Jenn's Losing It

Who knew they were so hard to set for yourself? I mean seriously.  I look at my Instagram and Facebook feeds and they constantly have people setting goals or making goals.  Goals of all kinds too - not just fitness or weight related.  So I ask myself "why is this so hard for you to do?"  Sounds crazy to some (or all) of you I'm sure.  But I've never formally set goals for myself and I've been ok with that all these years (except for the occasional time someone made me feel bad about it).  I've never had career goals, which also probably explains when any ventures into things such as Mary Kay or the like never worked for me.  Products don't sell themselves (as I had hoped they would). So as part of my journey to better overall health this year - by that I mean both mental and physical.  I would really like to set myself some goals.  I guess part of the reason I never attempted to set goals is because I tend to want to set them too hig...

Six turbo toners designed by Alexandra White, a co owner of Jumping Frog Pilates in Tenafly, NJ. So grab your yoga mat and do the circuit twice, three alternating days a week! Clamp (Targets back, abs, obliques, inner and outer thighs) Lie face up on the floor with your arms and legs extended upward; lift head, neck and shoulders off floor Simultaneously lower arms out to sides and open legs 45 degrees, keeping shoulders and chest lifted throughout Return to start, squeezing palms together and legs together Do 10 to 12 reps Sprinkler (Targets back, abs and obliques) Sit on floor with legs extended, thighs together and feet flexed; tilt torso back 45 degrees and extend arms out to sides, palms facing forward Rotate torso to right, sweeping left arm across body to tap left palm to right palm Return to start, then repeat to left to complete 1 rep Do 10 to 12 reps Skinny Dip (Targets back, abs, obliques, butt) Lie on floor on left side, propped up on left forearm, kn...

Flat abs and killer confidence have one thing in common: a hard core.  That's because the muscles that make up your middle dictate not only how you rock a sports bra but also whether you stand tall and pack a punch in kick boxing class.  "Firming the deep ab muscles is the fastest way to shrink your waist and improve your posture", says Alexandra White, a co owner of Jumping Frog Pilates in Tenafly, NJ, who supplied the six turbo toners that you'll find in my next post.  So get your yoga mat and do the upcoming circuit twice three days a week on alternate days.  Then get ready to flash that super fly center! By: Jenna Autuori-Dedic Fitness Magazine September 2012

Rev up your mojo in mere seconds. Move to improve your ‘tude.  Sneak in a morning sweat session and you’ll experience the exercise high all day: Research from the University of Vermont in Burlington shows that doing just 20 minutes of moderate intensity exercise – brisk walking or easy paced cycling, for example – gives you a feel good mood recharge that lasts up to 12 hours.  Turn your playlist into a pace maker, download the free beatscanner tool at bestworkoutmusic.com to have it pull the tunes from your playlists that match your temp, or try the sites Workout Music Studio to alter the beat of your faves to suit your pace. See green to enjoy your routine, a Swiss study of 319 city dwellers determined that they found outdoor workouts more restorative than indoor ones.  Find a walking or jogging route on mapmyrun.com or a nearby bike trail at mapmyride.com. Chill out to firm up, tale a five at the water fountain to clear your head before you rep:  less stressed...

Studies show that even small amounts of brisk walking can keep you healthy .  Here’s the amount you need daily to lower your risk of five diseases: 17 Minutes reduces DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS by 41% 17 Minutes reduces COLON CANCER by 31% 18 Minutes reduces CORONARY HEART DISEASE by 36% 21 Minutes reduces STROKE by 43% 30 Minutes reduces TYPE 2 DIABETES by 30%  Time to get walking!!! Prevention Magazine – November  2008

Set a big resolution? Keep up your can do attitude for three weeks and you could see it thru!  Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that among former couch potatoes who consistently worked out three times per week, those who scored high on their scale of confidence in their capabilities on day 21 stuck to their new regimen for the rest of the year. So basically you've now developed a "habit" and your motivation is simply auto-pilot.  Now going to the gym seems like a cinch rather than a chore.  Here are three strategies to keep your motivation strong all year long! Keep Track : Log your healthy meals and daily workouts.  When you do this you are keeping yourself accountable and seeing how much progress you've made Take on a Challenge : Train for a triathlon, run your first or fastest race or join a bike competition. Try Something New : Switch up your workout with a boot camp, a dance class or kickboxing routine. Fitness Magazi...

  Do you have a New Year’s Resolution? Well, if you’re like most Americans (88 percent in 2001 according to a General Nutrition Centers poll), you have at least one resolution. And, if you are like the majority of these promise-makers, your resolution is probably related to health and fitness. In 2001 (according to GNC), 55 percent promised to eat healthier, 50 percent resolved to exercise more, and 38 percent wanted to lose weight. While resolutions are well-intentioned, unfortunately most people fail at keeping them. With all the hype surrounding these promises, it’s easy to get caught up in them without really taking them seriously. We live in a throw-away society and even our resolutions, I’m afraid, are not immune. However, especially for promises that include improving our health it’s in our best interest to not take them lightly. So, what’s the secret to successful resolutions? While you can’t wave a magic wand and make your resolution come true, there are some ...