Here are 4 tips and tricks to get your butt in gear:
Tip #1 | Is your Trainer a Fitness Professional?
Having a trainer helps to hold you accountable and keeps you consistent. When looking for a trainer make sure that they have a 4-year degree in either Exercise Science, Athletic Training, Health, and Human Physiology or Kinesiology. Another thing to look out for is making sure they hold a certification from NSCA, ACSM, ACE or NASM. Those of us that have the education, experience, and certifications to back it up have decided to make health and wellness our careers so we have the best information to help you achieve results.
Tip #2 | Eat Your Pasta and Still See Results
Optimal nutrition = optimal performance. But that does not mean that you need to stop eating your favorite dishes! By cooking your foods at home and with nutrient-dense ingredients you can transform your favorite foods so that you can still consume them and see results. Here is an example recipe to try – 20 Minute Lemon Broccoli Pasta Skillet. You could even enhance the recipe by using whole-wheat, brown rice, or quinoa pasta rather than white.
Tip #3 | Light Sources Decrease Your Quality of Sleep
Take a look at your before-bed routine. If you tend to watch t.v., look at the computer or scroll through your social media pages that send mixed signals to your brain that you should still be awake. Our bodies naturally increase in cortisol levels when we are exposed to light sources and increase in melatonin as the sun starts to set. But we have created artificial light sources through electricity and our technology devices that could be preventing our bodies from going through this natural chemical process and having better sleep. Try these relaxation techniques before bed that may help rather than resorting to sleeping aid pills. You can also give these tips a try from sleepadvisor.org, 45 Sleep Mantras Better Than Counting Sheep.
Tip #4 | Keep up your Mobility and Flexibility
Yes, strength training and cardiovascular exercise is important but don’t forget about stretching. If we continue to exercise but aren’t focusing on the recovery we increase our risk of injury since the result would be an increase in stiffness and rigidity. You can make sure you are doing enough by stretching after your workouts, using a foam roller, or using a mobility ball to keep you loose. Want to learn more? Check out the article on our Physical Therapy website, Why Should you Stretch? Static Stretching Explained. or our recent article Be Like Gumby and Take Your Health & Mobility to the Next Level.
///
Want to learn more about Bridal Boot Camp and Bride and/or Groom Personal Training at Performance Health & Fitness? Sign up for a FREE 30-Minute Strategy Session with a certified personal trainer and we'll help you find the resources and information needed to reach your personal goals.
