Happy New Year!

Happy 2011 to all of you!

So.....lets talk about New Year's Resolutions:) Mine is to write here in my blog more and spend more time on encouraging my clients and providing them with motivation and education to ensure their success!!

Today is the first of many blog posts coming your way so that I keep my New Year's Resolution! Now I need your help....post your fitness related resolutions here on the comments section of this blog and own them out loud!

First I want to fill you in on what is going on with Hard Corp Training!

1) New Bootcamp style class being held at Pure Athletex in Wexford (formerly Windwood) the class is being held every Saturday @ 11am. Updates or cancellations will be posted on my website. Cost is $10 per class or $5 when you bring a friend!

2) New flavor of Protein Bar! Inspired by the autumn season and Thanksgiving, I created the Pumpkin Raisin bar. Cost is still $3.50 per bar or 6 for $21.

3) I have began a new page on my website called Exercises! in which I have broken down as many exercises as I could and listed them by body part! All you have to do is click on the exercise and it will take you to a linked video in which I show you how to properly perform it as well as some modifications! Check it out...but keep in mind that it's a slow and steady process to film, upload, and link all of those videos, so please be patient with me:)




So here is the good stuff!!! Three things you can do to help you lose weight in 2011!

1) Replace anything you drink with water!!

Anything you drink that contains more than 0 Calories is just wasted and empty calories because of the amount of sugar, and thus carbs, that drinks contain! Put down the glass of OJ and pick up an orange! There is sugar added to the OJ for taste, plus your body burns more calories internally processing the vitamins and nutrients found in the orange. Also, the orange gives you more of that "full" feeling, instead of just drinking the OJ but not really having anything in your belly. Water is our life blood! Diet pops contain so many artificial sweeteners and chemicals that we still don't know all of the effects they cause! Plus, if you are increasing your training regiment or starting a new one, then you will need the water to replace the sweat and remain hydrated! You can never go wrong with good old fashioned water.

2)Get off the Treadmill and into the Weights!

Most people who begin a weight loss program think that the fastest most effective way to lose weight is to walk, jog, and run! While jogging and running are one of the most effective ways to burn calories while you are doing it....it's not always the wisest choice! First off I have to say that anyone, especially this time of year, who begins a weight loss program, does a couple of things! They typically also start a diet, and they begin exercising, or exercising more. They have just done the two most important things that cause weight loss- Take in fewer calories (eat less) - Burn more calories (exercise more) This is why ANY type of exercise or diet you perform out there will work! for a while........but when it comes to keeping them up...we want to pick the smartest and most effective diet and exercise plan.

Running- You need to be in shape to run, not run to be in shape! I liken someone who is overweight and de-conditioned who goes out to run to a contractor who tries to build a house on a beach with no foundation! It may be ok to begin with but the longer you do it or the more stress you put on it........It will break! Pretty soon you have to run farther to burn the same amount of calories you used to burn! Without a good, strong "foundation" your body will get injured!

Resistance Training- This allows you to target specific muscles and muscle groups! So...the weakest points of your body can be fixed and strengthened so as not to allow your body to break! With running there are no corrections being made to weak areas...you are actually providing stress to those areas! With weight and resistance training you can progress simply by adding a few more pounds each week or every other week....that causes you to increase your workload, therefore burning more calories.

I am not saying to never run!!! I am simply saying to make sure you talk to a fitness professional to target weak muscles and strengthen all of them through resistance training before you go out and injure yourself running on a weak frame...and kill your weight loss goals!

3) Change your lifestyle!!!

While you can lose weight by dieting and starting an exercise program, you won't keep the weight off unless you make lifestyle changes! This very simply means to adopt eating habits that will provide success and health for the rest of your life! Sure eating a diet of chicken and broccoli 5x a day will help you lose weight,but are you honestly going to do that forever? Hell no! So educating yourself on what foods are high in protein and low in carbs will give you a much better arsenal of weapons to choose from to ensure your success.

Become a more active person. Involve your kids, your spouse, your significant other, or join a group for help, support, and to share in your fitness goals. Make small changes by parking farther away from buildings, taking the steps instead of the elevator, performing exercises during commercial breaks of your favorite shows.

Above all make sure you hold yourself accountable by seeking help from a Fitness Professional! They will help motivate you, keep you accountable, be able to see and target weak areas, and make it fun for you!