Pure Barre: 10 Tips for Beginners & 5 Immediate Results

Okay. So as you might remember I attended my first Pure Barre class a few weeks ago. I instantly fell in love. Now that I've attended a good bit of classes I thought I'd share some tips for beginners and what results you can expect right away. (of course results will vary)

10 Pure Barre Tips for Beginners

1- Before attending your first class watch this video. I didn't find this gem until after my first class. My second class went so much better. When class is over ask questions about any movements you were unsure of. This will help you get the most out of your time in class.

2- Wear socks with sticky bottoms. Think of the socks they give out at the hospital. You want those. They'll have some available for purchase at the studio if you can't find them. Yoga pants/capris and tank tops seem to be the go-to look for class. Save your shorts for running.

3- Drink plenty of water before class. Being well hydrated will help with possible cramping in your arms, legs and core.

4- Remember that the smaller the movement the bigger the result. An inch is really an inch.

5- Embrace the shake (of your body) at the Barre.

6- Listen to your body. The instructor will give out modifications; use them if you need to.

7- Don't give up. Push yourself to stay with the workout.

8- Don't be late. Class starts on time and you don't want to miss the warm-up.

9- Bring a friend. Trying something new is always easier when you have familiar face with you.

10- Focus on yourself, your body and your fitness goals for 55 minutes. You'll be glad you did.

5 Immediate Results of Pure Barre (that I experienced)

1- After my first class I had an amazing mental shift. If you like the feeling of being challenged and pushed then you'll love Pure Barre. Like me, you will probably be addicted after your first class. Before Pure Barre I liked working out but now I must workout. I'm on a different level mentally than I was before with my fitness goals and workout regimen. 

2- It only took about three classes for me to start noticing that I was becoming more tone. My abs and "seat" are already feeling and looking so much better. My husband even mentioned that he could tell Pure Barre was agreeing with my body.

3- Becoming more flexible is another fitness goal of mine. During class you'll stretch yourself out a lot. My flexibility has improved since my first class. My nose is getting closer and closer to my knee.

4- I like to think that being apart of a class like this is a twofer. Not only do I get an amazing workout but I also get to have a sense of community that I can't say I had before. My schedule doesn't allow me to take the same class time every week but I do notice that many of the ladies know each other. I consider making new friends a huge benefit to taking this class or starting any new hobby.

5- My fit-esteem (a word I'm pretty that I just made up. so here's a definition. {fit * eh-steem} - the way one feels about his/her fitness goals. Ex. "My fit-esteem is so much better since starting my classes at Pure Barre. ) is so much better. Every time I make it through a class I feel so much better about myself and what I just accomplished. It's evidence that I am so much stronger (physically and mentally) than I ever gave myself credit for before. I have raised my own "Barre" and I know now that I am capable of doing so much more with my body.

my goal is to get on my highest tippy toe with that leg higher and straighter

I'm telling you if you haven't tried a class yet you're missing out. If you're in San Antonio the location here is super friendly. I've had several instructors and they have all been great. Is there a Pure Barre in your area? Have I convinced you to try a class yet?

Running With Babies: Who Run The World?

Hey Ladies.

I just had to come here and share an achievement of mine. I would have never considered myself a runner before. When I was trying to pull it together for our trip to Vegas I started stepping up my cardio. That was big for me because I've never been a cardio girl. I'd take a walk with you all day but running was not something I was interested in unless I was being chased or I was chasing a baby.

The more I ran the more I liked it. Even though I couldn't run for very long at the time I still enjoyed the  way it made me feel. Then a friend of mine started the whole Operation Snapback movement and our first challenge was to run 26.2 miles this month.


I decided that I wasn't going to let anything get in the way of me conquering this challenge. By the end of this month I could be a runner. Today was the longest run I've ever done. I was into it too. Once Savannah started asking to leave the gym I knew I had to wrap it up, but I think I had at least one more mile in me.
I felt so strong afterwards.


One of my Flirty30 resolutions was to be in the best shape of my life. I think I'm well on my way. You couldn't tell me nothing when I left the gym today! I am sharing this story to remind you that no matter what your goal is you can do it. Don't let kids, husbands, work and all that other stuff keep you from achieving your goals. Do it and celebrate the small milestones along the way.

Four miles today could turn into a marathon tomorrow.

Witness for Fitness: Getting Right for my Flirty30

Well. Earlier this week I told you I was going to do the Sexy Abs DVD this week. What I learned from that was that it is hard to get in a DVD during the day. I have to either get up earlier than the kids or get my workout in after they go to sleep. With Savannah being sick and her sleep schedule being off I had to adjust what I was doing. So until she's back on her regular schedule I will be getting workouts from my fitness interest board.

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This particular workout is my goal. By the end of these twenty four days Sav should be feeling better. I can also add my DVDs back in to the rotation should things get back to normal sooner. So I'm moving forward. Still working out. Just had to change my plan a bit.

How is your workout plan going this week? Did you have to change up your plan?

Guest Blogger: Sia from Diary of a Fit Mommy

Hi there! My name is Sia Cooper and I run Diary of a Fit Mommy blog. My blog is dedicated to pregnant and postpartum ladies who want to get back into shape, as well as for ladies who want to tone up before getting pregnant! I am currently 7 months along and have been enjoying a healthy and fit pregnancy. Before getting pregnant, I changed my whole entire lifestyle and ended up dropping 45lbs from clean eating alone. I would love to share some tips on how to bounce back to your pre-pregnancy shape after you give birth.

How to Bounce Back After Pregnancy

Bouncing back after pregnancy is quite the challenge for any woman when doing it in a realistic way. How you took care of yourself during pregnancy usually determines how fast or effectively you will “bounce” back. But, sometimes, the idea seems inevitable and impossible. Don’t give up! Anything worth building did not happen overnight, and your transformation is no different!

Diet

Diet plays a huge role in fitness-even more so than the gym, believe it or not! What you decide to fuel your body with is ultimately what you get back into return. My goal for bouncing back after my pregnancy is to lower my carb intake, eat 6 small meals a day, and fuel with my body nothing but water or flavored water.

You can steer clear by focusing on whole grains and unrefined, unprocessed foods. Stay away from any starchy veggies such as white potatoes or white pastas, breads, rice, sweets, and sodas! Instead, aim for whole grains, whole grains, oats, and quinoa. Choose green leafy veggies and veggies filled with colors! I love potatoes and have found a healthy alternative in switching to sweet potatoes instead. If you have a sweet tooth as I do, learn to make healthy alternatives of your favorite guilty pleasures. Simple swaps such as using Splenda instead of sugar, almond or coconut flour instead of all-purpose flour, or even almond or coconut milk instead of cow’s milk can lead to a huge difference!

Eating several small meals a day instead of 3 large meals actually does more for your weightloss than one may think! Think of your body as a fireplace-it NEEDS wood to keep burning a fire, right? Your body is NO different! By supplying your body with 5-6 small meals a day, it keeps your metabolism roaring! It is always working at a constant motion. Also, by eating several meals you become more satisfied and you are less likely to reach in the cupboards for more food or swing by the drive-thru window.

Water is very important to losing the baby weight because it flushes those fat cells and toxins out of your system. It also keeps you feeling full in between your small meals. The best way to calculate how much water you need daily is simple! Take your body weight in pounds and divide by half. That is the number in ounces of water that your body requires at a minimum. So, if you weigh 120lbs, you will need to drink at least 60oz of water per day to supply all of your bodily functions.

Exercise

Exercise goes hand in hand with diet; you simply cannot do one without the other and expect a perfect transformation.  I lost 45lbs through dieting alone, but I was left skinny with zero muscle definition. Once I started weight straining, I noticed my body changing and becoming powerful. I continued strength training and cardio throughout my pregnancy and will do so after my baby is born as a part of my postpartum fitness plan. To get back to your pre-pregnancy shape, there are a few workouts and exercises that I highly recommend! 

One huge workout tip-always pair cardio with strength training. Cardio will be your best friend after your give birth to baby. My favorite and most effective form of cardio is running! Take a jog with your baby in the stroller, or if you can get some alone time, head to the gym and run on the Elliptical. I also love running outside on the track and using the MapMyRun app for iPhone which tells you how many miles you run, calories burned, etc. If you are not a runner, simple jogging or even walking in the evenings will help you out more than you know. Swimming is another form of amazing cardio that won’t leave you sweaty and breathless.

Strength training for me consists of the bench press, squatting with free weights, bicep curls with barbells, and using the leg press machine at the gym (love that thing!). Start off with a lighter weight and slowly work your way up. You will notice your body adjusting to the weight as you go on. That is when you know it’s time to vamp things up! One common myth is that weightlifting will make you bulky- we do not have the genes or hormones to become bulky like men! Do not believe this myth. Other great forms of exercises that I enjoy and would be great to use postpartum are pilates, yoga, CrossFit, etc. Find what works for you.

Most importantly, to bounce back after pregnancy, you must stay motivated! I always make it a point to do my workouts first thing in the morning before anything else. It is my priority! Set your alarms, lay out your workout clothes the night before, and mentally prepare yourself for your transformation that is to come.

You can follow me at:

 My blog: Diary of a Fit Mommy

Facebook

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Also, if you would like more information on eating clean and clean eating recipes, I have a few eBooks that you can view on Amazon here.

Chic Gadget: The Fitbit One

Whew. First let's talk about smack down beat down tired I am. As you know I've been trying to workout and get in shape by my Flirty 30 (that's how I'll be referring to my birthday from here on out). Between the lack of sleep at night and living my life during the day this Mama is beat down. 

Anyway. You might recall that I had the opportunity to review the Fitbit One. (I spoke briefly about it in this YouTube vlog) The Fitbit tracks your steps, distance, stairs climbed and calories burned. It also tracks your sleep. You can sync to your computer or smartphone using BlueTooth. What I loved most about the Fitbit is that you can use the free app to track your meals, goals, weigh loss and water intake. You can even connect with friends. 

I absolutely loved it for tracking my activity and calories burned. It was also pretty cool to see how many calories I had consumed and how much water I was REALLY drinking in a day.

Now.

I didn't use the Fitbit to track my sleep. I'm pretty sure that feature is incredible but with a newborn in the house I knew the Fitbit would tell me that I suck at getting rest. No need to kick me when I'm down so I opted not to use it to track my sleep. Other than that I have nothing but love for this device. It's a great motivator. It's small enough to snap on to a bra or tank top strap. It also comes with an arm band if that's your thing. Has anyone tried the Fitbit?

*I received a sample product for this review. All opinions are my own.

Witness For Fitness: Guest Blogger

Tighten Up After Baby

Going through a pregnancy and bringing a child into this world can be one of the most life-altering events you'll ever experience. While exercise maybe the last thing on your mind while nurturing your infant, it is extremely beneficial to be conscious of it and incorporate it into your daily routine. Exercise after pregnancy will help reduce the stress and anxiety of caring for a newborn, give you more energy, and get those muscles toned back up. While you don't need to jump on the treadmill immediately after birth, you should be thinking about starting or maintaining a fitness routine by the time the baby is a few months old, if not sooner.  Exercising doesn’t have to be expensive either.  There are a number of exercises that will target the areas typically affected by pregnancy- and on a budget!

Kegels

If you had a natural birth, Kegel exercises are invaluable to getting your inner "parts" tightened back up to allow increased bladder control. Kegels are easy to do and virtually undetectable, so you can actually do them while out and about. Just squeeze your pelvic floor muscles as if you are trying to stop urine flow. Hold for three seconds or longer, release and repeat. Try to squeeze them in several times a day. 

Before starting exercises more intense than kegels, stretching, or walking, consider consulting your doctor. Your doctor can provide the best recommendations and advice for you when it comes to post-partum exercises. I had a great relationship with my doctor during my whole term; he was involved in helping me make optional decisions for my birthing plan, like pain medications, breastfeeding, cord blood banking, and immunizations, then was also great about helping me plan out a post-delivery diet and exercise plan.

Abdominal Strengtheners

Abdominal exercises are the best way to tighten up your unfit tummy. Pelvic tilts are a gentle way to work up to doing crunches or sit-ups. I’ve always been one to hate doing ab workouts, but love the results of them. Pelvic tilts are a great way to start back into ab workouts, but also a great one to continue when you work up to doing more vigorous exercises. Perform pelvic tilts by lying on your back with your knees bent. Inhale and tighten you stomach and bottom muscles while tilting your pelvis up and inward, keeping your lower back on the floor. Hold for five counts, then release as you exhale.

As your abs gain strength, you can progress to a crunch, which begins in the same position as a pelvic tilt. Place the hands behind the head or neck, elbows straight out. Be careful not to pull on your neck with your arms. Inhale as you slowly lift your shoulders a few inches off the floor, tightening your abs. Slowly release as you exhale. You can do crunches slow and controlled, or you can stay in the lifted position and pulse up toward the knees for 10 quick counts, then release. You can also work the oblique muscle by lifting one elbow toward the opposite knee, engaging the side abdominal muscles.

Thigh Strengtheners

Squats are an ideal exercise for new moms for a couple of reasons. First, they require no equipment so you can do them while chatting on the phone in your kitchen, or anywhere else. Second, you can do them while spending quality time with your newborn by placing the baby in a front carrier. Babies are often soothed by the up and down motion, and they love to be close to mommy. The next time your baby is fussy, or you are feeling like you need to blow off some steam, try a couple of squats.

To perform a squat, place your feet about shoulder-width apart, toes pointing forward. Lower the bottom half of your body down and back, like you are about to sit in a chair. Squeeze your bottom and thigh muscles as you lift back up to a standing position. You can work different muscles by placing the feet a little wider apart and pointing the toes out, away from the body. Lower down into a squat, squeeze those inner thighs and lift up to standing.

With these exercises helping you work back into better shape, you will soon be feeling more energized and ready to move on to more strenuous workouts. You will be slimmed down and back to your pre-pregnancy weight before you know it and feeling healthy for yourself and your baby. 

“Katie Moore has written and submitted this article. Katie is an active blogger who discusses the topics of, motherhood, children, fitness, health and all other things Mommy. She enjoys writing, blogging, and meeting new people! To connect with Katie contact her via her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter, @moorekm26.”