We all love to be happy, right? Some times, when life gets crazy, stressful or unfamiliar we can lose some of that happiness. How can we get it back? How can we be happy no matter what is going on in our life? One answer is simple, exercise!
Showing posts with label Workout. Show all posts
How to be an Early Riser
September 2, 2016
Waking up early can seem hard or impossible for some people, but, getting a few extra hours in your day is never a bad thing! Those extra hours could mean the difference between getting a good grade, turning in a test on time, getting to work on time, or simply, just getting stuff done! At first, it might not seem worth it, but trust me, waking up early can, and should be, a part of your day!
I wake up early 6 days out of the week. Why? Getting up early allows me to get in my run before we have to start school. Just because I am homeschooled, doesn't mean we get to do whatever we want whenever we want! We have to do our school work just like everyone else, we just have the choice of whether we want to wear our pjs all day or not!
So, I get up early and get my run done before I shower and get on with my day! I find it puts me in a good mood and helps me to fell energized all day long!
Make a Plan
Waking up early just for the sake of waking up early is a bad idea. You need something to motivate you, to excite you, so that you don't just hit the snooze button and go back to sleep. Sometimes I make a list of everything I need to do the next day. Its also a good idea to write down some goals you have for the next day, or even the next week. Planning something fun for breakfast, or setting your coffee maker to go off is a great motivator to get up in the morning! Having these things written and planned makes them more real, and you are more likely to stick to them than if they were just in your head.
Lay it Out
The night before, lay out the clothes, bags, shoes and anything else that you need for the next day. If you plan to workout first thing in the morning, lay out your workout clothes and shoes, so that you have no excuses! Waking up and seeing the things you have layed out, makes you WANT to get out of bed! If you have a fun day planned, the things you lay out in preparation for it, gets you excited and ready to go in the morning!
Set an Alarm
I know, I know, typical for this kind of post, but its so true! Setting an alarm gets you planning for the next day and hearing the alarm gets you AWAKE in the morning, which is key to getting up earlier. Maybe the sound of a blaring alarm in the morning isn't the best wake-up call, but you can kind an alarm that sounds nice ( your phone probaly has several to choose from) and will be great to wake up to!
As to setting your alarm, I like to do 2 alarms. One for 15 minutes before I want to be up and one for when I want to get up! That way, if you roll over and go back to sleep after the first one, you have the next one to wake you back up!
Another great tip for your alarm is, Move It! Move your alarm clock, phone or whatever you are using as an alarm to the other side of your room. Having it right next to your bed makes it too easy for you to hit the snooze button! Put it in a place where you have to get out of bed to turn it off, but not too far away that you don't here it! :)
Go to Bed
You have to actually be in bed alseep before you can wake up early. Going to bed at a reasonable time if the first step to waking up earlier. I know, it doesn't sound super fun, but if you want a more productive and longer day, you have to go to bed early. Start by going to bed half an hour before you usually do and see how it feels! I bet you will like it!
Relax
So, you've made a plan, you layed out your clothes, you've set your alarm and you're in bed....now you have to go to sleep! For so many people, getting enough sleep is hard. Whether its stress, kids, or going to bed too late, people get robbed of their sleep. Heres by tip- RELAX! It might just be 10 minutes before you go to bed, but take that time to sit down and do something that relaxes you. Read a book, drink some tea, do a craft or write in a journal, whatever relaxes you. Not only will it help you feel better and sleep better, but it will help you get the sleep you need AND wake up early!
I wake up early 6 days out of the week. Why? Getting up early allows me to get in my run before we have to start school. Just because I am homeschooled, doesn't mean we get to do whatever we want whenever we want! We have to do our school work just like everyone else, we just have the choice of whether we want to wear our pjs all day or not!
So, I get up early and get my run done before I shower and get on with my day! I find it puts me in a good mood and helps me to fell energized all day long!
Make a Plan
Waking up early just for the sake of waking up early is a bad idea. You need something to motivate you, to excite you, so that you don't just hit the snooze button and go back to sleep. Sometimes I make a list of everything I need to do the next day. Its also a good idea to write down some goals you have for the next day, or even the next week. Planning something fun for breakfast, or setting your coffee maker to go off is a great motivator to get up in the morning! Having these things written and planned makes them more real, and you are more likely to stick to them than if they were just in your head.
Lay it Out
The night before, lay out the clothes, bags, shoes and anything else that you need for the next day. If you plan to workout first thing in the morning, lay out your workout clothes and shoes, so that you have no excuses! Waking up and seeing the things you have layed out, makes you WANT to get out of bed! If you have a fun day planned, the things you lay out in preparation for it, gets you excited and ready to go in the morning!
Set an Alarm
I know, I know, typical for this kind of post, but its so true! Setting an alarm gets you planning for the next day and hearing the alarm gets you AWAKE in the morning, which is key to getting up earlier. Maybe the sound of a blaring alarm in the morning isn't the best wake-up call, but you can kind an alarm that sounds nice ( your phone probaly has several to choose from) and will be great to wake up to!
As to setting your alarm, I like to do 2 alarms. One for 15 minutes before I want to be up and one for when I want to get up! That way, if you roll over and go back to sleep after the first one, you have the next one to wake you back up!
Another great tip for your alarm is, Move It! Move your alarm clock, phone or whatever you are using as an alarm to the other side of your room. Having it right next to your bed makes it too easy for you to hit the snooze button! Put it in a place where you have to get out of bed to turn it off, but not too far away that you don't here it! :)
Go to Bed
You have to actually be in bed alseep before you can wake up early. Going to bed at a reasonable time if the first step to waking up earlier. I know, it doesn't sound super fun, but if you want a more productive and longer day, you have to go to bed early. Start by going to bed half an hour before you usually do and see how it feels! I bet you will like it!
Relax
So, you've made a plan, you layed out your clothes, you've set your alarm and you're in bed....now you have to go to sleep! For so many people, getting enough sleep is hard. Whether its stress, kids, or going to bed too late, people get robbed of their sleep. Heres by tip- RELAX! It might just be 10 minutes before you go to bed, but take that time to sit down and do something that relaxes you. Read a book, drink some tea, do a craft or write in a journal, whatever relaxes you. Not only will it help you feel better and sleep better, but it will help you get the sleep you need AND wake up early!
I hope these tips have helped you and you can use them to become and earlier riser! If you have found this post helpful, please share it with your friends and family!
Check back every Friday for a new post! You can also follow the blog via email and social media so you never miss a post!
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Stay Healthy, Happy and Laughing!
H. Banana
Running 101
November 27, 2015
I used to hate running! It was always a last-resort workout for me, and because of that, I didn't run very often. When we moved over the summer, we didn't have room in our new house to have both the treadmill and the elliptical(which was my go-to), and the treadmill won out. With the elliptical out of the question, I began using the treadmill a lot more. Now, I use it almost everyday, and I am totally in love with running!
Why Should You Start Running?
Running has so many benefits for your health, body, and mood! The number of benefits is almost countless, so here are just a few of them!
It is super great for your mental health because your body releases a chemical that makes you feeling happy! Running isn't the only thing that can lift your mood though! Just about any exercise or workout will help to release those feel-happy chemicals!
Running helps to strengthen your lungs and bronchi, which can help lessens the effects of asthma. Just make sure to take deep breaths while running, not short, choppy ones!
Your arteries expand and contract while you are running, which helps your arteries stay fit and maintain good blood pressure. Again, most cardio exercises will do this for you!
Runners often don't suffer from illnesses as much (if any) as those who don't run! Running not only keep you healthy on the outside, but on the inside too!
Another great thing about running is, its great for weight-loss! You can burn up to 825 calories an hour while running! It also is a great way to target fat and extra weight around your middle.
Running also builds and strengthens your lower body, tendons, and ligaments. This helps your body become stronger over all, and increases your flexibility.
When you run, you are putting stress on your bones (Don't worry, that's not bad!) which causes your body to send essential minerals to your bones to strengthen them. Just make sure you aren't stressing your bones out too much too soon! Start off with short, easy runs and then work your way up!
Running also helps to decrease the effects of diabetes. Its helps to diabetic resistance to insulin, and maintain healthy blood sugar levels!
Overall, I believe running is a great way to stay fit, active, and healthy inside and out! Also, it makes you feel so good, whether you doo 1 mile or 10!
How Do You Start Running?
Simple, just do it! The only way to grow to like something, learn how to do something, and even become good at something is so start right away!
You don't have to own a treadmill or have a gym membership to become a runner. All you need is some good running shoes and a side walk, street, or road. Some great music doesn't hurt either! Just put on your shoes and getting going! Start out with a swift walk, then a jog, and slowly work your way up to a speed you are comfortable with. Then, push yourself! You don't have to run full speed all the way, just burst of high speed is great! Then, nearing the end of your run, start slowing down and bring your heart rate down slowly.
Also, if running on a road, side walk, or street, make sure you are on the look out for cars, people, and bikes! We don't want anyone getting hurt!
You don't have to run everyday, or for every workout. Running can be used as your go-to cardio workout, or a warm up for a weight lifting session. You can also swap running out for another type of cardio, to keep your body guessing!
How to be a Healthy Runner
Wait a minute! I just listed a ton of health benefits of running, so how could you be an unhealthy runner? Well, it is possible. Not taking care of your body, over stressing- over working, and under eating are just a tip of the ice burg of unhealthy running.
To be a healthy runner, you need to listen to your body. This is true for any type of exercise. Go by how you feel, not what your goals are. If your goal is to run a marathon, taking those rest days in between training will be the best thing for you. If you are super sore, you don't have a ton of energy, or you just plain don't feel good, then don't run. Your body has many ways to tell you it isn't in tip-top shape, and the only way to see those signs is to pay attention to your body.
Over stressing your body is another way to be an unhealthy runner. Running too long or too fast before you are capable of it can cause injury and set you back in your running progress. You can't start off running a marathon everyday, just because other runners do. In the beginning, go for shorter distances and easy paces, even if you think its too easy for you. Every time you run, try to beat your time or speed by just a little bit, and/or go just a bit longer. Working your way up to longer runs and faster speeds is the best way to stay a healthy runner!
Under eating can be a down fall for anyone trying to become fitter. And, it is easier than you might think to do. Running, as any exercise, increases you metabolism and burns a lot of calories. This causes your body to need more food to stay fuel and energized. Even if you are trying to lose weight, you have to eat more as a runner. Just make sure it is healthy food, and you should still reach your goals!
How Do I Run?
Like I said earlier, I run quite a bit now. When I first starting running, I would run around 3 to 4 miles each time. I wouldn't run it straight, stopping about mid-run and taking a breather, and worked my way up from there. I slowly increases my distance and speed until I was running 8 to 9 miles a day. Then, just to test myself, I tried running 9 miles straight. I did it, and it wasn't too hard either! I knew that this meant I had built up my stamina and strengthened my body to a point where it could take long distances and fewer(if none at all) breathers. From that point on, I increases my distances, and continued to run for the entire run. Today, for example, I ran 11 miles @ 6.5 miles and hour and a 4-5% incline. I am proud of how far I've come as a runner, and I hope to continue building up my stamina and strength so I can one day(soon!) run a half marathon and even a full marathon!
I hope this post will encourage you to get out the door and go for a run. You will be a different person after you start adding a run or 3 to your week! Whether you chose to go short, or build your way to longer runs, I am sure you will soon come to love running just as much as I do!
Make sure you keep in mind your own health and capabilities. Everyone is different, so you should adjust your exercise to what you are capable of at a healthy level.
Please share this post with your friends and family. Spread the love of a healthy lifestyle and help others become healthier!
You can follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett, and on Tumblr @ justrunningforfood. Please follow the blog to stay up to date on the post, and get a few extra special tips, thoughts, and ideas!
New post every Friday! ps. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Keep Healthy and Safe!
H. Banana
Running has so many benefits for your health, body, and mood! The number of benefits is almost countless, so here are just a few of them!
It is super great for your mental health because your body releases a chemical that makes you feeling happy! Running isn't the only thing that can lift your mood though! Just about any exercise or workout will help to release those feel-happy chemicals!
Running helps to strengthen your lungs and bronchi, which can help lessens the effects of asthma. Just make sure to take deep breaths while running, not short, choppy ones!
Your arteries expand and contract while you are running, which helps your arteries stay fit and maintain good blood pressure. Again, most cardio exercises will do this for you!
Runners often don't suffer from illnesses as much (if any) as those who don't run! Running not only keep you healthy on the outside, but on the inside too!
Another great thing about running is, its great for weight-loss! You can burn up to 825 calories an hour while running! It also is a great way to target fat and extra weight around your middle.
Running also builds and strengthens your lower body, tendons, and ligaments. This helps your body become stronger over all, and increases your flexibility.
When you run, you are putting stress on your bones (Don't worry, that's not bad!) which causes your body to send essential minerals to your bones to strengthen them. Just make sure you aren't stressing your bones out too much too soon! Start off with short, easy runs and then work your way up!
Running also helps to decrease the effects of diabetes. Its helps to diabetic resistance to insulin, and maintain healthy blood sugar levels!
Overall, I believe running is a great way to stay fit, active, and healthy inside and out! Also, it makes you feel so good, whether you doo 1 mile or 10!
How Do You Start Running?
Simple, just do it! The only way to grow to like something, learn how to do something, and even become good at something is so start right away!
You don't have to own a treadmill or have a gym membership to become a runner. All you need is some good running shoes and a side walk, street, or road. Some great music doesn't hurt either! Just put on your shoes and getting going! Start out with a swift walk, then a jog, and slowly work your way up to a speed you are comfortable with. Then, push yourself! You don't have to run full speed all the way, just burst of high speed is great! Then, nearing the end of your run, start slowing down and bring your heart rate down slowly.
Also, if running on a road, side walk, or street, make sure you are on the look out for cars, people, and bikes! We don't want anyone getting hurt!
You don't have to run everyday, or for every workout. Running can be used as your go-to cardio workout, or a warm up for a weight lifting session. You can also swap running out for another type of cardio, to keep your body guessing!
How to be a Healthy Runner
Wait a minute! I just listed a ton of health benefits of running, so how could you be an unhealthy runner? Well, it is possible. Not taking care of your body, over stressing- over working, and under eating are just a tip of the ice burg of unhealthy running.
To be a healthy runner, you need to listen to your body. This is true for any type of exercise. Go by how you feel, not what your goals are. If your goal is to run a marathon, taking those rest days in between training will be the best thing for you. If you are super sore, you don't have a ton of energy, or you just plain don't feel good, then don't run. Your body has many ways to tell you it isn't in tip-top shape, and the only way to see those signs is to pay attention to your body.
Over stressing your body is another way to be an unhealthy runner. Running too long or too fast before you are capable of it can cause injury and set you back in your running progress. You can't start off running a marathon everyday, just because other runners do. In the beginning, go for shorter distances and easy paces, even if you think its too easy for you. Every time you run, try to beat your time or speed by just a little bit, and/or go just a bit longer. Working your way up to longer runs and faster speeds is the best way to stay a healthy runner!
Under eating can be a down fall for anyone trying to become fitter. And, it is easier than you might think to do. Running, as any exercise, increases you metabolism and burns a lot of calories. This causes your body to need more food to stay fuel and energized. Even if you are trying to lose weight, you have to eat more as a runner. Just make sure it is healthy food, and you should still reach your goals!
How Do I Run?
Like I said earlier, I run quite a bit now. When I first starting running, I would run around 3 to 4 miles each time. I wouldn't run it straight, stopping about mid-run and taking a breather, and worked my way up from there. I slowly increases my distance and speed until I was running 8 to 9 miles a day. Then, just to test myself, I tried running 9 miles straight. I did it, and it wasn't too hard either! I knew that this meant I had built up my stamina and strengthened my body to a point where it could take long distances and fewer(if none at all) breathers. From that point on, I increases my distances, and continued to run for the entire run. Today, for example, I ran 11 miles @ 6.5 miles and hour and a 4-5% incline. I am proud of how far I've come as a runner, and I hope to continue building up my stamina and strength so I can one day(soon!) run a half marathon and even a full marathon!
I hope this post will encourage you to get out the door and go for a run. You will be a different person after you start adding a run or 3 to your week! Whether you chose to go short, or build your way to longer runs, I am sure you will soon come to love running just as much as I do!
Make sure you keep in mind your own health and capabilities. Everyone is different, so you should adjust your exercise to what you are capable of at a healthy level.
Please share this post with your friends and family. Spread the love of a healthy lifestyle and help others become healthier!
You can follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett, and on Tumblr @ justrunningforfood. Please follow the blog to stay up to date on the post, and get a few extra special tips, thoughts, and ideas!
New post every Friday! ps. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Keep Healthy and Safe!
H. Banana
Working Out at the Gym
August 31, 2015
Before we moved, we never really went to a gym. We had a membership to one for a few months, but because it was so far away, we rarely went. So, I had never really worked out in a gym, up until recently, when we got a membership to the rec. center near us!
What I love about the rec. center is that its very family oriented, you don't have a bunch of gym-rats, and it is a ton cheaper than a normal gym! The equipment isn't high-tech, but its easy to use and it does the job! They have a range of equipment, from treadmills, stationary bikes and elliptical to weight machines, free weights and medicine balls. The only down side I have found, so far, is that you have to be 18 to use the free weights, but I am content with the weight machines right now!
Here are a few of my favorite things to do at the gym!
#1 The Treadmill
It might sound odd, but I love to run on the treadmill, but put me outside and I just don't enjoy it! I have worked myself up from a 13 minute mile to around 10 minutes to a mile. Not super fast, but that's not really my goal right now! I love to raise the incline up to really work my whole leg, put some pumping tunes on, and just GO!
#2 Leg Press
I could work my legs all day long, and using the leg press is one of my favorites! I usually start out at about 80 pounds and go up to 100-110 pounds at about 20 reps at each weight( if that makes since!). It is a really easy machine to use, and its really effective too!
#3 Inner/Outer Thigh Machine
This is another really effective machine that I love to use! I usually do around 100-110 pounds and around 40-50 reps, switching between outer and inner thighs. This works like crazy, and you feel it too! I like to do this right after cardio on leg day, so I can sit and get my heart rate down before going on to the rest of strength training.
What I love about the rec. center is that its very family oriented, you don't have a bunch of gym-rats, and it is a ton cheaper than a normal gym! The equipment isn't high-tech, but its easy to use and it does the job! They have a range of equipment, from treadmills, stationary bikes and elliptical to weight machines, free weights and medicine balls. The only down side I have found, so far, is that you have to be 18 to use the free weights, but I am content with the weight machines right now!
Here are a few of my favorite things to do at the gym!
#1 The Treadmill
It might sound odd, but I love to run on the treadmill, but put me outside and I just don't enjoy it! I have worked myself up from a 13 minute mile to around 10 minutes to a mile. Not super fast, but that's not really my goal right now! I love to raise the incline up to really work my whole leg, put some pumping tunes on, and just GO!
I could work my legs all day long, and using the leg press is one of my favorites! I usually start out at about 80 pounds and go up to 100-110 pounds at about 20 reps at each weight( if that makes since!). It is a really easy machine to use, and its really effective too!
#3 Inner/Outer Thigh Machine
This is another really effective machine that I love to use! I usually do around 100-110 pounds and around 40-50 reps, switching between outer and inner thighs. This works like crazy, and you feel it too! I like to do this right after cardio on leg day, so I can sit and get my heart rate down before going on to the rest of strength training.
Usual Workout Routine
I can't stress enough the importance of changing up your workout often so that you 'keep your body guessing'. Here is what a normal week of workouts looks like for me!
Monday: 40 minutes of Cardio( Treadmill, Elliptical, Stair Climber, Bike...) + 20-25 minutes of Arm work with the weight machines.
Tuesday: 40 minutes of Cardio( I never do the same machine twice in a row) + 20-25 minutes of Leg work.
Wednesday: 45-50 minutes of Cardio + 15-20 minutes of mixed Leg and Arm work. I usually pick one day a week to do an extra long cardio session.
Thursday: 40 minutes of Cardio + 20-25 minutes of Arm work
Friday: 40 minutes of Cardio+ 20-25 minutes of Leg work.
Saturday: We usually don't go to the gym on Saturday, so I like to take a walk and/or do a few at-home workouts.
Sunday: Rest Day!
I try not to do the same cardio type every workout. Also, we don't always go to the gym everyday, so I will do arms one time and the next time I go do legs, whether its the next day or not. If I am sore, I take that into account and only do what I can handle. Too little is better than too much!
Please note that this is a schedule
that works for me. It might not be the right thing for you. Listen to your body, know what it can and can't do, and don't do anything that will harm it!
So that's my take on working out at the gym. If you have a favorite exercise to do at the gym, or at home, please let me know! You can follow the blog via email, Google, Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett, and on Twitter @ SpinachisGOOD.
Please share this post and my blog with a friend and family member to spread the love for healthy living!
New post every Monday and Friday!
Keep Healthy and SAFE!
H. Banana
Favorite YouTubers
July 10, 2015
I'm not gonna lie, I love to watch YouTube videos on cooking, baking, fashion, nutrition, health and so on! It can be so helpful! My family and I have looked up videos for several things and we've always found help! So, naturally, I've come across some pretty cool YouTubers and I've subscribed to their channels so that I get updates when they post new videos. I want to share with you my favorite Youtubers in hopes that they may help you, or at least entertain you!
The first one is The Domestic Geek . She post recipes, ideas and food hacks, some of which are healthy and some are more on the splurge side! Her bubbly attitude and cheerful voice makes these videos both fun and helpful!
Blogilates or Casey Ho, is a Pilates instructor who makes workout videos, inspiration videos, cooking and recipe videos and more! She even has her own clothing line here . She's super energetic and happy, but totally serious when it comes to her workouts!
Byron Talbott is a professional chef who post amazing how-to and recipe videos! Not all of his recipes are healthy, but there are a few! I love to watch these videos to get inspiration and ideas for recipes of my own!
Fitness Blender post great workout, stretching and fitness info videos! Their workouts range from beginner to intermediate and most of the videos give you an idea of how many calories you should burn, which I love!
LoveHealthyOK is such a cute channel! Olivia post healthy recipe videos, fashion, info and workouts videos! She is so passionate about healthy living that it is contagious!
The last one I want to mention is , Mind Over Munch . This channel is a great healthy lifestyle channel. They post mainly recipes, but also some What-I-Eat-in-A-Day videos and more! Check them out for great recipes and healthy living tips!
So these are just a few of my favorite healthy YouTubers, if you have some of your own, please share in the comment section below! Be sure to share this post with a friend or family member and subscribe so you don't miss a post!
You can follow via email, Google, on Twitter @ SpinachisGood and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.
Stay tuned for more healthy lifestyle post every Monday and Friday!
Keep Healthy and Safe!
H.Banana
The first one is The Domestic Geek . She post recipes, ideas and food hacks, some of which are healthy and some are more on the splurge side! Her bubbly attitude and cheerful voice makes these videos both fun and helpful!
Blogilates or Casey Ho, is a Pilates instructor who makes workout videos, inspiration videos, cooking and recipe videos and more! She even has her own clothing line here . She's super energetic and happy, but totally serious when it comes to her workouts!
Byron Talbott is a professional chef who post amazing how-to and recipe videos! Not all of his recipes are healthy, but there are a few! I love to watch these videos to get inspiration and ideas for recipes of my own!
Fitness Blender post great workout, stretching and fitness info videos! Their workouts range from beginner to intermediate and most of the videos give you an idea of how many calories you should burn, which I love!
LoveHealthyOK is such a cute channel! Olivia post healthy recipe videos, fashion, info and workouts videos! She is so passionate about healthy living that it is contagious!
The last one I want to mention is , Mind Over Munch . This channel is a great healthy lifestyle channel. They post mainly recipes, but also some What-I-Eat-in-A-Day videos and more! Check them out for great recipes and healthy living tips!
So these are just a few of my favorite healthy YouTubers, if you have some of your own, please share in the comment section below! Be sure to share this post with a friend or family member and subscribe so you don't miss a post!
You can follow via email, Google, on Twitter @ SpinachisGood and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.
Stay tuned for more healthy lifestyle post every Monday and Friday!
Keep Healthy and Safe!
H.Banana
Summer 2015 Play-List
June 29, 2015
I've said before, and I'll say it again: Music is a great way to make a workout go by faster and give you energy to push harder. It also can help you relax, study and just make you happy! I've done a playlist before ,like my, Spring PlayList and Winter PlayList and to add to that list, I am going to share with you my Summer Playlist!
So, here we go! Here is my Summer Playlist , I hope you enjoy!
Stars - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals My Brother introduced me to this song, and I've been loving it ever since!
Rhythm of Love - Plain White T's This song has such a great rhythm and tone to it, perfect for relaxing by the pool!
See You Again - Wiz Khalifa This song is a great workout song, since it has a great beat to it!
No Freedom - Dido I recently heard this song on the radio and fell in love! Perfect for relaxing or a car ride!
Thank You - MKTO Another great workout song! I love MKTO'S music, but this one is a favorite!
Free to Be Me - Francesca Battistelli Besides being a great relaxing song, this one has a great
message too!
Uncover - Zara Larson This song is one of my favorite workout songs because of the beat and tempo!
Can't Stop Dancing - Becky G This song has perfect beat and tempo for running!
There was a Time - Mandolin Orange This song is a great car trip song! I love Mandolin Orange, and you should check out their other music!
Adore - Jasmine Thompson Jasmine Thompson does a lot of covers on YOUTUBE, but her original songs are amazing too! This song is perfect for chilling or..writing blog post! Check her out on Youtube for great music!
I hope you give these songs a listen and that you like them as much as I do! Music is a big motivator for me and I love to listen to music while I workout, in the car, while I'm writing blog posts and while I'm laying out by the pool!
Please share this post with a friend to give them some new tune ideas! Follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett!
Keep Healthy and Safe!
H. Banana
So, here we go! Here is my Summer Playlist , I hope you enjoy!
Stars - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals My Brother introduced me to this song, and I've been loving it ever since!
Rhythm of Love - Plain White T's This song has such a great rhythm and tone to it, perfect for relaxing by the pool!
See You Again - Wiz Khalifa This song is a great workout song, since it has a great beat to it!
No Freedom - Dido I recently heard this song on the radio and fell in love! Perfect for relaxing or a car ride!
Thank You - MKTO Another great workout song! I love MKTO'S music, but this one is a favorite!
Free to Be Me - Francesca Battistelli Besides being a great relaxing song, this one has a great
message too!
Uncover - Zara Larson This song is one of my favorite workout songs because of the beat and tempo!
Can't Stop Dancing - Becky G This song has perfect beat and tempo for running!
There was a Time - Mandolin Orange This song is a great car trip song! I love Mandolin Orange, and you should check out their other music!
Adore - Jasmine Thompson Jasmine Thompson does a lot of covers on YOUTUBE, but her original songs are amazing too! This song is perfect for chilling or..writing blog post! Check her out on Youtube for great music!
I hope you give these songs a listen and that you like them as much as I do! Music is a big motivator for me and I love to listen to music while I workout, in the car, while I'm writing blog posts and while I'm laying out by the pool!
Please share this post with a friend to give them some new tune ideas! Follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett!
Keep Healthy and Safe!
H. Banana
Ready, Set, Sweat! - Workout
April 25, 2015
I haven't done a workout post in a little bit, so I thought I would do another one! I love sharing my workouts with others in the hopes that it will inspire and encourage them to workout. Before we get into it though, I want to point out that you should by no means do this workout if you are injured, un able for any reason, or just not physically fit. You need to listen to your body and do what is right for it!
Alright, so let's get ready to Sweat!
Round 1
20 Jumping Jacks
20 Squats
10 Push- Ups
10 Lunges (Per leg)
20 Jumping Jacks
Round 2
50 Sec. Plank
50 Mountain Climbers (25 per leg)
30 Crunches
20 Vertical Toe Touches
20 Sit -Ups
Round 3
30 Triceps Dips
30 Push -Ups
50 sec. Plank
20 Low Plank to High Plank
50 sec. Low Plank
Round 4
1 minute Jog in Place
30 Lunges (15 per leg)
30 Squat Jumps
50 Bunny Hops
45 Jumping Jacks
Cool Down
10 Push - Ups
50 sec. Downward Facing Dog
30 sec. Child's Pose
Just Breath and Slow Your Heart Rate Back Down to Normal.
Well, how did it go? What did you think? Let me know in the comments, via email (healthypinner@gmail.com) or on Twitter @ SpinachisGood. Also, please share this post and the blog with a friend and follow the blog here and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett!
I hope you liked this post, even if you might have not felt that way during this workout! This workout is a full body workout as well as a great cardio session! Again, Please be careful when working out and take care of your body and over all health!
Keep healthy and Safe!
H. Banana
Love Your Body Workout (Valentine's Addition)
February 13, 2015
Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you are sharing it with someone special. I am sharing it with several special people, my family! But, just because its Valentine's Day, doesn't mean you need to skip your workout! I mean, after all those chocolate covered strawberries and other treats, I am going to want to get cranking! This workout is simple, fun, and a great way to get your sweat on! The moves are Valentine's Themed to make it special!
Warm Up:
50 Jumping Jacks
Stretch:
The Hug ( Its simple, just give yourself a hug!)
Kiss Your Feet ( Reach as far to your feet as you can. No, you don't have to really kiss them!)
Lots of Love (Hold your arms out as far as you can. Like your going in for a big hug!)
The Workout:
20 Heart Push-ups. (Place you hands so that your fingers make a 'heart shape. Start from your knees.)
30 Heart swings. (Move your arms like you are drawing a heart in mid-air.)
40 squats ( Just plan old squats to get those thighs in tip-top shape!)
50 sec. Heart Plank (Like the heart push-up, but just hold instead of going up and down.)
20 Kiss the Guns!( In a plank, raise one arm to your face and 'kiss' the bicep and then do they other one!)
50 sec. Happy Dance (Jog in place)
Now that wasn't so bad was it? You can repeat it as many times as you like. Remember to only do these moves if you are able, I don't want anyone getting hurt.
I hope you have a lovely Valentine's Day!
Keep Healthy and SAFE!
H.Banana
Warm Up:
50 Jumping Jacks
Stretch:
The Hug ( Its simple, just give yourself a hug!)
Kiss Your Feet ( Reach as far to your feet as you can. No, you don't have to really kiss them!)
Lots of Love (Hold your arms out as far as you can. Like your going in for a big hug!)
The Workout:
20 Heart Push-ups. (Place you hands so that your fingers make a 'heart shape. Start from your knees.)
30 Heart swings. (Move your arms like you are drawing a heart in mid-air.)
40 squats ( Just plan old squats to get those thighs in tip-top shape!)
50 sec. Heart Plank (Like the heart push-up, but just hold instead of going up and down.)
20 Kiss the Guns!( In a plank, raise one arm to your face and 'kiss' the bicep and then do they other one!)
50 sec. Happy Dance (Jog in place)
Now that wasn't so bad was it? You can repeat it as many times as you like. Remember to only do these moves if you are able, I don't want anyone getting hurt.
I hope you have a lovely Valentine's Day!
Keep Healthy and SAFE!
H.Banana
Pilates
February 6, 2015
To be honest, I had never done Pilates or even given it much thought until a few weeks ago. My sister had been doing some Pilates videos for her workouts and she finally got me to do one. Believe me, after the first 5 minutes I was dying! I now have a new-found respect for Pilates and those who practice it!
Now I try to do a Pilates workout everyday in addition to my daily workouts. I have found a wonderful YOUTUBE channel called, Blogilates , where the host, Cassey Ho, teaches Pilates! I love her videos because they are easy to follow, fun to do and super effective! She also has clean-eating videos, motivational videos and she even has her own active-wear clothing line!
The great thing about Cassey's videos is that you don't need any thing but your body and a good attitude for most of her videos. She chats during her videos which is very entertaining and helps keep your mind off your burning body parts!:)
Aside from her YOUTUBE channel, Cassey has a great blog where you can find her latest videos, calendars, meal plans and etc. I just printed off some of her 30 day challenges and I hope to complete them this month. I encourage you to go to her website or her channel and check her out. Maybe try a video or a challenge and see what you think. It works more that you would think and if you stick with it, I am sure you will see results!
Alright, so you might be wondering, what exactly is Pilates? Here is what Wikipedia had to say about it.
"........ the art of controlled movements, which should look and feel like a workout (not a therapy) when properly manifested. If practiced with consistency, Pilates improves flexibility, builds strength and develops control and endurance in the whole human body. It puts emphasis on alignment, breathing, developing a strong powerhouse, and improving coordination and balance. Pilates' system allows for different exercises to be modified in range of difficulty from beginner to advanced or to any other level, and also in terms of the instructor and practitioner's specific goals and/or limitations. Intensity can be increased over time as the body conditions and adapts to the exercises...."
Pilates was actually developed in Germany by a man named Joseph Pilates.
Pilates is a great form of exercise for anyone to try! It is great for those who don't want to do a whole lot of bouncing around, running or jogging. You can do it almost anywhere with little or no equipment. I really hope you will give it a try and let me know what you think!
As always,
Keep it Healthy and SAFE!
H. Banana
Now I try to do a Pilates workout everyday in addition to my daily workouts. I have found a wonderful YOUTUBE channel called, Blogilates , where the host, Cassey Ho, teaches Pilates! I love her videos because they are easy to follow, fun to do and super effective! She also has clean-eating videos, motivational videos and she even has her own active-wear clothing line!
The great thing about Cassey's videos is that you don't need any thing but your body and a good attitude for most of her videos. She chats during her videos which is very entertaining and helps keep your mind off your burning body parts!:)
Aside from her YOUTUBE channel, Cassey has a great blog where you can find her latest videos, calendars, meal plans and etc. I just printed off some of her 30 day challenges and I hope to complete them this month. I encourage you to go to her website or her channel and check her out. Maybe try a video or a challenge and see what you think. It works more that you would think and if you stick with it, I am sure you will see results!
Alright, so you might be wondering, what exactly is Pilates? Here is what Wikipedia had to say about it.
"........ the art of controlled movements, which should look and feel like a workout (not a therapy) when properly manifested. If practiced with consistency, Pilates improves flexibility, builds strength and develops control and endurance in the whole human body. It puts emphasis on alignment, breathing, developing a strong powerhouse, and improving coordination and balance. Pilates' system allows for different exercises to be modified in range of difficulty from beginner to advanced or to any other level, and also in terms of the instructor and practitioner's specific goals and/or limitations. Intensity can be increased over time as the body conditions and adapts to the exercises...."
Pilates was actually developed in Germany by a man named Joseph Pilates.
Pilates is a great form of exercise for anyone to try! It is great for those who don't want to do a whole lot of bouncing around, running or jogging. You can do it almost anywhere with little or no equipment. I really hope you will give it a try and let me know what you think!
As always,
Keep it Healthy and SAFE!
H. Banana
Daily Workouts
January 22, 2015
Getting some exercise everyday is important to maintain a healthy body. Finding time to work in physical activity can be hard though. I know how hard it can be to work in a workout between school, chores and just being busy ( and I'm not that busy!) But I feel so much better if I do fit it in!
Morning Workouts
The past few days I have been getting up really early (6 a.m) and working out. This was hard to do at first but it soon became almost a habit. At first all I wanted to do was roll over and go back to sleep or have a cup of coffee (I have been getting up at 6:15 a.m for a while) but I made myself get dressed and workout. I like to do my cardio in the morning because it helps get me nice and awake and ready to go. Working out in the morning will also help to energize you for the rest of the day! Plus, you won't have to worry about fitting in a workout during your day!
'During the day' Workouts
Even though I do cardio in the morning, I try and fit in a strength training session some time during the day. The reason I don't do it all at once is because I don't have and hour- hour and a half to workout at one time. So I split it up. But, if you aren't a fan of waking up early and working out you can of course do it at once in the middle of the day. If I am going to do that I usually try and workout about a hour after lunch (You should wait at least 45 mins to a hour after eating to workout to avoid cramping) I usually do 20-30 mins of cardio and then 15-20 mins of strength training. You also can of course combine the two in to a full-body-cardio strength workout. Look around on YOUTUBE or Pinterest for inspiration!
Shaking it up a bit
When you workout every day or so your body will slowly get used to what you are putting it through. Because of this, its important to shake your workouts up and change it every week or so. A little while ago I was doing the elliptical every day on a fast, light-weight setting. This week I changed it to a slower, heavier weight setting. I also added in the weight-strength training.
Let me know what kind of workouts you do or would like to have time to do!
Keep it healthy and SAFE!
H.Banana
Morning Workouts
The past few days I have been getting up really early (6 a.m) and working out. This was hard to do at first but it soon became almost a habit. At first all I wanted to do was roll over and go back to sleep or have a cup of coffee (I have been getting up at 6:15 a.m for a while) but I made myself get dressed and workout. I like to do my cardio in the morning because it helps get me nice and awake and ready to go. Working out in the morning will also help to energize you for the rest of the day! Plus, you won't have to worry about fitting in a workout during your day!
'During the day' Workouts
Even though I do cardio in the morning, I try and fit in a strength training session some time during the day. The reason I don't do it all at once is because I don't have and hour- hour and a half to workout at one time. So I split it up. But, if you aren't a fan of waking up early and working out you can of course do it at once in the middle of the day. If I am going to do that I usually try and workout about a hour after lunch (You should wait at least 45 mins to a hour after eating to workout to avoid cramping) I usually do 20-30 mins of cardio and then 15-20 mins of strength training. You also can of course combine the two in to a full-body-cardio strength workout. Look around on YOUTUBE or Pinterest for inspiration!
Shaking it up a bit
When you workout every day or so your body will slowly get used to what you are putting it through. Because of this, its important to shake your workouts up and change it every week or so. A little while ago I was doing the elliptical every day on a fast, light-weight setting. This week I changed it to a slower, heavier weight setting. I also added in the weight-strength training.
Let me know what kind of workouts you do or would like to have time to do!
Keep it healthy and SAFE!
H.Banana
Workout Video
January 9, 2015
Hello everyone! I hope your New Years were amazing! Mine totally were! I spent New Years eve and New Years Day on the slopes in Colorado! My sister and I tried snowboarding for the first time and we had a blast!
But now that I am back home its time to get serious again about health and fitness! My family and I are going on a week long cleanse. The cleanse we are doing is roughly taken from the book CLEAN (which you should totally check out!) by Alejandro Junger , M.D. The cleanse is a three week program but since its our first cleanse we are just going for a week. I hope to be posting some of the recipe we are using soon!
Another thing, I will be posting once a week from now on instead of every other day. I hope that this will give me more time to write more interesting post and create some new workouts and recipes!
I have been looking on Pinterest and YOUTUBE and I have noticed how many workout videos are on there! I have been looking for a good one to try and I think I have found one!
This video is by Christine Salus and her YOUTUBE channel is great! She has several other workout videos, as well as a few other things! I hope you will check her out!
This workout is 40 minutes long and super tough! It was a lot of workouts I hadn't done before, so I was challenging in that way, but also it was high intensity. HIIT stand for High Intensity Interval Training so that should tell you its tough!
Christine's workout was very easy to follow and easy to understand. I hope you will check out her videos and let me and her know what you think about them!
Please share my blog with a friend!
Keep it healthy and SAFE!
H. Banana
But now that I am back home its time to get serious again about health and fitness! My family and I are going on a week long cleanse. The cleanse we are doing is roughly taken from the book CLEAN (which you should totally check out!) by Alejandro Junger , M.D. The cleanse is a three week program but since its our first cleanse we are just going for a week. I hope to be posting some of the recipe we are using soon!
Another thing, I will be posting once a week from now on instead of every other day. I hope that this will give me more time to write more interesting post and create some new workouts and recipes!
I have been looking on Pinterest and YOUTUBE and I have noticed how many workout videos are on there! I have been looking for a good one to try and I think I have found one!
This workout is 40 minutes long and super tough! It was a lot of workouts I hadn't done before, so I was challenging in that way, but also it was high intensity. HIIT stand for High Intensity Interval Training so that should tell you its tough!
Christine's workout was very easy to follow and easy to understand. I hope you will check out her videos and let me and her know what you think about them!
Please share my blog with a friend!
Keep it healthy and SAFE!
H. Banana
Staying healthy during the holidays
December 22, 2014
Lets be honest, its can be hard to stay healthy during the holidays! There is the almost constant temptation of sugary and high calorie foods and then its seems so hard to stay motivated to workout! Here are a few tips that I hope will help us all stay healthy during the holidays!
#1 WATER!
There is often so much going on during the holidays that we forget to drink enough water! Not drinking enough water can cause you to become dehydrated which will make you feel lazy and sluggish. Drinking water ( and the water in hot cocoa, coffee, etc. doesn't count!) will help you feel more energized, give you clearer skin and keep you hydrated!
#2 WORKOUT
Its hard to find time to workout when its cold outside and there is a warm fire to sit by and drink hot cocoa, but its important that you make time! Play some Christmas tunes while you workout, find some Christmas-themed workout moves or find a workout buddy! If you have company and you don't feel like you can leave them to workout, maybe go to the mall ( Shopping is Cardio!) and walk around for an hour or two. Its important that you get moving! Lying around all day will make you feel lazy and lower your motivation level.
#3 INDULGE
Are all those Christmas treats tempting you? Well, live a little and enjoy them...in moderation! Not letting yourself enjoy your favorite treats will make you feel discouraged and deprived. Enjoy those yummy treats a little at a time. Eating one sugar cookie, one candy cane, a cup of cocoa or a piece of fudge won't set you back or make you gain a ton a weight, but loads and loads of them will! Enjoy in moderation and don't worry about it!
#4 VEGGIE-UP!
When is comes to your diet during the holidays, make sure that veggies are present at every meal. As long as they aren't coated in butter, cheese or grease, make sure that at least half of your plate is full of veggies. You can have the other food items like, ham, bread, scalloped potatoes and cranberry sauce, just make sure your giving some love to the veggies too!
#5 SLEEP
It can be tempting to stay up 'way past your bed time' but its so much better for your body if you make sure you get enough sleep! Sleeping in is a great feeling and, if you stayed up late the night before, let yourself have more sleep, your body will thank you! You will have more energy and motivation if you give your body the rest it needs! Bring on the Zzzzzzzzzs!
I hope these tips can help us all stay healthy and motivated during the holidays! Let me know if these tips help you and if you have any to add to the list! If you have enjoyed this post, please share it with a friend!
Keep healthy and SAFE!
Happy Holidays!
H.Banana
#1 WATER!
There is often so much going on during the holidays that we forget to drink enough water! Not drinking enough water can cause you to become dehydrated which will make you feel lazy and sluggish. Drinking water ( and the water in hot cocoa, coffee, etc. doesn't count!) will help you feel more energized, give you clearer skin and keep you hydrated!
#2 WORKOUT
Its hard to find time to workout when its cold outside and there is a warm fire to sit by and drink hot cocoa, but its important that you make time! Play some Christmas tunes while you workout, find some Christmas-themed workout moves or find a workout buddy! If you have company and you don't feel like you can leave them to workout, maybe go to the mall ( Shopping is Cardio!) and walk around for an hour or two. Its important that you get moving! Lying around all day will make you feel lazy and lower your motivation level.
#3 INDULGE
Are all those Christmas treats tempting you? Well, live a little and enjoy them...in moderation! Not letting yourself enjoy your favorite treats will make you feel discouraged and deprived. Enjoy those yummy treats a little at a time. Eating one sugar cookie, one candy cane, a cup of cocoa or a piece of fudge won't set you back or make you gain a ton a weight, but loads and loads of them will! Enjoy in moderation and don't worry about it!
#4 VEGGIE-UP!
When is comes to your diet during the holidays, make sure that veggies are present at every meal. As long as they aren't coated in butter, cheese or grease, make sure that at least half of your plate is full of veggies. You can have the other food items like, ham, bread, scalloped potatoes and cranberry sauce, just make sure your giving some love to the veggies too!
#5 SLEEP
It can be tempting to stay up 'way past your bed time' but its so much better for your body if you make sure you get enough sleep! Sleeping in is a great feeling and, if you stayed up late the night before, let yourself have more sleep, your body will thank you! You will have more energy and motivation if you give your body the rest it needs! Bring on the Zzzzzzzzzs!
I hope these tips can help us all stay healthy and motivated during the holidays! Let me know if these tips help you and if you have any to add to the list! If you have enjoyed this post, please share it with a friend!
Keep healthy and SAFE!
Happy Holidays!
H.Banana
Ab Burning Workout
December 8, 2014
This is a workout that I made a few days ago and I wanted to share it with you! It is made to target mainly the abs but it also works several other body parts. I did it in about 30-40 minutes so its not a really long workout. I was sweaty when I finished, which to me, means it was a good workout!
Get ready to burn those abs!
100 Jumping Jacks
50 Crunches
50 Squats
25 Push-ups
15 Tricep Dips
20 Vertical Toe Touches
20 Bicycle Crunches
30 Genie Abs
100 Jumping Jacks
50 Sit-ups
50 Squats
25 Push-ups (or to change it up you can do V-Push-ups)
50 Plank Runs
40 sec. Side Plank (Per side)
5 Burpees
20 Plank Punches
40 Jumping Jacks
30 Crunches
20 Plié Squats
10 Push-ups
10 Leg Lifts
10 Lunges (Per Leg)
20 Leg Pulses
50 sec. Low Plank
Child's Pose
Downward Facing Dog
Ankle Holds
Deep Breaths.
And that's the Ab Burning Workout! Just as a reminder, make sure that you are capable of doing all the exercises in this workout. I don't want anyone getting hurt! If you tried this workout, let me know what you thought! If you have any questions about the workout or a particular exercise in it, let me know in the comments below!
Keep Healthy and SAFE!
H.Banana
Get ready to burn those abs!
100 Jumping Jacks
50 Crunches
50 Squats
25 Push-ups
15 Tricep Dips
20 Vertical Toe Touches
20 Bicycle Crunches
30 Genie Abs
100 Jumping Jacks
50 Sit-ups
50 Squats
25 Push-ups (or to change it up you can do V-Push-ups)
50 Plank Runs
40 sec. Side Plank (Per side)
5 Burpees
20 Plank Punches
40 Jumping Jacks
30 Crunches
20 Plié Squats
10 Push-ups
10 Leg Lifts
10 Lunges (Per Leg)
20 Leg Pulses
50 sec. Low Plank
Child's Pose
Downward Facing Dog
Ankle Holds
Deep Breaths.
And that's the Ab Burning Workout! Just as a reminder, make sure that you are capable of doing all the exercises in this workout. I don't want anyone getting hurt! If you tried this workout, let me know what you thought! If you have any questions about the workout or a particular exercise in it, let me know in the comments below!
Keep Healthy and SAFE!
H.Banana
FitBit
December 4, 2014
On Black Friday I got a FitBit Flex . Its a fitness tracker that tracks your steps, calorie burn, active minutes, your sleep and you can log your food, workouts and water intake. I had been wanting one for a while and I am so excited that I finally have one!
Why I wanted a FitBit
I wanted a FitBit because I wanted to be able to track my activity and calorie burn more accurately. My Dad had owned a Jawbone in the past but he hadn't had too much luck with them working well for a long time. And, since I don't own an Apple device I needed a fitness tracker that had an app for the Samsung devices. FitBit fulfilled all those requirements!
What do I think so far?
I love my FitBit! I wear it all the time, except for in the shower. It is waterproof but I don't want to take any chances! I love getting up in the morning and seeing how well I slept that night and during the day I can check my calorie burn and number of steps! I am much more aware of the need to move more now because I want to reach by daily goals! I also love the fact that I can set silent alarms to go off to wake me up! The FiBit on my wrist just vibrates enough to wake me up! Its much nicer than an annoying alarm clock!
What does a FitBit do?
Well, for starters, its a fitness tracker. It tracks your movement, calorie burn and activity level as well as your sleep and number of steps. You can program it to wake you up in the morning, remind you during the day to get moving and you can check it with a tap of the finger to the device to see how close you are to reaching your goal! It so motivating to check it during the day and see your progress. It also tell you how many calories to eat based on your needs. As you log your food during the day it tells you how many more calories you need to eat! There are also challenges you can try to compete against other FitBit owners.
I didn't do any research into other brands of fitness trackers, besides the Jawbone because I knew which one I wanted for my needs. My Dad has ordered a fitness tracker from WiThings and I am excited to see how this one is different from my FitBit.
Let me know if you have a FitBit or other fitness tracker and how you like it, what all it does and how long you've had it!
Please share my blog with a friend if you have enjoyed my posts! Also, follow be on Pinterest under Hannah Plunkett!
Keep it Healthy and SAFE!
H.Banana
Why I wanted a FitBit
I wanted a FitBit because I wanted to be able to track my activity and calorie burn more accurately. My Dad had owned a Jawbone in the past but he hadn't had too much luck with them working well for a long time. And, since I don't own an Apple device I needed a fitness tracker that had an app for the Samsung devices. FitBit fulfilled all those requirements!
What do I think so far?
I love my FitBit! I wear it all the time, except for in the shower. It is waterproof but I don't want to take any chances! I love getting up in the morning and seeing how well I slept that night and during the day I can check my calorie burn and number of steps! I am much more aware of the need to move more now because I want to reach by daily goals! I also love the fact that I can set silent alarms to go off to wake me up! The FiBit on my wrist just vibrates enough to wake me up! Its much nicer than an annoying alarm clock!
What does a FitBit do?
Well, for starters, its a fitness tracker. It tracks your movement, calorie burn and activity level as well as your sleep and number of steps. You can program it to wake you up in the morning, remind you during the day to get moving and you can check it with a tap of the finger to the device to see how close you are to reaching your goal! It so motivating to check it during the day and see your progress. It also tell you how many calories to eat based on your needs. As you log your food during the day it tells you how many more calories you need to eat! There are also challenges you can try to compete against other FitBit owners.
I didn't do any research into other brands of fitness trackers, besides the Jawbone because I knew which one I wanted for my needs. My Dad has ordered a fitness tracker from WiThings and I am excited to see how this one is different from my FitBit.
Let me know if you have a FitBit or other fitness tracker and how you like it, what all it does and how long you've had it!
Please share my blog with a friend if you have enjoyed my posts! Also, follow be on Pinterest under Hannah Plunkett!
Keep it Healthy and SAFE!
H.Banana
Turkey Trot
December 2, 2014
Thanksgiving day my family and I went to run in the Turkey Trot 8k. The Turkey Trot is a 8k run that benefits the Kidney Foundation. For most of us it was our first race ever! We had to get up really early and spend the start of the day freezing outside. Not a typically start to a Thanksgiving day right? But, the excitement of the people around us kept our thoughts away from the cold! My Mom, little brother and little sisters did the 5k fun run/walk while my older brother, Dad and I ran in the 8k. I had been training for this since we signed up, but I didn't realize how different running by yourself and running among so many other people was! I loved the energy that running with other runners gave me! My Dad and I kept together and I am proud to say that we ran more than we walked!
Here is us getting ready for the run! My toes and legs were freezing....all until I started running! Then I wanted to take my jacket off because I was getting so warm!
Mom and my little brother. He wasn't too happy about getting woke up so early, but he was great through the whole thing!
The morning of the race we didn't have much to eat for breakfast, just something that would give us energy but not make our stomachs too full. I had a yogurt and coffee and I wasn't hungry or anything until after the race.
So since this was my first ever race, I learned a few things. Firstly, make sure that your layers are easy to take off while running. I made the mistake of pinning my race number over the zipper of my jacket so I couldn't take it off too easily. Second, Covering up my ears and hands was a great choice! Like I said in a previous post, its important to keep your ears, face, hands and feet warm!
The race was a mix of downhill, uphill, through neighborhoods and on highways. I was a little unprepared for this because I had been training going up and down my drive way and on the treadmill. I have made a mental note to change up my training for future races. The race started and the runners were let out in burst, so as to not crowd the running space. I was thankful for this because going around people is not always easy. As we ran through the neighborhoods there were people in front of their houses cheering us on and blasting music to keep us going! There were volunteers who handed us water and called out our times as we past the mile makers. I was very thankful for those people, and for the running community. Every one was so nice and encouraging no matter what their abilities were!
Like I said before, this was my first race so obviously I didn't win or finish in very good time. I started out slow and from start to about mile 2 I was still getting warm and I was a little uncomfortable. Once I got warm though I was feeling great and I was able to push a lot harder than normal for me! Running with my Dad was a lot of fun too! We were able to stay together and talk while we ran! We finished in just under an hour ( My older brother's time was 45 or 46 minutes) and afterwards the feeling of relief and pride was wonderful! I had just completed my first race and I was so proud of myself! No, I didn't have great time, but I finished and that in its self is something to be proud of!
After the race we went on to have thanksgiving dinner and I felt at liberty to stuff myself and not worry about it! After all, its thanksgiving!
This post really isn't informational or a healthy tips or anything, its just my take and story from my first race! I hope it inspires you to go out and try something new, run your first race like me or something else! Let me know if you have ever done the Turkey Trot or any other race! What did you think and how long was the race?
Remember to follow me on Pinterest and Keep Healthy and Safe!
H.Banana
The morning of the race we didn't have much to eat for breakfast, just something that would give us energy but not make our stomachs too full. I had a yogurt and coffee and I wasn't hungry or anything until after the race.
So since this was my first ever race, I learned a few things. Firstly, make sure that your layers are easy to take off while running. I made the mistake of pinning my race number over the zipper of my jacket so I couldn't take it off too easily. Second, Covering up my ears and hands was a great choice! Like I said in a previous post, its important to keep your ears, face, hands and feet warm!
The race was a mix of downhill, uphill, through neighborhoods and on highways. I was a little unprepared for this because I had been training going up and down my drive way and on the treadmill. I have made a mental note to change up my training for future races. The race started and the runners were let out in burst, so as to not crowd the running space. I was thankful for this because going around people is not always easy. As we ran through the neighborhoods there were people in front of their houses cheering us on and blasting music to keep us going! There were volunteers who handed us water and called out our times as we past the mile makers. I was very thankful for those people, and for the running community. Every one was so nice and encouraging no matter what their abilities were!
Like I said before, this was my first race so obviously I didn't win or finish in very good time. I started out slow and from start to about mile 2 I was still getting warm and I was a little uncomfortable. Once I got warm though I was feeling great and I was able to push a lot harder than normal for me! Running with my Dad was a lot of fun too! We were able to stay together and talk while we ran! We finished in just under an hour ( My older brother's time was 45 or 46 minutes) and afterwards the feeling of relief and pride was wonderful! I had just completed my first race and I was so proud of myself! No, I didn't have great time, but I finished and that in its self is something to be proud of!
After the race we went on to have thanksgiving dinner and I felt at liberty to stuff myself and not worry about it! After all, its thanksgiving!
This post really isn't informational or a healthy tips or anything, its just my take and story from my first race! I hope it inspires you to go out and try something new, run your first race like me or something else! Let me know if you have ever done the Turkey Trot or any other race! What did you think and how long was the race?
Remember to follow me on Pinterest and Keep Healthy and Safe!
H.Banana
The 'Wear Yourself Out and Feel Good About it' Workout
November 30, 2014
A few days ago I wrote down a workout which combined a few parts from several workouts that I have been doing. I was wore out at the end of it, but proud too because when I read over it I was amazed that I was able to do all of this in a short amount of time! Before I go on, I want to say that this workout may not work for every one. Please be careful and stay with in your means to avoid injury. Make sure you can do these exercises without harming yourself.
Here is the workout, get ready!
*
40 Jumping Jacks
30 Crunches
20 Squats
10 Push-Up
* (Repeat from * to * 5 times)
15 Super-mans
20 Donkey Kicks per leg
20 Lunges per leg
15 Dips ( I call then Bridges dips....)
10 Squat Jumps
30 Kettle Bell Swings
#
40 Jumping Jacks
30 Sit-Ups
20 Plie Squats
10 Push-Ups
# (Repeat from # to # 2 times)
50 Flutter Kicks
20 Burpees
15 Bicycle Crunches
10 Plank Knee to Elbow per leg
10 Single leg dips per leg
10 Shoulder (Or V) push-ups
*
12 Lunges per leg
15 Squats
12 Step-ups per leg
5o second plank
* (Repeat from * to * 2 times)
Garb you ankles and hold for 20 seconds.
Bring knees to chest and hold for 20 seconds per leg.
Take 10 really deep breaths.
Well that it! I was sweating up a storm when I finished this, but I also have new workout to add to my collection! Let me know if you try and it and what you think! If you have any questions, leave it in the comments or email the blog at healthypinner@gmail.com . Please be careful and stay within your abilities.
If you liked this post, let me know and share it with a friend.
Keep Healthy and Safe!
H.Banana
Here is the workout, get ready!
*
40 Jumping Jacks
30 Crunches
20 Squats
10 Push-Up
* (Repeat from * to * 5 times)
15 Super-mans
20 Donkey Kicks per leg
20 Lunges per leg
15 Dips ( I call then Bridges dips....)
10 Squat Jumps
30 Kettle Bell Swings
#
40 Jumping Jacks
30 Sit-Ups
20 Plie Squats
10 Push-Ups
# (Repeat from # to # 2 times)
50 Flutter Kicks
20 Burpees
15 Bicycle Crunches
10 Plank Knee to Elbow per leg
10 Single leg dips per leg
10 Shoulder (Or V) push-ups
*
12 Lunges per leg
15 Squats
12 Step-ups per leg
5o second plank
* (Repeat from * to * 2 times)
Garb you ankles and hold for 20 seconds.
Bring knees to chest and hold for 20 seconds per leg.
Take 10 really deep breaths.
Well that it! I was sweating up a storm when I finished this, but I also have new workout to add to my collection! Let me know if you try and it and what you think! If you have any questions, leave it in the comments or email the blog at healthypinner@gmail.com . Please be careful and stay within your abilities.
If you liked this post, let me know and share it with a friend.
Keep Healthy and Safe!
H.Banana
Turkey Burner
November 28, 2014
So, Thanksgiving was yesterday and you probably had a typical Thanksgiving dinner right? With the turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and so on. So now its time to get back on track again! Here is a great workout to help you jump start you workouts after Thanksgiving. Its called the Turkey Burner from Spark People .
Get ready, 'cause here is its!
The Turkey Burner Workout:
50 Jumping Jacks
40 Plie Squats
30 Burpees (Groan..!)
20 1-leg push-ups
10 bicycle crunches.
Sounds easy enough right? LOL, that's what I thought too! Man, I really don't like burpees... But I felt it work and I worked up a sweat and that's what I was going for anyways! Try this workout even if its not after Thanksgiving. Use it in your daily workouts!
Let me know what you think about this post and please share it with a friend!
Keep Healthy and SAFE!
H.Banana
Ps. Remember to keep you health in mind and never do a workout that you aren't capable of.
Get ready, 'cause here is its!
The Turkey Burner Workout:
50 Jumping Jacks
40 Plie Squats
30 Burpees (Groan..!)
20 1-leg push-ups
10 bicycle crunches.
Sounds easy enough right? LOL, that's what I thought too! Man, I really don't like burpees... But I felt it work and I worked up a sweat and that's what I was going for anyways! Try this workout even if its not after Thanksgiving. Use it in your daily workouts!
Let me know what you think about this post and please share it with a friend!
Keep Healthy and SAFE!
H.Banana
Ps. Remember to keep you health in mind and never do a workout that you aren't capable of.
Winter Workout Tips
November 18, 2014
As the weather gets colder I begin to dread going outside for the run that I know I need. I kept asking myself that surely there had to be a way to make this easier! Well, thankfully I found several post on Pinterest that have given be helpful tips for working out in the winter. And today, I'm going to share them with you!
The first tip is to dress for the weather! But you need to be careful because you don't want to be in the middle of your run and want to take all your layers off! A tip from EatPrayRunDC suggest to dress like its 20 degrees warmer outside than it really is, that way when you start to get warm from the workout you don't start roasting in your clothes! Here is a Winter Guide to Layering Clothes .
While we are on the topic of dressing, here are a few tips that I found various places.
Keep your feet, toes and ears warm! You don't want freezing body parts to slow you down!
Where clothes that allow you to move freely and don't weigh you down.
Make sure your shoes aren't mesh or too thin. You might even need to get a pair of shoes just for winter workouts!
I have a few favorite Winter must have for my workouts. They are: Ear warmers (Nice toasting ears instead of frozen ones!) Thick socks! (No more frozen toes!) Neck warmer or Cowl ( I don't suggest running in a scarf because that can cause difficulties. Cowls are shorter, kind of like a short infinity scarf.) What are your favorite winter workout must? Share them in the comments!
The second tip is that you need to drink water! Just because its cold outside doesn't mean that you need to drink less water than you did in the summer! Fill your water bottle up just as full as you did in the summer!
Stay motivated! Sometimes trying to get yourself to leave your cozy place by the fire can be so hard! Find some friends to workout with or set a goal of your self (Or both!) Let me know how you stay motivated!
Lotion up! I hate chapped lips, cheeks and hands and they can be so uncomfortable! Applying lotion and lip butters can help relive and even prevent chapped skin. Several places have suggested using coconut oil to treat the chapped areas.
Now, I can't lie, I sometimes just hang up the idea of going outside for a workout. I either run on the treadmill or do something different for the workout that day. I don't want to run in below-freezing weather or when its snowing outside, so here are a few indoor workouts that I like to do instead!
Pop Sugar's 9 workouts to try this winter
Indoor HIIT workout for the winter
Indoor Cardio Crusher for the Winter
There are so many other workouts out there so feel free to search around for yourself! Let me know what you like to do for a winter workout and if you workout outside!
I hope this post helped you and if it did please share it with a friend!
Keep it healthy and Safe
H.Banana
ps. Follow be on Pinterest! I am under Hannah Plunkett!
Get Ready for Ski/Snowboarding Season
November 9, 2014
Sure, it is still fall right now, but its never to early to start getting ready for the ski/snowboarding season. If you are planning to go to the slopes this year, or you just want to get in shape for winter, Listen Up!
My family and I are going on a ski trip this holiday season, and I don't want to come off the slopes sore, so I am going to start getting ready them now! I have been searching Pinterest for a while now, and I have found several workout and tips for getting ready for the ski/snowboarding season. Here are a few of them:
Yoga for Snowboarding
Exercises Every Snow Boarder Should Do
Get ready for the ski season
And lastly my favorite : Prepare for the winter ski season
I will be trying Snowboarding for the first time this year, and I'm super excited. Have you ever snowboarded? Which do you like better, snowboarding or skiing? Let me know!
I believe that its important to be in good shape for any sport to avoid injury and soreness. I hope that these workouts keep me from getting too sore, and help me preform better on the slopes! Sometimes I just do the exercises alone (Depends on which ones) and sometimes I pair them with a cardio session or something like that! Remember to have fun with it, Stay Safe and within you abilities, and that progress is progress no matter how small or big!
Keep it Healthy and Safe, and let me know if you found this post helpful!
H.Banana
My family and I are going on a ski trip this holiday season, and I don't want to come off the slopes sore, so I am going to start getting ready them now! I have been searching Pinterest for a while now, and I have found several workout and tips for getting ready for the ski/snowboarding season. Here are a few of them:
Yoga for Snowboarding
Exercises Every Snow Boarder Should Do
Get ready for the ski season
And lastly my favorite : Prepare for the winter ski season
I will be trying Snowboarding for the first time this year, and I'm super excited. Have you ever snowboarded? Which do you like better, snowboarding or skiing? Let me know!
I believe that its important to be in good shape for any sport to avoid injury and soreness. I hope that these workouts keep me from getting too sore, and help me preform better on the slopes! Sometimes I just do the exercises alone (Depends on which ones) and sometimes I pair them with a cardio session or something like that! Remember to have fun with it, Stay Safe and within you abilities, and that progress is progress no matter how small or big!
Keep it Healthy and Safe, and let me know if you found this post helpful!
H.Banana
Fitness Fashion
November 5, 2014
Work out clothes and gear are great motivations to work out and stay active! I love getting new work out clothes and then working out in them! Here are my favorite items and brands!
Staring at the bottom with shoes!
You need a good pair or tennis shoes no matter what you are doing! I got mine at www.academy.com and they are Nikes( Academy ). I've had them a few months and I have loved them since day one! If you have a pair of tennis-shoes you love, let me know!
Its important to have a good shoes, so don't be afraid to pay a little extra for them, as long as you are getting what you pay for. Here are a few to look into.
For Training - Training
For Training- Training
For Running - Running
For Running - Running
Don't just pick a shoe and go, or take my word on it. Do your research, as your friends and find the shoes that is just right for you and your activities. Remember, comfort over style!
Next is sock! I never work out with out socks on because I hate stinking sweaty feet and shoes! Find a pair of socks that are for athletics and make sure they breath well.
Now on to pants/ leggings. In the colder months of the year, if you are going to workout or run outside you are going to want to bundle up a little bit. I don't wear leggings much, but here are a few that I do wear.
This pair from Athleta is great! I love them because there is a little skirt built into I feel a bit more modest. Plus, they are really soft!
Another pair are these from Oldnavy are nice because they are capris and work great for the fall and spring time.
As for pants I usually get them from Target and Old Navy. Most of them aren't even athletic-wear either. You don't have to spend a ton of money on workout clothes, just go for whats comfortable and meet your needs.
Shorts come next. I own several pairs and once again they are mainly from Target and Old Navy. I tend to like longer shorts, but shorter ones are nice for Summer. Here are a few that I have and like:
These from Target
And these, also from Target
Now, we get to Sports Bras. I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a good sports bra. If you have a good one you will enjoy your workout so much better than if you didn't. Here are a few that I like;
This one from Target
This one, also from Target
Another one, this one from Academy
Now we come to a space between bras and shirts, so we combine them! I don't own one of these (Yet!) but I can't wait until I do!
Here is one from Target
Another one from Athleta
Okay, now we come to the tops! I love working out in anything from a tank top to long sleeves! You can really get creative and have fun with this part of the outfit! Here are a few of my favorites!
Athleta , Old Navy , Old Navy , Old Navy
Now, Jackets. I don't tend to wear a lot of jacket when I workout, mainly because when its that cold I workout inside! Let me know if you have a favorite workout jacket though!
Extras:
A few extras I like to have when I work out are as follows (I won't give you links because you can find these tons of places!)
Ear Buds (Why? Music of course!)
Head Band. (The fabric kinds are best to help keep hair out of your face)
Pony Tails (You never know when you might need to tie your hair back! I always have a few with me)
Chap-stick. (No one liked dry, cracked lips!)
So that's about it for my Fitness Fashion. If I have left anything out, please let me know! Also, if you have a favorite workout must have, let me know!
Keep it healthy and Safe!
H.Banana
Staring at the bottom with shoes!
You need a good pair or tennis shoes no matter what you are doing! I got mine at www.academy.com and they are Nikes( Academy ). I've had them a few months and I have loved them since day one! If you have a pair of tennis-shoes you love, let me know!
Its important to have a good shoes, so don't be afraid to pay a little extra for them, as long as you are getting what you pay for. Here are a few to look into.
For Training - Training
For Training- Training
For Running - Running
For Running - Running
Don't just pick a shoe and go, or take my word on it. Do your research, as your friends and find the shoes that is just right for you and your activities. Remember, comfort over style!
Next is sock! I never work out with out socks on because I hate stinking sweaty feet and shoes! Find a pair of socks that are for athletics and make sure they breath well.
Now on to pants/ leggings. In the colder months of the year, if you are going to workout or run outside you are going to want to bundle up a little bit. I don't wear leggings much, but here are a few that I do wear.
This pair from Athleta is great! I love them because there is a little skirt built into I feel a bit more modest. Plus, they are really soft!
Another pair are these from Oldnavy are nice because they are capris and work great for the fall and spring time.
As for pants I usually get them from Target and Old Navy. Most of them aren't even athletic-wear either. You don't have to spend a ton of money on workout clothes, just go for whats comfortable and meet your needs.
Shorts come next. I own several pairs and once again they are mainly from Target and Old Navy. I tend to like longer shorts, but shorter ones are nice for Summer. Here are a few that I have and like:
These from Target
And these, also from Target
Now, we get to Sports Bras. I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a good sports bra. If you have a good one you will enjoy your workout so much better than if you didn't. Here are a few that I like;
This one from Target
This one, also from Target
Another one, this one from Academy
Now we come to a space between bras and shirts, so we combine them! I don't own one of these (Yet!) but I can't wait until I do!
Here is one from Target
Another one from Athleta
Okay, now we come to the tops! I love working out in anything from a tank top to long sleeves! You can really get creative and have fun with this part of the outfit! Here are a few of my favorites!
Athleta , Old Navy , Old Navy , Old Navy
Now, Jackets. I don't tend to wear a lot of jacket when I workout, mainly because when its that cold I workout inside! Let me know if you have a favorite workout jacket though!
Extras:
A few extras I like to have when I work out are as follows (I won't give you links because you can find these tons of places!)
Ear Buds (Why? Music of course!)
Head Band. (The fabric kinds are best to help keep hair out of your face)
Pony Tails (You never know when you might need to tie your hair back! I always have a few with me)
Chap-stick. (No one liked dry, cracked lips!)
So that's about it for my Fitness Fashion. If I have left anything out, please let me know! Also, if you have a favorite workout must have, let me know!
Keep it healthy and Safe!
H.Banana
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