Getting Serious About Your Daily Workout

It may not take long before you want to elevate your daily workout for strength, endurance, and satisfaction. Taking it to another level isn’t as easy as just working harder. Other factors, such as finding the right gear and even changing your diet, come into play. Here are some tips.

CC0 Licensed Image Courtesy of Pexels

Learn to Warm Up Properly

One of the most overlooked parts of exercise by beginners is skipping the warm-up or not doing it right. And this is the most common cause of sprains and other injuries. A good warm-up should last for around 10 minutes and includes jogging on the spot, stretches, and gentle exercise to get the blood flowing. Professionals at gyms like Fitness 19 can show you how to do this correctly and will always welcome the chance to educate you about warming up properly.

Invest in Good Quality Gear

If you don’t use good quality gear such as trainers, sportswear, and accessories, you risk injury. On the lower end, you will just end up paying more when you have to constantly replace the cheap items that wear out quickly. You should always invest in breathable materials for tops, bottoms, and trainers. And buy the best you can afford. You should always feel light and comfortable but also protected. It also helps to buy multiple items to help with laundry.

Use Music in Your Daily Workout

It is very common for people who exercise a lot to listen to music when doing it. Music can help set the tempo for your workout. Meaning you can work to a beat and get good results at the same time. But having your own playlist also means you get to enjoy the music you really like at the same time as exercising. This can help lower your anxiety about exercises and set your mind in the right mood. It helps to invest in quality earphones that won’t fall off when moving.

Take Your Diet Seriously

You may not realize your diet needs to change dramatically to get the best out of working out. What you eat can help or hinder your performance in the gym, and staying away from carbs is a mistake some people make. Carbs give you energy and provide it in short bursts for improved athleticism. Of course, you also need to eat more protein from various meats and vegetables to aid in performance, but mainly for muscle regeneration. And avoid “energy” drinks at all costs.

Supplement Your Intake

Even when you eat right, you may not get all you need for the best workout. Vitamin and mineral supplements are excellent for topping up anything you may lack and can boost your workout in the right combinations. Vitamin B compounds, zinc, and magnesium are excellent for overall health and performance. But of course, these cannot make up for a poor diet. And try to limit vitamin drinks and foods that come with extra sugars, caffeine, and other harmful substances. 

Summary

Your daily workout can become much more effective with some small changes. You must learn to warm up correctly, work to your favorite music, and boost vitamin intake with supplements.

Get Grounded with Athletic Wear for Comfort and Sustainable Living

If you’re the type that lives in yoga pants, look no further than DHVANI. The innovative brand has taken its commitment to design premium athletic apparel and blended it with their Earth-conscious mission, creating an all-around collection that consumers feel good wearing and owning.

The staple of most athletic apparel – sports bras, yoga pants – is now elevated to focus on quality and sustainability. The brand uses custom sustainable fabrics like Aranya (bamboo) and ReNu (recycled plastic bottles) to make a difference in its clothing line. They’re passionate about active lifestyles that care for the planet and give back to the community.  Together, everyone can make a measurable impact on the health of our planet—for ourselves, our families, and our future. Join them on their mission.

 

Activ(ist)Wear by DHVANI – Transforming Trash Into Treasure

 

The Naked Collection

  • A buttery-soft, second-skin feel that you’ll want to live in 
  • Find the perfect pair of matching bra and bottoms in an assortment of colors
  • Supportive sports bras in two styles
    • Athleisure bras and full support sports bras
  • Flattering, high-waisted bottoms in three lengths
    • Leggings, shorts, and capris

 

The Terra Collection

  • The best athletic wear on Earth
  • Constructed from ReNu, the brand’s proprietary fabric made from recycled plastic bottles
  • Leggings and bras in black, blue, and coral offerings

 

The DHVANI mask

  • 2 Layers of 100% Cotton
  • Adjustable Ear Loops to Fit All Faces
  • All Proceeds Go to Providing A Mask for Every American

 

Yemojá Microplastics Filtering Wash Bag

  • Prevent pilling, fading, and loss of stretch while preserving the life of your synthetic garments
  • Help to keep microplastics out of our waterways to protect oceans, rivers, and aquatic life
  • 30 inches x 20 inches
  • Made from 100% FDA approved food-grade polyamide

 

Buy One, Plant One:

DHVANI plants a tree with every purchase. The brand has partnered with One Tree Planted to help with the reforestation of Australia’s 8.8 million acres of bushfire destruction. The area is home to koala, wombat, and kangaroo habitats which desperately need to be restored and rehabilitated for years to come.

For more information, visit https://www.dhvani.com or contact thresa@teamchicexecs.com.

 

About DHVANI:

DHVANI’s mission is to create beautifully crafted and ethically manufactured Activ(ist)Wear while pioneering the most innovative and sustainable fabrics on earth. Follow them on Instagram @dhvaniwear.

 

Make Positive Changes to Your Life Right Now

You need to do as much as you can to make positive changes in your life this year. It is so essential to think about what you can do to make your life better, and this is something to consider. Making the right changes can have a major impact on the way in which you take your life forward to new and more positive places, and this is important. Having an exercise regimen can prove to be hugely helpful when it comes to improving your life in the process.

2020 has only just begun, and there is more than enough time to transform your life in the right way. So many of us need to be doing as much as we can to work out the best possible ways of improving our lives in the process. Do what you can to make the changes you feel will most benefit your life, and these are some of the things you can do right now to get the best possible outcome.

Get Fitter

Make sure you work on your physical condition and try to do what you can to get fitter and healthier as much as possible. There are a lot of things that play a part in this, and you are going to need to focus on what it takes to make the most of this moving forward. Having an exercise regimen can prove to be hugely helpful when it comes to improving your life in the process. Keeping fit improves your health and well-being, and this is massively important for the future.

 Take up a New Hobby

Another thing to think about when you are serious about taking things to the next level is to consider taking up a new hobby. This is something that can have a massive impact on your home, and it will make a major difference to the interests and experiences you have in your life. Do what you can to find the best hobbies and interests you can, and make sure you take them forward in the right sort of way.

 Improve Your Home Entertainment

 There are some excellent ways of improving your home entertainment, and choosing the perfect Sky TV package is one of the best ones. As you can see from this article entitled Sky Entertainment: What’s in the Basic Sky TV Package? There are more than 300 channels to choose from, and you can combine the package with broadband. Sky offers a wonderfully affordable package deal, beginning at as little as $22 per month!

Go on Holiday

Something else you can do to make positive life changes is to make sure you go on holiday more. This is a great way of being able to relax and unwind, as well as opening your mind to new experiences. Make sure you get away from the stresses of regular life for a while, and go and see the rest of the world.

As you might imagine, you have a lot to think about when it comes time to improve your life, and this is something you are going to need to focus on. Make the most of the different elements of your life that can have a major impact on you moving forward, and try to do what you can to get this right as much as possible.

Sweat It Out: Best Workouts for When You’re Sick

With so much news about the “coronavirus” and the flu, Cat Kom, founder and lead trainer of Studio SWEAT onDemand, thought about putting together a list of exercises that people could perform, (not when having a serious illness like those strong viruses, but at least) when not feeling so well.

Being sick is never fun, but it’s even worse when you’re a devoted fitness aficionado. Feeling a little ill can mean needing a few days off, but skipping a workout could throw your routine all out of whack.

So if you’re feeling a little sniffly but still wanna get back on the fitness saddle, here are some ways you can exercise when you’re sick.

Walking or Jogging

I get it, being stuck inside isn’t fun, and lying in bed all day can actually make you feel worse. Although hitting the pavement for some sprints or going on a strenuous 10-mile hike probably isn’t a great idea, some light walking or jogging can do wonders for a cold. Even just a short 20-minute walk…

Yoga

Whether you’re in the midst of a cold or in perfect health, yoga is a go-to workout for increasing flexibility and building strength in a low-impact way. When you’re feeling a little under the weather, a nice yoga flow can help…

LISS on the Spin Bike

Love spin so much that you just can’t bear to miss a day? Us too! But sometimes, you gotta make sacrifices for your health. Although you might not be able to make it through a tough spin class, you can still get a little biking in. I recommend…

Water Aerobics

Being sick can really drain your energy, making it hard to do intense workouts, so you probably won’t be swimming laps. But you can still get in the water by doing a gentler workout like water aerobics. It’ll give you the same movements, but with a little extra help from the water holding you up… If you’re feeling worse than just a cold (we’re talking fever and chills), definitely get back in that bed and rest up. But if you do choose to get some exercise in when you’re not feeling your best, be sure to take it slow.

Missing out on a workout is no fun, especially if the alternative is cough drops and tissues.

So if you’re looking for a way to still get that group class in from the comfort of your own home, check out a 7-Day Free Trial from Studio SWEAT onDemand. Our huge library of on-demand workouts features passionate trainers and classes like TRX, HIIT, and Spin, plus low-impact workouts like yoga and Pilates. Remember, it’s all about feeling better, so make sure you listen to your body, even if that means an extra rest day… or three.

How To Feel More Empowered As A Woman

There are some women who just seem to have everything in place; their lives are going somewhere, and they are – perhaps most importantly – powerful. It can be tempting to look at these women and compare their lives to our own and come up lacking. Yet this is not a helpful way to look at things. Rather than regretting that our lives are not ‘as good’ as theirs, why not try to make changes to make our lives better? Why not become more empowered and change everything else around you? It’s not as difficult as you might think once you make a start and really work at what you want in life. Read on to find out more.

Featured Photo from TooFab

Do More Exercise

Does it seem odd that the very first suggestion on how to become more powerful in your life as a woman is to do more exercise? Perhaps so, but it does make sense once you think about it. Although exercising more is about losing weight and getting fitter and healthier, there is more to it than that. These are great things, but what else can exercise do?

Exercise puts us in complete control of our bodies. When we exercise, we can choose how to go about it and how much or how little to do each day. When we skip a day, it is on us. When we push through our boundaries, that is all down to us too.

The power that comes with taking charge and being in control of this element of our lives is enormous, and it’s something that can lead to positive and much better self-confidence altogether.

Not only that, but exercise removes stress and negativity, replacing it with calmness, happiness, and positivity. When you have this, you can think more clearly about your life and the direction you want it to take.

Stand Up For Yourself

Standing up for yourself is scary. It takes a lot to be able to get out of your comfort zone and to speak out about things that you believe in. However, it is also so very empowering, and it makes you feel happier too. Keeping everything in because you are afraid of saying the wrong thing or offending someone isn’t healthy; you’ll never get to express your opinion, and over time you’ll even start to think that your opinion isn’t valid and that no one is going to want to hear it.

This should never be the case. Everyone has the right to express their opinion, and as long as you do it in a way that is meant positively and you don’t intentionally go out of your way to hurt someone or be obstructive, then you must speak out and stand up for your beliefs.

When you start to do this, you will also start to believe in yourself more and be more empowered and confident as a result. Other women will see you confidently and concisely expressing your opinions and holding down an argument if someone disagrees (or realizing your mistake and admitting to it if that is the case), and they could well be inspired.

Have Standards

There are all kinds of areas of your life where standards are important. Putting your own standard mark onto those things and accepting nothing less will help you to feel and be empowered. Take your home, for example. If your standards are that it always needs to be clean and tidy, then make sure it is. Once you let your standards slip, you will find you feel less confident and your power is diminished.

The same is true of anything. At work, you should have certain standards that you hold yourself to and that you hold others too – without being overly judgemental, of course. This way, people will respect you and you will be more productive.

You can even have standards when it comes to the way you dress and look. If something isn’t right, take the time to change it; clothes that fit you well can make a huge difference. A hair transplant can boost your confidence and make you feel better about yourself. A regular spa day can reset tired muscles and help you to feel brighter and happier.

Do what it takes to help keep your standards up and you will be empowered – everything is your decision to make.

Say No

Saying no when you need to is one of the most empowering things you can do in your life. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of always agreeing to do things, even if they aren’t going to benefit your own life or they are detrimental.

If you want to do something and you are able to, then say yes. If you don’t want to do it, it is going to cause you upset, or you cannot carry out the task, then don’t be afraid to say no. It’s hugely empowering.

Collaborative Post

 

 

Fitness Wear Goes High-Fashion for Fall #GymGoals

Fitness wear goes high-fashion for fall.  Whether it be leggings with lace-up detail at the waist, burn-out prints or drape back long sleeve tees….these trends take you from cardio dance class to coffee with the ladies in style.  Marika Workout Wear and Ellie Workout subscription boxes bring you the latest and greatest styles every month.

Marika is ahead of all workout trends with a team of designers who deliver styles that are fashionable and flattering for all body styles.

Check out one of the August collections from Ellie for just $40/month for all 3 pieces.

Marika is ahead of all workout trends with a team of designers who deliver styles that are fashionable and flattering for all body styles.

 

 

Mother’s Day Gift Guide : Something for The Fashionista, Beauty Enthusiast, and Athletic Mama

We have a little something for the mom in your life whether she’s a Fashionista Mama, Athletic Mama, or the Beauty Enthusiast.

MARSTÉ 
for the “Fashionista Mama” – available at marstefashion.com
Why Mom Needs Marsté: Marsté is made of high-quality material with attention to details. Marsté is designed for real women with real curves and runs size 0-22. 
1. Seattle High-Lo Sweater ($90) with Madrid Bodycon Midi Skirt ($90)
2. London Long Cardigan ($160) pairs well with [as seen in the right corner) Moscow Pleated Trouser ($90) & Rio Tank Bodysuit ($40)
3. Berlin Snap Midi Dress ($140)
4. Dubai Ruched Maxi Dress ($75)
5. Nairobi Wrap Skirt ($80) with Monte Carlo Back Zip Bodysuit ($60)
Makeup Geek
for the “Beauty Maven” available at Target, Target.com and at makeupgeek.com
Why Mom Needs Makeup Geek: This budget-friendly makeup brand is kind your pockets and is the animals with cruelty-free products.
1. Makeup Geek Brow Duo – 1oz ($12.99)
2. Makeup Geek Eyeliner ($11.99)
3. Makeup Geek Iconic Lipstick – 0.07oz ($14.99)
4. Makeup Geek False Lashes Graceful – 1 Pair ($7.99)
5. Makeup Geek Highlighter Compact – .25oz ($19.99)
6. Makeup Geek Eye Shadow Summer Surprise – 4ct ($21.99)
7. Makeup Geek Eye Shadow Purple Passion – 4ct ($21.99)
8. Makeup Geek Eye Shadow Naturally Nude – 4ct ($21.99)
IBKÜL 
for the “Fit Mama” – available at ibkul.com (select styles available on Amazon.com)
 
Why Mom Needs Ibkül: This activewear is fashionable and can go from the tennis court or golf course to a leisure outing with the kids. IBKÜL is moisture wick and has an Icefil technology in the fabric that decreases your body temperature as you sweat and move. 
1. Andrea Print Mock Neck Top 10176 ($96)
2. Ariel Print Long Sleeve Polo 11177 ($96)
3. Solid Short Sleeve Polo (available in long sleeve Polo 81000 – $88)
4. Lucky-Key Print Skort with Faux Wrap 26287 ($98)
5. Zazu Print Sleeveless Mock Neck Dress – 56291 ($126)

Mother’s Day Storefront Now Live: Amazon Curated List

Mother’s Day is coming up, and whether you’re searching for something for a new mom, mother-in-law, grandmom or dog mom, Amazon is here to help. Today, Amazon launched its new curated Mother’s Day storefront to help customers find the perfect gifts to celebrate mom this year (and all year round). The storefront offers an incredible selection of quality, top-rated items for moms – with top picks across beauty, fashion, home, electronics, sports and more. Check out some of our favorite gift ideas below, and amazon.com/mothersday for even more.

Seeking additional inspiration to celebrate mom this year?

  • Inspired gifts for everyone in your life. Amazon’s Gift Finder is the easiest way to find mom a gift she’ll love. Encourage mom to put together her own Amazon Wish List to ensure she gets exactly what she wants this year.
  • Shop fashion designer and television personality Whitney Port’s favorite handcrafted gifts for mom, on Amazon Handmade.
  • Give mom the gift of a sparkling clean house with help from Amazon Home Services
  • Give mom the gift of entertainment on-the-go with an Audible membership.
  • Prime makes every mom’s life easier, so what better gift is there this Mother’s Day? Visit amazon.com/giftprime to get your loved one three months ($39) or one year ($119) of Prime. In addition to unlimited fast, free shipping, Prime members enjoy unlimited access to award-winning movies and TV episodes with Prime Video, more than two million songs and thousands of playlists with Prime Music, unlimited access to Prime Reading, one free pre-released book a month with Amazon First Reads, and more!
  • Support a local small business and shop for mom on Amazon Storefronts.
  • For even more great Mother’s Day options, check out Amazon Home’s gift guide, which offers inspiring gift ideas for every mom including the mom who loves to cook, the entertainer, the gardener, and more. Also shop favorite picks from Martha Stewart, Giada DeLaurentiis and Cortney Novogratz at www.amazon.com/mothersdaygiftguide.
  • Want to show your mom how much you care with music? Amazon Music customers can simply ask, “Alexa, play the ‘Dear Mama’ playlist” in the Amazon Music app for iOS and Android, or on all Alexa-enabled devices. Or, if you’re looking for a soundtrack to stream while making a nice breakfast for mom, try “Alexa, play music for Mother’s Day Brunch,” to hear hits by Dua Lipa, Khalid & Normani, Shawn Mendes, and many more.

A Few of Our Favorite Gift Suggestions for the ….

Foodie Mom

 

Design-Loving Mom

 

Active Mom

 

Beauty-Loving Mom

 

Fashion-Forward Mom

 

Pet Mom

 

Techie Mom

 

New Mom

 

Book Loving Mom

ZUMBA BLOCK PARTY FOR AUTISM AWARENESS at The Summit Birmingham #TheSummitBham

Grab your cute leggings and get ready to hit the dance floor!  The Summit Birmingham will host a Zumba Block Party for Autism Awareness.

If you follow my Instagram Stories account, you know that I am a huge fan of Zumba fitness.  It’s a fun way to break a sweat, stay healthy, and dance to Latin music.  I normally take Zumba classes at the local YMCA but looking to join the dance party on April 26th from 6:00-9:00 p.m.

Featured Photo from The Summit Birmingham

The event is requesting that everyone wear blue and offer $10 donations in support of the Autism Society of Alabama.

According to the site, “After the fitness experience, be sure to check out Athleta’s After-Party in-store! Bring your friends, bring your spouse, bring your Zumba bestie and help raise money for Autism Awareness!”

Click here to learn more:  ZUMBA BLOCK PARTY FOR AUTISM AWARENESS

PBFit All Natural Peanut Butter Powder: Healthy Product Review

Let’s pause for a moment to talk about health and fitness.  This topic’s important not just because it’s almost swimsuit season.  Being healthy has a huge impact on our well-being in terms of living well.  A few of my fellow Instagram buddies made the suggestion of drinking meal replacements in the mornings to shed a few pounds.

If you’re a fitness enthusiast we all know the unappealing taste of meal replacement powders.  Yuck.  PBFit has created a new powder that sheds pounds with the delicious taste of Peanut Butter.  This yummy powder can be added to smoothies, shakes, and waffle batter!

Product Review:

I received the product last month because I am eager to shed a few pounds before summer!  My morning routine includes drinking a smoothie to ensure that I’m getting the right amount of fruits and vegetables.  I also love peanut butter and this was an easy option as a mid-morning snack.

The flavored powder tasted delicious and I can’t wait to create more recipes with the mixture.  We all know that eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich has the same amount of calories as eating a candy bar.  PBFit has 90% less fat and it’s made with real peanuts.

Let’s take this fitness journey together and try PBFit recipes.  It’s a fun and easy way to get fit and eat well too!

Healthy Snack with Apple

Chocolate Strawberry and Banana Smoothie Recipe

2 Bananas

10 Strawberries

1 teaspoon of Coconut Oil

2 TBsp of Chocolate PBFit

8 Ice Cubes

2 cups of water

Blend the ingredients and enjoy!