Tips on How to Feel & Look Your Best

"How can I lose weight?" "What should I eat?" "How do I exercise?"

These are some of the questions that I'm asked quite frequently - whether it's a colleague from work or a close friend. 

I understand that some people don't even know where to begin. 

Let me give you a short list - to help you get started. Getting on the right track to looking & feeling healthy can be difficult at first. However, it's very doable - if you have the willpower.

Where You Can Cut Calories

1. Omit the cheese. Did you know that a slice of cheese on a sandwich can add an extra 100-150 calories?
2. Drink lots of water. Many times we think we are hungry - but really, we're thirsty!
3. No fast food. This is a killer to your diet. After taking this out for 2 weeks - you won't have a craving.
4. No soda. Sugar, sugar, sugar.
5. The less bread, the better. Opt for wraps (for sandwiches), brown rice or quinoa for your carbs.

I never said this was easy - but it's good to be aware what's bad for you & where you can substitute! 

Exercise Is Key

1. Cardio: run, walk or ride a bike. If you're not sure how to exercise - start with cardio. This is the foundation - and where the pounds will shed.
2. Be consistent. Workout at least 4 times a week. One hour of your day is nothing - it's only 5% of your day!

If you start by being aware of what you're eating & throw in some exercise - then you'll start seeing the pounds come off.

I'll post more tips soon!

...xox...

Liz

Catch Me If You Can

Before I share with you some of my favorite exercises and routines that I use on a weekly basis - I want to go over one basic fact:

Cardio is your best friend.

I don't know about you - but I think the most beautiful, healthy & fit body is: toned, long & lean. (This DOES include curves.) How do you get this type of body? Step #1 - add cardio to your workout. 

What is considered cardio?

• Running (my personal favorite)
• Swimming
• Biking/Cycling
• Dancing
• At the gym, you can use the elliptical & treadmill.

Cardio is an entire body workout. If you do the proper amount of cardio each week, you will notice your body changing and becoming more and more toned.

Sometimes people don't realize that if you do 500 crunches a day - you will never see results unless you add cardio to your fitness routine.

Cardio, actually, is a fantastic ab workout. Have you ever been in a cycling class and the instructor told you to "suck your stomach in to your spine"? That is because your abs are powering you through the workout.

Other than my daily runs every week - I probably only work on my abs 2x a week. It's all I need with all the cardio I do!

So, how much cardio do I do in one week? I run 5x a week and try to do a cycling class 1x a week - which makes a total of 6x per week. 

That can be a lot to some people - but I do recommend that you do cardio 4x per week for at least 45 minutes. When I run outside or at the gym, I usually run anywhere from 45 minutes to one hour. I rarely have a cardio session that's less than 45 minutes.

Try adding cardio 4x a week - and let me know what happens! ;)

Princess Running Shoes

...xox...

Liz