Why Walk? Listen and Learn!

 Interested in the benefits of walking?

You should listen to our first Bank On Fitness podcast:

http://bit.ly/1e6AVIC

 

Visit Our Spring is Coming Wellness Fair!

  at Bank On Fitness!

Bank On Fitness is incredibly excited to announce that it will host a Spring is Coming (finally) Wellness Fair at our studio on Friday, April 5 from noon to 6:00PM. We are so happy to celebrate warmer weather (yes, it will arrive) that we want to welcome this highly anticipated season in an over-the-top well way with our valued fabulous current clients and many future clients. We have partnered with a number of local businesses and friends to help you be healthy and active this spring. . .especially after such a brutally long, cold, draining Wisconsin winter. To get you excited as we are, we've listed just a few of our many Wellness Fair participants:

• Quinn's Quality Catering will be on site to demonstrate delectable healthy spring time recipes. Do you know how delicious asparagus is if grilled to perfection? Quinn certainly does, and he wants to share some of his secrets with you.  You can also learn about his reasonably-priced healthy catering options for YOUR spring fling. Absolutely yummy!

• Altoona Family Child Care Center will be on site to speak with our moms about their daycare needs. Jessica will also share some  energizing, calorie-burning games that you can play with you kiddos to keep the whole family active this spring. Colorful Easter egg hunts CAN be a workout!

• Do you like to hike and camp? If so, we have a deal for you! Our friends at Direct Hit will be available to answer your burning questions about camping and hiking gear. As a bonus, Direct Hit has some amazing sales going on right now. We'd love for you to be able to take advantage of the savings! Visit the fair or check out their website for more info.

• Only Local Foods will be available to answer your nutrition questions. They will also have fresh herb pots for sale at a reasonable price. Almost everything tastes better with fresh herbs!

• A number of local alternative healing partners will have booths.  Michelle from Bellacu will discuss the benefits of acupuncture. Dr. Steele will answer your chiropractic questions, and Aubrie from Bett On Us Sports Massage will be available to chat about her company's massage services.  (I'm sure you've heard that Aubrie and her team are fantastic. . .stop by to learn more!)

• Bank On Fitness will be performing a variety of fit tests (blood pressure, body fat, BMI, endurance) during the fair. We will be available to discuss your goals and how we may help you achieve them.

We know you will ask, so here's the answer in advance. To celebrate spring and our first Bank On Fitness Wellness Fair, we will have exciting giveaways every hour, on the hour, including Bank On Fitness personal training sessions, a month of free boot camp, and Bank On Fitness workout gear and eco-friendly water bottles. Some of our local partners may just surprise you with additional spring giveaways and contests. We really hope you are able to join us to welcome the most anticipated spring season ever! You can bank on us to help you be (or get) healthy and well this spring.

Thinking Spring? Work Those Abs!

With the nearing of spring, often comes a chore most women are not so fond of: the dreaded swimsuit shopping expedition. Before we get depressed, let's commit to focus on our core and abdominal muscles, since maybe, just maybe, it's not gotten the needed attention this cold, cold, winter.

This week, I encourage all of us to make abs and our posture top of mind. Think crunches. Think planks. Think standing up straight and tightening our core muscles when we walk. Pay attention to this critical muscle group during your workout. I understand, often we get to the gym, the club, or the fitness studio, and think. . .what should I do today? We get on the treadmill because it's easy. Starting now, go with a plan. Plan to devote 10 -15 minutes to your core, and particularly your abs. Determine what abdominal exercises you will do each day in advance of opening the gym door. Then you can cross it off the list before your leave. To get you started, here's a list of my five favorite core exercises:

1.  Front and side planks - love 'em!

 

2.  Russian twist (with or without a weight) - these rock!


3. Bicycle crunch - ohhh, work it baby!


4. Alternating single leg bridge - make it tight!


5. A girls night out with so much laughing it makes your abs hurt!

You can explore the Bank On Fitness Pinterest page to find more excellent workout ideas, including some pretty awesome abdominal and core workouts. Go even crazier. There are additional awesome abdominal exercises and for tips on an "ab friendly diet" here:  bodybuilding on abs. 

Make those abs hurt and affirmatively commit to your gal pals, that this year, it will be a great start to that swimsuit shopping season!