I have been boxing for three years now, and it is my favorite kind of workout and something I am passionate about. Everyone has their happy place, and UFC Gym has unexpectedly become mine. It gives me a type of outlet that no other physical activity does. Many celebrities use boxing as their main form of exercise, such as Gigi Hadid and Emma Watson. Despite it’s growing popularity, however, many people still avoid boxing for a multitude of reasons.

There is certainly a stigma that surrounds boxing. While, yes, the sport of boxing is inherently violent, the fitness classes take the hand to hand combat aspect away. The fear of getting hurt is what stops most people from taking combat fitness classes. However, the chance of injury is just as high in any other workout class, so it is more of a fear of the unknown.

Most boxing fitness classes do not include any sparring, and the beginner classes never do. It is a safe, fun HIIT workout that anyone can enjoy. If you are still intimidated, try it with a personal trainer first. You do not have to go in with full intensity at your first class.

If you are still uneasy about boxing or other combat classes as a way of working out, weigh the benefits against the risks. Understand that you will not be sparring anyone until you are at an advanced level. While there is still a chance of injury of course, it would likely come from poor form, not any harm from others. Give it a try, it might be your new favorite way to exercise!

Have you ever taken a boxing class? Were you hesitant at first? Make sure to like, share, and subscribe to the blog. Let me know what you’d like to read about next in the comments down below!

Swimming can be intimidating, especially if you know your form isn’t the best. Unless we did it as a sport in school, many of us only see it as a summer activity. However, it is a wonderful way to work out and has many benefits. The biggest issue is knowing how to get started.

Being in good shape doesn’t always translate to swimming, which can be off-putting for many athletes. Even if you are very fit, you need to start slow in the water. A big obstacle to getting into swimming for many is not having easy access to a pool. Another problem one might face is a lack of confidence in your swimming abilities. There are plenty of small adjustments you can make to get yourself on the right track.

One adjustment you can make is to point your toes more. This helps you avoid dragging your legs through the water and also engages your calf muscles more. You should also try to keep your body in a straight line. This helps avoid extra resistance from the water and also works your core. Try seeking out a gym with water aerobics or adult swimming lessons.

The most important thing you can do when getting into swimming is to start slow and focus on your breathing. During most cardio workouts you likely don’t think about your breathe much, but during a swim workout it has to be a deliberate action. Try practicing in the shallow end of the pool before you start doing laps so that you can get a better hang of it.

When was the last time you went swimming? Is it part of your exercise routine in any way? Please like, share, and subscribe to the blog. Let me know in the comments down below what you’d like to see me write about next!

Sometimes it can be difficult to tell during your workout if you’re putting the right amount of effort in. Some people work out too hard, and burn themselves out  before the end of their workout. Other people only put 50% in throughout the workout and don’t push their limits to reach their full potential. Like with most of the topics I explore on this blog, it’s all about finding that balance and middle ground.

It can be easy to get too caught up in the workout to keep an eye on your intensity. Not being fully aware of how hard you are working your body can be dangerous. Another issue people face is not knowing the level of intensity they can handle for an extended period. This can cause a quick burn out that will result in you not getting the most out of your time at the gym.

This burnout (or lack of full effort) can be avoided by keeping a closer eye on how you are handling the intensity of a workout at any given moment. One way to gage this is the ‘talk test’. If you are able to hold a conversation with the person next to you, you are not working out hard enough. Another tactic is rating of perceived exertion, or RPE. This rates your effort on a scale of 1 to 10,  1 being sedentary and 10 being maximum intensity.

Your heart rate is the best way to measure your intensity during a workout quickly and easily. Knowing your resting heart rate is an important point of reference if you are going to use this method. You can either feel your pulse (counting how many beats there are in a minute) or wear a fitness tracker or smart watch that measures BPM. A fitness tracker is the best way as you can just check it quickly during your workout.

How do you gage the intensity of your workout? Have you discovered what your limits are during a workout or burned yourself out too quickly? Let me know in the comments down below. Please like, share, and subscribe to the blog. What would you like to see me write about next? Let me know, and thank you for reading!

If you’re like me, the gym can get boring pretty quickly. It can begin to feel like a chore, and you’re just not as excited about your workouts as you used to be. This can definitely put a damper on your fitness journey, and hold you back from reaching your goals. There’s many different reasons you may be tired of the gym, but there’s also many different ways to make it a fun part of your day again.

One of the easiest things to do is getting caught up in doing the same thing every time. Not only is this not a good way to workout, it gets boring very quickly. If you don’t change things up and do things that you enjoy, exercising becomes a chore. The best way to make the gym exciting again is to switch it up, and there’s many ways to do that. 

One great option to make the gym fun is to bring a friend. The gym can be a great and healthy date idea as well if both you and your partner are into fitness. Another thing to consider is switching gyms. Perhaps you aren’t at the best gym for you and that’s why you dislike it. Group classes are a wonderful option that I will always suggest, and you can read more about why these classes are a wonderful and fun way to workout in my previous post “The Benefits of Group Fitness”.

As I said before, the best and easiest way to make the gym exciting again is to try new things. If you aren’t a frequent user of the free weights area, see how you like lifting. If you have never tried yoga, go into an open space and figure out your limits. Of course, with any new thing, make sure you are doing it safely and in the presence of someone who can coach you to make sure you don’t hurt yourself.

What is your favorite thing to do at the gym? Are you an avid gym user or do you prefer working out outside or at home? Make sure you like, share, and subscribe to the blog. Do you have any questions or topics you’d like to see me cover? Let me know in the comments down below!

Calorie counting apps are a tool I use quite often. They are very useful for losing or gaining weight, or just keeping track of your nutrition and keeping your diet on track. However, while calorie counters can be a great tool, they can also be dangerous if you become obsessive over them or do not use them properly. In order for them to be helpful, you need to know how to use them. 

There are many mistakes you can make while using a calorie counter. Lying to your calorie counter is a huge mistake many people, including myself, make all the time. This creates an unhealthy relationship with a tool that is meant to help you with your health. Another mistake is using a calorie counter sporadically, using it for a week or even just a few days and then avoiding it. This does not allow you to truly see the patterns in your diet or keep track of the way you are eating.

In order to have the best experience with one of these calorie counting tools, you need to find the app that is right for you. There are dozens in the app store, but the most popular are MyFitnessPal, MyNetDiary, and LoseIt. I personally use both MyNetDiary and the Weight Watchers Freestyle App. Find one that you find aesthetically pleasing and intuitive, as that will make using the tool a much better and less intimidating experience.

Make sure the counter app you are using also shows you macros (protein, carbs, fats, etc.) A good diet is not just based on caloric intake, but on the nutrients you provide your body through the foods you eat. If you are an active person, make sure the app allows you to track your exercise as well, as this will affect your caloric needs. Try using a program such as Weight Watchers that uses a points system rather than calories.

Do you use a calorie counter app? Which one would you recommend? Please like, share, and subscribe to the blog. What would you like to see next? Post questions or topics in the comments below and I might address them in my next blog post! Thanks for reading!

Going on a vacation is one of the most exciting parts of summer for many people. It’s a time to relax, treat yourself, and make memories. With all these things going on, it can be very difficult to stay healthy on a trip. Eating out every night, constant activities, getting caught up in the fun. Of course there is nothing wrong with any of this, but if you are determined to keep up with your fitness and health, it can make things difficult.

Just like with all things in life, it comes down to finding a balance. You may find yourself getting too caught up in your vacation to stay on track with your health. On the other hand, you may get too obsessive about keeping up with your health to genuinely enjoy your free time. It can be genuinely difficult to find a balance, but it all comes down to the little things you do to stay on track.

One of the easiest (and most important) things you can do is make sure that you stay hydrated. During the summer, especially at popular vacation locations, it can get very hot and you can easily become very dehydrated. If you don’t have access to any sort of gym during your trip, there are tons of apps that can help you with at-home workouts, my favorite being Sworkit. 

My recommendation is to make physical activity part of your vacation. If you are traveling to a place with a lot of nature and readily accessible hiking trails, hiking can be a beautiful and fun way to get moving. If you are in an urban area where you are walking to your destinations a good deal, remember that walking does count as physical activity! Do things that will still allow you to enjoy your time off and make memories while keeping active at the same time.

What do you do to keep active while on vacation? Let me know in the comments down below. Please like, share, and subscribe to the blog for more content coming soon! Do you have any questions? What would you like me to post about next? Thank you for reading!

Over-exercising is a huge problem and can be dangerous. Exercise is not a punishment for what you ate or how you look, but a celebration of all the amazing things your body can do. When it becomes something other than that, it can be detrimental to your health. Exercise can become an addiction. There was a time in my life where I was addicted to exercise. Just as it’s important to have a healthy relationship with food, a healthy relationship with exercise is vital.

When you start seeing results from your exercise, it can be very exciting. You want to move further and improve even more, so you work harder. It can be easy to get hooked on the results and the endorphin rush you get from working out. Many people do not fully understand their limits or are not able to recognize the signs that they are overworking their bodies.

The first step to avoiding over-exercising is being able to recognize the signs. If you leave your workout leaving exhausted and irritable rather than energized, it could be a sign that you pushed yourself a little too hard. If you are getting sick frequently and can’t seem to recover, or are sore for days at a time after a workout, it may be a sign that it’s time for a rest day. It is important to listen to your body and find a balance.

At the height of my addiction to exercise, I was working out at least 2 hours a day every day. I was constantly tired and it was affecting me both physically and mentally, but I felt lazy when I took a day off. Looking back, I can now see how unhealthy that was. Things turned around for me when I began only allowing myself to work out for an hour at most every day, and making myself take at least one rest day a week. Since making these changes, I actually look forward to working out again, and though I am not as intensely active, I feel much healthier.

What do you do to make sure your relationship with exercise is a healthy one? Tell me in the comments! If you enjoyed my post please like, share, and subscribe to my blog. What would you like to see me post next? Ask a question in the comments and I may answer it in my next blog post!

A lot of people are intimidated by group fitness. It can be scary. A large group of people, loud music, shouting instructors. Because of this, they avoid it, missing out on a great opportunity for an entirely new fitness experience. These 45 minute to 1 hour blocks of time can be incredibly beneficial in many ways.

One of the reasons people may avoid group fitness is that they are worried about keeping up with the rest of the class. The class may be extremely physically challenging, and comparing yourself to others can get the best of you. If you are not one for crowds, it can also be a bit socially overwhelming. Group fitness classes can also be quite expensive, which is another common reason people avoid them.

The most difficult obstacle to overcome is the anxiety of not keeping up and comparing yourself to others. In order to warm yourself up to the idea of working out with others, try bringing a friend or two to the gym with you to do a partner workout, or try small group personal training. If price is what is driving you away, look further into your options. Many fitness studios have free or discounted classes if it is your first time. In addition to this, some gyms offer free classes with a membership.

My recommendation is to understand the benefits of group fitness and see if they are worth it for you. Group fitness has social benefits as well as health benefits, as it is a great way to meet new people with similar passions and goals to you. The group setting can also be a motivation boost, driving you to work harder in the class. One of the most important benefits of group fitness, in my opinion, is the guidance that comes from the instructor when it comes to form. Fitness in a group setting also causes you to be more accountable to show up, especially if you have pre-paid.

Why do you think group fitness is beneficial? Like, share, comment and subscribe. Let me know in the comments down below: have you ever taken a group fitness class? What were your thoughts? Also feel free to let me know what you’d like to see me write about next!

One thing I personally struggle with is deciding when to skip a workout when I’m not feeling well. I am constantly asking myself ‘sure, I feel gross, but does it really merit missing a workout?’. As someone who deals with chronic illness I face this issue a lot, and many of the athletes I know say that they’ve dealt with this as well. Whether it be a slight cold or the flu, you need to know your body’s limits so you can avoid the possibility of just making yourself more ill.

Many people who take their exercise routines very seriously will not give themselves a day off. Pushing yourself to workout when you feel physically ill can be dangerous and make your health worse. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is doing cardio when you are suffering from a respiratory problem, as it will not only limit your workout but can make your illness much worse. Many people do not adapt their existing workout routine to their needs, which is very important.

While working out is all about pushing your limits, it’s also about respecting and taking care of your body. If you feel the need to take a day off, take a day off. Your biggest concern when it comes to things like this should always be your health. If you are suffering from a respiratory infection or something similar, try a workout that will not make you short of breath, such as lifting light to moderate weights. In addition to this, consider trying yoga on days you don’t feel your best.

I suggest that if you are really set on working out, have an exercise routine prepared for when you’re sick. Keep it light and low impact, and give yourself plenty of time to stretch afterwards. If you have a fever or severe cough, do not workout, giving yourself time to recover is far more important. It’s all about knowing your limits and respecting your body.

What have you tried in the past? Are you the type of person who feels the need to workout even when they’re sick? Answer in the comment section down below. Please like, share, and subscribe! Also, what would you like to see me write about next?