The occasional punch in the face by reality is good for us. Case in point: on occasion you’ll do, or not do, what you want because you’re concerned with what other people think. And it’s holding you back. Why do we care so much about other people’s opinions, even those of total strangers? Why do we do things, or not do things, because of how we expect others to react? No matter the “why” …
Operation Play More, Work Out Less (Exercise is NOT Mandatory)
Exercise. Work out. I'm not sure about you, but sometimes those words have a negative undertone. Depending on how they're used, it can make your fitness regimen sound like a chore - another item to check off your to-do list. Does this sound familiar after a long day at work? "Ugh. I have to go work out." Perhaps you're like me. I'll go through spurts where I love strength training. I genuinely …
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Total Body Workouts You Can Perform with a Swing Set (or Suspension Trainer)
I love working out at the local playground and oftentimes when I travel, I'll choose a playground over a gym, as shown in this playground workout. Playground workouts are a great way to get outside, breathe some fresh air, get some sunshine, and change things up a bit from traditional strength training with free weights. If you're getting bored with your current workouts, then this may be just …
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Lift Like a Girl TV with Jill Coleman: Give Your Mind a Makeover (This is the Ultimate Game Changer)
Let me be blunt - if you want to take things to the next level, you need to watch this latest edition of Lift Like a Girl TV with my friend, Jill Coleman. At the very least, read the Show Notes provided below the video. Jill is an amazing woman and an incredible source of knowledge, experience, and insight. And in my opinion, she consistently shares some of the most unique and helpful …
When “Health and Fitness” Isn’t Really Healthy, and What to Do About It
Health and fitness. Think about that phrase for a moment: health . . . and fitness. What does it mean? While the exact definition my vary from person to person, I think it expresses a sentiment of improving your quality of life by building a strong, resilient, functional body that ultimately serves you. The details such as exactly how's that's accomplished (whether through strength training, …
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A Great, Underused, Single Leg Exercise You Should be Performing
There are so many great exercises that some of them, unfortunately, can go unnoticed or get left behind. Today you're going to see one of my personal favorite, underutilized, single leg exercises. The lateral lunge. You'll also see the many benefits this exercise has to offer, reasons to include it in your program, and several progressions from beginner to advanced variations. First, let's …
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The Unspoken Darkside to Training for Performance and Focusing on What Your Body Can Do
If you've read the articles on Lift Like a Girl for a while, you know I'm an advocate of training for performance. After all, it's one of the cornerstone principles of the Lift Like a Girl Manifesto. It's been my suggestion for years that women (and men) should focus solely on what their body can do and that the goal of any workout program should be to get stronger, and do just a little better …
4 Advantages of Dumbbell Exercises and Why You Should Use Them (And 3 Disadvantages)
Dumbbells are great tools to have in your strength training arsenal. They allow for a lot of variety with your workouts, and they even have some significant advantages compared to barbells. Before we get into the article, please note that I’m not claiming that dumbbells are the best workout tool and that they’re superior to any other piece of equipment, be it barbells, kettlebells, or anything …