10 Easy Ways to Lighten Up Any Recipe

Choosing healthy foods is an important part of eating right, but cooking them in a healthful way is another huge part. For example, zucchini can take on two completely different forms when it’s quickly sautéed in olive oil versus battered and deep fried. What we add to foods makes all the difference when it comes to home cooking.

The first step to healthier cooking is to take recipes as suggestions. Before you start chopping and mixing, scan the recipe to see if there are any unnecessary calories. Look for excess cheese, butter and oils, as well as sugars.

Here are some tasty, healthy ideas to help you become a professional recipe overhauler!

  1. Sauté—the skinny way! A couple of tablespoons of  low-sodium vegetable broth can be used instead of oil or butter in your stir fry or as the basis for a sauce. This method will add a nice flavor to your dish as well as a little moisture—and you’ll save calories to use elsewhere. To get a dose of unsaturated fats, serve your broth-sautéed veggies with a side salad, and pour an olive oil-based dressing over the top.
     
  2. Say no to skin. Three ounces of chicken breast meat with skin has almost 150 calories; three ounces of chicken without the skin has 50 fewer calories. Tasty as it might be, the skin contains mostly heart-unhealthy saturated fat. You can cook with the skin on to retain moisture  (add fresh herbs or citrus zest underneath it to really bake in some flavor), but be sure to remove the skin before you enjoy your meal to save on calories and saturated fat.
     
  3. Squeeze on the citrus. To add a powerful flavor punch with minimal added calories, use citrus on steamed veggies instead of butter or over a salad instead of a dressing. It’s even great on fruit salad in place of sugar and adds some zip when squeezed onto a pasta salad. Don’t forget to use the flavorful zest of citrus fruits as well! Wash a lemon, orange or lime, then use a zester or grater to add the zest to dishes such as baked seafood.
     
  4. Be choosy about cheese. When using a mildly flavored cheese, such as Monterey Jack, you need more cheese to taste it. But when you choose a cheese with intense flavor, you can use less and still get the desired effect. Try a reduced-sodium feta, sharp Cheddar or aged Parmesan next time. Light cheese wedges such as The Laughing Cow brand are useful when you’re watching fat and calories, too. Try mixing one of these soft cheeses into your scrambled eggs or noodle dishes instead of loading on the shredded mozzarella.
     
  5. Go Greek. Tangy, fat-free Greek yogurt is a healthful replacement for sour cream. Try this switch in herbed and spiced dips, tacos, nachos, enchiladas, or throw it in a cooked dish as a thickening agent. You’ll save 45 calories for each 2-tablespoon serving.
     
  6. Puree your produce. Add body to soups and sauces with pureed vegetables instead of heavy cream, evaporated milk, butter or cheese. This move will also add fiber and nutrients to your dish for very few calories. A puree of carrots will add texture to meatless spaghetti sauce, and mixing a blend of beans into a chili or soup will add flavor and thicken it—all with very few added calories. In this recipe, Chef Meg thickens a taco soup with chickpeas!
     
  7. Get cozy with cottage cheese. When a recipe calls for a significant amount of a crumbled cheese, such as feta or ricotta, substitute half the amount with reduced-fat cottage cheese. This will retain taste, texture, protein, and calcium while ditching some of the fat and calories. This works well for stuffed peppers and most baked pasta dishes.
     
  8. Pump up the veggies! You can easily reach the recommended five servings of fruits and veggies when you’re cooking at home. Veggies can compliment any dish on your menu, adding nutrient-packed bulk to the meal for few calories. Add chopped asparagus and mushrooms to your next omelet, red peppers (or a frozen stir fry mix) to baked casseroles, or any kind of beans to a pasta salad. Include fresh or frozen spinach in pasta sauces and soups, and broccoli in your casseroles. The opportunities for adding veggies are endless for almost any dish!
     
  9. Cut the cream. When making cream-based soups, sub fat-free half-and-half for any heavy cream. The switch gives the soups a creamy taste and velvety texture without all the saturated fat of heavy cream. This works great in pasta sauces as well.
     
  10. Make your own marinade. Marinate lean meats in vinegar and citrus combos (with a bit of oil added) rather than a pre-made oil-based dressing. You can also try a fruit juice or wine. These agents will still tenderize and flavor the meat, and a mix of herbs and spices will bring out the flavor! (You’ll also save sodium by not using the store-bought varieties!) Try cutting the meat in strips before dousing it to really let the marinade take effect.

As you can see, there are endless ways you can boost the nutrition and reduce the calories of almost any recipe. Get creative and experiment in the kitchen. You may just find that you like these new ways of cooking just as much—or even better!

Posted 2 hours ago, on June 2, with 3 notes

8 Cold, Hard Truths about Exercise

Many of you have been trying to make exercise a habit. Some of you may have already succeeded in that goal. Either way, I’m proud of you for making fitness a part of your life—even if you’re not always perfect at it. A consistent exercise routine offers so many benefits to your mind and your body, many of which you are probably already beginning to experience.

Now it’s time for some tough love.

We all have our own ideas about exercise: what “counts” as a workout, how much we need to do, and how it benefits us. But some of those ideas are flat our wrong (or simply misguided). If you’re exercising and not seeing the results you had hoped for, it could be that you’re missing out on these eight truths about exercise. Now they may be hard to hear, but trust that I’m sharing them with you for good reasons. Understanding these realities will only make the habit of exercise easier for you—and help you get even better results from your efforts.

8 Cold, Hard Truths about Exercise

Working out will always feel hard.
Exercise is work. It elevates your heart rate, makes you somewhat breathless, and causes your muscles to burn. It’s tiring—sometimes exhausting. Yes, exercise does get easier with time, but it will never be “easy.” If it were easy, it wouldn’t be exercise. You see, beyond just getting your body moving (which is great but will only get you so far), exercise has to challenge you. You have to work past your comfort zone in order to train your heart, lungs, and muscles to get stronger and fitter. Over time, yes it will become easier to walk at the 3 mph pace you started, but once that becomes easy, it’s time to walk faster, which brings me to another cold, hard truth: You have to work harder as you get fitter. Think of it exercise as a challenge to continuously improve on what you just accomplished.

Not every movement or activity counts as exercise.
Let me preface this one by saying that any body movement is good for you. Whether you’re fidgeting at your desk, walking across the office to talk to a co-worker, taking a single flight of stairs instead of the elevator, or playing Wii tennis—all movement is good, especially when you’re just starting out. But here’s the real truth: Not all movement is “exercise.” The two are very, very different. For any activity to count as true exercise, it has to meet certain parameters, like lasting at least 10 continuous minutes (so those stairs you took or that walk from your car to the store doesn’t count as a workout), it has to elevate your heart rate to an aerobic level (that “hard” feeling I mentioned above), and more. If you count all of these “activities” or body movements you do each day as workouts, then you are only shortchanging yourself—and you could be hurting your weight loss efforts.

One workout may not undo a sedentary lifestyle.
Working out really matters for your health and longevity, but more research these days is telling us that simply exercising—whether 10, 30, or even 60+ minutes a day—may not be enough to offset the effects of an otherwise sedentary lifestyle. Just because you exercise doesn’t mean it’s OK to be a couch potato the other 23 hours of the day. Sitting, driving, working from a computer, sleeping—all of these “inactivities” make up the bulk of many people’s days, and the longer you sit still, the worse the effects can be on your health. I talked a little about “activity” vs. exercise above. This is where those extra non-workout activities DO matter. They may not be true workouts, but they do have benefits. More movement is good—and that is how you achieve the benefits of an active lifestyle.

You’re not burning as many calories as you think. 
“Burn up to 800 calories an hour!” How often do you see phrases like that advertised on workout DVDs, group classes, and other fitness products? The truth is, most of these numbers are seriously inflated, and the average person won’t burn a fraction of that claim. This is the case for treadmills, stationary bikes and other cardiomachines, too. Those “calorie burn” screens can be off by 30% or more. SparkPeople tries to be a little more conservative with the numbers we use on our Fitness Tracker, but just remember that calculators/trackers areestimates. When it comes to weight loss, you’re better off with a conservative approach to calorie burn. Assume you’re actually burning fewer calories than a tracker or machine says you are. A better way to gauge what you’re really burning is by wearing your own heart rate monitor. While a general fitness tracker would tell me that an hour of Spinning burned some 600+ calories, my HRM (using my gender, weight, and actual heart rate during the workout) showed closer to 400. That’s a big difference that could really affect one’s weight loss.

It won’t allow you to eat whatever you want.
A walk around the block doesn’t earn you a brownie. That yoga class doesn’t mean it’s OK to indulge in an ice cream sundae this weekend. How often do you “reward” yourself for working out by undoing most of your efforts with one or more dietary splurges? Remember, exercise really doesn’t burn as many calories as people assume it does, so a single workout—even a rigorous one—won’t come close to offsetting just ONE big splurge. Yet I know many people who justify their food choices by saying “I worked out today.” If weight loss is your goal, you have to keep these splurges in check; otherwise, you’ll be fighting a losing battle and never really get ahead in the calorie equation.

Exercise alone won’t change your body. 
This is probably one of the biggest misconceptions I see. Most people believe that simply by exercising more, harder, or with some “magical” combination (think “muscle confusion”), they’ll get rock hard abs, chiseled arms, and toned legs. WRONG. Exercise will not change your body much at all unless you are also cutting calories. To really change your physique, you have to do both: watch your diet, consumer fewer calories than you burn, and exercise with a combination of cardio and strength training. Same goes for dieting. Cutting calories will result in some weight loss, but your body will not necessarily look more cut or toned if exercise isn’t also part of your plan.

You have to do it forever. 
A lot of people don’t like to exercise, but they manage to stick with it in order to lose weight. Once they reach that goal, it becomes easier to slack off and then lose the habit entirely. But whether your goal is to lose weight, look better, improve your health, or just plain feel good, you’re only going to reach—and maintain—that result by continuing to exercise after you reach that goal. The benefits of exercise are quickly lost, too. You actually lose your strength and endurance far faster than it took to build up (unfair, right?). You can lose muscle strength in just a couple weeks off from pumping iron, and cardiovascular endurance? It starts diminishing when you rest just 2 days! This is why it’s important to find a routine that you enjoy and can stick with for the long haul.

Routine is the exercise enemy. 
I love routine as much as the next person, but the gym is not the place for it. For the best results, you have to change up your workouts often. This is good because it can help prevent boredom so you’ll stick with it, but alsoprevent plateaus in your progress. For creatures of habit, or exercisers who lack creativity, it can be a real challenge. There are tons of ways you can mix up your workouts without becoming a gym rat or earning a personal training certification. The important thing is that you do it. Don’t let your workouts become stale, and don’t let your muscles get too conditioned to doing the same old thing for months on end. That’s why lifelong exercisers are always reaching for new goals and trying new things. Not only is it fun, but it challenges their bodies in new ways so they always stay fit—and have fun doing it.

There you have it. Sometimes the facts are hard to hear, but ultimately, the truth can be liberating—and help you really become your best in the gym and in life.

What do you think about these truths? Were any of them hard to hear? Would you add any more exercise truths to this list?

Posted 5 hours ago, on June 2, with 4 notes
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Weight-Loss Exercises : Lifting Weights & Losing Weight (by eHowFitness)

Posted 8 hours ago, on June 2

Dorm Room Workouts

College life opens new and exciting opportunities for young adults. Leaving the comforts of home for the first time to live with a total stranger in a room the size of a closet; making your own choices about where to go, when to return, what time to go to bed and who to spend time with; assuming more financial responsibility for books, groceries, and entertainment; oh, and there’s that learning thing too.

Most colleges and universities require incoming freshman to live in the dorms, which means a couple things when it comes to your health:

  1. You have little choice when it comes to your food since you’re using a meal plan and usually don’t have access to a full kitchen.
  2. Your space is limited, which also limits your overall activity (three steps to your desk, one step to the fridge and a few steps to the hall bathroom).
  3. What you are able to do in your room, whether staying up to study or waking up early to workout, is somewhat dependent on your roommate’s feelings and schedule.

This combination of limited food choices, small space, and late nights can lead to the notorious “Freshman 15”. According to recent research, the odds are against you after move-in day:

  • Cornell University researchers found that college freshman gain half a pound per week on average. That’s about 11 times more weight than the average 17-and 18-year old will gain, and nearly 20 times more than the average weight gain among adults.
  • The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) found that both male and female college students eat approximately 500 additional calories between the hours of 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. 
  • Research from Washington University in St. Louis confirms that most college students do gain weight. This research team reported in the Journal of American College Health that about 70% of students gained “a significant amount of weight” between the start of college and the end of their sophomore year.

But the dreaded college weight gain is NOT inevitable. Sure, some young adults are still growing in height, bone structure, and weight. But taking a preventive approach (rather than trying to crash diet or over-exercise when it’s too late) is your best bet. Making healthier food choices, getting plenty of sleep, and increasing your daily activity (walking instead of taking the shuttle) will help. But one of the most important things you can do is exercise for at least 30 minutes, most days of the week. Your exercise plan should include three main components:

  1. Cardio (aerobic) exercise burns calories, trains your body to use more fat as fuel, strengthens your heart and lungs and helps relieve stress. Aim for 30-60 minutes, 3-6 days per week.
  2. Strength training helps you maintain and build lean muscle. If you aren’t strength training regularly, you’ll lose muscle (about half a pound per year) and your metabolism will slow down along with it. Fit in a fullbody workout (about 8-12 exercises) twice per week.
  3. Stretching, or flexibility training, can help you improve your fitness level in other areas as well as reduce your risk for injury and joint problems later. Stretch after every workout and when you need a relaxing break.

You college recreation center will likely have all the options you need to stay healthy and fit: cardio machines, fitness classes, personal trainers, weights, a pool, an indoor track and more. But on those busy days (or late nights) the gym might not be an option. Here’s what you CAN do with little or no money right from the comfort and convenience of your own (little) room.

Cardio Options

  • (FREE!) Even though you might feel corny by yourself, you can “design” your own workout for your small place. Try a combination of any of the following low-impact moves, always trying to get both your arms and legs involved:
    • Marching in place
    • Stepping up and down the stairs or running the stairs in your building
    • Side steps (step touch)
    • Jogging in place or high knee running in place
    • Grapevines sideways, forward and back
    • Jumping jacks
    • Kickboxing moves (front kicks, squats, side kicks, punches)
    • Turn on your favorite music and just dance!
  • ($) If space and ceilings allow, jumping rope ($6) can torch big calories. If you don’t have room for a rope, mimic it with your hands and wrists. Jump in place, skip, hop on one foot, etc. to get your heart pumping.
  • ($$) Workout videos or DVDs ($10+) offer a lot of variety for a very low investment. Some workouts can be done in a small space, such as low impact aerobics, kickboxing, cardio Pilates, belly dancing, and more. If you need more room, grab a couple of friends and take your video to the lounge area of the dorm.

Strength Training Options

Flexibility Options

  • (FREE!) Use what you have. Most stretches can be done while sitting or standing, so you don’t need any special equipment. SparkPeople’s Stretching Guide will help you get started, whether you want to take breaks at your desk, or use more space and time for a full body routine. Consider using your dorm furniture to help increase your stretching capacity: prop up foot up onto your chair, desk, or bed to stretch the hamstrings more deeply; use the walls for stretching your arms, chest, and calves.
  • ($) Invest in a yoga workout video. This form of exercise not only stretches and strengthens, but it also helps relieve stress and calm that busy mind, preparing you for a more restful sleep or energized day.
  • ($$) Consider buying a yoga mat ($20) or padded exercise mat ($25+). Both can be rolled up or folded away easily, and they will make stretching (and other floor exercises) much more comfortable.

Dorm life doesn’t have to be a doom. For little or no money, the single room that multitasks as a bedroom, study, kitchen and lounge can also become your own personal gym. Leave college weight gain at the door. In just a few minutes a day, you’ll see a toned, healthy, and relaxed body and mind. What better way to experience college life?

Posted 1 day ago, on June 1, with 36 notes

Eat to Beat PMS

PMS. Three little letters that spell dread and discomfort for millions of women every month. It is reported that more than half and perhaps as many as 85 percent of all women experience discomfort related to menstruation, common referred to as Premenstrual Syndrome. In this article we’ll explore how your diet (and some nutritional changes) can help you eat to beat monthly PMS symptoms.

What is Premenstrual Syndrome? 
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is the name for a group of symptoms that begin 7-14 days before your period (menstruation). The symptoms include a variety of physical and psychological symptoms and usually stop soon after your period starts.

While the exact cause of PMS is unknown, it seems to be closely related to the fluctuating levels of hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. Some women may be more sensitive than others to changing hormone levels during the menstrual cycle. Stress and emotional problems do not seem to cause PMS, but they may make it worse.

Signs and symptoms of PMS
Symptoms vary from one woman to another, but the most common physical and emotional symptoms include:

Anger
Anxiety
Appetite changes
Acne
Backache
Bloating
Breast swelling

Breast tenderness
Constipation
Crying spells
Depression
Diarrhea
Difficulty sleeping 
Fatigue

Fluid retention
Food cravings
Headache
Insomnia
Irritability
Joint and muscle pain
Memory problems

Mood swings
Overeating
Swollen hands or feet
Tension
Trouble concentrating
Upset stomach
Weight gain


While 85 percent of menstruating women experience some of these symptoms, only 3 percent to 8 percent experience a severe form of PMS called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). PMDD symptoms are severe enough to either disrupt women’s personal relationships or interfere with their normal work and home responsibilities.

Eat to Beat PMS
There is no cure for PMS, but healthy lifestyle habits may help reduce symptoms. Here are 9 eating tips that I recommend for women who want to prevent or reduce their PMS symptoms:

  1. Enjoy 4-6 smaller meals throughout the day to reduce bloating and feelings of fullness.
  2. Limit your consumption of salty foods and sodium to reduce fluid retention and bloating. Use yourNutrition Tracker to monitor sodium intake, aiming for 2,400 milligrams or less each day.
  3. Select foods high in complex carbohydrates and fiber, such as whole grains, brown rice, fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes and lentils. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, these foods may improve mood and reduce cravings.
  4. Limit your intake of highly refined and processed carbohydrates such as chips, crackers, and snack foods. These foods can trigger overeating and upset your digestive system.
  5. Limit the amount of sweets (candy, cake, cookies, breakfast pastries, pie, jams, jellies, and soda) in your diet. These can cause rapid fluctuations in blood sugar that contribute to moodiness and irritability.
  6. Choose calcium rich foods and get at least 1,000-1,200 milligrams daily. Calcium is a key nutrient for women anyway, but it has also been shown to ease depression, moodiness, water retention and PMS pain. For more ways to boost calcium intake check out these dairy-free sources.
  7. Avoid or limit caffeine consumption to decrease feelings of tension, anxiety, and irritability prevent breast tenderness.
  8. Avoid alcohol to help with feelings of depression and moodiness. One study published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology also found that regular alcohol consumption increased length of and severity of cramps in women who experience cramps during PMS.
  9. Discuss with your doctor the benefits of taking a multivitamin-mineral supplement.

In addition to dietary changes, the following lifestyle habits can also help women who experience PMS.

  • Exercise can help improve your overall health and alleviate symptoms like fatigue and depression. Engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day (or most days of the week). Learn more aboutexercise and your period.
  • Get enough sleep. Try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night.
  • Find healthy ways to cope with stress, like talking to friends, writing in a journal, or practicing yoga.
  • Schedule stressful events for the week after your period.
  • Don’t smoke. PMS symptoms appear to be worse in women who smoke.
  • Stick to a routine so that you eat, wake up, go to bed and exercise at the same time each day.

If dietary and lifestyle changes don’t help control your symptoms within two to three cycles, or if PMS seriously affects your health and daily activities, visit your health care provider. There are no unique physical or laboratory tests to diagnose premenstrual syndrome, but your doctor can examine you and perform test to rule out other problems. He or she may ask you to keep track of your symptoms for several cycles, too. Your health care provider may suggest various treatment options, including medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, diuretics, antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and/or oral contraceptives (birth control pills). You may need to try more than one medicine to find the treatment that works best for you.

Why suffer through PMS every month if you don’t have to? Try to incorporate these habits to improve your overall health and well-being and feel your best all month long.

Posted 1 day ago, on June 1, with 1 note
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Workout Plan for Pilates and Yoga : Workout Plan for Pilates and Yoga: Double Toe Taps (by eHowFitness)

Posted 1 day ago, on June 1

11 Healthy Party Appetizers

Did you know that overindulging on the weekends can lead to a weight gain of nine pounds a year? To stay on track and still have fun with friends and family, serve some of these healthier party foods. (Click on each appetizer for a wide selection of healthy recipe options.)

Bruschetta (45 calories; 2 g fat per piece): Traditionally, this starter is made with thin slices of toasted breadrubbed with garlic and topped with tomato and basil. Get whole wheat or multigrain baguettes from the bakery. Have them slice the bread for you—they’ll be thinner and more uniform.

Smoked salmon mousse (75 calories; 3 g fat per serving): In a food processor, mix 6 ounces smoked salmon with light cream cheese, some dill, lemon zest and juice, and a handful of capers. Mix until creamy, then spread on sliced baguettes and top with a thin slice of English cucumber.

Salsa (50-75 calories a cup): Jarred or homemade, spicy or mild, this is a no-fail appetizer. Serve it with baked or whole-grain chips, vegetables or pita chips.

Guacamole (75-80 calories;, 7 g fat per 1/4 cup serving): These dips are full of filling and heart-healthy fats! Increase your vegetable intake by adding extra chopped tomato, onion and bell pepper, plus cucumber.

Shrimp cocktail (10 calories; 0 g fat per shrimp with a tsp of cocktail sauce): Shrimp is lean, and each one has 1 gram of filling protein. Protein takes longer to digest and keeps you fuller, longer.

Hummus (50 calories; 3 g fat per 2 tablespoons): Chickpeas are filling, thanks to the protein and fiber in them. Make a simple dip at home with a couple of cans of drained and rinsed chickpeas. Add juice from a lemon, a couple of roasted red peppers and a clove of garlic. Mix in a food processor until creamy.

Baba Ghanoush (70 calories; 2 g fat per serving): Halve an eggplant and spritz with olive oil, then roast at 425 degrees until the flesh is charred and tender, about 25-30 minutes. Let cool, then scrape flesh into a bowl, mix with lemon juice and a couple of cloves of garlic. Drizzle with olive oil.

Chicken kabobs (30 calories; 0 g fat; 6.5 g protein per ounce of chicken): This is a great alternative to meatballs! Toss chicken chunks in a light marinade, then broil until crispy and cooked through. Serve on toothpicks. Thread 1 ounce strips of chicken onto skewers cut in half. Serve with peanut sauce, low-sodium teriyaki or even light ranch dressing.

Air-popped Popcorn (just 30 calories per serving): Popcorn is a whole grain, and 1 cup of is low in calories for such a large volume of food. Spritz with nonstick spray, then sprinkle on oregano, black pepper and parmesan cheese.

Fruit and cheese (115 calories; 7 g fat in one ounce of cheddar cheese): Skip the crackers and serve cheese with fruit instead. Cheese is full of calcium and protein, and the fruit helps bring out its flavor. Swap low-fat for full-fat cheese and remember that one serving of cheese is about as big as a pair of dice.

Deviled eggs (65 calories; 3 g fat per half-egg serving): Halve the mayo in the recipe to save calories and fat. These are another filling, healthy treat. Instead of your typical filling, try hummus, salsa, or even that smoked salmon mousse. It sounds strange, but it will look gourmet!

Posted 2 days ago, on May 31, with 2 notes

4 Fitness Tests You Can Do at Home

Why do you exercise? Whether you want to increase your energy, reduce your health risks, or lose some unwanted pounds, do you ever wonder if all that working out is working for you? That’s where fitness assessments come in, and they can be great motivational tools to help you reach your goals.

Measuring your fitness level regularly is one way to find out if you’re making progress. Most fitness centers have trained staff who can evaluate your body composition, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance, but it can be pricey. If you don’t have access to all the toys and tools of your gym, don’t panic. You have everything you need to measure your fitness level in your own house!

Start with the simple assessments below, whether you plan to start an exercise program tomorrow or you’ve been at it for a while.

The Pushup Test (measures muscular strength and endurance)
The Crunch Test (measures abdominal strength and endurance)
The 3-Minute Step Test (measures aerobic fitness)
The 1-Mile Walk Test (measures aerobic fitness)

These tests are great tools to see how you are doing. When you’re done testing, you can track your scores on SparkPeople to keep track of your progress! If you don’t score as well as you like, just remember to focus on improving your own scores periodically. As long as you are improving, your fitness plan is working. If you find you aren’t making the progress that you feel you should be seeing, it may be time to change your workout routine.

Posted 2 days ago, on May 31, with 2 notes
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Belly Dance Fitness (by eHowFitness)

Posted 2 days ago, on May 31

7-Day Bootcamp Workout Plan

Whether you’re getting bored with your usual workout routine, or you are ready to jump start your fitness program, SparkPeople’s 7-day Bootcamp Workout Plan can help you get real results! I created this 7-day workout plan for people of all fitness levels. It’s called “Bootcamp” not because it’s highly intense, but because it involves daily exercise and commitment. That may sound daunting, but each workout can be tailored to your own fitness level, and you also get to pick activities that you enjoy.

How it Works

  • Do one video (below) each day. Each video will only take you 10 minutes or less to complete. For some of the videos, you’ll need dumbbells (but if you don’t have any, you can improvise with some easy-to-hold household items like soup cans or beverage bottles). If you want to work harder or increase the intensity, use a heavier weight and/or repeat the video one or two more times.
     
  • Do five 30-minute cardio sessions per week. You pick the activity and intensity and anything goes! (Get over 110 cardio workout ideas here!) You can walk, bike, jog, jump rope, swim, do a fitness class or video—anything that gets your heart pumping! The more variety, the better! If you’re new to exercise, aim for 30 minutes (or as close to that as you can manage, gradually increasing over time). If you’ve been at it a while, go longer—up to 60 minutes per session.
     
  • Follow the plan for 4 weeks. Four weeks of daily exercise is no small feat! This a great introduction to exercise if you’re just starting out, since the videos make strength training easy with detailed instructions on form. But even if you’re an avid exerciser, following this plan for a few weeks can add variety to your current program, which can help you bust a plateau and continue seeing results.

Refer to the chart below for the 7-Day Bootcamp Workout Plan . (Click on each link to see the video, a printable version, and to add it to your Fitness Tracker!)

VideoDay 1Day 2Day 3Day 4Day 5Day 6Day 7Cardio(none)30 minutes30 minutes30 minutes30 minutes30 minutes(none)
More Bootcamp Tips
Feel confused about this? Find the answers to common questions below.

How much weight should I lift? 
The answer is different for everyone. When strength training, you should use a weight that is challenging enough that you feel fatigued by the end of each set, but not so hard that you can’t perform the exercise in good form. You might need to try out a few different weights to find out which works best for you. If you’re newer, start with a low weight to really master the exercise in good form.

What if I miss a day? 
If you miss a day, you can move on to the next day or do two videos in one day. This workout plan should be thought of as a guideline, so if you mess up here and there, don’t worry—just get back to it!

How can I track my workouts? 
All the videos (except Day 1) are strength training workouts. You can add each strength-training video to the strength training section of your Fitness Tracker by clicking on the button at the bottom of each video page.

The Day 1 video is a cardio workout. You can easily track it and calculate your calories burned in the cardio section of your Fitness Tracker. Simply go to your Fitness Tracker, scroll down to the cardio section, and click “Add Cardio.” In the search box, type in “Bootcamp.” You’ll see a workout entry called “SparkPeople 10-Minute Bootcamp Cardio Workout Video” in the results. Select that entry, add the number of minutes you exercised (approximately 10 if you completed the whole video), and then click the “Add Exercise” button. This will add the workout to your tracker and also estimate your calories burned.

What if I can’t do some of the exercises? 
Most of the videos will give you ideas to modify your workouts. But if there’s any reason you can’t do a certain exercise, don’t feel pressured to try it. You can modify it as instructed, decrease your range of motion, use less weight (or no weights), or just skip the exercise entirely. Be sure to listen to your body and work at your own pace.

When should I start?
You don’t have to start on any particular day or week. The Bootcamp plan was designed to begin (Day 1) on a Sunday, only so that you do less exercise (no extra cardio) on Saturday and Sunday. However, you can start Day 1 on any day of the week. Or if you’d rather, you can begin in the middle of a week, starting on a Tuesday with Day 3, for example. As long as you do the videos in order, you don’t need to worry about what days you do them on.

What if I have more questions or need support? 
Join our 28-Day Bootcamp Workout Challenge to connect with other people who are following this workout plan. There, you’ll also get weekly emails to help you stay motivated and reach your goals!

Overall, this Bootcamp will make sure you’re targeting each of your major muscle groups in new ways. By doing a different workout each day, you’ll have more fun and be more likely to stick with it! Enjoy!

Posted 3 days ago, on May 30, with 2 notes