Becky's Fitness Blog » Ask Becky

Planning, Preparing and Patience…..as essential components to a healthy lifestyle.

Becky — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 21:50:41 +0000

Fitness is not as simple as it may seem. “Exercise and Eat Healthy”, those two commandments are the most challenging hurdles people face in their lives today. With your physical and mental health being dependant on fitness, eating right and exercising are essential although cumbersome parts of reality.
Understand this, being healthy and fit is a lifestyle. It is not something you can achieve in one day, nor can you destroy it in one week. It takes commitment, and your efforts must be for the long term. As you know, in order to be successful at any long term goal, a person must PLAN and PREPARE and have PATIENCE with yourself. These three characteristics are indispensable to any health & wellness plan and without them, fitness will be difficult to achieve.
Planning and Preparing by example:
Each week on Sunday- I wake up about 1 hour before my husband. It is at that time, I drink my tea, sit back relax, enjoy the silence of the Sunday morning and begin my planning for the week. I take a look at my calendar for the week ahead and take note as to how busy I will actually be. Where do I have to go on what days. After that- I then plan my workout schedule….I figure out on which days I will study martial arts, on which days I will lift weights and when I will achieve cardio. Next- I think of food. With my schedule in place- I now know how much time I will have to dedicate to cooking, and I have a good idea of how I will feel both physically and mentally each day. I then sit in the kitchen with a paper and pen- and actually write down- what I will eat all week…..Breakfast M,T,W,TH,F….snack….lunch….and so on. I factor in fruit, veggies, lean proteins and I plan which days I will eat a meal that has been prepared ahead of time on Sunday or that is frozen. Now that my meal plan is all worked out- on the other side of the paper- I make my GROCERY LIST. Now I am ready for the week. I have planned, and I am ready to prepare the meals I have planned out. I am also ready to conquer the supermarket with a purpose. When I get there- there will be no needless browsing or purchasing. I will go to the market somewhere in the day on Sunday. In this shopping trip- I will buy ALL the food I need for the week- to avoid unnecessary marketing traps of the SUPERMARKET and needless purchases. Once the fresh food is in my home and unpacked, on Sunday evening while getting myself ready for the week I begin to cook the food I plan on eating for the week! By Monday I have my food planned and prepared and I am ready for action! I have a little lunch box and I am all set. I am also able to resist temptation while I am out on appointments as my food is packed and ready to go! Without PLANNING AND PREPARATION- with all of the temptation of the Standard American Diet, you will never reach your goal of eating healthy and getting fit.
Patience:
Now for the last P in the equation…..PATIENCE. This is essential- as no matter how much you plan and prepare- things always go off track without notice. This could be due to family, work, stress – whatever. Maybe you just don’t feel like eating string beans again! OK- so you lose your mind and go to Carvell. Well- in my book that is no big deal- if these slips are few and far in between. One day of eating bad will not kill you – just like one day of eating well will not make you healthy! So- have patience with yourself….make changes in your life one at a time! Give yourself time to adjust and formally change your habits SLOWLY to ensure LONGEVITY. You cannot change all of your eating, exercise and life habits in one day. It takes time; to understand that and accept that concept you need patience. Remember, Eat, Exercise and Be Happy! That is what life is all about.

http://WorkoutwithBecky.com

As always,
Stay Focused Until the Miracle Happpens
Becky

Quick Healthy Breakfast: Mixed Berry Quinoa by Becky

Becky — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:37:46 +0000

It is well established that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It gets your metabolism rocking, gives you energy to work, play, exercise and live! Beware though – studies have shown that BIG breakfasts can actually lead to weight gain. So, to help you navigate through all the helpful but seemingly conflicting advice, I am passing along one of my favorite breakfast recipes. Absolutely, you need to eat first thing in the morning, but make sure to keep to the principles of clean eating, portion control and most important – enjoy the food and make it YUMMY!
As you all know, being healthy and fit is a lifestyle. Eating good clean foods, exercising and being happy requires a commitment on your behalf. In order to be successful you must plan and prepare.
Join me in cooking this awesome breakfast. I will teach you how to prepare my Mixed Berry Breakfast Quinoa in just minutes with enough leftovers to eat for a few days. My method of food preparation allows for several servings of food – so it can easily be broken into portions, stored and used for several meals. This advanced meal planning technique helps you eat healthy in a jiffy! What’s more is, I live by the MANTRA – eat only those foods you find YUMMY! So all of my quick healthy meals are scrumptious!
Video:

RECIPE: BECKY’S MIXED BERRY QUINOA
1 Cup Dry Quinoa
2 Cups Water
1 Tbs Cinnamon
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 bag defrosted mixed berries No sugar added – but reserve the water from defrosting

Prepare Quinoa according to package instructions, adding Cinnamon and Vanilla
After Quinoa is fully cooked – remove from flame and add mixed berries and juice from defrosting; stir
Serve with Unsweetened Almond Milk or Soy Milk and Splenda or Stevia if that is your taste preference.

www.WorkoutwithBecky.com

As always,
Stay Focused Until the Miracle Happpens!
Becky

New Year’s Resolution 2011: Get Fit with Fido! Lose weight fast walking the Dog!

Becky — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 12:22:59 +0000

Have you resolved to lose weight and get fit in 2011? Dreading the big life change that you will have to endure come January 1? Why not make the resolution to get fit with Fido and lose weight fast by walking the dog? No gym, no fitness equipment needed! Just get outside and WALK! Need a workout partner? Look no more, your companion may be sleeping right at your feet! Studies show that overweight people tend to have overweight, out of shape dogs. Why not commit to get yourself healthy and do something for your best friend – get the dog fit too!
Of course you will have to work on your endurance as well as your dogs, so start out slow! Try extending your daily walks for an extra black or two each week. Before you know it, you and Fido will be looking forward to your next outing and dropping unwanted extra pounds too.
I have two dogs, and each day I take them for their basic relief walks, three times daily. We all get a few minutes, typically 10-15 to get outside, and get some fresh air. However, these walks are not enough exercise for the average dog, and without additional workouts planned, they could end up packing on extra pounds and suffering the same health problems we humans encounter when carrying extra weight.
Create accountability. All dog owners KNOW dogs understand what we are saying when we talk to them. Stop, call their name, get their attention, look them in the eye, and commit out loud to get them and yourself that you will get them healthy by taking planned LONG walks 3-4 times weekly. This DOES not mean go sit at a dog park and let the dog wrestle with his friends. This means planned alone walking workout time – just you and the dog! Dog parks are a whole other type of outlet for both you and Fido.
So what are you waiting for? Plan those workouts, get outside and get fit with Fido and lose weight fast walking the dog! The length of your walk will depend on your fitness level as well as your dogs’ physical fitness & ability. You may want to talk to your veterinarian before commencing your exercise regimen. No dog to walk? Why not volunteer at your local animal shelter – there are PLENTY of volunteers waiting to exercise with you!
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As Always, Stay Focused Until the Miracle Happens,
Becky

Avoid Holiday Weight Gain – Travel Resistance Band Workout!

Becky — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 22:16:59 +0000

Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away! The holiday season is quickly approaching, as well as the parties, food and festivities that come along with it. Many of us travel to visit friends, family and faraway places during this time of year. Don’t let being away from home and your normal routine prevent you from exercising and gaining weight.
One of my favorite ways to ensure that you can strength train in addition to performing cardio while you are away is to utilize calisthenics as well as resistance bands. These are great tools which are often overlooked when at the gym. Bands are inexpensive, light and easy to carry in luggage. What’s more is, the change in your routine will often yield visible results! What’s better than that? Getting more fit while on the road? Or maybe entering the New Year healthier than the last!
Check out this sample routine – sure to challenge you and give you a total body workout.
Resistance Band Training by Becky’s Fitness Company
WARM UP AND STRETCH- 10 minute warm up jog
Please perform each of the following exercises for 3 sets of 12 reps in circuit form. There are 3 circuits here- go through the first- performing each exercise for 12 reps then repeat the entire group of exercises 3x. You will then move on to second circuit, perform 3x and move on from there. I have provided links to video demonstrations for each exercise listed in case you do not know how to execute the move.
Circuit #1:
Walking Side Squat with Resistance Band
Bicep Curl with a Resistance Band
Tricep Overhead Extension with Resistance Band
Shoulder Overhead Press with Resistance Band
Circuit #2:
Walking Side Squat with Resistance Band
Squat with Resistance Band
Front Raise with a Resistance Band
Lat Pull Down with Resistance Bands
Circuit #3
Walking Side Squat with Resistance Band
Reverse Lunge with Resistance Band
Hammer Curl with a Resistance Band
Reverse Flye with a Resistance Band
Upright Row with Resistance Bands

STRETCH AND COOL DOWN

“Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.” Foster C. Mcclellan

www.WorkoutwithBecky.com

At Home Tummy Tuck – Flatten your stomach with reverse crunches

Becky — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 22:13:20 +0000

Want to firm and sculpt your tummy? Is your core a problem area? To get rid of a tummy, several factors come into play. First and foremost, your skin’s elasticity. This will vary depending on your genetics, age, and how much weight you gained/ still need to lose. Keeping that in mind, understand that nutrition is the second most important factor here. You really need to be sure you clean up your diet, eating mostly fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. Try to eat every three hours, and include a protein with each meal/snack. Finally, cardio and strength training come into play. The cardio is to ensure good calorie burn / weight loss and the strength training is to help you build the strength muscle to boost your metabolism and give you the sculpted flat stomach you are working for! The most effective strength training exercises include planks, crunches, hanging leg raises and other core exercises. My absolute favorite core / abdominal exercise is the Reverse Crunch. It is challenging and will raise your heart rate to ensure maximum calorie burn as well as strengthen and sculpt your mid section.

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As Always,
Stay Focused Until the Miracle Happens!
Becky
www.WorkoutwithBecky.com

Motivation and Weight Loss – It all starts in your mind…..Start a new fitness plan today and stick to it!

Becky — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 17:21:03 +0000

The biggest issue many people face when trying to embark on a new fitness and wellness plan is the inability to stay motivated. The idea of getting healthy, eating right and exercising is really exciting; however, the act of following through with a new plan / life change is often overwhelming and too challenging. As a trainer, I get asked the question
“How do you stay motivated and what do you suggest I do to keep up my motivation for exercise and proper diet?
Physical Fitness and proper nutrition boil down to more than the ability to exercise and eat right. The most important component that is often over looked is the mental strength and stamina required to maintain the motivation to continue exercising day after day and to eat right.

I often lecture on how to build mental strength; the first step in developing it is acknowledging your need for it, and then seeking to achieve it. This is why I advocate taking small steps when embarking on any new fitness plan / life change. It will help you build the physical AND mental strength to reorganize your life, and consistently challenge yourself daily. In other words, if you want to start eating healthy, make one small change a week to your diet. This is a much more reasonable life change – and one where you can make calculated and long lasting changes to the foods you eat, rather than drastically trying to change your eating habits and failing. Or, should you wish to start exercising daily – start with ONE day of exercise for a week or two and slowly add additional workouts to your week. This will prevent you from being overwhelmed and overworked.

Mind over Body- your BODY WILL OBEY any command your MIND gives it. Try it now- tell yourself to lift your left arm above your head. You get the idea. If you fail to keep up with your workouts or proper eating, it is because you need to strengthen your MIND to develop the discipline and motivation to be consistent!

To help myself stay on track – I find taking photos of my body give me the mental push I need to stay motivated. One of two things always happens when I see pictures of myself: I either get disappointed and hit the gym to fix the problems I see OR I get happy and get motivated to push on to maintain the results I see!

You can check out my blog for more extensive readings on this topic: www.BeckysFItnessBlog.com

Quick, Healthy, Yummy Dessert Recipe: Whipped Cheese and Fruit Parfaits

Becky — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:34:38 +0000

Can a dessert have a high nutritional value and still taste good? Absolutely! All it takes is a little imagination, some healthy ingredients and a good appetite!

This whipped cheese and fruit recipe is fantastic because of its versatility, ease of preparation and delightful taste. It can be made in about 15 minutes or less and depending on how much you make, the leftovers are perfect for breakfast, snacks or anytime you just need something yummy! It travels well, looks pretty and is perfect to bring to a party, BBQ, or to serve for guests.

Becky’s Whipped Cheese and Fruit Parfaits
1 Quart Lowfat Ricotta Cheese
3 Tablespoons Honey
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
Mixed Fruit, washed and chopped

Put first three ingredients in a bowl and using an electric mixer, mix the cheese, honey and vanilla for about 10 minutes until it forms a fluffy creamy texture.

Layer ¼ cup of whipped cheese mixture in cup with mixed fruit or berries; create 2 – 3 layers of fruit and cheese and serve chilled. This can also be made in a single serve large bowl, rather than individual parfaits.
Enjoy without the guilt!

As Always,
Stay Focused Until the Miracle Happens,
Becky
www.WorkoutwithBecky.com

10 Minute at Home Boot Camp Workout – Burpees superset with Jump Squats

Becky — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:04:22 +0000

Boot Camp style workouts are very much the craze in the fitness industry right now. This is because they are a great way to burn lots of calories in a short period of time. They are easy to fit into a busy schedule, and can be done practically anywhere with very little equipment. Boot Camp workouts are extremely efficient as you can work your whole body in a short period of time with extreme intensity. They also avoid boredom as every workout and each exercise is different. Boot Camp style workouts combine a series of calisthenics like jumping jacks, crunches, pushups, and other body weight exercises. You work your heart and muscles by going from one exercise to another with no rest (just like super setting your exercises). They also provide a person with a great way to combine cardiovascular training with strength training. In Boot Camp, your challenge is to take your body to its limit. You work, you sweat and, best of all, you burn calories like crazy. Your workout will be as challenging as you want it to be- work hard and work strong!

Time efficient workouts can help a busy person attain a healthy lifestyle. An hour is often a large commitment that many people cannot make to fitness. It is my personal belief that any exercise is better than no exercise…and I always advocate if you do not have one solid hour to dedicate to a workout- then get in 10, 20 or 30 minutes! Whatever time you have!

For this 10 minute Boot Camp workout, I have developed a superset with two of my favorite moves- to help strengthen your entire body and get your heart rate pumping! Perform this routine in the morning before you leave for work, then try to sneak in some cardio throughout the day, whether it’s taking the stairs to your office, walking to work, whatever! You will see results in no time!

Be sure to change up your routines and not work the same muscle groups on consecutive days. Do what you can when you start. This workout was not meant to be easy. Also be sure to warm up and stretch out before you begin. This is a total body workout that is meant to be challenging. Try to make your movements continuous and exert maximum effort. Drink water as needed. Good luck and have fun!!!

BURPEES SUPERSET WITH SQUAT JUMPS
Perform 10 reps of the exercise described below to complete one set. Rest 1 – 2 minutes in between sets; perform 3-4 sets depending on your fitness level.

Start position: Stand with your feet together and your arms at your sides. Crouch down into a deep squat position with your legs together, palms on the ground and hands slightly wider than shoulder width apart. In an explosive movement jump/shoot both legs backward into a push up / plank position. Keep your abs tight and back flat. Bend your elbows and lower down into a push up. After you push up into plank position, then jump both knees back into your chest to return to the deep squat position. From there, leap straight up into the air, striving for maximum height. Perform all four movements in fast succession to complete one repetition.

VIDEO DEMO:

For more Boot Camp Workouts check out
Becky’s Fitness Company

PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR PRIOR TO STARTING THIS OR ANY EXERCISE PROGRAM

Fitness for Women: How to get rid of back fat – conquering excess weight around the bra line, and rolls on the back

Becky — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 14:16:24 +0000

First and most important, understand that a person cannot decide they do not like fat on a particular part of their body and then go ahead and begin an exercise plan with the goal of SPOT REDUCING. That is not how it works. When a person wants to address problem areas, they must remember that visible fat, and excess weight is a signal from nature that something has to change in your life, whether it’s eating cleaner, exercising more or both! Poor diets and lack of exercise will result in excess visible fat that makes us feel self conscious and sluggish. Adding strength training, regular cardio and cleaning up the foods you consume will make a big difference in a short amount of time. Too many people are missing one of those three factors in their fitness regimen which results in unwanted body fat! In all areas! As you start to incorporate better food choices, and begin to exercise, you will lose weight in all the areas you need to! Why start a fitness plan with the goal of fixing one problem area? Shouldn’t you want to look and feel good all over?

Nevertheless, to get rid of body fat in your upper and/or lower back region and eliminate cellulite, I suggest you do 3-4 days of cardio 30 minutes in duration, clean up your diet, paying good attention to your intake of sodium, and ensure you start on a strength training program that may emphasize your core region. You should strength train 3 x per week for 30 minutes. Your reps should be 12-15 for 3 sets. Keep in mind this routine will eliminate fat ALL OVER YOUR BODY – not just your trouble zones! This schedule is great and versatile, because the strength and cardio workouts can be done on the same day, or broken up into 6 separate 30 minute workouts, with one full day of rest! Remember start slow and finish strong! Any new change in your life must take place gradually to last!

As Always,
Stay Focused Until the Miracle Happens!
Becky
www.BeckysFitnessCompany.com

Healthy Tasty Turkey Burgers – perfect for your Memorial Day BBQ

Becky — Mon, 17 May 2010 20:46:17 +0000

Healthy Tasty Turkey Burgers – perfect for your Memorial Day BBQ

Memorial Day is quickly approaching! The official start to summer and barbeque season! Too hot to cook? Hosting a party or attending a pot luck barbeque? Want to serve something tasty and healthy? These turkey burgers will surely be a hit with your guests and they are great to freeze for those days you just don’t feel like cooking! Quick, easy, yummy and good for you!

Summer is a time for food, friends and relaxation. There is no reason you can’t be health conscious and enjoy at the same time! Healthy food is not only good for you – but with a little imagination it can taste great too!
Turkey burgers are a popular alternative to beef burgers, they are low in fat, grill well, but can tend to be bland. This recipe below is juicy, tasty and is fantastic with a slice of cheddar cheese! The burgers go great on top of salads or on a whole grain bun (be sure to load up the veggies too!).
Becky’s Healthy Tasty Turkey Burgers:
1 1/4 pounds extra lean ground turkey
1 cup salsa
1/2 cup chopped shallots
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon chipotle-flavored hot sauce
2 tablespoons ground cumin
Dash of salt and ground black pepper
Fresh slices of cheddar cheese (optional)
Mix ground turkey, 3/4 cup salsa, shallots, cilantro, 2 tablespoons oil, hot sauce, cumin, salt, and pepper in large bowl. Shape turkey mixture into four – six 3 1/2- to 4-inch-diameter patties.
Place burgers in grill pan on barbeque over medium flame and cook for approximately 3-5 minutes per side – depending on the size of your burger. A grill pan is necessary as the burger may be too soft to place directly on the grill. Or in the alternative, you can heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and coat pan with non stick cooking spray. Add burgers; cook until brown, about 3 minutes per side. Reduce heat to low. Sauté until burgers are cooked through, about 4-6 minutes, turning occasionally (Time frame depends on the size of your burgers).
Serve burgers over large tossed salad or on a whole grain bun topped with remaining salsa! Enjoy!!! Feel free to leave your comments!

As always, stay focused until the miracle happens!
To Your Success and Health!
Becky
www.BeckysFitnessCompany.com