Motivation

Perfect playlists for your favorite workout

Colleen Kratofil — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 00:06:00 -0700

When your current playlist runs dry and stale, a fresh crop of songs is all that's needed to bring new motivation to any type of workout.

Chasing the Dream: Lessons for your kids

Sarah W. Caron — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:00:00 -0800

When we chase our dreams, it’s such an empowering and exciting thing. But it’s not just about us. Working toward our dreams leaves a lasting impact on our kids as well. They see the value of hard work and learn so much.

Implementing a reward system that works

Tiernan McKay — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 12:00:00 -0700

We all want to reward our kids for good behavior and encourage them to reach their goals. Sometimes a reward system is a great tool to help the whole family stay on track.

Chasing the dream: How to renew your motivation

Sarah W. Caron — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 09:00:00 -0700

When you started out for your dream, you were filled with drive and ready to conquer the world. But the hard thing about going after any dream is that it takes time and effort to get there -- and when your kids need school supplies, and your dog needs his annual visit to the vet, it’s easy to let your motivation fall to the wayside in favor of your mom responsibilities. Reclaim your motivation today.

Reward yourself: $10 fitness rewards

Laura Williams, M.S.Ed. — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:46:00 -0800

Starting a new workout program can be tough, and it's easy to find excuses to avoid the gym. However, if you stay focused and motivated through the first four months, your program just might stick for life. Help keep yourself stay on track by rewarding your dedication weekly with fun and tangible incentives. Here are more than a dozen $10 fitness rewards that are sure to keep you focused and fit.

Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition

Linda Melone, CSCS — Tue, 24 May 2011 10:11:00 -0700

If you've ever struggled to fit into your skinny jeans, you know the frustration of shedding those last five pounds. Imagine that scenario times 40. Instead of five pounds, you're 200 pounds from your goal weight. The good news: You have the help of a top-notch personal trainer who moves in with you to coach you every step of the way. Can you do it?

The no-nonsense guide to slimming down for summer

Jessica Padykula — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 04:39:00 -0700

If you’re one of the countless people currently in a panic over the onset of bathing-suit season, you’re not alone. To help keep you from going off the deep end, we’ve put together a get-fit guide to help you regain your sanity and slim down in time for summer.

Partner Pilates: Friend-ilates for fitness

Michele Borboa, MS — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 05:01:00 -0700

Working out with a fitness buddy is one of the best ways to stick to your exercise plan and reach your weight loss and fitness goals. Andrea Metcalf, nationally renowned fitness expert and author of Naked Fitness: The Proven 28 Day Lifestyle Program for a Slimmer, Fitter, Pain-Free Body, has turned Pilates into a partner workout to help you build muscle, burn calories and strengthen your relationships. Here are four Pilates exercises to do with a friend.

How to maintain your exercise motivation

Jessica Padykula — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 09:10:00 -0700

Need a shape-up on exercise motivation? Though you stuck to your fitness resolutions for first few weeks of the new year, now it’s March and your fitness resolve is starting to fade – fast. You know working out is good for you and you still really want to get in shape for summer, but your workout motivation has waned considerably since vowing to go running every morning and try out all those strength training classes at your gym. So what’s a well-meaning but fitness-fatigued woman to do? We’ve put together some simple fitness strategies to help you maintain your exercise motivation and break free from workout boredom.

5 Healthy habits for summer slimdown

Michele Borboa, MS — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 04:45:00 -0700

Spring’s here and summer is near, and you're starting to panic about your slimdown for bikini season. Though quick-fix crash diets may sound appealing, why not adopt healthy habits that will keep your winter weight off for good? We talked with Los Angeles-based food and fitness expert Cassandra Corum about the best ways to slim down for summer. Here are her tips to eat, exercise and live better for the long term.

Ditch the gym every day of the week

Lisa M. Maloney — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 09:22:00 -0800

Do you struggle to drag yourself into the gym on warm, sunny days? Don’t bother. Exercising outdoors – a literal breath of fresh air – can reinvigorate a previously “blah” fitness plan and help you avoid the dreaded plateau. Every day of this no-gym workout plan includes a different cardiovascular exercise, and a strength-training exercise you can do on children’s playground equipment.

10 Foods that help women focus

Michelle Maffei — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:49:00 -0800

Women tend to wear many hats: mother, career woman, wife and more. But no matter how driven or just plain busy you are, having a little help staying focused can help you keep your eyes on the prize. It can be as easy as including brain foods in your diet for a more motivated you! From blueberries to broccoli, discover these 10 brain-boosting foods that help women focus.

How to motivate your man

Jessica Padykula — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 06:45:00 -0800

Part of being in a relationship means helping each other out and offering support and encouragement when your other half needs a boost. If you know your man has potential, but just needs a healthy dose of confidence, here’s how to motivate him when he needs a push.

Kick your fitness results to the next level

Linda Melone, CSCS — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 16:24:00 -0800

Starting an exercise program is like a new relationship. In the beginning, you have high hopes -- you're motivated and charmed by your new venture, and believe you can happily work out for the rest of your life. After three to six months, however, this honeymoon phase may come to a screeching halt, and instead of looking forward to each exercise session, you're now bored and complacent. Worse, you’ve hit the dreaded exercise plateau. Don’t break up with your fitness routine -- simply kick it up a notch.

Sticking to your healthy New Year's resolutions

Karen Hawthorne — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 10:57:00 -0800

There you were on the eve of 2011, declaring it would be the year you eat healthier, exercise more and lose 10 pounds. But did you put those New Year’s resolutions into action – or slip back into old unhealthy habits? Here’s how to map out your New Year goals and achieve them, for good.

10 Tips for getting your couch potato guy off the couch

Sandy Smith — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 10:04:00 -0800

If your man prefers the couch and potato chips to breaking a sweat and improving his health, you’ll need to be cunning in motivating him to move – we all know couch potatoes are hard to convince that sweat is better than sweets. Don’t despair, here are 10 tips for getting your guy to work out with you. After all, a healthy couple is a happy couple.

Get motivated to exercise with mental fitness

Sarah Wassner Flynn — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:50:00 -0800

Are you mentally fit? No matter how many weights you lift or miles you log on the treadmill, your workout may still suffer if your mind is not in it. Here are some ways to keep up your mental toughness so you can cruise through any workout with ease.

Finding motivation for your exercise routine

Linda Spangle — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 10:10:00 -0800

Motivation is funny. For one thing, it always seems to leave right in the middle of a good weight-loss program. You were doing so well. Then one day, you lost your motivation and you just didn't feel like working on it anymore. What now?