A certified personal trainer and fitness instructor with a bachelor's degree in health education, Nicole loves living a healthy and fit lifestyle and helping others do the same. Nicole was formerly SparkPeople's fitness expert and editor-in-chief, known on the site as “Coach Nicole.” Make sure to explore more of her articles and blog posts.
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5 Workout Songs I'm Obsessed with Right Now
One of the easiest ways to refresh your workouts is to update the music you listen to while you exercise, whether you use an iPod or still create your own mix CDs. It has been too long since I shared some of my favorite workout songs with you, so I figured the new year was a good time since so many people are fired up and ready to get fit.
There are a few songs that I'm obsessed with lately. And I mean that--I cannot get enough of them! These tunes are so fun and upbeat that I can listen to them on repeat and still get my body moving after weeks on my workout playlist. Some of these hits are new and some are older (circa 1999 for one), but release date doesn't matter to me as much as the fun factor. If it makes me want to move, it goes on my playlist.
Posted 1/6/2010 10:26:05 AM By: : 325 comments 140,479 views
PEOPLE Magazine's 'Half Their Size' Issue Features SparkPeople Member! *
PEOPLE magazine's annual "Half Their Size" issue, on newsstands now, features regular people who lost more than half of their body weight. The transformations are incredibly motivating, especially if you've resolved to get in shape this year.
One of the featured success stories is 25-year-old Brandy Blackburn. This young mother of one started her journey at 335 pounds, but you would never know it by looking at her today.
Brandy (BBANGEL1214) used SparkPeople.com and our free iPhone application, the SparkPeople Food and Fitness Tracker, to lose 177 pounds!
Check out her amazing before and after photos!
Posted 1/1/2010 2:00:00 PM By: : 357 comments 115,276 views
5 Good Reasons to Join the 'Spark Your Body' Bootcamp
If you're resolving to lose weight, get fit or tone up in 2010, then I have some news for you. It's going to take hard work, will power, dedication, and some sweat (but not necessarily blood or tears). But you can make it easier—even fun—by joining SparkPeople's "Spark Your Body" Bootcamp, a challenge that includes a workout plan, built-in support, and motivating prizes!
We created the Spark Your Body Bootcamp Challenge and Contest to motivate and inspire you to reach your fitness goals in 2010. We call it “Bootcamp” not because it’s highly intense, but because it involves daily exercise and commitment so you can get real results.
Posted 12/25/2009 2:30:19 PM By: : 171 comments 42,033 views
When Less Exercise is More
You have a busy week. Some last minute shopping to do (complete with many circles around the parking lot to simply find an empty spot), cookies to bake for your neighborhood cookie exchange, gifts to wrap, travel plans to finalize, a volunteer session at the local food bank, and a holiday party for work. You're feeling frazzled, but you want do it all for the spirit of the season. At some point, something has to give. When you're this busy, what's the first thing that falls off your to-do list? Yourself. And for many of us, that means our healthy diet and exercise plans fall by the wayside for days or even weeks at a time, making it harder to climb back onto the treadmill than if you would have just stayed on its belt to being with. Eventually, you need a reason (or resolution) to get yourself back on track and luckily, the New Year is just around the corner, so you decide to just wait until then. Sound familiar?
But what if you could have it all—or at least MOST of it? The truth is, you can. If you can learn to apply one simple rule to your workouts, you can say "yes" to all the holiday festivities and still keep your muscles in tip-top shape, helping prevent that notorious holiday weight gain and the climb back onto the wagon that happens in January. How?
Posted 12/18/2009 2:00:00 PM By: : 171 comments 59,223 views
8 New Ways to Get Fit, Firm and Fired Up
Are you having trouble squeezing exercise into your busy days? Do you need a workout plan that is simple to follow, yet effective? Are you thinking about making fitness a part of your life, perhaps as a New Year's Resolution? Whether you need help starting a consistent fitness program or just want new ideas, my newest workout DVD, The Spark: Fit, Firm and Fired Up in 10 Minutes a Day can help!
A couple months ago, I told you how you can get a free workout from this DVD by preordering The Spark. Today, I'm happy to share that this DVD is now available!
Posted 12/16/2009 6:00:00 AM By: : 38 comments 26,367 views
One Surefire Way to Prevent Holiday Weight Gain
It's the time of year we both love and dread. For people who celebrate, the holidays are a time of joy, fun, volunteering and parties; but they're also associated with overindulgence, sweets and weight gain. Is it possible to stave off weight gain during the holidays without feeling deprived?
I sure think so. Many people manage to survive the holidays without switching belt notches. Some even make it to January and go down a pants size. How do they do it?
Posted 12/11/2009 7:28:07 AM By: : 206 comments 45,514 views
Habits of Fit People: Set a Fun Fitness Goal
You want to be a fit person, right? That's why I'm sharing my own habits for keeping fit and staying healthy in the ongoing Habits of Fit People series.
Here's one that works for me: Shooting for a fun fitness goal. So why does something like this matter?
Sure, exercise itself can be fun, especially when you really enjoy doing something so much that it doesn't even seem like a workout (for me, that's tennis). But to keep at it day after day, week after week, year after year…you see where I'm going here. Over time, what was once fun can seem monotonous and your motivation to exercise can drop faster than a skydiving elephant!
All of this changes when you set a fun fitness goal. I'm not talking about "exercise 5 times a week" either. Set a goal that inspires you to train so that you can reach it. This way, your desire to reach your fun fitness goal will motivate you to keep exercising consistently. So what kind of fitness goal is fun and motivating enough to help you stick with a workout routine?
Posted 12/4/2009 2:54:02 PM By: : 201 comments 52,720 views
4 Ways a Famous Food Critic Maintains His Physique
The Washington Post's food critic, Tom Sietsema dines out like it's his job…because it is. He spends 40 hours a week in restaurants, sampling food, wine and desserts to review for The Post. To many, it may sound like a dream job. But to others, you may wonder how a job like that would affect your waistline.
In some ways, it is hard to say since Sietsema takes deliberate measures to keep his identity a secret. What does he really look like? Only a few really know.
But he is conscious about his weight. A recent profile by Andrew Alexander, the man who eats for a living shared four excellent tips that we can use to enjoy the foods we love and still manage our weights.
Posted 12/2/2009 3:06:58 PM By: : 133 comments 25,251 views
How 'Precious' Star Learned to Love Herself
You've probably seen the previews for Precious, the Oprah-endorsed film that stars newcomer Gabourey ("Gabby") Sidibe as the title character. Some of you may have even seen the film already.
Last week, Gabby sat down with Oprah to promote the film, and the discussion turned to Gabby's weight and body image. Oprah, who mentioned lamenting over her own weight for years, asked where Gabby got such confidence. "You walk into a room, obviously not a size 2 or a 12, but have such great confidence about it that it doesn't seem to bother you at all."
Posted 11/27/2009 12:00:00 PM By: : 109 comments 23,214 views
Save 10% on Fruit and Flower Gifts for the Holidays!
Is your holiday gift list growing by the minute while your free time is dwindling before your eyes? We hear you. Online ordering is one way to cut down on holiday shopping stress, and now the SparkPeople Store offers several new gifts that you can buy for your friends and loved ones this season!
Posted 11/20/2009 6:36:09 AM By: : 15 comments 11,340 views
Exclusive: Denise Austin Dishes Her Stay-Fit Tips and Tricks
Chances are, you've worked out with Denise Austin before. After all, her "Getting Fit" TV program ran for a decade on ESPN and "America's favorite fitness expert" has sold more than 20 million exercise videos/DVDs during the span of her 25-year career in addition to penning 10 books. Now in her 50s (although you wouldn't know it by looking at her), Denise is still at it. If you ask me, she is the ultimate fitness guru, with the experience, credentials and an overall balanced approach to healthy living that has motivated millions.
I had the opportunity to interview Denise Austin herself via email (!!!), and I got her actual workout routine (she did not hold back!), stay-motivated tricks and top 5 tips for staying fit and healthy in your 50s.
Posted 11/18/2009 5:42:32 AM By: : 100 comments 85,487 views
Fun Fitness Flashback: 80s Aerobics
(Disclaimer: As I write this, it's 4:55 p.m. and I need a blog post for tomorrow. While I guarantee this post will entertain and delight you, don't expect anything too deep.)
When you think of aerobics, what comes to mind? Tights, thong leotards, spandex and sweatbands? Well, you're not alone. Aerobics hit the mainstream in the 80s, and the "fashion" that went along with it (think: Olivia Newton John's "Get Physical" video) was probably just as famous as the signature moves, which could best be described as a cross of dance, calisthenics, and athletic training that is choreographed and set to music.
I recently stumbled upon a set of YouTube videos from the 1987 "National Aerobics Championship" where groups of, um…aerobicisers (?) competed for the title "America's Best Aerobic Athlete." These routines are mesmerizing.
Posted 11/13/2009 5:00:00 AM By: : 319 comments 92,805 views
4 Tricks to Kick Your Candy Cravings to the Curb
You've probably already faced your share of tempting bite-size candies and seasonal desserts over the past few weeks, but tomorrow is the day that candy will find its way into your home, office or Halloween party venue (if it hasn't already).
So how are you going to avoid the temptation? How can you stop yourself from eating too many of those cute little treats before it's too late? Good questions. I have a big sweet tooth myself. I love candy, desserts and sweets—I am only human. But I do try to make healthful choices about what I eat and enjoy treats within moderation, which usually means turning them down more often than I eat them. It isn't always easy, but it IS possible. So here are some of my very own tricks to prevent overeating on Halloween candy—and kick those cravings for good!
Posted 10/30/2009 5:58:47 AM By: : 82 comments 26,710 views
Habits of Fit People: Sleep in Your Workout Clothes
You want to be a fit person, right? That's why I'm sharing my own habits for keeping fit and staying healthy in the ongoing Habits of Fit People series.
Here's one that works for me: Sleeping in my workout clothes. This is especially helpful this time of year, when it's darker and colder when I wake up to run in the morning.
I may not be a morning person, but I'm working on it. Two or three times a week, I like to run in the morning because I love getting it out of the way and having my evenings free. That's not so difficult in the spring or summer, when the sunlight wakes me up and the temperature is inviting. But during the fall and winter? Forget about it! Dark, dreary and cold mornings make want to stay in bed as long as possible. So to stick with my morning runs, I have to keep my workout on my mind—and my body—the night before. So does it really make a difference?
Posted 10/23/2009 10:44:13 AM By: : 444 comments 122,600 views
Get a Sneak Peek of My New Workout DVD!
I can hardly contain my excitement as I write this post. There's something that I've been hiding for a while and as much as I wanted to, I wasn't able to tell anyone about it. But the day for my big reveal is finally here, and I hope that you will be as excited about it as I am!
Most of you know me from the SparkPeople workout videos. Some of you may also know that I created a couple workout DVDs for the SparkPeople Store. But what you don't know is that I designed and shot eight new workouts for a brand new fitness DVD a few months ago. This wasn't just any video shoot. We built our very own set, shot it on a real sound stage, and I even had my own make-up artist and stylist for the two-day shoot. Probably the most exciting part for me was that I bought eight new workout outfits to wear (and you know how much I love workout clothes!)
This isn't just any fitness DVD either. I designed it as a compliment to our new book The Spark, and like that book, it will be sold in retail stores nationwide. Look out world: Coach Nicole is going to hit the mainstream!
Now, you can get a sneak peek at one of the new 10-minute workouts from my forthcoming DVD: Fit, Firm & Fired Up in 10 Minutes a Day!
Posted 10/21/2009 8:32:04 AM By: : 66 comments 15,285 views
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