Schooling

So today I started persuing my Master's Degree in Health and Wellness with a concentration in Sports Performance and Injury Prevention. It is a 13-month program and is completely online from California University of Pennsylvania. Throughout the program, I will post some interesting facts I learn so everyone who is interest in some fitness tips can learn with me.

I posted a poll question today about fitness in your work place. I know for a fact that the Heinz Corporation right here in Pittsburgh has great benefits for their employees regarding being healthy. If anyone else's place of work has anything related to fitness, please respond to this post and let me know. I'm curious what employers out there see the importance of having healthy employees. In the long run, it saves the corporation money on health care and provides for a much greater work environment.

Here is some good reading for everyone today. I'll have some good EOD's later this week along with another Client Profile.




Wellness Coach

Successful Wellness Programs

Article on Corporate Wellness

EOD - Sled Pushing

After a little bit of a layoff, the exercise of the day is back with a really intense lower body exercise called sled pushing. This exercise is utilized by every football team from high school to the pros because it works your entire lower body while giving your legs the power needed to explode from a stationary position to a running (or blocking in football) position.

For women who are looking to tone their butt, this is an excellent exercise because that is the primary muscle working here. In addition to the glutes and the rest of your legs working hard, you have to stabilize your core and your upper body in order to push the sled with your legs which is another great way to get stronger.

It doesn't matter if you have a real sled outside or if you are inside in a gym, you can get the sled pushing motion just by pushing a weight plate as demonstrated in this video. You can even take two dumbells and put them on a flat surface and push down on the dumbells to move the flat surface across a floor.

Watch the video, try the exercise. Get creative in what you use for a sled. Let me know the results!

Setting up a Routine

I find it's always better to write down your weekly or monthly plan for your workouts before you head into the gym every day. Knowing what you are going to do ahead of time gives you a much more efficient workout rather then winging it and going in without a plan.

There are many different options when it comes to writing out a weekly routine. Some people have 3x/week plans, while others have 6x/week plans. Whatever it is you do, the main ingridient to being successful is to be consistent. Follow your routine as best you can.

Here is the routine I started today. I got it off of Muscle & Strength Online. They have a lot of routines here for everyone from bodybuilders to losing weight.

I always find it helpful to also write down my progress. So everytime I finish a set, I write down the weight I used, the number of sets I did and how many reps I did. This way you can track your progress over a period of time. Make it your own little journal. Not only with it show you when you need to increase or decrease weight but physcologically it gives you a little boost to see your progress. Check out these templates to use for yourself.

Lastly, I believe working out with a partner is much better then working out alone. This is why people who have trainers tend to see much better results then people who work out alone. So find yourself a trainer, a friend or someone you met in the gym to workout with and increase the effectiveness of your workouts.

Check out these 10 great ways to improve your workout.