CROSSFIT -- Yes, I said it.

Say, CrossFit has really become something. Honestly, it's phenomenal how big it is, but it's not new. There's been circuit training like this for years.

 In my opinion, it's up at the top of my list of ways to work out your body and stay in tip top shape. The workouts train you aerobically and anaerobically in a shorter amount of time, rather than spending 45 minutes on a treadmill (which is not a bad thing!).

Now, I haven't been to a CrossFit, gym? Or is it a workout center? But hopefully one day I will. But there are many things you CAN do at home to get yourself ready and feeling confident.

 FitSugar.com has a plethora of 10-minute workouts (including CrossFit) you can follow, 30 to 40 minute workouts, Yoga stretches, sample Tabata workouts, at home Pilates and Barre routines and more. Granted not all the workouts you'll find are CrossFit, but they'll help you get in better shape, regain confidence and guarantee learn a lot about your own body.

Not only will you find out about your lung capacity, but which side of your body is more coordinated and stronger. Don't forget to keep your diet clean. Limit (cut out if possible) sugar, wheats (I'll touch up on this down the road), but if you're curious check out "Wheat Belly", by William Davis, MD.

All-in-all, the body can do amazing things. It will take some time to get in the shape you dream about and some practice to do handstand push-ups, but what's stopping you? Yourself? Think about it. Dream big, aim high, reach for the stars, whatever the cliche is, do it. Keep pushing yourself, but have fun!

Tired of being tired?

We've all had those days and all you can say is, "I'm just tired."
It can be exhausting (pun intended) saying that.

Gone are the days as kid where you just pop up in the morning, are ready to play all day, then sack out for a good eight hours and do it again the next day... BEHOLD! Those days don't have to be gone forever.

A few things can really mess with your energy and sleep. My personal experience and through discussions with others, diet and irregular sleep schedules affect how tired I may or may not be for one or more days following my poor food choice or extra late night.

1. Diet: I don't see this as a fad, all the different diets that are out there. The word "Diet" has a bad wrap. It really is just a certain way you choose to eat. "My diet consists of, blah blah blah." However that feeling you might get after you eat a big bowl of pasta and you just want to nap; yeah, that pasta DID make you sleepy. There are certain foods that will energize you. Change up your eating habits, you don't have to go cold turkey and cut out grains, do what works best for you.  
2. Irregular sleeping schedules: How often do you go to bed and wake up at the same time despite the fact that it's a Friday night? If you often switch up your bed and wake times, you'll be in for a tired week. Avoid caffeine at least six hours before bed, it's tempting you, but don't look at your iPhone, tablet or whatever Smart-object you have, the lighting messes with your brain (the light suppresses sleep-inducing hormone). 

If you're curious of your sleeping pattern, I enjoy the app, Sleep Time, it determines when you're awake and sleeping the deepest and more. It'll wake you up at just the right time so you feel rested during the day. 

Available in the App Store. "Sleep Time"
CC: screenshot

Healthy Tidbits to live by: Part 2

1. Stay Hydrated:
• Bring a water bottle with you and sip throughout the day. I usually bring no less than 24 oz. If you're walking around at school, that's a easy size to carry and you can refill a fill station, or water fountain. However, if you don't want to fill up at a water fountain (which can sometimes be not the best water), go for some like 34 oz or more. 
• Concerned if the water is filtered or not? bobble water bottles filter your water
2. Have a sweet tooth? 
• If you've got as sweet tooth, or just enjoy your treats, go for it. Just don't indulge everyday. Find something healthy, like a small square of dark chocolate (70% or higher). Lindt is my ultimate favorite, smooth, chocolatey, and the darker the chocolate, the yummier it gets! 

Lindt has a 60-piece Dark Chocolate Sea Salt for $21.
 It'll last you two months if you eat one a day!  Photo: screenshot

• Don't be afraid to indulge everyone once in a while, just figure out how your body works. If you indulge on, say, a piece of cake, or two (or three) cupcakes, you may have to fit in more exercise the next few days. Don't beat yourself up about it though. 

Healthy tidbits to live by: part 1

Whether it's winter, summer, spring or fall, there is always something you can do to make your routine a bit better than the day before.

Let's start with a couple of ideas:

PopSugar Fitness provides great 10-minute workouts that whip you into
 shape quick.
photo: Screenshot

1. Make exercise part of your daily routine.
• Morning, noon or night, whatever works best for you, get that workout in. Don't push yourself so hard because then you'll end up doing more harm than good. If it's been a while since you've last worked out, start off easy. Lower the amount of weights you lift, lessen the amount of time you do cardio. Gently work up to it. When you start feeling like your workout is getting too easy and you can breath regularly without huffing and puffing, it's time to kick it up a notch. 
• Plus, if you're eating healthy and working out, you'll hop back in shape pretty dark quickly.
2. Eating healthy, for your body.
• I don't like saying "diet," because most think that it's eating less, but that isn't always the case. Sometimes it's just changing the way you eat. Cut out sugars, soda and fast food.  Eating sometimes can feel like a science, especially when you start reading what is actually in the foods you consume. 
• Don't freak, it's easy to do that, just take it easy. Don't beat yourself up if you slip up and have a cupcake or two, just accept it and move on. Add 10 more minutes on to your next days workout if it'll help ease your mind.