Congrats to Tracy Concannon who has won the uber-fabulous Bronzed Envy Home Tanning Kit! Tracy really wanted this kit, but thought it wouldn’t be in her budget. Free – I believe, is in everyone’s budget! Enjoy having a year-round golden glow fancy girl. Thanks to Bronzed Envy for sponsoring such a great giveaway!

Fitz having fun with Fabric

Motivation for fitness comes in many ways. It can come via disgust with ones body, pressure to be trim, necessity to be stronger, or eagerness to win. These motives although, not all good, are real and often the inspiration for folks to start sweating. Why not choose a motivation that is truly motivating though? You know … fun! Fun is the way most folks describe things they like to do , right? Right! So I’d like to you do some soul searching,  then some creative searching for local opportunities and then pick some sort of physical activity you think will be fun!

I did. About a month ago, I decided to thumb through the local Continuing Education Guide, which is published by the nearest community college. I stumbled across a variety of fun choices like Irish Step Dancing, African Dance and Fencing, but what really caught my eye was a course called “Aerial Dance”.  The course description said I’d get to fly through the air on a trapeze and do twisty turny things on fabric. This four week course sounded fun so I signed up on a whim, and I can honestly say that I am having genuine laugh-out-loud fun. It’s physically challenging, but it makes me happy. Really happy.

So do as I say and as I doand go find some sort of fun fitness training that will make you giggle while getting you in to shape. Below are some fun things you might consider trying out!

• Snowboarding
• Surfing
• Synchronized Swimming
• Skating
• Dancing – Ballroom, African, Step, Break-dancing, Ballet or Hip Hop
• Fencing
• Boxing
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Rowing
• Mountain Climbing

What’s your favorite fun-time fitness activity?

Daniel*1977 on Flickr.com

I just had a wonderful conversation with an old college buddy of mine, Jon Mendelsohn, and he shared his method for staying slim and trim. He’s always been a sharp guy, but I really liked his plan and I thought I’d share it with you. The “Mendelsohn Method” goes like this: Choose food that spoils.  That means, Jon avoids processed foods in boxes, cans or bags which would be as good in nine months as they are now. Easy, right? Foods included in his “spoiler diet” are: raw fruits and veggies, lean meats, lean dairy and fresh whole grains. These choices are all naturally high in nutrition and low in fat.

The Mendelsohn Method doesn’t suggest you should never eat a cracker or open a can of soup, it just encourages you to make the move for “spoilers” most of the time. It clearly works for Mr. Mendelsohn. Thanks for the tip, Jon – I’m so happy we had the chance to catch up!

I’d like to impart an important message to those of you on a mission to lose weight. It’s nearly impossible to exercise off reckless eating and drinking. Think about it: You could easily consume 500 calories in less than five minutes. It would take most of you at least one complete hour of vigorous exercise to burn those same 500 calories off. Imagine how calorically expensive a “big night out” could be.

One reckless night out could easily destroy your entire week’s efforts to lose. Example? Three single-liquor cocktails at 150 calories each (450 total), eight buffalo wings pack 1050 calories, 8 nachos from a nacho supreme appetizer alone account for 569 calories and one small piece of chocolate cake equals 600. So this fun night out is going to add 2669 calories on top of the regular breakfast, lunch and snacks you’ve eaten that day. Ouch!

Undoing the reckless consumption from this one night alone would require you to run more than 20 miles. That’s a lot of work, right? Right! So instead of trying to undo careless consumption, begin each day with a caloric budget and manage your food and drink choices to fall within that range. As well, if you make a habit of saying “no thank you” at least 10 times a day when high calorie indulgences are offered to you, you’ll be 10 times as likely to reach your goals! Saying “no thank you” is a lot less physically taxing than trying to work those calories off.

Remember: Your body doesn’t care if it’s your birthday, anniversary, Friday night or any other celebration. If you feed it excessively, it will grow.   

Vernhart on Flickr.com

We’ve all got a bunch of odd things we do that may not make sense … but make us happier with our bodies. Well, Self Magazine has made a list of oddball tactics to get you leaner than you were before. Click here to see their list, and enjoy the few extra ideas I use to stay fit and trim as well below. Have some strange strategies too? Please share in the comment section!

• Eat only one M&M at a time. Mindlessly tossing a handful of chocolate in your mouth is no more satisfying than enjoying one piece at a time. Trust me. Stick with this tactic and you’ll be satisfied with far fewer M&Ms thus consuming far fewer calories.
• Destroy your dinner. If you’re truly satisfied after consuming the first half of your dinner or dessert, destroy the rest. Dump some salt, pepper, sugar or some icky sauce on it to stifle unconscious picking. The other option, of course, is to have it quickly sent away to have the leftovers boxed up.
• Buy fitted clothes. When working to lose weight, it feels natural to try and hide behind frumpy blousy clothing until you reach your goal. But this fashion flub just makes you look bigger and feel more comfortable eating less wisely. Instead, seek out a sleek wardrobe which will keep your eating habits cleaner, your posture taller and tighter, and your eyes on that weight loss prize!

Chelsie Hightower, one of the professional dancers, appearing on “Dancing with the Stars”, was recently interviewed in Fitness magazine and shares more than one “celebrity” competitor would like. Ouch! Her quote from the September 10 issue is a stinger and her training routine is tough. Enjoy these excerpts!

On her dream Dance Partner:“Justin Timberlake would be awesome, but that might be reaching too high. I’d love to team up with a World Cup soccer player. I watched the games this summer and those guys are dope. They already have the drive, work ethic and some footwork, so it would be fun to dance with one of them.”

On her Most Challenging Partner, former Bachelor Jake Pavelka: “If you don’t have some sort of good relationship or chemistry, it’s really hard to do well in the competition.”

The worst part of being of the show: “Everything falls on you. If the choreography’s not good, if the contestant doesn’t dance well, it’s your fault. Even the costumes and the music are my choices. That’s a lot of pressure. Not to mention that 22 million people are watching every week!”

On why dancing is beneficial: “Because it works every part of your body. And even though it’s hard, it’s fun, so that keeps you going. Dancing also lifts your spirits in that it loosens you up, makes you more outgoing, boosts your confidence level and relieves stress.”

On what keeps her fit: “I like to mix things up by taking jazz, ballet and contemporary dance classes that are an hour and a half each. I also do the P90X Ab Ripper X DVD. Plus, I walk uphill near my home in Beverly Hills, stopping to do some lunges and push-ups to keep my heart rate up.”

Hopefully you’ve already decided that the negatives outweigh the positives when it comes to sunburns and tanning. Wrinkles, cancer, splotchy skin, freckles, moles and premature death are simple reasons to avoid going outdoors unprotected. Having said that, giving up sunburns doesn’t mean you have to give up on glowing golden skin. In fact, the opposite is true. With an incredibly competitive industry blossoming, sunless tanners are better than ever. Bronzed Envy is a perfect example of the strides this industry has made, and has offered up a fabulous Bronzed Envy Home Tanning Kit so you can get a salon quality tan every day of the year in the comfort of your own home.

Trying these products out has been a joy as Bronzed Envy offers a complete line designed to give you a gorgeous glow. The line includes lovely scrubs and moisturizers, but at the heart of what matters most … the sunless tanners are amazing. My favorite is the “Bronzed Illusion” sunless tanning lotion. I like to use it on my face every few days to avoid having to wear too much makeup and it instantly makes my fair Irish skin look like it’s been to the beach for a week. The color is natural and the smell … unlike other sunless tanners, the scent of “Bronzed Illusion” is fantastic! It’s similar to a really mild orange creamsicle, which is something worth purchasing even if it didn’t offer a tan. The most popular Bronzed Envy product though is an aerosol spray called ”Tan in a Can”. Good stuff!

As a huge proponent of tanning without UVA or UVB rays and an even huger opponent of skin cancer, I highly encourage you to enter to win this Bronzed Envy Giveaway.  The Home Tanning Kit, valued at a whopping $495.00, is top notch and the dramatic effect it could make on your health and appearance may be priceless! To enter: visit the Bronzed Envy website by clicking here and then write here in the comment section which product you’d like to have most.

BronzedEnvy.com

Another fun fact I found on that they’re trying to boost this bad economy by offering regular folks around the country the ability to start their own airbrush tanning business, like all the celebrities use (see photo above). I only mention it as it seems to be a nice way to supplement or create an income when many people are looking for a job. Spread the health, right?

Contest Rules:

The contest will end September 6, 2010 at 8pm. One winner will be chosen at random, and shall receive their prize from Bronzed Envy within 14 days of providing a proper mailing address. Good luck!

The winner will be publicly announced on Fitzness.com/blog.

Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, who are 18 and older.

• One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
• Prizes will be shipped within 14 business days of receiving the winner’s mailing address.
• Entrants must leave a valid email address.
• You may enter only once.

Who the heck do they think they are? The Wiggles - that’s who! There’s a reason they’re the most succesful children’s entertainment group in history. Their musical quality could compete with that of the Rolling Stones (you’d have to hear it to understand), their hips shake like Ricky Martin’s (surprising, I know), their ability to relate to and elate the little one’s would turn Mickey Mouse green with envy, and they’re acrobatics … well you’re just going to have to watch them scale these poles to see for yourself!

If you’ve been looking for some inspiration and ideas on how to make your workouts far more fun and athletic than they already are, check out this video and the next few I’ll be publishing from my time spent with The Wiggles. I had so much fun joining them on stage to play  train with their circus gear and am certainly a bit sore from it all.  Even as a fitness expert, I know I’m not above learning from and being inspired by others. Anthony, Paddy and the rest of The Wiggles cast do this for me. If you’re open to it … they’ll do it for you too.

Fitz and Anthony Field

To find out when the Wiggles tour will be at a venue near you, click here. ***The reason they call the move shown in this video ”Spider Drops”  is because they do it to the tune “Itsy Bitsy Spider”. Adorable? You bet! Still incredibly difficult to do? Try it to see for yourself!

- Thanks again to The Wiggles who are always such gracious hosts. I have such great fun working with you all and enjoy being able to share your enthusiasm and creative fitness training with the world.  XXOO 

Photo by: Sean Dreilinger on Flickr.com

If you’re a parent or a grandparent, you probably already know that the things you teach those little kids of yours will last a lifetime. The thing is – are you teaching them habits that will benefit them for a LONG lifetime? Do you provide dessert every day? Seems harmless, cause they’re so cute and sweet and gee whiz, even thin right now! But a habit of dessert every day today will turn in to a habit of dessert every day in twenty years and that usually doesn’t turn out so good. Not only does it, of course, increase their chances of struggling with their weight … but it also increases their chances of incurring a variety of awful ailments and diseases, even premature death.

As your friendly online fitness trainer, I’d like you to take on the philosophy of “high standards” when it comes to the foods and drinks you put in their little mouths. Choose items that are legitimately nutritious, and usually low in fats, calories and sodium. Choosing foods that are baked instead of fried is any easy start. Combine that with regular exercise and you increase their chances for success tenfold. Remember, you are in charge and you have not only the opportunity, but the responsibility to teach them habitual behaviors that will allow them the luxury of a long, healthy life. What more could you wish for them?

Check out this short video “AHN Fit Kicks with Fitz: Raising Fit Kids” to learn more!

ShoesThatLoveYou.com

I’ve been testing out a pair of OKA b. sandals for a few months and am officially compelled to share them with you. These sweet little sandals are not only sexy and stylish, they’re also incredibly comfortable which makes them ideal for the fitness fanatics’ foot. If your training tactics leave your tootsies tired and sore, the last thing you need to do is put them in to a sandal with nothing more than a layer of leather and cardboard between you and the ground. If this is you, you’re probably ready to make the switch to OKA b.

ShoesThatLoveYou.com

OKA b. offers all the fru fru frills that a pretty girl desires (including high heels), along with structured support to keep you comfortable. Yes, I said it. Comfortable! I wear my pretty little copper “Blakes” (above) which are adorned with a beaded peach and white flower all the time. They go with skirts, shorts, jeans and dresses, and I wouldn’t hesitate to wear them for a grueling day of walking at a theme park with my kids. That, my friends, speaks volumes.  Visit the site ShoesThatLoveYou.com and check out the wide variety of sandals, thongs, flip-flops and slides available. You’re sure to find something you love, especially since the main price points stay between $20 and $40.