Womens Fitness Blog

If you’ve ever made a decision to change something in your life like losing weight, working out or getting a promotion, you know that once your mind is really made up, everything seems to fall in place. Hurdles that once seemed impossible to cross become easily maneuvered.

These are great with oven-fried chicken or as a complement to any meal. They’re extra creamy without adding extra fat, thanks to the fat-free sour cream.

To show support for women’s fitness and health during National Women’s Health Week, Fitness4Her is kicking off the celebration by asking women to make The Pledge For Health. Joining the initiative with national companies, Fitness4Her has dedicated a section of the website to allow women to make the Pledge for Health. Health pledges can be anything that will benefit your physical or mental health. Some examples might be to…

Welcome to my 30 Minutes to a New You exercise program, featuring the Total Body Workout. As you will note in the chart below, each exercise in this workout will help you target specific muscle groups.

My oldest son can never get enough of this chunky cheese spread. Serve it with pita chips, cause they’re low in fat and calories, yet have the strength to hold up under a heavy spread. But don’t let the weight scare you away, it’s made with fat-free and reduced fat cheese…so enjoy!

Is there fire in your fitness program? Do you burn with desire to workout every day? If not, what’s happened to the drive that you had in the beginning? Learn to maintain your motivation by saying affirmations.

An excellent source of protein, but low in fat, cholesterol, sodium and sugar. This recipe is ideal for any women’s fitness program and can be enhanced with other healthy accompaniments.

A quick dinner to make that puts a smile on everyone’s face. Salmon has so many health benefits that I often order it when we dine out. This Oriental take on one of my favorite fish dishes is so yummy, that everyone always wants seconds. While many people like to use brown sugar on salmon, the orange juice and ginger adds flavor without masking the true taste of the salmon.

Osteoporosis is a condition that can strike you without warning. It can silently sneak up on you throughout the years, and you may not know until later in the disease when simply picking up the vacuum cleaner causes your bones to fracture.

The month of May is observed as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Organizations and individuals have joined in the “fitness fun” to promote awareness of the value of physical activity and how it relates to happier, healthier and more productive lives. To encourage this important mission, the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports reached out to both public and private organizations to form the Presidential Fitness Partners in May.

Fitness4Her has joined the fun and is encouraging women to make a Pledge to enjoy a healthier lifestyle through physical fitness. Exercise is a vital part of a successful fitness program and it helps women to build muscle and burn fat. Physical activity strengthens the heart and offers a wealth of health benefits that last a lifetime.

Most of us, when we were younger, were told to drink our milk so we would have strong bones and grow up tall. While it’s true that calcium is crucial in the diets of adolescent women and plays a big role in developing strong bones and teeth, its role in our health doesn’t stop there.

In the evening or during football season, it’s always nice to have some healthy snacks on the ready for when the family gets the munchies. This little treat is a family favorite but my youngest son, Dante likes it the best! The spices remind me of Autumn and is great for serving during a football game. Makes 16 half cup servings.

Dancing isn’t just fun thing to do when you’re young. Dancing is a great exercise that should be part of a healthy lifestyle. For instance, you can burn as many calories belly-dancing as you can walking, swimming or riding a bike.

Vegetables are great for snacking, but everyone wants a little dip on the side. This very vital vegetable dip will add zing to your vegetables without masking the flavor. Makes 12 servings and is great at parties or just set it down in front of the family and watch it disappear.

Dieting. It’s not one of our favorite words in the English language, but it’s one that most of us come face to face with at one time or another. It evokes images of starving ourselves over salads and rice cakes at lunch while our ever-skinny friend wolfs down a plate full of nachos without a care in the world.

Many life coaches will ask their clients this question, “If money were not an object what would you do?” It provokes all sorts of thoughts, dreams and ideas and is great for motivating people to challenge themselves and take risks to bring about positive change.

Shhhh! Mom doesn’t know that I stole this recipe from her pantry. These are signature ‘shrooms that everyone always asks her to make. I needed something different for a party I was having, so I “borrowed” this recipe and decided to share it with all my women’s fitness friends at Fitness4Her.

There are so many women who go through life discouraged and defeated. Many of their hearts are filled with anger, bitterness and resentment. They seem to devoid of hope and believe that nothing good could ever happen to them.

Seafood is great anytime and shrimp is one of my family’s favorites. Serve this cocktail with homemade zesty sauce for a low calorie entree that’s sure to please.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.

This little idiom chanted on playgrounds around the country is far from accurate. While words alone cannot hurt physically, they can hurt so deeply on an emotional level that a person can become physically ill

This is a marvelous marinara that’s easy to make and tastes great. I like to serve it over whole wheat pasta with turkey sausage. Just whip up a green side salad and you’ve got a complete meal. You can prepare this sauce in advance so you can enjoy it on even the busiest of week nights.

Florida Fruity Sunny Smoothie
This cool and creamy drink is delicious for breakfast or as a snack. The flaxseed oil adds healthy monounsaturated fatty acids that have been proven to fight belly fat.

Low in fat, cholesterol, sodium and calories. Spinach is an excellent source of iron, necessary for a successful women’s fitness plan. You’ll need lots of energy for your workouts and spinach can give you the power to keep on going, don’t forget that’s where Popeye got his strength.

I was looking for a pedometer to keep track when I walk, since I don’t always follow the same path, I wanted one that would keep a record of my steps and distance. I’m not all that interested in the amount of calories burned, but I know many people like to keep a running track of calories consumed and expended when managing their weight.

Everyone knows that the key to a healthy lifestyle is exercising and eating right. But what happens when your feet get in the way of your exercise? No, I’m not talking about clumsiness; you’re on your own with that one.

This tasty treat can be enjoyed in the evenings with just the family or you can make a bigger batch and serve it when guests come over. It’s easily portable if you need to take it to office parties or even tailgating.

It’s probably the most abundant fruit in your grocery store and the most overlooked on your list of fruits to eat. But pears come in so many diverse and succulent flavors with so many great health benefits that it’s time you created a space for them in your fruit bowl this year.

This salad is my friend’s favorite. After a long day of shopping, nothing suits us better than this heavenly combination of red meat protein and cool, refreshing watermelon.

Easter is a reminder that as long as we live, we have the chance for new beginnings. The chance and the choice to start fresh and new. Like a newborn babe, each one of us can make this day “Day One” of our start at a brand new life, a brand new way of thinking, living and performing. A happy and healthier lifestyle!

I heard about this new timer on the market and it’s called the Gymboss, it’s small enough to clip onto your gym clothes and allows you to exercise without worrying about the time. I decided to try one out and let you all know what I thought.

I got a pink one and it goes perfectly well with most of my gym attire. When I clipped it onto the waist of my workout pants, I noticed that it didn’t pull on the material and the clip seemed comfortable enough to wear.

Start your day with something sweet and nutritious. This healthy breakfast is good any day of the week. Most of these ingredients are regular staples in the pantry.

The BOSU® Balance Trainer

This balance trainer is a great tool to add to a women’s fitness program. It constantly works the core muscles and strengthens the back, leg and stomach muscles. A great way to flatten the tummy, the BOSU® Trainer makes it easy to engage the core continuously, giving your torso and waistline that long lean and tightened look of a beautiful dancer.

In search of the perfect fitness journal, I’ve found many great examples along the way. There are journals that include pages for counting calories, sodium, protein, carbohydrates, and fats. Some allow space for exercise while others are strictly diet oriented.

This healthy snack is my boy’s favorite. It’s a great protein pick me up and can be enjoyed any time of the day.

There are many women who are so afraid of making a mistake that they don’t do anything. Instead, they sit around worrying about being saying the wrong thing, getting laughed at or appearing vulnerable.

I had the opportunity to try out a Sole Fitness F80 and can say that I would consider purchasing one for a home gym. This mid-priced treadmill offers the quality of a commercial fitness treadmill and is suitable for women or men.

Since I normally review equipment suitable for women’s fitness, I was curious about the features that women normally look for. There are two fans in the front to keep you cool, although I like to get heated up when I exercise to burn fat.

Welcome to my resistance training program. I hope you have read all of my previous posts, because that’s where I explained my 30 Minutes to a New You exercise program.

The other white meat, pork chops can be enjoyed even when you are watching your weight. My family loves them and so I look for ways to make meals healthy without being boring. Garlic and parmesan cheese really bring out the flavors of the meat without adding a butt-load of calories.

Whether at home or the gym, when doing resistance-training or most any of the exercises included your women’s fitness program, it’s best for your protection to use an exercise mat. But with so many out there, you’ll have to determine your own needs before choosing the exercise or fitness mat that’s the right one for you.

I recently found the Folding Exercise Mat by TKO. This easy to fold mat is portable with handles on the side that make it easy to carry

An affirmation is a positive statement of fact that one makes to manifest their desired future. It can be about succeeding in your career, excelling in a class or getting your body in shape. Affirmations are instrumental for helping you to attain your goals.

Just in time for the holidays. You know when the kids are out of school or you’ve got family and friends staying with you, snacks are in big demand! This is one that you can pop out anytime that guests “pop-in!”

Ladies, are you tired of eating the same grilled chicken three and four times a week? Do your kids beg you to cook something different? Well, I want to give you some great recipes for low fat meals that will have your family jumping for joy.

This scrumptious dish is easy to make, yet your family will think it took you hours. Wonderful in the Fall or any time of the year.

Diabetes can be a dangerous and debilitating disease and is the fifth deadliest in the United States. According to the American Diabetes Association, almost 21 million Americans have this disease, with 9.7 million of them women, and almost 7 million people don’t even know they have it.

I love this dip and it’s one of my favorites to bake when we’re watching football or just sitting at the table chatting over some pita chips. To keep calories low, maintain portion control of about 3 tablespoons. Best to put a little on your plate rather than dipping and double dipping from the bowl. Makes 16 servings of 3 tablespoons each.

Because of their impressive potassium content, bananas are highly recommended by doctors for patients whose potassium is low. One large banana, about 9 inches in length, packs 602 mg of potassium and only carries 140 calories.

Are you taking an active role in your health? Eating right? Daily aerobics? Drinking plenty of water and getting your required amount of vitamins and nutrients? Yes?

A marvelous restaurant quality dish that is sure to please everyone in your family. The mustard adds a zesty flavor and the mayonnaise keeps the sole moist and flaky.

Are you the kind of person that commits to a diet once a year as your New Year’s Resolution? You lose the weight, and then as soon as you stop dieting, you gain it all back again? If so, then you’re like thousands of other women out there. You are a seesaw dieter.

When you don’t have much time, but still want to serve your family a nutritious and delicious meal, toss this together and relax and enjoy.

Low self-esteem is a problem that affects many women and men, too. Sometimes it is surprising to find that people whom you might have considered confident and self- assured, actually suffer from some self-esteem issues.

“In the search for wealth, we destroy our health.” The Buddha, 600 BC

It’s true, you know. It happens to the best of us. As we grow older, get fixated on achieving wealth or just making ends meet, concerns for our health are “back burnered.”

Oh, so French, yet you can make it right in your own kitchen. This delightful dish makes 6 servings. If you have leftovers, be sure to save them properly so you can enjoy this fine entree for lunch or snack later in the week.

The great thing about marinated veggies, is that you can pack them in a lunch and enjoy fresh veggies any time of day. Serve as a side dish for any meal, or break them out when guests come by for an appetizing snack that’s healthy too.

We all know the health benefits that fitness offers, so what’s holding you back? Could it be that you just don’t have the motivation that it takes to stay commitment to an exercise program?

This is a great treat anytime you have a crowd over. It’s easy to put together, but looks and tastes like it took hours! Makes 16 half cup servings. Pita chips are low in calories and fat. Much healthier than potato chips, pita chips are every bit as tasty. Pineapples are high in Vitamin C and manganese as well as being beneficial to digestion. Those of you ladies who are serious about your health and fitness will want to include pineapples in your full line up fruits to choose from. Health benefits…

Fruity and fresh tasting, this ambrosia is truly delicious, colorful and fun to eat. Low in fat, sodium and cholesterol. This dish is chock full of Vitamin C and fiber, both necessary to compliment any women’s health and fitness program. Ladies, when you are working out every day, you need to replenish your energy with healthy carbs such as fresh fruits and veggies.

Your exercise program is going well, but, when you stand in front of a full-length mirror and appraise your body what do you think of your back? Are there any areas you need to work on? Maybe it’s those side bulges where your thighs meet your torso or perhaps it’s a post-baby tummy that has lasted too long. For many women, it’s your back that’s not as defined as you would like.

When we’re talking women’s fitness and health, omega-3 faty acids are so important. Omega-3 fatty acids can reduce insulin resistance, and the potential for atherosclerosis and heart attacks. Omega-3 fats are found abundantly in cold water fish like salmon, sardines, tuna, rainbow trout, anchovies, and herring, and in lesser amounts in flax seed oil, some nuts and seeds and beans, like walnuts, pumpkin seeds and soy beans, and in much smaller quantities in dark green leafy vegetables.

High in protein and calcium, and relatively low in fat, considering the cheeses added. Make sure you use low fat or fat free cheese, especially if having a meat serving with this meal. When it comes to women’s fitness choices, we all need a little variety of tastes. This casserole will satisfy your hunger and keep you satisfied until your next meal.

Some women don’t exercise at all because they think that a fitness program means they must spend hours in a gym, when actually as little as thirty minutes of moderate exercise each day is enough to improve or maintain your physical health? Look, with 1440 minutes given to you each day, surely you can spare 30 minutes for a life changing investment. By making the choice to include daily exercise as a part of your life

If you like chicken salad, you’ll love this healthy variation with wild rice. An excellent source of protein, chicken is low in fat and calories. Wild rice is a much healthier choice for your fitness program than white rice and the salad greens and tomatoes add fiber and wonderful antioxidants needed to fight the effects of free radicals.

It happens to the best of us; even fitness women who are seasoned athletes experience an idle period in their workout program where it seems like no effective change is taking place. That’s probably because you’ve reached a plateau in your exercise plan and need to rev things up a bit.

Jillian was a young lady who wanted to lose about 25 pounds. She hired a women’s fitness trainer…

The single most important instrument for nurturing your spirit is a personal journal. The most successful tool for encouraging any women with regard to your weight loss and exercise program is a diet and fitness journal.

Down through history, women and men have kept journals. It’s a good thing that they did. If not for their steadfastness we would not have any reliable records of the past.

A wonderful way to start any women’s day! My version of French toast is sure to please everyone in the family both youngsters and adults. Keep it healthy with whole wheat bread and sugar free syrup.

The path to a fit and healthy body is not only achievable; it’s much easier than you can imagine. But it requires a secret ingredient that is such a critical component that without it, you will fail time and time again.

This pizza recipe can be enjoyed at any meal—breakfast, lunch or dinner. It’s a great way to start out the day or you can look forward to having it after a hard day’s work. Keeping with our fitness program, choose low-sodium tomato sauce and fat-free cheese to keep your dish heart healthy. You can add other veggies to your pizza, too.

In the previous posts we described my ten exercise principles and talked about each one. Now we will take those principles and apply them to your daily workout.

Based on my ten principles, the 30 Minutes To A New You exercise program will help you transform not only your body but also your entire life! Ladies, by applying these principles, you will actually see the results of how nutrition and exercise work together to help you achieve a healthy body and lifestyle.

What is it about these words that make them an asset to any successful fitness or weight loss program? Can just speaking these words empower you to stay on a diet? Well to begin with, your diet is your way of life. It is the way that you eat. Women choosing a healthy diet shouldn’t be just about losing weight.

Ladies, here is a great way to eat Asian foods without leaving your home. This healthy dish is easy and quick to prepare for any day of the week. Add chicken or shrimp for a complete meal that will compliment your fitness program and is truly delicious.

Much of the way we eat; is out of habit. If we strive to become more mindful of what and how much we are eating, we can cut down significantly on the amount of sugar and fat in our diet. These lifestyle changes are essential to any women’s health and fitness program.

This dish is a real comfort food. The pasta and beans are tasty and will satisfy your hunger. This is a great meal to enjoy with family. Gather everyone at the dinner table and enjoy. Low in fat, sodium, sugar and cholesterol. A great source of protein and fiber, the beans are beneficial to every women’s health. Whole wheat pasta adds fiber and vitamins and the herbs and olive oil contain antioxidants to help protect against the effects of free radicals and toxins.

Ladies, did you know that after January of 2006, the month that Congress made the food manufacturers squirm by forcing them to list trans fats on food labels, the American public got a glimpse at just how bad the processed food was that we were consuming on a daily basis. But what does that actually mean when it comes to our health and fitness?

A quick and easy healthy dish that will please the whole family. Serve with a green salad with lots of tomatoes for the best health benefits. This recipe will be a nice addition to your diet program.

No doubt, women everywhere have heard the old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” What was true regarding your health and fitness in 1866, when this phrase was coined is true today. “Eat an apple before going to bed, you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.”

You know Ladies, foods that are pretty on the plate attract our appetite and seem to satisfy us quickly. This colorful dish is really beautiful as well as healthy. Serve on white dishes and red napkins for a color coordinating presentation that is sure to please all. Serves 6.

Swimming is a fun fitness activity for women that burns a magnitude of calories, is easy on the joints, supports your weight, builds muscular strength and endurance, and improves cardiovascular fitness.

I found this special poem and was so inspired by it that I wanted to share it with women everywhere. The words touched my heart and lifted my spirit, and I hope that they do the same for you. It is titled “A Strong Woman Versus A Woman Of Strength”

A strong woman works out every day, to keep her body in shape
but a woman of strength looks deep inside to keep her soul in shape
A strong woman isn’t afraid of anything
but a woman of strength shows…

If you are having trouble getting motivated to start exercising, think about joining a team. This may sound far fetched, but just hear me out. Remember when you were a kid, and played on a team whether it was an organized or a pick up game, camaraderie with other players usually brings out the best in our athletic abilities.

A great meatless dish, this meal is satisfying and delicious. If you would rather have meat, you can substitute the beans for chicken. Cooks up quickly and the leftovers can be enjoyed for lunch, later in the week. This dish makes 6 servings.

There’s an old saying, “If you don’t like what’s being said, change the conversation.” The same holds true regarding the chatter that is going on in your head. If your mind is filled with negative self-talk that threatens to rob you of your happiness then you need to change the conversation.

This salad makes a great meal for lunch or dinner. I like to serve it with Ken’s Lite Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing. Choose any fat-free or low-fat, low calorie dressing that you like. Keep it light though, this salad is tasty all on its own.

Have you been thinking lately of getting back into a fitness routine? Perhaps you’ve wanted to join that new gym around the corner, but you’re just too self-conscious about going in there alone.

For a fast lunch when the girls are over, I like to serve them this heart-healthy sandwich with a tropical flair. Stack it up, decorate with a frilly pick and serve them on some colorful plates. The girls feel like they’re dining at the resort. No need to add mayo to these clubs, the avocado will take care of that.

Much of your happiness and your success in life are controlled by the thoughts you hold in your subconscious mind. You are what you think you are. If you start the day off with a positive attitude chances are your day will end positively.

Turkey burgers are some of my boy’s favorites. I like to serve them with side salad that’s loaded with our favorite veggies. Offer balsamic vinegar or homemade hummus for dipping.

You can still eat healthy and enjoy dining out. Many restaurants offer lighter menu choices. Just watch out for excess fat or sugars by asking for your sauces “on the side.” This way you can be in charge of what you eat.

These thin cutlets are easy to fix and so tender. Serve these up with a salad of chopped tomato and fresh herbs, garlic, basil and a pinch of salt and pepper tossed lightly with balsamic vinegar. Or serve it up with a side of broccoli or whole wheat pasta.

Heart disease affects more than 60 million Americans. It is the leading cause of death in this country. However, there are things you can do to help protect yourself from becoming a victim.

Super food when you have super goals. This is a healthy salad, that is tasty any time of the day. I like the warm spinach leaves combined with the cool taste of the strawberries, the tomatoes, feta and walnuts give this salad a fabulous flavor.

Calories, for so long have been treated like a bad word. We cringe at the numbers of calories in different foods. We make dinner selections based on the calorie count of certain entrees.

If you haven’t made your New Year’s resolution yet, you might consider adding fitness to your list of things that you resolve to do in the coming year. It’s a wonderful way to look better and feel better and the benefits can last a lifetime.

You could live a long healthy life if you started playing tennis at least 3 hours a week, as a matter of fact, you could cut your chance of a premature death in half!

Tastes like steak! Seared tuna is one of my favorite foods. Serve with green salad and tomato topped with your choice of low fat, low sodium Asian dressing. Serve on square plates with chop sticks for a fun meal with friends or family.

You started off strong, but lately you’re finding it hard to stick to that new diet or exercise program – so what gives? After that initial excitement and determination wears off, it’s hard for many women to continue exercising regularly, eating healthy, or both because things start to get in the way and excuses pile up, soon that fatty dessert becomes too enticing to resist.

Pork chops tend to have a bad reputation when it comes to meat. But a diet that isn’t varied can become boring quick. If you enjoy pork chops now and then, try this dish with some added spice.

What stories do you like to tell about your life? Do you give basic accounts of past events or does your life story read like a romance novel? One thing is for certain—when it comes to our health no one wants a twisted mystery or a horror tale.

Warm Greetings, Glad Tidings, and Fitness 4-Ever

This time of year is very dear to me. I enjoy all of the fun festivities and adore sharing the season with my family and friends. It’s a time filled with love, happiness and good cheer. Warm hearts, succulent meats and sweet treats will certainly abound over the next few days.

There is nothing quite like family and seeing everyone healthy and safe is really the only gift that matters. Know too, that you are loved and your health is very important. That is what Fitness4Her is all about.

For a fast healthy dinner that’s better than fast food, try this take on delicious chili fries and burgers. Chili fries are great as a snack, or for entertaining. Serve ’em up with delicious and nutritious turkey burgers that you grill at home. Your kids and their friends are sure to love them.

Welcome to Part 4 of Explaining the Exercise Principles. This post concludes the explanation of all 10 principles that are the foundation of my 30 Minutes to a New You exercise program.