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9 Trainer Tricks to Get Fit

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I am often asked for my trainer tricks or what I personally do to get and stay fit. People ask how I react when the munchies strike, how often I work out, and if I ever indulge in adult beverages or guilty pleasures. The answer is YES, but I live by the 80/20 rule: I stick to healthy habits 80 percent of the time and allow for some indulgence 20 percent of  the time. Here are some of the things I do regularly to stay fit.

1) Have a Healthy Breakfast

For breakfast, I typically make a green smoothie with frozen banana and pineapple, almond milk, coconut extract, kale and spinach. I just stuff all of the ingredients in the blender. This smoothie has vitamins A and C, calcium, fiber, folic acid, magnesium and other nutrients. With all the greens, I’m loaded with energy and off to a great start for the day!

2) Never Go More Than Two Days In a Row Without Exercise

I am scheduled to teach seven classes per week. Since I travel so much, I usually end up teaching an average of five hours and I am lucky to have amazing coworkers who fill the gap. I’m an extrovert (can ya tell?) so group fitness has been a part of my exercise routine for more than 20 years.  Every day I teach something different—kickboxing, strength training, cycle, yoga—I love to have a varied workout schedule. Bottom line, I aim for an hour a day but often miss a day or two due to travel. So, I use my two-day rule: I never go more than two days in a row without exercise. I’ll run the stairs in an office building if I have to!
Related: 101 Fitness Tips That Rock

3) Snack Responsibly

I love ice cream, but most of the time I will substitute it with Greek yogurt sweetened with Truvia and ad dark chocolate chips, berries and walnuts. When I really need to munch, I make popcorn because you can eat a lot for not many calories. I make six quarts and can literally eat the whole thing…but my kids usually wrestle some away from me. Even if you succumb to the whole thing, it’s only 500 calories, plus it’s full of fiber; a grande egg nog latte is 500 calories and full of sugar and fat. I’d much rather 500 calories with some fiber than 500 calories that are purely sugar and fat.

4) Monitor Movement

I love my FitBit Flex arm band because I can track my steps and see my levels of activity throughout the day. It’s Bluetooth compatible and syncs quickly with my phone to give me feedback on my activity levels, steps and sleep. It holds me accountable and I look forward to achieving my 10,000 steps a day. I love that you can change out the bracelet with different color options, too. Fitness can be fashionable!

5) Opt For Red Wine or Less Sugary Cocktails

Take it from a personal trainer: learn to drink in moderation.My drink of choice is red wine. A five-ounce glass typically has about 125 calories, much lower in calories than many other alcoholic beverages. (Some mixed cocktails can have up to 800 calories!) Red wine also has antioxidants, making it good for your heart. In the summer, we make homemade margaritas, using fresh squeezed lime juice and a little simple syrup (mix sugar and water). Add triple sec and tequila, and you have a version that’s way lighter than adding a sugary pre-made mix or tons of fruit juices. Liquid calories add up fast, so pay attention.

6) Never Show Up To A Party Hungry

The most important rule for parties is to not go to them hungry. It isn’t a smart strategy because when you are hungry your willpower goes out the window. Plus, you are setting yourself up to eat more than you should if you go to a party thinking you sacrificed all day so you can really indulge. I always make sure to eat normally the day of a party and then once I’m there, only fill my plate up once with my favorite appetizers before stopping.

7) Drink Enough Water

I love my LifeFactory water bottle to drink water throughout the day. It’s easy and convenient and cuts back on all the plastic going to landfills. Glass is also the perfect container for adding fresh sliced fruit to your water also! Staying hydrated is crucial to your health but also prevents you from snacking when your body “thinks” it’s hungry but really, it just needs hydration.

8) Have A Positive Attitude

I am a big believer in having a positive attitude and positive thoughts. Your thoughts determine how you feel and often determine what you can accomplish. As Napoleon Hill once said, “What your mind can conceive and believe, you can achieve.” Believe in yourself and your ability to accomplish your goals. Having a defeatist attitude won’t do you any good; you need to believe you can maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to achieve it!

9) Make Staying Healthy Easy

Life can be crazy, which is why it’s always good to plan ahead so that making healthy choices on-the-go is like second-nature, instead of a drawn-out dilemma. It’s always good to keep healthy snacks on you in case you need them—especially if your schedule is hectic. I make apple cinnamon energy bars and freeze them so they are easy to grab and go. They’re delicious and make maintaining a healthy lifestyle a lot easier.
Adapt some of these healthy habits in your routine and you will reap the rewards.

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