12/27/2017

I can't believe 2017 is nearly over, and 2018 is right around the corner. As always, with the promise of a new year comes new resolutions. Usually, by the end of the year, we have taken inventory of our holiday waistlines, unused gym memberships, and variety of other unaccomplished goals. The frustration of unmet expectations leads us to make lofty, and often unrealistic, goals for the new year. Running ten miles a week may seem simple when you look at all the #fitlife people posting on social

10/22/2017

Anybody who has ever taken my Zumba class knows I have an unnatural love for squats. They're like the perfect exercise (right up there with push-ups and burpees). As a busy mom who has struggled with body image all of my life, I gravitate toward exercises that use large or multiple muscle groups simultaneously. Squats not only tone your quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves; they also help strengthen key stabilizer muscles in your core. Squats improve flexibility, build muscle, burn calories, and

10/11/2017

"Alright guys, I know a few of you have been having aches and pains lately. Be sure to go home and RICE those injuries before next class." This was me giving what I thought was expert advice to my Zumba class three weeks ago. Rest, ice, compression, elevation - it's one of the oldest treatment plans in the book. In fact, the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) says in their "Fitness: Theory and Practice" textbook: The best way to deal with an injury is to take precautionary

10/03/2017

In 1995 Gary Chapman wrote a book called The 5 Love Languages. This book claims to have the secret to love that lasts. The premise of the book is that everybody doesn’t experience love the same way, and to truly show your significant other you care, you should figure out which expression of love resonates best with him or her. I don’t know about all that, but I do know that if my husband wants to earn bonus points with me all he has to do is fill my pantry with fish oil supplements. I am a huge