Fitness Archives - Healthy Smart Living

Fight Classes: Protect Yourself and Get Fit

April 14, 2022

Whether you're looking for a way to shake up your regular workout routine or want to learn how to fight, there are many options available. Regardless of your size, fitness level, or comfort zone, combat sports, and martial arts can help you feel stronger and more confident should you ever need to defend yourself. Below are five excellent self-defense workouts to help you lose weight, get strong, and learn proper offensive and defensive fighting techniques to boost your confidence. Muay Thai Muay Thai combines offensive and defensive moves. These techniques can be used in close quarters, such as a sharp elbow strike to an attacker, or to create space, such as using a push kick to give yourself room to escape a threatening situation. This martial art utilizes nearly...

self defense

What I Wish I Knew Before Running a Marathon

Casey Crowell

January 27, 2022

Fitness

2021 was the year that I finally crossed off a long-standing item on my bucket list (or maybe had a quarter-life crisis); I ran the New York City Marathon! While I was a health and exercise science major in college and learned a lot about marathon training, I realized that there was SO much that I could have never really prepared for. Below are some of the things I learned, as well as some things I wish I knew before signing up for the big 26.2. You’re going to have bad run days. Some days you’ll feel on top of the world after a good run – and some days you’re going to feel like you have cement in your shoes. That’s ok! When you put your...

marathon tips

10 Wellness Accounts You Need on Your Instagram Feed

Casey Crowell

October 27, 2021

Fitness

Sometimes, we all need a little extra…oomph to get up off the couch and get moving. We live in a time where so much of our lives are influenced by what we see on social media, so why not use it in a way that benefits your life? We handpicked 10 accounts that will leave you feeling strong, motivated, and enthusiastic about health, wellness, and fitness! These influencers cover a range of wellness practices, including workouts, mental health, body positivity, injury prevention, nutrition, and more. If you’re going to spend time on social media, be sure to fill your feed with the wisdom, positivity, and strength from these influencers! 1. Alex Silver Fagan - @alexsilverfagan Along with posting killer workouts, Alex shares inspirational captions that give your mental...

influencers

Learn Your Workout Limits and Reduce Your Chances of Getting too Sore or Tired

Laura Jones

August 25, 2021

Fitness

Whatever your style of training is, whether you go to the gym, attend classes, swim, cycle or do any other form of exercise, we all have our own limits, and these are different for everyone. If you are struggling with feeling sore and tired after your workouts, or you question if you are pushing yourself too hard, then check out these tips to help you learn how to prepare well, and understand when you are pushing yourself too hard. Firstly, it can be perfectly normal to feel tired and sore after a workout, and you won’t feel like that forever, but there are also ways of preparing for a workout so that you can reduce your chances of getting too sore or tired afterward. What to do...

fitness recovery

Fun Outdoor Group Workout Ideas

Margaret Vasileva

June 9, 2021

Fitness

The coronavirus pandemic came unexpectedly and has certainly made its mark on our lives. While it made many social events impossible, it also inspired us to try new ways to keep active. For those who are still wary about getting too close for comfort, outdoor workouts are a wonderful way to social distance, while still interacting with others. Be sure to experiment with different classes and stick with the ones that bring you the most joy and excitement. Group Bike Riding Riding a bike is a top-notch cardiovascular activity that strengthens your heart muscles, works your lower body, and stabilizes your core. And when done with a group, you will find lots of motivation and support from your fellow cyclists. A road that might be difficult for a...

workout ideas

Flex Your Mind and Body: Easy Ways to Incorporate Exercise Into Your Day

Bradley Matthews

May 13, 2021

Fitness

We’re back! Quick - somebody knock on wood. The world is reopening, people are getting vaccinated, and we’re slowly getting back to our old ways of pre-pandemic life. So as we move into our “new normal” way of living - how can we keep up all of the amazing self-care we started integrating into our lives at home? Things that seemed easy to handle during the pandemic like taking an at-home workout class or meditating may not be as easy to keep up now that we’re not working in pajamas all day long. That being said, self-care, exercise, and eating right are more important than ever as we move back into our busy daily lives. I’ve really taken the past year to take stock of everything in...

exercise tips

In An Exercise Rut? Consider These Alternatives

Laura Jones

May 5, 2021

Fitness

Ok, so as a fitness professional I see a lot of people that haven’t quite found their mojo with exercise yet. They have tried lots of different things in the past but still have not found the thing that they really get true enjoyment and satisfaction from. I recently heard from one of my clients, that his friend’s advice to him was to find the thing that he really enjoys, because if he loves it then he is way more likely to stick with it for the long haul. I agree and think that is pretty sound advice, and as someone myself who has tried lots of different sports/exercise, I can appreciate that sentiment. Some of you reading this might resonate with that, you might...

exercise tips

Editor Picks: Cycle Trip Essentials

Laura Jones

March 31, 2021

Fitness

Whether you’re off on a cycling adventure or thinking about adding more cycling into your routine, here are some essentials that will really make your cycling experience even better. Having spent countless hours on my bicycles, and more hours reading reviews about the best items I can buy, I can share my ideas about what is always essential to have on any bike trip. 1 - Padded Undershorts by Endura Women's Padded Boxer Shorts from Wiggle, $47.21 These padded undershorts (also known as chamois shorts) are essential for your rides. Not everyone wears padded shorts, however, speaking from my experience, even when you have cycled thousands of kilometers on the same saddle it is still worth having some extra padding in your shorts. If there’s anything I can...

cycling products

Gym Terms 101

Staff Editor

March 24, 2021

Fitness

Supersets, drop sets, bulking, cutting, HIIT … what does it all mean?! Starting out as a newbie at the gym can often lead you to face a flurry of new confusing terminology. Don’t let this scare you away! Learning gym lingo can be like learning a new language (but it’s way easier to pick up). We’ll take you through 5 basic gym terms you need to get your exercise routine on track. 5 Core Gym Terms Reps Reps, or repetitions, are the basic unit used to define the number of times you raise and lower weight during an exercise. Just crushed 5 pull-ups? That’s 5 reps. Sets The number of reps you complete of a specific exercise is considered one set. In many exercise plans, you may see instructions like “Leg...

gym terms