In fitness, inspiration can be found in many places.  Even watching people in the gym can be what you need to get you going.  Observing people doing the “unthinkable” is an awesome way to push yourself to the next level.  Buddy Lee is one of those people that makes fitness look like fun instead of hard work.  Take a look at his crazy jump roping skills.

A big thanks to Pam at work for letting us in on this talented jumping guru.!

AKA

There are several ways to motivate yourself to get fit.  The Internet has become the new way for people to log their food, get support from others, and stay accountable.  In the past, we wrote an article on Tweeting what you eat to keep yourself on track.  How  many of us actually have the guts to blog what we eat, what exercise we do and how much we’ve lost?  A friend of mine has decided to do just that!

Check out her site, follow her progress, and comment on how you’re doing!  Everything is better in groups … especially when it comes to making changes  in your body and your fitness routine.

Recovering Fat -a- holic could give you the what you need to get to the gym.  Maybe even start your own weight loss blog!

AKA

Alpine Bank (CO)

• Alpine Bank (CO)
• American Financial Group (OH)
• American Marazzi (TX)
• Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. (IL)
• Brook Furniture Rental, Inc. (IL)
• Brookwood School District 167 (IL)
• Cantigny Foundation (IL)
• Cardinal FG (WI)
• Center Cass School District 66 (IL)
• Charleston Cusd #1(IL)
• Chicago Board Of Options Exchange (IL)
• Chicago Fire Fighters – Local 2 (IL)
• City Of Batavia, IL (IL)
• City Of Cozad (NE)
• City Of Manitowoc (WI)
• Clausen Miller P.C. (IL)
• Cleveland Group, Inc. (GA)
• CNIC Health Solutions (CO)
• Colorado Capital Bank (CO)
• Culver Franchising System, Inc. (WI)
• Cummins-Allison Corporation (IL)
• Curran Group, Inc. (IL)
• Danville Area Community College (IL)
• Dearborn County Government (IN)
• DLR Group (NE)
• Emergency Medical Association of N.J., P.A. (NJ)
• Enterprise Community Partners (MD)
• Farm Progress Companies (IL)
• Fraternal Order Of Police (IL)
• Freeborn & Peters LLP (IL)
• Gallatin Steel (KY)
• GBAR Limited Partnership (IL)
• GEA WestfaliaSurge, Inc. (IL)
• Georgia Baptist Convention (GA)
• Gold Eagle (IL)

• Green County Wisconsin (WI)
• Group & Pension Administrators (TX)
• Halo-Lee Wayne (IL)
• Hilltop Community Resources, Inc. (CO)
• Holly Hunt Enterprises (IL)
• Hufcor (WI)
• Humility of Mary Health Partners (OH)
• Huse, Inc. (IN)
• Illinois Valley Community College (IL)
• Infogix, Inc. (IL)
• Interactive Health Solutions, Inc. (IL)
• James G. Davis Construction Corp. (MD)
• Jenner & Block (IL)
• K & L Gates LLP (IL)
• Kcumb (MO)
• Kenton County (KY)
• Kirkland & Ellis LLP (IL)

• Marilyn Hickey Ministries (CO)
• MB Financial Bank (IL)
• McDermott, Will & Emery (IL)
• Mercy Health Partners (OH)
• Mesa County Valley School District 51 (CO)
• Midmark (OH)
• Midwest Palliative & Hospice Care Center (IL)
• Morris Elementary School District 54 (IL)
• Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals (IL)
• Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc. (UT)
• Navy Army Federal Credit Union (TX)
• North Shore School District 112 (IL)
• Northshore Bank (WI)
• Novaspect, Inc. (IL)
• Old Second National Bank (IL)
• Quantum Corporation (IL)
• Rapid Displays (IL)
• Rauland-Borg (IL)
• Rend Lake College (IL)
• Return Path, Inc. (CO)
• RMSCO, INC. (NY)
• Robinson Engineering (IL)
• RSUI Group, Inc. (GA)
• Security First/Stockmen’s Financial (SD)
• Shepherds Baptist Ministries, Inc. (WI)
• Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal (IL)
• Southwestern Illinois College (IL)
• Spoon River College (IL)
• Sycamore School District 427 (IL)
• Synovate (IL)
• Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America (IL)
• The Midland Company (OH)
• Tri-County Schools Insurance Group (CA)
• Troy City School District (OH)
• Unibilt Industries Inc. (OH)
• UniGroup (MO)
• Virchow Krause (WI)
• Waubonsee Community College (IL)
• WILD Flavors, Inc. (KY)
• Wittenberg University (OH)

Winners of the award are those companies who have measurably reduced their overall IHI score as determined by their score from the previous years. Winners are chosen by categories:

To assess individual and company-wide health, IHS employs a proprietary metric called the ‘Interactive Health Index’ (IHI). The Index, developed in conjunction with physicians and other healthcare professionals, tests for indicators of heart disease, diabetes, smoking and other measures of health status that are at least in part controllable by the individual.

Every participating employee is rated on an individual IHI via an annual Health Evaluation at the start of the IHS preventative program. Throughout the year, the employee takes a variety of steps – with the help of IHS – to address specific goals and any identified health conditions.

At year-end, IHS calculates an employee aggregate IHI ’score’ for the company as a whole. Based on this score, companies are selected as one of the Healthiest Companies in America in the various Award categories (source).

Its hard to know which companies are involved in this kind of evaluation of their workers.  However, I was shocked to see that I didn’t recognize ANY of these companies.  Even huge establishments didn’t make the list.  If your company did make the “cut” write in and let us know!

AKA

I can’t help but feel guilty every time I drink water out of a plastic bottle.  Now Coke has released a new bottle made partially from plant materials.  This is just one of the steps this company is making towards saving the planet.  Maybe it’s time we chose our water wisely.

Dasani is Coke’s brand of water that is now using this innovative process to help the planet.  The bottle is made of 30% plant material.  The material is made through the product of sugar cane and molasses.

Although Coke hasn’t yet made a bottle made completely of plant material the CEO adds that this is just the first step towards creating a bottle made completely of biodegradable materials.  This process also cuts down on the carbon emissions made while creating the plastic by 25%.

Coke will also be releasing this bottle with their vitamin water brand, as well as, sparkling beverages this year.  Do your part and contribute to brands that help save our environment and the air we breath!  Way to go Coke!

AKA

Most people wait till summer before they break out their tank tops, swimsuits, and summer wear.  However, by the time summer arrives, it leaves  little time to mold your body the way you want.  So take the test before the temperature starts to climb.  Put on a tank top and see what areas of your body need the most work.  Here are some common problems that people have during the hot seasons…

• Overhang – Yep, you guessed it…that means have some excess fat, and skin that pushes up out of your bra under your arms.
• 

• FIT FIX - Back exercises such as the lat pull down, pull-ups, and rows are great ways to give your back a tight look.

• Double Chest – Sure most people have a line that divides their chest in the center.  What about that extra line on the outside of your bra strap?  This could leave you with extra tissue on the outside around your arm pit.

• FIT FIX – Push ups, push -ups, push-ups!  You can also do flies, and a chest press exercise.  This will lift the sagging skin and add some extra cleavage where you want it!

• Flat Shoulders - Most women neglect their shoulders, leaving them flat instead of round.  With the right exercises, round shoulders can balance out your waist making you look leaner.

• FIT FIX – Lateral raises, front raises, shoulder press, and even rotator cuff exercises.

• “Muffin Top” - Affectionately known as the “love handles.”

• • FIT FIX - Any ab exercises will help tighten this area.  However, ones that focus on your obliques (or sides) would target this area even more!

Although exercise is a great way to tighten areas of your body.  You can’t neglect diet. You can build your muscles as much as you want and firm up that area, but if you have layers of fat over the top, then you won’t see any definition.  Diet is the key to definition and fat loss.  Increase your protein!  This will keep you full and help you avoid over eating high sugar/ high carbohydrate foods.  Adding a protein shake 3-4 times per week is an easy way to increase your protein.  Decrease your fat intake and substitute as many fats as possible with Omega fats.

AKA

Biggest Loser Host Tells You Hot To Get Your Kids To Eat Their Veggies (Fit Celeb)

Losing Track Of Your Favorite Celebrities?  Catch Up In An Instant! (Skinny Website)

Check Out This Stretch From Studio 57 (Self)

Can The “Gym Coach” Get You In The Best Shape Ever? (Healthy Hollywood)

Tired Of Your Old Treadmill Routine? Mix It Up With This Cool Agility Workout (Girl Get Strong)

You can’t watch your favorite shows without seeing an ad for Quick Trim.  This product which is made by GNC and promoted by the Kardashian’s seems to be all over magazines and T.V.  While we don’t usually promote diet pills, we thought we would take a closer look at what people had to say about this product.

Here’s The Product Line Up (AKA Money Pit)

• Quick Trim Extreme Burn - An 8 hour pill that promises to burn more calories, curb your appetite, and boost your energy.
• Quick Trim Cellulism – A gel that decreases cellulite.
• Quick Trim Fast Cleanse -  48 hour detox in lemon flavor that helps flush the system of toxins and rid you of belly fat and bloating.
• Quick Trim Burn and Cleanse - A 3 part supplement plan that stimulates fat burning durning the day and cleanses you at night.  A 14 day routine.

PRO

• May help to jumpstart a weight loss program
• Promoted strongly by high profile celebrities
• May produce short-term and quick weight loss

CON

• Not a long-term solution to weight loss
• May cause side effects
• Quick fixes for weight loss usually don’t keep weight off for longer than a few days

INGREDIENTSThe QuickTrim products contain a variety of different ingredients.

• Extreme Burn contains vitamin C, niacin, bromine, caffeine, QT Capsimax® Super Thermo Complex and Super C3G Lipolytic Complex.
• Celluslim contains a Thermoplex™ Activated Xanthine Complex Butylene Glycol, Caffeine, Coenzyme A, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, Camellia oleifera (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Glycerine, PEG-8, Menthyl Lactate, Water, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol and other ingredients.
• Fast Cleanse contains fiber, soy sprouts, oat fiber, aloe vera gel, barley malt and licorice root extract.
• Burn and Cleanse contains three trademarked supplements called Iso-Burn, Iso-Cleanse and Iso-Flush. The supplements contain a variety of herbs, fibers and metabolism-boosting ingredients (source).

Like most supplements, this isn’t a magic pill.  It may work in the beginning and help you to lose weight but could mess up your metabolism in the future.  It also has some negative side affects that everyone should be aware of.  The true road to fitness starts with YOU!  Change your eating habits, exercise, and use portion control.  In the end losing weight and knowing you did it, is way more empowering then any pill… and you shouldn’t have to pay for pride!

AKA

I know that my school food wasn’t the healthiest.  Jamie gives you the gruesome details of what today’s kids are eating.  He claims, they are the first generation that isn’t expected to outlast their parents!  The public seems to “sugar coat” the obesity epidemic.  ABC isn’t covering the eyes of Americans anymore!  This show premiers on March 26th at 9 pm ET (ABC).  Maybe it’s something you watch with your kids???

AKA

Here’s a heads up to all of the fitness fans that love the Bodybugg.  There will be an episode on Dr. Oz this week!  He takes 4 over weight individuals and puts them on the Bodybugg calorie tracking system with eating plan.  If you have bugg  this will be a great incentive to keep using your own.  If you have been thinking about buying one then this should be an episode you don’t miss!

Check out our own review on this fantastic system!

• “The New Bodybugg“

• “The Bodybugg Watch”

A lot of people trust what Dr. Oz has to say.  With this being said, I think that more and more people with be running out to buy this product.  It is no longer a fad, it is a way to change your life and your perception of fitness.

AKA

This is a true full body exercise.  The rowing motion works all the larger muscle groups in your back.  Holding your body up also works your core muscles and the shoulder girdle.  The twisting motion of the exercise also targets your stabilizing muscles that can aid in joint stabilization.  Every stabilization exercise works the small muscles that support your joints.  This particular exercise strengthens your shoulder joints, elbows, wrists and shoulder blades.  The Prone Row has the ability to strengthen your whole body in one simple exercise.

Make your own animation

Side View

Modified Prone Row

Fit Tips

• Always keep your stomach tight
• Before rowing ALWAYS make sure that your dumbbells are “set” so you don’t lose stability
• Keep dumbbells close together to avoid slipping
• Legs should stay straight in a push-up position
• Retract (roll) the shoulder blade in as you row
• Keep back flat as opposed to rounded to maximum contraction of the back muscles

Although this is a challenging exercise, with a little practice it can become easier and take you to the next level of fitness!  Make the most out of your “fitness time” choose exercises that challenge you whole body!

AKA