Two Simple Kettlebell Workouts!

20 Day Kettlebell Challenge

Welcome to the final week of the 20 Day Kettlebell Challenge! We are going to lift and swing our kettlebells right through Thanksgiving and all those wonderful temptations that Thanksgiving brings! Day 13, Sunday, was a rest day. So really rock out these two workouts over the next two days. The workouts for Day 14 and Day 15 are below. Watch your form and enjoy every minute of these two strength endurance kettlebell workouts!

Day 14, Monday, Upper Body Endurance Workout:

 Kettlebell Upper Body Endurance
Kettlebell Upper Body Endurance

Day 15, Tuesday, Lower Body Endurance Workout:

 Kettlebell Lower Body Endurance
Kettlebell Lower Body Endurance

Week #4 Workout Routines

October Barbell Challenge

Week #4 Workout Routines & Schedule

It’s week four! You should be feeling stronger day-by-day and feeling more cut and slim too! If not, you are either eating too much or too little. Make sure you are getting enough protein daily, watch your macro-nutrient intake ratio (protein vs. fat vs. carbohydrate ratio) and you are drinking plenty of pure filtered water daily too!

Below are the workout routines for week #4. You will notice some new exercises, like chin ups and push ups. I want you to feel how much progress you have made so far (with strength gains) when you do these new exercises.

For example, before you started this barbell challenge, about how many push ups could you do before failure? How hard was it for you to do a push up? This week when you try the push ups, pay attention and be mindful of how many more reps or better form you can hold while doing your push ups.

Also, if you don’t have a means to do chin ups at home (get a chin up bar like this one I use) or just substitute for inverted rows or you can do bent-over barbell rows instead of the chin ups. However, if you can afford it, invest in getting a doorway chin up bar because chin ups are a fantastic exercise move!!!

Week #4 Workout Schedule:

October 20th {Monday}: Upper Body Workout

October 21st {Tuesday}: Cardio Workout

October 22nd {Wednesday}: Lower Body Workout

October 23rd {Thursday}: Upper Body Workout

October 24th {Friday}: Cardio Workout

October 25th {Saturday}: Lower Body Workout

October 26th {Sunday}: Rest Day

Week #4 Workout Routines:

 Upper Body Workout
Upper Body Workout
 Lower Body Workout
Lower Body Workout
 Cardio Workout
Cardio Workout

Enjoy your week and have fun with each workout. Pat yourself on the back for making it to week #4!

3 Ways to Become the MacGyver of Spring Cleaning

macgyver-1It’s officially Spring here so it is time for Spring Cleaning! Have an open mind and let’s apply this yearly tradition not only to your home, but your body & mind as well! Become an expert and a MacGyver on Spring Cleaning!

Your Spring Cleaning Goals:

#1 = HOME: Clean out, declutter & focus on one room in your house that has been bothering you all winter!

#2 = MIND: Close your eyes, and think about one thing that you’ve been meaning to do, that has been on your mind all winter (or for the past year!). Write it down. Now write down the roadblocks associated with this goal or obstacle. Now get strategic and write down the steps to tackle each roadblock. This week start working toward overcoming your obstacle and achieving your goal ONE STEP-AT-A-TIME!

#3 = BODY: This week it’s all about simplifying everything! Simplify your diet. AND simplify your exercise routine (if you don’t have an exercise routine, than start with the one spelled out below!)

BODY: EAT CLEAN

  • spinach-frittata-goat-cheeseDrink eight, 8 ounce glasses of water per day
  • Whole foods, nothing processed.
  • No baked goods, breads, added sauces, condiments, sugar or artificial ingredients or artificial sugars.
  • Eat lots of green leafy vegetables like kale, broccoli & spinach.
  • Add some colorful veggies to the mix like bell peppers, tomatoes & carrots.
  • Eat clean & lean animal and plant proteins like organic, free-range & grass-fed turkey, bison, & eggs, as well as raw almonds, cashews, & sunflower seeds!
  • Get some healthy fats in your diet from ground flax seed meal, avocados, coconut oil, & the nuts & seeds listed above.
  • Lastly, include some unrefined, unprocessed, wheat-free organic whole grains like quinoa & buckwheat!
  • Keep it simple. Each meal should only have 3-4 ingredients (for example: a kale salad with tomatoes, bell peppers & 2 eggs scrambled is a yummy breakfast, lunch or dinner option you can cook up in one pan on your stove top).
  • Use lemons and fresh herbs & spices to flavor your meals and snacks.

BODY: SIMPLIFY YOUR WORKOUTS

This week focus on one muscle group per day and do at least 5 workouts. Choose one of the exercise routines below. Do the given number of reps/sets/time and then perform the cardio option for given duration. Go at your own pace and for your own skill level & have fun with it!
backflyrowROUTINE #1:
Muscle Group – Chest/Arms. Do 5-10 sets of 10 push ups.
Cardio – Run for 25 minutes at moderately fast pace.
*Do push ups against wall, or on your knees, or on your toes depending on your skill level
ROUTINE #2:
Muscle Group – Glutes/Hams. Do 5-10 sets of 10 prisoner jump squats.
Cardio – Run for 25 minutes at moderately fast pace.
*Just do squat portion (minus the jump), if you don’t feel comfortable doing jump squats
ROUTINE #3:
Muscle Group – Triceps. Do 5-10 sets of 10 tricep dips.
Cardio – Run for 35 minutes at moderate pace.
*Do dips from a chair, a bench or a dip bar
ROUTINE #4:
Muscle Group – Quads/Abs. Do 5-10 sets of 10 step ups/leg.
Cardio – Run for 20 minutes at max pace.
*Do step ups from floor or onto a chair or step bench
ROUTINE #5:
Muscle Group – Back/Abs. Do 5-10 sets of 10 Back Fly/Back Row combo (image on right).
Cardio – Run for 45 minutes at a steady-moderately challenging pace.
*Use dumbbells or if you are a beginner you can even just use two water bottles!

maxflowgreyHVNERTH

It’s good to change up your workout routine every 4-6 weeks to trick your muscles & body (& mind)! I wanted to share with you one of my favorite workout shirts that gets me pumped up (on the right).

What’s your favorite inspirational & motivational workout gear?

What Everyone is Saying About These 3 Bikini Body Breakfast Recipes

chocenergybar

Include these three recipes as part of your daily diet to help you slim down, tone up and fuel your workouts! These three breakfast recipes are wholesome and healthful and will help you get on track and stay on track with your health & fitness goals, whatever they may be, and are in line with our “Fit & Toned Bikini Body 28 Day Challenge“.
Remember, it isn’t always about losing weight or getting skinny ladies! When it all comes down to it, it’s about feeling good, on the inside & out. Start listening to your body, and after you eat a meal, become aware of how that meal affects your mood, energy level & digestive system. If your energy dips and you feel agitated or your stomach feels funky after a meal, make a note of what you ate and start becoming mindful of what “works and doesn’t work” for you.

Cover PageTonedPic - Small

Everyone reacts differently to food and also different food combinations, so start listening to what your body is telling you. Remember, if your body is in a toxic state from ‘pollutants’ and/or processed foods, or if your bodily systems are functioning at a lowered state because you are eating things that your body has a negative response to, then your body will have a difficult time achieving your health & fitness goals. Eat clean, and train dirty is the best motto to go by!

#1. Cinnamon Toast Pancakes: (Gluten & Grain Free)

Whip up the pancake batter below and cook away! These pancakes are nutrient packed, gluten-free, dairy-free, wheat-free, sugar-free, grain-free and a perfect post or pre-workout snack! Measurements may vary according to your taste and preference, so have fun with it and tweak the recipe as you like!

Oatmeal-Protein-Pancake

Pancake Batter: Prep time is 10 minutes and recipe yields 1 pancake = 1 serving.

    • 1/4 cup Almond Flour
    • 1 tbsp of Ground Flax Meal
    • 1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
    • 1-2 shakes of sea salt
    • 1 Whole Organic, Free-range Large Egg
    • 1/2 teaspoon of Organic, Alcohol-free Vanilla or Maple extract
    • 4 scooper-fulls of 100% Pure Organic Stevia Extract powder

First, mix all dry ingredients in a bowl. Then whisk 1 egg, Vanilla or Maple extract, and melted coconut oil together and add to dry mixture in bowl. Slowly add unsweetened/unflavored coconut milk (unsweetened/unflavored almond milk or water are optional substitutes) until the pancake mixture becomes a thick pancake batter consistency (should be around 1/4 cup – 1/2 cup of coconut milk or liquid you used in place of coconut  milk). Mix well, spray your frying pan with cooking spray (preferably coconut oil spray or canola oil spray) and pour the pancake batter mixture into your frying pan. Cook until you see tiny bubbles starting to pop through on top of the pancake. Now flip the pancake and cook other side until the bottom of the pancake is browned (or cook to your preference). Plate and serve!

*Optional: Spread coconut oil on top after pancake is plated and shake cinnamon on top, add sliced 1/2 medium banana or 1/4 cup fresh cut strawberries or blueberries.

EnergyBar

#2.Almond Joy Breakfast (or Energy) Bars:

These raw, no-bake breakfast bars are gluten-free, dairy-free, wheat-free, sugar-free, and a great energy boost for any time of day! Make these on a Sunday and store them in your fridge to have as a quick snack when you’re in a rush and on the go! Measurements may vary according to your taste and preference, so have fun with it and tweak the recipe as you like!

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Breakfast Bar Mix: Prep time is 20 minutes and recipe yields 12-16 servings/breakfast bars.

  • 1/4 cup Dry Organic Oatmeal *optional (I use Gluten & Wheat-free whole oats)
  • 1-2 tbsp Chia seeds
  • 1 cup Raw Almonds
  • 1 cup Raw Cashews
  • 1/2 cup Raw Pumpkin seeds (slightly browned in dry frying pan)
  • 1/4 cup Raw Sunflower seeds
  • 2 tbsp Raw Cacao powder
  • 2 chopped & pitted Organic Dates
  • 1 tbsp of Organic, Alcohol-free Vanilla extract
  • 4 scooper-fulls of 100% Pure Organic Stevia Extract powder
  • 1 teaspoon – 1 tbsp Cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • Filtered water

pinwheels-and-date-bar-010

First, mix all dry ingredients in a bowl (don’t add dates yet). Pour half of dry mixture into your food processor or your high-speed/high-quality blender (I use a Blendtec Blender). Pulse your blender or food processor 8-12 times to moderately chop up the nuts. Then add remaining portion of your dry mixture, as well as, the vanilla extract, dates and 2 tablespoons of filtered water. Slowly pulse the mixture in your food processor or blender until it begins to stick and hold together, adding water as needed (similar to making pizza dough). Once your mixture begins to stick together, scoop out the mixture onto a plate or 8″x8″ baking pan lined with saran wrap. Pull sides of saran wrap up and over mixture so it is covered and use the saran wrap to start to mold your breakfast bar mixture into a square that is 1-2″ thick and about 6-8″ x 6-8″. Cut into squares and throw in the refrigerator to let cool for at least an hour before eating so that your breakfast bar squares hold together! Voila, your breakfast bars are ready to eat!

*Optional: Spread organic shredded coconut on top of breakfast bars before popping them in the refrigerator.

#3. Bacon & Eggs Frittata:

Egg and bacon frittata

This bacon & egg frittata feels and tastes like a cheat meal! It is so tasty and is jam packed with lean protein sources to help you repair and recover from your daily workouts!

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and spray an 8-10″ oven-safe pie pan with cooking spray.

Frittata Mixture: Prep time is 15 minutes and recipe yields 2-4 servings.

  • 1/4 cup Unsweetened Organic Coconut Milk
  • 4 Organic, free-range large eggs
  • 2 cups Kale
  • 1/4 cup Scallions
  • 2 medium roma tomatoes, diced
  • 1/2 large bell pepper, diced
  • 6 strips organic turkey bacon
  • 1-2 shakes of sea salt
  • 1-2 teaspoons fresh ground pepper
  • 2 teaspoons oregano

spinach-frittata-goat-cheese

First, throw the bell pepper, kale & scallions in a frying pan (coated w/cooking spray) and brown up. Add in diced tomatoes to this mixture. Turn off heat. Cook up bacon in a frying pan. Remove bacon and chop up. Add bacon & vegetables to your round oven-safe pie pan. Whisk eggs and coconut milk together in a bowl. Pour in egg mixture evenly over your vegetable & bacon mixture in the round oven-safe pie pan. Make sure egg mixture evenly covers and spreads throughout the pie pan. Top with salt, oregano & pepper and place on middle rack of your oven that has been preheated to 375 degrees. Cook for approximately 45 minutes, or until top is browned. Remove from oven, let cool for 5-10 minutes. Then cut into 4-6 wedges (like a pizza). Plate and serve!

*Optional: If you need some extra calories or energy, serve a slice of this bacon & egg frittata with a tablespoon of almond butter iced on top of it!

That’s all you need to do today. Pretty simple, right?

When Lower Body Workouts Send You Running for Cover…

Here’s a lower body leg workout you can take a shot at today, and it won’t send you running… for cover… no pun intended! Sometimes, a leg workout routine can seem intimidating or overwhelming, especially if you add in a long cardio session after you strength train. So, if you’d like to try out a more simple approach, check this out!

We love leg workouts, especially body weight leg routines. And this one is simple yet effective for helping you get your legs (and your abs) in shape!

Compliments of the 28-Day Warrior Girl Challenge. This is “Workout #1” of the 5 Workouts Per Week plan. I did this workout at home this morning, and not only does it fire up your fat burning potential by incorporating High Intensity Interval Training, but it also helps to strengthen, trim & tone those legs (& abs) while you’re at it!

Tip: Pin this to one of your Pinterest boards so that you can take it with you to the gym!

BACWorkout1

To get the details on the exact instructions & modifications for all skill levels for this Workout and the rest of the “28 Day Warrior Girl Challenge”, visit our CLICK HERE!

Will Toned Legs Ever Rule the World?

This whole thigh gap thing has me perplexed. Since when is it “hot” to look emaciated? Go ahead and starve yourself and spend countless hours wasting away on the treadmill so that you can have the “thigh gap” look if that’s what you want…….
But us here at Brave Angel are going to stick with focusing on our health & wellbeing, hard work, determination, and the shorter & more enjoyable workouts that leave you feeling fulfilled, accomplished, energized & strong…and with super trim & very toned legs!

How to get super cut and toned legs for bikini season:

  1. Fuel your body with the necessary amount of calories, no starving & no binging!
  2. Follow a macro-balanced whole foods diet
  3. Exercise 4-5 days per week for at least 30-45 minutes
  4. Be consistent with #1, #2, and #3 above, consistency is key!
  5. Include below leg exercises in part of your weekly routine

Obviously, it is a little more involved than the five steps above. But each action mentioned above is a whole post in and of itself. Steps #1, #2 & #3 will be included in a complete bikini season exercise & diet plan that we are currently putting together for all of you! I will be posting the plan soon, here on my blog, for all of my followers. So stay tuned (and make sure you click “follow” on my blog)!

Until then, get active! Include the below trim & toned legs workout to uncover those sleek and sculpted legs that lie underneath any extra layers of excess weight you may have accumulated over the winter months!

Super Cut & Toned Legs Workout:

Strength: Do 2-3 rounds of the 10 exercises below w/minimal rest in between.

  1. Walking Lunges (10 reps/leg)
  2. Alternating Hip Lift Bridge [30 pulses total]
  3. Jump Squats [10 reps]
  4. Split Squats [10 reps/leg]
  5. Elevated 1-Leg Hip Lift [10 reps/leg]
  6. Fire Hydrant Side Kicks [20 reps/leg]
  7. Pike Jumps [20 jumps]
  8. Step Ups [10 reps/leg]
  9. Lunge Jumps [20 switch jumps]
  10. Plank Jacks [30 reps]

 

 

 

Cardio: Now hop on the treadmill or stair climber and do the following interval workout for eight minutes.

  • 10 seconds at a Moderately Challenging Pace (Active Rest Interval)
  • 20 seconds at your Max Pace (High Intensity Interval)
  • Alternate between the Active Rest Interval and High Intensity Interval for 8 minutes

Now cool down and congratulate yourself on completing a challenging workout. You’re one step closer to achieving your fitness goals!

Yours Truly,

Brave Angel

Push Ups & Cupcakes!

Here in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., we are having a snow storm and most offices are closed! So that means a lot of people get to stay home from work and snuggle by the fire and watch movies all day….
The first thing to think about is that you now have ALL day to get in a great workout. AND you should really reward yourself by cooking up (and eating!) these amazing cupcakes. They are so delicious and perfect to pack in your lunch bag as an afternoon snack. If you’re like most people, during a workday you probably experience a dip in energy around 2:00 – 3:00 pm…right? Perfect time to eat a cupcake than, right?

So here is the plan:

  1. Do the workout routine (see below).
  2. Then eat a cupcake (recipe below).

That’s all you need to do today. Pretty simple, right?

“How Low Can You Go?” Workout:

Tone up your legs, arms and abs with this simple home workout routine! For each move, the lower you can go, the better. Challenge yourself! Visualize your goals, put on some motivational tunes and rip this workout routine a new you know what! Do 5 rounds of each circuit. Give yourself 10 seconds between each exercise move. Give yourself 30 seconds between each round & circuit. Do 10 – 15 reps per move.

Circuit A: *Do 5 rounds, 10 secs rest between moves, 30 secs rest between rounds

  1. Push Ups (on knees or toes)
  2. Prisoner Squats (add jumps to step up intensity)
  3. Knee Tucks

*30 secs rest before moving onto Circuit B.

Circuit B: *Do 5 rounds, 10 secs rest between moves, 30 secs rest between rounds

  1. Dips
  2. Walking Lunges (20 reps total)
  3. Leg Raises

*30 secs rest before moving onto Circuit C.

Circuit C: *5 rounds, 10 secs rest between moves, 30 secs rest between rounds

  1. Elbow Plank to Push Up Plank
  2. Split Squats (10 reps/leg; elevate foot to intensify)
  3. Mountain Climbers (20 switches total)

Good Job, You’re Done! Now go eat a cupcake!

Almond Butter Cupcakes:

Preheat your oven to 350˚. Whip up the cupcake batter below. And bake away! These muffins are nutrient packed, gluten-free, dairy-free, wheat-free, sugar-free, grain-free and a perfect post or pre-workout snack! Measurements may vary according to your taste and preference, so have fun with it and tweak the recipe as you like!

Cupcake batter: Prep time is 15 minutes and recipe yields 9-12 cupcakes

  • ½ – ¾ cup coconut flour
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 6 -7 eggs
  • ½ – ¾ cup coconut milk (add at end)
  • 1/3 cup coconut oil (melt in microwaveable bowl first)
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 10 scoops pure stevia extract powder (taste test as you go, start with 6-8 scoops and add as you taste test batter)
  • 1 teaspoon dolloped on top of cupcake once batter added to cupcake tins *optional (before baking)
  • Almond butter ‘icing’ – once cupcakes are baked, take a tablespoon of almond butter and spread on top of cupcake as ‘icing’

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350˚, spray a cupcake tray with cooking oil, and get out your muffin tins (I use silicone tins, they’re awesome!).

  1. Combine the coconut flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon in large bowl.
  2. Whisk together the eggs, coconut oil, and vanilla extract in a bowl and blend well.
  3. Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients. Slowly add coconut milk until reaching a cupcake consistency and thickness (should be like pancake batter).
  4. Now add 6-8 scoops of pure stevia extract powder (very potent, so I mean the very tiny scooper that comes in your pure stevia extract powder bottle).
    1. Taste the batter, and if you want to increase the sweetness, add a scoop or two more.
    2. Once batter is ready, fill each of your muffin tins about 90% full with the batter.
      1. Dollop a teaspoon of almond butter on top of a few muffins for some fun and variety!
      2. Put muffins in middle rack of oven for about 20-25 minutes.
      3. Cool and frost with almond butter! Yum!

W.O.W. Week 2 – RawFitnessChallenge!

Time for a new W.O.W. (workout of the week)!
This week we will be doing a ‘Time & Rep Challenge’. Again, focus on form first, endurance & strength will follow as you improve in fitness. You will perform the below exercises in a circuit fashion, perform the given # of reps for each move, then move onto the next move until you finish the whole circuit. Then do a 2nd and/or 3rd round. Your goal is to see how many rounds you can complete in 30 – 45 minutes. You choose the how long you want to push yourself for. If you’re a beginner, aim for 20-30 minutes. If you’re advanced, go for the whole 45 minutes. Or you can even up the intensity and just do 30 minutes! It’s up to you and your goals!

‘Time & Rep Challenge’: Warm up for 5 – 10 minutes.

  1. Split Squats 30R/Leg
  2. Pike Press 30R
  3. Donkey Kicks 50R/Leg
  4. Dips (Off chair, Dip station, 1-Leg, you choose) 40R
  5. 1-Leg Deadlifts 20R/Leg
  6. Reptile Push Up 10R
  7. Plie Squat Pulse 40R
  8. Bicycle 30R (2 twists = 1Rep)
  9. Double Straight Leg Circles 10R/Way (Lie w/back on ground for beginners)
  10. Toe Touches 30R

Cardio: Do 10-20 minutes of high intensity intervals on treadmill, elliptical, arc trainer, outdoor jog, bicycle, spin bike, etc.

  • Do 30 seconds at a 6-out-of-10 exertion level. (Active Recovery Interval)
  • Do 30 seconds at a 8/9-out-of-10 exertion level. (Effort Interval)
  • Alternate between these two exertion levels for 10-20 minutes.

Cool Down and pat yourself on the back! Good Work!

Click on the exercise to be taken to a youtube video showing the exercise move if you aren’t familiar with what the exercise is. Make sure to have a nice big bottle of water nearby and write down how many reps, the weight you use, and how many rounds you get done. Then post your results on our 30 Day RawFitnessChallenge Facebook Page! Keep a journal of your workout results so you can track your progress!

M.O.W. (Meal of the Week): Perfect light meal that you can cook up on the grill! Sweet potato rounds are my ‘go-to’ when I’m hitting upGrilled Sweet Potatoes with Maple Vinaigrette a cookout. Everyone is throwing on their greasy, artery clogging burgers and hot dogs…meanwhile my sweet potato rounds are grillin’ up and are absolutely satisfying and tasty! Serve w/a side of raw vegan zucchini pasta that you can make ahead of time and bring with you to your cookouts. All the other guests will be jealous of your yummy plate of food!

 Raw vegan Zucchini pasta Raw Vegan Zucchini Pasta

Grilled Sweet Potato Rounds

 
 
 
 
 
Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist or a doctor. What I write in my blogposts is simply information that I have gathered over the years from reading and researching several health related topics from credible resources as well as personal experiences. I urge you to consult with a physician before changing your diet. The purpose of my blogposts are to share my experiences and fitness knowledge with everyone I possibly can to help others in their journey to improve their state of well-being.

30 Day Raw Fitness Challenge – Exercise Guidelines & W.O.W.

Here we go people! 30 Days to Re-Vamp Your Health!
So, I was hoping to get this post up yesterday, but we experienced ‘hurricane-like’ storms here in my area of Parkville, MD this past Friday. So when I returned from my vacation down at the ocean, I returned to no power, no air conditioning, 93 degrees in my house, all of my refrigerator food warm, and so on…we may not get our power back until FRIDAY which would be 7 whole days. Let’s just say I look pretty fabulous right now…sarcasm… I WILL DO MY BEST TO GET POSTS UP ON RAWFITNESSTV.COM and FACEBOOK to keep this challenge going during this time of challenge due to power outages! I promise:)

BUT!!!!! Let’s get our workout in still. I need your motivation people, in times like this, it’s so easy to find an excuse NOT to get a workout in, but just 10 minutes…start there and see where it goes! So let’s help each other out in this 30 day challenge! The previous post defines the ‘Nutritional Guidelines’ for the 30 day challenge, so please print those out and put on your refrigerator or somewhere you view daily. View ‘Exercise Guidelines’ below.

  1. Log in 3-7 workouts per week on our Get Fit with RawFitnessChick Facebook Page
  2. I will post a Workout of the Week (W.O.W.) on Sunday for you to do throughout the week. Make sure you give your muscles 24 hours to recover and rebuild. So do ‘cardio’ (run, jog, bike, aerobics, zumba, etc) in between strength training days or the W.O.W. days.
  3. If you’re a beginner start with 3 workouts per week as your goal and add 1 additional workout every 1-2 weeks until you reach 5-7 workouts per week. A workout can be as short as 10 minutes. ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING. Listen to your body. If you’re exhausted, do something less intense or give your body a break that day. Just try to get at least 3 workouts in per week. And space them out every 1-2 days. Try to get a workout completed at least every 1-2 days.
  4. Have a combination of ‘cardio’ and ‘strength’ workouts. If you are already lean and are looking to build lean muscle mass, your weekly cardio:strength workout ratio will be leaning more towards strength training and less time on the cardio aspect. If you want to shed excess body fat, lose weight, slim and tone up…aim to do 3-5 workouts per week that involve strength training to build or maintain lean muscle, and aim to do 3-7 workouts that involve cardio every week. I usually combine my strength and cardio into one workout, I complete my strength training first…then hop on the ‘arc trainer’ or ‘elliptical’ for 20 minutes of ‘cardio intervals’ (30 seconds of all-out-effort, 30 seconds of active recovery). Great way to blast fat & increase your metabolism!
  5. If you’re intermediate-advanced. Don’t workout more than 60 minutes at-a-time. WHY??? Because when you workout more than 60 minutes, your body will begin to produce cortisol because it is ‘stressed’. Cortisol is a hormone linked to belly fat. You can get in a great workout in 60 minutes or less, trust me! If you aren’t seeing results from your workouts, don’t increase the duration of your workouts, increase the intensity and take a look at your diet. No matter how hard you workout, if your diet isn’t on track, then you’ll have extreme difficulty achieving your fitness goals.
  6. If you’re pressed for time or just plain tired and don’t have the motivation. Get up and do at least 10 minutes of exercise for me! I don’t care what your excuse is…everyone has 10 minutes to spare! And if all you’ve got is 10 minutes, just increase the intensity and give it your all for that 10 minutes…then get on with your day!
  7. AGAIN…POST YOUR WORKOUTS ON THE GET FIT WITH RAWFITNESSCHICK FACEBOOK PAGE!
    1. Do the W.O.W. that I post or your own workout.
    2. If you have the time, try to post what you did for your workout on the Facebook Page to help give others ideas and motivation!
    3. Also, post your workouts on your twitter account and use hashtag #rawfitnesschallenge if you wish to:)

Workout of the Week: W.O.W.

“Building a Foundation” – This workout will use basic body weight moves, strengthening and toning moves, and incorporate a cardio-endurance aspect. Beginner’s, listen to your body, take your time, and just do your best, shoot for 1-2 rounds and if you get through 3 rounds, WAY TO GO! Intermediate & Advanced – aim to do 2-3 rounds and use alternative or less intense moves when necessary. EVERYONE, I want you to focus on form over ‘just getting through it’. Our goal is to build a foundation of strength and endurance. Push yourself, but when you lose form…that means you hit your max for that move. Take a breather and move on!

Circuit: Perform 1-3 rounds. Do each ‘move’ for no more than 50 seconds. Take a quick 10 second break and move onto the next move immediately. Therefore you will spend 1 minute on each move, including rest. If you perform 3 whole rounds, it will be about a 30 minute workout. I have give you ‘goals’ to hit in terms of # of reps for each exercise. Try to get as many reps per exercise in that 50 seconds. Use a stopwatch or interval timer app on your phone. Perform 1 round straight through, take a quick breather, and perform a second and third round if you can. Remember form is the priority as well as listening to your body.

  1. 100 High Knee Jump Rope Skips (Perform high knees while jumping rope/or just high knees if you don’t have a jump rope)
  2. 15 Reps Push Ups (Advanced: Feet elevated on chair; Intermediate: On toes; Beginner’s: On knees)
  3. 100 High Knee Jump Rope Skips
  4. 50 Reps Jump Squat (Sit down into a squat with feet shoulder width apart, tap floor, power up and jump up)
  5. 100 High Knee Jump Rope Skips
  6. 100 Mountain Climbers (Get into a push up position, tuck one knee into chest, hop/switch feet, 1 hop = 1 rep)
  7. 100 High Knee Jump Rope Skips
  8. 30-40 Reps Dips off a Chair
  9. 100 High Knee Jump Rope Skips
  10. 50 Reps Plank Jacks (Get into plank position on your elbows and toes, jump feet out and together similar to motion you do with feet when doing jumping jacks, 1 hop out and together = 1 rep)

Click on the exercise to be taken to a youtube video showing the exercise move if you aren’t familiar with what the exercise is. Make sure to have a nice big bottle of water nearby and write down how many reps you get per exercise and how many rounds you get done. Then post your results on our 30 Day RawFitnessChallenge Facebook Page! Keep a journal of your workout results so you can track your progress!

Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist or a doctor. What I write in my blogposts is simply information that I have gathered over the years from reading and researching several health related topics from credible resources as well as personal experiences. I urge you to consult with a physician before changing your diet. The purpose of my blogposts are to share my experiences and fitness knowledge with everyone I possibly can to help others in their journey to improve their state of well-being.

Tushy Toner & Strawberry Orange Mint Cream Smoothie

I tested out a recipe last night, there are some tweaks that I’ll have to make but it is actually a perfect light energy snack to have on hand during this heat wave we are experiencing here in Baltimore. It’s called socca bread and is made from chickpea flour/water/salt and what ever flavoring (sweet or savory) that you add to it is up to you. Chickpea flour is just finely ground up chickpeas (that have been soaked/sprouted/or not soaked/sprouted, this is your preference and I’ll be experimenting with the two options). So I had a ton of leftover cooked chickpea that I didn’t want to go to waste, so I used them. The original recipe for socca bread does not involve cooked chickpea, it is chickpea flour. But I figured, what the hey!
Socca Bread: My ‘Test’ which will need adjustment

  1. 1.5-2C Cooked Chickpeas
  2. 1-2 tsp salt
  3. 1-2 TBSP Agave
  4. 1-2 tsp lemon juice
  5. 1 tsp cinammon
  6. 2 tbsp almond nut cheese
  7. 2-3 tbsp water
  8. 375F for 15-30 minutes in square coconut oiled pan

Place all ingredients in blender of food processor and blend until combined. Then put in a 8X8 baking pan and throw in the oven on 375F for 20-30 minutes. Turned out light, a tad sweet and delish! I will need to tweak though because it crumbles easily and I want it to stay together. Maybe arrowroot powder or something else, I will update you when I figure it out!

On to the workout…

I woke up ready to tear up some legs and core exercises down at a park near my house with my TRX and straight up body weight moves. I tuned my bike up yesterday so I hopped on my bike, brought my backpack with my workout gear (TRX, phone for music, exercise journal, water) and hit the road for a pre-workout quick bike ride which was perfect warm-up, took me about 7 minutes to get to the park.

Then I did the fabulous workout below baking under the warm morning sun.

Tushy Toner Workout:

Do each exercise for given # of reps and sets. Then move onto next exercise. Complete workout one time through or if you’re really feelin’ it that day, go for 2 rounds!

  1. Pistol Squat (10R/Leg; 2 Sets) (Hold out 1 leg straight while you squat all the way down then back up on other leg, I used TRX for a bit of assistance on way back up)
  2. TRX Reverse Lunge (10R/Leg; 3 Sets) (Make TRX into 1 Foot Strap, place foot in foot strap, hop forward on other leg so you about 4 feet away from anchor point, squat down on leg as you reach foot that is in foot strap back OR do same motion resting one foot on stability ball) (OR do a reverse lunge)
  3. TRX Ham Curls (10 Reps; 3 Sets) (Lie on back facing TRX w/both feet in foot straps, raise hips up, curl feet into butt-back out-then lower hips down OR do same motion w/heels on stability ball) (OR Lie on back, place both heels up on edge of chair, raise hips up and down)
  4. TRX Jump Squat (10 Reps; 5 Sets) (Facing TRX holding handles lightly, feet wide and plie/toes point out, squat all the way down then power up and jump up OR do same motion without holding TRX handles)
  5. TRX Knee Tucks (10 Reps; 5 Sets) (Do plank w/feet in TRX foot straps OR on stability ball, from plank you tuck both knees up to chest and back out) (OR do plank and hop both feet up to hands and back out)
  6. Burpee minus push up (10 Reps; 3 Sets) (From standing, squat down, place hands on ground, jump feet out to plank, jump feet back in, stand up/power up/jump up, repeat)
  7. Shoulder Taps Feet Elevated (20 Taps Alternating; 3 Sets) (Get into plank w/feet in TRX foot straps, on a stability ball or elevated on chair, contract core & right arm as you tap right shoulder w/left hand, repeat w/right hand tapping left shoulder, do 20 reps)
  8. V-Up Knee Tuck Reach High (10 Reps; 2 Sets) (Lie on back, hands at sides, raise upper body up and tuck knees up to chest as you come up into V shape w/body and reach hands up to sky, lower back down)
  9. Side Plank Reach Unders (10 Reps/Side; 1 Set) (Get into side plank on left hand w/feet in TRX OR on stability ball OR elevated on chair, take right hand and twist torso as you reach under left side, do 10 Reps/side)
  10. Side Lift Splits (10 Reps/Side; 1 Set) (Lie on Left Side, split legs pressing feet up against a wall, press left hand into ground right under left shoulder and raise hips up off ground and lower back down, do 10 Reps/Side)

Then I biked back home taking a longer route that included a BIG hill, so biking for just a total of 15 minutes but with intensity! DONE! ENJOY!

After my workout I continued to be quite active. Took my pup for a long walk, hit up the organic market for some goodies, played baseball with my boyfriend and then I needed to cool off from the 90 degree heat with a tasty and refreshing Strawberry Orange Mint Cream Smoothie (VEGAN)!

Strawberry Orange Mint Cream:

  1. 8 Frozen Strawberries
  2. 8 Sprigs Fresh Mint
  3. 6 TBSP Fresh Almond Milk
  4. 1/2 Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
  5. 1 TBSP Lacuma Powder
  6. 2 Shakes Stevia/Agave/Brown Rice Syrup
  7. 1 TBSP Shredded Coconut
  8. Ice to desired thickness
  9. BLEND!

As you can see, I had already taken a big gulp of the smoothie before taking the picture! It was just too good to wait! Perfect treat to chill off and cool down from one fabulous Sunday!

Health & Happiness,

Nat