Are you getting enough exercise?

I’m writing this blog to give consent  to this global issue that is not just happen in the US but all over the world. Obesity type 2 diabetes and heart disease is becoming more and more of a problem, and with people dying way too young. Increase of physical activity has been shown to decrease your chances of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, depression and lower anxiety.  I want to give facts as well as a solution of ways you can increase physical exercise into your life.

As of November 2018 with new guidelines from the US. Department of  Health and Human services, released the Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Science report. This is an updated report from the 2008 report. The panel is made up of a 17 member committee of experts and consultants spending 20 months reviewing scientific review of research from the past 10 years.

Most Americans are not getting the recommended amount of physical activity.      

So how inactive are we? Only 19% of women, 26% of men and 20% of adolescents are getting enough  of the recommended amount of physical activity each week.

Each week you should be clocking in 150-300 minutes of moderate intense aerobic activity. Such as brisk walking for 3 miles, water aerobics, light swimming, step classes, hiking,and ballroom dancing. If you like intense workouts like hiit training, hill running, running, biking 10 miles per hour or faster.you can clock in 75- 150 minutes each week. You can do a combination of moderate and intense workouts each week at 150-250 minutes. You will also need to incorporate 2 hours of strength training each week working all the major muscles. As for adolescents 6-17 should get one hour of daily exercise including running jumping climbing playing at a playground, and team sports.    It is worth mentioning that getting some exercise is better than not exercising, even if you’re not getting the recommended amount.
Boost brain health regular physical activity of any kind. Studies have shown to enhance and produce acute improvements in executive function, the part of the brain that helps with day to day tasks and planing. Exercise can also help enhancing cognition, the part of the brain that helps with memory, attention and academic performance.There are a few studies that have positive evidence for preventing or slowing down Alzheimer’s disease.

Exercise improves depression management.

Consistent physical activity can help improve depression. It might not completely help you get over depression, but studies show that it reduces the symptoms for depression, and lowers your risk for clinical depression. Women who participate in physical activity during pregnancy are less likely to develop postpartum depression. Women with anxiety or depression during pregnancy benefited even from a low dose of physical activity which promotes a healthy pregnancy.

Exercise can also help with managing stress. I wrote about it in my book

​​SLXLM

Exercise can help you sleep better     

Positive research has shown that exercise can help you fall asleep faster, and reduces time awake at night. The more you exercise (3-4 day per week) the better chance of reaping the benefits of having a good night sleep by sleeping more deeply. You may also notice a reduction in daytime sleepiness. The good news is that it doesn’t matter when you exercise even if it is close to your bedtime.

Exercise is vital to weight management.

In the media and private organizations minimize the importance of physical exercise. Diet and fitness is a balance, you you need both to lose weight.  The 2018 report found a correlation between increased physical activity and weight loss. Step counters have been shown to improve your fitness because it prompts you to exercise, which can help if you are struggling to find time to exercise.

The older you get the more important it is to exercise

Adults ages 65 and older benefits the most. The main reason exercise is so important to  seniors is that it improves balance,strength, speed, and ability to perform activities of daily living. It also can lower your chances of heart disease stroke and some cancers.

Although people 65 and older still need the same amount of exercise recommended for adults 150-300 minutes a week can cause problems, because most aging adults don’t have the duration of the exercise, and can become a strenuous performance if it is longer than an hour. It is recommended to stay within your ability, choosing more  moderate to low intense exercises like yoga tai Chi and resistance training.

With all the information that we have learned from the report it is best to workout 3 to 4 times a week, incorporate at least 3 -5 and a half hour of exercise each week, a combination of strength training and cardio. If you are lacking in time hiit training ( high intensity interval training) might be the workout for you.  Hiit is 1-3 minutes of cardio going almost to your max effort and 30 seconds to 1 minutes of rest.

If you are having a hard time reaching your health goal click here to sign up for a free consultation exploring how health coaching or personal training may help you.

What workouts you like to do?

Follow me on IN A2ghclifestylr for more workouts  

Stock up your home gym by shopping at my store.

https://www.amazon.com/shop/shannon

References

PAGAC (Physical Activities Guidelines Advisory Committee) 2018. Physical Activities Guidelines Advisory Committee scientific Report. Washington D.C. Department of Human Services.

HHS U.S. Department of Human Services 2018 HHS released Physical Activities Guidelines  for Americans ,2 ed. Accessed Feb 7, 2019: https://www.hhs.gov/fitness/be-active/physical-activity-guidelines-for-americans/index.html

If you are interested in online personal training or health coaching fill out the contact form for a free consultation. 

Shop my Amazon Store for all your health and wellness needs.

https://www.amazon.com/shop/shannon

I do live workouts on facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/shanfitsolution

Follow me on Instagram at   Happyandhalthy

If you are interested in collaborating or sponsoring fill out the contact form. ( Please note I do not support selling supplements)

What to Expect From Your First Boxing Class

Cardio boxing is my favorite workout,  the first class I took was let’s say challenging. Any new workout you do might seem hard but it gets easier once you get used to the workout.  Before you take the class buy wraps for your hands, at class, there will be someone to show you how to do it. I like Mexican boxing wraps they are a lot longer and will protect your hands more. Boxing wraps look like an ace band-aid, so if you don’t like boxing they will still come in handy for other things. There is a difference between cardio boxing and regular boxing. In most cardio boxing classes you will be punching a bag which is still effective and you will have less of a chance of getting hurt. A  boxing gym may have bags but they focus on martial arts and to fight. Cardio boxing is good to get all your stress out

At some cardio boxing gyms they can lend you gloves,  but if they don’t you may need to buy some before your first class, but my experience is that most gyms will have gloves that you can rent or borrow. Now you are all ready to workout, and it may seem difficult at first, but the end result is very rewarding. Boxing is a high intensity and full body workout, you can burn a lot of calories in an hour of class if done correctly. In boxing, you are using your core more than your arms during your first class, try to feel the abs working. As you pivot from your hips you will create more torque and thus hit harder and work your body more. I suggest focussing more on speed than trying to hit as hard as you can. If the instructor is good he or she will let you know if you are doing something wrong to prevent you from hurting yourself.  Like all exercises you can injure yourself in boxing you can hurt your hands, knees, and back which are the primary injuries.

If you are interested in online personal training or health coaching fill out the contact form for a free consultation. 

Shop my Amazon Store for all your health and wellness needs.

https://www.amazon.com/shop/shannon

I do live workouts on facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/shanfitsolution

Follow me on Instagram at   Happyandhalthy

Get my 8-week guided self-help book

If you are interested in collaborating or sponsoring fill out the contact form. ( Please note I do not support selling supplements)

I Took Myself on a Date and it Was Great

It might seem strange to take yourself on a date, but I really wanted to go out and my boyfriend was not feeling well, so I just went . I decided to go to a Hot Spring hot tub and it was really nice to just  spend some time by myself. I think more people should do this, it’s really good to step away from everything, calm your brain down and refocus on the things that matter. I know this is not a new concept but for a lot of people like myself, it’s hard to do fun things without having someone with you.

What I have learned from my experience

On that day I was feeling kind of low and exhausted and wasn’t really motivated to cook anything that was healthy for dinner. I thought  to just make some burgers and fries, but I ended up making salmon, salad and roasted vegetables. Taking some time to myself, rejuvenated me and made me wanting to make healthier choices.  Changing my environment and taking time for myself made me able to change my mood. Sometimes we just need to escape from stress or feeling down, so taking time for yourself can lead to making better choices.

My idea of taking yourself on a date is to escape, and find something to do that distresses you. It could be anything you could be trying something new, get a massage, take a yoga class, or anything that gives you a mental clarity. It’s a way for you to think more positively and cancel out the negative chatter that we all have going on in our brains.  We all need a space in our lives where we can feel joyful, and relaxed where we can retrain our mind which is very important, and we should all allow ourselves to do that.

Do You Need Yoga Props

Maybe you are just getting into yoga or have been practicing for a few years, so you may have noticed some props like blocks or bands. Have you ever wondered what they’re for, or if you should buy them? Well, I am going to tell you the uses for props and if they’re worth buying. Side note it is not a sign of weakness to use a prop, the purpose of most is to help you with your poses.  

Yoga blocks

Blocks comes in a few forms from rubber foam and wood. Typically blocks are rectangle but they could also be square or circles. The uses for blocks is to help you to extend your arms or legs. If you are struggling to reach the ground you can use blocks so you can feel safe and comfortable in the pose and not on your fingertips. I would recommend getting a Two  yoga blocks to help you in your practice.  

Straps

A strap lets you stretch with ease without putting strain on the rest of your body. Like the blocks, straps can help you to extend your arms to help you into poses you are struggling with like dancer pose for example. Straps are inexpensive and I think they’re a good buy, and your shoulders will thank you

Blankets

Blankets are commonly used in restorative yoga to help prop you up. Blankets are also good if you have knee problems or low back pain and need a little extra support. You can also use them if you get cold in some studios or with other exercises in where the workout room might get cold. Blankets are only useful if you are only doing gentle yoga or if you need more cushion.   

Eggs

Are like blocks except they don’t have a flat surface they’re not as helpful. Most people use eggs to help with down dog or handstand. Eggs are not worth buying there is not a lot of use for them so save your money and stick with blocks.

Mat covers

Mat covers are meant to help you with grip so you don’t slip. It is also good for hot yoga if you sweat a lot then you won’t get it on your mat. If you don’t slip or do hot yoga then you probably won’t need a mat cover. Don’t use a mat cover instead of a yoga mat.

Pillow/boosters

Like blankets, pillow/boosters are mainly used for restorative and prenatal classes. I love my yoga pillow for that time of the month, it really helps to open your hips and reduce cramps. You can you the boosters for meditation and for support during your practice. For example, if you need to sit cross-legged but it is uncomfortable you can place two boosters under your knees for support.     

Wheel

The main use for the wheel is to help with backbends as well as crow pose and asserted child’s pose, and if you have high blood pressure. I do not own a yoga wheel I think they may help if you have a hard time with backbends which  makes it easier on the spine. I don’t think they are worth buying, their price is a bit high average price $40.

TRX

I have mentioned trx in a previous blog post, it is a great piece of equipment. Did you know you could use it for yoga as well? It can help to improve your current practice or make it more challenging. At the moment there is not a whole lot of yoga classes that teach with the trx I did find a workout on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V188iayDmk8 You can use the TRX for other workouts and you can find Suspension trainers in many gyms. It is quite expensive but If you have a place to hang it is worth the buy.

Essential oil

If you are having a hard time with breathing during exercises essential oils like peppermint can help with breathing. Essential oil can also help to set the mood creating a relaxing environment.

There are many more props on the market for yoga. I just listed the most common ones that you will see at target or at sports stores. As you get more into practicing yoga you may come across props. Please leave a comment letting us know what you liked about the blog.  

All props are on my Amazon store

If you are interested in online personal training or health coaching fill out the contact form for a free consultation. 

Shop my Amazon Store for all your health and wellness needs.

https://www.amazon.com/shop/shannon

I do live workouts on facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/shanfitsolution

Follow me on Instagram at   Happyandhalthy

Get my 8-week guided self-help book

If you are interested in collaborating or sponsoring fill out the contact form. ( Please note I do not support selling supplements)

My favorite workout shoe brands. As a personal trainer.

Before I get into my top picks I will only mention shoes you can use for your workouts or for lifting weights.

Choose the best shoe in where you move around in easy without pain in your feet. We all have different feet, you may have high arches, flat feet or other issues. If you are experiencing discomfort you may need new shoes or see a doctor. There is an easy test to tell what type of feet you have, all you need is a sunny concrete surface and water. Wet the bottom of your feet and take a few steps. Look at the shape of your foot. if you just see ball and heel then you have high arches. If you see your whole foot you probably have flat feet. If you just see your ball single line from your big toe to your heel then you have normal to a slightly high arch. If you are interested in a specific activity like running or hiking there are specialty stores that can help you find the best shoe for your foot type.

Okay, now that that is over with let’s get into the list.

My third favorite brand is Adidas

I feel that Adidas is more an active leisure brand than a workout shoe. Hear me out I know I am going to get a lot of hate for sneakerhead, but based on their design the shoes are just not comfortable enough for workouts. They are definitely, not the worst you can buy, but keep in mind what is better, your feet or how they look. The two types I like the best are ALPHABOUNCE AMS SHOES,

EDGEBOUNCE SHOES

Reebok comes in number two. The one thing I don’t like about Reebok is that they support Crossfit, I will write about the dangers of Cross Fit in a later blog. The brand itself made a huge turnaround it went from almost going out of business to doing really well. I do like their website where they categories the shoes,(running training) so if you are looking into a specific activity you can do some research beforehand which is nice. My two favorites are  REEBOK FLEXAGON, REEBOK JJ II VALOR.

My number one is Nike! I love Nike because the shoes are most comfortable for me, and they last the longest. Just like Reebok they also have a section where you can research which shoe would be the best for the activity you want to perform, from running to golf. My favorite shoes are Nike Free TR 8, Nike Free x

Let me know what your favorite workout shoe is? and why you like it

If you are interested in health coaching or personal training

Email me at shannonstoy@gmail.com

 

Best Home Gym Equipment According to a Personal Trainer.

You don’t need a gym membership to get into an amazing shape.If you are completely broke all you need is your body weight.  You don’t need a lot of equipment to get a good workout. I’m going to share what I use and what I think is the best for beginners. I have collected a lot of equipment over the years some I loved and some I didn’t. I tried to find all the products on Amazon the link will bring you to my affiliate page on Amazon where you can find most of my equipment.   https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/CWUY769DL4EI?&sort=default . These are the six at home equipment I think is the best.  

 

1 Resistance Tubing or bands

The best thing is that it is portable, and countless exercises you can do with them. I recommend getting a band with a door attachment. When using the door attachment never use it on the side of the door opening always use it when the door closes. There are different types of bands there are bands, rings, belts, resistance tubing with handles pretty much any equipment that is rubber and stretches, which is in the resistance category of exercises equipment. I’m just going to share three and the exercises associated with them.

Price range $5-$200

 

 

2 Swiss ball/ yoga ball

This is wonderful equipment also great to use as an extra chair. In my opinion, one of the best exercises especially for beginners is using the swiss ball to help you squat. Most people do not have good squatting form for many reasons, from weak or tight muscles, never properly learning how to squat, or body misalignment. The Swiss ball is best for core strength and stability you can, however, get a full body workout. I personally like Swiss balls that are weighted down just because they are less likely to move around.        

Price range $10- $40

 

 

3 Yoga Mat

Even if you don’t do yoga it is nice to have a mat to cushion your back and also a yoga mat doesn’t slip around as much as other mats. You can use any type of mat you want, a yoga mat is just my favorite for exercise.    

Price range $12-$100

 

 

4 Set of Weights

If you are not a fan of resistance bands than weights are for you. In some cases, it is easier to use weights then using bands. It’s more what you enjoy using and what works for you. The next blog I  write will be about strength training. You don’t need to buy a lot of weights I would recommend getting two I mainly use a five pound and ten pounds.

Price range $10-$200

 

5 Jump Rope  

You don’t need to buy an expensive cardio equipment all you need is a jump rope. If you haven’t done cardio in a while jump roping is a great way to start. I downloaded an interval timer app and set it to 45 seconds jumping and 15-second rest I do this for 10 minutes. You can adjust based on your fitness level

Price range $5 -$50

 

 

 

 

TRX

The only reason I didn’t add this to the list above is that it is costly however you will get an amazing full body workout from it. The problem is that even though you can use it on your door it’s best that you mount it so that you can do any workout and harder workouts if it’s mounted.

The price range 169.95- 219.95

   

 

 

 

 

You don’t necessarily need every one of these equipment but I would choose at least 2 to mix up your workout. If you feel you don’t have the time or motivation to exercise you may need a health coach to help you to reach your goal. What exercise equipment you use in the comments.    

What is Your favorite workout equipment?

If you or someone you know is in need of a health coach check out my website for a free week of health coaching. adventuretogreatnesshealthcoaching.com

There are New Guidelines for High Blood Pressure

 

The new guidelines come from The American College of Cardiology and The American Heart Association. The update happened back in November 2017. I am going to break down the new vs the old. I hope I can inform you on how to lower your blood pressure, as well as knowing your risk.

 

Old Guidelines

Blood Pressure Category	Systolic Mm Hg(upper #		Diastolic Mm Hg (lower #
Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension)	Less than 80	or	Less than 60
Normal	80-120	and	60-80
Prehypertension	120-139	or	80-89
High Blood Pressure Hypertension stage 1	140-159	or	90-99
High Blood Pressure Hypertension stage 2	160 or higher	or	Loo or higher
High Blood Pressure Crisis	Higher than 180	or	Higher than 110

New Guidelines

 

Blood Pressure Category	Systolic Mm Hg(upper #		Diastolic Mm Hg (lower #
Normal	Less than 120	and	Less than 80
Elevated	120-129	and	Less than 80
Hypertension
Stage 1	130-139	or	80-89
Stage 2	Greater than 140	or	Greater than 90

 

With the new guideline, it will put more people in danger of having hypertension. If you haven’t been to the doctor lately you may want to get it checked out. The reason for the change is because more authoritative studies are showing a correlation between high blood pressure and an increased health risk for high cholesterol, kidney disease, stroke and heart disease. Heart disease is currently the leading cause of death. There are some ways to lower your risk,, but unfortunately, as we age the harder it becomes to control it. Other factors include being obese as well as ethnicity, African Americans and Hispanic are more at risk.

 

Lowering your risk comes down to lifestyle change. Getting plenty of exercises mostly cardio based. Having a health coach guide you in changing your lifestyle will help improve your quality of life. The thing you can do on your own is to decrease your stress, eat a high fiber diet and follow the dash diet to help lower your risk. Unfortunately, you may need to try different styles of exercises and diet to find one that works for you.  The better you keep up with your health the lower the chances of you developing high blood pressure and the diseases associated with them.

 

If you are interested in health coaching go to   adventuretogreatnesshealthcoaching.com for more information and to receive a free week of health coaching.

 

References

Idea fitness magazine

Lelbach, A., & Koller, A. 2017. Mechanism underlying exercise-induced modulation of hypertension. Journal of Hypertension Research. PCNA Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults Hypertension

Easy Eggplant Parmesan

Hello happy people.

I love Italian food but not always the biggest fan of pasta. If you I are trying to cut back on carbs this is a great dish for you. It took me around 45 minutes to make but it was well worth it.

 

Easy eggplant parmesan

 

2 medium-sized eggplants

1 cup mushrooms (sliced)

1 cup basil, spinach or arugula

½  medium onion

½ medium bell pepper (optional)

2 cups marinara sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

¼ cup shredded mozzarella and ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese

 

Wash and slice the eggplant (about ½ inch slices) and place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Broil them on the highest rack of the oven for 3 to 4 minutes then flip them and broil the other side for 3 or 4 minutes. Take them out of the oven and layer them in an oiled square baking dish. Slice the mushrooms and finely chop the onions and bell pepper, then in an oiled skillet saute the vegetables for a few minutes and add salt and pepper and pour them over the eggplant. Add the marinara sauce and top it off with the cheese. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes at 400 F

I help people all over the world to help them reach their goals. If you are reading this you can get a free month of health coaching all you have to do is go to my website

www.adventuretogreatnesshealthcoaching.com

And fill out the contest form and write adventure in the message portion and you will get a free month.

 

Best Salmon Ever

This is my favorite way to cook salmon it comes out juicy and soft every time. I use to hate salmon.  I converted from being a vegetarian because sushi is amazing! Anyways I thought I would like salmon by itself, but no, it was dry and had a funny taste. Salmon is delicate, add too much salt and it won’t be edible, overcook it and it will turn to rubber.     

You will need a baking dish,( I used 10”X 11”)  a bowl to mix the lemon oil mix, and tin foil to cover the baking dish.

Ingredients

8 oz Salmon

Pinch of salt sometimes I don’t add salt until it’s done.

Juice of one lemon

2 Tab olive oil  

 

In a bowl squeeze, one lemon then add the oil and salt. Hold back one tablespoon of oil to use for salad dressing, or to add more flavor to the salmon at the end of baking.

Pour the rest of the mix into the baking dish cote both sides of the salmon and put it in the fridge let marinade. If you are heading to work it will take five minutes to make the marinade place the salmon skin side up wrap with plastic wrap.  

Preheat oven to 420 F 215 C

Flip the fish so the skills down. There should still be some liquid in the pan this will help to create steam so the salmon will come out soft. Cover the baking dish with foil. At this temperature, the salmon will cook fast so check it in   

20 minutes if the salmon was a bright red then it will be easier to check because it will become lighter in color. Or you can stick a thermometer in the thickest part and it should read 145F. I served it with a salad I made the night before. 

I hope you enjoy this dish, comment down below if you made it, I would love to hear from you.

If you or someone you know is in need of health coaching go to   https://www.adventuretogreatnesshealthcoaching.com/  

Stress Less is The Key to Happiness

 

 

One thing that I know well is stress. I suffer from chronic stress and fibromyalgia brought on by stress. Just a disclaimer I am not a sociologist and if you need help I will link numbers of help hotlines at the end.

I am going to write this from my perspective. As I’m writing this I’m pretty much at rock bottom. I lost my job and had to move back in with my parents, I am also trying to start a business from nothing. So you can imagine I have a lot of stress in my life. I want to share my story not just to complain but to shed light that you are not alone. Stress can make or break you, when you break it feel as if you have no control no way out. Just know you are not alone I am with you along with so many others. Finding your way to happiness means overcoming the things that cause you to be unhappy. For now, I am going to share my strategies at keeping stress at bay   

 

Just breathe

You will be surprised how effective breathing can be. Just take a few deep breaths in and out. Try to clear your mind. Counting to 10 can helps breath in for 5 breath out for five. Counting helps to focus only on your breathing and nothing else. Sometimes our brains need to restart before continuing on our day to day tasks.

Take a few minutes or seconds to yourself

Find what calms you down. I like to close my eyes and picture myself on a beach and relaxing. You could try to give yourself a pep talk, sometimes we need expert advice. You can make a list of everything you need to do that day and tackle them one by one. If you hit max stress point then you just need to stop, everything will be a lot easier with a calm mind. Sometimes listening to music can help.

Meditation

Managing your stress takes practice. Meditation has shown to reduce stress. It works wonders for me. Sometimes you just need to close your eyes take some deep breaths and stop overthinking. There is usually a root cause of why you stress so much is it work, money or not sleeping. Once you start to work on your stress you will start to stress less

 

Exercise  

If you’re not interested in meditating exercise is also a wonderful stress outlet. It takes your mind away from your problems. A 10-minute walk can do wonders for your stress. I for one like boxing there’s something so satisfying about punching something to get my stress out.

I hope at least one of these tips help you. please share your tips and tricks in the comments down below let’s help each other conquer our stress.

There is always a way out. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

1-800-273-8255

http://angelcity.findangel.org/angelhelpme/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA7dHSBRDEARIsAJhAHwhLe0YWBB5rMB2vg2-46Re-LK8ebupG21FnVjrAcEQfyLA1KuXFdtgaArhKEALw_wcB

 

 

         

I help people all over the world! I help people reach their wellness goals. If you are reading this you can get a free month of health coaching all you have to do is go to my website

www.adventuretogreatnesshealthcoaching.com

And fill out the contest form and write adventure in the message section  and you will get a free month.

Organizing your mind and space.

 There are many books on this topic that I will list at the end. I took bits and pieces of each book and created tips and exercises to manage your never-ending to-do list. Most people feel that they have so many things to do and feel as though it never gets done. When you are feeling overwhelmed pause for a second close your eyes and take a deep breath. Sometimes taking a quick pause can help you refocus on what needs to get done first. In culinary school, I learned a phrase mi zɑ̃ ˈplas Which means everything in its place. Putting several dishes together at once with other people doing the same thing, It is a very stressful environment. Being able to organize your brain and your environment makes everything go smoother. In your mind make a list of things you need to get done each hour starting with the task that takes up the most amount of time. In cases where you don’t know how long a task might take you can try to juggle easier tasks. I’m going to use pizza making as an example, I hope this doesn’t make you crave pizza. The end task is a pizza but there are many steps to making a pizza. First, you have to make the dough which is a 12 step process this will take the bulk of your time so this would be your major task. You need to juggle another task in the order of what takes the longest to complete making tomato sauce, cutting up vegetables, grating cheese, baking, and then enjoying. If you just take a minute or two to organize the things you need to do it becomes a lot less stressful.

Understanding your strength and weakness can be hard, no one likes to dwell on the things they are not good at. But taking a hard look at what we can improve on can help make your day run more smoothly. You might be wondering how this exercise has to do with organizing your brain. It’s not so much to help organize but to take your weakness and change it into a strength to help improve your productivity. You will need a piece of paper you are going to to make 4 boxes at the top of each square you are going to write strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats.

Strength: The things you feel you are great at. This could be in your personal or professional life. The tasks you can do with not much thinking	Weakness: Aspects of your day to day activities that you struggle with. Whether it is finding time to get everything done or tasks that challenge you.
Opportunities: To take your weaknesses and turn them into strengths. This takes work and brainstorming to find what works for you. Each week work on one weakness at a time to see how you can make your weakness into a strength	Threats: This is where you think about what is holding you back from turning your weakness into strengths. Some of our weaknesses take longer to work on but working more efficiently will help reduce stress.

                   

With this exercise it allows us to be honest with yourself and to work on the things that are difficult. Time management helps to free up time but it needs to come from organizing your mind, to work better and with less stress.

Keeping your workspace organized, a side note there are different types of organization. I feel that the best one is keeping it simple and clean. Having a clean space and organized workspace helps to keep your mind calm and work more efficiently knowing where all your stuff is, this includes your computer. Using color to organize to be able to find things easily. Keep things close that you use most and in the same place. Moving on to your home take part in decluttering and keep things organized and clean will help you to be in a relaxed environment. Keep your environment and your mind free of clutter will help reduce stress and free up time.

Keep it simple we stress so much about the things in our day. Then we don’t truly appreciate the moments of our life that bring us true joy. One of my favorite quotes is by Archbishop Desmond Tutu “You are made for perfection. But you are not yet perfect you are a masterpiece in the making”. When we keep working on yourself to improve and better our lives, it puts things in perspective.The whole purpose of these stress management is to help you not have stress and to live a more joyful life. My goal for you is to be able to enjoy life to the fullest.

 

       https://www.amazon.com/dp/0399185046/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=181887924889&hvpos=1t2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17635394368497572720&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031726&hvtargid=kwd-278841771089&ref=pd_sl_3ik1liypbb_b_p19

 

https://www.amazon.com/Organize-Your-Emotions-Optimize-Life/dp/0062419773

Amazing Banana Oat pancakes

Keeps you full and happy!

Super quick and delicious!! There are only 3 ingredients and it only takes 10 minutes. I use an electric griddle but you can use a frying pan. If you don’t have time in the morning this is perfect for you. You can use any quick oats you want unless you like uncooked oats. The oats I use are Qia supersedes & grains, you can find them at Whole Foods or Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Qia-Superfood-Organic-Hot-Oatmeal/dp/B00RD8O7GK/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1514670588&sr=8-3&keywords=qia%2Boatmeal&th=1

 

Time 10 minutes. Calories 335 without syrup

Ingredients

1 banana smashed

1 egg

1 oatmeal pack

Heat a griddle to 350( add coconut spray) or frying pan at medium-low heat and add a little vegetable oil for frying.

1 Mash up the banana

2 Add egg mix together until well blended

3 Mix in oats

It’s best to make small size pancakes it helps to cook them more evenly, also easier to flip.

 

Let me know how they came out?

If you or someone you know is in need of personal training or health coaching check out my website. https://www.adventuretogreatnesshealthcoaching.com/

Gym season is upon us!!!! Read this before joining a gym

Things to think about before you join a gym. Full disclaimer this is not about gyms being bad, just helpful information so you can make the right decision for your health and budget. If you are in need of a personal trainer or health coach check out my website.

https://www.adventuretogreatnesshealthcoaching.com/

 

Enough with the shameless plugs. Let’s get into it!

Fitness companies have been planning for months for your arrival hiring staff, working on the best marketing plan. Most are offering some type of deal that seems promising but in the end, if you don’t end up using it, it could cost a lot.

1. Joining a gym

If you are looking into getting a gym membership, be aware you will need to pay a lot of money up front. Unless the initiation fee was waived. Most initiation fees cost is about half the amount month payment so if the gym you are looking at is $60 a month then your upfront cost would be $90. If you come across a gym that is basically charging you an initiation fee and last month membership fees then you will be paying $150 up front. If a gym is trying to do this run the other way! It won’t end well for you. If you find a gym that is claiming that they are month to month no contracts that is somewhat of a lie. You will have to cancel 30 days before the next payment period. Which will be written in your contract.

2. Gyms with contracts.

Most but not all chain gyms will make you sign a contract. Read the contract carefully, chances are they won’t let you bring it home. Before signing the contract ask yourself:

When was the last time you went to the gym and did you enjoy it?

How often will you go to the gym? If you are paying $100 a month for a membership and you only go to one spin class a week, it might not really worth it. You would probably better go to a spin studio.

Knowing how to workout

As a personal trainer, it is my biggest pet peeve to see someone with horrible form. If you are unsure about of how to do an exercise learn how before you add weight. I learned by doing and practice but getting a personal trainer (hint hint) who can guide you into doing the movement correctly is probably the best way to go.

3. Do what you love!

If you hate running (ME) then try something new. Groupon is a great place to find small studio that offers a wide range of different workouts like boxing, spin class or you might even enjoy a good boot camp class. If you are doing a work out that you enjoy doing, you are more likely to stick to it.

4. Weight loss

I will write a longer topic later but here is the short and sweet version. Exercise alone will not help you lose weight sorry to burst your bubble. Diet plays a bigger role in weight loss because it is easier to control. If you have spent years struggling with your weight you may need help from a health coach.

Summary

If you want to join a gym make sure it fits your budget and time. A side note, when I look at gyms I see if they have things that I will use. See how well kept it is if the equipment is working and easy for you to use.

Look into expanding your horizon as far as fitness goes there are so many different types of exercises out there don’t just settle for what you know. You may be surprised you like something new like spin.

You can workout from home online personal training with me!

I hope this helps you make an informed decision about your new year resolution. If you have any questions about fitness or about health coaching leave a comment I would love to hear from you.

Best Slow Cooked Tomato Chicken Soup

Slow cooked tomato chicken soup

cook time 4 hours

I used a slow cooker, stove top will be less time

8 oz Boneless skinless chicken breast  

½ cup Cherry tomatoes

½ Onion

2-4 Cloves Garlic

2 Carrots

1 Bell pepper

4 cups Vegetable broth

½ Tsp each of these spices, Smoked paprika, cloves, salt, pepper, thyme and 1 bay leaf  

 

Using a slow cooker plug it in and set it on high. Add a little olive oil to keep from sticking. Chop Cherry tomatoes, Onion, Cloves Garlic, Carrots and Bell pepper. Add all the ingredients into the pot and cook on high for 30 minutes. Turn down to low and cook for three and a half hours, the chicken should be soft and thoroughly cooked. The chicken should be able to shred easy. Let cool a little and then enjoy.   

Low Sugar Banana Bread

I love banana bread but it can be high in sugar. I have seen recipes that called for a  whole cup of sugar and a half cup of oil.                                                                                               

 Dry ingredients                                                                                                                          One cup ap flour                                                                                                                            http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/king-arthur-unbleached-all-purpose-flour-5-lb                                                                                                                                                  1/2 cup white whole wheat flour                      http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/king-arthur-white-whole-wheat-flour-5-lb 3 teaspoons baking powder                                                                                                         1/4 teaspoons kosher salt                                                                                                               1/4 teaspoon each clove, and all spice                                                                                         2 teaspoons cinnamon or as desired( I love using fresh cinnamon and a lot of it)           walnuts  3/4 cup  optional

Wet ingredients                                                                                                                              Three over ripened bananas ( it’s okay if they are black)  Smash the banana until smooth                                                                                                                                             Add 3 tablespoons of Honey (if you don’t want to use honey you can use agave syrup or maple syrup.)                                                                                                                                   2 eggs                                                                                                                                                 3 Tablespoons grapeseed oil
Preheat oven 325 F 160C Bake time 50-60 minutes

Start with two bowls, the dry bowl should be larger than the wet. Starting with the dry bowl combine all ingredients and whisk the dry ingredients to create air this is easier than sifting the flour. Moving on to the wet bowl, take your bananas and smash them into a wet paste. add the rest of the ingredients and whisk them together. Once the wet bowl is thoroughly combined add it to the dry scraping the bowl into the dry. The next few steps are the hardest, there is not a whole lot of sugar or oil so it will be on the dry side if you over mix. let the wet ingredients sit in the bowl for a minute, using a rubber spatula gently mix the ingredients together. Best way to go about it is using the spatula along the bowl and bringing the dry ingredients to the top moving in one direction only make about 18 folds if it hasn’t combined let the gluten rest before mixing it again. I like to grease a loaf pan with coconut oil add parchment paper on the bottom or flour the pan.  Bake in the oven for 50-60 minutes.

learn more about health coaching and how it might be able to help you with your life style change. 

adventuretogreatnesshealthcoaching.com

Note: if you do you have diabetes replace honey with Stevia 1/2 pack.

What I Eat In A Day

I like to start my day off right by eating a good breakfast. I really enjoy eating yogurt in the morning. It’s light, easy to make especially in the summer with all the summer fruit. I am going to workout today so I am going to eat an extra 100 calories than I would normally eat if I didn’t workout. This will help my body repair and recover.       

 

 

Mango Cardamom Yogurt

 

½ Mango

4 Tab Yogurt

¼ teas Cardamom seed

Small squeeze of honey

 

I started by cutting up mango and putting it at the bottom. Then I drizzle a small amount of honey on the mango. Top it off with plain yogurt of your liking, ground up cardamom and sprinkled on top.       

I eat mixed nuts throughout the day. I also have protein smoothie after I workout

Lunch

Salad !!! I love vegetables I really like taking advantage of going to the farmers market and buying fresh vegetables.

 

Simple Greek Salad

Mixed greens

Red onion

Cucumber

Bell pepper

Tomato

Mint

Grapeseed oil

Cut up all the veggies and mix. That is why I love salad it is so so easy to make. Drizzle a small amount of oil on top.  

 

 

Diner

I typically keep it easy only spending 30-40 minutes on dinner.

 

Baked Salmon with Brown Rice

 

6 oz Salmon

2 lemons

Dried dill

Salt small pinch ( salmon can be unpredictable salty)  

2 cloves garlic

1 Tab Olive oil

Preheat to 420

First get all your ingredients ready. Start by peeling lemons and place the peels in a baking pan that is large enough to fit your salmon. Place the salmon on top of the lemon rinds. This adds a bit of flavor but it also makes it so that the salmon doesn’t stick to the pan and it makes it easier to clean later. Add dried or fresh dill to the top along with the salt, garlic, lemon, and oil. Once assembled cover the pan with foil and punch holes to allow steam to come out. Cook for 20-25 minutes       

 

 

 

 

How to improve your confidence.

Having low confidence can affect you in many ways. It can affect your job prospects and the way people treat you. The most damaging is the way you think about yourself. No one is perfect, and we all have things we want to change. I never had high confidence, I work on it everyday. I want to share my tips on how to improver your confidence.

1 What is the cause of your low confidence.

Just like anything in life you can’t solve the problem unless you know the cause. For me my low confidence comes from my weight and feeling inadequate. As for my body I can only do so much I have struggled with hormone imbalance and flare ups of chronic back pain. I eat a well balanced diet and exercise 3-4 times a week. I know I am doing all I can to have the  “ perfect body”. My conclusion is that my body is what it is and I should be happy in it. When it comes to body issues I feel this is a societal problem and not your body, you are beautiful no matter what you look like. 

By addressing the cause and coming to an understanding that it is just in your head and it shouldn’t stop you from being happy. The way to improve your confidence is simply to think positively and don’t be so hard on your self, life is a lot shorter then you think why wast it  feeling down about yourself. 

2 Don’t let what (ifs) keep you from living your best life.

Have you ever felt like you wanted to do something but you were afraid or lack the confidence to follow your dreams. Don’t be afraid of failure or reaching out to people for help. Just take a deep breath and go for it. The worse thing could happen is that you would get rejected but its better to go after your goals then it be another what if. The way to achieve your goal is to belive in your self and have the confidence to reach your goal.

5 things you can do everyday to improve your confidence.

Every morning look at  yourself in the mirror and tell yourself 3 thing that you  love about your body and 3 thing you love about your self.

Make a list of things that make you feel uncomfortable to do but could help you to achieve a goal, write out the benefits and challenges to help you not feel less confident.

Wear an outfit that puts you out of your comfort zone, you don’t have to show skin. You can try a bright outfit that draws attention or a more fitted out fit than you normally wear.

Stop guessing what strangers might think about you. Chances are they probably don’t even notice you. 

Try to refocus your brain whenever your thoughts become negative.   

If you are interested in online personal training or health coaching fill out the contact form for a free consultation. 

Shop my Amazon Store for all your health and wellness needs.

https://www.amazon.com/shop/shannon

I do live workouts on facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/shanfitsolution

Follow me on Instagram at   Happyandhalthy

Get my 8-week guided self-help book

If you are interested in collaborating or sponsoring fill out the contact form. ( Please note I do not support selling supplements) 

Running Plan if you hate running: Part 1 Jogging

Running Plan if you hate running.

I can say, I never have been a fan of running I will take back to back spin class, but ask me to run that’s another story. However, there are a lot of benefits to running the biggest one is you don’t need any equipment, all you need is a pair of running shoes. Running can improve your physical and mental health, and that’s just naming a few benefits. If you need more here are 71 reasons

https://runrepeat.com/what-running-does-to-your-body .  

Before you start running you need to do a few stretches. Hold each stretch for 5 second. I do each stretch 2 to 3 times. Also remember to stretch after you run/jog this time hold each stretch for 20 to 30 seconds and repeat each stretch 2-3 times. And eat protein 45 minutes after exercising.

SLXLM

​​ 

​​SLXLM

Get an interval timer app, to monitor your run times, Couch to 5k, or Map my Run.  

Each run should take between 30-45 minutes, keep in mind it could take longer or shorter depending on your fitness level.

Week one

Jog three days make sure you rest in between runs.

Start with a 5 minute walk  

Get a timer ready and start jogging as long as you can, try to jug for at least a minute. After that walk for a minute and thirty seconds, set an interval timer and put in your run time and your walk time. Repeat 5 to 8 rounds.

If you are only able to run for 30 seconds, that’s 30 seconds more than you did the day before.

Week 2

Jog three days make sure you rest in between runs.

Increase your run time by 10 seconds increase your walk time by 20 seconds.

So your jogging longer and recovering longer. By taking a longer recovery time your body  recovers, so that you can work on your run time. As the weeks go on your recovery will get shorter, before you know it you will be running without stopping..

Week 3

Jog three days make sure you rest in between runs.

Increase your jog time by 15 seconds, and try to increase your walk time by 10 seconds.   

Week 4

Jog three days make sure you rest in between runs.

Increase your jog time by 15 seconds, try to decrease your walk time by 20 seconds.   

Follow me on Instagram a2ghc. Use the #a2ghcfit join the community!

If you are struggling to find motivation email your health coach. If you haven’t signed up it’s only $45  a month and you can live a healthier life.

If you are interested in online personal training or health coaching fill out the contact form for a free consultation. 

Shop my Amazon Store for all your health and wellness needs.

https://www.amazon.com/shop/shannon

I do live workouts on facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/shanfitsolution

Follow me on Instagram at   Happyandhalthy

Get my 8-week guided self-help book

If you are interested in collaborating or sponsoring fill out the contact form. ( Please note I do not support selling supplements)

How I Fell in Love With Health Coaching

It was an ordinary day, and I met with a potential client. Normally when I meet with new clients I usually just talk with them, I asked her the usual questions if she had any health problems, injuries and what her goals were.  I had recently received my certificate as a health coach, and I didn’t feel quite qualified yet, I wanted to learn more. I needed more experience during the consultation, I can tell that she was nervous and uncertain. Personal training can be very expensive, but I carried on with the consultation knowing that I wouldn’t get a sale.

A few weeks went by and I saw her again. I was just getting off my shift and getting ready to work out. She approached me and started talking to me and asked me if she could ask me a few questions I thought this would be a great time to practice what I learned. We sat down and she started talking to me about how stressful her life was at the moment. I just listened, I didn’t say anything, I just let her talk . I told her that I couldn’t help her with her problems, but I did tell her that I could help her with her health. She agreed, so first we talked  about her food habits I learned that she ate a bowl of rice before bed. I asked her if there was something that she could think of to do besides eating rice before bed, something to de-stress. She told me that she enjoyed to color, and that she could get a coloring book and maybe start coloring, or come to the gym after work. She looks a little bit happier after our conversation which made me feel good that I was able to help her. I felt that just to talk with her, had more of an impact than I did with other clients by only letting them workout. I see my clients typically two to three times a week, and even though I try to talk with them 1 hour is not enough time to workout and have a full conversation about their lifestyle.

The following week I saw her again, and  she seemed happier. She told me that she lost two pounds since not eating rice. It’s a small achievement but she felt good about herself. I was amazed that just by having three conversations with her made more progress than with some of my clients who I’ve seen for months. I didn’t even tell her what to do she came up with it all on her own. All I did was stir the conversation and asked questions which helped her to realize what she needed to do. I  started reading more about positive psychology and behavior modification therapy, I now use with my clients, and found that most people know more about health and nutrition than we think. As a personal trainer, I feel that most people know that pizza and junk food is not good for you. That’s not the problem, the problem is helping people to get over their unhealthy behaviors.

If you are interested in online personal training or health coaching fill out the contact form for a free consultation. 

Shop my Amazon Store for all your health and wellness needs.

https://www.amazon.com/shop/shannon

I do live workouts on facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/shanfitsolution

Follow me on Instagram at   Happyandhalthy

Get my 8-week guided self-help book

If you are interested in collaborating or sponsoring fill out the contact form. ( Please note I do not support selling supplements)

Best Workout For Weight loss.

Most people when trying to lose weight go straight to doing just cardio. Cardio is very an important aspect of losing weight, however, there are other exercises you need to incorporate. It is best to mix it up and challenge your body, for example, do a hitt workout on Monday and gentle yoga on Tuesday.   I’m going to share my top 5 workouts for weight loss.

         1 Swimming/aqua aerobics

Water offers a natural resistance that works the whole body.   Being in the pool is also great if you haven’t worked out in a while even just walking in the water can really strengthen your legs and your core.  Taking an aqua aerobics class may seem scared to be in a bathing suit but there is no judgment. In this class, there’s going to be a lot of people just like you.

1. hiit Training ( High intense interval training)

 Hiit training is doing cardio or strength training in designated time segments with short breaks. An example would be doing jumping jacks for 30 seconds taking a 10-second break and then doing squat jumps for 30 seconds taking a 10-second break. You don’t need a class you can do it anywhere and as long or as little time as you want. it is great for any Fitness level all you need is to do your best. For beginner exercise I recommend doing 20 seconds working out 10-second break, intermediate 40 seconds of working out 20-second break, advanced one minute of working out 20-second break.

      3 Boxing

Like swimming, boxing is a full body workout. Mostly working the core and arms. boxing is cardio and it is a great stress reliever. With boxing, you probably will need to take a class to learn how to punch correctly and the safety that involves protecting your hands and wrists. There are many boxing classes, if you don’t want to take a class you can always do Shadow Boxing that will also get your heart pumping.

    4 Strength training

The more muscle mass you have on your body the more calories you’re going to burn. There are different types of strength training that will give you different results; that will be in the next blog. If you do want to get into strength training I suggest starting out on machines at the gym. If you don’t have a gym membership buy a set of light weights 5 lb or 8 pounds, you can also try resistance bands. Always look in a mirror while you’re doing exercises or at least your reflection so that you can make sure that you are doing everything in proper form.

      5 Yoga

You might be wondering why yoga or stretching helps you to lose weight. However, if you are feeling stressed it is best to work in taking care of your body and your stress level by doing something soothing and relaxing.

In the comments down below let me know what workout you like to do the best.

How Fat Moves Through The Body

Have you ever wondered how fat moves through the body? It might just be me but it is an interesting phormium. We have learned how fat leaves the body through sweat, exhaling and peeing it out. But how it moves is important to understand so that we can maximize it for weight loss. If you have read my previous blog about carbohydrates, then you would remember that fat is the second most used energy source.

So why do we get so fat? Eating too many calories and not exercising, but believe it or not fat actually plays a role in the body. It is not pure evil although it can be if you have too much of it. The main purpose of fat is that it is an excellent way to store energy, in fact, fat is twice the energy storage than carbohydrates. The purpose of fat storage is to help the body function when you are fasting or if you run out of energy while exercising. However not eating for a full day will not make you lose weight, and it is also not a healthy way to lose weight

When you store too much fat or produce too much, can have a major effect on your health by increasing your chances of getting diabetes, heart disease, some cancers, and many other health problems. Fat is stored in two places in the body. subcutaneous fat is found just under the skin the fat you can squeeze, and visceral fat is found around vital organs which protects them from harm.  Visceral fat is the most damaging to your health, and the main cause for health problems. Even if you are skinny you could still have an unhealthy amount of visceral fat.

You can’t tell the percentage of fat you have by weighing yourself. There are tools and methods to determine your body fat percentages(BF%). The most common way to measure is the use of scales that can read your BF% also known as Bioelectrical impedance analysis.  The idea is that the electrical impulses sends waves throughout the body and measures fat muscle and bone. This technique is not very accurate, especially if the scale is low quality or not calibrated properly. Skin-fold test is another common way of determining fat but not very accurate it only measures the subcutaneous fat and not visceral fat. There are many other ways of measuring fat. I will insert a chart for reference at the end.

Have you ever poured oil into water and noticed that the water and oil did not mix, the same occurs in the body.  The body is made up of 60% water. When you need fat for energy it moves through the bloodstream and carries a protein called albumin. The fat is carried through the capillaries veins surrounding the muscles. Fatty acids can be removed from albumin and taken into the muscles. But first, the fatty acids must cross two barriers to get from the blood into the muscles. The first being the capillary wall endothelial and the second being muscle-cell membrane sarcolemma. This process takes a long time for fatty acid to make its way inside the muscle. Once inside the muscles, a molecule called coenzyme A is added to the fatty acid. This molecule is a transport protein it prepares the fatty acid for either oxidation to produce energy or storage within the muscle. Eighty percent of fatty acid entering the muscle is oxidized for energy. Fatty acids burned for energy (oxidized) in the muscle can come either directly from blood or from intramyocellular triacylglycerols (IMTAGs). For fatty acids to be oxidized, they must be transported mitochondria. A mitochondrion is an organelle to produces cells it processes fatty acids to curate a readily usable energy currency(ATP)

When you are exercising blood flows to adipose tissues and muscles. It releases more fatty acids from adipose tissue to the muscles. The type of intensity of the exercise has a greater impact on fat oxidation. We actually burn more fat during moderate, intense exercise then high-intensity exercise. During low-intensity exercise, most of the fatty acid comes from the blood. During high intensity, the level of fatty acids oxidation falls and carbohydrates become the main energy source.

I hope this helps to gives you an insight into the body, If weight loss is your goal, moderate exercise is 60% Vo2  to find out your Vi2 max you can find that out by talking if you are having a hard time making out full sentences then you are about at the right intensity. If you want to find out your Vo2 max find a personal trainer to help you.

Tips for Hiking or Running Alone.

Hiking or running alone can seem scary it might even stop you from getting fit. Not only did I run a hiking group I also hiked a lot on my own. I hope these tips can help you and give you the confidence to hike and explore the world.

.1 Know your limits

It’s not just about how fit you are, it is also your energy and stress level that you need to consider. You can run the same path every day, but may have different results. If you are trying a new path take it a bit easier than you would on familiar paths. Take extra breaks even if you don’t feel you need one, especially if you are hiking, take time to enjoy the view. From my personal experience, I once looked up a hiking trail and found one that claimed that it was an easy 3-mile hike. It turned out to be a 7-mile hike, it wasn’t hard but it was longer than I anticipated, and ran most of it. If you feel tired rest and stretch a bit there is no shame in needing a rest, and bring plenty of water.   

.2 Tell someone

Before heading out let someone know where you are going and how long it might take you. Be very specific on what route you are taking. If you do get lost or hurt, then at least someone will know where you are, and you will be found a lot faster. If you do get lost or hurt do not panic and stay where you are if you can.  

.3  Have an ID and emergency contact

It is a good idea to have identification on you as well as an emergency contact phone number and list your health problems and allergies. You can keep a piece of paper with your name and your emergency contact info on it. If you don’t want to use paper you can have your information on your wallpaper on your phone lock screen. Or you can get a bracelet or necklace I like road ID, I have one it is easy you don’t have to think about it just slip it on and that’s it. http://www.roadid.com

.4 What to do if you get injured

First, don’t panic it can be hard but you need to focus. Stay calm and take inventory of your injuries which helps for you to not go into shock. Keep your brain focus on doing first aid on yourself  use your phone to call for help. If your cell phone doesn’t have reception don’t panic. If you follow my tips you would have told someone where you are and when you would be back. Only move if you feel you are not safe where you are, otherwise stay put. Always have a first aid kit with you even on short hikes. Buy a kit that has instruction on how to do first aid on yourself. I would recommend taking a first aid class.

.5 Animals

If you are outside then there are animals you need to be careful of. Stray dogs, I love dogs but stray dogs can be dangerous you don’t know if they will attack you. If you see a dog in the distance try to go a different way.  If one approaches you and seem aggressive make yourself tall back away slowly don’t run keep your eyes on the dog, yell tell the dog to sit. Use your phone for help or try to get someone to help you. If you come across coyotes or a mountain lion do the same thing. There are very few mountain lion attacks just be aware of your surrounding. Mountain lion typically hunt from above and ponce on prey. Bears are different if you know that there are bears look for tracks if  you see bear tracks you probably want to turn around and go home. For the most part, if you don’t bother the bear it won’t bother you. But if it does don’t run bears can outrun you back away slowly don’t make yourself look too big. Bears are not intimidated at all by you if you show aggression it will more likely attack you. It might be a good idea to have bear mace just make sure you are pointing it in the right direction. For snakes, you can’t really do anything just keep a lookout and avoid them. For the most part animals are just as scared of you as you are of them. We of course are also animals and expenses a very similar fight-or-flight response.    

.6 Avoid getting lost

I have gotten lost a few times and it is not fun. To avoid getting lost, make sure you know the trail. Plan ahead and for the most part, there is a lot of useful information on the internet just look up the place you want to hike, and there are usually a few sites that will help you with direction. Rock stacking is something a lot of people do on trails to help find their way back if you see rocks that are stacked it is usually a good indication that someone has been there and that you are probably going the right way, it could be useful if you stacked your own rocks. Backtracking, if you feel you are lost go back the way you came, if you have a bad memory take pictures every few miles so that you can remember.      

. 7 Apps that help

These are a few apps that I like

# 1 map my run

# 2 trails.com

#american red cross app first aid

. 8 What to bring

This list is mostly for hikers but if you are running more than 3 miles (5 k) then you should have water. For a hiking a trail that is easy to moderate and less than 5 miles you should have lots of water, first aid, red blue or green flashlight, emergency contact information, granola bars nuts, and emergency food, extra socks, a sweater, emergency blanket, and medication if you need it. The most important thing is that you stay hydrated.

Thank you so much for reading! If you have any tips leave a comment.

If you are interested in online personal training or health coaching fill out the contact form for a free consultation. 

Shop my Amazon Store for all your health and wellness needs.

https://www.amazon.com/shop/shannon

I do live workouts on facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/shanfitsolution

Follow me on Instagram at   Happy.and.halthy.lifestyle

Get my 8-week guided self-help book

If you are interested in collaborating or sponsoring fill out the contact form. ( Please note I do not support selling supplements)