January fitness tip from the Streaming Colors Fitness Journal

Starting this month, resolve to change directly into your exercise clothes, including your shoes, right after wrok. Now you'll be that much closer to getting started exercising. On weekends, or if you don't have a job outside the home, put on your exercise clothes first thing in the monring. Tell yourself you can't change out of them until you've done as least a few minutes of exercise. Move a little to warm up your muscles, stretch a bit, then do a few minutes fo the exercise you've chosen. Now it's easy to keep going until you meet your goal. ***(And if you're at all like me be prepared to have a good laugh at yourself when you're still wearing your exercise clothes at 8pm. But don't worry, tomorrow you'll do better. I always do.)

December fitness tip from the Streaming Colors Fitness Journal

That bowlful of jelly might be cute on Santa, but if you have stubborn belly fat, it may be a sign of chronic stress. Making time for brisk exercise is more important now than ever, if the holidays stress you out. Exercise helps relieve your body of the "flight or fight" hormones that humans needed ages ago to survive in a primitive world. They ran it off. We sit in traffic. But those hormones still tell our bodies to store fat for survival. So give yourself the gift of fitness and add some festive color to your journal. You'll look and feel better, and have more energy for the holidays. If you're prone to holiday blues, exercise has also been shown to help relieve mild depression. Happy Holidays!

lululemon activa jacket & random safety tip

This jacket looks just right for spring running outdoors in LA! The fabric is nice and thick, but it also has "built-in air conditioning" mesh inserts. It has a back pocket w/zipper for keys & cash, which I like, in terms of functionality, but if you put stuff back there you have to be very aware of who's behind you, as thieves have caught on to this design feature as well. Trust me, I had some random dude "rub" my back just as I was about to cross the street... and I didn't even have a back zipper pocket! So traumatic... until I realized I was about a foot taller than him. He ran off before I realized what he was doing. Still, it was daytime, in a very busy area. So be careful, especially if you wear headphones when you workout. There's my random fitness clothes safety tip for the day.

November fitness tips from the Streaming Colors Fitness Journal

What are you thankful for this month? Look back over your calendar and if you see plenty of color, thank and commend yourself for a job well done. Count your blessings if you're enjoying better health & more energy. Now don't undo your healthy habits just because the holidays are here. Enjoy holiday meals, but focus on lots of healthy vegetables, lean meats, and a little less pie. Keep track of "treat" days by coloring them in you journal, but try to limit it to one or two days a week. Give thanks actively this Thanksgiving, with a brisk walk outside or a game of touch football. Give thanks because life is good–and even better when you're healthy and fit!

pilates (pi-lah-teez)

Definition: a method of physical and mental exercise involving stretches and breathing that focus on strengthening the abdominal core. Named after Joseph Pilates, designer of the system.

I am a big fan of pilates. They are the best exercises for your abdominal core. And they will help you to have beautiful posture (something I am trying to improve) which is important, not just for looks, but for keeping your whole body strong.

Here's the thing. Pilates are usually performed on a machine, with a personal trainer. This would seem to be the most effective way to get results, however, it is also the most expensive. I have always taken pilates mat classes. Which don't use machines, and are performed in a class of up to 20 people. They are a lot less expensive, and you still tend to get some personal attention from the instructor. The main thing about pilates, (actually about any exercise plan) is to be consistent with your workouts. If you are, you will see results. If you haven't ever tried them, give it a shot!

This post from FitSugar offers some great ideas on how to recession proof your commitment to pilates. 

october fitness tip from the streaming colors fitness journal

If you're in the habit of working out with weights, it's time to change–not your habit, but your routine. Continually adding more weight or sets can lead to overuse injuries or a plateau. To see real progress, you need to challenge your muscle fibers in new ways. Shake up your strength training routine every month (and track it in your journal) by varying the exercises you do and/or the order in which you do them. Try "breakdown training," where you decrease the weight at the end of the set by about 10%, and then immediately perform up to three more sets at the lower weight. This recruits fibers deep within your muscles and helps your muscles grow. Allow adequate time between workouts for muscle repair.

these shoes were made for running

I'm lovin my new Saucony Grid Propel running shoes!!! I have narrow feet and high arches and these shoes give me plenty of support. Plus they're nice and light and they let your feet "breathe." My tips for running shoes: 1) buy them a little big so your toes have some wiggle room 2) alternate between two pairs so they have time to dry out between workouts 3) replace them after 500 miles. Getting the right shoes is really important. If you need help I suggest going to a running store where they will help you figure out the best pair of shoes for you based on your needs. I like Road Runner Sports and FrontRunners in LA.  

september fitness tip from the streaming colors fitness journal

Back-to-school is a busy time of year, but it doesn't have to derail your fitness progress. Just do your math. Small efforts throughout the day can add up to impressive fitness gains by month end. For instance, multiply your effort (and your results) by taking the stairs twice as often each day. Or, use a pedometer to count the daily number of steps you walk, gradually adding more to reach about 10,000 steps per day. Subtract an unhealthy food item from your diet (e.g. sugar-free day, french-fry-free day.) Get smart about all the sugars and empty calories in the beverages you drink by counting them all this month. Tally it up on your journal and analyze the results. You're a fitness genius!