So you have the summer body, now what?

Alright so you worked all winter long to get your figure right for summer, now what are you going to do? First and most importantly you can't stop working for your goal just because you acheived it. If you stop working out you will lose that beach bod much faster than it took you to get it (assuming, of course, you did it the right way). You need to find a good maintenance program. Obviously the routine you had worked so I recommend tweaking that a little to last you longer or trying out Female Body Breakthrough my Rachel Cosgrove or The New Rules of Lifting For Abs by Lou Schuler and Alwyn Cosgrove. Both programs are also great if you haven't reached your summer goal yet. They will definetely get you there.
Secondly you have to make sure your eating habits match your body. A bad diet will always overrule a good exercise program no matter how long you've been on that program or regardless of how great the program is or how long you've been doing it. Pick a diet high in protein to help maintain muscle and rich in all nutrients to make sure you are keeping your body healthy. And also remember having a little cheat treat once or twice a week isnt going to ruin your results. So get out there and show off your new bod!
If you have any specific questions on a diet or exercise program for you please feel free to email me or contact me on facebook!

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Athletic shoes, why are you breaking them in?

First off, let me say, if you aren't wearing athletic shoes to work out in I will personally find you and smack you in the head with all the love I have in my heart. Not wearing proper shoes to work out in is a quick trip to knee problems. Whether those problems come quick or later on in life depends on you but know that it will happen. So go to the shoe store and buy a pair of athletic shoes, they don't have to be expensive to be good. Brooks and Saucony make fantastic athletic shoes and they have several pairs to choose from for under $60. NOW, on to my real point of this post.
You should never have to 'break in' your athletic shoes. If you wear your shoes once and you end up with blisters or they just aren't comfortable then that is a big message they are the wrong kind of shoe for your feet. There are all types of shoes for different types of feet. You may have a foot with no arch which means you need a shoe to support that. In the reverse you may have a foot with a high arch. They make shoes for that too. Not every shoe fits every foot. Yeah that pair of Nike shoes may look pretty but they may not be right for your foot.
To find out what kind of arch you have lay down a brown bag and wet the bottom of your foot. Step on the paper bag and then lift your foot. If you see an entire foot print on the bag then you have a foot with no arch. If you see a footprint with a partial middle, then you have a foot with a 'normal' arch. If there is no middle to your print then you have a high arch. Now you know, and now you can go buy a shoe that will fit your foot. A good shoe store will also have someone on staff who can measure your foot and tell you what type of foot you have and what type of shoe you need. Again, I will say, the shoe doesn't have to be expensive to be a good shoe. Don't let them try and up-sale you on an expensive shoe.
Now go get your shoes and get back to being fit!

Any other questions or comments please e-mail me at kwxercise@gmx.com or simply leave a comment below. Thanks for reading!

Bowel habits, someone has to talk about it!

Alright let's talk about something that most people won't want to talk about but, seriously, SOMEONE has to talk about it. SO, why not let it be me? I have all kinds of conversations with my clients. As you have learned so far from reading this blog you know fitness is a very 360 degree concept. It involves much more than just working out or eating right. It takes both of them together in the right pattern for the right person for it to work. A conversation that comes up quite a bit (begrudgingly and in as low of a voice as possible might I add) is how much bathroom habits change after you start eating right and exercising. This is good! It's exactly what is supposed to happen!
I'm always shocked when I hear a client talk about how their normal habits in the bathroom are so shockingly minimal. If you aren't urinating at least twice a day it's a given you need more water. If that urine is yellow you still need more fluids throughout your day. It isn't necessary to drown yourself with water every time that you do drink fluids but just make it more of a habit to drink throughout the day. Always carry a bottle of water with you at work so it's always there and convenient. You'll find that you will drink out of it just because it's there. If you scroll through all my blog entries you will find I talk about water a lot but that is because it is so, so important.
Alright, the other bathroom habit, let's talk about it. I am floored when clients tell me they only excrete solid waste once every three days. THIS IS AWFUL! If you aren't getting rid of your solid waste at least once a day there is A LOT that needs to change. You first need to up your fiber intake which can easily be done with supplements or just eating the right whole grain foods. Second, of course, you need more fluids. This is especially true if passing solid waste is particularly difficult for you. Third, you need to start exercising regularly. This is an awesome cure for bad bowel habits. Trust me, once you start moving on a regular basis, everything inside of you will start moving as well. You know the old axiom right? Regular exercisers are just that, regular. Okay, maybe I just made that up but its true. If you have any serious questions about bad, or difficult bathroom habits your doctor is an awesome person to talk to. Any other questions you know you can always ask me. I talk about this kind of thing everyday.
Coming soon, I know I promised an article about core strength, that will come next so stay tuned!

Getting off the scale, getting a new mindset.

Alright, I'm just going to come right out and say it. I want you to walk over to that awesome new fancy scale you just bought, pick it up, walk over to your trash can, and drop it in. Oh yes, I said it. And I mean it. If you are using your scale as the end all be all means of telling whether you are getting healthier by losing weight, end it now. That is one of the most unhealthy and unreliable methods there is to telling whether you are reaching your fitness goals. You have to get the number out of your mind. The number on the scale means absolutely nothing. I can tell you this, if you are dieting and exercising the way that you should be the number on that scale just may increase. Yes ma'am, yes sir, it just may increase if you are doing everything you are supposed to be doing when looking to make long term healthy changes in your life.
Think about this, if you go from a state of never exercising or exercising sporadicaly to exercising all the time you are going to gain muscle before anything else happens. Muscle is weight, good weight, but still weight. So when you step on the scale for the first time after starting your serious exercise regimen that number is more than likely going to be more than when you started. This is normal. Think of the scale as more of a starting point. Look at your number in the beginning and let that guide you towards your goal. Once you are into your workout routine for a few months, then check it again and see where you have gotten. That's all you should ever use it for.
For my clients I find that measuring inches of extremities and waist line is a more effective approach at measuring results. Your arms are going to change shape with new muscle, same as your legs and your waist will start to get smaller. These new muscles are going to help burn the fat that you want to lose. But you first have to gain the muscle. As I said before, new muscle equals new weight.
Don't let the scale tell you whether or not you're on the right track because no matter how 'smart' your scale is it still has no idea who you are and its just programmed to give a number, a number that really, truly means nothing. Fit and Healthy comes in all different shapes and sizes. So find the shape and size that best fits your body type and get off that scale!