Fitting a workout program into a hectic schedule can prove difficult. Usually starting a workout program means rearranging your daily calendar for it; this leaves most people confused and befuddled. Even though that everybody agrees that exercise should be a regular thing, lack of time and the fast pace time we live in can make [...]

The Glycemic Index diet (or G.I. diet for short) is your best ally if you’re looking to lose weight and get into the best shape of your life. In fact, most of popular diets out there are based on the glycemic index diet. Its premise is simple and straightforward: Foods with high G.I. rankings have [...]

Exercise science is an amazing thing and top athletes certainly are performing at higher levels than they ever have, the results prove it with world records being pushed continually. But what about us guys that aren’t professional athletes, has our health and fitness improved in the same fashion? Take a look at any of the [...]

May arrived yesterday and with that, I’ve noticed quite a few exciting new challenges from bloggers around the web! I can’t not share these with you so here goes:

Move More in May

I recently stumbled upon Janetha’s Meals & Moves Blog. She blogs often and the title of her blog says it all. She posts about food and workouts! She throws in a lot of other fun posts too. Oh, and she has adorable dogs. She just launched “Move More in May” which is all about getting in more physical activity during the day and being less sedentary.

The main rule:

“…comment on the move more in may challenge page telling me how you moved that day OUTSIDE OF YOUR OFFICIAL DAILY WORKOUT. ”

Prizes will be awarded weekly during the challenge. The great thing about Move More in May is that anybody can do it – no matter what workout program you might be doing.

Click the banner below to learn more and get started!

BodyRock.TV 30 Day May Challenge

I’ve done a few BodyRock.TV workouts in my days, like this one, this one and this one and I highly recommend them. They’re my favorite kind of workout: short but INTENSE.

Basically, you begin by choosing one of their fit tests. You’ll do the fit test at the beginning of the challenge and again at the end to see how you’ve improved. They have a variety of fit test videos for you to choose from depending on your current fitness level, style and equipment availability.

If you have any doubts about the effectiveness of BodyRock workouts, they’ll all fly out the window when you see the instructors and begin your workout. Those familiar with BodyRock already know what I’m talking about!

Watch this video to learn how to get started!

*These quick BodyRock workouts would be a great way to enter Janetha’s Move More in May challenge!

#photoadayMay Challenge

Fat Mum Slim has been doing photoaday challenges for sometime now and although I’ve heard of them, I haven’t tried one yet. All that’s about to change because I am in for May! There’s a photo prompt for each day of the month and you simply snap a photo and share it however you’d like!

Here are the prompts for May:

Have you started any of these challenges or are you planning to? I’d love to hear about it!

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When it comes to shedding the extra pounds for good, running is the way to go. According to countless studies and my own experience, running burns more calories than most other training regimes out there. In fact running on a regular basis improves sex drive, wards off heart-related problems, boost overall health and fitness levels, [...]

Turning your fitness vision into a concrete reality requires long term discipline and consistency. And the best way to do so is by making your exercise routine a daily habit. Let’s face it: Human beings are creatures of habits. This mechanism evolved over 1000’s of years to conserve energy and optimize performance so instead of [...]

When it comes to losing body fat, and getting a leaner, more athletic body it’s really important to understand some basics about how this happens. Don’t panic, this won’t get too heavy (no pun intended). Armed with the information in this post you will start to see how the body works when it comes to [...]

As a human being, we all face different obstacles. It’s a part of life. When it comes to exercise, it can feel like everything is working against you. When you really want something for yourself you can’t just sit back and hope that motivation kicks you in the butt one day. You have to light the fire under your own butt! Although, here are some ways to make your workouts a regular part of your day – no matter what.

Obstacle #1: Lack of Motivation. Everyone has to find their motivation. What motivates one person may not motivate another.

How to Overcome:  You should spend time thinking about what motivates YOU. Is it because summer is coming and you wanna wear a swimsuit without feeling embarrassed? Do you want to be stronger? Do you want to run a 5K? Setting realistic short and long term goals, tracking your results and rewarding yourself when a goal has been achieved can help you stay motivated. I also like vision boards.

Obstacle #2: Inconsistency. Inconsistency is your biggest enemy. If you aren’t consistent with your workouts (or your clean(er) eating), you will never see results. Ever. Some reasons for inconsistency include being bored, doing too much too soon or being confused and not knowing what you should be doing.

How to Overcome:  Try new activities, join a group fitness class, start slowly and just get moving! If doing your workouts on a whim isn’t helping you, find a structured program with a schedule that you can follow easily each day. Be sure to give yourself plenty of rest days in the beginning. You don’t have to sprint right outta the gate.

Obstacle #3: Busy Life. We all have busy lives! Sometimes we’re busy doing productive things and sometimes we’re just “busy” on the internet or watching TV.

How to Overcome: Make your workouts a priority. Schedule your workouts like you would a doctor appointment. Wake up earlier each day, workout on your lunch break or workout when you get home. Can’t fit in 20-30 minutes at once? Break it up into smaller sessions throughout the day and do what you can. You can do something and that is so much better than nothing at all. (Refer to obstacle #2)

See:

• 4 Tips for Fitting a Balanced Diet into a Busy Lifestyle

Obstacle #4: You HATE exercising.

How to Overcome: Find something you like to do. It really is that simple. There has to be something you enjoy doing that involves movement. Do that.

Obstacle #5: Can’t afford a gym membership.

How to Overcome: Workout at home! Or outside. Do bodyweight exercises like push-ups, squats, crunches, planks, burpees, mountain climbers, etc. There are a TON of resources online, in fitness magazines and even on TV where you can find workouts to do.

See:

• 82 Exercise Ideas that Don’t Require a Gym 
• 8 Places to Discover Free Online Workouts
• Workout DVD Reviews

Obstacle #6: Discouraged by lack of change.

How to Overcome: Don’t expect changes to happen overnight. If you’re consistent, changes WILL come. It’s best to allow yourself a full 12 weeks before expecting to see changes in your body. Also, don’t be a slave to your scale. Fitness is an ongoing journey. If you want results that last, you can’t stop. Keep your eyes set on the prize and just focus on living a healthy lifestyle. Doing so will naturally get you the changes you’re looking for.

See:

• When Will I See Results?

Obstacle #7: Family obligations (ie. KIDS).

How to Overcome: Join a gym with a daycare center, workout while your kids are napping or let them join you! Children as young as 2 years old will probably love watching you and copying your moves. It’s a great way to teach your kids the importance of staying active and leading by example is the best way to teach them that. Plus, they’ll think you’re awesome for it. If you’re a single parent I know it can seem impossible to find the time (or energy. or motivation.) but do your best to make that time for yourself.

As people, we all struggle with obstacles. The good news? Obstacles can be overcome. The secret is to prioritize what is important to you and put in the work. You can do it!

Q. What are your biggest obstacles when it comes to diet and/or exercise and how do you overcome them?

You just finished reading Tips to Overcome the 7 Biggest Exercise Obstacles. Consider leaving a comment!

Content in this feed is copyright Melinda F and may not be republished without written permission. This means you’re welcome to forward the e-mail to a friend or colleague but it’s not okay to add the RSS feed automatically as content on another blog or website.

When it comes to burning body fat, running is key. In fact, running sheds more weight than most other training programs. Not only that, running on a regular basis helps you ward off heart-related problems, makes you look younger, improves sex drive, and so on. In addition, running is very convenient; all you need is [...]

Learning how to boost your metabolism levels on command is of utmost importance of you’re looking to speed up weight loss results and enjoy better fitness levels. People with a slow metabolism usually find it hard to break through weight loss plateaus and are most likely to suffer from low energy levels and other health [...]