Menu

Ask Torina

Coaching Mediterranean Style

header photo

Blog posts : "Exercise"

Tips to a Toner Tummy

Thousands of women and men across the nation seek to tone their tummies every year when swimsuit season comes around. If you’ve failed at this in the past, then you know just how frustrating it really can be. That said, by following a few tips, toning your tummy is possible. Losing weight is never easy, but you don’t have to simply live with the extra bulk—it is possible to shed the pounds.

The crunch is the fastest and best way to work your abdominal muscles. In order to maximize your workout, work with a personal trainer to develop the perfect form. Many people do not do crunches correctly, and this will therefore prove to be a workout program with no results. Crunches should be fluid and controlled at all times, and if you are unsure if you are doing them correctly ask a professional for help so you don’t waste you time or, ever worse, hurt yourself.

Another great tip for toning your abs is to work on the rest of your body using of-balanced workouts. When you do a move that requires controlled stability, you torso acts as that control, which strengthens your core abdominal muscles. It’s like getting two workouts in one this way!

Also remember to work out your back muscles, which will help to improve your posture. Slumping causes your abdominal muscles to weaken and looks sloppy overall. When you have stronger back muscles, you will be more likely to stand up straight, looking immediately thinner as a result. Your doctor should be able to give you tips about improving your posture.

Of course, if you want to be able to see the muscles that you are building, it is important to eat a healthy diet as well. Switching to low-fat and low-carbohydrates diet choices will help you instantly see results, and this includes skipping the alcohol, which really does cause a beer belly. Slow down when you eat to help your tummy troubles as well and leave the carbonation and artificial sweeteners out of your diet. Eating quickly will cause your to swallow air, and certain products cause intestinal gas, which will immediately make you look bloated.

In general, don’t worry about what a scale says—simply look in the mirror to see results. Set weight loss goals for yourself and practice a healthy lifestyles and it shouldn’t be difficult for you to tone your tummy in time for the warmer weather.

Go Back

 Posted in Exercise

Hate Exercising? Here's Some Workout Tips for You

If you’re anything like me, you wouldn’t consider exercising your favorite pastime. In fact, some people downright hate exercising. However, exercising is a crucial part of a healthy lifestyle, and without it you definitely will not be able to lose weight. There are certain tips, however, for learning to love exercising, even if you truly hate it.

First, try finding some exercises that you like to do. Of course, you should work out all of your body, but if you absolutely hate doing one kind of exercise, then look for another to take its place. You don’t have to do crunches to strengthen your core muscles. You don’t have to do lunges to work out your lower body. You don’t even have to run—you can replace it with cycling or swimming. Find the exercise you like to do and your workout will seem more enjoyable right away.

You can also find other activities you like to do and make them work for your body. For example, if you like working on your garden, try doing some exercising surrounding raking or mow your yard by hand. If you enjoy the winter weather, you can try ice skating or sledding with friends. No matter what you like to do, you can find ways to get some exercise. Thanks to the introduction of the Wii and game like Dance Dance Revolution, you can even combine video games and exercise.

Another great tip to liking exercise is to find a training partner. When you work out together, you can help one another stay motivated, even if you don’t absolutely love exercising. With a partner, you can have fun as well, trying things like tennis or challenging one another to meet certain goals. Trainers can also provide this for you, as well as show you new and fun exercises to help you avoid getting bored or feeling overwhelmed at the gym.

Lastly, try taking some classes. Exercising classes are a great way to meet new people, learn new exercises, stay motivated, and above all, have fun. Most gyms offer low-cost or free exercise classes with membership or you can check out options at your local community center.

Staying motivated if you hate exercising can be hard, but set goals and don’t quit. You need to exercise as well as diet if you really want to lose weight. Make exercise fun and it won’t seem like such a chore.

Go Back

 Posted in Exercise

How to Stay Inspired and Inspire Others

We all have our comfort zone, a world where we feel comfortable and safe. We are at ease in our routine surroundings, job, community, and relationships.  But here’s the catch - in our ever-changing world, life inside our comfort zone will still be tossed and turned. If we are not prepared to change with the pace of our world, we will find ourselves stuck, or worse, left behind.

Here’s a good example. Depending on your age, you have had to make changes to the way you listen to music: records, 8-tracks, cassettes, CD’s, MP-3’s. Or what about the phone you have: rotary, push button, remote, cell, and who knows what is next?

Confident people know that the world is constantly changing – perhaps faster than most of us desire. So, to be comfortable moving forward, we can engage in some simple habits that prepare us to think and live outside our comfort zone – even if just a little bit at a time.

 

1.   Ask these questions:

a.   What would you do if you could do anything?

b.   What would you like to learn about?

c.   What small changes would you like to make to your life?

2.   Change your routine everyday:

a.   A new restaurant or menu item

b.   A new route to work or school

c.   Morning or evening rituals

3.   Experience something different on a weekly basis:

a.   Visit a museum, art store, antique mall, etc.

b.   Go to a kid’s soccer, baseball, or hockey game.

c.   Explore a new walking trail or park.

 

These simple exercises can help you to stretch your comfort zone. And as we get out of our routine and try on new attitudes, behaviors and perspectives, our thinking grows, our experiences grow, and life grows too.

Go Back

0 comments
 Posted in Exercise
3 blog posts