Motivation Monday Archives

5 Minute Ab Workout

October 12, 2015 By Nutrisimo Leave a Comment

Get ready to rock your core with this 5 minute ab workout! Today we’re giving you a quick but intense routine to whittle your middle and sculpt flat abs.

This routine is a perfect add-on to your workout, or a great way to get in some toning on busy days. I love doing cardio and abs together and these are some of the toning moves I would do after my morning run. It’s just 5 minutes, so there’s no excuse not to do it. Remember – every workout counts. You can quickly go through these ab sculpting moves while your coffee is brewing, before you hop in the shower, during your lunch break, or right before bed. Five minutes is all you need, so fit in this routine sometime today.

A quick routine like this always makes me feel great. This morning I woke up and didn’t have the energy to go of run. Honestly, I didn’t feel like doing anything, so I decided to do th most relaxed workout I could think of. Lying on the ground didn’t sound too bad, so an ab routine was my workout of choice. It’s amazing how even one quick workout can just change your attitude and really set the tone for your day. You might do this 5 minute ab workout and then feel energized to do a 30 minute workout! This happens to me all the time. So whether you’re having a full-out sweat sesh, or just squeezing in some toning moves as you go through the day, you will feel awesome once you complete this 5 minute ab workout. Roll out your yoga mat, cause it’s crunch time – literally. 😉

If you want a more intense ab workout, do this routine 2-3x through for some major burn. You will definitely be sore tomorrow. If you’re working on strengthening your abs, you could do this 5 minute ab workout every day. Pair it with you regular workouts or complete this routine by itself. I hope you enjoy this workout and please be sure to comment below and let me know once you’ve done it. I’d love to hear from you. What workout do you want to see next? Do you like these short routines, or would you like a longer more challenging workout? Comment below with what you want to see next!

Best Moves to Tone Your Upper Body

October 5, 2015 By Nutrisimo Leave a Comment

Happy Monday!

It’s time to sculpt strong and beautiful arms with these best moves to tone your upper body. I’ve found that my upper body responds pretty quickly when I train consistently, so I aim to train my arms and back about 2-3 times a week. Honestly, I think arms are one of the most rewarding areas to train. Don’t get me wrong, it’s awesome to have toned abs and legs, but under your pants and shirt, you don’t really appreciate them. On the other hand, your arms are usually exposed and you can definitely notice when someone has toned and sculpted arms.

So to kick off the week, I thought I would share some of the best moves to tone your upper body. The routine I’m sharing with you today is guaranteed to sculpt beautiful arms and tone every area of your upper body. We’ll be working the back, biceps, chest, shoulders, and triceps in this Upper Body Blast. There are some of the best moves to tone your upper body, so get ready. You’ll be showing of your guns in no time! 😉 Get the printable routine here – Upper Body Blast Workout.

For this workout you’ll need:

2 sets of dumbbells (light and heavy weight)
1 pull up bar (such as this one)
yoga mat

If you’re at the gym, you should have a variety of weight to choose from. If not, I recommend investing in some adjustable weights to use at home. Trust me, they are worth every penny. I can’t tell you how often I use my adjustable weights. They are so convenient, and they take up a lot less space than regular dumbbells. You’ll also want to invest in a pull up bar. It’s super convenient and will probably be one of the most valuable pieces of exercise equipment you’ll own. I sometimes you this for my pushups as well. You can purchase one at your local sports store, or online. You really don’t need anything fancy. Here’s an idea of what you should look for.

This routine includes a combination of body weight and free weight. You can do this workout at home, or print this routine and bring it along to the gym. Be sure to maintain proper form and use challenging weights. However, never sacrifice proper form for the sake of weight. Be cautious and focus on each move. This will help you make that mind-muscle connection and prevent any injuries. You want to really concentrate on the muscles you are working and keep proper form the entire time. Remember that you can always use a variety of weights for different muscles. I know that my biceps are stronger than my shoulders, so I might use 15 pounds for bicep curls, and 8 pounds for the lateral press. Adjust the weight according to your fitness level.

Please be sure to comment below and let me know when you do this workout. Also, share your pictures with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. We want to see you flexing and showing off those strong arms that you’ve been working on. 🙂

Question of the Day: What body part do you want to work next?

Monday Madness HIIT Routine

September 28, 2015 By Nutrisimo Leave a Comment

Good morning! Are you ready for this Monday Madness HIIT Routine? It’s going to be awesome. I love to kick off the week with a good workout, but I usually don’t have a lot of time to spend exercising. I like to get my workout done first thing in the morning, and Mondays tend to be a day when I need a quick living room workout.

I’ve put together this Monday Madness HIIT Routine for those that are always on-the-go. It’s guaranteed to get your heart pumping and leave you dripping. Get the printable Monday Madness HIIT Routine.

All that’s required for this workout is a yoga mat and some dedication. You don’t need any weights, but you should have a water bottle handy – cause you’re going to need it. Repeat this routine as many times as possible. It should take you about 7 minutes to complete one round. Go through this routine three times and you’ll get an awesome workout in just 21 minutes. This is the perfect routine to do at home before heading off to school or work. It’s simple, effective, and super quick. You can definitely intensify this workout by adding weights. If you do this routine at the gym, you can do more advanced versions of each move, or depending on the equipment you have at home, you can make it more challenging.

The TRX Suspension Trainer Kit is great for your at-home workouts. You can use this for mountain climbers, pushups, planks, and more. Check out the sample video that demonstrates all the moves you can do. There’s also a lot of TRX workout ideas you can find on YouTube.

I hope you enjoy this workout routine. Please be sure to comment below once you’ve completed this routine and let me know how you liked it. Also, I would love to know what other types of workouts you’d like to see. Do you prefer strength training, HIIT, or pilates? I’d love to share more with you, so tell me what you workout you want to see next!

Question of the Day: What time do you usually exercise?

Making the Most of Your Mondays

September 14, 2015 By Nutrisimo Leave a Comment

3 Reasons Why Everyone Should Love Monday

If you’re dreading the start of the work week, chances are you are not making the most of your Mondays. I know it’s really “in” to bash Mondays and celebrate the weekend, but something about this mentality just doesn’t seem right. I believe we should look forward to every day and live with passion and enthusiasm. If you’re subject to the Monday Moans, as I like to call them, then this post is for you. Mondays used to be my least favorite day.

I lived for the weekend and hoped the week would fly by so I could relax and enjoy myself. But the truth is… that’s not really living. Trying to get through five days to enjoy the other two is pretty pathetic. After praying and thinking about it some more, I realized that Mondays really are the BEST and every day should be enjoyed. So here’s my two-sense on making the most of your Mondays, and the 3 reasons why everyone should love Monday.

1. A Fresh Start

It doesn’t take much to learn to love Mondays. Honestly, it’s just a shift in perspective. Instead of dwelling on all the things you dislike about Monday, focus on what you love and all the opportunities you have. Are you making the most of your Mondays? I love that Monday always feel like a fresh start. Monday is my day to make healthy food choices, exercise, and just get back on track. I love Monday because it feels like a day full of promise and possibilities.

2. Made for Moving

You have to agree that there is an energy in Monday mornings. I love it.

Monday is a time to take action and get things done. There is a different pulse on Mondays that makes me want to move and accomplish things. It is a day for working on projects, exercising, organizing, and being active. My mom always says,

”When you have a lot to do, you get a lot done.”

I think that’s true. When you have that extra pressure from all your responsibilities, it gets you moving. Monday is a day for work and since there’s a lot to do, I think it’s a get stuff done day.

3. Monday’s Are for Motivation

I’m sure we’re all familiar with #MotivationMonday.

Yup. Monday is the day that everyone needs a little motivation to give them that pep in their step. If you aren’t a fan of Mondays, perhaps tuning into this motivation is just what you need. I think it’s great that so many people are willing to offer encouragement for the week. Personally, I always look forward to Mondays because that is when all my favorite bloggers share a new post. For me, Monday is a fresh dose of inspiration.

I also want to mention, that you should love what you do. I realize this isn’t necessarily a reason to love Monday, but it’s a reason to love life, and Mondays are a part of life. I love my job. Because I am doing what I am passionate about, I wake up excited for the day. I really look forward to waking up and drinking coffee while blogging. I love experimenting in the kitchen and creating healthy meals. I love learning about health and fitness, and exercising, and sharing my experiences with you. I honestly believe that if you’re doing what you love, then you won’t dread Mondays. Monday is a work day, so if you love your work, you’ll love Mondays.

I hope that this post helped give you some perspective and maybe… even if you don’t love Mondays, you can hate them a bit less. It may take time to adjust from a Monday Moaner to a Monday Motivator, but you’ll get there. 😉

Now I want to know, what do you love about Monday? Comment below with one thing that makes your Mondays special or how you will start making the most of your Mondays.