Plank Goodness

Here are some great exercises . . . via the "plank" position.

Doing exercises from the plank position offers a variety of different strengthening options.  It also works out a variety of different muscles.  Check out this article from the Des Moines Register about how you can use plank exercises to become stronger.

Holiday Eating Strategies Apply Any Time

As I read through this article about holiday eating, it really applies to any time.
Using these holiday eating strategies make sense for weight control no matter what time of year.  Avoiding meals, small portions and avoiding too much alcohol make sense any time of the year if you're looking to control growth around your waistline.

Check out this article from the Des Moines Register that will help you control your food intake via a common-sense approach.

Workout For Better Posture

We can all benefit from better posture.  It helps alleviate injuries after all.

Check out this workout from www.Sparkpeople.com that will help you work toward better posture.  This workout is only 12-minutes.

What The Scale Doesn't Say

The scale doesn't tell you everything.

Just because you haven't lost the weight you're seeking to lose, don't go away discouraged.

The scale isn't a picture of overall health.  It doesn't take into consideration lean muscle developed or hydration. It also may not account for that one-time "binge" meal you had during the week just prior to weigh-in.

Check out these factors when you weigh yourself from www.active.com. This expertise from Katie Davis that originally appeared in USA Triathlon will help guide you to the reality.

You Can Sleep In

Sometimes it feels REALLY good to "sleep in".

If you are an early riser for your fitness activities, guilt should never be felt if you choose to sleep in versus taking up your workout.  You might not be feeling well or you may be fatigued.  You just may need the rest.  Or you might just have a better offer . . . perhaps do something fun with your family!

Read this post from the "Shut Up and Run" blog and you won't feel guilty the next time you choose to "sleep in".

Staying Motivated

Staying motivated can be challenging.

Injuries, not meeting goals or lack of energy are just some of the things that can keep you from staying motivated.  When we don't meet our goals, that's perhaps the biggest factor in lacking focus.

Check out this post from www.sparkpeople.com. It will provide some guidance on how you can keep the motivation juices flowing.  This article shows how keeping your goals realistic is perhaps the best strategy in making sure you keep your motivation.

Aerial Yoga

We wrote about aerial fitness a few weeks ago.

Catch up with the new happenings at Club B-FIT in West Des Moines including aerial yoga. This studio moved more to aerial fitness programs back in October and is offering more in this area.

This is definitely for folks looking to add a different dimension to their fitness activities.

Some Workouts and Drills

How about some off-season drills to help the triathlete? Or any athlete for that matter.

USA Triathlon Coach Gale Bernhardt provides this post from www.active.com to share some swimming, running and exercise workouts to literally help keep anyone in shape!

For The Love Of Squats

Squats are a great exercise.

Not only is it good for lower body and core strength, it offers flexibility for using weights to incorporate upper body strength exercise opportunities.

Check out this post on the Des Moines Register website that offers some great squat variations.