- Lemon water (warm or cold).
- contrary to what you might assume given the acidic nature of lemons, they actually help alkalize (reduce acid) our bodies, making it possible for us to fight infection/disease more efficiently!
- lemon also aids digestion in the sense that the production of enzymes will contribute to metabolism!
- I'm sure I don't have to remind you that the abundance of Vitamin C found in lemons is your best friend when it comes to fighting off common viruses such as colds and boosting overall immunity.
- I can vouch for the claim that lemons (as well as cucumbers) are even beneficial for our skin!
- not to mention that for anyone who finds the "taste" of water boring or isn't remaining hydrated enough throughout the day, adding lemons or cucumbers to your water can definitely help motivate you!
- I drink, at the very least, 2 bottles of water a day. Even at that, I really need 3 or 4 in order to avoid headaches/dehydration.
- I joined a kickboxing gym called 9Round a few months ago now, and I would definitely recommend it for anyone who wants their money's worth in terms of saving time planning workouts, having access to a trainer whenever you go in, and a DAILY variety in circuits. Obviously, it's crucial to take into consideration your individual genetics, eating habits, consistency, dietary restrictions and/or requirements, as well as the time you actually spend working all areas of your fitness (cardio, strength, flexibility, etc.), but I will say that being committed to such a great community has led me to see some significant changes in my strength. 9Round members are also offered an online portal which provides them with daily meal and snack plans.
- For the past couple of years, however, after my participation in team sports died down, I planned my own workouts and had to rely mainly on self motivation. As I became busier and busier, my method of choice was HIIT (high intensity interval training). I've included two that I used to do fairly commonly, the only thing they are lacking is my weight work which I typically completed separately.
- 30 seconds of jumping jacks, 30 second wall sit, 30 seconds of pushups, 30 seconds of crunches, 30 seconds of mountain climbers or burpees, 30 seconds of squats, 30 seconds of tricep dips, 30s of plank, 30s of high knees or butt kicks, 30s of lunges (being sure not to touch the floor), 30s of push-up rotation, 30s of side dips on the left and then 30s of side dips on the right
- 30 burpees, 40 jumping jacks, 15seconds of arm circles, 20 squats, 3minute wall sit, 15 pushups, 15 crunches, 40 jumping jacks, 10 crunches, 50 jumping jacks, 2 minutes wall sit
- https://www.kaylaitsines.com/blogs/exercises/tabata-workout
- having high metabolism can come with its disadvantages, including difficulty building muscle mass. protein has proven itself to be essential even as I am making my way toward becoming a vegetarian. I have yet to give up bacon but stay tuned as I am very determined.
- (spinach, kale, broccoli, brussels sprout, etc, I can't stress this enough)
- When I was younger, I used to find myself pulling muscles in my chest while running or skating, which led to chest pains. Just to be on the safe side, I like to put flaxseed in all my protein shakes or smoothies, as well as muffins, to reap the benefits of the Omega-3 essential fatty acids that these seeds contain, which do wonders for your heart.
- I tend to pull muscles very easily and so I spend A MINIMUM of 10 minutes stretching after every workout. It's also super rewarding to stretch the arches of your feet by kneeling, as the nerve endings here, which connect to your spine, can drastically help relieve muscle stiffness/pain. It may hurt more than you expected but continue to breathe through it and by the end you should feel a considerable release. I perform this stretch at least once a day. In order to avoid putting yourself at risk of tiresome injury, remember not to hold your stretches for longer than 20-30 seconds.
- See my upcoming blog post specific to this incredibly rewarding practise, which I integrate into my routine every Sunday night before falling asleep.
9. I've come to only eating when I am hungry or before a workout.
- Don't worry, I'm hungry adequately often.
- On weekdays, I go to bed at the same time every night (10:30pm) and wake up at the same time every morning (6:45am). I have learnt the importance of only setting one alarm and waking up immediately. For the longest time, I was the worst for setting seven alarms because I would simply slide over to my phone, while still half asleep, and snooze it, leaving me to wake up much later than planned. Not only am I sick less often, I also feel more rested and less frantic about forgetting something on my way out the door.
- For most of high school, coffee was the only way I could feel awake and energized, but after some dedication & effort beginning this past December, I now drink green tea every morning instead. "Green tea contains less caffeine than coffee, but enough to produce an effect. It also contains the amino acid L-theanine, which can work synergistically with caffeine to improve brain function." "Green tea has been shown to boost the metabolic rate and increase fat burning in the short term..." "Green tea has powerful antioxidants that may protect against cancer" (AuthorityNutrition).
- I channel my irresistible obsession with chocolate by: incorporating it in my protein shakes, eating dark chocolate once in a while, opting for oatmeal + chocolate chip cookies or frozen chocolate greek yogurt, and so on, rather than tons of Cadbury milk chocolate with pretzels and peanut butter..... (which I would prefer in all honesty) Give me a shout if you know of other ways to consume chocolate in a healthier manner!!
- mask my face
- massage my feet with an abundance of cream and then put on some socks
- paint my nails to avoid constantly spending money on getting them done at a salon (as stupid as that sounds). Plus, I have so much nail-polish waiting to be used! Pro Tip: ROLL your nail polish between your hands instead of shaking it, as the latter forms air bubbles in the formula that can show up when you start painting!
- for me, it's a hand painted cork board on my bedroom desk. Maybe for you it's your phone's lock screen or your day planner!
- my mind is a BUSY PLACE and I can get a bit (or very) forgetful when I'm in a rush (which is more often than not). On top of that, most of my friends will admit to you that I'm not the best when it comes to being ready on time. sooo in order to make things a tad less hectic for myself, I write down all the items I need to pack for school, work, a night out, etc. on the edge of my desk so that I can quickly check it all off before heading out the door. Overall, I make a ton of notes for myself. Wether it's on my skin (which my mom does not recommend by the way), in my phone, or in one of my countless notebooks. I've really been trying to write these down IMMEDIATELY when I don't want to forget them and it has saved me a load of frustration.
- (because bad breath is THE nastiest thing around) if you go to bed neglecting to brush your teeth after a night out or for some other reason... in the morning, brush once, floss, brush again, then splash mouthwash around for some guaranteed freshness !!!
- these gems are another antioxidant (actually said to be even more powerful than the properties of wine or green tea), which triple as a source of Vitamins A/C/E, and act as folic acids. They lower dental plaque, help reduce the symptoms that come with anemia, help overcome depression, provide the human skin with a youthful glow (sound familiar?), provides relief from stomach disorders, and more. Pro Tip: Save yourself some money and buy the entire fruit then proceed to simply cutting it in half, loosening it manually, and then holding it over a bowl while you use a spoon to pop the seeds out.