Blog Archives
My New Favorite Protein Shaker
Looking for a quick protein shake solution? When it comes to consuming protein shakes day after day lets face it, sometimes you just don’t have time to get out the blender. While I was at a supplement store with one of my San Diego personal training clients, I found the most genius shaker bottle invention ever.
It’s called the Blender Bottle. This bottle has a wire whisk to blend your ingredients smooth. If you’ve ever tried to mix protein powder in water, you know how impossible it is to get rid of the lumps. This bottle does it all for you.
You can find these at your local vitamin store.
Committed to Your Health,
Nikol Klein, San Diego’s Most Trusted Women’s Fitness Expert
San Diego Summer Workout Safety Tips
The summer has started and if you are like most of my San Diego personal training clients, you are looking forward to enjoying the outdoors. With the gorgeous scenery from the mountains all the way to the beach it is mighty tempting to take your exercise out of the gym and into the fresh air. It sounds exhilarating, I know, but there are also some safety precautions that you need to take if you plan on venturing out alone.
Here are a few tips for safely exercising outdoors this Summer.
1.) If you must go alone bring your phone…and some pepper spray. I know it may sound a bit over the top, but this will lessen your likelihood of becoming a victim.
2.) Go early. Try to get your workout in early in the morning during the summer as this will be the coolest time of day. The further into the afternoon you wait, the more likely you are to get heat exhaustion.
3.) Wear sunscreen. No one wants racerback tan-lines! (or worse yet, a burn!)
4.) Don’t go off the path. Stay in populated, well-marked and well-lit areas.
5.) Keep jewelry to a minimum. This will prevent muggings.
6.) Wear light or reflective color clothing.
Follow these tips for a safe San Diego summer. Always remember to stay hydrated and to dress in light-colored clothing to stay cool. Who knows, you may find yourself going for a cool off swim in the ocean!
San Diego TRX Workout for Women
About half a year ago I decided to invest in a training tool that has been quite the rage up in LA. I first saw it on The Real Housewives of Orange County and The Hills. It’s called the TRX trainer. I figured if this is the kind of tool that Audrina Patridge is using to sculpt her body to perfection, my San Diego personal training clients will love it!
With the TRX, there are unlimited possibilities as far as exercises go and the creative trainer can let their imagination go wild. I am now using it with all types of clients including those with injuries and disabilities as doing exercises with the TRX takes pressure off of the joints making for safer exercising.
I took some time out of my Sunday last week to shoot some photos and a quick TRX workout video that anyone can do. Best of all, you don’t need a gym to use the TRX!
La Jolla Boot Camp Meets Reebok EasyTone
After a month of rainy weather, I was finally able to conduct my La Jolla Boot Camp on dry land! I had been waiting to test out my Reebok EasyTone sneakers on the sand of La Jolla Shores. After a long week of standing and product demos at the IHRSA convention here in San Diego, I have to admit, my legs were pretty tired. I wanted to test how effective the EasyTones would be in Boot Camp.
As I tested a few weeks ago, the first thing I noticed was just how hard it was to lunge in these shoes. (you can watch the video here) This was especially true at boot camp on the grass. We also did a set of lunges in the sand which really challenged our legs. The dynamic warm-up in the grass along with the 30 minute workout went well. Now onto the next challenge…jogging in the sand.
Tide was on the high side this week, so we were forced to jog in the soft sand. This was an extreme challenge in the Easytones as the sand kept moving under the balance pods giving me a feeling that my feet were not completely touching the ground. A good workout for me, but something that I might not recommend for a beginner.
(And let me just warn you, working out in the Easy Tone shoes is not for beginners. It takes a lot of core strength. Keep in mind that these exercises are a bit difficult for me, a fitness professional.)
When I woke up on Sunday morning, my calves were sore. This is probably from trying to stabalize on the sand during the boot camp jog. Reebok has been nice enough to send me out a complimentary pair of RunTone shoes, so I am willing to bet that they will be a bit better for jogging.
That’s all for now! Stay tuned for my RunTone testing videos and blogs!
San Diego Personal Trainer Targets Trouble Zones!
Muffin top...literally
As a San Diego Personal Trainer I know the typical trouble zones that my female clients are looking to target when they sign-up for my one on one workout programs. We all know that there is no such thing as spot reduction, but there are ways to tighten up these trouble areas through proper strength training techniques, healthy eating, and performing cardiovascular activities on a regular basis.
Here are my solutions to the typical female trouble zones. Whether you decide to go it alone or work with your San Diego personal trainer, if you work hard you will see results.
Muffin Top- So you’re starting to notice a muffin top over those once loose fitting jeans. What can you do to make it go away? Try oblique abdominal crunches or side planks. I also have my San Diego personal training clients do a standing side crunch with three pound weights. If cardio is your thing, the rowing machine is the perfect cardio solution to toning up the muscles around that muffin top area.
Flatt Butt- Is your behind flat as a board? Have no fear. You can squat your way to a firm, bubbly behind in no time. There are many variations to the squat which will target different muscles of the glutes. If cardio is your thing, the stair climber will do wonders for the glutes as will the stair-mill. Get ready to turn heads in your favorite pair of designer jeans.
Jiggly Arms- Starting to notice loose skin and fat hanging from your upper arms? You are not alone. This is the number one complaint that I hear from my San Diego personal training clients prior to their first training session with me. You can battle the flab with some very simple arm exercises including tricep extensions, overhead press, front/ side raises, and even arm circles. A great cardiovascular exercise for the jiggly arm is surfing or tennis.
Saddle Bags- Saddle bags are another trouble area that I hear about often as sometimes uneducated San Diego personal trainers aren’t creative enough to come up with exercises to blast the outer thighs. Really, it is more than going to the gym and using the Abductor machine and going to town. I work with my San Diego Personal Training clients on simple pilates exercises that isolate the outer thigh and even give them a series of exercises that I call “Ballet Legs.” An advanced, yet effective cardio exercise for this area utilizes the treadmill. Instead of running straight forward, you would actually skip on the treadmill sideways. Don’t forget to hold on!
Your San Diego Personal Trainer should have the right solutions to your trouble zones. Remember, there is no quick fix for anything. With hard work and and a consistent strength training routine, healthy diet, and regular cardiovascular schedule you will be on the right track to minimizing those trouble spots. Don’t try to add all of these exercises to your workout all at once, but slowly introducing them to your routine will keep you injury free.
San Diego Personal Trainer- Get Terrific Triceps
Here is a simple exercise to help you on your way to getting terrific Triceps! It uses light weight with high repetition to give you that slender yet toned Tricep that you are looking for. I hope you enjoy the burn!
Tricep Pee Wee’s
For this exercise use very light weight 2-3 pounds for beginners, 5 pounds for advanced.
Start with knees bent, slightly bent forward with an arched back to protect the spine. Holding the weight, start with your elbows up and bent as pictured below.
Now extend the arms so that the elbows are now straight as pictured below. Repeat for 15-20 repetitions, 2-3 times.
Remember, this exercise alone will not get you the full results you are looking for, but it will work in addition to a structured fitness program. For more exercises like this that build lean, toned muscles and not bulk, contact San Diego Personal Trainer Nikol Klein or find more exercises here.
Committed to Your Health,
Nikol Klein, Certified Personal Trainer/ Nutritionist
La Jolla Beach Boot Camp for Women
I am pleased to announce the launch of my new website, lajollabeachbootcamp.com. I have been conducting boot camps twice a month for my current clients and the results have been fabulous!
If you live in the San Diego area, the La Jolla Beach Boot Camp for Women is a great way to get in an extra day of cardiovascular training in a beautiful beach environment.
Discover the fun and dynamic workout for all levels of fitness that will burn fat, increase energy, and improve endurance all in a motivating group setting!
Space is limited so reserve your spot today. Hear what San Diego Women just like you are saying >>click here!
Committed to Your Health,
Nikol Klein, Certified Personal Trainer / Nutritionist
