Skip to main content

5 Easy Fitness Tips for the New Year, New You

It’s not too late to honor your New Year’s resolution to get in shape.  In fact, meeting your fitness goals might be easier than you think. Here are five simple tips from Danielle Harrison, Fitness Curator at New York City’s Ink48, A Kimpton Hotel, to help you slim down and tone up in 2014.
Ink48 Fitness Curator, Danielle Harrison
1. PLAN OUT YOUR MEALS. Don’t wait until your stomach is growling to decide what to make for dinner. It is important and easier for your diet to plan out your meals for the week or for each day in advance.  If you have to think about what to eat, where to get it, or how long it will take to make, you will tend to just go with the easiest option, which is most likely the unhealthiest. Plan ahead! 
2. DON’T OVER DO IT. Don't re-boot your fitness routine by going to the gym for three hours in one day, trying to make up for everything you have missed. Start out by working out for an hour whether it’s by taking a class or using exercise equipment. Understand that the first day back might be a struggle, but you will bounce back quickly if you are a returning gym-goer, or you will adapt quickly if you are a gym newbie.
3. DEFINE YOUR GOALS. Depending on what your goals are, hiring a personal trainer is an excellent way to stay accountable to someone who can monitor and track your progress. If you buy a package of classes or training sessions you will be more likely to use it because you've already spent the money. For a more cost effective option, find a fitness friend or running buddy. This way, when you are too tired to work out, you will have your friend pushing you to hit the gym together.
4.  COMBAT CRAVINGS. During the holidays, your body got used to all of the sugary foods you ate. To combat those cravings, keep apples, grapes and raisins nearby as sweet and healthy alternatives. Other great snack options include almonds, or a spoonful of natural peanut butter.
5. BOOK A FITNESS-MINDED HOTEL. Traveling can be taxing on the body as it is; adding in a hotel that doesn’t offer any fitness options equals disaster. Nowadays, there are plenty of hotels with 24-hour fitness centers, including Ink48. In addition to the state of the art fitness center, the hotel offers guests a “Runner’s Amenity Kit” which provides guests with popular running accessories in case they forgot to pack them. All Kimpton hotels now have in-room yoga mats and complimentary branded bikes that guests can ride during their stay.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Conway Discount Clothing Chain Closing in New York City

(Tracy E. Hopkins) It's the end of a budget shopping era. Conway discount stores are closing in New York City . As of this weekend, a sign on the sole Herald Square location (34th Street btwn 7th and 8th Ave) says the store will close in "7 Days." Before I relocated to the Big Apple, I was introduced to the discount chain while on a bus trip from Baltimore.  I recall the first time I saw Conway's signature pink bags carried by hurried shoppers in midtown. And Miss Foster, the trip organizer and a bargain hunter from way back, took me to the store for the first time. Conway store in the Fulton Mall./Tracy E. Hopkins When I moved here in 1994, my love affair with Conway continued.  I furnished my first apartment with discount knick-knacks and home goods from the store.  And much to my chagrin, in hindsight, I curated most of my wardrobe for my first full-time job from the long-shuttered 42nd Street and Third Avenue store. One regretful ensemble: Lime green and

Soak Up the Last Weeks of Summer Sun At The Rockaway Hotel

Summer is winding down, but there's still time to soak up the sun -- while wearing sunscreen, chic shades and a protective hat or sun visor, of course. If you're in New York City, The Pool at The Rockaway Hotel + Spa  is a cool place to swim, lounge and discreetly people watch while swaying to beat of ambient music.  It's a vibe! Day passes are available for non-hotel guests Monday through Thursday (excluding private events, 10 am -7 pm).  Located in the heart of the Rockaway Beach community in Queens, New York, the Rockaway Hotel is just a few short blocks from the sand and surf. Besides the outdoor pool,  the  newly built 84,000 square foot hotel offers around 60 guest rooms, a restaurant, a rooftop bar, and a large event space. And it's a nice addition to the area.  When my husband and I visited the popular pool, we enjoyed yummy sips and bites poolside. Lounging chairs are first come, first serve so the early bird gets the spot of their choice. After chilling at t

The Re-Education of NeNe Leakes: The Reality Star Talks About College Hill, What Housewives She's Still Friends With and More

(Tracy E. Hopkins) I’ve been a fan of The Real Housewives of Atlanta since the beginning.     So I jumped at the chance to chat with original RHOA cast member and breakout star NeNe Leakes.     It’s been a tough couple of years since NeNe parted ways with the show. In 2021 her husband Gregg lost his battle with colon cancer and earlier this year she filed a discrimination lawsuit against her former employer, Bravo. But on the brighter side, the 54-year-old is dating again and starring in the BET limited reality series,   College Hill: Celebrity Edition.    Along with other headline-grabbing reality TV stars including, Big Freedia, Lamar Odom, Stacey Dash and Ray J., NeNe and the members of the cast lived together and attended classes at the historically Black Texas Southern University.     We asked NeNe what it was like to go back to school, what the biggest misconception about her is, which housewives she's still friendly with, and more.   Everything She Wants : What did it feel