Saturday, January 4, 2014

Alphabets of Fitness: B is For Blending

B is For Blending 


Merriam Webster dictionary defines the verb blend as “to combine or associate so that the separate constituents or the line of demarcation cannot be distinguished.”  So then when you are blending something, you mix them together to produce a particular result.

We blend with our peers to do things like workout, shop, attend live musical functions or to have a good time. And when we combine a variety of songs together, we produce a nice compilation of tunes to exercise to, a great combination of sounds to listen to while driving or a beautiful “mixed tape.” And when we combine fruits and vegetables together, we compose a delicious smoothie of our liking. And when we integrate different workouts into our routine, we create a fitness regime that is not boring. And when we comingle diet and exercise together, we begin to see true results

So here are some ideas on blending that might benefit or blossom more interest for your fitness goals.

Blending With Friends

Gym workouts are not the only methods of fitness that can help you to get that heart rate up. How about a walk through the park?  Prospect Park has a lane for walkers that spans three miles which can take about an hour or so to complete. Three miles of walking, burns off about 200 calories. Not bad for a stroll with a good friend with whom an hour of walking and talking will not even seem like a workout.

If you are not so much of a walker, get together for a game night and turn on some traditional music or that Wii to play Just Dance. Dancing is a great form of exercise that seems more like fun than a workout. If you are club going person, than you know exactly what I am talking about. An hour of dancing burns off about 300 or more calories. Not bad for a not someone who might get bored on a traditional treadmill or stationary bike at the gym.   

Blending Music
 
So the music being played at the gym does not feature your favorite styles of music or songs. Here’s my suggestion; blend a group of songs of your choice into a playlist on your MP3 player so when you work out, you have exactly what you want to listen to. Have you ever listened to Gospel music while working out?
 
This genre of music has so much energy in just the musical component itself that when listened to, sparks energy. Plus the inspirational aspects can inspire that extra push. Blend the song selections of your liking and move with a little more gracefulness in your step.

 

Blending Fruits and Vegetables

Harvard School of Public Health Nutrition Source recommends eating 2 cups of fruit per day and 2 ½ cups of vegetables per day.
In other words, your dinner plate should have more vegetables than anything else on it.  But if you are like many, you probably do not care for veggies that much.  How about blending some into a delicious drink? Here is one I really enjoyed the other day.
In a blender, add 1/3 cup water, one whole unpeeled cucumber, a cup of strawberries, and a tbsp on ginger. Blend and enjoy.  You will not only enjoy a delicious drink but, you will also be blessing your body with well-deserved vitamins and nutrients. Add a little protein such as peanut butter, eggs, nuts or tofu to the ingredients for a satisfying meal replacement drink. The brand Naked also has some great ready made drinks that you might enjoy. I love the green machine drink and also like some of the blended smoothies that Bally's Fitness prepares for your right there at the gym.  Maybe that is something you might want to consider.

Blending Workouts

If you go to the gym and do the same daily routine, two things can happen; you might get bored and opt out of working out or your body parts might get exhausted from being overused. Switch it up!

Here is an idea; run today, do strength training tomorrow, maybe take a spinning class the next day, attend a Zumba class and do more strength training on a different portion of the body than the last strength training session the next day and then take a yoga class the next day, just to make it interesting.
 
You might even want to change environments by taking your routine from the gym to the park or maybe even keeping it at home. Just to spice it up. Makes a difference; especially if you are someone who gets bored with monotony!  Blending routines breaks up the routines and definitely can benefit the body.

Blending Diet and Exercise

If you work out but do not diet and eat the same old things that you used to, then you are wasting your time. Think about it.
You can diet without exercising and still lose weight. If you consume a 1200 calorie diet and 2500 calories equals one pound, you can lose about three pounds a week. 1200 calories a day is not very realistic though because we need food to fuel us.
With a 1500 to 1800 calorie diet and exercise, you can lose about a pound to 1 ½ pounds per week which is actually healthy weight loss. The healthiest method toward fitness is blending diet and exercise together.
Whatever you have to do to accomplish your 2014 health and fitness goals, make it worth while and blend it into your life. Here are a few links that might be helpful to your blending and bending things for your bold moves towards blossoming your interest for your own body.
 
  Please come back into the mix, soon for more of the alphabets of fitness.

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