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
by Lizzy Wingate | Feb 10, 2017 | Back Workouts, Fitness, Fitness Resources
It took me a very long time to do my first pull up. I could have accomplished my goal of lifting my body above that pull up bar in a fraction of that time if I’d had the right training and the right help, like a “Pull Ups for Beginners” guide. Having some guidance and know-how would have saved me a lot of time and frustration. In hopes of helping others learn how to do their first pull up, or increase the number of pull ups they can currently do, I’m sharing the best arm and back exercises I did that made the difference.
Pull Ups for Beginners
If you are ready to learn how to do a pull up and willing to put in the work, then you’re already half way to your goal. Doing a pull up is not about sheer upper body strength. It’s about will, determination, perseverance, and form. Ha, almost anyone could do a pull up if they could have a jumpstart and swing their body into it! But… would they have that overwhelming sense of accomplishment and pride afterwards? No. You want to be able to do a perfect pull up, with pristine pull up form.
Before trying these upper body exercises, refer to the tips found in How To Do A Pull Up to help you reach your goal. These tips, combined with the exercises detailed below, will give you exactly what you need in order to do a pull up. This is not an easy task. But it is well worth the effort you will put in. Not only will you be able to say “I can do a pull up,” you will also have the lean and strong muscles required for it (which is a bragging right all by itself!). Your back will be sexier, your arms will be slimmer, and your confidence will be shining. Reaching a goal like this is so much more than the goal itself.
The Best Upper Body Exercises For Pull-Ups
1. Rows:
Rows are pulling exercises that primarily strengthen your back muscles. There are a ton of ways to perform rows, but they all work your back (and your arm muscles) – so they are PERFECT for helping you increase your upper body strength so you can eventually pull your body weight up!
- Bent Over Dumbbell Row: With a dumbbell in one hand, place your opposite knee and hand on a bench to become parallel to the ground. The arm with the dumbbell should be hanging at your side. Bring the weight towards your chest, while keeping your elbow inward and tight to your body.
- Barbell Row (Overhand and Underhand Grips): Bend your torso forward, bend your knees slightly., and keep your back straight. Bring the barbell towards your belly button.
- Inverted Row: Best done with TRX equipment or a Smith machine. With your back towards the ground and your hands on the bar (or TRX grips), pull your chest up.
2. Lat Pulldowns:
Using a cable machine or a lat pulldown machine, sit facing the machine. Grip the bar, lean back slightly (but keep your back straight), and slowly bring the bar down towards your chest. Squeeze your lats together (imagine your back muscles are swallowing up your spine). There are many variations of the lat pulldown, but they’re ALL great! Pulldowns are a tried and true exercise for “Pull Ups for Beginners.”
- Wide Grip Lat Pulldown: Many pulldown bars curve downward at the end. So, instead of gripping the bar at shoulder-width apart, go wider (like to wear the bar is curving down).
- Narrow Grip Lat Pulldown: Decrease the distance between your hands and keep your elbows tight by your side.
- Reverse Grip Lat Pulldown: This is usually done with a narrow grip (less tension for the elbows). Usually your palms are facing away from you. When performing the reverse grip, your palms should be facing towards you.
- Behind The Head Lat Pulldown: Instead of pulling down towards your chest in front of you face, you will sit up straight and pull the bar down behind your head (towards your traps).
3. Assisted Pull Ups:
You will either be performing the pull-up motion with an assisted pull up machine or by using pull up bands. Regardless of the method, the band or the machine will help you lift your body weight. Not every gym or workout space has the full machine; So, I personally recommend investing in a pull up assist band!
4. Pull Up Negatives:
This is the ONE time you have permission to jump into your pull up… only because this is a strength building exercise to work on doing a pull up! Jump (or use a chair) to get your chin above the pull up bar. Then SLOWLY and STEADILY lower your body back down to the hanging position. This exercise should only be down if you have at least some upper body strength to depend on!
Don’t neglect your other muscle groups while you are working on your pull ups. Just because pull-ups primarily utilize your arms, shoulders, and back muscles, you still need to train other areas. For example, your core needs to be strong for pull ups as well! Dedicating some time to cardiovascular exercise as well as strength training for your core, legs, glutes, etc. is needed. This will also give your upper body some time to rest (and rest is REQUIRED for muscle growth!!) and will help strengthen other areas of your body. Additionally, giving your upper body some rest will help prevent injuries, like excessive muscle soreness, sprains, strains, tears, etc. Your physical fitness level will be at a much higher level if you train your entire body.
Another note: always listen to your body and consult your medical doctor if you feel that something might be wrong! It’s always better to be safe than sorry, right?!
If you enjoyed “Pull Ups for Beginners” and learning the best arm and back exercises to help you strengthen and tone your upper body muscles, you may also enjoy: Say Goodbye to Back Fat with This Back Workout and Your Guide to a Toned, Sexy Back.
by Lizzy Wingate | Feb 5, 2017 | Fitness, Fitness Resources, Reviews, Workouts
Change it Up with The Surge
One of the best ways to keep yourself out of a fitness slump is to try a new workout or training type. I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: You’re less likely to skip a workout if you are excited about doing it! And on the other hand, you are much more likely to get bored if you are doing the same workouts over and over again. Redundancy will inevitably lead to burnout. Don’t get to that point! Try a new workout style, who knows – maybe it’ll be your new go-to workout!
Related: How to Get Out of Your Fitness Slump with a Sledgehammer Workout
What is The Surge from Hedstrom Fitness?
Revolutionary. That’s the first word that comes to mind when I think of Hedstrom‘s products. They’ve released the Bosu Ball, the Kamagon, and now the Surge. According to Hedstrom, the “SURGE® is a product that lets you train for everyday life. A product that truly makes you better at everything! SURGE® is “living resistance” that builds an athletic core which can take anything life and sport can dish out through intense and dynamic training.”
The Surge is a long cylinder that you can fill with water. Filling it with water makes it heavier. Theres a nifty, convenient chart on the side that tells you what the Surge will weigh with however much water you put in! It’s basically a barbell at home that you can change the weight on, without having to have a bunch of bulky equipment lying around! Bonus feature: it really challenges your stability because the water moves around inside the Surge.
In case you don’t want to read those bulky paragraphs, let me break it down for you….
1. The Surge is like a barbell.
2. You put water in it to create resistance… The more water you add, the more it weighs!
3. It’s just one piece of equipment… No more bulky gym equipment lying around and creating mess in your home.
4. The water creates a more challenging workout – Hydro Inertia Training! The water moves around inside The Surge and creates an unstable resistance for your workout moves. Every exercise you do is more challenging with these hydro-inertia principles!
5. You can do almost any exercise with the Surge (and the Kamagon ball!) now… anytime, anywhere!
Related: Cardio-Blasting Jump Rope Workout
Hydro-Inertia Training Workout
I was sent The Surge from Hedstrom to try out and it is a game changer!! I now have a great way of lifting weights on days that I don’t feel like going to the gym. Try these exercises for a full body workout with your Hedstrom Fitness gear!
Featured Hydro-Inertia Exercises:
- Half Burpee: Start in the plank position with your hands in the Surge handles. Jump your feet inward towards your hands. You can either stand up, while keeping your back straight and your chest up, or you can jump your feet back to the start position!
- Bent Over Row: Bend forward, keeping your back straight, head in line with your spine, and knees slightly bent, with the weight hanging directly in front of you. Lift The Surge towards your chest and keep your elbows tight in towards your body. Then slowly return to the starting position. You can do these with an overhand grip or an underhand grip!
- Tricep Press: Hold the weight above your head. Slowly lower the weight behind your head… but make sure you keep your elbows inward by your ears. Slowly lift the weight back to the starting position. Side Note: It helps to stand with one foot in front of the other so that you don’t strain your lower back!
- Bicep Curl: Stand with a split stance (one foot in front of the other), which protects your lower back. Hold the Surge with an underhand grip. Bring the weight up towards your chest, keeping your elbows stationary by your side.
Other Exercises for The Hedstrom Surge:
- Chest Press
- Deadlift
- Shoulder Press
- Front Raise
- Lunge (and all lunge variations)
- Squat (and all squat variations)
- Weighted Sit-Ups
- V-Ups
- Oblique Twists (also known as Russian Twists)
- And the list goes on! Check out this video library which has TONS of exercises to do with Hedstrom exercise products!!
You can get the Surge, Kamagon, or other Hedstrom Fitness products at the Hedstrom website, and you can use the code: SPHF25 for the next month for 25% off!
*Disclaimer: This post is a sponspored post. I am thrilled to work with Hedstrom on this campaign! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
