Ch-Ch-Change It Up

Its so very vital to change up your workouts. I get sad when I see people doing the exact same routine for days on end and expecting new results. You gotta change, people!

I admit, I have totally been there. Either training for a race or simply being unmotivated to try something new and get out my comfort zone.We like what we know and we get stuck. Run everyday for 20 minutes. Or the elliptical 5 days a week. Or spin class and nothing else. While all these things are fine and dandy, it is better if you mix them all together!

Here are my favorite ways to change things up:

-Adding in a strength routine! Girls, DON'T be afraid to lift, and lift HEAVY! It will not make your arms bigger. It drives me crazy when people say this. The type of food you eat is what makes your arms bigger. Especially if you stick to sets with 15+ reps, you'll be lean and toned in no time.If you need help with movements and ideas, check out Shape.com, Bodybuilding.com (don't be afraid, they have TONS of plans for toning and for women, not just bodybuilders), or self.com.



Workin' on my guns!

 -Try HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)

This basically means changing up the speed of your workouts. It can be done on most any equipment (treadmill, elliptical, bike, stairmaster). Try 30 seconds of regular/easy speed, then crank it up for 30 seconds as fast as you can! Repeat as many times as you can. By ramping up your heart rate and then bringing it back down, you give your metabolism a nice surge and will continue to burn calories faster once you are done than if you did steady-state cardio. Here's one that doesn't need any equipment:

My heart rate monite after some HIIT!

-Try a new class!

I tried out TurboKick at my local gym, and fell in LOVE. I try to do it every Monday night, or every other.But not 5 times a week. Group fitness classes are great supplements to your workout week. When you find a class and instructor you love, it keeps you motivated and before you know it you've worked for an hour and burned 500 cals!

-Try a program/workout DVD

These are nice because they are specifically designed to help you change your routine on a daily basis and work your whole body in different ways.

• Jamie Eason' Live Fit Trainer (I have 2 weeks left on this program!and its FREE)

• Insanity/P90X

• TurboFire

What new thing are YOU going to try this week?

~Lauren

A Break from Social Media

We are currently in the season of Lent, the Christian season in preparation of Easter in which many believers set aside time for the 40 days before Easter  for reflection on Jesus, his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection. It is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline.

Although I am not Catholic, I still like to observe Lent in some capacity in order to try to be more disciplined and re-focus my faith by giving something up. In years past I have done "easy" things, such as ice cream, coffee, desserts,etc. Things that were hard, but didn't necessarily challenge me.This year however, after speaking with my LA-actress-ridiculously-spiritually-wise friend Erin,  she challenged me to give up social media with her.My first reaction? No way. Not possible. How could I do that? Facebook and Instagram? Those were my 2 go-to time killers. At work, at home, out and about anywhere. They are my clutch. I would be SO disconnected. How would I know what was going on in the world?

An over-reaction? Maybe. But these reactions are exactly what made me realize I HAD to do this. I HAD to give up what was hard, what was becoming an all-too-time-consuming act. I HAD to let go of these things that I found myself going to daily for comparison, judgment, and self-affirmation. I was looking to these places for my self-worth, instead of to the One who I needed it from the most.

"Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." -1 Peter 3:4

 It was becoming unhealthy. And although all of this is hard to admit, I knew it had to be done. 40 days, thats it. How could it be that hard? Well, it was. And still is. It was harder at first to break my routine of instantly pulling up my Facebook when I got to my office. Checking my Instagram feed as soon as I plopped on the couch after a day of work. But now? Now I'm getting the hang of it. I don't instantly feel the need to see who's status' have changed, who's posted cute new pics on Instagram, or who 'liked' my pictures.

                                            

And I don't feel as out of the loop as I thought I would. I'm having more real conversations with my friends and husband. I have more time to get in the Word and pursue relationships. I'm not worried about getting the perfect picture and filter of the meal I just made, or how many people commented on it. Sure, I miss it. And yes, I will go back to it. But this time with a new set of eyes, and a new heart. Eyes that (hopefully) won't get so wrapped up in OTHER people's lives, but more able to look at my own and better it. A heart that won't be so sensitive to feeling less about myself because someone else posted a picture of a group of people hanging out without me, or thinking about how much better their life looks from the outside.


Believe me when I say I don't think there is anything wrong with these sites, I love them as much as the next person. But my heart needed to be checked. I needed to step away and re-evaluate myself and my motives. About halfway through Lent, I am encouraged. And I hope you are too should you ever choose to take a break from social media. I challenge you to try it sometime Take it from me, it can do wonders for you!


-Lauren


*Check out this amazing post by my Cali-friend Erin about Christianity and Hollywood here

New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year's Eve! It only seems fitting to write a post about the infamous New Year's Resolutions. If you're anything like me, you might be hesitant to even make a resolution for fear of not being able to follow through on it. So this year, I am making resolutions I KNOW are easily attainable, and will make me a better person.

Here are my (Lauren's) goals for making 2013 the best year yet!

• Read through the Bible in a year. My most important goal this year! I've done this before, but want to do it again to get more out of it.

• Work hard at the relationships that are fruitful, and be okay with letting go with ones that are not. Ingenuine relationships are not worth the time and effort.

• Stop comparising myself to others. My new favorite quote: "Don't compare your behind-the-scenes to someone else's highlight reel." *cough* FACEBOOK *cough*

• Make my marriage better everyday. My husband is my best friend and my most valuable relationship on this earth. I want to be the best wife I can be for him.

• Become the strongest, healthiest version of myself. For me, 2013 is all about health. Not about pounds or inches, but about strength and feeling fit. I won't care what the scale says, I just want to feel strong, eat healthy, enjoy life, and strive to be in the best shape of my life!

Wishing you all a happy, healthy, SAFE New Year's Eve! Make resolutions you know you can achieve, but also be willing to challenge yourself! Bring it ON 2013!!

P.S.: Look for some new blog changes in the coming year! We are excited to show you what we have in store!