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Morning Workouts: Tips for Getting Your Butt Out of Bed

I’m naturally a morning person, but becoming a morning exerciser was no easy task! The first few mornings of waking up early were really hard, but the more I forced myself to do it, the easier it became. Even now it’s not always that pleasant””especially when it’s cold and dark outside in the winter””but it’s a great way to start the day and now it’s part of my morning routine. Here’s what helps me break a sweat before sunrise.

Tips to Get Hooked on Strength Training

I haven’t always loved strength training. I used to be really intimidated by it, mostly because I had no idea what to do! And I dreaded ending up with big, bulky muscles. Now, however, I lift weights to keep my arms and legs toned and to sculpt new muscles I never knew I had. I even look forward to my Body Pump classes now! Here are a few stick-with-it tips that will help you look forward to strength training too.

Body Pump: Tips for Beginners

I receive quite a few questions about Body Pump, including tips for first-timers. Usually, I just reply in an email with my ideas, but I thought the topic would make a great blog post. So here’s what I tell people who want to attend their first Body Pump class.

The Right Way to Foam Roll

Foam rolling is a flexibility technique where you roll your muscles over a cylindrical piece of foam using your body pressure to massage knots out of your muscles. “By applying gentle force to an adhesion or ”˜knot,’ the elastic muscle fibers are altered from a bundled position (that causes the adhesion) into a straighter alignment with the direction of the muscle.” [source] Basically, if you foam roll the tight muscle, it will help restore the fibers back to an optimal level of function and your muscle will work much more efficiently. Here’s how to do it the right way!

How to Strength Train at Home

If you’re a regular reader of Carrots ”˜N’ Cake, you know much I enjoy Body Pump. I attend classes regularly and it’s a quick, dirty, and fun workout! But, I know not everyone has access to Body Pump classes, so here are some ways that I’ve incorporated strength training into my workout routine at home.

Ways to Excuse-Proof Your Workout

It happens every year: Once the summer ends, I struggle to follow a consistent workout plan. Most of the time I realize that I just need a little extra motivation, so I try to “excuse-proof” my workout with these ideas.

No More Excuses: 4 Ways to Stick to Your Workouts

Sometimes, the last thing I have time for (or want to do) is exercise, but I know if I don’t fit in some quality sweat sessions, I’ll ring in the new year a few pounds heavier””and it’s tough to feel festive when my pants are too tight! Here are some typical excuses for skipping your workout and how to overcome them.

How to Take Your Workout Up a Notch

There’s nothing wrong with an easy workout every once in awhile, but you don’t want to waste your time either. Wasting time at the gym is one of my biggest pet peeves, so here’s how I take my workouts up a notch.

Get Out There and Run

On the days when I’m just not motivated to run, here’s what I do. Seven tips and tricks to get out there and run!  

How to Run on a Treadmill Without Dying of Boredom

Watching TV is a great way to keep me from getting bored on the treadmill, but I don’t always have the luxury of watching my favorite shows. Here are some other things that I do to prevent myself from dying of boredom on the treadmill.

Ways to Deal with Training & Cravings

After gaining weight while training for my first marathon, I vowed not to gain weight the second time around. I still experienced plenty of cravings during training for my second marathon, but I didn’t fall into them (as much), so I didn’t gain weight.

How to Make Fitness Fun

Exercise shouldn’t be torture! Here’s how I make it fun!

5 Reasons Why Your Workout Isn’t Working

Ever logged countless hours at the gym and still the scale won’t budge? I’ve stared down that plateau before. For weeks, I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t progressing, until I zeroed in on six easy-to-miss factors that prevented me from seeing results.

How to Start Running: Tips for Beginners

Running is great exercise and an effective way to tone muscles, but it can be daunting to take the first step! Here are some tips to make it less intimidating.