Are you getting bored and tired with your normal everyday exercise routine?

Lack of motivation, boredom, and repetitive routines are one of the leading reasons why the majority of people have trouble sticking to a consistent exercise routine. Not to mention, lack of getting the results that is desired due to repeating the same workouts and exercises over and over.

Step into a fitness professional’s mental lab and see if any of these tips and tricks help you dust the cobwebs off of those running shoes.

Stick to the basics…

Try not to think too much into creating a new exercise routine, weight-training regimen, or cardiovascular routine. Simply use your resources and surroundings around you to take the thought out of it.

• These days, Comcast OnDemand offers a massive amount of exercise routines specially designed by fitness instructors to help you get that body moving. Try it out!
• Walk down the street to your local high school or park and utilize the track, enjoy the fresh air, change of environment, and watch the time fly. Try intervals of walking and light jogging to make the best out of your time.
• Use those dreaded stairs at work. Pack a pair of running shoes, shorts, iPod and a t-shirt and go to town during lunch break or after work. You’ll be surprised how many calories you burn. Hoofing out 10 flights of stairs will burn approximately 50 – 75 calories!

Group fitness…

There are all types of different gyms, health clubs, and various businesses that try to offer an assortment of group fitness classes. If you were discouraged in the past look for a local fitness company or fitness professional that specializes in group fitness. If you found the right one you’ll be surprised how far these services came. Ranging from customer service, knowledgeable and professional staff, to reinventing the fitness wheel in their own unique ways. Here’s a list of creative classes that are hot right now and halfway through the class you won’t even realize your exercising!

• Zumba – a Latin inspired class that combines fitness and dance to provide a fun upbeat workout that replicates an organized dance party.
• ZumbAtomic – Zumba for ages 4-12 that includes various forms of games, dances, and activities to keep the kids moving and burning calories without realizing it.
• Spinning – an indoor cycling class that allows each participant to go at their own pace while providing the challenge needed to burn calories and at the same time offer one of the best forms of a cardio out there.
• TurboKick – one of the hottest cardio kickboxing classes around for fitness training.
• Fitness Bootcamp – a form of cross training that will work every muscle in your body while providing cardiocascular endurance training, core strengthening, balance and functional training, and muscle confusion to provide quick and effective results.
• Piloxing – this latest Hollywood fitness craze mixes Pilates and boxing to provide a fun challenge while sculpting the body.

Seek professional advice…

Fitness is our job, not yours! If you feel that your time and money has been wasted up to this point then look into hiring a fitness professional. The job of a fitness professional is to reinvent the fitness wheel for you. Everyday we create fun and unique forms of exercise designed to keep you motivated and help provide those desired results you are looking for in a safe and effective way.

Check back for Pt. 2…

For more information on reinventing the fitness wheel feel free to contact fitness professional Dan Crawford, co-founder of Pulse Fitness Professionals at dan@pulsegetsresults.com.

–Dan Crawford, co-founder, B.A., CPT

Starting this week there will be no more fitness classes at Brookside Swim club for the remainder of the summer. Please check back here for next seasons full fitness schedule. If you would like to continue with indoor classes feel free to join us at 111 E. High, Glassboro on the 2nd floor of the Academy of Performing Arts. Please contact us at info@pulsegetsresults.com with any questions. Thanks and we’ll see you next year!

Next time you need a little something sweet … save a few bucks and whole lot of calories by staying in and making this tasty treat yourself.

You’ll Need:

1/2 Tbsp butter
2 bananas
1 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp dark rum or bourbon (optional)
4 large scoops vanilla ice cream (preferably Breyers All Natural)
1/4 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
4 Tbsp dark chocolate syrup or hot fudge sauce
Light whipped topping

How to Make It:

Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Slice the bananas in half crosswise, then lengthwise. Place the banana quarters in the hot pan with the brown sugar and cook on one side until deeply caramelized, about 2 minutes. Turn the bananas over and cook for another 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and add the rum. Be careful—even when the pan is removed from the heat, the alcohol can still ignite.

Place 2 banana quarters and any accumulated liquid in each of 4 bowls. Top with the ice cream, nuts, chocolate, and whipped topping.

Makes 4 servings / Cost per serving: $1.15
350 calories 17 g fat (6 g saturated) 26 g sugars

Enjoy (in moderation)!

–Tom Pote, co-founder, B.A., CPT, CMT

These days it seems like everyone is trying to eat a little healthier… but most people don’t watch what they drink. According to research from the University of North Carolina, Americans now consume about 25 % of their calories in liquid form—just about double what we used to drink 20 years ago. One study found that sweetened beverages constituted more than half (51 percent) of all beverages consumed by fourth- through sixth-grade students.
Who needs all those hidden calories anyway? Instead of high calorie soda and sugary drinks. Buy club soda, flavored waters, and sugar free drinks. Tired of plain old water … use fresh lemons, limes, or oranges to add a punch flavor.

“But it’s summer time…” Go easy on the alcoholic beverages but when you want a drink keep these tips in mind…

• Alternate every alcoholic drink with a glass of water
• Use a lemon or lime to flavor your vodka or tequila.
• When looking for a little more flavor try to use diet tonic, diet soda, seltzer water, or club soda.
• Going out just to be social? Save the calories and try a virgin mixed drink or sparkling water with a lime.

–Tom Pote, co-founder, B.A., CPT, CMT

Prep time: 8 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Makes: 3 servings
Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray
1 12-inch 100% whole wheat pizza crust
1 cup prepared tomato salsa
1 1/4 cups shredded reduced-fat 2 percent mozzarella
1 1/3 cups canned black beans, drained and rinsed
1 small sweet red pepper, seeded and thinly sliced (about 2/3 cup)
2 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced
1/4 cup cilantro leaves for garnish (optional)
Directions
1. Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Place crust on sheet and top with salsa, 1 cup mozzarella, beans, sliced red pepper, and scallions. Top with remaining 1/4 cup cheese.
2. Place pizza in oven and bake 8 to 10 minutes or until mozzarella is melted. Remove from oven and garnish with cilantro if desired. Cut into six slices and serve.
Nutrition facts per serving (2 slices): 488 calories, 28g protein, 72g carbohydrate, 12g fat (5.4g saturated), 16g fibe

Total: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: about 3 ounces chicken fingers and 1 tablespoon sauce)
Ingredients
• Sauce:
• 1/4 cup canola mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons Sriracha (hot chile sauce, such as Huy Fong)
• 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon lower-sodium soy sauce
• Chicken:
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon water
• 3 cups whole-grain flake cereal (such as Kashi 7-Grain Flakes), finely crushed (about 2 1/2 cups)
• 1 pound chicken breast tenders
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil
Preparation
1. To prepare sauce, combine the mayonnaise, Sriracha, lime juice, and soy sauce in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Cover and chill.
2. To prepare chicken, combine flour, black pepper, and paprika. Place flour mixture in a shallow dish. Combine eggs and 1 tablespoon water; place in another shallow dish. Place crushed cereal in another shallow dish.
3. Sprinkle chicken evenly with salt. Working with 1 piece at a time, dredge chicken in flour mixture. Dip in egg mixture; dredge in cereal.
4. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan, swirling to coat. Add chicken pieces to pan; cook 2 minutes on each side or until done. Serve immediately with sauce.
Nutritional Information
Calories:414
Fat:14g (sat 1.5g,mono 7g,poly 4.2g)
Protein:34.3g
Carbohydrate:37.6g
Fiber:4.5g
Cholesterol:156mg
Iron:2.8mg
Sodium:495mg
Calcium:38mg

–
Stephanie Taglianetti, Pulse Fitness Professionals Intern
Stephanie@pulsegetsresults.com
ACE CPT, AFAA Group Exercise Instructor, Spinning Instructor