xt????

So your trainer told you to cross train, or your coach put XT on your schedule for today. What is that???? Cross training is by definition: to undergo or provide training in different tasks or skills. In fitness the simple translation is to workout in a different way than your main workout.

My Moms In Motion runners and walkers are encourage to cross train several days a week. Core work, bicycling, Zumba, yoga, strength training, weights, a class at the gym, anything other than running or walking. Not only does this give your "running legs" a chance to recover, but any of these will strengthen them for the next run.

Recently Pintrest sucked me in, did you know they have fitness and nutrition info on there too??? I found this great workout, tried it and it kicked my booty. So OF COURSE I've got to share it with you!

This is a no frills, do anywhere, with no gear workout perfect for cross training. Beginners can repeat once, intermediate 2, advanced 3...or just take more breaks and do 3 repeats at your own pace. Since discovering this workout and using it to cross train, I've started tweaking it for variety and adding some of my favorite exercises. Here's another version I did today to focus a little more on core:

50 jumping jacks
20 squats
20 lunges (ea side)
30 high knees
12 push ups
20 twist mountain climbers (knee to opposite elbow)
30 second side plank
30 second plank
30 second side plank - other side
60 sec table top hold

Post a reply & let me know what you think...once you've completed one of them that is!

the flip side

Fitness, muscle and exercise are all great and good. BUT they cannot exist or benefit our health without the backing of good nutrition. Nutrition is the flip side of exercise.

Two years ago I decided to make a simple change by adding Juice Plus+ to my families diet. At the time, I thought I was just adding the 25 fruits & veggies in capsule form each and everyday. It has turned out to be so much more!

After some time passed, we began to notice some changes. The first of which was not glamorous and I'm still not sure as I write if it should be posted online at all. But here goes, our bowels became more regular. The phase "ouchy poops" disappeared from the vocabulary of my kids. Did you know 70% of our immune system is in our digestive tract?

That in itself explains why our visits to the doctor were less, we missed less days of school or work, the medicine cabinet doesn't need to be stocked, the humidifier stays in the cupboard and less $$$ goes for Kleenex.

A general awareness of the benefits of whole foods and returning to the way people used to eat has come right along with Juice Plus+. There are so many opportunities for education on health and nutrition that I cannot keep up with them all. Doctors, nutritionists, cardiologists, moms, dads, athletes, coaches, pediatricians you name it, they recommend Juice Plus and educate all who are connected with it. Check out some of them online.

In the effort to move to whole foods our cabinet has slowly changed, you'll rarely find a package with high fructose corn syrup or  hydrogenated oils. I bake often, and the wheat flour runs out faster than the white. Fresh fruits & veggies available for snacks. We are not perfect by any means, but I truly believe the awareness has changed my efforts to improve my families overall nutrition.

It's also changed my passion for educating others about nutrition as well as fitness. As the flip side, nutrition is probably even more important to our overall health. Learn more now on my website, or give me a shout. More posts to come!

What changes have you made to improve your nutrition?