A No-Excuse List of Fitness Tips and Post Workout Essentials

This is a sponsored post with Simply Summer’s Eve

I am going to come clean right here and right now. On the days when I can’t get to the gym I feel this Intense guilt. Yes I have become one of those people who CRAVES the gym to live and eat. When I workout I feel better, more grounded and not guilty about eating a cookie. So what’s a girl to do, especially when as a busy working mom my kids’ “you need to study with me for my spelling test emergencies” don’t always leave me the opportunity to get in an hour in at the gym?

Certified NYC fitness trainer, exercise physiologist, and nutritionist Franci Cohen has savvy tips to help all of us fit a workout in that won’t have us heading to the nearest orthopedist And I have some accessories to make the process as seamless as possible!

• • Don’t forget essential post workout products that will keep you feeling refreshed- especially if you need to workout on the go! Anyone who REALLY knows me, knows that I cannot LIVE without baby wipes. That’s right I have no babies in this house but I buy baby wipes by the caseload. Which is why I was thrilled to review  Simply Summer’s Eve® ­­ –  a new line of feminine cleansers and cloths that are free from harsh chemicals, dyes, alcohol and parabens – so you can feel good about what you are putting on your body! Infused with botanical extracts, Simply Summer’s Eve® works with the body to help maintain a natural pH and is available in two nature-inspired scents – Mandarin Blossom & Coconut Water – for everyday freshness.  the first-ever in the United States on-the-go cooling cloths that leave you feeling completely refreshed, with just one wipe.
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  • Here is the BOTTOM LINE: Simply Summer’s Eve® Cleansing Cloths  help you deal gracefully with daily transitional moments- they help you take a moment to instantly reset and refresh. But just how do simple wipes achieve such a feat? Simply Summer’s Eve® Cleansing Cloths – silky smooth cloths that are perfect for freshness on-the-go. The Simply Summer’s Eve® Cleansing Cloths are specially formulated to help maintain a natural pH and wipe away odor-causing bacteria. The Simply Summer’s Eve® Cleansing Cloths are available in individually-packaged packettes that can be popped into a purse or in a soft pack that is perfect for at-home usage.

And don’t forget a good water bottle! I love the bkr glass water bottle keeps you hydrated and environmentally conscious with this clean, bubbly glass water bottle wrapped in soft, grippy silicone that comes in shades inspired by the runway. Cute and convenient to tote, it features a small opening for no-spill sipping, a no-leak seal and is sized to fit most cup holders. Free of phthalates and BPA, it’s safe for you and the place you live, too.

• Don’t get stuck on the treadmill.New exercisers often do the same routine for the same duration and at the same intensity every time they work out. “So you’ll stay on the treadmill until you either die of boredom or get hurt,” says Franci. This bad habit gets reinforced because, as your workouts get easier, you’re fooled into thinking you’ve become uber-fit. In reality, your muscles have just grown accustomed to the challenge. Be sure to mix up your routine by varying your time and intensity and by cross training on the bike or elliptical machine, or by going for a jog outside.

• Don’t be a slave to the numbers.Tracking your heart rate or running time can provide instant, valuable feedback; but when used obsessively, these tools can dampen the joy of exercise itself — or even make you push yourself when you’re not feeling 100 percent. “Every now and then, go unplugged and focus your attention on what your body is telling you,” advises Franci. Move at a pace that feels good, listen to your body, and enjoy the experience.
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• Know When to Take a Break. When people start out, they are often overzealous and try to get to the gym every day, says Franci. However, by not letting your body rest, you can be doing much more harm than good. “If you don’t give your body time to heal and repair itself, your performance will go down and you’ll get into a vicious cycle where you never fully recover,” she says. And if you’re sore after a workout, that’s good — unless it hurts too much. “It is normal to have pain and soreness after exercise,” says Franci. “Don’t run to take a painkiller, because that can mask pain and cause you to do real damage to your body. Let yourself recover naturally.”
• Flexibility training.The American College on Exercise recommends doing slow, sustained static stretches three to seven days per week. Each stretch should last 10-30 seconds.
• Exercise videos and DVDs. Before working out with a home exercise video or DVD, Franci recommends watching through it at least once to observe the structure and proper form of the workout. To further improve form, she suggests working out in front of a mirror, if possible, or having someone else watch you do the exercise.
• Flexibility training or stretching.This type of workout enhances the range of motion of joints. Age and inactivity tend to cause muscles, tendons, and ligaments to shorten over time. Contrary to popular belief, however, stretching and warming up are not synonymous. In fact, stretching cold muscles and joints can make them prone to injury.
• Know Your Weight and the Right Way to Use it. Most people are confused the first time they walk into a gym, says Franci, but are afraid of asking for advice. But if that’s you — get over it. “If you don’t know ask,” she says. “By law, gyms have to have people who can help show you how to work out on the machine, and it can save you from badly injuring yourself.” In addition, many gym newbies go for the heaviest weight they can — a rookie mistake. “Go on a weight machine and, starting at the lowest weight, pull it down and keep adding on from there. Just keep increasing the weight until you reach a point where you can only do one or you can’t do any. That’s too much” Once you find your maximum weight, two-thirds of that number is where you should start. “You should be able to do about 12 reps,” Franci says. “It should be easy, but it shouldn’t be difficult to the point where you’re straining.” Finally, once you have a weight you’re comfortable with, don’t get too eager to increase it. “You should not increase it more than 10 percent in a week,” says Franci. “If you do, your risk of injury increases exponentially.”
• Don’t be self-conscious. Remember that everyone else is far too absorbed in their own workouts to be scrutinizing yours!
  

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