Womens Fitness Blog

Talk about delicious! This is a great dish no matter what the weather. Cukes and tomatoes are always cool, but the chickpeas make this dish kind of warm and cozy.

Developing a positive mindset is one of the most powerful weight loss strategies there is. Using powerful positive thinking techniques, visualizations and positive affirmations, will make it possible to achieve whatever you desire.

If you are searching for a sensible fitness plan, then look no further than Fitness4Her.com, your online diet and exercise program that’s dedicated to women. A certified personal trainer and fitness consultant, I created Fitness4Her.com as a way to reach out to women who are interested in women’s fitness and healthy living.

It’s important to get the right balance of nutrients in your five meals per day. Your mid-morning snack and afternoon snack are just as important as your regular meals.

A great alternative to sugar-filled cupcakes. Mouth-watering muffins that are sure to please, just ask my son, Ricky–they’re his favorite! Extra bonus: your house will smell like an autumn breeze, while these are cakes are cooking. High in fiber, protein, beta carotene, omega 3 fatty acids. Pumpkin, pumpkin seeds and cinnamon are full of antioxidants. For a healthy heart and a prettier complexion.

A low-fat version of the southern staple; fried green tomatoes are one of my favorite foods. Best with homegrown tomatoes that are fresh picked from the garden, you can find nice firm varieties at your local fruit market or grocer’s stand.

Did you know that Vitamin D can keep you trim, uplift your mood, stifle your sniffles and drastically cut down your risk of cancer. We all know about its ability to build strong bones and teeth, that’s why vitamin D is so important to our health and everyday life.

Making the decision to lose weight is not an easy one. Sure most of us know when we need to do something about our weight, but when it comes to having to change the way we eat, it’s a different story altogether—especially if we have to deprive ourselves of our favorite foods. Many times, this is the problem with staying true to a diet. Not being able to eat the foods that we enjoy can cause our motivation to drop.

Chicken is one of my favorite foods to eat. When I was growing up, my mother always insisted on a well balanced diet and enjoyed trying out various healthy chicken recipes.
She was always careful when she cooked chicken, making sure it stayed moist and flavorful. I would quickly finish every bite because it tasted so good.

Fad diets always exaggerate weight loss results. The truth is losing weight requires work, that is, if you want to keep those extra pounds from coming back.

So sweet and berry-delicious, a delectable dish to complement any meal. Makes enough for 10-12 servings, so everyone can enjoy. A great dessert for ladies’ lunches, family gatherings or small parties.

The big buzzword for this season, a person is said to have cankles if their calf merges with their foot, erasing all sign of ankle definition. Millions of Americans suffer from the dreaded cankle.

The nectar of the gods, as one Chinese Emperor hailed the nectarine, it’s fiber rich and full of vitamins. Great as a complement to any meal or enjoy a serving for snack. Adding a small amount of Stevia instead of sugar will sweeten your dish without adding calories.

Beginning a fitness program take guts. It also requires inspiration and determination. Many women begin an exercise and diet program full of guts, inspiration and determination; but somewhere between day number two and day number 60, the motivation ceases to exist.

Our deepest fear is not of being inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are more powerful than anything we could imagine.

Who says you have to ditch the dips when you’re watching your diet? With this low-fat, high fiber spread, you can double dip for a devilish delight. A great snack but keep it healthy with veggies and whole grain crackers. Remember: portion control is a major factor in weight loss, so don’t over-indulge.

Do you want to lose weight? Is there a particular reason why? Women have several reasons for wanting to lose weight and get into better shape. Sometimes it’s because we’ve encountered some health problems and the doctor has advised us to change our diet and begin an exercise program. Other ladies may be seeking a way to get back into exercising after the birth of a baby or some other deterrence from physical activity.

In addition to the enormous benefits for the heart and its cancer fighting capabilities, scallops have also been hailed as a mood enhancer. Long known for its ability to reduce inflammation, these anti-inflammatory benefits work to diminish depression as well. So slip into something sexy tonight and enjoy all the sizzle of these saucy sexy sea scallops.

Women’s fitness and health can be improved with a regular exercise program. Are you inspired to get in shape and motivated to get started? Okay ladies, I hear you loud and clear! Many of you have been writing to say that you’re ready to exercise. Let me tell you, that thrills me to no end.

Positive affirmations are your brain’s way of redirecting your body’s energy to keep you motivated. The brain cannot see or hear it only reacts to the stimuli that you feed it. Negative affirmations like: “I am always tired” or “Why can’t I ever do anything right?” Only serve to reinforce negative energy and stand in the way of your progress.

This is my favorite soup. Everything but the kitchen sink creates this pot full of goodness for mind, body and soul. A great comfort food when the weather gets cold, or serve it anytime of the year, when you just want a satisfying soup to come home to.

Growing up, I remember fun times playing outside until my mother called us in to dinner. It was always after Dad came in from work and once we saw him, we knew it wouldn’t be long before it was time to eat.

Anti-aging never tasted so great! What a way to start the day—or you can enjoy this flavorful feast at any hour. Packed with muscle building, carb burning potassium. This fruity concoction is a meal in itself. Power up and drink up!

Getting your beauty sleep is not just a phrase. When a woman doesn’t get enough rest, it shows in her face. Inadequate sleep wreaks havoc on the complexion, with fluid retention causing unsightly bags under bloodshot eyes.

This dish is simple to prepare and offers plenty of protein. Use oat bran instead of flour to add soluble fiber to your meal. Make extra to store in your fridge for a quick snack. I love salmon patties with a salad, rice or sweet potatoes. It’s also super delicious with a little unsweetened applesauce. Yummy!

You’ve probably heard of the USDA food pyramid guidelines that suggest “five to seven servings per day of fruits and vegetables.” That strangely misleading guideline sounds like it means that seven is the upper limit recommended, but that is not the case.

This kickin’ chicken is low in fat and sodium, while providing a great source of protein and iron. Vitamin rich and nutrient dense, it’s a healthy meal that is sure to please.

If you are just getting started with your fitness program and looking for an aerobic exercise that’s easy to do, try walking for 30 minutes. This is the simplest form of cardio that you can do, unless of course, you have a physical problem that prevents it.

I have worked with many women who have complained about gaining weight after their doctor put them on various medications. Certain meds for diabetes, high blood pressure and psychiatric disorders have been known to cause weight gain. These medications may be critical to your health, so it is important that you continue to take them unless otherwise advised by your physician.

This is a delicious recipe that is meant for sharing. Bake one and take it into the office or classroom. Serve it to your family for a breakfast treat or snack. Remember: Life is all about balance. Moderation is key. Don’t sabotage all that hard work for something sweet.

Calories are not a bad thing  in fact calories are the way we get our energy from food. Your body has an insatiable appetite for energy and uses the calories from food to keep functioning. Energy from calories fuels all of your body’s actions; much like gasoline powers your car.

If you get tired of the same old burger, step out of that rut and try something new. Turkey and spinach are great together, so why not marry them in a burger? Stuff in some mushrooms and you’ve got a hearty meal.

Are members of your family obese? Do you look at them and say to yourself, “my family’s overweight and I’ll be overweight too?” It doesn’t have to be that way. You can break the curse, you can change the way your body retains fat and burns calories. Sure, certain body types are prone to fatty deposits and body shapes.

Welcome to Part 3 of Explaining the Exercise Principles. In part one, I discussed the benefits of exercise, the amount of time needed to get results and the crucial element of training your brain for success. In part two I covered the areas of exercise in my 30 Minutes to a New You program.

You’ll be the talk of the town, when you serve your guest these ruby red, edible salad bowls. Stuffed full of flaky white Albacore tuna, they look so appetizing! Tasty fresh, nutritious and delicious

Affirmations and gratitude changed my life. Affirming what I want and putting my words on paper helps me to focus on my goal. When I acknowledge all that I have to be thankful for, a feeling of peacefulness and satisfaction surround me.

Grab up the chop sticks–Chinese never tasted so good! This quick and easy meal will soon be your favorite for delicious nutrition that cooks up in a flash.

Protein is an essential nutrient that builds lean, healthy muscle, beautiful skin, lustrous hair, as well as vital internal organs. Consisting of chains of amino acid, including the essential amino acids, which we depend on our diet to supply, as our bodies do not produce these essential amino acids.

Ladies choice! Whether you like it in a loaf or shaped in neat round meatballs, this lean ground turkey tastes great. Slice the loaf and serve on sandwiches during football season for a touch-down taste.

Every single thought I have and every sentence I speak is an affirmation. I use my affirmations wisely. My new affirmation habit is to only speak of the good that I want in my life. This keeps me focused on the positive and actually causes so many good things to come to me.

This dish is simply the best when served over rice or pasta. Serve it in 1/2 cup servings. Remember portion control is key! Goes great with a colorful salad, too.

Are you inspired to get in shape and motivated to get started? Okay ladies, I hear you loud and clear! Many of you have been writing to say that you’re ready to exercise. Let me tell you, that thrills me to no end. So, I want to give you a few workouts from my 30 Minutes to a New You exercise program to get you started.

“Oh, what an exquisite meal!” That’s what your family will be saying when you cook this delicious dinner. The white wine gives it a rich taste, but without adding the calories you’d get from a heavy sauce. This dish is best when served over spinach!

A delightfully romantic film, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, starring Audrey Hepburn provides a great look-back at the wonderfully vintage style of the early 60’s in New York City. Adapted from the novel of the same name, written by Truman Capote, it’s a story of a young woman, Holly Golightly, who exudes confidence and charm.

Oh yummy! This is a naturally sweet way to dress ol’ Tom in all the brightest colors. Fortunately for you, the only parade he’ll be seeing is the one on your tabletop. Dig in and enjoy.

After Lisa’s divorce, she needed some new zing in her life. It was time for a new car, and now without someone telling her what car she needed to buy, Lisa decided to get the car that she wanted to buy.

Serve this up for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack. It’s yummy good for everyone! Design your very own to please your taste buds.

In the previous post, Explaining the Exercise Principles, Part 1, we discussed the first three principles of the 30 Minutes to a New You exercise program. We talked about how essential daily activity is to overall health and all the benefits associated with regular exercise.

Investing as little as 30 minutes a day in exercise, by combining resistance training and aerobic activities, can help you live longer and healthier. The benefits of exercise go beyond physical. Staying active is beneficial to our mental health as well.

No need to feel crabby, when you come home to this casserole. Assemble it the night before, then all you need to do is grab it right out of the fridge and pop it in the oven when you get home from work, school, church or gym. Serve it up with lots of veggies.

Congratulations, you are sliding into home base in the third and final report of Explaining the Diet Principles.
In Parts 1 and 2 of Explaining the Diet Principles, we discussed portion control, skipping meals, adding fiber, protein, fruits and veggies and reasons to avoid or reduce carbs, salt and fats.

Have you ever noticed a waning in your motivation right prior to leaving for the gym? Deep down, you know that you will be happy that you worked out, rather than sitting here on your butt. However, your mind starts rolling over all of the reasons you shouldn’t go to the gym.

In order to set goals, you have to think about what you really want and how you will achieve it.
Goal setting differs from just daydreaming about something you would like to change about yourself or your life.

Quick and easy to make, especially if you make the Pesto sauce in advance, or buy it ready-made from the store. This meal is a great choice for a busy week night, when you just don’t have time to cook.

Are you inspired to get in shape and motivated to get started? Okay ladies, I hear you loud and clear! Many of you have been writing to say that you’re ready to exercise. Let me tell you, that thrills me to no end. So, I want to give you a few workouts from my 30 Minutes to a New You exercise program to get you started.

When you’re feeling down or disappointed in yourself for some reason, you might find that exercise can help to alleviate those emotions and help you to recover your positive outlook.
When we don’t have a physical outlet for all of the challenges we face

When you need a little motivation for your fitness routine, you need look no further than your newsstand. Lining the walls of any bookstore, or magazine rack are plenty of selections that specialize in ways to get fit. The covers boast buff bodies that attract the reader to buy.

In the previous post I talked about the first three diet principles. Eating 5 meals instead of 3 meals, why you should not skip meals, if you are trying to lose weight and the benefits to your health of adding good sources of fiber to your daily diet. In this post, I will elaborate on the next four principles.

A truly fast meal, when time is of the essence! Choose your favorite smoked trout or salmon, no need to cook it! Perfect with Caesar salad and lots of tomatoes. Go light with the dressing, to stay low-fat, low-sodium.

From the time we learn to write, usually around Kindergarten or first grade, we use the skill of writing nearly everyday for the rest of our lives. As a matter of fact many of our personality traits are revealed in our own handwriting.

Heart disease is the number one killer of American women. That’s it, that’s the truth. One in four American women will die of heart disease. Women, more often than men, die as a result of a heart attack.

All too often, we judge our physical health by how much we weigh. What a mistake! The number on a scale will only give you a limited assessment of what your physical health really is. Your body weight is comprised of the weight of your bones

“Keep it sweet and simple,” that’s what my husband always says. This simply sweet succulent seafood is superb. You’ll need to set aside some time to marinade it, so you might want to do some pre-prep the night before.

When I was a kid I was active from sun up to sun down. I couldn’t wait to go outside and play. My day was filled with running, biking and swimming and I never gave it much thought. I didn’t need to be prodded or rewarded for going out to play.

Use minimal amounts of oil and oily foods. Minimize or avoid entirely fried foods, red meat, creams, fatty salad dressings, cheese, and high fat desserts like ice cream.

Super charge your day with a energy-boosting breakfast. This fast and easy meal is perfect to eat any time of day, you don’t have to wait until morning to enjoy.

You have examined your present way of eating and have decided to make healthy changes in your food choices. But do you know that diet is more than just about the food you eat? It’s also about your eating habits, as we talked about earlier in Part 1 of the Fitness4Her Diet.

You’ve probably heard before that speaking positively to a child will do more for his self-esteem than criticism. Encouraging a child to study and making learning fun, will help him to develop his skills better than calling him stupid or trying to shame him into studying.

Smoke filled flavor with a Southwestern flair. Come home from a hard day and belly up to the bar, then scoop up a bowl of this heart-healthy chili and dream about golden sunsets and deserts. This colorful blend will remind you of an Arizona sky.

In my member post Think to Shrink, I talked about the power of the brain and how to effectively use its force to bring about change in your life. In this post, I want to focus on the brain and how incredibly hard this organ works to keep the body functioning.

I often hear people say, I need to workout, but I just can’t get motivated. Even seasoned athletes experience highs and lows occasionally before getting started.

She who has health, has hope. She who has hope, has everything.

Sharon thought all of her problems were over when she got the big promotion at work. She had worked so hard for it, staying late at the office and taking work home.

Is your workout routine getting boring? Are you having trouble staying motivated? It could be time for a change. You may need to mix things up a bit and improve your game.

In part one, we talked about how your diet was your way of life. It is everything that sustains you and makes you whole. If you make changes to your diet, then you are making changes to your way of life.

Healthy oils are good for you, but who needs a meal that’s swimming in grease? Your whole family will appreciate this mouth watering meatloaf that goes well with Mashed Cauliflower and peas. Quick and really easy to prepare, this dish cooks up in about a half an hour.

Your mind is the main catalyst for bringing about change in your life. Your brain is so powerful that it can alter your mental and physical health. Have you ever worried about something so intensely that you made yourself sick? That is the power of the brain.

An often overlooked vegetable, cauliflower can be a reasonable substitute for mashed potatoes, although without the starch. This dish is a great complement to my mouth-watering meatloaf, Easy, but not Greasy Muscle Building Meatloaf.

Did you know that there are 1,440 minutes in each day? The average American spends 180 of those minutes watching television. What do you do with your minutes every day? How much time do you spend exercising each day?

This “Oh so nutritious!” breakfast will lower your cholesterol and give you the boost you need to get your day off to a good start. With all that you have to accomplish today, you need to begin with a healthy and delicious dish of hot oatmeal.

Food is not the problem.
Food is the answer.
You may have heard some people refer to diet as a four-letter word. You know, one of those bad words that you should never repeat — a word so dastardly that it has been linked to the word die.

These beans will have you jumping for joy! You can easily whip up this dish quicker than a pizza delivery. My Latino friends taught me this one. It´s a favorite with so many options. Variety is the spice of life.

For the last twenty-one years, I have spent the majority of my waking hours caring for my husband and/or three sons. There have been days, where if my husband hadn’t called me Karen, I would go to bed thinking my first name was MOM! Oh, don’t get me wrong; I love my family, dearly. It’s just with all the care giving, I had started to neglect me

Thinking your way thin, sounds like a great philosophy, doesn’t it? We all know that losing weight is a whole lot more complicated than just thinking the pounds away. But the truth is that every great accomplishment starts with a thought … an idea … a plan. We make decisions every day.

Women have specific health issues that are different from men. Although as children, boys and girls have similar ailments, once puberty has taken hold the problems change significantly.

Resistance training, sometimes referred to as strength training, targets individual muscle groups with specific exercises. In order to build and tone muscles to achieve muscular definition, you need to work your muscle to the point of muscle fatigue.

Athletes in ancient Greece rubbed in on their bodies, it has been used to anoint the bones of dead saints and martyrs, cultivated since 5000 B.C., the oil of the olive has been sought after for centuries. Believed to be medicinal as well as magical, this golden oil was the popular choice of all royalty.

Before we can benefit from self-affirmations, we need to learn about the effects of negativity in our lives. We need to stop the negative self-scripts that play over and over in our minds.

Do you have a vision for yourself? Perhaps it is a vision of losing weight, getting a promotion, learning to ski, or becoming an artist. Everyone has hopes and dreams, envisioning them is the next step to helping them come true.

Taking a good multi-vitamin each day covers us for the days when we don’t get proper nutrition. As much as possible, I prefer getting my vitamins and nutrients from healthy, great tasting foods. But I still believe that multi-vitamins are a great way of supplying us with a sort of safety backup to keep us fortified in case of a stressful event.

Protein is of course healthy and necessary, but just because a food is high in protein doesn’t mean that the food itself is healthy—especially when the protein comes in a food high in saturated fat. Lean sources of protein are egg whites, soy, products made from wheat gluten, vegetables (yes, vegetables contain protein; romaine lettuce contains more protein per calorie than meat), lean cuts of chicken, turkey or fish.

Are you holding on to regrets of the past? Have you refused to forgive yourself for failing to be perfect? Do you dwell on disappointment? Is all this negativity putting a strain on your health and well-being?

Break free from all the torture and pain of regret and disillusionment. Refuse to be a prisoner of the past. You cannot undo anything that has already happened. Leave the past in the past. While you might not be able to do much about something you did wrong yesterday, you can do much to make things right today.

So, you bought the gym membership months ago, and you’ve been there how many times? Enough to not resent the monthly fee you’re dishing out?

When you think about losing weight and getting in shape, are you focusing on the past or are you looking to the future? Concentrating on failures of yesterday cannot change anything. No one has the power to alter the circumstances that took place previously. Nor can we predict the future. However, what we do today has a great impact on what will take place tomorrow.

Did you know that some foods can enhance a woman’s beauty? Foods high in anti-oxidants and vitamins have anti-aging properties that benefit the complexion. A variety of other foods help to minimize wrinkles, improve eyesight and whiten the teeth.

There are many exercises that will help you to achieve aerobic fitness regardless of your age, weight or athletic ability. Becoming aerobically fit is necessary for a healthy heart and is good for you in so many other ways.

I work with some of the most beautiful women in the world. The women that I train are attractive females, but sadly, many of them refuse to believe it.

I am often surprised and disappointed by the typical woman’s need to belittle herself when she is around other women. You know what I am talking about because you’ve either witnessed this behavior or have been a part of it. The conversation will go something like this scenario.

Have you been exercising regularly for years? Do you consider yourself a seasoned athlete? Do you regularly increase your workout intensity to improve your results? If your answer is “No” is it because of a dip in your motivation?

Thinking about changing up your fitness program but not sure what to do? Why not jump into a new sport, like swimming or skating. Mastering a new game will help to invigorate a whole new group of muscles, revitalize your fitness routine and make you stronger and more….

You might find you lose weight with some fad diets—most of the time it is only temporary. The truth is losing weight requires a change in your lifestyle, that is if you want to keep those extra pounds from coming back.

I believe that every woman is a beautiful being. Created perfectly, complete with flaws unique only to her. By empowering the beauty within us, we embrace our unique beauty, we celebrate our power, and we allow ourselves to become significant.