Healthful Bites

Balance is crucial in your checkbook, your diet (as noted by the new MyPlate) and your body. That’s why today’s workout aims to help you improve your balance by working each side of your body separately! This will strengthen your muscles targeted by the strength moves and your core, all while helping you detect which half of your body needs a bit more attention than the other.

Grab one pair of light and one pair of medium-weight dumbbells and find some open space—that’s all you’ll need to start on the path to better balance!

Ready for some additional exercises that will help you find your equilibrium? Try these!

And in other news, if you’re a New Yorker looking for fun ways to be active, check out BeFitNYC’s launch week festivities (love this program!).

Do you have a “stronger half?”

It’s about time to pick up the pace a bit, don’t you think? After a week off from videos and several videos of strength-based moves in a row, let’s get our hearts pumping! (Maybe that will distract us from the slightly shaky video? It’s OK Mom ;) )

Today we have four exercises that will give your leg—not to mention cardiac—muscles a workout. These plyometric moves are best with a step, but a stair can be an excellent stand-in for the lunges and you can do most of the squat moves simply on the floor. If you’re without a step, simply focus on the jumping motions and sinking low into the squat. For the straddle move, jump your legs from a standing position to a plie squat and back together if you’re performing this move on the floor.

Do you prefer to strengthen your muscles with stationary weight-based exercises or more functional workouts?

Back in November, I introduced some of my favorite plyometrics moves that you can include in your workout. Today, I have three more exercises that require no equipment, but get your heart pumping and your muscles (legs especially!) burning. A few tips: make sure that your knees don’t go past your toes during the plyo plies or the lunge and kicks. Feel free to do straight tuck jumps, rather than inserting small bounces in between, if you’re up for the challenge! You can also switch it up by bringing your heels to your glutes rather than your knees to your chest if you prefer.

Get ready to move vertically and horizontally to sculpt, tone and sweat :)

And now it’s time for the moment I know you’ve all been waiting for: the winner of the Thriv NP shirt! Thank you so much to all who entered. You had some great and hilarious comments!! After including the amount of entrants in a Random.org drawing (a number was assigned to each based on the order of entry), the winning number is: 10. Congratulations are in order for SimplifiedSaving (AKA @LisaAboutLife)! I’ll be in touch to gather your address and desired shirt size to pass along to the Thriv team! For those who weren’t selected this time, please stick around Healthful Bites—I’ll have more giveaways soon! You can also sign up for the Thriv1st newsletter for a chance to get free gear as well.   

“Plyometrics: a type of exercise using explosive movements to develop muscular power, especially bounding, hopping or jumping” (dictionary.com)

I’ve been a fan of plyometric exercises for quite some time: they add amazing intensity to a workout, plus it’s a fun way to switch up a usual gym routine. I was reminded of the fun of plyometrics this weekend, when I did my first plyometric leg workout in the Cathe Friedrich STS system. In this DVD, we completed one dynamic, weighted strength exercise with weights, rested for 30 seconds, performed a plyometric exercise for 30 seconds and rested for another half-minute before repeating the same concept with different exercises for 45 minutes. It was a great challenge and a fun way to test my limits! (Click here for some great plyometric-related tips).

Grab some open space and bring your endurance for these moves. I wouldn’t plan on doing plyometrics more than once or twice each week to avoid overtaxing your joints and muscles.

Are you a fan of jumping moves or do you prefer low-impact?