So you’ve decided to join the ranks of those women who weight train several times a week, but perhaps you are having difficulty deciding which exercises to do. The program you choose will depend on your overall goals. For example, if you are in it to lose weight, you will exercise differently than you would if you simply wanted to maintain the muscle mass you already possess.

Crunches are great for the abdominals. This is an exercise that has definitely stood the test of time and continues to be a part of many fitness routines. You simply lie down on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Place your arms behind your head clasping your hands. Point your elbows up and forward. Lift your head and arms off the floor, leaving the rest of your body intact. Lower your head and arms back to the floor and repeat the process several more times. You can start with ten crunches and work your way to up from there. You can even do ten, rest for 30 seconds, then do ten more.

The bench press is another great weight lifting exercise for women. Here you will need a bar and some weights. Make sure you always have a spotter there to make sure you are doing the exercise correctly and to help should you get in trouble. You will start by just using a 45 pound bar. This will be a good base. Lie flat on your back on the bench with your feet planted firmly on the floor at one end. Keeping your shoulders back and elbows in, lift the bar straight up from your chest extending your arms as you go. Then lower it back to the starting position. Repeat this process several times resting in between sets before doing it all over again. Add weights to the bar when you are comfortable with the weight and exercise as a whole.

Weight machines are also a great idea. They serve as a good source of strength training. Many gyms contain machines that allow you to make a circuit around the room. This will cover all muscle groups and give you a good strength training workout.

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Warm up: 2 sets of 50 jumping jacks, 5 minutes rowing

Michelle Obama Workout Routine: (video below)
- 1 min Wall sit with arms extended
- 10 Plyometric Jumps
- 15 Push Ups
- Glute Bridge March 15 each side
- 15 Diamond Push Ups
- Side Plank 30 secs each side
- repeat circuit 4 times (beginners 3 times)

“I stand here today at the crosscurrents of that history – knowing that my piece of the American dream is a blessing hard won by those who came before me.”
- Michelle Obama
httpvp://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=4AB882BCD91DA743

Thanks, Daniel for the great arm workout!

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Warm up: 2 mile jog/run on 1.5-3.0% incline (beginners can modify)

Sexy Abs of Steel Workout Routine:

- Plank, bend with a twist set (15 on each side)
- ab hold/ L sit/or pike/ at least 30 seconds or to failure (advanced with rings or bar hang)
- flutter kicks 40 2 counts (beginner 20-30)
- the hundred (100 pulses)
- repeat 3 times (videos below)

How are those abs? …Post your results!

httpvp://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=0D1C7300B9AF7550

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I caught a re-run of Oprah the other day featuring guest star Kirstie Alley.  Kirstie was bringing Oprah up to speed on her weight loss battle and various TV projects.  Oprah asked about a typical day of eating and Kirstie went into what she described as “monoeating.”  Apparently, this refers to eating mostly the same thing every day.

I had to laugh at the term and then admit that I”m probably one of those!  I simply just don’t mind eating consistently – it actually makes it simpler.  If I get bored I do switch it up, but it works well for me.

Enough about me, though.  Kirstie’s morning went something like this:

Breakfast: half a whole-wheat english muffin with an egg (the WHOLE egg, not just an egg white, she clarified) and fruit
Snack: Fage yogurt with flavored Stevia drops and cinnamon

Sound familiar?!  I couldn’t wait to let you know that you eat like the stars!

Curious about my typical day?  I love my monoeating!

Breakfast #1: 1 egg with toast and cottage cheese
Options #1: Oatmeal with a milk topping and 1 egg

Snack: Fage yogurt with English Toffee Stevia

Lunch #1: Salad with some sort of protein and either beans or bread or crackers
Option #2: Pastrami sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and low-fat mozzarella or cheddar

Snack: Protein shake (LFL vanilla PP, almond milk, blueberries) = YUM!
Option #2: Cottage cheese and strawberries

Dinner: Always a combination of protein, a starch, and a variety of vegetables

Thanks Laurie for sharing these great tips on creating healthy habits each day that we can stick to! Are you a monoeater or do you like to switch it up everyday? Share your thoughts with us here…

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CrossFit workouts are intense and require you to push your self to your max. This workout is done for time and you can do it as a team or in tandem with only two people. Get ready to sweat, bring the intensity and push your team mate to do the same.

Each team takes EVERY OTHER LINE (I’ve indicated T1 and T2 for teams 1 & 2) and the workout is done for time.

HEL-KEL CrossFit Workout Routine:

T1:  RUN 400M
T2:  21KB SWINGS
T1: 2 ROPE CLIMBS
T2: 400M RUN

T1:  21KB SWINGS
T2:  2 ROPE CLIMBS
T1:  RUN 400
T2:  30 WALL BALLS

T1:  30 BOX JUMPS
T2:  400M RUN
T1:  30 WALL BALLS
T2:  30 BOX JUMPS

T1:  ROW 500M
T2:  21 KB SWINGS
T1:  2 ROPE CLIMBS
T2:  500M ROW

T1:  21 KB SWINGS
T2:  2 ROPE CLIMBS
T1:  ROW 500M
T2:  30 WALL BALLS

T1:  30 BOX JUMPS
T2:  500M ROW
T1:  30 WALL BALLS
T2:  30 BOX JUMPS
httpvp://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=D00FD7F93AD0AFA9

*KB = Kettlebell swings
*ROPE CLIMBS = If you can’t do rope climbs, then do 20 pull ups (use band if needed)

Good luck and post your time and results!! Thanks Karen for a great workout!

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- Complete each exercise for 20 seconds
- Use full range of motion and focus on being explosive
- After completing one exercise, transition IMMEDIATELY to the next exercise without resting

Advanced Body Weight Workout Routine:
- One circuit is as follows;
- Ski Jumps
- Spiderman Push-ups
- Hip Thrusts (to the side)
- Bench Dips (1 foot elevated)
- Split Squat Jumps (or jumping lunges)
- Alligator push-ups

- After completing entire circuit, rest 1-3 minutes (depending on fitness level)
- Repeat 1 to 4 times for a quick and effective metabolism-boosting workout that can be done anywhere
- Use this body weight workout no more than twice weekly and focus on decreasing rest time and/or increasing sets as the weeks progress

Thanks for the great workout Brad! How did you do? Share your body weight workout experience below..! To chat with Brad, you can follow him on Twitter or Facebook.

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This workout is best done outside on the track, but a treadmill can also be used.

Warm up: 400 meters jog (1 lap around the track), 20 push ups, 20 mountain climbers, 20 triceps dips (if outside use the curb)

Partner Workout Routine:

- 400 meters run/sprint; 200 jog and 200 sprint (half track jog, half track sprint)
- 25 push ups after each 400 meters
- then 400 meters; lunge straight way and jog curbs
- repeat the sets
- Do this workout together with your partner; run, jog and sprint, then complete the push ups and lunges together.
- Do as many rounds as quickly as possible in 25 minutes.

Encourage and motivate your partner to keep moving! How many rounds did you do? Post your score below…

‘Semper Fi’; Semper Fidelis is Latin for “Always Faithful” and is the motto of the United States Marine Corps.

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Let’s take a gamble on today’s workout and play “Black Jack“! 

Warm up: 15 minutes of cardio on treadmill, bike or elliptical then 2 sets of 20 crunches, 10 walking lunges and 10 push ups

‘Black Jack 21′ Full Body Workout:

- 20 bench press reps  & 1 back squat
(both sets with weight; Men = 135 lbs, Women = 45-75 lbs, beginner = no weight)
- 19 bench press  reps & 2 back squats
(both sets with weight; Men = 135 lbs, Women = 45-75 lbs, beginner = no weight)
- 18 bench press reps  & 3 back squats
(both sets with weight; Men = 135 lbs, Women = 45-75 lbs, beginner = no weight)
- 17 bench press reps… and so on

- Go all the way down to 1 bench press and 20 squats… This is a killer workout!
- Beginners can do push-ups and air squats, no weight.
- Post your time and the weight that you used!

“Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.” – Oprah Winfrey

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You will be 100% more effective with your workouts if you have a written plan. Commit to your written workout plan and bring the intensity..!

Warm up: 10 push ups, 10 pull ups (use leg band if needed), 10 sit ups, 10 lunges, 10 Diamond push ups, and 1k row

Upper Body Chest Workout Routine:

- You will do 20, 15, 10 and 5 of your body weight Dead Lifts and your body weight Olympic Incline Press. Modify the weight if needed.

- 20 reps Dead Lifts
- 20 reps Olympic Incline Press

- 15 reps Dead Lifts
- 15 reps Olympic Incline Press

- 10 reps Dead Lifts
- 10 reps Olympic Incline Press

- 5 reps Dead Lifts
- 5 reps Olympic Incline Press

This is a timed workout, have your dead lift bar and your incline press loaded with your body weight, and spotter if needed. Post your time and what weight/modifications you used.

Beginners/Intermediate: modify your weight to fit your level

httpvp://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=FB8D3EC32CAA5375

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Let’s focus on endurance training and start adding a running workout to your routine if you haven’t already.

Warm up: 20 push ups, 20 Jumping jacks, 20 walking lunges do this 3 times

Endurance Workout Routine:

-  This workout is great for runners; outside or on the treadmill. If you can’t run, use the same routine on an elliptical or bike and bring the intensity!

- Warm Up to intensity; 5-7 minutes
- Increase speed from warm up slightly; 5-7 minutes
- Increase speed and incline or resistance; 5-7 minutes (this should take you to your max!)
- Maintain speed and decrease incline/resistance to 0; 5-7 minutes
- Increase speed again and incline/resistance to 1-2%; 5-7 minutes
- Maintain speed and decrease incline/resistance to 0; 5-7 minutes
- Decrease speed and cool down; 5-7 minutes

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