MT Girl Fitness

I can't take all the accolades for this refreshing salad. My mom and I recently wanted to try something new and made this delightful concoction. I hope you enjoy! Watermelon and Feta Salad Recipe Ingredients  3 cups ripe watermelon chunks 1/4 cup fresh sliced basil 1/4 cup feta cheese crumbles Balsamic Glaze drizzle Directions Place the watermelon first on the plate. Sprinkle basil and feta over top of watermelon. Finish this tasty dish with Balsamic Glaze drizzle with your desired amount. 

Feeling Stressed? You Are Not Alone. Decrease Stress Fast With These 3 Easy Tips Everyone encounters stress, which manifests as tension that your body experiences either physically, mentally, or emotionally. Stress often has a negative connotation, but not all stress is bad. It can be beneficial as it triggers the body's fight or flight response. This response keeps us more attentive and motivated. However, if the body remains in this response for too long, chronic stress can begin to be detrimental to your health. A few signs that may indicate you are experiencing chronic stress include headaches, problems staying or falling asleep, aches and pains, exhaustion, stomach/digestive issues, and increased heart rate. Start to decrease stress fast with the tips located below. Tip #1 Exercise Exercise is beneficial for multiple reasons. In addition to improving our cardiovascular health, it is also a great stress reliever. Regular exercise causes a release in endorphins that help to decr

Fit Fitness Into Any Busy Schedule With Tabata Do you have a busy schedule that doesn't leave much extra time? Are you a busy parent that barely has a minute to yourself? Tabata might be your solution.  What is Tabata? Tabata is high-intensity interval training that is scientifically proven to burn calories faster and can be done in as little as twenty minutes. It focuses on eight rounds including twenty seconds of work and a ten-second rest. Each Tabata round is four minutes long and includes a one minute break following each round. Participants strive for complete exertion during each round.    Tabata Creator & Initial Experiment The Tabata Protocol was credited to Izumi Tabata, who is the Dean of Ritsumeikan University Graduate School of Sport and Health Science in Japan. In Tabata's original research, his team focused on two experiments centered on measuring VO2 max while using a mechanically braked cycle ergometer. Tabata compared moderate-intensity training and high-i

Indoor Cycling 101 There is nothing like walking into a dim-lit cycling studio filled with a distinct level of excitement and base so loud that you can feel it with every inch of your body. Music videos play on the wall and the dull roar of spin bikes can be heard. I love taking and teaching indoor cycling classes. It is a passion of mine and that is why I am both a Spinning Star 3 Elite and Rockstar Spinning Certified instructor. Although I have taught spin now for over 15 years, I still remember my first spin class. I also remember that I almost never took another spin class again. Below are a few tips to put you on the path for success. What Every Indoor Cycling Student Should Know Before Taking Their First Class If you are nervous to take your first indoor cycling class you are not alone. Many students are anxious about what to expect and have heard stories that the classes are challenging. The classes are challenging, but the great thing about indoor cycling is that any fitness le

Have you ever finished a great workout and thought to yourself, "I am going to feel that later!" This goes through my mind after almost every leg day. Muscle stiffness and pain are common side-effects of higher exertion activities. When muscles are pushed to an intensity they are not accustomed to, soreness can last up to five days. We will examine the causes of muscle soreness and tips to combat it. What causes muscle soreness? Muscle soreness occurs due to microscopic tears within muscle fibers and is considered a type 1 muscle strain. If you are like me, I am usually the sorest 48 hours after a workout. Muscle tenderness 24-72 hours after a workout is called DOMS or Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness. Below are four tips on how to decrease the effect of muscle soreness.   Ease muscle soreness with these 4 tips 1. Foam Roll I am not going to lie, I hate foam rolling, but it is one of those things you must do. When I need to roll out my IT bands I want to throw a fit li

Barre Workout-Arms and Abs