Connect the Dots Ginger | Becky Allen: workout
Showing posts with label workout. Show all posts
Showing posts with label workout. Show all posts

Monday, July 24, 2017

All About The Shift Shop

WHAT IS SHIFT SHOP?
It's a 3 week ramp up fitness program consisting of strength and cardio agility workouts. They are challenging but anyone can do it since there is a modifier for every single move! The strength workouts are either body weight or using a set of dumbbells. The cardio workouts use the Beachbody Agility Markers as targets to help improve reflexes and coordination. One of the coolest and best things, the nutrition plan is laid out for you with a weekly meal plan and grocery list. How the nutrition plan works for you is that each week you decrease how  many carbs you are eating. Not only to test your resolve and to push you but to rethink your relationship with "comfort" food.

HOW DO THE WORKOUTS WORK? 
Week 1 the workouts are all 25 minutes long. Week 2 the workouts increase to 35 minutes and by week 3 the workouts are 45 minutes. Don't let that scare you, the length or intensity, because remember there is a modifier for every move, keeping it safe for any fitness level to do.

AGILITY TRAINING:
What is agility training? Agility training is movement. You move a lot during the workouts. Using the Beachbody Agility Markers you move forward, backwards and side to side, up and down. This tests your coordination and helps your body to become more stable too. First time I tried Shift Shop I struggled with moves that went backwards. Like hopping backwards. Sounds simple enough, but it isn't because I'm not used to doing it.

WILL IT CHALLENGE ME:
Yep! Both mentally and physically. The moves in Shift Shop will make you work, which is a good thing. And the nutrition will also challenge you because it is probably different than you have ever done before. It starts from pure beginner and the more advanced you are, the faster you go, or heavier weights you use.

WHAT MAKES THIS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER BEACHBODY PROGRAMS?
If you have done a ton of other workout programs, I get it. This just seems like another program. But Shift Shop is so unique in its design with the ramp up of exercise length and the decrease in carbs to help you reach your goals. If you are brand new to exercise this will be a great start because the moves are similar to every day moves you do at home, well most of them. It will increase your response rates, when kids are throwing toys at your head. It will help you feel stronger cleaning up after them. For intermediate and advanced. Let's say you hit a plateau. This is the perfect plateau buster because of the ramp up and decrease in carbs. Plus it is only 21 days long. A great short program that works well between programs.

Are you ready to reach your results? Join my exclusive SHIFT SHOP TEST GROUP to break through your plateau and get you one step closer to your results! PREP WEEK BEGINS AUGUST 1, Workout week Begins August 7. CLICK HERE to order and join my group and I will get in contact with you to get started right and more info!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!

Monday, June 26, 2017

EXERCISE: How To Get Results In 30 Minutes


I am a busy mom of 3 kids. I have said it before. It was even implied today at the store that I wouldn't have time to do other things because I am too busy with my kids, you can watch that video over on FACEBOOK HERE. And because I am busy, I choose to do 30 minute workouts at MAX EFFORT. Gone are the days of just going through the motion and using lighter weights. Now, I work for the body that I want.

I used to think that I had to exercise for 2 hours a day to lose weight. I was literally doing 2 hours of the elliptical a day 8 years ago. But that isn't the case. At all. Not if you are giving it your all and actually pushing yourself, and WORKING. You can do just 30 minutes a day of exercise.

30 Minutes Of Effective Exercise WORKS!

Just think about. If you did 30 minutes on the treadmill of walking at 2.8 speed for 30 minutes compared to doing interval training at a 30 second run and 1.5 minute fast walk, which is going to make you feel more out of breath? Which one did you work more towards. Don't get me wrong. Walking is great. If you love walking, great. But I am talking about the max effort to GET your results in your timeline.

Sure, we all have days where we drag and just don't want to do it, but you still need to do it as best as you can even on those days.
Key Things To Do In Your Next workout: 

Try before you modify: 
Make sure you are trying the move before you modify, unless you have preexisting injuries. If you are just getting into exercise or have been away for awhile. Try the move at least once to see where your starting point is. YOU MUST USE CORRECT FORM THOUGH. Don't strain yourself though. If you can't get into the move, modify for sure. But it is best to try before you modify. You might be surprised that you can do 5 jump squats when you didn't even think you could do 1!

Take your effort up a notch: 
If you have been doing the same workout for 3 weeks and you are still doing the same move at the same speed it is time to take it up a notch. Increase your weight. Or go just a hair faster. Jump higher. Whatever you have to do to take it up a notch.

Do Just 1 More:
Ever week do just 1 more rep than you did the week prior. This helps you see and feel how much stronger and better you are getting. And it is causing you to make progress in your workouts instead of just staying stuck at what you have done before.

Aim To Sweat:
If you are aiming to be sweating by the end of your workout then that means you worked your heart. And increased your heart rate. THAT IS GOOD! I have heard people don't want to sweat while exercising because they don't like to sweat or have to go back to work. Go on a walk and get a short little bit in but...It should be a fast walk and if not, then it might be time to find another time to do a more higher intensity exercise. You want to reach your goals right? Then you have to work for it! Your heart rate should go up a little bit and by doing that your body is exerting and will start to perspire to help cool you off. Even bit of sweat you drop is that much closer to reaching the body you want. Don't back off on what you are doing just because of a little sparkle!

Believe In You:
Believe that you can actually do the workout or actual exercise. Burpees, I hate them. Just like everyone else. They are hard. They spike my heart rate like CRAZY! And often I will modify before I try because I know what they do to me...But not anymore. My goal is to always do one full out. Then the next time I have them do 2 and so forth. I can no longer be stuck. I know I can do this and I know that I can work my body. Time to start believing it!

BE CONSISTENT: 
Want results you have to do something every day to get them. That means you have to workout 4-5 times a week. Think of it as your job (it can be by the way. Through coaching just like me! Have questions? Send me an EMAIL!) . Think of it as part of your everyday chore. How ever you have to think about it but you have to do it everyday. Just here and there isn't going to work anymore. It has to be on a regular basis.
Ready to make a complete lifestyle change and rock your goals and results in just 30 days? Be sure to get my 30 Days To A Healthy Lifestyle Change Workbook to help you learn the tricks to make a true and lasting lifestyle change!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!

Friday, June 23, 2017

Plus Size Fitness: Upper Body Fat Blasting Workout

I can't wait for my arms and back to be toned and defined! Check out some of my favorite moves to blast the fat and help me strengthen my upper body!

8-10 reps- Repeated 2 times (I'm personally using 10 pound weights, but use whatever weight feels best for you)



Want more Plus Size Fitness Exercises? Check out This Core Strengthening Workout! 


Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Mom and Baby Workout Tips

I'm a busy mom of 3 kids. And with a 2 year old and 5 month home with me full time, and the 5 year old at school. I have to plan ahead of time when I will get my workouts in. My prime time right now is when I put my 2 youngest down for mommy quiet time somewhere between 12:30 and 1:30pm. But not every day goes to plan. And I have to get creative. This past weekend, little miss Elyse decided she didn't want to nap as long as we had intended. And with a late workout time and early nap wake up...I was left with exercising with her. And it proved to be very entertaining for both of us. She had fun watching me go back and forth, and you can see it in the video. She loved being part of my routine and "flying"! As hard as it is to exercise with a baby, and find that time just for us moms, sometimes we don't get it. That doesn't mean you don't exercise. That means you just include them with you. Take a peek at our workout below doing 21 Day Fix Lower Fix! 

 

6 Tips For Working Out With Baby
1) Slow down at watch your baby. Some moves you might have to slow down for the safety of your baby, or to help them not puke all over you. If you are going up and down, and you just fed them then you might end up covered in milk. Just slow down just a hair and watch your baby's cues. 

2) Be safe. Be sure to always properly support your baby. Try not to do anything too difficult or unbalanced. If you struggle with balancing prior to holding your baby, best not to do a balance move, like a split squat, until you are more comfortable.

3) Use proper form. Don't lose your form because you are holding your baby. Feel your body as you are doing the move. If you feel like you are losing form to compensate holding your baby, try doing the same move but with your baby on the floor or in a safe place near you.
4) Play games with your baby. Babies love peek-a-boo. Try to make it fun and interesting for them. Talk to them. Count in a silly voice. Let them feel involved. Especially if they are watching you. 

5) Switch up what you are doing. Go from holding your baby, to them on the floor in front of you, then in a swing, then back to holding and so forth. You don't have to hold your baby the whole time, unless you want to.

6) Above all, have fun. Let them see you laugh, and enjoy it. Because you are instilling in to them, even at a young age, a love and desire to exercise. Be the example to them. Even as they continue to grow! 
Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Make Your Workouts A Priority: 6 Tips to Stay Motivated!


The hubs joined me in my Plyometrics workout yesterday! Had to chase him upstairs to get a picture with him! 
I hear every day..."I can't find time to workout out!" 3-4 years ago, my workout routine was, get dressed, get my kid strapped in the car. Drive 15 minutes to my gym. Take my kid to the kid zone. Find a locker to stash my stuff. (Try to remember the combo on my lock!) Go out and find a machine or wait for a class to start. And sometimes at the beginning of the year, I would have to wait awhile for a machine to be open. Then exercise on the elliptical or treadmill. Then I would hang out at the gym to reach the 2.5 hour max limit for my kid to be in the kid zone because a) he loved it and would pitch a fit to leave and b) I am paying a lot of money for this gym membership, I need to get my monies worth! Get my stuff, pick up kid. Drive the 15 minutes home and get kid into bed because he was exhausted and then shower for myself. That right there is 3.5 hours. You are right! I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THE GYM!

If you are having a hard time finding time to exercise. you might want to look at how you exercise first. Sit down and figure out exactly how long it takes you to go exercise. The prep process to actual exercise. Think about if what you are doing is working or if you need to change it. For me, being a busy mom of 3 kids, 2 kids home full time, the gym just wasn't working for me anymore so I switched to home workouts using Beachbody on Demand.

No matter how you want to exercise you have to make it a priority! Check out how I stay motivated to get my workouts in almost every day!

1) Schedule your workouts in to your day. Just like an appointment. Add in travel time too if you have to travel so that you physically see how much time it will take you to do your workout.

2) Remember WHY you wanted to start exercising. That driving force that made you get your gym membership or order that new workout. What brought you to that point that you decided you wanted to exercise every day.

3) Think about how good you feel after you finish your workout. At the end of a workout, especially a HARD one,  I love that BADASS feeling I feel of "WOW! I TOTALLY ROCKED THAT!"

4) Don't get frustrated if you struggle. Too many people go too hard in those first few workouts and they get super sore and then take days off to recover. Allow your time to grow and get used to the workouts you are doing. Trust yourself and the process.

5) Remember that this is a journey. That you will have times and days that you will slip up, or not follow your plan exactly. The goal though, is to get right back to it and keep trying. Never give up because some progress, is still progress!

6) Find a workout partner if you have to too, to help you stay motivated!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK.

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Fit Family Couples Workout

The other day I actually talked my husband into joining me for my workout. Poor guy, had just finished pulling the night shift watching over Collin who was in the hospital for 7 days, and also had some of the same sickness that Collin had. So he wasn't 100%. But he craves to workout as much as I do. Check out some of the fun we had in our workout!


Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!

Sunday, January 1, 2017

HAPPY NEW YEAR


Hope everyone has a safe and healthy New YEAR!

Collin, my second son, is still in the hospital so we will be spending the 3rd day there today. But...I did get to have some fun with my oldest this morning! We got in a GREAT little pajama dance party!


Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!

Friday, December 23, 2016

Plus Size Fitness: Ab Toning Exercises

I carry a lot of extra weight in my midsection. While I was pregnant I didn't do ANY crunches or heavy abdominal exercises. Since I am plus size I was at risk during my pregnancy to develop diastasis recti or a separation of my abdominal wall. Which you can read more about HERE. But now that Elyse is here. It is time to whittle my middle.

Being a plus size lady, some core exercises can be difficult due to the excess amount of fat in the midsection. Making some exercises more uncomfortable. WE can still do them, but listen to your body. Don't over crunch in on yourself. I find sometimes I want to do a fuller crunch, but I physically can't. So I end up pulling on my head more straining my neck. Watch out for that. Doing the movement as best you can is what you want to do to train your core to make it stronger. As you eat a healthy diet, your body will naturally start to lose the excess fat in the middle thus making these exercises even easier!

Are you ready to make that complete healthy lifestyle change but don't know where to start? I have created a 30 day workbook with daily action steps to help you make a complete healthy lifestyle change. 30 Days To A Healthy Lifestyle Change is available in my EXCLUSIVE private Facebook group as part of my Summer Slim Down To Success 60 Day Program as a TOOL to go along with your Beachbody On Demand All Access Pass workout programs and journey. If you are interested in joining us and are ready to order CLICK HERE and I will send you an email after you order with your materials and get you added to the group!

Russian Twists:
In a sitting position, lean back slightly and place your hands behind your ears. Then twist left elbow to opposite knee without crunch down. Then switch to right elbow to left knee and back and forth. Stay leaning back with your core tightened and engaged.
 Side Plank Twists:
Get into a modified kneeling side plank. Place your had behind your ear and elbow up to the sky. Then twist down to bring the elbows together as much as possible.
Plank Jacks:
High plank position. Start with legs together, then jump them out to wide position then back in and out. Tighten your core as much as possible to help stabilize your body.
 Basic Crunch:
Hands lightly behind the ears and lift with your chest not your head.

Supermans:
Down on your belly. Lift your arms and legs together slightly without straining your lower back and hold for 2 seconds. Then drop down softly. Then back up and so forth. The trick is to not go too high. If you feel a pinch in your low back, you are too high!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Beachbody On Demand 3 Week Yoga Retreat


I am so proud of myself for completing another program through Beachbody, and only 2 months out from having Elyse. I finished up the Beachbody On Demand Exclusive 3 Week Yoga Retreat program a couple of weeks ago. The only time I have ever really done yoga, besides PiYo since it is a fusion of yoga and pilates, was my prenatal yoga classes. And to be honest, I was always so scared to attend a Live yoga class because well, I used to think I don't have the typical yoga body. I am not as bendy as the people who typically attend yoga, and well, it scares me to death to do it because what if I fall over, what if I can't hold a pose like everyone else. What if I just can't do it because of my size and I don't want to feel like the biggest outsider.

Well. The size issue, just needs to stop first of all because it does not matter what size you are. We can do yoga if you want to, and I proved that doing my 3 day yoga retreat. These are all self hating ideas and they don't do any good. Never make your size a reason why you can't do something unless. If there is a will there is a way. 

Granted I am not as bendy as people who have been doing yoga, but that is just the thing. I haven't been doing yoga. Like ever! The 3 day Yoga Retreat was released with the concept that it is a beginners yoga course to teach proper alignment, poses and work your way up from there. WHICH IT DID! I actually learned a new hand position regard planks and downward dog making it much easier on my wrists. So that has been very helpful! Plus it was at a slower pace, allowed for them to go over each move in detail but still allow me to fell like I was getting a workout. My body was sore, and I was shaking and sweating in the moves.

By the end of the 3 weeks my body felt more bendy, I could actually pull the straps of our Ergo baby carrier tighter without help, so I had more noticeable flexibility in my body. I felt more confident in the poses and by the end of the 3 weeks I wasn't as shaky with some of the moves. I did modify the plank moves and anything that put a lot of strain on my core to help it go back together (helping to prevent/repair diastasis recti) since I did just have a baby and I will continue to modify my planks for the next couple of months to build my core back up but I really did enjoy this program and feel like I can do and join most any yoga class. I have confidence in yoga that I didn't have before. And to me that is what this program is all about!

READY to start doing yoga, plus have access to 100's of workouts FREE for 30 days? CLICK HERE to sign up for Beachbody On Demand (it's like Amazon Prime's membership, you get tons of stuff included with your membership plus options to upgrade!) Want to learn more about the 3 Day Yoga retreat ? Send me an EMAIL!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!

Friday, December 16, 2016

The One Exercise EVERY Woman Should Do Daily


It might be hard to hear this, but ladies, squatting is the BEST for us! And honestly we can rock the squat because we have great leg muscles! Think about how many times we bend down to pick up the clothes off the floor that our husbands just throw off and leave. Think about the toys we pick up. Or picking up our kids. Getting out of a chair, car, going to the bathroom. If I had a penny for every squat I have to do a day I would have a whole lot of spending money right now!

Just because we do a "squat" to pick something up everyday doesn't mean we are doing it right. Often times I catch myself and remind myself to, keep my knees from crossing in front of the toes. Take time out of your day to do some squats with the right form and technique to help your body be able to do it all the more easier and to help avoid injury down the line.

Squatting is such a great leg builder though. A proper squat with good range of motion is great for your quads, hamstrings and glutes (drop it till it's hot!). Do it right and it's also good for your knees, hip and posture. Train it to get some serious leg muscles going on that look fabulous on anyone! Who doesn't want that muscle line visible on the side of your thigh?!?

Here are a couple of ways to help you build up your endurance for squatting
Body Weight Squats
Easier and the first step to building up your squats. No weights, all you do is just squat. Keeping your hands in front of your heart or out front for balance. Keep the weight in your heels. For a beginner start out slow with smaller reps up to 12. As you get stronger increase the number you do up to 30.

Dumbbell or Kettle bell Squat
Once you get up to doing 30 body weight squats 3 times a day you can comfortably start using some weights to help provide yourself with more resistance. Again start with light weights and a smaller number of reps in the beginning and build from there. And as you get stronger you will increase the pounds of weights to use and your number of reps per set! You can change up your squats by pulsing them slightly at the lowest point of the squat. Or holding the squat for solid 10 seconds. You wanna feel that burn in your legs. This will do that for you! This is helping to build up your muscle!

Barbell Squats
The cream of the crop right here. If you want to get some serious tone on your legs, you can max out your weights using a barbell. But, you have to have proper form and technique to be able to perform this as it you can get injured very easily. Build up to this. Have someone spot you at the gym for safety. But seriously nothing makes you feel more like a badass than squatting a barbell with some serious weight on it!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!

Friday, December 9, 2016

Plus Size Fitness: Best Yoga Poses To Help With Digestion

In November as my first exercise post baby, I decided to ease back in with some basic beginner yoga. And being plus size I have always been so scared to do yoga. I don't fit the typical mold of a yoga person. I have curves, I have excess fat that doesn't let me get as deep into a pose as I want to be. But IT CAN STILL BE DONE NO MATTER YOUR SHAPE OR SIZE! I did the 3 Week Yoga Retreat only available on Beachbody On Demand. One thing I noticed is how much better my body felt and how things were a lot more "regular". I wasn't as bloated, and my tummy was just moving better. Great side effect I didn't anticipate but totally happened! And with Christmas coming up, we could all use some happy tummies before, during and after the big family and holiday get-togethers we have!

Check out these yoga posts to help with Digestion:

Bridge pose:

Seated twist or spinal twist:


Cat: 


Cow: 


Child's pose: 


Downward Dog


Forward Bend: 



Chair pose:


Triangle pose: 


Knees hugged into chest:

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!

Friday, September 23, 2016

40 Weeks Workout

40 weeks pregnant and I am still rocking my workouts! I have gotten a ton of people saying how they can't believe that I am still working out, hey me too sometimes. What I have figured out is that if you want to be healthy and fit especially while pregnant that you have to CHOOSE to do it. You have to WANT IT and really do it. Would I rather sit on my couch and surf Pinterest or Facebook. HECK YEAH! But...I also did not want to gain more than 30 pounds this pregnancy. That was a huge priority on my list. So what did I do...I worked really hard and made myself workout for at least 30 minutes a day 4-5 times a week. That's it. I never had to spend hours and hours at a gym. I didn't do any crazy exercises. I just continued what I was doing for as long as I could then I started modifying more, and here at the end I have been using more prenatal exercises I found on Youtube.

One of my favorite things I have access to though has been the Active Maternity workouts available only on Beachbody on Demand. There is a workout for each of the different trimesters, and even a workout for postpartum after you have been cleared by your doc! I have really enjoyed them and I would do them 2 times a week, up until this past month when I introduced COUNTRY HEAT which has been so much fun!

Check out my Highlight reel for the 3rd trimester Active Maternity Workout! You can find my other videos over at YOUTUBE!

If you are looking at still wanting to be active and fit while you are pregnant. Let me know and let's chat because I was able to have a healthy and fit plus size pregnancy and I know you can have a healthy and fit pregnancy too!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!

Monday, September 12, 2016

Favorite Late Pregnancy Yoga Moves


As I am getting closer and closer to my due date, exercise is getting difficult for me. Not that I don't want to do it but physically I am starting to be in pain. My hips ache, my lower back aches. I am pretty sure baby girl is sitting right on a nerve sometimes because one of my legs will just give out on me when I go to walk. It isn't very good. So to counteract the pain I am again upping my yoga, and leaving the days that I am truly feeling well to Dancing the baby out!) I am aiming for 3 days of dancing and then the rest of the time will be yoga, yoga and more yoga.

I have found a great workout that is no joke. Lara Dutta. I thought it looked easy at first but honestly being 38.5 weeks pregnant my heart rate goes up a lot faster than it used and and in some of the exercises I am actually almost breathing hard. It is just a different type of workout. Especially if you follow the deep breathing! That is the key! Check it out below!
Here are some pictures of my favorite moves in this whole workout. They just feel so good! 


Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!
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