Top 7 Reasons Cardio is a key component of your fitness program

I hate treadmills. There is nothing worse than running and going nowhere...in my opinion :) For years, I would go to the gym and ignore the boring cardio machines, opting to only lift weights. I was missing out on so many benefits of doing cardio, but I didn’t want to be bored!! High Intensity Interval Training was the answer for me. The treadmill wasn’t so horrible if I was sprinting as fast as I could for 30 seconds then taking a break for a bit. Challenging myself like that was the only way I could stomach the treadmill. After a while though, that too became mundane. Boot Camp training was the answer for me. Doing a variety of cardio drills alleviates boredom completely and not only will your heart benefit, you might have to shop for new clothes in a smaller size!

If you are one that doesn’t have time for long drawn out bouts of cardio I have good news! You can get the same results from short bursts of activity…if done correctly!

Here are some of the top benefits of high intensity cardio exercise;

Cardio exercise improves blood circulation

Cardiovascular activity like running helps to increase the density of your capillary network. Capillaries are tiny blood vessels that cover your entire body delivering oxygenated blood and nutrients to where they are needed and taking away toxins and other waste products from cells. By increasing the density of your capillary network you create an environment where greater oxygen delivery is possible and waste disposal is made more efficient.

Cardio exercise lowers blood pressure

Cardiovascular conditioning like running can help lower blood pressure. While the scientific reasons for this are unclear, it has been observed as a common by-product of those who exercise regularly, particularly if blood pressure was high to begin with. In fact many doctors will recommend patients commit to a period of cardiovascular activity if they discover they have high blood pressure! One of our fit chicks Dee recently got a great dr. report and was able to discontinue her blood pressure meds due to her fitness training at Texas Fit Chicks bootcamp!

Cardio exercise enhances blood flow

Greater blood flow means you can circulate greater levels of oxygen around the body and produce energy more efficiently. Enhanced blood flow will also help remove waste products and toxins more effectively.

Cardio exercise increases stroke volume

Stroke Volume refers to the volume of blood the heart pumps per beat. Cardio exercise can cause a substantial increase in stroke volume both at rest and when exercising.

Increased stroke volume is likely caused by;

• A decreased heart rate allowing for more blood to enter the ventricles between beats

• A greater volume of blood in circulation leading to more blood returning to the heart

• An increase in the size of the left ventricle chamber

• An increase in the strength of the hearts contractions due to thicker ventricle walls

Cardio exercise lowers resting heart rate

Many people experience a substantial lowering of resting heart rate after improving their conditioning through cardio exercise. This is likely to be caused by an increase in stroke volume and improved oxygen delivery. The result is the heart has to beat fewer times per minute to deliver the same amount of oxygen. A resting heart of 70bpm or lower is excellent.

Cardio exercise increases energy expenditure

Cardio exercise is fantastic means of increasing your weekly energy expenditure. For those of you fit chicks looking to burn fat this is good news. Increasing your energy expenditure makes it more likely that you will create the required energy deficit for fat loss to occur. Remember if your body has an energy surplus then there is no need for the body to dig into its own energy reserves (fat) to make up the short fall.

High intensity cardio like our bootcamp hill sprints will also help trigger the release of potent fat burning hormones such as HGH thereby helping to accelerate fat loss results. Low intensity cardio will not

Cardio exercise can help improve sports performance

For those of you that play sports, enhancing your conditioning will only help your performance. More often than not it is the player or team who is able to maintain their intensity for longer that will come out on top in an athletic setting.

At Texas Fit Chicks bootcamp, we incorporate Tabata training during our workout. This high intensity training protocal will give you greater benefits than steady state training. Our bodies also never have the opportunity to plateau when you participate in our boot camps, since every single workout is different.Our clients see the benefits of working out in as little as 4 weeks with us. Join us and start this Monday to make sure your workout will get you the results you want to see. We take the guesswork out of losing weight and getting healthy! 

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We offer our womens' only fitness program in: Mesquite, McKinney, Allen, Plano, Frisco, Anna, Prosper, Keller, Wylie, Richardson, Dallas, The Colony, Lancaster, Celina, Rockwall, Carrollton, College Station & Houston

7 Tips to Lose Weight + How to Speed Up Your Metabolism

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Weight loss is a topic of vital importance for everyone that is truly interested in their health. Although many of us make weight loss our new year's resolution, it is a topic that must be dealt with year round. I've put together 7 simple steps to lose weight, plus details on how to speed up your metabolism. 

• When starting a weight loss journey, especially a significant one, clients that set multiple small goals instead of focusing on the main goal are much more successful.  It is much more daunting to think about losing 50 pounds in 6 months than it is to focus on losing 10 pounds in one month. By choosing the smaller goal, in 6 months you will have lost 60 pounds instead of 50.

• Reducing your stress level is essential when on a weight loss or fitness plan. Depression can cause you to eat more, eat unhealthy foods and reduce exercise. When you are stressed out it is hard to find motivation to exercise, so reducing stress can lead to being more active.

• Increasing the taste and zest in your food can help you feel full and make dieting a great deal more pleasurable. By choosing spicy food and other flavor-packed cuisines, you entertain your taste buds and add to the overall level of satisfaction you take in eating. Meals no longer have to be bland, self-denying experiences.

• As soon as you start to see some progress with your weight loss goals, reward yourself with a little shopping trip. You don't have to spend a lot of money. Just buying a new pair of pants or a new shirt will go a long way toward motivating you to continue. Soon you will see even more changes!

• To help achieve more noticeable weight loss, watch the amount of sodium that you eat each day. Eating too much sodium can cause you to retain water which will lead to pounds on the scale. If you do not see your weight go down, you may become discouraged and give up your diet. Knowing that muscle weighs more than fat is important because the scale isn’t always the best indicator of improved fitness. I always go by how my clothes fit versus the number.

• You should always try to find diets and eating plans that emphasize long term lifestyle change. Using methods of weight loss that have you losing weight much too quickly will only lead to you gaining back all of the weight you lost just as fast as you lost it. This becomes a vicious cycle for too many women. Are you one that's tried every diet? I am! Before becoming a trainer, I did the Cabbage Soup diet, South Beach, Atkins, Detox Diet....and the list goes on. Inevitably I'd lose and then gain back everything I'd lost plus another 5 or so pounds! Those are not long term fixes, and once you're 'off' the restrictive plan, you make up for lost time and gain more weight back than you lost. 

• Weight loss is all about consistency. Don't wake up one morning, think you are going to go to the gym or start boot camp one day, and be skinny the next day. Weight loss is about waking up every morning with the motivation and determination to keep on going, to keep changing your unhealthy habits into healthy habits, until you reach your target weight.

Every one of us has an idea about what we would look like if we were our ideal selves. For many of us losing weight is a vital step toward achieving that vision. By applying the tips from this article you will help ensure that you reach and maintain your ideal self. Weight lifting is a critical piece of any good weight loss program. Research has shown that weightlifting boosts metabolism. For a lot of people trying to speed up their metabolism, the first thing they think is to engage in an aerobic or cardio-exercise program. However, by merely focusing on cardiovascular activities, you may actually miss another piece of the fitness puzzle. Few people realize that when it comes to speeding up metabolism, good old-fashioned weight lifting is one of the effective methods, if not the best way to boost metabolism.

A number of studies have shown that athletes exhibit higher RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate) than non-athletes. RMR is the number of calories we burn to maintain our vital body processes in a resting state. It is usually determined by measuring a body’s oxygen utilization (which is closely tied to calorie burning) while one is lying down or sitting quietly in the early morning before breakfast or after a full night’s sleep. RMR typically accounts for about 65 to 75 percent of the total daily calorie expenditure.

When you lift weights, you’re not actually building muscle, you are breaking it down. The physical exertion involved in weightlifting causes the metabolism to speed up. After the muscle is broken down, the body compensates by building more muscle to try and keep the muscle from breaking down again. It takes a large amount of energy from calories to rebuild new and bigger muscles (happens while you sleep), So lifting weights burns calories and speeds up metabolism not only during the weight lifting workout but also while the body builds bigger and stronger muscles.

A weight lifting routine must be done correctly and at regular intervals to get the maximum effect. Going to the gym once a week will not bring the kind of results I am talking about. It will take some time and dedication to build new muscle mass but the end result will be worth it with a better body and a sped up metabolism. Texas Fit Chicks boot camp trainers teach women HOW to lift and at intervals that work. Our program is proven to get results, and we are so confident in it that it’s 100% guaranteed.

For taking the time to read this article, I would love to extend the offer of a free class with Texas Fit Chicks if you've never experienced a TFC workout, to see if our program might be right for you. Feel free to visit our website (www.texasfitchicks.com) to see which location works best for you. Reach out to the trainer in your area and let her know you’d like to try a free class. She will sign register you for the trial and get you all of the information you will need.

Committed to your success,
Melody Chandler, CPT
Owner/Texas Fit Chicks Boot Camp
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62 Healthy Snacks of your Texas Fit Chick Trainers

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We've put together a list of favorite snacks from our Texas Fit Chick Trainers to share with you! December is a month full of treats and temptations....try to snack often on these healthy treats, to keep your willpower muscle strong! 

Our University Park trainer Anna resommends...

apple slices topped with all natural peanut butter

 cucumber slices with hummus

Sandy, our trainer in Wylie loves...

3 oz of lunch meat (rolled up) and an apple

 carrots/celery with roasted red pepper hummus

 pumpkin oatmeal bars (homemade)

post workout turtle bars (oat or coconut flour, quinoa, sesame seeds, chia seeds, almonds (any nut) & lentils w/honey)

 PB2 on brown rice crackers

 celery or fruit

Our Allen trainer Elizabeth:

  Celery with almond butter

 i also put 1lb of organic chicken tenders in my toaster oven to bake for about 10 minutes...then save them in the fridge and snack on those when hungry and serve to the kids as snacks or part of lunch

Here are the favorites from our Prosper trainer Shonnery...

Carrots and Hummus
String Cheese
3 egg whites & 1 whole egg w/Chipotle Laughing Cow wedge
Green Fuji Apple with PB2
Shakeology

Trina, our Anna trainer snacks on:

Tomato slices and a cup of low fat cottage cheese

Apple and a few almonds 

Apple and about a tablespoon of peanut or almond butter

Hard boiled egg and an apple

a fresh fruit mix of strawberries, blueberries and raspberries with either a cup of Greek yogurt or cottage cheese.

Shakeology

Plano trainer Danyelle loves

veggies & hummus 
Celery & fresh ground peanut or almond butter
Nuts

Frisco trainer Michelle:

Homemade hummus, blueberries & yogurt, peanut butter

Mesquite trainer Lindsey enjoys...

Greek yogurt and fresh pineapple
String cheese and almonds
Greek yogurt ranch with carrots
Diced avocado and tomatoes
Green smoothie
Apple with a little bit of peanut butter

Plano trainer, Titia

 One small gala apple with 1 teaspoon Justin's Maple Almond Butter

 I added a tsp of Justin’s Maple Almond Butter to my plain Greek yogurt with one drop of liquid Stevia...heaven!

The Colony trainer, Tabitha recommends...

Fage Greek yogurt sweetened with Stevia and berries.

Pita chips and/or veggies with hummus

Frisco trainer, Aimee loves

Apple and pb, Shakeology, raw almonds, hard boiled eggs  and grapefruit

Allen trainer Michelle enjoys

1/2 grapefruit 1/2 cup lf cottage cheese
1/2 chopped chicken Brest with 1 tsp pesto and 1/2 tomato
Spinach with 1/4 cup sliced apple sprinkle almonds olive oil lemon juice

McKinney trainer LeighAnnes' favorites are
12 - 15 almonds 
3 egg whites + one whole egg with tumeric and hot sauce
1 tbs almond butter on Ezekiel toast
Whey protein shake 
Plain Greek yogurt mixed with puréed fruit made at home

Shakeology

Braes Heights trainer, Karen enjoys

Fage non-fat greek yogurt with fresh berries, honey and ground flax seeds

College Station trainer Melody loves...

Shakeology

Quest Protein Bar

Almonds with string cheese

Apple

Greek Yogurt with frozen blueberries and stevia

Carrollton trainer Wendy likes:
apple slices or banana with 1-2 tsp of peanut or almond butter fresh salsa and 6 whole grain tortilla chips; 1/3 C greek yogurt with honey and banana slices; half a slice of whole grain toast with a teaspoon of Nutella

Keller trainer Vivian:

1 Tbsp of peanut butter with 15 baby carrots and a small box of raisins

Let us know if you find your favorite new snack here...or add your favorite healthy snack to the comment box below!

Texas Fit Chicks Boot Camp - helping women discover their inner FIT CHICK in a supportive and fun environment! Start your journey any Monday. Serving chicks from mcKinney, Dallas, Frisco, Plano, Allen, Prosper, Houston, Spring, College Station, Richardson, Anna, Wylie, Mesquite, Keller, The Colony and Carrollton Texas

Why does Interval Training work?

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Boot Camp Fat Loss - Why Interval Training Works

What is it About Boot Camp Fat Loss and Interval Training that Works So Well?

If you are interested in knowing more about boot camp fat loss, then you have come to the right place. This is not the type of training meant for those that are afraid to sweat. We like to say that at Texas Fit Chicks bootcamp we don't sweat...we glisten. Losing weight with interval training like the type that is featured in our boot camp is much more productive than many other types of programs for fat loss out there.

For many people that want to lose weight it is not about how, but instead about the results. Women want to be able to see in the mirror that they are losing weight or at least step on a scale and see that they are lighter. This means that you need more than just a workout that makes you feel the soreness that you only feel when you know you worked hard. You also need a method of working out that is going to prove to you that you can lose weight and you can see it disappearing.

You do not need to have any fancy equipment to use boot camp fat loss exercises and the best fat burning exercises are the ones you can do with your own body. Texas Fit Chicks keeps it interesting with body weight movements that you can do without any equipment to get the results you are after. We also incorporate the use of medicine balls, resistance bands and Kettlebells from time to time.

Making Sure you Use Boot Camp Fat Loss Properly

 Boot camp fat loss workouts have become very popular across the United States and for good reason.  The reason behind the popularity is all in the results. The results that women are seeing from the different boot camp fat loss programs are visible and they change your body. Texas Fit Chicks is unique in our approach. Unlike other bootcamps in the area, we never yell, demean or embarass you into pushing yourself. Our atmosphere is to inspire you to challenge yourself. We know how to motivate without a megaphone.
When you participate in our boot camp programs you'll find out very quickly that you are going to use all of your muscles instead of just isolating a few of them each day. When you perform exercises that engage all of your muscles, you will burn more fat than you will ifyou just isolate one group of muscles. If you were to compare doing crunches to doing an exercise like a jump squat you are going to find that the jump squat burns about 10 times as many calories. This is because it engages more of the muscles groups than a crunch does.

If you become a client of Texas Fit Chicks boot camp fat loss program, it will help you to lose the weight you are trying to shed much faster than most other routines out there. We also hold you accountable! We use interval type of training to help you get your heart rate up, find your target zone, and engage as many muscle groups as possible in each exercise.

The best part about losing weight is that you gain confidence, energy, and so much more. This is a life changing experience that many have already gone through, and you can be our next FIT Chick! Once you find and complete the first of your Texas Fit Chicks boot camp fat loss program, you will be hooked on the results and you will want to do it again and again.

We offer locations in McKinney, Plano, Allen, Prosper and Frisco with times as early as 5am and as late as 8pm M-F. Our bootcamps are for women only and we've helped hundreds of chicks become TExas Fit Chicks since 2009. What are you waiting for? Get in with us for under $200 and change your life.

http://www.texasfitchicks.com/
www.facebook.com/texasfitchicks for FREE fitness TIps daily, plus a chance to win a FREE 5 wk Boot Camp with us!

5 Amazing (and Healthy) Recipes the fam will love...all under 30 mins.

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BBQ Chicken Wraps
Ingredients

4 large, high fiber tortillas (I used Large La Tortilla Factory Whole Wheat Low Carb Tortillas)
8 oz shredded, skinless rotisserie chicken breast
1/2 cup prepared barbecue sauce
1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup corn (thawed if frozen, drained if canned)
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1 cup shredded cabbage
1/2 cup red onion, diced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
Juice from 1 lime, freshly squeezed

Instructions
Place a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add all ingredients except tortillas, carrots, cilantro and cabbage; stir to combine. Cook until hot, 4 to 5 minutes.
In a separate bowl, combine cabbage, carrots, and cilantro.
Assemble the wraps by equally diving the cabbage mixture between the 4 tortillas, and place in the center of each tortilla. Top with one-fourth of the chicken mixture; roll as you would a burrito.

Slice in half diagonally and serve warm.

Preparation time: 15 minute(s)Cooking time: 5 minute(s)Diet (other): Low calorie, Reduced fat, Reduced carbohydrate, High protein

Number of servings (yield): 4
Recipe by LaaLoosh.com.

Entire recipe makes 4 servings
Serving size is 1 wrap
PER SERVING: 206 calories; 5g fat; 34 g carbohydrates; 33 g protein; 14 g fiber

Chicken Breasts with Mushroom Cream Sauce
Ingredients


2 5-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 medium shallot, minced
1 cup thinly sliced shiitake mushroom caps
2 tablespoons dry vermouth, or dry white wine
1/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons cream
2 tablespoons minced fresh chives, or scallion greens

Preparation
Season chicken with pepper and salt on both sides.
Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning once or twice and adjusting the heat to prevent burning, until brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165°F, 12 to 16 minutes. Transfer to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm.


Add shallot to the pan and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add mushrooms; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 2 minutes. Pour in vermouth (or wine); simmer until almost evaporated, scraping up any browned bits, about 1 minute. Pour in broth and cook until reduced by half, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in cream and chives (or scallions); return to a simmer. Return the chicken to the pan, turn to coat with sauce and cook until heated through, about 1 minute.


2 servings

Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Nutrition
Per serving : 275 Calories; 15 g Fat; 5 g Sat; 7 g Mono; 84 mg Cholesterol; 5 g Carbohydrates; 25 g Protein; 1 g Fiber; 373 mg Sodium; 370 mg Potassium

Crockpot salsa chicken

Ingrediants:
4-5 frozen chicken breasts
1 can of corn
1 can black beans
1 small can green chiles
1 jar of your favorite salsa
(deli fresh or homemade tastes best)
4 oz low fat cream cheese
Combine all ingredients in crockpot on low setting for 7-8 hours.
30 min before serving add cream cheese on top and let melt.
Stir (shred chicken If preferred) and serve with corn tortillas, quinoa or brown rice.
Makes 4-6 servings depending on size of chicken breasts. Great for freezing and saving for work lunches
Eating Well/2008

Healthy Sloppy Joes
IngredientsAllrecipes

1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
3/4 cup ketchup
3 teaspoons brown sugar
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste


Directions
1.In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, onion, and green pepper; drain off liquids.
2.Stir in the garlic powder, mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar; mix thoroughly. Reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Nutritional Information
Amount Per Serving Calories: 188
Total Fat: 9.3g
Cholesterol: 50mg


Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
Ingredients

1 pound shredded, cooked chicken
1 (15 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, mashed
1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups water
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 (10 ounce) package frozen corn
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
7 corn tortillas
vegetable oil


Directions
1.Place chicken, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, onion, green chiles, and garlic into a slow cooker. Pour in water and chicken broth, and season with cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Stir in corn and cilantro. Cover, and cook on Low setting for 6 to 8 hours or on High setting for 3 to 4 hours.


2.Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

3.Lightly brush both sides of tortillas with oil. Cut tortillas into strips, then spread on a baking sheet.

4.Bake in preheated oven until crisp, about 10 to 15 minutes. To serve, sprinkle tortilla strips over soup.
Nutritional Info: 262 Calories/10.2g fat
Allrecipes

$99 Friend Deal for our new FRISCO evening Texas Fit Chicks Boot Camp!

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Texas Fit Chicks FRISCO EVENING Camp

 starts March 5!!

This week ONLY you can get boot camp for just $99 when you sign up with a friend!*

Details of the deal:

You and a friend both sign up for our new 7pm Frisco evening camp with Texas Fit Chicks, and you each get:

What you get: 5 wks of full body (amazingly FUN and effective) workouts with your nationally certified female trainer + Free 5 wk meal plan to get you even faster results than our workouts alone + Amazing support on your weight-loss journey + Training for just over 6 bucks an hr!! It's a steal. + Full Email access to your trainer. Got a question you don't want to ask in class, we are always happy to help even when we're not training you.

All of this for $99!! That's a savings of $100!

Hurry...offer expires March 4!!

Angela will get you to your goals, and have amazing support along the way. We motivate without the megaphone ~ but will push you in a way that makes you get the results you want. Just in time for summer :)

Want to grab this deal?

Email Angela for details on how to get this deal and sign up!TrainwithAngelab@gmail.com

 Our 5 wks are already a low $199 ($13/hr) if you can't find a friend, and you can start any Monday! All fitness levels welcome. Still not sure? Read these testimonials from a couple of our fit chicks...

"I lost 15 lbs and 7 inches in my first 5 wk bootcamp with Texas Fit Chicks!" - Tonja N. Age 51

"Joining Texas Fit Chicks Boot Camp has been a life changing experience for me. I have finally found the motivation that I was lacking for so many years. I was very nervous when I joined boot camp that I would not be able to keep up in the classes. From the first day of class I have felt comfortable and confident in my abilities. The trainers show you different levels for each exercise and allow you to increase to the next level at your own pace. I also enjoy how every class is different and the exercises are fun. After 3 months I have lost 24 lbs and 18 inches. I could not have done it without Texas Fit Chicks Boot Camp" - Brooke R. 4/11

"This boot camp helped me push myself harder than I ever would have pushed myself at the gym.The large variety of strength and cardio exercises kept me from ever getting bored and the accountability of being in a class setting kept me from making any excuses! I lost weight and inches in my first five weeks and am looking forward to losing even more!" Karen M.

Join us today and start Monday! Let us get you to your fitness goals.
Texas Fit Chicks Boot Camp ~ Get Up. Get Out. Get FIT!

$99 5 wk Fit Friend deal is only good for our Traditional "NO EXCUSES" 5 wk bootcamp, and not offered for the flex card. Friends must start on the same date and the same class time/location for offer to be valid. Not valid with any other offers *Both clients must be new clients only, never having previously been enrolled in a TFC camp at any other location.