For this week’s SCR Fitness post, I will be talking about nutritious snacks that are quick and easy for on-the-go snacks, or for a pre or post workout snack. I mentioned in my Balanced Diet post that the body requires vitamins, minerals and nutrients to supply energy, but that doesn’t just refer to having 3 balanced meals a day. It also means having snacks in between meals to maintain energy throughout the day, especially when working out on a regular basis because it’s important to replace the calories that you burn during physical activity. Snacks that are both healthy and quick include: – Mixed nuts (contains fiber, protein and healthy…

Welcome back to SCR Fitness! This week I am going to be talking about the important of cardiovascular activity. Cardiovascular activity is often used interchangeably with the term aerobic exercise, both of these consist of any type of physical activity that works large muscle groups and gets your blood pumping. Cardio (aerobic) exercise consists of a variety of activities that you can do to get your blood pumping and muscles working: – Running – Riding a bike – Brisk walking – Swimming – Heavy cleaning – Rigorous gardening – Playing sports such as soccer, basketball, etc. As a former track and field athlete, cardio has been the most frequent fitness…

There’s more to staying active and healthy than working out as often as you can, or eating all the right foods 24/7; it’s also about taking time to rest. I’ve learned through personal experience that it’s almost impossible to “do it all” all the time. Sometimes life gets crazy busy, whether it’s the upcoming final exams, papers, and projects that lie ahead of us as we reach the end of this semester, things are busy at work, or you just have a lot going on in your life. Regardless of the circumstances, off days are absolutely necessary. Physically overexerting yourself when you’ve got a lot on your plate can cause…

Staying fit and active isn’t just about physically working out and being active, but it’s also about having a balanced diet. The body needs nutrients, vitamins and minerals to supply energy. Not all foods are all bad or all good, but having a balanced diet can reduce the risk of several serious health conditions such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and even depression. There are 7 main components to a balanced diet; I will go over each one and give examples of foods that fit each category. 1. Carbs (50% of daily intake) – Carbs provide the body with energy. Grains such as wheat, corn, oats, rice,…

Weight lifting/strength training is an important aspect of staying fit and active because it builds muscle strength. Some people don’t feel comfortable going to public gyms because all of the machines and weights can be intimidating, and they don’t know where to start or what to do. Today I am going to provide you with some information on the benefits of weight lifting, as well as some basic beginner lifts that you can try! -Weight lifting is not just about building stronger muscles for vanity purposes, although there are definitely certain lifts that you can do to improve any “problem areas” that you may want to visually improve. -Weight lifting…

Protein shakes are a big part of my daily fitness routine. Whether I make one in the morning because I’m running late and don’t have time to make a hot breakfast, or I make one after a workout, protein shakes can serve as an excellent meal supplement, snack, and aid in muscle recovery after a workout. There are countless combinations of different fruits, yogurts, juices, protein powders, etc. that you can put together to make your favorite shake. My personal favorite consists of a few simple ingredients, and takes me no more than 3-5 minutes to make. – First I start off by putting a couple spoonful’s of strawberry Greek…

Getting to a place where you feel motivated to work out and eat healthy on a daily basis can be difficult. There’s no quick fix and it can’t be done overnight. A big part of an individual’s fitness journey begins with setting goals. What do you want to accomplish? What results would you like to see? Create some sort of timeline, goal list or checklist to aid you in physically challenging yourself. Remember that it is important to be sure that the goals you set for yourself are realistic enough for you to achieve. Another way to help motivate yourself to get active is by making it fun. Do things…

Welcome to SCR Fitness! I am excited to share my journey from collegiate athlete to self-disciplined fitness individual. I have struggled to maintain the drive and motivation to stay fit ever since I stopped participating in organized sports, and that is why I have created this blog, to help others, like myself, find their spark to get fit! Throughout the course of this blog I will touch base on a variety of different topics ranging from how to get back in shape, to quick and effective workout plans, to what foods can help keep you healthy, give you energy, gain muscle mass, and so much more. All too often people…