting to hit something like you’re mad at it!
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- Quick Jabs: These are quick, swift front punches.
- Hooks: Imagine you are turning the steering wheel of a car with your preferred hand. Throw the punch in a horizontal arch!
- Cross Punches: Punch across your body, engaging the obliques.
- Uppercuts: With your elbow staying tight to your body, punch in an upward direction (from your side towards your head).
- Front Kicks: Kick to the front and can be at any height.
- Side Kicks: kick to the side; this will engage the side of your glutes and thighs!
*You can add more difficulty to these moves by adding elements, like a sit up or a squat, to the beginning to them.
4. Workout Classes
There are so many workout classes at different types of gyms that you are bound to find something that peaks your interest. Fitness classes are an excellent way to break your workout cycle. If you want to find what workout classes are near you, you can search workout class along with your zip code on your search engine. You can also see what classes are offered at your local gyms!
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- Cycling
- Step Class
- Boot Camp
- Zumba
- Pilates
- Yoga
When you’re trying a new or nontraditional workout or a new exercise, make sure you do so safely! You don’t want to injure yourself. If you are unsure of any move, ask or do some more research. Your safety is the top priority, but also have some fun.
Related Posts: 8 Quick and Easy Weight Loss Hacks To Accelerate Your Results and 35 Fun Plank Variations For An Outstanding Ab Workout
by Lizzy Wingate | May 1, 2018 | Fitness, Fitness Resources, Self-Care
5 Reasons Your Body May Benefit from a Fitness Break
“Taking a break” has gotten such a bad rep over the years. Remember the hit TV show Friends, when iconic love duo, Ross and Rachel, were on a break? Bad things happened. Or maybe you were in middle school P.E. and all the athletic and fit students were able to run faster and you felt ashamed when you had to take a break to catch your breath. There have been so many circumstances where the notion of “taking a break” has been negative. Really, really negative. But that doesn’t have to be the case!
What if taking a break was a good thing?
I’ve recently taken a short hiatus from my typical workout and fitness schedule (I say hiatus here because it was longer than a break due to repeated injuries). And I can tell you from personal experience, as well as hours and hours of research, that taking a break from fitness has benefits.
Related Articles: How to Reach Your Fitness Goals and How to Get Your Dream Body by Lifting Weights
The 5 Biggest Benefits Of Taking A Break From Working Out Are:
1. Mindset Change.
Taking a break from the routine can give you perspective and new ideas! Take the time to come up with some new exercises to try or classes to take. And maybe take the opportunity to do some active recovery — like walking, yoga, etc.
2. Break through the plateau.
Sometimes we can get so obsessed with our workouts, our records, our weight, our caloric intake, our macros, etc. that it becomes unhealthy and leads to burnout. Doing the same thing day after day can get boring and stale. Throwing a break into the schedule may be the change in routine that you’ve been needing!
3. Prevent (or recover from) injuries.
This may be the most sensible benefit. Exercise takes a toll on the body. Even the most careful of exercisers can get injuries! Sore or strained muscles, bruises, sprains, fractures, breaks, tears, etc. all require rest. Or maybe if you’re stuck in a routine, you may not be as careful as you usually are. Or maybe you’ve been pushing yourself, you may be close to an injury. Relax, rest, repeat.
4. Get stronger and healthier.
Muscles need time to recuperate and repair in order to get stronger. Let your body catch up! Maybe you can catch up on some sleep too…
5. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Have you ever heard that saying before? Well, it can be true! And if the absence of something doesn’t make you miss it, then that’s a sign that you may need a change. For instance, if you’ve been running exclusively… and you don’t miss it while you take a break, then maybe it’s time to try out a new form of exercise (i.e. cycling, swimming, weight lifting, yoga, etc.).
3 Important Setbacks that Can Occur When Taking A Break from Fitness
Just as breaks can have benefits, they can also create setbacks. It is tricky to manage the fine line between “taking a break” and “falling out of a habit.” Working out is a difficult habit to build and to remain consistent with… therefore, it is SO important to be careful when taking a break!
The 3 biggest setbacks from taking a break from fitness that I have seen are:
Related Articles: 30 Motivation Fitness Quotes and Tips to Stay Motivated to Work Out
1. Short breaks turn into long breaks.
Remember the commercial for an arthritis medication that said “a body a rest stays at rest…and a body in motion stays in motion” or something along those lines? Well, it’s true. If we aren’t careful, our short break can turn into something more.
2. It’s used as an excuse to not do anything at all or to eat whatever you want.
Just because you’re taking a break, doesn’t mean that active recovery shouldn’t be considered. I’ll be honest, I’ve done my fair share of “lounging around and not doing anything because it’s my rest time.” Not to mention… the “eat whatever I want because it’s my cheat day” mentality. HARMFUL! Please, by all means, reward yourself for your hard work… and eat what your heart desires. But everything in moderation, right?
3. You expect everything to change as a result of the break.
Yes, rest can improve many things. But it isn’t the “one size fits all” for many things in the fitness world. If you have an injury, rest may be part of the answer – but other steps are taken too! Rest won’t make you lift 50 pounds heavier at your next workout. And it won’t shave 2 minutes off of your mile time. But rest IS part of the answer. Just not the whole answer.
by Lizzy Wingate | Dec 5, 2017 | Fitness, Personal Resources, Running
Running Tips to Help You Increase Your Mileage
Running is one of the most popular ways to exercise. But it’s not an easy task. Starting to run and/or working your way up to a certain distance takes time and strategic planning. If you jump the gun and increase your daily or weekly mileage too fast, you may end up injuring yourself… and then hindering your progress for a lengthy period of time (trust me, I’ve been there!). While I don’t call myself a running expert, I have taken myself from couch potato to half marathoner twice, and taken myself from social walker to 5k and 10k diva more times than I can count! I’ve done a lot of trial and error, and I want to share my tips and experiences in hopes to help even one person reach their running goals!
1. Pick a race.
There’s something to be said about the old saying, “Keep your eyes on the prize” When you pick a race, you’ll have that date in your mind, you’ll be visualizing “the prize.” What better way to motivate yourself to push past your comfort zone than having an event.
2. Create a calendar or a plan.
Fail to plan = plan to fail. If you have a calendar, you can split that big goal into attainable weekly goals. When I was trying to increase my mileage and work my way up to a higher mile race, I’d increase my “long run” day by one mile every 1-2 weeks. For example, I’d look at my calendar to see how many weeks I had until race day. If I was working my way up to a 10k (6.2 miles), I’d do 6 miles for my long run the 2 weeks prior, 5 miles for my long run the week before that, 4 miles the week before that, etc, while doing shorter runs on my other running days.
3. Don’t wear old, worn out shoes.
This one is more important than you might realize… When I first started running, I was putting 15-20 miles a week on shoes that I’d had for maybe 2-3 years. I didn’t think much of it at the time, until the pain in my feet, ankles, calves, and knees made me put running on hold. Running shoes are made to support your stride (and different running shoes support different types of strides). The more you run in your shoes, the less effective they get. It doesn’t happen overnight, but over a long period of time.
I’ve been wearing Mizuno’s for the last year for my running days. I’m rockin the
Mizuno Wave Rider 21‘s right now because they make my runs better… and here are my top 3 reasons why they’re my favorite running shoe:
1. I don’t get heel blisters if my socks slide down. There’s cushioning on the heel, which 1) helps my socks stay in place and 2) keep my heels from getting irritated.
2. They’re really breathable. Which is extra wonderful when you live in Georgia and it’s hot most of the time!
3. My foot feels supported but the shoe isn’t heavy. A lot of shoes that brag about how much support they give the foot feel HEAVY and almost like your foot is weighed down. I hate that. These Wave Rider 21’s aren’t heavy but they still provide the right amount of support.
4. Foam Roll, Massage, Stretch.
Seems obvious, right? Then why is it so easily neglected? If you don’t have a foam roller, they’re miracle workers. I’m not an expert, but please don’t neglect your sore or tight muscles.
5. Celebrate every single victory.
Running is hard. SO HARD. But so rewarding. Had a bad day but you still got a short run in? GO YOU! Ran .25 miles more than you thought you could? HECK YES. Didn’t feel like you were going to throw up after a hard run? SLAY. I think you catch my drift. You are AMAZING because you are taking steps to better yourself. Celebrate YOU.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Mizuno. The opinions and text are all mine.
by Lizzy Wingate | Apr 3, 2017 | Ab Workouts, Fitness, Fitness Resources, Workouts
With summer quickly approaching, men and women are preparing themselves for the season of swimsuits. Many have packed on a few pounds during the winter months (don’t worry, we are predisposed to do so)… and want to lose that winter weight before taking off our swim cover-ups at the beach this summer.
Fitness blog, Cardio, Weights, and Protein Shakes, has several free ab workouts to choose from and look through. Some of these core workouts have downloads to go with them. For example, our “Quick Ab Workout” has a freebie that will give you illustrations and demonstrations of how to do each exercise correctly. And you can download it straight to your phone to reference while you are working out!
Best Ab Workouts for Women
“When you do not have hours to spend at the gym, try this fun, quick ab workout to tone your stomach in 30 minutes or less!”
“The latest Core/ Ab Workout to lose belly fat from Cardio, Weights, & Protein Shakes. No weights or gym equipment needed! Can be done anywhere.”
“Sculpt your six-pack with this free ab workout! These exercises are designed to target your upper and lower abs, as well as your obliques.”
Bonus Posts to Tone Your Abs
“The standard plank is a staple in ab workouts. Change up your core work with these 35 plank variations, designed to sculpt your abs.”
“If you want a toned stomach or a six pack, you need to be incorporating the absolute BEST ab exercises in your ab workout routine.”
You may also enjoy these other workouts found on Cardio, Weights, and Protein Shakes!
by Lizzy Wingate | Mar 3, 2017 | Fitness, Nutrition Resources, Reviews
Water. The most essential of all nutrients. We can’t live without it. So why is it so important? And past that, why is alkaline water, like Essence pH10, so beneficial for us?
How Water Impacts Health
1. The human body is approximately 2/3 water. Why? A number of reasons!
2. Our cells need it to function properly as it maintains the health of every cell
3. Our blood is comprised of nearly 90% water – which is extremely important carries nutrients and oxygen throughout our body
4. It aids digestion and the breakdown of the food that we eat
5. Water transports waste and toxins out of our bodies (i.e. pee)
6. Water helps us regulate our temperature (for example, sweating is our body’s natural cooling mechanism)
7. It protects our joints, spinal cord, and tissues
8. Water keeps us from being dehydrated (which is of the UTMOST IMPORTANCE!!)
These are just a few examples of why water is essential to our bodies. But it all comes down to this: we cannot survive without water. Our bodies will become dehydrated and dehydration can lead to death. Moral of the story: DRINK UP! However, we want to make sure that what we put in our bodies is clean, healthy, digestible, etc. Which is why we don’t drink straight out of a lake. So, we filter our water.
Furthermore, there are companies and organizations that have continued the process of creating healthy, clean water! I am fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to try Essence pH10 Water, which is a premium alkaline water that has extra, critical nutrients in it. These include: calcium, magnesium, and zinc acetate. So while you are drinking water, you are also giving your body more of what it needs to survive and thrive.
What Is Alkaline Water?
Alkaline water is less acidic than your tap water (higher pH level). Therefore, it has pH-balancing abilities (neutralizes / lowers the acidity in our bodies) while also being very hydrating.
Essence pH10 Benefits
1. Organic hibiscus is part of their formula. Hibiscus is an AWESOME antioxidant! It helps neutralize those free radicals in our bodies and also helps stop the degeneration of our tissues and organs.
2. Some alkaline water companies use questionable processes to raise the pH of their water.
3. Essence pH10 is 100% sodium free (as opposed to other brands that use sodium based chemicals).
4. Essence water is chemical free.
5. Meets all FDA Regulations required!
Related: Gerolsteiner Detox Challenge
For me, it is really hard to drink the recommended amount of water every single day… So it gives me peace of mind to know that the water I am drinking has all these added benefits!
We can’t live without water. So you might as well drink the best! Lucky for you, Essence is doing a Giveaway for the Cardio, Weights, and Protein Shakes readers!
Essence pH10 Filtered Alkaline Water Giveaway
by Lizzy Wingate | Feb 22, 2017 | Fitness, Fitness Resources, Shoulders
Discover the best shoulder exercises for toned, sexy shoulders!
Why You Need To Do Shoulder Exercises
Whether you run, hike, play sports, or lift weights in the gym, your lower body muscles naturally receive more attention and are more frequently worked out compared to your upper body. Therefore, your upper body muscles need some special attention! This muscle group includes your biceps, triceps, back, chest, and shoulders. That being said, the shoulder muscles are often neglected in upper body workout routines over arm workouts, chest workouts, and back workouts.
If you don’t want to dedicate an entire workout to shoulder day, you should absolutely incorporate shoulder exercises, especially the BEST shoulder exercises, into your workout routine. Here’s why.
The Benefits of Training Your Shoulder Muscles:
1. Aesthetically, sculpted and toned shoulders look fantastic.
2. Shoulder exercises and toned deltoid muscles promote better posture.
3. Working out your shoulder muscles will support your shoulder joints (and keep your rotator cuff safe!).
4. Healthy, strong shoulders will help you do most upper body exercises. Additionally, strong shoulders will help you increase weight when performing those exercises and perform more reps!).
Related: Sculpt and Tone Your Delts with this Shoulder Workout
The Best Shoulder Exercises
1. Front Raise: Stand with your feel shoulder width apart. Your arms will be relaxed by your side, holding light to medium dumbbells in each hand (overhand grip). Starting with your right arm, slowly lift the dumbbell in front of you until your arm is straight out in front of you. Lower the weight steadily back to it’s starting position and repeat with your left arm.
2. Lateral Raise: You will be standing with your feet shoulder width apart, with your arms at your side holding light to medium dumbbells in each hand. Slowly and steadily raise your arms outward (to make a T with your body). Raise them until they are parallel with your shoulders, or slightly past parallel. Bring them slowly back down to your sides in a controlled way. And don’t lock your elbows!
3. Overhead Press: You can be standing or sitting for this exercise. If you choose to stand, I recommend standing in one of two ways. Either stand in a split stance, with one foot in front of the other, or with your feet shoulder width apart. You can also do the overhead press with either a barbell or with dumbbells. You will start with the weight at your upper chest. Your palms will be facing forward; and your elbows will be directly under the weight (and keep them slightly inward towards your body). Push the weight upward and keep it in line with your body – just don’t hit your face! Push it all the way up – but don’t lock your elbows at the top.
4. Rear Delt Fly: The rear delt raise / fly can either sit or stand for this exercise. Either way, bend your torso and chest forward, while keeping your back straight and your abs engaged. Your arms will be hanging down in front of you, holding dumbbells in each hand. Your palms will be facing each other and your elbows will be slightly bent. Raise the dumbbells outward until your arms are parallel to the floor and your shoulders. Make sure to control the movement as you lower the weight to avoid accidents or injury!
5. Crawlout / Inchworm: You will begin in the plank position (on your hands). Slowly walk your hands towards your feet. Once you’ve made it up to your feet, push with your hands to propel yourself so that you can either clap or so that you can tap your shin bones with each hand. Then, start walking your hands back out to the standard plank where you started. You can bend your knees slightly if you are not very flexible like I am!
The five exercises listed above are, hands down, my favorite and the BEST shoulder exercises that you can do. These five shoulder moves target and strengthen each of the muscles within the shoulder. There are plenty of other exercises you can do that will make your shoulders and upper body stronger.
Related: Halter Top Ready Shoulder Workout
