My family is in Florida enjoying the final weeks of summer and I don't think I have to tell you how hot it is here. It has been sunny and humid pretty much every day so far, with little rain breaks in the evening. When you're on vacation in a hot climate like Florida, it can be difficult (especially when you're not used to it) to stay hydrated and have energy. Because you are constantly sweating, you need to make sure that you are replacing lost fluids with plenty of water. I

Tomorrow starts my summer vacation! I am so excited to finally have a break from writing. I thought it would be fun to start a travel diary focused on my fitness routines and tips. If you are deciding to take a trip somewhere, I recommend that you try some of these great routines, recipes, and more! Today, I am sharing a great video of 8 quick workouts that you can do on vacation. I hope you enjoy, and don't forget to check back every week for more updates! Until next time, A

Like anything in life, exercise should be done in moderation. There are usually two types of people when it comes to fitness; those who aren't motivated to exercise at all and those who love to exercise because it makes them feel good. There is also one more type of person who takes exercise to the extreme of an addiction. This person takes up a very small percentage of the fitness community, however, I have been seeing more and more of these people coming out of the woodwork

Have a wonderful day my lovely readers! Don't forget to enter to win a signed copy of A Dancer's Diary, a signed copy of Stress Less Cooking by Deidra Howard, and two Yes-To Face masks. Click here to enter! Until next time, Amanda #Dance #Health #Quotes #Exercise #Book #Inspiration #Athletics #Sports #Support #Giveaway #Dancers #Summer

Every dancer knows exactly what I'm going to talk about today. Have you ever experienced snapping or popping joints? Most dancers, and some athletes, have. It has become a pretty normal annoyance to have to deal with. However, does it actually mean something is wrong? That is what we are going to talk about. A lot of the time, snapping joints are totally benign. Though, there are times when this popping can be from an injury. They usually snap or pop due to one or more of the

The title of this post may suggest to you that there is one perfect way to start your Mondays. However, I'm going to tell you that that is untrue. You may read blogs or books that tell you that you must have a certain routine in order to be successful or to make your week successful. Just like no two people are alike, no two Mondays are alike. Every day is a gift and every day comes with its unique challenges. I am going to share some simple ways you can make your Mondays ama

We've talked a lot about how to take care of your skin from both the inside and outside. On Monday, I shared some of the best foods to eat to help clear up your skin and maintain decreased levels of inflammation and Wednesday I shared some of my favorite skin care products and recipes. I look forward to sharing even more with you in the coming week. For now, though, I wanted to offer you a chance to win a couple of things that will help you in your quest for healthy, clear sk

I've had a lot of fun so far trying out new products and recipes for pampering myself at home. Now, I know that nothing beats a spa and having someone give you a massage or facial, however, sometimes it's just not the most affordable option. Because I haven't had enough time to try out all of the recipes that I wanted to, I'm going to extend this series into next week as well. Today, I'm going to share the products that I have tried and hopefully you like them! Some of these

If you follow me on Instagram, you will have seen that I am starting a series all about natural care products and at-home "spa" items. I've decided to try out a couple of different facial care brands as well as some easy recipes. To start off this series, we're going to discuss some great foods that will help you achieve healthy, strong skin and hair. Food is the main way to keep your body healthy and happy. Sticking to healthy foods that are high in antioxidants, minerals, a

I've talked a lot about finding balance between your agonist and antagonist muscles. Exercising one group of muscles more than the other, or completely neglecting one altogether, can increase your susceptibility to certain injuries. If you will remember, I discussed this in my post about hamstring and quadriceps. If you have tight triceps and weaker biceps, you can experience pulling on the tendons near the elbows. This can be a problem if you are a pitcher or tennis player.

So...I know it's been a couple of week since part one of this short series, however, I think it's time to pick it back up again and finish it. If you didn't see the first part, you can check it out here. As I mentioned in my last post, back pain is a very common issue among all ages. Whether they are active or inactive, athletic or not, young or old. In the last post, I shared some great strengthening exercises for increasing back strength. Today, I am going to share some cor

Today, I would like to get back into the regular swing of things by sharing a great quote that I found by Jillian Michaels. “You messed up your diet and didn’t exercise today—so what? You didn’t ruin anything. Get back on track tomorrow. If you have one flat tire, do you slash the other three? Of course not.” –Jillian Michaels Keep up the good work! Even if you didn't do things perfectly today, there is always tomorrow. I believe in you. Have a wonderful rest of your Monday!

Good afternoon everyone! I want to apologize for the absence of posts last week, but we're back on track this week. Today I'm sharing some great on-the-go meals that you can take to the beach, work, or on a road trip. These meals can be packed up weekly or the day before and grabbed and packed up in a cooler. They are healthy, protein-packed, and delicious! Breakfasts Oatmeal On-The-Go Bars (recipe from Weelicious) Ingredients: 2 cups old fashioned oats 1 cup whole wheat flou

Make the most of today! Have the best Monday ever, Amanda #Athletics #Sports #Support #Dance #Spring #Quotes #Inspiration #Dancers #Blogging

I love finding new resources that will help me with both my job as a personal trainer and dance teacher, but also as a dancer myself. I spend a lot of time researching various products and books to make sure that they are indeed helpful and proven to be effective. One of the best programs that I discovered a couple of years ago was this flexibility program. I encourage you to check it out for yourself and here is why: For years I've struggled with inflexibility. Sure, I can t

Back pain is a common issue among many groups of people. The increase of desk jobs is often the cause of increased lower and upper back pain, as well as neck pain due to poor posture on a daily basis. For athletes and dancers, back pain can be attributed to constant stress and injury to the area. Whatever the cause, back pain is a nuisance that should be handled delicately. The best way to handle back pain is by using preventative measures before it becomes an issue. I'd like

As a health professional, I find that having healthy makeup brands is just as important as eating healthy foods. Everything that you put on your skin eventually makes it into your bloodstream. Because of this, you need to make sure that you are choosing products that don't contain harmful ingredients. If you would like to read more on this subject, you can check out A Dancer's Diary. The most common ingredients that can be harmful to your health include: Sodium lauryl sulfate

I'm a little behind on my to-dos today but I'm pushing through. Don't let the Monday blues hit you too hard today. Get out, get active, get things done! Until next time, Amanda #Athletics #Sports #Support #Dancers #Dance #Stress #Spring #Quotes #Exercise #Inspiration

Exercise is a great support system for people with certain health issues. It can help their bodies work more efficiently and even help them recover from what ails them. As a personal trainer, I'm required to do my research on how to properly teach each person to exercise according to their specific health issues. I wanted to start diving a little deeper into how fitness can be used as a way to prevent further decline in health. Of course, you must consult your doctor before e

These snack options are great for both pre and post-workout fueling. You can combine any of your favorites from this list to get the necessary protein, complex carbohydrates, and fiber that your body needs to maintain a healthy metabolism. To make things easier on yourself, you can even package some of these in your fridge for on-the-go options. Enjoy! Until next time, Amanda #Athletics #Sports #Dancers #Dance #Health #Spring #Exercise #Book #Food #Blogging