Take Your Power Back!

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I love this quote by Jillian Michaels! Not only because I love Jillian and her tough approach to fitness and weight loss (as witnessed on The Biggest Loser show) but also simply because it resonates with me.

Exercising really is about taking back your power from all the things that steal it away. Stress for me is the number one power thief! But be it heartbreak, grief, self doubt, or whatever makes you feel overwhelmed - exercise can cure it! And that's one thing I know for sure!

Starting and maintaining an exercise routine is always a little hard but one thing that keeps me going is how great I feel after each workout! Exercising isn't really as daunting as it seems. Let me break it down for you:

To achieve a healthy body there are 3 aspects to cover in your workouts. You need some cardiovascular training, (popularly referred to as 'cardio') Strength training, and lastly you need to stretch.

Cardio is anything that will raise your heart rate and make you sweat! Choose the form of cardio that appeals to you the most (and fits your budget). Brisk walking, jogging, skipping rope, running, dance classes, aerobics classes, Zumba, swimming, kickboxing, tennis... the list is endless.. All these are great cardio options.

Strength training is basically weight lifting or body weight training. This is the aspect that builds muscle. Many women think that they don't need to strength train or that it will make them look bulky - but neither of these sentiments is true! Fact is unless you are lifting extremely heavy weights, you will never actually bulk up! Keep the weights light and up the repetitions and you will build just enough muscle to keep you healthy and toned. The more muscle you have the easier it is to maintain a desirable weight as muscle burns calories even at rest. Which means you won't have to do as much cardio to remain trim.

Stretching is necessary to keep you supple and flexible. Flexibility is essential to prevent injury in your everyday life's movements and activities. So after you do your cardio and strength training exercises be sure to stretch your muscles. Workouts like Pilates and yoga are wonderful because they combine body weight training and stretching. So you get a 2-in-1 workout that will leave you feeling energized and ready to take on the world!

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So this week, make some time, go home right after work, change into your exercise gear and work out! Your body will thank you and you will probably have a super productive week!