Fitness

Refrain From The Pain! Exercising When You Have An Injury

November 21, 2019 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

If you are an avid gym-goer, it becomes part of your life. You can’t imagine yourself without it. Even something simple like walking turns into a rapid sprint. But if you have this enthusiasm for hitting the gym, there will be times when you do too much, even though you think you can push it that little bit more than normal. By all means, pushing it in the gym is what helps us in the long run, but if we do it too much we could end up with an injury. It’s something we’ve all had on occasion, overdid it and got sidelined for a while. And while we need to give our body the chance to heal, we have to remember that there are ways around exercising with an injury. So, how can we do this?

Listen To Your Doctor

If you’ve been going to a shoulder surgeon, and there’s been a constant issue with this over months, if not years, you must listen to the medical advice. Sometimes your shoulder can feel okay, and as shoulder injuries are one of the most common because the muscles in the shoulders are the least developed, understanding when to cut back is crucial. Your doctor can help to guide you with relevant training to keep you strong while recovering. A lot of people choose not to listen to medical advice. But you have to do the exercises for as long as they recommend.

Make The Relevant Modifications

With a specific injury, you have to learn to train around it. If, for example, you have a knee problem, it may be recommended you avoid any cardiovascular or lower body strength activity. But this doesn’t mean you can’t work on your upper body. It’s about making those modifications to ensure that you are exercising around the issue. You can switch to a workout routine that involves you sitting down, rather than standing up and running around. This means no squats or deadlifts for a while. And while this may sound limiting, consider it to be an opportunity to figure out a different routine so that there is no pressure on the offending muscle or joint.

When There’s Pain, Stop

We can feel that, after a couple of weeks, there are minimal or no pain anymore, so we feel that we can go back to 100% exertion. But avoid the temptation to go back into your normal routine. We are constantly told that pushing through the pain is crucial to building muscle and strength but if the pain starts to get worse before you begin to develop new pains in a related area, go back to the doctor. If the pain carries on while you are doing a modified workout, play around with routines and try something else. But unfortunately, it may be best to stop, especially if you are using the improper form to get the reps.

Reducing pain is crucial, and this means you need a good time to recover as well. It’s worth trying the POLICE principle which can help you to reduce sports-related injuries, but it’s not just about protection. You have to remember that maintaining is as important especially after you’ve made a full recovery.

This post was a collaboration.

Walking, Your New Best Exercise

September 4, 2019 By lyndsinreallife 3 Comments

Wherever you look there seem to be a million voices telling you how to get fitter, how to get thinner and how to make yourself look and feel better. Often these voices overlap and contradict each other and trying to find a reasonable opinion is next to impossible.

That’s why in this blog, we’re taking a look at the benefits of just one exercise and why it’s beneficial to everyone, young and old, large and small. It’s easy, it’s free and almost anyone can do it who isn’t limited by illness or disability. It’s walking.

If you’ve always considered walking just a means to an end, we hope we’ll be able to convince that you’re walking for your health is a valid, fun way to start your fitness journey.

Walking is Accessible

If you have reasonable mobility and can get outside, then walking is for you. You just need a pair of comfortable shoes, canes if you need them, and off you go. There’s no need to splash out on expensive trainers or walking shoes, save that for it if you get really serious. Just strap on your sneakers and open the front door.

The other great thing about walking is that you can do it alone, with a friend, or lost in your music or a podcast. If you’re not feeling confident or haven’t taken a walk in a while, then ask a friend to come with you as you gain confidence in your own movement.

Image courtesy of Pixabay: CC0 license

Walking Takes You Places

No more staring at the four walls of a gym, walking can give you a fresh appreciation of your surroundings, reintroduce you to the natural beauty of your area and give you back that satisfaction of breathing in a deep breath of fresh air.

Progression is Quick

You might just take a walk around the block on your first outing. Well done, it’s a great start. But how about make it two laps the next time? Then you can set your sights further afield. Look online for mapped routes in your area, from very short to the slightly more challenging.

If you feel your fitness improving and are looking for more of a challenge, find hillier routes or try and maintain a faster pace. Whatever you do, just make sure you still find yourself walking just for the pleasure of movement. Nothing is guaranteed to stop you walking more than it feeling like a chore.

Walking is one of the best ways to experience the outdoors in a way that is gentle and builds progression. Make it fun, make it a walk that takes you to some beautiful places. Make it sociable with friends and dogs or make it your escape with your favourite music or podcast.

It’s never been easier to get your fitness levels up, so find a pair of comfortable walking shoes, wrap up and open that front door. You’re ready to take on the world and get walking.

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Fitness Health

Back 2 Basics: Simple Equipment For Workouts

September 1, 2019 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

What puts many people off from working out is the fact that you tend to need a million different things with you when you go to the gym. You need legwear in the way of joggers, spandex, or shorts. You need tops that breathe and soak up your sweat, made from spandex or synthetic fiber. Then you need trainers and gel soles which can bend and absorb your weight under pressure. You need gloves for lifting or some kind of wrist wrap support that will protect your joints. You also need wrist and headbands to keep the sweat from going into your eyes and giving your slippery hands. These days having a heartbeat monitor and calorie burning watches are standard practice, too. But what if you don’t have the time nor the money to go to the gym dressed in all this gear? Then you can buy some very simple yet effective workout equipment which you can use anywhere, preferably in your own home.

Free for Cardio Burning

There are a number of workout options for those that want to improve their cardio at home. First, you have to realize that raising your heart rate above a certain level is all you should be aiming for. When you do this, your body begins to burn fat. So things like aerobics, pilates, and yoga can be incredibly useful for those that want to workout at home. But for all of those exercises to be done safely, you need yoga mats. These will protect your feet and joints when you’re leaning heavily on them, absorb your weight to keep you stable, and also give your feet grip and comfort. Foam is the main material used for such products, as it bounces back under its own tension, so it lasts a long time. These mats can be simply rolled away when done with.

Single Arm Workouts

Dumbbells are one of the most versatile tools you can use anywhere in the home. They don’t take up much room and they can be disassembled, so they don’t pose a dangerous threat to children and pets. However, you should consider getting rubber dumbbells rather than metal, as these provide you with a lot more control. The kind of workouts you can do are great for achieving a toned body or even putting on muscle mass. Simple curling and extending exercises can be done either standing or sitting down. Everything from bicep curls, tricep extensions, shoulder presses, and wrist curls can be done in a 1-meter squared space.

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Hopping To It

As you have seen many athletes do, jumping rope is a great cardio workout. You’re using just your legs and your momentum to continually hop over and over. It keeps the heart rate going and the cognitive skills alert. Jumping ropes cost next to nothing as well, but there are many professional options which have modern designs made for beginners, such as end grips.

Going back to basics is sometimes where we all need to go. You can get great workouts from just sitting or standing if you have the right tools, such as dumbbells and yoga mats.

•What is your favorite at-home exercise equipment?

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Fitness

4 Great Activities For Toning Muscle Quickly

July 8, 2019 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Weight loss is the initial goal for most people when they start their health journey, but once you reach a healthy weight again, you can start working towards other goals. Some people want to build muscle mass and strength and get big, but that isn’t for everybody. A lot of people find that even though they’ve lost the weight, they’re still not quite happy with their body because they just want to tone up a little bit more. Toning muscles so they look a bit tighter is often harder than losing the weight in the first place, and a lot of people struggle with this final step. That’s usually because they’re doing the wrong kinds of exercise and they continue doing the same things that they were when trying to lose weight, which isn’t going to work. If you want to tone your muscles, you should try some of these great exercises!

Yoga

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Yoga is such a great addition to anybody’s exercise routine for a few reasons. Firstly, it improves flexibility and stretches your muscles to stop them from getting tight and sore, which is very important if you’re working out a lot. Secondly, it’s a great way to reduce stress and improve wellness, so it can massively improve your mental health. Finally, it’s a great way to tone your muscles. People that haven’t tried yoga often underestimate how difficult it can be, and there are a lot of more advanced poses that use your own bodyweight to tone muscles. Doing ten minutes of yoga in the morning or the evening before you go to bed can really help to tone your body and improve your flexibility.

Martial Arts

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Martial arts is another great workout activity that is ideal for sculpting your muscles. It’s a great cardio workout, but a lot of it is about control, which engages your muscles. You’ll be using your entire body, which means you will get a good all-around muscle toning workout with every session. There are some great shaolin kung fu training schools that cater to people of all abilities so don’t worry if you’re a complete beginner. If you want to tone muscles and build a bit of strength, while maintaining your target weight, martial arts is one of the best activities.

Swimming

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Swimming is one of the best sports, regardless of what your fitness goals are, because it’s such a good overall workout. It’s a great cardio activity that is low impact, so it’s ideal for people that are recovering from injury (or also people who hate the gym, like me!). But it’s particularly good if you’re trying to tone muscle because you’re engaging all of your muscles at once, and the resistance from the water is good for toning.

Cycling

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If you are particularly focused on toning your legs, cycling is a great way to do it. You’ll be using your quads and calves a lot, so they’ll tone up very quickly. You also engage your core a lot when you cycle, so you can tone your stomach muscles as well. Cycling is another great low impact option if you’re trying to recover from an injury or you want to take a rest day from more intensive activity.

All in all, if you want to tone your muscles rather than build them, these are some of the best exercises to do!

•How do you tone your muscles? What has worked best for you?

This post is a collaboration.

Fitness

Finding The Perfect Gym For You: 4 Helpful Tips

June 12, 2019 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

Pixabay (CC0 Licence)

While it is possible to work on your fitness at home, a gym membership undeniably has its advantages. A gym is a dedicated workout space, so your home can be reserved for relaxation; the equipment is more likely to be high-end. There’s a range of different classes available for when you feel you need to shake things up, and help will be on hand if you run into any difficulties.

However, it’s fair to say that the experience of visiting a gym can vary. Some gyms are excellent, offering a wealth of benefits to their members that more than justifies their fees. Others… aren’t so excellent, and in the worst cases, could actually harm your ability to meet your fitness goals.

If you’re on the lookout for a new gym, here are four tips that can help to make sure you find the perfect gym for your needs.

#1 – Time Your Visit Carefully

Touring a gym before joining is highly recommended. Make sure you plan your visit around the same time as you would usually be working out. Doing so allows you to get a rough idea of how busy the gym is, and allows you to assess the atmosphere and conditions based on what you are most likely to experience if you sign-up.

#2 – Check the Machines Thoroughly

During your visit to a gym you are considering, take the time to check the machines in detail. First and foremost, look at safety aspects; do the machines look modern and well-maintained, or are they in the kind of disrepair that suggests using them may result in needing to call a personal injury attorney in future? In addition, assess the cleanliness; good gyms tend to ensure that their equipment is thoroughly cleaned regularly, so any sign of accumulated dirt will make that gym a no-go.

#3 – Examine the Existing List of Classes and Ask How Popular They Are

If you are considering a gym because they offer a range of classes you are particularly excited to try, it’s important to ask a member of staff how popular each class actually is. Gyms often cancel classes that have relatively few attendees, so you’ll need to make sure that the class you want to try will actually be available. On the flip side, if the classes you are interested in are bordering on too popular, you may find yourself having to join a waiting list before each class – so it may be worth trying a different gym to see if they have better availability.

#4 – Read the Fine Print

It would be impossible to discuss finding a great gym without a discussion of the contract you will be asked to sign, especially given that gym membership contracts have a tendency for being difficult to break.

*Just ask my boyfriend: Planet Fitness will only allow him to cancel his membership by GOING TO THE GYM HE SIGNED UP AT, which mind you, is in California! We live in Nevada now. Ugh, it is so frustrating. Don’t fall into that trap.

Always ask for time to read through your contract in full before signing, paying particular attention to the clauses related to canceling the contract. Hopefully you won’t need to cancel anytime soon, but it’s always important to make sure you know exactly where you stand before you sign on the dotted line.

The four tips above should help you to find the best gym for your needs. Once you find one, come back here and share which gym you chose! I’d love to hear more about it.

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Fitness Health Uncategorized

Why Helping Yourself On Your Fitness Journey Isn’t A Bad Thing

May 29, 2019 By lyndsinreallife 4 Comments

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Like anything people can become passionate about, the fitness community can sometimes have those who take everything they do with utmost seriousness, and can become quite draconian when imparting advice. Of course, when this comes to matters of health and safety, or when it comes to actually promoting what works, this is completely fine. However, sometimes you may be intimidated, thinking that unless you are following ‘the perfect way,’ you’re not following a way at all.

Fitness is a metaphor for our life, in that if we want something, we have to stay committed and work for it. However, over time this can prevent you from making the progress you want despite putting work in. Fitness, like anything you do to better your life, should be enjoyable and something you look forward to when it’s at its best. If you hate every gym session, every healthy meal, and feel as though you simply have to suffer through it – you’re not going to last very long at all.

This is why, especially in the beginning, helping yourself out on your fitness journey isn’t a bad thing at all. After all, if you want to climb a mountain, it’s a good idea to bring climbing gear.

Consider:

A Shoulder To Lean On

A gym can be an intimidating place to be your first time there. You likely do not know what most of the equipment is outside of the obvious fixtures, and trying to navigate a busy gym during peak times can be a nightmare. This is why it can be important start with a gym induction, and to simply walk around the place to see what you can and can’t do. Asking questions such as what the weightlifting chalk policy can help illuminate what actions you should be taking.

Sometimes, it can be hard to simply get in a routine schedule. If you haven’t gone to the gym for some time, what makes your current need so different? Also, how might you ingratiate yourself into the fitness lifestyle well? We’d recommend that finding a shoulder to lean on could be a great idea. Perhaps you could look online at a forum dedicated to your local area, and try to find a gym buddy that way. Perhaps you might ask one of your friends to start this new lifestyle with you, if they have also suggested that they wish to become fitter.

When you have someone waiting on you as you’re waiting on them, both of you will find it much harder to let the other person down. This can help you both enjoy one another’s company and also gain a stronger and more dependable approach when helping each other overcome their lifts.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with doing this. In fact, it can be a much safer method of attending the gym. For example, having someone ‘spot you’ on the bench press can help you avoid being punished by gravity if placing too much weight on the bar. You can also both help each other with scheduling, your diets, observing the other’s form, and giving one another safety pointers. In fact, the more specialized an athlete becomes, the more they will have to rely on the opinions and help of other people. So as a novice, there’s absolutely zero shame in finding this for yourself, and the same goes for the use of excellent personal trainers.

Getting Active & Alert

While many of us love attending the gym, getting up at an early hour in the morning, walking to the gym in the pouring rain, and having to wake yourself up on the treadmill or by lifting weights can be enjoyable, yet a little rough to experience. Sometimes, we might wake up feeling full of energy and well rested. Other times, we might feel the complete opposite.

Does that mean we should cancel our gym session the moment we feel just a little tired? Of course not, that would be rather ridiculous. But it might also be that we need just a little help in getting active and alert each morning. For example, it might be that you decide to homebrew beautiful filter coffee to keep you alert and active each morning. You might also decide to use pre-workout to help you get in the zone. You might decide to run to the gym in order to wake up, or perhaps join a certain specialized class you must attend in order to get the blood moving. On top of that, ZMA supplements can help you feel more alert after a great night of rest.

Getting active and alert is the key to success with your fitness lifestyle. We would recommend you consider the powerful benefits of doing this. You never know just how much it could help.

Supplementation

Added supplementation can be a wonderful thing. From using Vitamin C and D supplements to help your immune system (preventing you from catching something such as a seasonal flu from gym equipment,) purchasing T5 fat burners to help you drop weight naturally, and also fulvic acid can help you gain minerals you might have lost out on before.

Protein supplements can help you repair your muscles after an intense gym session, and help you meet your daily macro requirement. On top of that, weight shakes can help you bulk up and put weight on, allowing you to exceed your daily need for certain calories if hoping to build muscle. BCAA’s can help your muscles repair even more appropriately, as they are literally providing the amino acids necessary to help you heal in the most fundamental manner possible.

If you have a fitness issue, either hard work, readjusting your schedule, sleeping, eating better, or supplementation can help it. But supplementation is often a dirty word, because of all the questionable products that can be sold, especially overseas. But enjoying the use of these, if properly vetted, can help you get to the next level of your fitness life. To that extent, this can be a net positive.

With these tips, you’re certain to help yourself on your fitness journey!

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Fitness

Why Fitness Should Be More Than A New Year’s Resolution For Women

February 7, 2019 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

We’re all guilty of it- Christmas passes and we make a New Year’s resolution to visit the gym more often. However, that doesn’t usually work out as planned. Something comes up and you have to skip a day at the gym. Then that day turns into a week and before you know it, your fitness plan is blown. The problem is, there are tons of advantages to fitness for women that so many don’t know about. Here are a few examples:

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Natural Energy

If you’re run off your feet because you’re taking care of kids, working all hours of the day, running a home, or all of the above, you’ve probably looked for a way to boost your energy at some point. The sad thing is, most people turn to caffeine for that energy boost when exercise is a much better way. It may seem idiotic to use more energy when you’re trying to save it, but exercising will give you a natural energy boost. The more you exercise, the longer it will take before you feel the need for an energy boost during the day.

Fertility Boost

Fertility used to be a subject that no one wanted to talk about. Luckily, women have become more vocal about it! One in three women struggles with some form of fertility issue while trying to have children. Exercise can help in two ways. It’s a fantastic way to increase blood and oxygen circulation throughout the body, which is a great way to help boost fertility. The increase in circulation can help to thicken the lining of the uterus, which encourages implantation. Similarly, struggling to conceive can cause stress on the mind and body and exercise is one of the best ways to find relief.

Heart Health

Sadly, there is more emphasis on men’s heart health than women’s. However, that doesn’t mean it’s any less important. Women are just as susceptible to heart problems and heart attack as men- take a look at the signs of heart attack for women. Exercise is vital when it comes to keeping your heart healthy. Just twenty minutes of moderate exercise per day can help to keep a healthy heart. Studies have shown that women with good cardiovascular health age better and live longer.

Pixabay

Beautiful Skin

As we age, it’s inevitable that our skin ages with us. As women, we want to hold on to our young skin for as long as possible. You can use all the anti-aging creams you can find, but they’ll never be as good for your skin as regular exercise (& tons of water!). The increase in good circulation will help skin to heal quicker, absorb moisture faster, and present a glow that make-up just can’t fake.

Increased Libido

Getting regular exercise can do wonders for your sex life. Women’s libidos are more sensitive than men’s and there may be times where you feel like your libido is low. There are a lot of things that can cause this, but exercise is ideal for helping you to get your mojo back.

Your commitment to fitness should be more than just a New Year’s resolution if you want to see positive changes, even if it’s tough to keep up with. You’ve got this!

• Are you sticking to your New Year’s resolutions?

• Is fitness a part of your daily life?

This post was a collaboration.

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Fitness

Knock Your Fitness Goal Into Shape With These Starter Exercise Classes

January 27, 2019 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

If you made a goal to get fitter this year, chances are, you’re behind. It happens to the best of us. January is dragging ever-onwards, and you’re already starting to skip gym sessions. Even when you do go, you’re getting into the habit of cutting sessions short because you can’t be bothered.

First, it’s important to note that this is normal. I can guarantee you that everyone who made a fitness goal for the new year is in the same boat. Consider practical ways you can address the problem before you let go of your goal altogether. For some, setting a timer for exercise may be all it takes. For others, more drastic action may be necessary.

If you fall into this latter group, you may find it beneficial to join an exercise class at your gym. These provide an incentive you may be unable to give yourself. Once you’ve paid for the sessions, you’ll most likely attend even if it’s just to get your money’s worth. You may also find that exercising with others is your best chance to push yourself (it’s impossible for me to workout alone).

The good news is, there are plenty of classes available. If you aren’t sure about your options, sites like Club Fitness can teach you more about what’s out there. Given that you’re a beginner, though, you may find that one of these three choices works best for you.

Yoga

Yoga is maybe the best option for those new to group exercise. That’s because it’s a workout method which focuses on self-care and doing what feels good. As such, you can rest easy that even a mixed ability class isn’t going to push you too far. In many ways, yoga classes offer the ideal opportunity for you to explore your limits.

Attending on a regular basis can also help you build stamina, which might be what you lack most at this stage. Once you’ve built yourself up, you may find that you don’t dread exercise half as much as you did at the start of the year.

Le Nguyen, West Fitness Center yoga instructor, holds her hands together during her yoga class at Joint Base Andrews, Md., March 9, 2017. Nguyen has been volunteering at JBA as a yoga instructor since October 2015 and has been practicing yoga for eight years. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Valentina Lopez)

Picture Credit

Spinning

If yoga doesn’t get your heart pumping enough, why not try spinning classes? Spin bikes can help you pursue a bike riding passion, irrelevant of the fact that it’s winter! This is an ideal beginning class because it frees you up to take things at your pace. There are no routines to keep on top of. You won’t even need to fight to keep up with others in your class. Instead, you’ll be able to stay at the heart of your class, even if you’re most comfortable peddling at a slow pace.

Zumba

Zumba is another favorite class for those just starting. That’s because this is a fun and efficient way to improve your fitness levels. Unlike many dance classes, this fun alternative is aimed towards as many people as possible. As such, there’s no need for a knowledge of intricate dance moves to get going. As long as you can move to a rhythm, you’re sure to fit right into any classes like these!

Whatever fitness feels best for you is perfect! The point is to get up and get moving, no matter how you do it.

What’s your favorite kind of fitness?
Was fitness one of your New Years resolutions?

This post was a collaboration.

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Fitness Nutrition Reviews

Le-Vel Thrive Pro Review: How This Protein Bar Changed My Snacking Habits

October 6, 2018 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Le-Vel Thrive PRO Bar Review

It’s incredibly easy for me to grab whatever snack is around when I’m on-the-go. That usually means something filled with sugar, simple carbs, and junk. Nothing nutritious. When I eat crummy, I feel crummy. I need to have energy throughout the day, especially when it comes to making sure the girl I nanny gets to her activities and gets her schoolwork done. I realized I needed a snack that would give me protein and complex carbs. That’s where Le-Vel THRIVE PRO premium lifestyle nutrition/protein bars come in.

This post is sponsored by Le-Vel. All opinions and verbiage are my own.

Here’s my Le-Vel Thrive PRO Bar Review

Here’s the thing: I have a really hard time making sure I get enough protein. I’ve always been a (simple) carbs kind of gal. I’ve found it’s crucial to carry a protein bar in my purse or gym bag. Lately, I’ve been loving my THRIVE PRO bars. They contain 20 grams of a proprietary sequential protein, with only 2-3 grams of sugar, and the carbohydrate to protein ratio is perfect for a healthy snack!

THRIVE PRO bars also double as a pre and post-workout snack, providing just the right amount of fuel and recovery. I was struggling to provide my body with the nutrition it needed for my runs, and you wouldn’t believe how much better I felt (and feel)!

Le-Vel THRIVE PRO protein bars are especially popular in my house because they’re gluten free.

THRIVE PRO bars come in 4 flavors: birthday cake (my favorite), lemon meringue, cinnamon roll, and cookies & cream. Le-Vel makes many other products including their 3 Step Thrive Experience. If you’re interested, check out this review on the Thrive Experience.

I definitely feel like a healthier, happier athlete + person with THRIVE PRO protein bars. Thanks Le-Vel!

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Fitness Health Nutrition Reviews Uncategorized

A Scientific Approach to Personal Health with The Home DNA Healthy Weight™ Test

February 26, 2018 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

I’m approaching 30, and my body is definitely feeling it. When I was a teenager, my mom would always tell me, “lose weight now, because it gets harder the older you get.” Ugh, I hate it when she’s right. 😉 Losing weight, getting fit, and finding the right foods to eat has been difficult, ever since I turned 25. My metabolism slowed down , and I felt that my genes were also a contributing factor.

Disclosure: I received a free Home DNA Healthy Weight™ kit + free lab fee in the hopes I’d mention it on my blog. In partnership with Lipton Publicity. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

To find out if my genes were causing any issues, I decided to take a healthy weight at-home genetic DNA test called The Home DNA Healthy Weight™ (created by The DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC) Company). This test identifies nutrition and exercise strategies uniquely tailored to each individual based on their genetic makeup.

You learn about:

Your capacity to lose weight.
Your protein, fat, and carbohydrate utilization
The food and nutrients your body needs.
Cardio exercise and strength training for your body.
You even get a personalized meal plan based on your results.

The Home DNA Healthy Weight™ kit is extremely easy to use. They provide you with 4 swabs (essentially large Q-Tips), and all you do is swab the inside of your cheek (with all 4), and send them back in the mail! It took me about 2 minutes to complete this. There is a lab fee when you check out (all of this can be done online). You’ll receive your results (also online) about 6 weeks later!

Luckily, Home DNA is offering my readers a $50 discount on their own kit, which brings the price of the kit down to only $69!! That’s an AMAZING price, especially for all the information you get. Get your discount here: Home DNA discount.

The Healthy Weight fitness DNA test can help save a lot of time and money as you eliminate diets, supplements and workouts that are not optimal for you as an individual, weight management is not ‘one size fits all’ after all.

My results were really cool! I learned the my ability to lose weight is “below average” and my genes are “unfavorable,” so that wasn’t so cool. 😉 Honestly though, that made me feel better, knowing my lack of weight loss wasn’t entirely my fault. It taught me about how my body absorbs particular nutrients, what foods are best for me to eat (I’m allowed to eat carbs, woohoo!), and how I need to exercise to lose weight. It provided me with a meal plan, as well! I tried it out for the first week, and felt great. I’m the type of person who needs things laid out like this. It’s so much easier!

As you can see, much of my genes are unfavorable and below average, yay me!…

Here’s an example of a portion of the meal plan tailored specifically to me:

I highly recommend getting this genetic test done and finding out how to eat and exercise based on your specific body and genes! Get your own kit for $50 off using code HW50 or going directly to this link.