Weighing In

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Since we are all friends here, I decided to be pretty honest about something... Summers can be a bit fickle for me in the gaining weight department, especially since we are up in Michigan where sweatshirts and booties are my daily uniform. This year was no different and I found myself eating, eating, and eating some more. I am not one to eat on a schedule; at home I eat when I am hungry and don't when not. Up in Michigan things are a bit different since meals are scheduled and I do not always make my way down to them. For this reason I find myself eating 2-3 of each meal and not the most healthy of things either. There is also TONS of midnight snacking and eating right before going to bed. The worst. 

When we got home I put myself on a scale for the first time in two months and was SHOCKED. This body of mine had somehow found a way to pack on ten extra pounds in 2-months time. Yikes. Although I am super happy that two of those pounds are muscle from all my intense Michigan workouts, the other 8-lb's were a bit of a shock. I am a big supporter of weight being but a number and the way you feel being most important, but have personally been feeling a bit bigger and clothing that I usually love is not zipping up so well.

So many of us go through these weight yoyo's and it just made sense to share mine with you. Sometimes we see people we think are super fit and healthy or have it all together, but the fact is, all of us have issues. Right now, my issue is losing those extra pounds that seemed to glue themselves to me over the summer.

The hubs recommended that I try a low-carb lifestyle for a while since he knows my addiction to bread and the whole thing about it not being great for me (I could, and have, eaten an entire loaf of bread in one sitting- it is just so good!). It is actually going very well and he is being super good about not having breads or super carby snacks in the house. Things are much easier not to eat when they are not available :)

So far, I have lost two of those pounds and these are a few of the things that have helped me do it...

• A low-carb diet that has plenty of fruits, veggies, and lots of protein!
• Snacking. My stomach seems bottomless now and I feel like I could eat an entire buffet's worth of food in one sitting. Snacking keeps me satisfied better than big meals that turn my stomach into a black hole of calories.
• Hot Yoga. This is something my body has very obviously been missing. It raises my heart rate, burns fat, and keeps my mind at peace... Everything I love in a workout!
• Drinking coffee black. So long yummy creamers filled with carbs, you weren't that great anyway.
• No more splurge days. This has probably made the biggest difference. I use to have one splurge day a week but could never remember when the last one was or would go out with friends a day after the splurge and end up having way more splurging than healthy eating on a weekly basis. Now, I am eating healthier by just keeping a healthy diet in mind and avoiding not-so-great things. If I want something unhealthy, it is not held off for a week, but instead, eaten in small quantities.

What are some of your tips and tricks to staying healthy or loosing some extra weight? I would love to know any suggestions you have and may even create a post or two about all your fantastic ideas! Any of your favorite calorie burning workouts would also be super appreciated since trying new workouts are, pretty much, the best thing ever!

Happy Friday friends, I hope your weekend is simply wonderful! Be sure to check out my workout sum-up this Sunday as well :)

3 Great Workout Combos

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We all have our favorite type of workout, but mixing it up can do more that reduce our risk of injury. Mixing up a workout routine is a sure-fire way to get better results, work different muscles, and (almost most importantly) keep us from falling into that dreaded workout rut. Over the past few years I have realized a few killer combos that keep workouts interesting, and best of all, help improve performance in each. These three workout combos are some of my absolute favorite weekly combos for getting some ridiculously good results. 

Running and Yoga

Running and yoga is the first combo on this list because it is, hands down, my absolute favorite. When it comes to getting my core in shape, there is nothing better than yoga for the upper abs and running for the lower. A study completed a few years back switched the fitness routine on three yogis with the fitness routine of three runners. By the end of the trial, the runners had more stamina and the yogis had more strength. When these yogis and runners incorporated both into their workout, results skyrocketed. This is because both running and yoga help different areas of our body perform better. Yoga can also improve a runner's balance and joint mobility. 

To really get the yoga and running results, try alternating between running and yoga in your weekly workout. Another way to get the benefits of this combo is to use your run as a warm-up, then complete a yoga flow. Trust me, your body will thank you for it! 

Ballet and Pilates 

The first step in loving this combo is understanding how uncharacteristically sore you will be the next day. When I was training in ballet, Pilates was my go-to workout after class. Pilates is great for conditioning the body and help stretch the muscles. This makes ballet so much easier and improves strength for those super difficult movements. Ballet is also a massive cardio and toning workout that will help get all those muscles ready for some of the intense isometric workouts Pilates requires. In fact, a lot of the Mary Helen Bowers workouts use a Pilates/ballet fusion! 

Both of these on their own are fantastic, but when put together, you have a winning combination. To get more of these benefits, try completing a barre workout followed by some Pilates. There are also some great ballet fusion workouts that incorporate Pilates or yoga. These are great for all the muscles (big and tiny) of the arms, core, bum, and legs. Seriously, after just a few fusion workouts you will feel like the most toned in all the land! 

Swimming and Cycling

This is my favorite workout combo to do when we are on a vacation. Most people do not consider their vacation to be a time to sweat at the gym, but there are plenty of ways to get a workout that do not require heavy equipment, or even, workout shoes. Swimming is a great workout that is light on the joints and gets a great cross-body tone. Pair this with cycling, and you have a combo that is hard to beat. Other great replacements for swimming include surfing, paddle boarding, or SUP. All of these will work the upper body and give you a great cross-body workout. Whether you prefer an intense cycling class that will shed 800+ calories, or a Sunday stroll on your beach cruiser, both are great when paired with swimming. 

This workout combo is especially good for those with joint pain or previous injuries that may limit range of motion or athletic performance. Swimming is commonly used as a form of physical therapy and cycling puts limited pressure on the knees but gives the legs a massive toning. Both of these workouts also increase the heart rate and can burn some serious calories!