Author: Tiffany Pittman

Holidays are a fun time of the year to enjoy with family and friends. Weight gain can happen to all of us during the holidays. Skipping workouts can easily happen during the holidays and this can knock the most serious gym-goer out of their fitness routine. Having a strong support system, like your family and friends, can aid in your ability to stay disciplined and focused to stay on track with your exercise plans and weight loss goals. Staying fit and active can prove to be useful, not just to you, but also to the rest of your family! Holidays can also add…

Summer is here, and for many people that means taking a nice vacation. Don’t use vacation as an excuse to skip your workout! Because you usually have more time and are less stressed than you are at home, vacation can actually be a great time to try some new activities and exercises. Also, because many people tend to eat more on vacation, you definitely don’t want to pass on that workout. It may take a little creativity, but it will definitely be worth it! Here are some suggestions for staying fit while traveling. #1. If you are staying in a…

Everyone is looking for the secret to losing weight. Everyone wants it to be easy. There is no easy way to lose weight, but there is a secret. It may not be what you want to hear, though. The weight loss formula is basically simple: burn more calories than you consume. How do you do that? Commit to Cardio! Too many people underestimate the importance of cardio in their workout routine. If you truly want to lose weight, you need to be doing a good 45 minute to 1 hour cardio workout 4 to 5 times per week. Less than…

Have you recently made a resolution to eat healthier? Lose weight? Start exercising? Have you already broken that resolution? Don’t despair, it’s not too late. You can start right now. The first thing you need to do is to have a plan. I am always amazed at the people who say, “Next week I will start eating healthier” or “Next week I will start to exercise” but they have no plan. I want to ask them, “What does that mean?” Be specific with your goals and create a plan to achieve them. Instead of saying you will start to exercise,…

“I will start exercising next week and this time I’m serious!” Do you ever tell yourself this? Deep down inside, you know that you probably won’t and that’s a shame. You need to realize how important exercise is for you and that it’s not just about losing weight. Here are top 15 reasons why you should start an exercise program today! #1. Stress management. Normal daily life brings with it added stress for most of us. Work, family, shopping, cooking, errands, appointments – it’s enough to frazzle anyone. Exercise is absolutely the best tool for dealing with added stress. You can always find…

It’s time to sculpt those shoulders so all you guys out there can get ready for tank tops and sleeveless shirts while all the girls can get excited about wearing sexy spaghetti straps, halter-tops and strapless dresses. If you want to build up your deltoids and achieve impressive looking shoulders then it’s important to add a strength training routine once a week with the right exercises! The shoulder joint permits a wide range of motion while the joint’s stability is sacrificed to allow the movement to take place. The strength of the shoulders depends on the specific muscles responsible for producing rotational…

Almost daily, I will have someone tell me that although they eat healthy and exercise, they just can’t seem to lose weight. My first thought is usually that they may be eating healthy foods but they are probably eating too much of them. We all know that portion sizes are out of control at restaurants these days but most people don’t realize that their portions are too big at home, as well. Here are some simple portion control tips that are easy to implement and can make a big difference with your fat loss success! Tip #1 – You can still eat…

I was at the grocery store the other day, doing my weekly shopping and reading food labels like I always do, when an acquaintance came up and said, “Why are you reading labels? You can eat anything you want with all of that exercise you do!” I have to say that this is probably one of the biggest misconceptions that people have. I talk to many people who are frustrated because they are working out and not losing weight, or not seeing the results they want. The first question I always ask them is, “Have you changed your eating habits?”…

I’m sure you have heard it before but one of the best ways to control your caloric intake and lose weight is to eat more often throughout the day. Ideally, you should eat 5 to 6 times per day, with 2 ½ to 3 ½ hours between each meal or snack. There are several reasons why this works and we have listed several of them below! Reason #1 – Eating more frequently gets your metabolism going and keeps it working at an elevated level continuously throughout the day. Reason #2 – It will amp up your energy and keep your insulin levels consistent…

Do you think that healthy and nutritious foods need to taste bland and flavorless? Do you feel deprived because your favorite recipes are off-limits due to the high calories, fat and sugar? Making meals count is important but, making meals taste good is important, too. Meals should be satisfying, delicious, pleasing to the eye and nutritious. Otherwise, you WILL feel deprived. The hardest part about a diet is feeling like you are giving up so much of what makes you happy, especially if you do not see any results right away. In reality, the sacrifices you make now will be…