5 Tips to Carry Fitness Motivation Through Winter + Compression Sock #Giveaway

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Jennifer FIsher

It’s only the beginning of November, but between dwindling daylight hours and cooler temperatures many are already wondering how to stick with a fitness routine when it’s time to move indoors from outdoors. Both professional and recreational athletes alike complain that seasonal weather swings, along with hectic holiday schedules, can contribute to fitness fallout. Don’t let your workouts get sidelined this fall and winter– these suggestions will keep you motivated and on task until the return of sunny skies and warm weather. Oh, and don’t forget to enter my giveaway at the bottom of this post to win a pair of VIM & VIGR Compression socks – cute new gear is ALWAYS one of the ways I stay motivated to workout.

Embrace Cardio Equipment: Take your heart-pumping workout to the treadmill, stationary bike or row machine. While logging loads of miles without physically moving forward poses a mental challenge, the monotony of machines can be overcome by incorporating intervals, hills or other challenging elements that keep you pushing buttons and pushing the pace. For example, runners can sprint a ladder of eight 400 meters intervals with each getting successively faster.

Consider Gym Alternatives: While it may be too dark or dangerous to participate in your favorite outdoor activity, look around and you can probably find an indoor comparable at the health club. Obstacle course racers can hone skills at rock climbing gyms or CrossFit boxes while hikers can jam it out on the Jacob’s ladder machine or stationary stair climber while listening to nature-inspired music. Get creative!

Widen Workout Net: Keep your interest up by trying out new classes; the fall and winter are the perfect time to challenge yourself with new skills. Plus, working out in a group setting offers the motivation and structure many need to succeed. Mix it up and try a fitness class you’ve never done before like yoga, TRX suspension training, trampolining or even indoor surfing! A Class Pass or similar service is a great way to exercise within a large network of fitness studios without having to have a membership to each.

Build a Bootcamp: Recruit your family, friends and neighbors to join the workout fun by organizing a boot camp. You provide space in a basement, garage or den with the couch scooted to the side and attendees provide the on-the-spot comradery and encouragement needed to get the job of burpees, pushups and squat jumps done. To keep things fun and fresh, take turns writing up the workouts or start a friendly “challenge” style competition.

Reward Your Hard Work: A pat on the back for busting your butt in the gym is nice and all, but sometimes a more tangible incentive is in order! List out short and long term goals for your fall and winter fitness and then pick a few rewards – maybe something smaller for the short term rewards, like a new pair of compression socks or new music downloads and something bigger like a snazzy new GPS watch or fancy sunglasses for the season-end goals.

If you’re into compression socks like I am, then you’ll love to reward yourself with a pair or two from VIM & VIGR. If you’ve seen me running and hand-standing my way through Instagram, you’ve most likely taken note that I am partial to knee-high compression socks – and the brighter and more patterned, the better! Compression socks keep my legs feeling fresh when running fast or long, they keep me warmer when the weather cools down (cold is under 75 degrees to me), and they facilitate muscle recovery by keeping blood circulating. Compression knee-high socks also keep my shins from getting scuffed up doing dead-lifts, box jumps or rope climbs. They are also excellent for traveling or days when I have to stand all day working at a conference or cooking demo.

VIM & VIGR has to be the most fun, most hip and most happy brand of compression socks around – for both gals and guys. This is the only brand I will wear now, and I’m not just saying that because I’m a lucky-duck ambassador. The fit is great, the “squeeze” is just right, and the styles are modern and fun and begging to be shown off! There’s not a day that goes by when someone doesn’t tell me that “they love my socks”! You need to enter the giveaway below – three of my readers will each win a pair of their choice!

Visit VimVigr.com and let me know which pair of compression socks you like best! Share in the comments below. And don’t forget to enter via the Rafflecopter app below for more ways to enter! XOXO, Jennifer

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Plyometric Power Workout – How To Increase Your Vertical Jump

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Jennifer FIsher

Whether you want to up your game in basketball or volleyball, or just need to grab stuff off the top shelf without dragging out the step stool out, a vertical jump workout will help you catch that big air you crave.

While many traditional vertical jump workouts focus on heavy lifting in the weight room with exercises like Bulgarian Squat Jumps, Box Squats and Deadlifts, you can still get enviable gains with explosive plyometric bodyweight exercises. And, the beauty of this type of workout is little or no equipment is needed, so it can be done anytime, anywhere! Just grab a jump rope and exercise box (or curb) for this workout. Do this this Power Plyo Vertical Jump Workout once per week and enjoy some newfound oomph in your vert!

Here are the details for the above exercises:

Jump Rope: Warm up with jump rope for 2 minutes to get blood pumping and help activate muscles used in jumping. Only do warmup once, not at the top of each set.

Three Sets of Exercises Below (2 minutes rest after each set)

Depth Jumps: Step off box or bench and, upon landing, explode upward immediately. Reach arms overhead to increase lift and land softly back down on ground in athletic position. 10 reps / 3 sets

180 Squat Jumps: In an upright position, squat down slowly until your knees are flexed to almost right angles. Jump explosively without locking out knees, and rotate body quickly to land facing the opposite direction. 10 reps / 3 sets

Tuck Jumps: From standing, lower into a squat position and then jump as high as possible while bringing knees up and in toward chest. 10 reps / 3 sets

Lateral Box Jump Burpees: Stand to the side of box and jump laterally, leaping over it. Upon landing, drop to a full burpee with an upward jump finish. 10 reps / 3 sets

Walking Lunges: From upright with hands on hips, step forward with one leg and drop hip until back knee is almost touching ground. Keep torso erect and ensure front knee stays above front foot. Drive forward and extend up position. 10 reps (each side) / 3 sets

Single-Leg Box Jump: Stand facing approximately 18-inches way from box with feet shoulder-width apart. Jump on box with one leg, using bent-elbow arms to help drive upward. Fully extend body at top of box and then softly jump backward with both legs to starting position. 5 reps (each side) / 3 sets

I finally have my Workout and WOD Gallery back in working order, so head over to nab some new ideas for your fitness routine!

Increase Your Vertical Jump With Plyo Power Workout #Fitfluential

Click To Tweet

So, what’s your favorite explosive lower body exercise? (I just giggled when I typed that)

Calm, Confident, Upside Down and Twisted Around Yoga

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Jennifer FIsher

We’re all friends, right? Well, let me tell you how I stay calm, cool and collected during yoga and all my other fitness activities like running, CrossFit, and obstacle course racing — with the Stayfree brand and their products like STAYFREE® Ultra Thin® Regular Feminine Pads with Wings. Often I find myself upside down or twisted around like a pretzel wearing barely there workout clothes – Stayfree keeps my mind off “accident anxiety” and focused on the task at hand.

Stayfree has a really great offer right now – simply purchase one of their participating products, upload the receipt and receive a free 30-day membership to My Yoga on Gaiam TV. Then, stream as many of the instructional online yoga classes as you care to over the month – enjoy the convenience of getting your daily yoga practice completed at home during a time of the day when it is convenient for you! You really need to try this! Just purchase your Stayfree product at Target between February 8 and March 12 (2015), keep the receipt, and visit http://www.stayfree.com/myyoga to get started. My Yoga on Gaiam TV has lots of different options whether you are totally new to yoga person or are an experience yogi. I really appreciate how each course listing notes a suggested ability level and any contraindications that might compromise safety. Of course, always check with your doctor before starting a new exercise routine. I’m going to be doing the Advance your Practice: Ashtanga five class mini-series and am especially looking forward to the “Backbend” session. Don’t forget to visit http://www.stayfree.com/myyoga for this special offer!

Love this #Stayfree offer –> 30-day Trial to #MyYoga GaiamTV w/product purchase #ad

Click To Tweet

What challenges you most about yoga? It’s definitely hip and hamstring mobility for me.

This post is sponsored by Sverve on behalf of Stayfree. I was compensated for my time and review of the product(s), however all opinions, editorial comments and suggestions are my own.

Scorpion Yoga Practice and #AugustaActive Giveaway

Posted on January 14, 2015 by Jennifer FIsher

I can’t pretend to be an expert at the Scorpion pose (vrschikasana) or even yoga in general, but I’ve been working on this particular move for a year now and it’s come a long way. The funny thing about yoga is that you DO have to practice – experienced yogis make everything look so easy, but it’s really hard work. Some of the simplest moves sill elude me — my hamstrings and hip flexors are in a chronic state of tightness and often don’t want to cooperate! Can you believe that some can people can even arch enough to rest feet on the head – WOW! I like to call the Scorpion my “killer” party trick and I’ll #stopdropandyoga one whenever the mood stikes – however sometimes, it’s hard to find a photographer (I think I have mortified and scarred my kids for life). Anyway, it’s easiest to do yoga or any other type of fitness activity when you are properly attired and feel cute (or manly, I suppose if you’re a guy). I recently was sent athletic gear (Action Color Block Capri and Jazzy Open Back Tank) along with a Cruise Duffle gym bag from Augusta Sportswear to try out – so cute and flattering in black with pink accents. Not only is this fitness sportswear stylish, but also comfortable for my day at the gym followed by a little yoga practice. I was also mightily impressed with the amount of gear that the gym bag held. I probably take way too much stuff on my outings including my blogging camera, a couple extra workout outfits, toiletries and recovery snacks – but I’m always prepared! You could win some of this Augusta Sportswear workout wear for yourself! Enter the giveaway for an “Active Kit” – just look at all the cool loot you could win! To be clear, one guy winner receives the MALE kit and one woman winner receives the FEMALE kit. I love how Augusta doesn’t forget about keeping the guys in our lives geared up for performance and looking good! Some other notes on the contest: The giveaway begins on January 12th and ends on January 19th 2015. The giveaway is open to US residents only. Styles/colors of the giveaway items may vary based on availability. This post and giveaway for gym clothes and athletic gear is sponsored by Augusta Sportswear. All editorial comments and opinions are my own.