How to work out with wine (bottles) Who says that alcohol and exercise don’t mix? Well actually we did say that a few articles ago. However, exceptions can be made! The wine bottle workout craze is one of the most bizarre things to hit the internet since the gold dress (or was it blue?). What may surprise you even more is that the wine bottle exercises can actually give you a great workout. Dumbbells aren’t always readily available at the house, but with a quick glance to your wine rack, you may have everything you need for a great workout! How did this start? The wine bottle craze started when health coach April Storey began posting videos on social media documenting her weight loss journey, as well as the unconventional workout methods she has used to get fit. She uses full bottles of wine in place of low weight dumbbells to perform many popular full body workout routines. Before long, April’s videos went completely viral with over 25 million views on her original video. The wine isn’t only a resistance weight for April, its also a reward. In her videos she can be seen taking a sip of wine after a set as a reward for her hard work. Counter productive? Maybe, but if it motivates you, then more power to you. How do I workout with wine? When asked about the bizarre nature of her workout routine, April explained “I want to show people with my videos that fitness is something you can do every day, you can do it anywhere, and you can use anything,” she said. “You don’t have to have equipment. You don’t have to spend a lot of money.” This is the basic thought behind the workout – it can be done any time you have open space, and of course a couple bottles of your favorite vino. The wine workout replaces dumbbells or kettlebells with a bottle of wine for popular exercises such as: • Bicep curls • Tricep kickbacks • Weighted lunges • Lateral raises • Shoulder press Not everyone has the time to get to the gym, but this simple wine routine can give you a total body workout without ever leaving your wine cellar. If your overall goal is weight loss, it is important to remember that heavy drinking makes burning fat significantly more difficult. Your body will always seek to metabolize alcohol over fat, which means anytime there is alcohol in your system, your body is not going to burning stored fat.  

Making the decision to get to the gym requires discipline and will power. So how can you make it a bit easier on yourself? Get excited to get dressed in your new workout clothes! Athletic apparel comes and all shapes and sizes, and there is a piece of clothing for nearly every body type and type of workout. So how can you navigate the waters of workout wear? Take a look at this style guide for workout support clothing: Sports bras When it comes to clothing items that are difficult to buy, sports bras are right up there with party dresses and bathing suits. So how can you ensure you are making the right decision on a sports bra? The tip is to buy according to your body type. Women come in all shapes and sizes, and thankfully, so do sports bras. Your sports bra should be outrageously comfortable, so don’t settle for anything less. After all, your workout should get you out of your comfort zone (In a good way), not your athletic clothing. Here are important considerations when shopping for a sports bra: • Material • Cup Size • Level of Support • Racerback/Wide Straps • Compression/Encapsulation • Pullover/Back Clasps An Athletic Shoe for Every Outing You wouldn’t wear heels when walking your dog, and you wouldn’t wear boots to the beach – these are pretty basic rules of footwear. You probably also know that you should wear athletic shoes when working out; however, it may surprise you to know that type of shoe matter significantly on the type of workout you are taking part in. Runners It should come as a surprise to absolutely no one that if you are planning on going running, you should wear running shoes. These shoes typically feature a significant amount of cushion on the bottom and inside the sole area. They are designed to reduce the impact on your knees and joints and to keep you comfortable when running medium to long distances. While most people know that running shoes are good for running – they make the mistake of wearing running shoes for other athletic endeavors. Cross Trainers Have you ever taken a group exercise class such as Zumba or high intensity interval training? These can be excellent to increase your flexibility, endurance, and to keep you motivated. However, if you plan to make fitness classes a part of your normal routine, then purchasing a cross training shoe is a must! They offer a stable surface for complex movements, jumping, and body weight exercises. Although running shoes can be used in this type of environment, they are less effective and present a higher risk of injury. Weightlifting Shoes The most stable of all of the training shoes, weightlifters are the perfect shoe to wear on strength training days. If you think that these shoes are only for bulky powerlifters, think again. A great weightlifting shoe will give you the stability to lift more weight and activate the muscles you are trying to work. How can I put this in simple terms? Weightlifting shoes give you the stability to perform squats with challenging weight and great form – which is the key to a better butt. Compression Shorts Whether you are running, biking, lifting weights, or any other physical activity, compression shorts can have a variety of benefits. Besides being ridiculously comfortable in almost any situation, compression shorts can help you to look and feel thinner, support your glutes, and wick the sweat away from your body. Remarkably enough, compression shorts can also have an effect in helping your muscles recover from a workout. They have been proven to have an effect on reducing pain and swelling and reducing recovery time after workouts by removing lactic acid.

8 Things That Aren’t Crunches Did you know: you would have to do 17,500 sit-ups to burn a single pound of fat? Yes, you read that right – but luckily we came up with a few alternatives to getting perfectly toned abs. Everyone wants to have that perfect beach body, but there’s more to a toned stomach than thousands of crunches. Here are the 8 ways to get the body you want, without ever doing a single crunch: Cut the sugar Sugar tastes good, but it looks bad. After eating sugar, your body is given a quick boost of energy; however, unless your body uses this energy, it is going to store it as fat. Most of us know that sugar is bad excess, but cutting it out can be harder than you think. In fact, some of the foods that we think are good for us, like milk, yogurt, and apples, are actually very high in sugar. Drink more…Water Drinking water is a very important part of any weight loss – not only does it keep you from over eating, but it also jump starts your metabolism. Try drinking a gallon of water a day; this keeps your stomach full and your waist thin. Drink less…Alcohol Make no mistake about it – alcohol is destroying your six-pack dreams. When your body consumes alcohol, it stops burning fat until it has purged your bloodstream of all alcohol. On top of this, most adult beverages are full of sugar and carbs. Work out your legs That’s not a typo – working on your legs can actually be one of the best ways to uncover your abs. Your legs contain some of the largest muscles in your body and they are key to burning fat. Try strength training exercises such as squats, lunges, and calf raises. Besides, what beach body would be complete without the perfect legs to match? Cut Processed foods As it turns out, a six-pack has a lot more to do with diet than exercise. Artificial ingredients are very difficult for your body to break down; they slow your metabolism and make it increasingly difficult to burn fat. Stop eating grease Wouldn’t you rather be lathering your toned body with oil than eating it? Greasy foods are difficult for your body to breakdown and they are full of calories – a deadly combo when you’re trying to lean out. Often times, restaurants use far too much oil in their cooking, so ask your server if the entrée can be made without oil. After making this a habit, you won’t miss the grease and your taste buds will be free to savor the real flavor of an entrée. Be active Even if you can’t commit to a rigorous 5-day workout routine, everyone can make a commitment to being more active. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk instead of taking the car, or take advantage of other opportunities to be active. Cool sculpting So what can you do when diet and exercise aren’t enough? Thankfully, a procedure known as Cool Sculpting has been remarkably successful in getting rid of that stubborn fat. The process works by dropping the temperature of fat cells and freezing the cells away. The fact of the matter is, everyone has a six-pack underneath excess stomach fat; Cool Sculpting gets rid of the excess fat, revealing your beautifully toned abs. Imagine that – no crunches, no sit-ups, just results. At Pars, we’ve used this procedure to help women experience the confidence of a flat tummy, without a single crunch! Call us at 1.888.886.1333 to learn more about the ways cool sculpting can help you.

4 Ways to Get Rid of Stubborn Fat Stubborn fat – no matter what you do, it seems like it’s nearly impossible to get rid of. As you’re working towards your fitness and health goals, it’s easy to stay the course and remain motivated, but if your pudge won’t budge, you need to think outside the box. Of course we all know that diet and exercise are the best ways to burn fat, but what can you do when it isn’t enough? Try these 4 ways to get rid of stubborn fat: Confuse Your Muscles Some women are committed to a strict fitness routine, which is a healthy habit, but it might be working against you! Sometimes it is necessary to mix up your workout routine in order to confuse your muscles. Your body will adapt to your workouts after an extended period of time – so, if you want to burn that stubborn fat, it’s time to switch it up. Try mixing in some isometric exercises in order to work your muscled in new way. Fasted Training Diet and exercise are crucial components to fat loss; but as it turn outs, the time of day that you workout is also important. When you burn calories, your body is using one of two sources for energy: food or fat. So how can you ensure that your body is burning off stored fat? Try fasted cardio workouts. When you go to sleep at night, your body goes into a fasted state – therefore, a morning run can be just the thing you need to blast that stubborn fat away. Drink More Water Drinking water can work wonders for your waistline. First of all, when you drink more water, you drink less soda, alcohol, café lattes, and all the other drinks that are full of artificial ingredients and sugar. Making a simple switch to drinking water can cut hundreds of calories out of your diet. Once you make the switch to water, drink up! Hydration aids digestion and helps burn fat. Drinking water will boost your metabolism and keep you from overeating – it’s a simple switch, but it can make a huge difference. Cosmetic Surgery Where can you turn when eating right and working out aren’t giving you the results you deserve? Try cosmetic surgery. Safe and effective procedures have helped millions of women remove their stubborn fat. Plastic surgery has never been more popular than today! Procedures such a liposuction, cool sculpting, and the tummy tuck have helped women achieve the results that they have always dreamed of. No matter what has held you back in the past, make a decision today to get rid of that stubborn fat! With these 4 tips, you’ll be saying good riddance to that the flab that has overstayed it’s welcome. Call us to schedule your consultation today – 1.888.886.1333.