Holiday Season Looming? Three Keys to Success in Avoiding the Holiday Bulge

I'm back!  To my readers, thank you for your patience during my brief hiatus.  I took some much-needed personal time to refocus, recharge and travel (these are three things I highly recommend you also do every once in a while to promote your mental and physical health and wellness).  During this time, I'll confess I went a bit easy on the workout regimen and diet, although I still prepped my meals, ate consciously, and played flag football at least twice a week. But now I am back and ready to get back down to business.  

The leaves are changing colors, the mornings are getting colder, and the nights are arriving earlier.  So you know what that means... THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS UPON US!  I personally love the holiday season, but this is definitely a love/hate relationship.  While I live for the food, gift-giving and family time, I recognize the challenges this time of year also brings.  For one, I eat a ton more.  I also tend to exercise less because of the holiday time, televised football and basketball games, colder weather and shorter days, and of course all of the eating.  The holidays are a big weight-gaining time for many people, which explains why the most common New Years Resolution is "to work out more and lose weight". 

During the holidays, my goal is not to get lean and lose weight, per say.  Instead, my goal is to maintain my weight and fitness without losing out on holiday festivities (and of course, the meals).  I enjoy the food and the football too much to miss it, and I'm comfortable with that.  Look, I'm a realist, and reality is I am not going to be able to say no to Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas feast, not going to happen!  (Note: If you are looking for someone to suggest you starve yourself through Thanksgiving and the new year in the name of weight loss, then this is not the blog post for you).  But... I can still be sensible and not get too crazy or give up exercising.  I can also use the time in between each holiday to get back on track.

Thus, to set myself up for success, I have adopted a strategy. After all, those who fail to plan plan to fail.  I call them my "Three Keys to Success in Avoiding the Holiday Bulge" and here they are:

1. Go hard until Thanksgiving:  Until Thanksgiving Day, I get very strict on my diet and exercise regimen to lose as much weight as possible.  This means doing all of the things we've talked about -- eating clean, prepping meals for the week, eating 5 - 6 smaller meals per day to boost metabolism, doing intense cardio 2 - 3 times per week and weight training 3 - 4 times per week, drinking a lot of water, and avoiding alcohol.
2. Go ahead and splurge, but not EVERY day:  Thanksgiving Feast is my favorite.  In my family, we have ham AND turkey, our secret recipe meat stuffing, macaroni and cheese, pie, and a ton of other things.  Unless you have a family of health nuts, or you plan on skipping out on your Thanksgiving plate, overeating on Thanksgiving is inevitable.  To me, this is my cheat meal. But the day after, I am back in the gym to get back on track until Christmas.  The same with Christmas -- I use the week before New Years to get back on track.
3. Get active with the family:  Find ways to incorporate physical activity in to your holiday festivities. The weather can make this one tricky, but finding ways to get active with your family is a great idea for the holidays. In my family, for Thanksgiving, we typically go outside and throw the football which is really fun.  For Christmas, since my brother and cousins are home, we'll often go play indoor basketball or workout together which is also a great idea.

Not rocket science, but pretty important.  Why would you spend two months gaining a bunch of weight that will take you a year or longer to lose?  You can still enjoy yourself, but in  moderation, and with a plan.  Just a thought.

Are You Eating Enough Fruits and Veggies?

Hello my friends!  This morning, I received an e-mail kicking off a fitness and nutrition campaign at my job.  We are being asked to pick a personal challenge from a list and pursue that goal throughout the month of September.  One of those personal challenges is centered around consuming the recommended amount of fruits and veggies each day.  In reading this, I asked myself...

"What IS the recommended amount of fruits and veggies that I should be eating on a daily basis?"  

I realized I really didn't know!  Of course, I remember learning 3 - 5 servings back in grade school, but I can't say that I have corroborated that in the past 10 years.  I asked a friend who told me 6 - 8, which was a big difference.  So... off to google.com I went to do some research.  What I found was a calculator developed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) that can be used to quickly calculate how many servings of fruits and veggies you need per day, based on your age, gender, and activity level.  They also have a handy chart that helps you figure out what a serving size is for different fruit and veggie types.

Here's the link:  http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/fruitsvegetables/howmany.html

I found that I need 2.5 servings (1 serving = 1 cup) of veggies, and 2 cups of fruits per day.  I actually am pretty close to that!  I have fruit for morning and afternoon snacks, and a cup of veggies with lunch and dinner.  I am going to figure out a way to bump up veggies a little bit, but pretty good.  Just another step in educating myself while also keeping you all informed!

Nutrition Tips: Cook ONCE for the ENTIRE Week!

Last night, I had an epiphany.  I was watching Basketball Wives (don't judge) and cooking my clean meals for the week, when it dawned on me, "I've never written on my blog about this!"  So today, I'm fixing that.  I've written more than once about how critical it is for me to eat at home, and plan my meals.  It is impossible for me to eat "out" and still watch my calories, sodium, etc.  I would have to sacrifice something, skip a meal, you name it, to stick to my meal plan.  So, I try to eat at home, where I can control how my food is prepared.  But, for the working woman (or man), eating out is often for convenience too, not just for pleasure.  The fact is, I am so busy with LIFE, it's a task to cook a full meal every night.  To save time, I end up cutting corners, microwaving vegetables, eating cereal, or eating snack foods.

But I have a solution to this!  Instead of cooking every weeknight, what I try to do is spend an hour or two on Sunday preparing my meals for the week.  This is not my own idea -- it is borrowed -- but IT WORKS!  By sacrificing two hours on my Sunday evening, I save way more time on the back end.  I also avoid the chore of figuring out what I am going to eat every evening.  Now, I am by no means self-proclaiming myself as "Chef BoyarBRE"... but the meals I prepped last night look pretty darn tasty, if I do say so myself.  And the best part is, they are 100% CLEAN!

So, what do I typically cook?  Well, I try to maintain a good ratio of carbs : protein : fat (40 : 30 : 30 for those who follow my blog). I think the easiest thing is for me to share the grocery list from yesterday, and the meals I created from it.  Just a reminder -- This is a four day work week because of Labor Day, so my list is a bit smaller than normal:

Grocery List
- 3 large skinless chicken breasts (~8 oz. per breast)
- 1/4 cup panko Italian bread crumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 large piece of salmon (~8 oz. filet)
- 2 zucchini
- 2 yellow squash
- 1 lb. bag of baby carrots
- fresh green beans (2 large handfuls)
- 2 cups brown rice
- sea salt
- Mrs. Dash seasoning
- cajun seasoning
- olive oil
- coconut oil
- non-stick cooking spray

Directions

Meat

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. Line baking sheet with foil and spray generously with cooking spray
3. Beat the egg in a bowl, and place breadcrumbs in a plastic bag
4. Take one chicken breast, coat in egg, and toss in plastic bag to coat with bread crumbs
5. Place coated chicken breast in pan and bake for 25 minutes until cooked
6. Heat frying pan on stove at medium heat with a tablespoon of olive oil
7. Season remaining two chicken breasts (I use Mrs. Dash and sea salt)
8. Place in frying pan, cover, and cook ~6 - 8 minutes on each side until cooked
9. Wipe frying pan and replace olive oil (reheat to medium heat)
10. Season salmon filet (I use cajun seasoning)
11. Place in frying pan, cover, and cook ~4 minutes on each side until cooked

Vegetables

1. Cut zucchini and squash into 1/4 inch slices
2. Heat frying pan on stove at medium heat with tablespoon of olive oil and tablespoon of coconut oil
3. Place sliced zucchini and squash into frying pan and cover
4. Sautee until the zucchini and squash are soft (~15 minutes)
5. While zucchini and squash are cooking, prep green beans (snap off stem edges)
6. Remove cooked zucchini and squash, and place green beans into frying pan
7. Cover and sautee until green beans are soft (~15 minutes)
8. Remove cooked green beans and rinse out frying pan
9. Add 1 cup of water and place carrots in pan
10. Cover and simmer until carrots are soft (~20 minutes)

Rice

1. Boil 4 cups of water in a medium pan
2. Once boiling, add brown rice, reduce heat, cover, and simmer until water evaporates
3. Check and make sure rice is tender (should yield ~4 cups brown rice)

Meals
Lunch #1:  1/2 cup brown rice + 4 oz. pan-roasted chicken (1/2 chicken breast) + 1/2 prepared zucchini & squash
Dinner #1:  1/2 cup brown rice + 4 oz. salmon (1/2 salmon filet) + 1/2 prepared green beans
Lunch #2:  1/2 cup brown rice + 4 oz. oven-fried chicken (1/2 chicken breast) + 1/2 prepared zucchini & squash
Dinner #2:  1/2 cup brown rice + 4 oz.  pan-roasted chicken (1/2 chicken breast) + 1/2 prepared carrots
Lunch #3:  1/2 cup brown rice + 4 oz.  pan-roasted chicken (1/2 chicken breast) + 1/2 prepared zucchini & squash
Dinner #3:  1/2 cup brown rice + 4 oz. salmon (1/2 chicken breast) + 1/2 prepared carrots
Lunch #4:  1/2 cup brown rice + 4 oz. pan-roastedchicken (1/2 chicken breast) + 1/2 prepared green beans
Dinner #4:  1/2 cup brown rice + 4 oz. oven-fried chicken (1/2 chicken breast) + 1/2 prepared zucchini & squash

There you have it!  My meals aren't very fancy, but they work for me.  Of course, I have friends who get a bit more creative.  Some use shrimp and other types of seafood, make stews and soups, or incorporate veggies like kale, sweet potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, etc.  The key is to plan!  Plan, plan, plan!  It's essential.  Each of my meals yields ~300 calories, which is perfect for a 5 - 6 meal per day meal plan.  It only took me ~90 minutes to do the above this week, and I've saved all meal prep time during the week because of it.  For breakfast, I'm eating yogurt and oatmeal bars right now, so no preparation needed for breakfast either.  And snacks are fruit (peaches, grapes, berries, etc) and peanut butter or granola.  

How To Avoid "Plateau"-ing in Your Exercise Routine

pla.teau (v)

/pla'to/

To reach a state of little or no change after a time of activity or progress. Every article I write is inspired by my current state-of-being in some way. And this post is no different. The past couple of weeks, I've been feeling a bit uninspired in my exercise routine. Admittedly, I haven't been feeling as compelled to go to the gym as I once did, and when I did go, I didn't have very good workouts by my standards. In times like these, I do tend to focus more on my nutrition to avoid weight gain, but from a muscle-gaining perspective, that won't happen if I don't take my butt to a gym and pump some iron. This kind of "crossroad" means it's time to add some variation to my workouts! To re-fuel and re-inspire, I take a look at my workout routine and identify areas where I can switch things up a bit. Variation not only gets me excited to workout again, but it shocks my muscles and stimulates new growth to ensure I'm physically progressing as well. For the latter reason (even for those who absolutely love working out all the time and NEVER experience lows...yea right), adding variation into your routine is extremely important in progressing instead of plateauing. So, how does one add variation? What does that mean? Well, here are a few techniques I use to add variation to my workout routine... 1. "Reverse Reps" This is when you alter the way you actually lift the weight. Think about performing a simple bicep curl. Usually, you begin with arm down by your side, with the bicep muscle relaxed. To begin the curl, you increase tension in your bicep muscle and curl your arm up, then release and place your arm by down by your side. And that's one rep. A "reverse rep" alters the way you perform the rep. Instead of the typical bicep curl, you would increase the speed of the first part of the set, curling your arm very quickly in an explosive motion. But as you release the curl, you would do so much more slowly, continuing to squeeze your bicep and control the pace of lowering your arm back down to your side. This "reverse" motion will stimulate your muscle fibers and trick your muscles into thinking you are performing an entirely different routine. Add throughout your routine. 2. "Drop Sets" A drop set is another way to change the way you perform a set of your preferred exercise. Let's use leg extensions as an example this time. Typically, when you perform a set of leg extensions, you add on enough weight to do 8-12 reps, bang out the set, and then rest for 30 seconds until your next set. For a drop set, after completing that 8-12 rep set, you would immediately "drop" the weight down to a lighter weight and go right into another set of 8-12, with no rest in between. You could even drop the weight again for a third immediate set at even lighter weight. This will completely exhaust your muscle and ensure you've hit every muscle fiber. A great way for muscle gains! I recommend only performing a drop set as your last set of each exercise (Ex: I perform four sets of leg extensions, and my fourth set is the drop set). 3.  Adding in New Exercises Every so often, you will also need to add in completely new exercises to your routines. For my leg workouts, every six months or so, I'll add a new workout to my leg routine. Currently, I am adding in front squats to the very beginning of my workout to warm up my quads, glutes and hamstrings. Front squats are tricky, but they are a good way to work your legs and core. The position of the squat bar on your chest instead of your neck/shoulders forces good posture and requires a solid abdominal pose to complete successfully. 4.  Higher Rep, Lower Weight Sets This is when you lift less weight then you typically do, but perform a higher number of reps. Think of a chest fly. Instead of pushing the weight up as high as possible for an 8-12 rep set, you would decrease the weight and complete a set of 25-30. This stimulates the muscles in a different way, improving muscle endurance instead of sheet strength. Higher reps also increase the calories burned during your workout, so this type of variation is good if you are looking to cut fat. I typically perform one week of higher rep, lower weight workouts every three months or so. This list is by no means exhaustive, but hopefully it gets your mental juices flowing. The important thing is to be creative, instead of repetitive, in your exercise approach. Good luck!

Healthy Meal Planning! (What I'm Eating These Days...)

Hola!  It's been a couple of weeks (took a vacation, catching up on work, yada yada yada...) but today I'm feeling inspired to share my approach to healthy meal planning.  What I'm hoping is this will help some of y'all keep those calories in check while giving your metabolism a kick in the butt.  If you are like me, you are either...

1. getting older and worrying about gaining weight...
2. afraid of preventable diseases and health ailments...
3. wanting to get lean and lose some fat...
4. concerned about having a balanced, nutritious diet...
5. or... ALL OF THE ABOVE!!

I personally think about all of these, and nutrition and activity are the two biggest factors that can determine whether or not you are successful in avoiding one or more of the above pitfalls of aging.  And to me, nutrition is by far the more difficult and challenging concept to master.  Even as I write this article, I'm painfully aware of my inability to stay on track with my eating ALL OF THE TIME.   With that said, here is some detail on my meal planning!

First things first.  PORTION CONTROL!  Here are some general rules of thumb...

     * 1 teaspoon = the tip of your thumb to the first joint
     * 3 ounces of meat = a deck of cards (or a fist)
     * 1 cup of pasta = a tennis ball
     * 1/2 cup of veggies = a lightbulb
     * 1 1/2 ounces cheese = three dominoes

Ok, so now on to the meal plan.  I've mentioned this before, but I strive for a 40% carb - 30% fat - 30% protein diet.  I also aim for 25g of carbs per day, and ample fruits and veggies.  It's not just calories that are important, but content and timing as well.  Here is what I eat on a typical day...

Breakfast (7AM)
In General:  I try to eat my carbs in the morning because I have all day to burn them off (P.S. Carbs at night are the devil).
Meal:  2 cups Multigrain Cheerios + 1/2 cup skim milk
Calories:  331 calories

Snack (10AM)
In General:  Snacks are metabolism joggers.  It's like feeding a fire with fresh wood to keep it burning.
Meal:  1 cup grapes + 8 oz. Odwalla Superfood juice
Calories:  192 calories

Lunch (12PM)
In General:  Lunch is important, and I try to get a good mix of protein and carbs.  More carbs on workout days.
Meal:  Salad (3 cups romaine lettuce + 3 oz. turkey breast + 1/4 cup shredded cheese + 1/2 cucumber (sliced) + 1 handful olives + 2 tbs. light balsamic dressing) + 1 apple
Calories:  355 calories

Snack (3PM)
In General:  Another metabolism jogger...
Meal:  1 pack Bevita Breakfast cookies
Calories:  220 calories

Pre Workout (5PM)
In General:  I need carbs to energize my workout, but just a little. 
Meal:  1 pack Nature Valley Granola Thin (peanut butter flavor)
Calories:  90 calories

Post Workout (7PM)
In General:  After a workout, you need protein to feed your muscles and aid in recovery. 
Meal:  1 scoop Gold Standard Natural Vanilla Whey Protein + water
Calories:  130 calories

Dinner (8PM)
In General:  Last meal of the day, so I try to avoid carbs and stick to the protein and veggies.
Meal:  6 oz. grilled salmon or chicken + 1 cup veggies
Calories:  360 calories

DAILY TOTAL:  1,678 calories (41% carb - 28% fat - 31% protein)

That's it!  I model my days just like this, with some variation.  For breakfast, instead of cereal, I may do egg whites, turkey sausage, and wheat toast.  Or a smoothie.  But the calories are ~300.  For lunch, I may do a sandwich, but again, calories still around ~350.  Dinner maybe a homemade soup or chili, but still very low on carbs.  

TIP:  The key is the PLANNING.  When I fail to go grocery shopping or make my lunch the night before, that's when I go wrong.  Things like Subway are good for a fill in, but the sodium content is too high for daily consumption.  And it's impossible to control calories when you go out for meals.  That's my opinion, so I try to limit eating out when I'm serious about my nutrition.

Nutrition Tips: Eat This, Not That! Healthy Ingredient Substitutions

(It's been a while since my last post.  Adult life has a nasty habit of getting in the way of the things I enjoy!  But I digress. Before I start rambling, I'd like to thank a good friend of mine who inspired today's blog post (and by inspired, I mean masterminded). Thank you lots!)

If you've read any of my previous blog posts, the next thing I say will be of no surprise to you.  Nutrition is more important than exercise!  It's not rocket science.  But let me offer two bonafide examples to drive the point home.  

• First, when it comes to weight loss, overeating can cancel out any calories you've burned off during exercise.  After all, it's much easier to eat a 1,000 calorie Zaxby's Chicken Finger Plate and drink a 600 calorie Birthday Cake Remix milkshake than to run for 2.5 hours (which is just about what it would take to burn off that 1,600 calorie meal).  And I don't know anyone who runs for 2.5 hours a day, except maybe professional athletes.  

• Second, when it comes to overall fitness (if weight loss is not your primary goal), eating the wrong types of foods can cancel out your workouts and halt your progress.  Bodybuilders eat clean for a reason.  Protein and complex carbohydrates (like wheat) fuel their muscles.  Sugar, enriched flour, and processed foods don't.  You can pump iron all you want, but if you are still eating a ton of sugar, artificial sweeteners and CRAP, then you likely still won't see mass gains or lose weight in those problem areas.

Conclusion?  EAT SMARTER!  A little trick I've learned over the years is "food substitution".  There are basics that everyone should know, like wheat bread for white bread, water for fruit juices and carbonated beverages, and brown rice for white rice.  Another good one is cooking spray for oil, which can be a huge calorie and saturated fat saver.  In addition to these "staples", there are a few surprising food substitutions that you may find useful.  Check them out:

1. Eggs --> Egg Whites - One egg contains 70 calories and a ton of cholesterol. But the egg white alone is only 25 calories while containing most of the egg's protein.  Try substituting eggs whites for your eggs during breakfast, or two egg whites for every egg in your favorite baked good recipe. 
   
2. Seasoning Salt --> Salt-Free Seasoning - High sodium intake is never a good idea.  Try a salt-free seasoning like Mrs. Dash Onion & Herb Salt-Free Seasoning to add flavor to your foods without the sodium. 
   
3. Sugar --> Mashed Banana - This is a wonderful idea (thanks again friend!) to add flavor and potassium to your oatmeal. Mix in a mashed banana, and leave the sugar at the supermarket.  
   
4. Mayonnaise --> Greek Yogurt - Greek yogurt is thicker than regular yogurt and also contains more protein, which helps to keep you full longer.  Try substituting it for mayonnaise the next time you make a batch of tuna or chicken salad.  
   
5. Mayonnaise --> Avocado - Avocados are full of healthy fats and vitamins, so try topping your next sandwich with an avocado instead of processed mayonnaise for added flavor and nutrition. 
   
6. Oil or Butter --> Applesauce - If a baked dessert recipe calls for oil or butter, try applesauce instead.  This is a nifty little trick to lighten up your baked goods!  
   
7. Butter --> Coconut Oil - Butter is a common choice for sauteeing vegetables.  But it is high in sodium and saturated fat.  Try coconut oil instead as a healthier choice (Hint:  It also adds a nice flavor to the veggies).  Even Dr. Oz says so! (Read what he says here)  
   
8. Artificial Sweeteners or Sugar --> Honey - Artificial sweeteners are toxins to your body.  They are not a healthy substitute for sugar, so avoid them.  Sucralose, Aspartame, Acesulfame Potassium... ALL BAD (Read my previous article here).  Try natural honey instead.  
   

It's all about making smart, informed decisions.  Hopefully this helps someone!

The Great RUNNING Debate... Can Running Be Bad For You?

A friend saw this picture and thought of my blog (thank you!) ... what do you think? 

I know what I ORIGINALLY thought -- that this was an exaggeration of the truth.  To be fair, any form of exercise has some benefit, whether cleaning the house on a Saturday or running on a treadmill.  With that said, I think this illustration holds some validity.  I mean... running DOES put alot of stress on your knees and ankles.  But... I had to perform further research around the other claims.

What I found is an article published by NBC Today back in December 2012 about the dangers of long distance running (read article here).  According to Dr. James O'Keefe, head of preventive cardiology at the Mid America Heart Institute and lead author of the British Heart Journal, evidence shows that endurance sports like running may actually hurt the heart in the long-term.  His claim is based on research studies showing subtle signs of heart damage in marathon runners tested right after the end of their races.  See, running increases the blood-pumping function of the heart and places extra stress on the muscle.  While the heart can heal from the damage if given breaks in between runs, continuous running year after year could cause irreparable damage and scarring.

The most frightening evidence in his study?  Marathon runners were found to have the same life expectancy as couch potatoes!  

So what's the answer?  Apparently, the best way to prolong your life is by vigorously exercising – but for no more than an hour a day.  While running may not be bad, running long distances may not be the best idea.  All the more reason to throw in ALOT of weight training.  Feel free to refer to the illustration above if you have forgotten my argument that quickly, it's my "juice" and I plan to use it when convincing others to lift weights from now on [insert evil laugh sound here].

Interesting Article -- Some Foods Are Healthier Than You (AND I) Think...

I spend alot of time tracking what I eat and looking for new ways to keep my protein up and carbs down without sacrificing taste.  Sure, boiled chicken breasts are lean and mean, but tasteless as well (in my opinion of course).  But if I broil a chicken breast with lemon, black pepper and sage on top, it tastes much better and is still good for me.  Eating healthy doesn't have to be a horrible experience.  Food can be healthy AND tasty at the same time (read my article about that here).  But anyhoo, I digress...

Today, I came across an interesting article on one of my favorite nutrition and wellness websites:  http://www.ivillage.com.  iVillage has a whole slew of topics on their site, but I read their "Health" section on a pretty regular basis.  The article I read was titled, "50 Foods That Are Healthier Than You Think".  Nutrition experts were asked to share the unhealthy foods that may be better for our bodies than we actually realize, and turns out there are 50.  Here are some highlights that caught my attention:

Pasta

Moderate glycemic index, high in folic acid, and naturally low in fat

Chocolate Milk

Yummy, and a good post-workout recovery drink

Iceberg Lettuce

Higher in alpha-carotene (antioxidant) than spinach

Dandelions

Apparently good for your liver and your digestion (interesting)

Beer

Moderate intake (1 per day for women, 2 for men) is good for your brain, heart and bones

There were 45 others included as well, so make sure you go read the entire post.  In the meantime, who's ready to go pull and cook up some dandelions!?

Don't Skip the Cardio! (You NEED that too)

I promote weight lifting because I believe in it.  It's what I do.  It's my "thing".  At the same time, though, I also feel compelled to ensure my friends and family also know that weight lifting cannot be your only method of exercise.  Cardio is important!  And for many a reason, not just one.  But to name a few...

1. Weight lifting is not a high calorie burner.  And you need to burn calories to lose weight.
2. Cardio is good for your heart.  Your heart is a muscle too.  
3. Adding muscle has longer term weight maintenance results, but cardio is more immediate.  

Think of cardio like oil changes.  Oil changes are pretty affordable and simple, but critical to your car's maintenance.  You need oil changes fairly frequently, but if you get them regularly, your car stays in good shape longer and you likely won't have to spend tons of money on preventable repairs.  But, if you don't change your oil when you should, you could ruin your engine and have to replace it, which is REALLY expensive.  Cardio is like that.  Three times per week keeps your heart and body healthy and running smoothly.  It also scares off weight gain (in combination with a healthy diet of course).  But if you don't do cardio, you will slowly put on weight and 20 lbs later, you are wondering what happened.

In order to maintain a healthy weight, I propose you incorporate a mix of strength training and cardio into your routine.  Cardio allows you to strengthen your heart and burn those calories you need to burn to lose weight and body fat.  But a wise person knows that adding strength training into your routine will allow you to build lean muscle, which burns more calories 24/7, not just on a treadmill.

My rule of thumb?  I try to do ~45 minutes of cardio two to three times a week.  I spin at the gym, walk/run (in intervals), play football... SOMETHING that gets my heart pumping in that 65% to 85% max heart rate range.  It helps me burn calories and control my weight now, and then I lift weights to build lean muscle to burn calories later.

A Trick to Building Lean Muscle

I've been a self-proclaimed strength training "enthusiast" since college.  It was my trick to fighting off that "Freshman 15", and maintaining my physique.  With extra lean muscle, I quickly learned I could eat what I wanted (sort of) and not gain a bunch of weight (read Why Women Should Lift Weights).

I started researching weightlifting 101 back in college and slowly formulated my training plan, adjusting as I went and paying close attention to how my body would respond.  In summer 2008, after completing my junior year, that's when I probably noticed my physique started to change.  I started to see more definition in my abs and arms, and my leg muscles started to increase in size.  It's a slow process, but today, I can certainly see a difference in my overall physique and I would attribute that to one of my tricks to building lean muscle...

...begin each workout with compound exercises, and leave the isolation exercises for the latter half of your workout.

So, what exactly does this mean?  Well, remember how I split my workouts into "push", "pull", and "legs"? (read about my workout split here)  Each of my workouts is targeting a specific muscle group, and my trick is to incorporate compound exercises into the beginning of the workout, and slowly shift to isolation exercises.

For instance, take "legs" day.  If you've done any amount of research, you've probably noticed most leg workouts start with squats.  Why are squats such an effective exercise?   Because it works multiple leg muscles at the same time.  This is what "compound" essentially means -- you are working multiple muscles during the same exercise.  Other examples are push ups (chest, triceps) and pull ups (back, biceps).

Compound exercises like squats are great because they work the entire leg while also burning more calories in the process.  A squat works your quads, hamstrings, glutes, calves, hip flexors, etc.  To build muscle, you need to stimulate your muscles and then exhaust them. But isolating a particular muscle can result in weak areas that you may neglect.  For example, leg extensions solely work your quad, but forgetting about your hamstrings, calves, etc. limits muscle gains and increases likelihood of injury.  A squat ensures you are working EVERYTHING.  And working EVERYTHING MEANS MORE CALORIES BURNED.

The way I've slowly gained muscle is through compound exercises, that's my trick.  I would encourage you to take a look at your training plan and ensure you are starting with compound exercises.  Isolation exercises aren't as effective as compound exercises, proven fact.  Google it.

You Need a Support System!

Even though I love keeping myself in shape, even I sometimes hit a wall of complacency in my fitness journey.  Even the most motivated person will battle the urge to slack off and be lazy.  For me, it's more of a roller coaster ride.  At times, I'm high up on my motivation curve, and sometimes I'm way down low.  Right now, I'm battling one of those lows.

When I hit a low point, seemingly lacking the willpower to go to the gym and workout, I rely on my network of family and friends who motivate me to get back to it.  It's important to surround yourself with people who share your fitness goals, because those people can build you up and support you through the difficult times.  For me, when I feel like LIFE is so overwhelming that I have no time (or desire) to fit in the gym, I reach out to my supporters.  A good supporter will never allow you to have a pity party and sacrifice your personal goals and progress for something trivial (and the people in my corner don't disappoint!).  

Sometimes all I need is to read an inspiring Facebook status of a friend meeting her fitness goal, or to receive a text from a friend who is telling me not to give up. I lean on them during times like this, and slowly pull myself out of the trenches and get it back into gear one step at a time.  At the end of the day, trivial work and life stressors are not more important than my personal happiness and well-being!   Now, if I could just seem to remember that on a more consistent basis...

Stay motivated, and get a support system in place for those times when you fall off the wagon!

Have a Plan for the Gym .... (Don't Just Use EVERY Machine in There)

Earlier this week, at the gym, I was reminded of one of my pet peeves.  I'm a planner, so I'm sure the following statement is not a shocker coming from me.  But... working out and getting fit requires planning.  Don't just go into the gym and use every machine.  That is what beginners do, but after a week of that, you have graduated to the next level.  Using every machine is a bad idea, and here's why...

1. Your muscles need time to recover.  
2. One set on every machine won't help build muscle.  

Don't get me wrong, SOMETHING is better than nothing.  But you want to gradually formalize a plan.  If you want to build muscle (and you do, refer to my previous post here), then you should have a plan.  Split up your muscle groups and focus on a group during a workout.  That will help you grow your muscles and achieve more of that toned look.

Now... I suppose now would be a good time to share what I do.  I try to add some variation to my routine every 6 - 8 weeks to keep gaining and avoid hitting a plateau.  But, this is generally how I group my muscles:

               Group #1:  "Pull" (Biceps, Back)
               Group #2:  "Push" (Triceps, Chest, Shoulders)
               Group #3:  "Legs" (Quads, Hamstrings, Glutes, Calves) + Abs

Unlike many, I don't work the same group every Monday, etc.  Instead, I try to work each muscle group every four days.  Especially my legs (that's my problem area).

Now... for the actual exercises.  First, I'll preface by saying I lift as much weight as I can within each rep range.  Now, here we go...

Group #1:  "Pull" (Biceps, Back)

Exercise #1 (Superset)
Set	Reps	Exercise	Muscle Group
1	15	Two-Hand Curls	Biceps
	15	Row Machine	Back
* Rest (1 min) *
2	12	Two-Hand Curls	Biceps
	12	Row Machine	Back
* Rest (1 min) *
3	10	Two-Hand Curls	Biceps
	10	Row Machine	Back
* Rest (1 min) *
4	10	Two-Hand Curls	Biceps
	10	Row Machine	Back
Exercise #2 (Superset)
Set	Reps	Exercise	Muscle Group
1	15	Free Weight Curls	Biceps
	15	Overhand Cable Pulldown	Back
* Rest (1 min) *
2	12	Free Weight Curls	Biceps
	12	Overhand Cable Pulldown	Back
* Rest (1 min) *
3	10	Free Weight Curls	Biceps
	10	Overhand Cable Pulldown	Back
* Rest (1 min) *
4	10	Free Weight Curls	Biceps
	10	Overhand Cable Pulldown	Back
Exercise #3 (Superset)
Set	Reps	Exercise	Muscle Group
1	15	Underhand Cable Pulldown	Back/Biceps
	10	Lateral Raises	Back
* Rest (1 min) *
2	12	Underhand Cable Pulldown	Back/Biceps
	10	Lateral Raises	Back
* Rest (1 min) *
3	10	Underhand Cable Pulldown	Back/Biceps
	10	Lateral Raises	Back
* Rest (1 min) *
4	10	Underhand Cable Pulldown	Back/Biceps
	10	Lateral Raises	Back

Group #2:  "Push" (Triceps, Chest, Shoulders)

Exercise #1 (Superset)
Set	Reps	Exercise	Muscle Group
1	15	Preacher Curls	Triceps
	15	Bench Press	Chest
	15	Shoulder Raises	Shoulders
* Rest (1 min) *
2	12	Preacher Curls	Triceps
	12	Bench Press	Chest
	12	Shoulder Raises	Shoulders
* Rest (1 min) *
3	10	Preacher Curls	Triceps
	10	Bench Press	Chest
	10	Shoulder Raises	Shoulders
* Rest (1 min) *
4	10	Preacher Curls	Triceps
	10	Bench Press	Chest
	10	Shoulder Raises	Shoulders
Exercise #2 (Superset)
Set	Reps	Exercise	Muscle Group
1	15	Cable Pushdowns	Triceps
	15	Chest Press	Chest
	15	Shoulder Press	Shoulders
* Rest (1 min) *
2	12	Cable Pushdowns	Triceps
	12	Chest Press	Chest
	12	Shoulder Press	Shoulders
* Rest (1 min) *
3	10	Cable Pushdowns	Triceps
	10	Chest Press	Chest
	10	Shoulder Press	Shoulders
* Rest (1 min) *
4	10	Cable Pushdowns	Triceps
	10	Chest Press	Chest
	10	Shoulder Press	Shoulders

Group #3:  "Legs" (Quads, Hamstrings, Glutes, Calves) + Abs

Exercise #1
Set	Reps	Exercise	Muscle Group
1	10	Decline Leg Press	Quads/Hamstrings/Glutes
* Rest (1 min) *
2	8	Decline Leg Press	Quads/Hamstrings/Glutes
* Rest (1 min) *
3	8	Decline Leg Press	Quads/Hamstrings/Glutes
* Rest (1 min) *
4	8	Decline Leg Press	Quads/Hamstrings/Glutes
Exercise #2 (Superset)
Set	Reps	Exercise	Muscle Group
1	10	Leg Curls	Hamstrings/Glutes
	15	Standing Calf Raises	Calves
* Rest (1 min) *
2	8	Leg Curls	Hamstrings/Glutes
	15	Standing Calf Raises	Calves
* Rest (1 min) *
3	8	Leg Curls	Hamstrings/Glutes
	15	Standing Calf Raises	Calves
* Rest (1 min) *
4	8	Leg Curls	Hamstrings/Glutes
	15	Standing Calf Raises	Calves
Exercise #3 (Superset)
Set	Reps	Exercise	Muscle Group
1	10	Leg Extensions	Quads
	20	Lunges	Quads/Hamstrings/Glutes
* Rest (1 min) *
2	8	Leg Extensions	Quads
	20	Lunges	Quads/Hamstrings/Glutes
* Rest (1 min) *
3	8	Leg Extensions	Quads
	20	Lunges	Quads/Hamstrings/Glutes
* Rest (1 min) *
4	8	Leg Extensions	Quads
	20	Lunges	Quads/Hamstrings/Glutes
Exercise #4 (Superset)
Set	Reps	Exercise	Muscle Group
1	15	Ab Machine	Abs
	15	Leg Raises	Abs
* Rest (1 min) *
2	12	Ab Machine	Abs
	15	Leg Raises	Abs
* Rest (1 min) *
3	10	Ab Machine	Abs
	15	Leg Raises	Abs
* Rest (1 min) *
4	10	Ab Machine	Abs
	15	Leg Raises	Abs

This is the balance or mix that works for me (you will hear this alot, but everything doesn't work for everyone).  But again, I would encourage you to get a plan.  Please.