Stop Bloating Today !

The best way to a flat belly is by burning calories and fat through cardio, especially interval training. Bloating, on the other hand, is its own beast, and you can't feel like you're rocking your bathing suit if you're super bloated. Luckily, there are easy ways to reduce bloating so that you can show off that tummy you've been working so hard to get.

 

 

Put this down: Not only is too much sodium bad for your heart, but it will also cause you to retain water — and not just in your belly — so stop yourself the next time you reach for the salt shaker. Extra sprinkles aren't the only way we consume too much sodium. Limit high-sodium foods such as hot dogs, cottage cheese, bacon, soy sauce, and chips.

 

Sip this: When you're belly is bloated, filling up on water seems like the last thing you want to do, but it helps prevent bloat in two ways. When you're not drinking enough fluids, your body retains water to prevent dehydration. So sipping nature's beverage can actually reduce water retention. Drinking water also prevents constipation, which is another cause of a bloated belly. Also include foods with high water content such as watermelon, celery, grapefruit, and cucumbers.

Limit this: Some foods such as beans, broccoli, pears, onions, and carbonated drinks create more gases in your body than others, so limit these foods. Dairy can also cause some people gassiness, so if this sounds familiar, hold the milk, ice cream, yogurt, and cheese, and look for dairy-free alternatives.

Eat this: Fiber helps everything move through the intestines more quickly, which prevents constipation and bloating. If you're not accustomed to eating enough fiber, then slowly add more and more fiber to your diet — go too fast, and you'll feel even more bloated than before. Include berries, avocado, kiwi, beans, whole grains, and other high-fiber foods in your meals and snacks every day.

Slow down: One small cause of bloating could be that you're swallowing too much air when you're scarfing down your meals; this is why some of us get the hiccups when eating too quickly. Slow down when you eat, and really chew your food.

Get tropical: Eating pineapple can ease bloating too. This tropical fruit is high in the enzyme bromelain, which helps break down protein and eases digestion, helping to banish the bloat. Here's a bloat-fighting smoothie recipe to try that's made with pineapple.

Get moving: Daily physical activity can also prevent constipation, so aim for 30 minutes a day.

Cheers to this: Alcohol is another cause of bloat since it causes dehydration, which as mentioned above, can lead to water retention. For your health and your belly's sake, stick to one alcoholic beverage, and follow it with a huge glass of water.

 

 

Be Fit. Fine & Flawless

 

What I Know for sure ......

What I know for sure is that I KNOW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR SURE.....

Take a minute and think of the one thing that you know with a shadow of doubt.
What is it ?
How did it become so concrete?

For me Passion is my driving force in life , I Love to live a life where spirit and passion collide to create waves of divinity.

2014 is nearing its end, and this has been such a rollercoaster , it amazes me how each year seems to speed up . Maybe I'm getting older.  (my knees sure feel that way.)
But all in All I have learned some meaningful lessons about life and self. Certain wisdoms come with age but the most important come from experiences and I have shared a few. My passion for life is overwhelming, I want to excel at everything (I know that sounds farfetched) But I Must Excel !!! And you should too.

What are your passions?
What is it that makes your heart jump out your chest with each thought ?
What are things that you must excel and succeed in?

I'm sure we all made promises to ourselves around this time last year , I am guilty of it 100 times over . And whether or not  those promises were kept is neither here nor there.
What matters is you are here and today you can keep those promises !
 seize the day !!! Carpe Diem !!! (did I say that right ) Don't Judge me lol

Now what I think I know for sure is this :

What I think I know for sure is that each time I go to sleep I am turning the page from whatever occurred during that day and when I wake, my page has been wiped clean and ready for me to doodle all over .

What I think I know for sure is that Life is not what I make it . Life is what it is supposed to be. Life is to be acted on ! Life is here , its up to me to live #>

What I think I know for sure is that living in fear is not living at all you are merely just existing ! Say it with me " I am a big brave DOG!!! ( corny I know but it is effective ) and thanks to my favorite  animated film this mantra is verbal gold . (Rugrats  in Paris ) remember no judging :)

What I think I know for sure is that We can succeed at anything ? And history has shown that to be true .

So as 2014 nears its end " I dare you to excel " Lets see what happens when passion and spirit collide in your life .

Because what I think I know for sure is that it will be Flawlessly Amazing !!!

"I Know for sure :Your Journey begins with a choice to get up, step out and live fully"
What I Know For Sure
by Oprah Winfrey

Sometimes all you need is a good book, a chai tea latte and a mind full of thoughts

As Always be Fit, Fine and Flawless

We Know that Back Fat Sucks , Tone and Tighten with these few steps !

 

 

Back Fat Sucks and most of us women have dealt with this evil at some point in life. Bra strap fat , that little bulge on the side of your waist line and the She-devil Grand

mistress of the all, Love handles. I mean really who decided that fat holding on to  the side of your body could be described as love. somebody find this genius and tell him that women from across the world would like to take turns slapping him, for the thought that reminding us of the few inches we have yet to lose is a sign of his undying love.

 

"Performing exercises to strengthen the upper back will reduce chronic neck and shoulder pain, improve your posture and, in turn, your back will improve aesthetically," says Nedra Lopez, co-owner and head trainer of The Studio by Remorca Fitness in NYC. "The 'bulge' around your bra line will disappear with repetition and consistency."

 

All healthy changes are results of a healthy lifestyle change PERIOD !!!

However targeting particular muscle groups can also be achieved, here are a few exercises that will help you blast the fat back from the pits it came from.

 

Tone , Your, Insides

T, Y, I

 

1. Lie face down on your stomach, extending your legs out straight behind you and arms extended out to each side. (You should look like the letter “T.”) Start with the palms facing down. Slowly elevate your arms and squeeze your shoulder blades together, keeping your arms straight, then slowly bring arms back down to the ground. Repeat for a set of 20.
2. Next, extend your arms above your head at an angle into a “Y” position. Keeping your palms down, slowly elevate your arms and squeeze your shoulder blades together, keeping your arms straight, then slowly bring arms back down to the ground. Make sure to keep your shoulders from coming up towards your ears. Repeat for a set of 20.
3. Now, extend your arms straight above your head into an “I” position. From here lift your arms straight up, squeezing your shoulder blades together while pushing your shoulders down towards your lower back. Repeat for a set of 20.

Plank Drops

 

1. Start in plank position, resting on your forearms, with feet shoulder width apart. 

2. Keeping abs engaged and hips from moving, squeeze your shoulder blades together by dropping your chest slightly towards to floor. After holding the squeeze for 10 seconds pull the shoulder blades apart and create a stretch in your mid back. 

3. Repeat 3 sets of 20

Renegade Row

 

 

1. Place two kettlebells on the floor about shoulder width apart. Position yourself on your toes and your hands as though you were doing a pushup, with the body straight and extended. Use the handles of the kettlebells to support your upper body. You may need to position your feet wide for support.
2. Push one kettlebell into the floor and row the other kettlebell, retracting the shoulder blade of the working side as you flex the elbow, pulling it to your side.
3. Then lower the kettlebell to the floor and begin the kettlebell in the opposite hand. Repeat 3 sets of 15

Don't settle for spanx, and other body contouring under garments.

 Just combine healthy eating regular exercise and rest to get the results you desire.

 

 

 

Break out those strapless shirts , halter tops and and backless dresses and stick it to the Genius who so hastily deemed stubborn waist fat " LOVE HANDLES "

 

Be Fit.Fine.Flawless

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Waist ? Snatched ? Waisted ? The Low Down on Waist Training .....

WAISTED !!!!  The Hottest , Newest "Fitness" trend to hit the scene, Thanks to some A list celebrities and Famous Instagramers. Waist training has become a sensation  almost overnight. Women looking to have a Kim K. body or Beyoncé waist are now Snatching it in to create  the definition they desire. Vendors are promoting waist trainers as Fitness Equipment, marketing with Filtered  models and catchy hashtags like #whatwaist #Waisted and #snatched.

But can you really lose weight by simply Compressing your body in with a Waist  Trainer or Waist Cincher ? Can waist training alter your bone structure to the perfect "Hour glass" figure women desire ?  Or is this just another Fad to hit the scene, making vendors quick money and leaving customers with little to no results ?

 I asked women to share their experiences and results. To no surprise the generally public were all #TeamWaistTrain . To gain a more educated opinion , I ordered a Waist Trainer from a local vendor  for $45. (I am a size medium or 34 depending on how the vendor orders them.) The first fitting was very snug and hard to latch, but quickly got very comfortable.

My usual training program combines boxing cardio with body weight plyometric and strength training. I noticed my breathing pattern did have to adjust to the constrictions of the corset but was not unbearable. I can say that my core was more engaged  and my posture was corrected for proper technique

throughout the entire workout.
 

The Vendor Suggested that I wear the Waist Trainer for 8 hours a day for maximum results and a week later I was on the second latch. It was more intense but fit just fine , I could definitely feel the sensations of the trainer more on this latch than before. This change had me questioned this technique more. Did I lose an inch in a week ? Did my corset stretch?

The Results after a workout : I noticed that my core appearance was slimmer , however that is because the waist trainer makes you sweat more = Spot Reduction
Ladies don't allow the temporary lost of water weight get your hopes up. once you take a shower or rehydrate the results would almost instantly disappear. I challenge you to put the same effort into proper nutrition and exercise as you do to
Quick Fix fads and Diets.
My personal Opinion : Waist Training is just another fad, Vendors are making money off of sheer laziness. if you want long lasting results put in the work . Eat healthy, Exercise frequently and get your own results.

My professional opinion : Waist trainers can be helpful when attempting to maintain correct form during weight lifting or performing certain exercises. However Waist trainers will NOT assist you in weight loss, It will NOT alter your genetic bone structure.Waist trainers are undergarments , much like a body shaper or Spanx.

* In some instances Waist training will assist you in molding your core as you workout and eat healthier to drop BODYFAT ! The Core is all about Proper NUTRITION ! Do the work !!!!

Here it is:

“[waist reduction] best achieved with proper diet and exercise…”

 So you’re telling me that the 2 most important components to weight loss, healthy eating and regular physical activity, just so happen to work EVEN when I wear my corset? 
OF COURSE YOU WILL

It doesn’t matter WHAT you wear. 
Diet and physical activity will promote overall weight loss(waist included), no matter what.  So how about this—and don’t let me lose you now.  How about we don’t buy a waist trainer, and ONLY try the exercise and proper eating thing for a while, that way you can save your +$50.

 And as for the “before” and “after” pictures you WILL find  some sort of weight-loss transformation from these waist training pages,  and all of them cite exercise and eating right as major factors in weight loss.  So who is to say it was the corset that did the trick?

Wise up ladies !!! Save your money and your time ! There is only one way to get and maintain health inside and out and that is with hard work, exercise and nutrition.


Be Fit. Fine and Flawless






 

Mediate . Relax. Repeat !

Meditation has come into a modern day transformation by knocking its hippy stereotype and becoming more commonly accepted in todays' world. Mediation has been scientifically proven to reduce stress, help control appetite and metabolism levels ( yes shocking but true ) and overall rate of happiness.

Meditation is not difficult, but like all skills it will take time and practice. It is all about developing the ability to produce a meditative, very relax state in a small amount of time. Meditation can be bought on through several practices such as,

1. Mindfulness : ‘being present’, letting your mind run, and accepting whatever thoughts come up, while practicing detachment from each thought.

2. Zazen: is the generic term for seated meditation in the Buddhist tradition, but in the modern Zen tradition, it is often referred to as ‘just sitting’. It is a minimal kind of meditation, done for long periods of time

3.Guided visualization: is a popular form of meditation that involves concentration upon an image or imaginary environment. It is usually done while listening to a recording.

 

Tips on Meditation

 

1. Find a quiet place
2.Breathe Deeply
3. Check In
(settle into your body by observing your posture, notice sensations where your body touches the floor or chair )
4. Allow your mind to be free (consider the why )
5. Take this relaxed state with you through out your day

Check out this quick tutorial for proper mediation
 

Will Mediation change your life? Yes ! Will it aide in a more stress free life ? YES! Can Meditation help boost your Immune System ? Yes and Bonus Mediation has been proven to heighten brain function in the area that controls Appetite ! 

 

5-20 minutes A day to be healthier , less stressed and more Fit !!!

 

Be Fit. Fine and Flawless 

Busy ? Who Cares !

Busy Who cares ?

I am to busy ?

Maybe next weekend?

I will start on the First?

It Slipped my Mine?

I have to Work?

I have kids or school ?

 

Common Excuses I hear every day as a healthy Lifestyle Coach and personal trainer. Seriously, if I had a dollar for every excuse I would give up this fitness thing and retire in bora bora. So lets be honest , There will always be an excuse to use. We as Women and Adults will always have responsibility, whether it is jobs, kids , school, or all three.

The answer to every excuse is MAKE TIME !!!!!!!!

To help with this concept I have created a list of 3 great HIIT workouts that blast calories and Fat in 30 minutes or less!

HIIT

High Intensity Interval Training that involves alternating between periods of intense exercise and brief recovery. The idea behind HIIT training is that you don’t allow your body to adjust to exercising at just one level of intensity, which essentially enables you to turn into a fat-burning BEAST !

HIIT Example

Circuit training protocol – mix push-ups, squats, bench press, deadlifts, pull-ups, or any other combos of exercises, doing 30 sec to 1 minute of exercise for every 15-30 seconds of rest. Repeat the circuit of exercises for 20 minutes.

For more info on HIIT check out Dr Phoneix Austins' write up about this power workout.
Link Below

 HIIT by Dr. Austin

 

Tabata

Coined “The World’s Greatest Fat Burning Workout”

Tabata training was discovered by Japanese scientist Dr. Izumi Tabata and a team of researchers from the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Tokyo. Staying True to the HITT Diagram, Tabata takes you through 8 rounds of interval training with small breaks.  

 The Tabata workout lasts only four minutes, but is one of the longest four minutes you'll encounter. The structure of the program is:

Workout hard for 20 seconds

 

Rest for 10 seconds

 

Complete eight rounds

You push yourself as hard as you can for 20 seconds and rest for 10 seconds until you complete eight sets. You can choose any exercise to do with this program.

An example of a 20-minute Tabata workout looks like this:

Pushups

Squats

Rows

Sit ups

For more info Click the Link below
Fit Sugar Tabata

 

 

 

CARDIO intervals

Whether you are running outside on gym equipment in your home or at a gym facility cardio has and will forever be the staple of weight loss. Cardio intervals for HIIT training following the diagram by increasing and decrease speed, resistance or both with little to no breaks

Check out this Cardio burning Elliptical workout
Link Below

 

 Anytime Fitness Cardio Interval

 

All in All Time will always be of the Essence. And it is up to you to make your workouts a priority. It literally takes less than 1% of your day to get a good workout in. So lets drop the excuses and lace of those Sneakers Today !

Who cares We are all Busy!!!

 

Stay Fit.Fine and Flawless

 

Sources :

Anytime Fitness Blog :Fitness

Popsugar.com

Blackfitnesstoday.com

 



Are you A M.I.L.F?

Are you A M.I.L.F?

(Mother. In . Love .With. Fitness)

 

 

 Who can admit to starring at a picture of yourself and noticing every flaw you may have ?

You tell yourself  to make the change TODAY!! No More cover ups at the beach!  No more ill fitting clothes ! Today you bring SEXY back with healthy eating and exercise.

Because lets face we all want to be Some ones Fantasy , RIGHT ? 

 

We all have been there. Day zero it all seems doable with the a  meal plan and perfectly schemed exercise regiments. But what happens when we lose momentum or life gets busy and hectic? What can keep you motivated and on our journey to a healthier and sexier you?

 

Fitspiration !

 

For all my ladies who are at day zero or just need motivation to get the back on track,
what better way to inspire you then by one of our own.

Nichola Smiles

Single Mother

Fitness professional

Bikini Competitor

WOMEN!

 

 

                 Nichola Smiles is your everyday women, she cares for her son and works to provide him with all the best opportunities she can. However life was not always Fit and Fine, Nichola started off as a teenage mom unsure of how life would unfold for her and her child. But with the help of her mother she was able to go to college and graduate as a civil engineer. Sure this sounds like a winning story but, it is just the beginning. Nichola thrust herself into work and motherhood, as a result her health took a backseat to her now busy career life. She had managed to gain 50lbs and had not realized it until she was faced with a picture from a friends wedding.

 It is amazing how we view ourselves for different angles.

 

Horrified by her appearance she decided to make a change and start on her Day zero. She began going to group fitness classes ,changed her diet and began working with a personal trainer! With all her hard work Nicola was able to drop those 50lbs.

 

 

   In light of her  new found passion and success Nicola decided to make health and fitness the core of her life, she became a group fitness instructor ,personal trainer and continues to make and conquer new challenges such as Bikini Figure Contest and Health coaching.

All with the love and Support of her Son by her side.

 

                Nicola Smiles is a great example of the resilience and strength we all have as Women !!! All you have to do is dig down and fine what you were already born with.

Be fierce and confident enough to not give up. Many times as moms we take care of our needs last Understandable considering our children are our most prized processions but it comes a time when we simply have to take care of Mom First !

 Nicola smiles became " Fitter Smiles" and as a result leads a healthier and happier life all while setting a great example for her son.

Become a M.I.L.F ! "Mother in Love with Fitness"

and as Fitter smiles says " Commit and do it for your Family "

Because at the end of the day we all just want to be some ones fantasy

 

Stay Fit, Fine and Flawless

 

For more info on Nicola "Fitter " Smiles check out some her recent .

Click the links below

 

http://blackwomendoworkout.com/fitter-smiles/

 

http://blackwomendoworkout.com/free-meal-plan/