بلاگ

  • 10 Simple Home Workouts for Busy Professionals » Go Fitness PRO

    10 Simple Home Workouts for Busy Professionals » Go Fitness PRO


    Home Workouts for Busy Professionals: As a busy professional, finding time to exercise can seem like an impossible task. Between early morning meetings, tight deadlines, and family obligations, it can feel like there’s no time left in the day for your health. But here’s the good news: you don’t need to spend hours at the gym or have special equipment to stay fit. With these 10 simple home workouts, you can squeeze in a quick yet effective fitness routine that fits your schedule and helps you stay energized, strong, and stress-free.

    1. Bodyweight Squats

    If you want to work your legs and core, squats are one of the best exercises you can do, and the best part is, you don’t need any equipment. Bodyweight squats are simple and effective.

    How to do it:

    • Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, with your toes slightly pointed outward.
    • Lower your body as if you’re sitting down in a chair, making sure your knees stay behind your toes.
    • Keep your chest upright and your back straight as you squat down, then push through your heels to stand back up.

    Why it’s great for you:
    Squats target your legs, glutes, and core, helping to build strength and improve balance. Plus, they’re easy to do in a small space and don’t require any equipment.

    Home Workouts for Busy Professionals

    2. Push-ups

    Push-ups are a classic, full-body exercise that focuses on your chest, shoulders, and triceps. They’re perfect for a quick upper-body workout.

    How to do it:

    • Start in a plank position with your hands placed slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
    • Lower your body toward the floor by bending your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
    • Keep your body in a straight line from head to heels, and push yourself back up to the starting position.

    Why it’s great for you:
    Push-ups help build upper body strength and engage your core, making them a fantastic exercise to improve overall strength and posture.

    3. Planks

    Planks are an excellent way to strengthen your core, back, and shoulders. Plus, they’re super efficient, allowing you to work multiple muscles with just one move.

    How to do it:

    • Get into a forearm plank position, ensuring your elbows are directly below your shoulders.
    • Keep your body in a straight line from your head to your heels, and tighten your core.
    • Hold the position for as long as you can, aiming for 30 seconds to start and working up to a minute or more.

    Why it’s great for you:
    Planks are excellent for building core strength and stability, which is crucial for maintaining good posture, especially if you sit at a desk all day.

    4. Jumping Jacks

    Jumping jacks are a simple and effective cardio exercise that gets your heart pumping and works your entire body.

    How to do it:

    • Stand with your feet together and arms by your sides.
    • Jump and spread your legs while raising your arms overhead.
    • Jump back to the starting position.

    Why it’s great for you:
    This exercise boosts your cardiovascular health, helps burn calories, and is a great way to get your body moving quickly without much effort.

    5. Lunges

    Lunges are a fantastic lower-body exercise that targets your legs and glutes. You can do them anywhere, and they’re excellent for improving balance and coordination.

    How to do it:

    • Stand with your feet together.
    • Take a big step forward with one leg, lowering your body until both knees form a 90-degree angle.
    • Push through the front heel to return to the starting position, then switch legs.

    Why it’s great for you:
    Lunges build strength in your legs, glutes, and core, while also improving your balance. Plus, they help prevent the stiffness that comes from sitting all day.

    6. Triceps Dips

    For an upper-body move that specifically targets your triceps (the muscles on the back of your arms), triceps dips are perfect. All you need is a sturdy chair or bench.

    How to do it:

    • Sit on the edge of a chair or bench, placing your hands next to your hips.
    • Walk your feet out a little, then lower your body toward the floor by bending your elbows.
    • Push yourself back up to the starting position.

    Why it’s great for you:
    Triceps dips are great for toning the arms and shoulders, and they can easily be incorporated into a home workout routine.

    Home Workouts for Busy Professionals

    7. High Knees

    High knees are a great way to add some cardio into your routine. This exercise gets your heart rate up while working your legs and core.

    How to do it:

    • Stand with your feet hip-width apart.
    • Jog in place while bringing your knees up toward your chest as high as you can.
    • Alternate quickly between legs, focusing on speed and control.

    Why it’s great for you:
    High knees help improve cardiovascular endurance, strengthen the legs, and boost your energy, making it a perfect quick cardio burst when you’re short on time.

    8. Glute Bridges

    Glute bridges are an excellent exercise to activate and strengthen your glutes, hamstrings, and lower back.

    How to do it:

    • Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
    • Push through your heels and lift your hips towards the ceiling, squeezing your glutes at the top.
    • Lower your hips back down and repeat.

    Why it’s great for you:
    Glute bridges help to strengthen your lower body, improve posture, and reduce the risk of back pain, which is especially helpful if you sit for long periods.

    9. Mountain Climbers

    Mountain climbers are a high-intensity full-body exercise that builds strength and gets your heart rate up. They’re great for a quick workout that challenges your whole body.

    How to do it:

    • Start in a plank position with your hands under your shoulders.
    • Bring one knee toward your chest, then quickly switch legs as if you were climbing a mountain.
    • Continue alternating legs rapidly.

    Why it’s great for you:
    Mountain climbers are fantastic for improving cardio fitness, strengthening the core, and toning your arms and legs in a short amount of time.

    10. Chair Yoga Stretches

    If you’re sitting at a desk all day, it’s important to stretch and relieve tension. Chair yoga stretches are a great way to improve flexibility and reduce stress without even leaving your chair.

    How to do it:

    • Sit up straight in your chair and reach your arms overhead.
    • Slowly stretch your body to each side, then roll your shoulders and stretch your neck.
    • Incorporate seated cat-cow stretches by arching and rounding your back while seated.

    Why it’s great for you:
    These stretches help prevent stiffness, relieve tension in your back and neck, and reduce stress, making them ideal for those who spend long hours working.



    Source link

  • What I Read: November 2023

    What I Read: November 2023


    I read one book in November. Which is a lot less than I usually read. But it was a good one!

    Love, Me by Jessica Saunders

    Comes out on January 16, 2024

    This book was such a delight! Rachel is a lawyer, wife, and mother of two living a relatively normal, although hectic, life in the suburbs. When racy photos of her and her now very famous high school boyfriend leak, her life and marriage get totally thrown for a loop.

    This book is a celebrity-normal person romance AND a second chance romance which are my two favorite tropes. I loved those aspects of it, but what I especially loved was the journey the main character goes on when it comes to who she is and what she wants in life. I can’t wait for everyone to read it when it comes out in January.

    My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars ★



    Source link

  • Spring Clean Your Fitness Routine

    Spring Clean Your Fitness Routine


    Spring Clean Your Fitness Routine: Refresh, Reset, and Recommit

    Maria Sollon, MS, CSCS, PES

    As the first signs of spring begin to show, it’s the perfect time to hit the reset button on your fitness routine. Much like you might clear out your closet or refresh your living space this season, your fitness regimen can also benefit from a little spring cleaning. After all, fitness isn’t just about the physical.  It’s also about resetting your mindset, refreshing your habits, and recommitting to goals that make you feel empowered, strong, and balanced.

    Here’s how you can spring clean your fitness routine and set yourself up for success this season, using your Total Gym and beyond.

    1. Evaluate Your Current Routine

    Before making changes, take a step back and evaluate where you are. What’s working? What’s not? Spring cleaning begins with clearing the clutter both physically and mentally.

    Ask yourself:

    • Are you feeling challenged, or have you fallen into a rut?
    • Are there specific areas (core strength, flexibility, endurance) that need attention?
    • Have you been consistent, or has motivation been slipping?
    • Are there exercises or habits you’ve fallen into that no longer serve you?
    1. Add Variety to Keep Things Fresh

    Just like a stagnant routine can lead to burnout, repeating the same exercises can lead to boredom and plateaus. Use the season’s change as an opportunity to mix things up! Fresh movements can spark new excitement and push your body in ways it hasn’t been challenged yet.

    With your Total Gym, try incorporating a variety of exercises that target different muscle groups and improve mobility, stability, and strength.

    For example:

    • Add some Pilates-inspired moves to improve core engagement and posture.
    • Incorporate Total Gym cardio intervals to elevate your endurance.
    • Challenge your flexibility with dynamic stretching movements that use the glide board.
    • Try functional movements that mimic daily activities that translate into real-life tasks.
    1. Set New Goals

    Spring cleaning isn’t just about decluttering, it’s also about renewal. Revisit your goals and decide if they still align with your bigger picture. Maybe you’re looking to build more strength for an upcoming adventure or increase flexibility to perform better at a sport. Whatever it is, make sure your goals are specific, measurable, and achievable.

    Examples:

    • Short-term goal: Increase your Total Gym plank hold time by 30 seconds.
    • Long-term goal: Complete a full-body workout circuit with both strength and mobility components every week.

    Setting goals that energize you is key to staying motivated as you move into a new season of fitness.

    1. Incorporate Rest and Recovery

    As we shift into warmer weather and outdoor activities, don’t forget that your body needs time to recharge. Spring cleaning your fitness routine also means adding in recovery. Whether it’s foam rolling, stretching, or more rest days, balancing hard workouts with recovery is essential for avoiding burnout and injuries.

    Consider integrating yoga-inspired stretches or foam rolling sessions into your weekly routine to promote flexibility and muscle recovery.  All this can be done on your Total Gym too!

    1. Try Something New

    One of the best ways to break through a fitness plateau is by stepping outside your routine. Whether it’s exploring a new workout style, challenging yourself with a class, or trying different exercises, embracing variety can reignite your passion for fitness.

    Consider taking a class at a local gym or online, moving your workout outdoors, or experimenting with new exercises on your Total Gym. Variety keeps your body engaged and helps you keep progressing.

    Ready, Set, Spring into Action

    Spring cleaning isn’t just for your home, it’s the perfect opportunity to refresh your fitness routine. Use this time to re-evaluate, shake things up, and commit to new goals that leave you feeling stronger, energized, and ready to take on the season ahead.

    Your Total Gym offers the versatility, support, and challenge needed to transform your routine and elevate your fitness journey.  So step into spring with purpose, excitement, and the strength to make it your best season yet!

    Best,

    Maria

    @GROOVYSWEAT  

    Let’s Connect on Social Media



    Source link

  • Why You Need a Big Why

    Why You Need a Big Why


    Entrepreneur Peter Barton was on top of the world.

    Until he wasn’t.

    Barton lived a life everybody dreamed of, took pretty damn good care of himself, and was a great husband and dad to his family.

    And then on one fateful day, his world was shattered:

    A terminal cancer diagnosis.

    Work became less important, other experiences stopped holding meaning; he tried to pick up the pieces while mourning a future he wouldn’t get to live. He wouldn’t get to see his kids grow up or grow old with his wife.

    Barton shared these thoughts and experiences in an absolutely heartbreaking book called Not Fade Away, and one paragraph has always stuck with me.

    One day, Peter’s body was wrecked, succumbing to the cancer, his head ached and his spirit was lower than ever. Defeated, he said to his supportive wife:

    “I just don’t see the point.”

    She replied, “So find one.”

    Finding the point became the point.

    Barton was given a life sentence, and chose to “find the point of life” by writing a book his children could read. A book that other people could read and analyze the meaning in their own lives.

    I was thinking of “finding the point became the point” while revisiting another of my favorite books, inspired by a recent episode on my friend Bretty McKay’s Art of Manliness podcast.

    Man’s Search for Meaning

    Victor Frankl was a holocaust survivor, psychotherapist, and creator of a type of therapy called “logotherapy.”

    After surviving the horrors of Auschwitz and other concentration camps, he wrote the first draft for his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, in nine days.

    He even planned on publishing it anonymously, but at the last second was convinced to attach his name to add some gravity to his story of survival.

    It has since gone on to sell 16+ million copies and be translated into 50+ languages.

    Frankl’s school of thought, logotherapy, is built around the idea that “the meaning of life is to find the meaning of life for each individual person. He often references Nietzsche’s famous saying:

    “He who has a Why to live for can bear almost any How.”

    Throughout this book, Frankl explains his thoughts and reflections on life as he watched thousands of people die or get murdered.

    What’s most striking in this short book is Frankl’s ability to find meaning and hope for humanity amidst one of the worst human atrocities ever committed.

    The second half of the book dives deeper into “logotherapy,” encouraging us to find our own specific “meaning”.

    “The meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour.

    >What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general but rather the specific meaning of a person’s life at a given moment.”

    You might not be diagnosed with terminal cancer, nor suffer the atrocities of a concentration camp.

    But there’s probably been a point in your life where you’re asking, “Why the hell am I doing what I’m doing?”

    We might think asking the question means there’s something wrong with us. That we’re not living in the moment. That we need help.

    Frankl feels differently. He thinks asking this question is critical and healthy:

    “The greatest task for any person is to find meaning in his or her life.”

    What if having that uncomfortable conversation with yourself was actually part of the process?

    What if asking that question was the point?

    Your “Big Why”

    We talk a lot about “What’s Your Big Why?” here in the Nerd Fitness Rebellion.

    If we think about it logically, we’re trying to force ourselves to do things we’re not wired (or required) to do.

    Of COURSE we don’t want to burn extra calories, get up early to exercise, and avoid stuffing our face with comfort foods.

    It requires extra effort, we have to feel hungry, we have to change our behavior. And our brains don’t want to do ANY of that!

    This might not be “meaning of life” type stuff…but it’s a really powerful reminder for helping us stay consistent when life will give us anything but consistency:

    • Why are we going to get up at 5AM and go for a walk when it’s cold outside?
    • Why do we say yes to salads and lean protein when cookies and donuts exist?
    • Why do we sweat (gross) and pick up weights (uncomfortable)?
    • Why do we force ourselves to breathe heavily and run a 5k or say yes to a yoga class where we feel deeply-self-conscious?

    We talk about this a lot with our coaching clients and members of the NF Community:

    Having a constant reminder of WHY we’re doing this can often be the thing that keeps us on track during those toughest moments after the motivation has worn off:

    Maybe we want to break the generational cycle of an unhealthy relationship with food we learned from our parents.

    Maybe we want our children to see that we can be a strong Mom, that it’s okay to sweat and push ourselves.

    Maybe we want to feel better about ourselves when we look in the mirror, or that we know we always feel better after a workout than we felt beforea workout?

    Your challenge this week is to ask yourself why you’re here:

    • Why are you willing to go through the uncomfortable thoughts and feelings that come with change?
    • Why are you willing to try to learn a new skill, or adjust how you eat?
    • Why are you willing to get up early and spend less time on your couch?

    Keep going deeper with your reasons. Keep asking “why,” and see what comes out.

    Write it down.

    Put it on a post-it note and stick one on your fridge, bathroom mirror, car dashboard.

    -Steve

    ###



    Source link

  • Reducing Dietary Junk – BionicOldGuy

    Reducing Dietary Junk – BionicOldGuy


    I just read the book Ultra-processed People, by Chris van Tulleken, about the large amount of highly processed food in our modern diets, which I recommend. I’d always known about obvious kinds of processing like turning wheat into white flour by removing the germ and bran and then grinding up the rest. But the author is further emphasizing things in our food that sound more like they came out of a test tube than a garden, like xanthan gum or monoglycerides. Highly processed food has three main effects, the first is the removal of nutritious components like wheat germ, the second is “predigestion”, for example grinding up fruit in a smoothie which breaks down the cell walls. The third is the additives. I’ve always thought the first two were the more important, which is why brown rice is preferred over white or an apple over apple juice. But the author gives convincing evidence that the additives are not good for us either. He also traces the history of how large food companies like Nestle fairly recently opened up a new market for their products in Brazil, and how this led to a significant increase in obesity in the population.

    It is difficult to rid your diet completely of Ultra-processed food unless you are a good cook and can prepare most of your meals from scratch. But it is definitely possible to cut back. A large contributor of overly processed food in my diet is “treats” like cookies or candy, and it I can definitely try to be more disciplined about eating those less often. Also, there are “boutique” brands of commercial foods like soups and chili that have higher quality ingredients and fewer additives. These can be eaten directly or used as the start of stews or casseroles. Boutique brands are more expensive but the money I save on eating fewer treats can make up the difference. Reading this book has motivated me to try harder on measures like these.





    Source link

  • سلام دنیا!

    به وردپرس خوش آمدید. این اولین نوشتهٔ شماست. این را ویرایش یا حذف کنید، سپس نوشتن را شروع نمایید!