To anyone who’ll listen!!!!!

Damnation and tar nation week 2 has been a mess for me with this challenge. My work schedule’s ramped up like never before. You’d think there would be enough hours in the day but every time I think I’ve got a few minutes to put in another set of 30 I’ve been getting called up for this, that, the other thing, and that thing nobody really wants to do so I have to do it.

In other words, the second week has been a freaking hectic one, people! Fortunately, I’ve got some good news and some bad news.

Bad news first: I’ve been getting pains in my lower back that weren’t there before. Comes upward from the back of my hip. This is probably as much a reflection of poor posture, sitting at a desk all day, and lack of stretching the muscle group in the lower lumbar region. But it’s a hindrance nonetheless.

General soreness is something I’m getting used to, it’s eased a bit as the week’s progressed but the rule of thumb is: if you’re not sore then you’re not working the muscle. Read More »

A Dude’s confession: I’m no longer in the most immaculate shape of my life. I was at one point. Second semester of Freshman year I was in that frickin’ gym 4 times a week, sometimes 5. I had pecks that make The Rock’s surgically enhanced ones seem like, like, something, uh, less impressive as the pecks as I had! Yeah! And abs? 6 pack. That’s right. 6 pack.

But not only did I look good, I felt good, 8 hours of sleep per night, never got sick, never got tired, soreness was a constant validation for the better quality of life I was living. Now, years later, I have a job — 3 jobs in fact — and I’ve got bills to pay, and an apartment to not get kicked out of, and what’s one of the first things that went by the wayside as I entered adulthood? Gym membership! I’m not The Blob, but I’m not The Great One anymore either. So here’s what’s going to happen: For the next 30 days, I’m going to do 100 push ups every day.

At the peak of my physically prowess I actually could do over 50 without stopping, now…well let’s say at one of my jobs last week, we had a push-up contest and…I didn’t win…really didn’t…but flab be damned! Read More »

Midterms got you down? Feeling like the gym is miles away today? CC has got just the thing for you!

Welcome to our brand new Dorm Room Workout series, a column that will show you fun, simple exercises that you can do without even leaving your dorm. I have a teeny tiny dorm room and even I have space to do all these exercises. But my room is so small that there’s not enough space for a friend to take pictures of me while I demonstrate, so you’ll be seeing a lot of my hallway.

Today, I’ll show you three simple exercises that only require one piece of equipment – your wall. You’ll only need a little bit of wall space, but if your walls are covered with decorations, it might be a good idea to venture out into the hallway. And invite your floormates to join while you’re at it! Read More »

The sun is shining, the breeze is warm and Spring is in full swing. Who wants to waste such a beautiful day slaving away on a treadmill indoors? Research shows that sharing your sweat session with Mother Nature decreases your stress levels and ups your calorie burn due to the varied terrain and fluctuating temperatures. It’s time to lace up your Nikes and head to the nearest park.

-Your cardio doesn’t have to be boring when you’re hoofing it under the sun. After a quick warm-up, try jogging backwards. Experts say it burns a fifth more calories and improves your balance by engaging your core. Afraid of looking silly? Don’t be.  All anyone will think would be, “Hey! She knows something I don’t!”

-Now, let’s build our endurance. Find some stairs and sprint from the bottom to the top without stopping or skipping steps. Walk back down and finish up with 4 more sets. Just like having a Stairmaster outdoors, this exercise will increase your heart and lung capacity while building killer legs for those adorable minis.

-How about you pull your forgotten roller blades out of the back of your closet and lace them up? While also a great cardio workout, rollerblading tones your inner and outer thighs along with your beautiful booty. To torch about 450 calories in 30 minutes, alternate one minute of tucked, speed skating with one minute of upright, relaxed skating. Be sure to wear your knee and elbow pads! I hear scrapes and bruises are out this season. Read More »

As a fitness blogger, there is one question I hear more than any other: “How do I get flat abs?”

People think by doing 100 crunches every night will give them a six pack when it’s actually almost the opposite. With Spring Break coming up, you may or may not be half way there to your ideal bikini body. Lucky for you, I’m sharing the best kept secrets when it comes to getting amazing abs in no time at all.

The most important thing to fix when trying to get flat abs is your diet. Start making smart choices by limiting the number of carbs you eat. Swap refined white carby foods like white rice or white bread for whole grains. Sprouted grain bread, like Ezekial, is amazingly filling and delicious. Your body actually digests this minimally processed food like a vegetable. To reduce bloating and water retention, limit sodium intake to no more than double the amount of calories per serving (i.e. If it has 100 calories, the sodium should not exceed 200 grams). Recently I was amazed at how this simple salt reduction made me simply feel skinnier. Rather than counting your calories, try and stick to real foods like vegetables, fruits, and lean protein. If you have a layer of fat over your abdominal muscles, the hard work spent doing crunches will never be appreciated. Read More »