What are the latest and greatest health-related products? How can I spice up my ho-hum workout? Are the new nutritious food products and health-focused restaurants worth my money? If you're asking any of these questions you've found the right spot!Note: While I'm a journalist with a Bachelor's degree in kinesiology and am a Certified Health Education Specialist, I don't replace the guidance/counseling that comes from a good chat with your doctor or dietitian. For more information, feel free to contact me at karlaswalsh@gmail.com!
Healthful Bites
We’re forging a new path today on Healthful Bites! Rather than just sharing videos during Good for You Moves posts, we’ll now switch it up between videos, cardio routines (something to look forward to next week!) and fun fitness-related interviews and helpful hints. Please let me know what you think of this new angle or share any suggestions in the comments.
To start off the new format on a high note, I was lucky enough to recently connect with fitness DVD star, group instructor, personal trainer and all-around exercise superstar Jessica Smith (left). She has released 10 DVDs to date, including two new-for-2011 “10 Pounds DOWN” workouts that involve similar cardio and sculpting methods to those she uses in her weekly classes that she teaches in Miami.
Read on to find out more about the trainer behind the DVDs, Jessica’s guilty pleasures and the one move she wish she could fast forward through during her workouts!
How did you first get involved in the health industry?
In my late teens, I gained a lot of weight (for my body) and struggled to keep it off. I tried everything from diet programs, packaged meals to diet pills to try to lose it—and nothing worked. I ended up gaining anything I’d lost and then some. I finally started taking small steps like exercising for 10 minutes at a time (because it was all I could handle) and making gradually changes in my eating habits. That’s what helped me lose over 40 pounds, and inspired me to help other people who might have struggled the way I did, to lose weight the healthy way.
Were you personally always healthy?
Definitely not! I’ve always really enjoyed food (especially sweets). And my Mom is Italian, so we had plenty of pasta! I’ve found that I can’t eat only salads and skip bread all the time—I’d go crazy! I still indulge myself on occasion, watch portions, and aim to eat healthy 80 percent of the time. I give myself some room to play because a girl’s gotta have her chocolate! The concept of moderation has finally helped me to let go of going from strict dieting to binging.
Explain your ideal workout.
I sort of have two. My absolute favorite “workout” is walking. I try to walk outside for an hour most days of the week, weather permitting. I get some of my best ideas while I am walking. My second favorite is “cardio sculpt:” lighter weights and higher reps done at a quick pace with cardio interval bursts mixed in. That is what I do when I’m ready to WORK. I do an hour long cardio sculpt session two or three times per week.
