10-MInute Isometric Ab Workout

I first did this 10-Minute Isometric Ab Workout back about 2-weeks ago when I, knowingly, was about to eat some pretty bad food that was guaranteed to make me bloat. Since my experience has been that I bloat less when my abs are stronger, it just made sense. What also made sense was doing isometric ab workouts. This form of exercise will make your muscles quake while still being quiet and avoiding running around... Considering is was 12 AM and I was in a house full of people, the not running around like a crazy person bit was important.

Isometric exercises are also great to do when you cannot sweat a ton or are too tired for that pesky exercising thing. Really, these workouts will feel like you are working out, but in a completely different way that the usual circuit or HIIT workout.

Running Articles That are Actually Interesting

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Let's not beat around the bush, most articles about running are pretty boring with charts and figures and other things that lull us to sleep whilst reading. Maybe, you have even used a few as sleep preps in the past. Most of these uber boring articles have uber important running info in them, getting to it before the eye lids get heavy can be a bit of an issue though. 

Thankfully, a few of those writers on running have caught on and given us helpful content in a manner that keeps us interested (and awake) the whole way through. These articles are just a few that I recently found that may surprise you in information and interest!

Do you have dumb-butt syndrome?

Ways to understand how you run.

Hips may be over feet in more than one way.

Truth or fad?

Something that will bring joy to every short distance runner.

A marathon breakdown that will leave you inspired.

Home Again!

We are back and boy, it does feel wonderful to be home again. The house is still here and the cats are doing great. Although I may need to go to our chiropractor a bit earlier than originally planned. It seems that having a 14-pound cat lay on your neck all night is not exactly good for the back. But, he is cute and super cuddly and that is worth some back pain :)

As for the trip, it was awesome! There are many posts that are now being based on that trip including a few on camping, Disney, more isometric workouts, and a trip sum up because, yes, I did accomplish all my goals for it! 

For now though, I am going to relax, unpack, and cuddle some adorable kitties! Here is a great, quick workout that can fit into any weekend plans we may have. Happy weekend!        

3 Great Workouts to do with Kids

Did you exercise as a kid? I loved exercising with my Mom when I was little. We would do step aerobics together- my Mom with her real weights and me with my pretend ones. This "workout" time for me may have been nothing compared to the energy my friends and I put out riding bicycles and running around outside all day, but I believe both instilled a love of physical activity in me at a super young age.

Finding my favorite workout video, the  Barbie Dance Aerobics was like finding a missing piece of my childhood a few years back. I loved doing this workout... Even though doing this workout usually meant participating for 10-minutes then asking a family member to fast forward to the end. Hey, it may not have been long, but it was an organized workout that was fun. That Barbie Dance Aerobic video may be past it's prime, but the workouts below are some that most kids would enjoy. If we can show them the fun and importance of organized exercise at the beginning of life, maybe there will be less of a gym-love learning curve as they age.

Circuit Training

It may sound crazy, but if you have a kiddo who gets bored super easy, circuit training could be a perfect fit! In circuit training we are constantly changing what we are doing and, if done right, there is hardly time to get bored! Of course, it would not be recommended to have your little six year old try a tabata class off the bat, but something easier that adds fun things they love doing could be a hit.

A good circuit workout for kids could include some running, jumping jacks, crab walks, down dogs, planks, pull ups on monkey bars, hula hooping, hopping on one foot, and running up and down some stairs. Exercises like these will increase core muscle strength, motor functions, coordination, and athletic performance. Like running, circuit exercises will also help better understand one's own body and learn about heart rate changes.

This website has some great workouts for kids along with some handy advice!

Dance

This may not be for your ten-year-old son, but if you have little girls, look out. Dancing is something most children do for fun anyway, so having a dance class or a video they follow may seem more like super fun time to them than a group activity. Dance also encourages mental strength (memorizing all those moves can be a challenge!), social skills in a classroom situation, joint health and flexibility, healthy living, and a proper self image.

Children starting at two to three years of age can start dancing in some form, whether it be hip hop, ballet, gymnastics, or just a fun freestyle class. All of these will encourage healthy lifestyle choices early on. If there are no dance classes in your area or you do not want to shell out a couple hundred before knowing if your little one will actually like it, you can try some workout videos first.

Jogging

I cannot even believe the number of kids I know who have participated in 1-mile of 5K races by the time they are six years old. If your little one is not the dancing type, jogging can be a great option- especially for children. This is something that kids and parents can do together and has nearly instant gratification. Children will be able to see fast changes in the amount and time they can run much quicker than us adults may be able to. Races and group running events are also great ways to have them socializing and being rewarded for their work.

Running is also a fantastic way for children to better understand their heart rate, how physical activity changes the way they feel, breathing, mental fortitude, and goal setting. Starting can be the biggest hurdle so start small. The best way to begin is to have a goal such as a 5K fun run that you can do together. Three miles may not be the easiest for all parents, so why not form a love of running together? Just be sure to take things slow, 15-minutes may not seem like long to us, but to a five year old, it can be an eternity.

I simply loved this article on helping your child love running. For more tips on running with kids, be sure to check it out!

If you want to kick it up, this article talks about getting your child into the triathalon lifestyle.