REAL LEANESS

"If you have a goal to be healthy or lean, focus on the healthy foods you are ADDING to your way of eating.  Focus on ADDING exercise.  Focus on ADDING more drinking water.  Focus on ADDING soul activities.  Focus on ADDING more nature into your life.  Focus on ADDING new projects and hobbies that support a healthy lifestyle.

When you are focusing on ADDING healthy things to your life, the not-so-healthy foods, activities and behaviors will be eventually be squeezed out.  You won't miss them as much and may not even notice they've disappeared!"

--from my book "Real Health, Real Life."

--for more info on the book click on:
www.createspace.com/3698787

REAL RESOLUTIONS

"2 days left of January......Hurry!  Get those New Year's Resolutions in before the end of the month!
...just a reminder in case you forgot."
:)

http://www.realhealthreallife.net/

REAL METABOLISM

"Early morning exercisers have a head start when it comes to metabolism.  Exercise boosts metabolism and benefits you the rest of the day while your metabolism is at its peak...

If you are not a morning exerciser, go ahead and exercise at lunch time or early evening.  You will still speed up your metabolism just not as much as in the morning.  Any exercise later in the day is better than no exercise!

--from my book "Real Health, Real Life."

http://www.realhealthreallife.net/

REAL CARDIO

"Running, walking, hiking, swimming, aerobics, kickboxing, cycling, rebounding, starts the fat burning after the 15-20 minute mark.  Glycogen burns until then.  Shoot for 20-60 min 4-6 x per wk.

If that feels overwhelming to you, start with 5-10 minutes, then work your way up to 15-20, then 20-30, and so on.  Before you know it, you'll be exercising longer periods of time.  Your body will "wake up" and start to like exercising.  At some point, your body may even crave exercising!"

--from my book "Real Health Real Life."

www.real healthreallife.net

REAL CORE

"Your core is upper and lower abs, internal and external obliques (ribcage and sides of waist) as well as upper and lower back muscles.  Make sure you work all of them for proper core strengthening...

Many people work their abs by lying on the floor and doing crunches, but that only works your upper abs.  Other exercises must be done for other areas of the core to have solid core strength.

Having a strong core all the way around helps you create a strong foundation for total body strength.

When you think core, think of the trunk of a tree.  The branches of the tree are held up when the trunk of the tree is strong."

--from my book Real Health, Real Life.

http://www.realhealthreallife.net/

REAL MAINTAINING

"Maintain vs Gain over the holidays.  The "Holiday 7" is known as the amount of pounds the average person gains over the holidays...

You don't have to gain weight, just do your best to maintain.  Workout a minimum of 1x per week for exercise.  Keep up on the "Party Eating" and "Holiday Eating Tips" on my website, http://www.realhealthreallife.net/   or follow Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin for the tips regarding the nutrition aspect.   That will create less work for you to do after the holidays. 

Realistic wellness is about maintaining your weight over the holidays. You can still have fun, enjoy the holidays, yet maintain!

That's Real Maintaining!"

--from my book, "Real Health Real Life."

http://www.realhealthreallife.net/

REAL WELLNESS

"Dancing is a great way to express your soul.  Whether it's it's the Texas 2-step, waltz, swing, tango, jitterbug or cha-cha, dancing is exercise for your body, a release for your mind and soothes your soul...

Burn calories the fun way...relieve strress...get some cardio...free your mind...bring joy to your soul. 
Get some happy feet!"

-from the book "Real Health Real Life."

http://www.realhealthreallife.net/

REAL CORE

"Doing crunches only works your upper abs.  Real core fitness involves working your upper and lower abs, internal and external obliques, and back muscles...

Most people get down on the floor and do crunches and then wonder why their belly is still protruding.  Doing crunches only works the section by your lower ribcage.  In order to stregnthen the lower abs, lower abs exercises must be done.

For Real Core Fitness you must do exercises that target the upper and lower abs, internal and external obliques (lower front and side section of rib cage area) and back.  Working all of these muscles with specific exercises will help you strengthen your core, which in turn creates a stronger foundation when exercising other muscle groups within the body.

Think of it this way....Your core is like the trunk of a tree.  The tree must have a strong trunk in order to hold up the branches as well as get through strong winds, etc.

Activities that help work your core are stability ball, bosu, pilates, and of course, floor exercises for abs and back.  A FUN new way to exercise your core is the new Bull Fitness class.  This class involves riding a mechanical bull, like the one at Travaasa Austin.   http://www.travaasa.com/

---from my book "Real Health Real Life."
http://www.realhealthreallife.net/

REA HEALTH TIP

"Being flexible on all sides...equally...improves posture and helps prevent injury...

Everybody's flexibility is different.  Your right side may be more flexible than your left.  That is normal...BUT, it is important to have balance in your flexibility...(your right side as flexible as your left...your front side as flexible as your back.)

If some muscles get stretched more than others, they tend to become overstretched, while the understretched muscles shrink and become tight.

This creates incorrect posture and the likelihood of injury.

Stretch all muscles at least 10-15 seconds daily if you can, to reep the physical benefits.  Anything less than 10 seconds has no benefit."

--from my book "Real Health Real Life."

http://www.realhealthreallife.net/

REAL FITNESS

"Exercising with a stability ball improves balance,
strengthens abdominal and back muscles
and improves body awareness..."

Stability ball guidelines:
* Make sure you maintain proper air pressure. 
When the ball is firm, the exercises are more difficult. 
When the ball is soft, the exercises are easier.

 
*Knees and hips should form a 90 degree angle
when seated on the ball.

*Using a ball for your desk or office chair forces you
to sit up straight..
It will help strengthen your core (back and abs)

*Size does make a difference.
Appropriate ball sizes:
Height                  Ball Size
5 ft.                      45 cm
5 ft- 5'7''              55 cm
5'8-6'2"                65 cm
6'2" and taller       75 cm

--from my book "Real Health Real Life."

http://www.realhealthreallife.net/