Weekly Challenge

CareerFit Challenge Contest – November

Each month I will be posting a fitness challenge aimed at getting you moving and inspired to share your success with our community of CareerFit Moms!

When you comment on my monthly CareerFit Challenge blog post, you’ll be entered into a contest to win a Yoga Starter Pack from lululemon (value $100).  The prize includes a yoga mat, bag and water bottle.  Pretty sweet incentive to keep you active!

If you are the winner, you’ll be notified after the draw to pick up your prize at lululemon in the Scarborough Town Centre.  Check back here regularly to see the contest results and the great ideas, resources and inspiration that our entrants have posted.

November’s CareerFit Challenge:

Time to get out of your comfort zone!  Try a new workout this month and share your experience. Tell us what new activity you chose and why.  Did you love it?  Will you incorporate it into your fit life going forward?

Contest Rules & Regulations
• Entries accepted until last day of one of the contest period (the 28th of each month)
• Open to GTA residents only
• One entry per person, per month

Also posted in Contests | 9 Comments

CareerFit Challenge Contest – October

Each month I will be posting a fitness challenge aimed at getting you moving and inspired to share your success with our community of CareerFit Moms!

When you comment on my monthly CareerFit Challenge blog post, you’ll be entered into a contest to win a Yoga Starter Pack from lululemon (value $100).  The prize includes a yoga mat, bag and water bottle.  Pretty sweet incentive to keep you active!

If you are the winner, you’ll be notified after the draw to pick up your prize at lululemon in the Scarborough Town Centre.  Check back here regularly to see the contest results and the great ideas, resources and inspiration that our entrants have posted.

October’s CareerFit Challenge:

It’s simple – just post a comment under this blog post listing you’re favourite workout.  Share what fires you up about your chosen exercise routine and perhaps you’ll be the catalyst for someone else to give it a try!

Here’s to a month of sharing great workout ideas!

Contest Rules & Regulations
• Entries accepted until last day of one of the contest period (the 28th of each month)
• Open to GTA residents only
• One entry per person, per month

Also posted in Contests | 24 Comments

Style Me Fabulous Contest Winner!

Thanks to the twenty-one women who entered to win a Signature Style Session with my Style Coach Safina Khimani of Faith Style.

Our lucky winner is Christine G. – her favourite fashion item is a Brown, 3/4 length sleeve shirt  that makes her feel fabulous.  Check out all the comments and my video blog below with a summary of all the entries.

Watch for Christine’s Style Story on www.careerfitmom.ca after she completes her sessions with Safina.

0 Style Me Fabulous Contest Winner!
Also posted in Contests | Tags: | Leave a comment

Spring Tune Up 20-Minute Workout

  • Warm-up for 3 minutes before starting the workout.
  • Do 10-15 reps of each muscle conditioning move.
  • Move quickly to your cardio boosts between muscle conditioning moves to keep heart rate elevated.
  • Cool down and stretch for at least 3 minutes at the end of the workout.

1. Wall Squat: works legs

  • Arms in goalpost position, stand against wall
  • Walk legs out so you’re in a sitting position, pressing back against wall, knees bent at 90 degree angle
  • 30 sec. (option to add: lift R leg 30 sec. + lift L leg 30 sec. + 30 sec. both legs on floor)

 0 Spring Tune Up 20 Minute Workout

2. Cardio Boost: Jumping Jacks (30-60 seconds)

3. Lunge & Power Glute Lift: works legs, glutes

  • R leg forward in lunge position, keeping knee at 90 degree angle over ankle
  • Lower into lunge, pulse at bottom x3 then push off front foot, extending back leg & squeezing glute
  • Lower back leg to floor and move back into low lunge/pulse • Complete R side then L
0 Spring Tune Up 20 Minute Workout

 4. Cardio Boost: Kick Bum Run (30-60 seconds)

 5. Push-up Series: works chest & cardio endurance

  • 8 push-ups + 30 sec. plank jacks
  • 8 push-ups + 30 sec. mountain climbers
  • 8 push-ups + 30 sec. squat thrusts
0 Spring Tune Up 20 Minute Workout

 6. Cardio Boost: Jump Twists (feet jump corner to corner while arms swing opp. way) (30-60 seconds)

0 Spring Tune Up 20 Minute Workout

 7. Side Tri Push-up: works back of arm

  • Lie on side, hips stacked, top arm 90 degree angle at chest height, pushing palm into floor
  • Bottom arm reaches under to hold top tricep
  • Push-up on bottom hand to lengthen arm and lift torso off floor. Release.  Do reps then switch sides.
0 Spring Tune Up 20 Minute Workout

 8. Cardio Boost: Knees Up (30-60 seconds)

 9. Inner Thigh Squat with Scapula Squeeze: works legs, upper back & shoulders

  • Wide stance, toes pointed out, push knees to back wall
  • Arms out to side
  • Bend knees, lowering into squat, bring arms into body, squeezing shoulder blades together
  • Release out of squat, moving arms back to side
  • 2 counts down & 2 counts up (option w/ tube or weights)
0 Spring Tune Up 20 Minute Workout

 10.  Cardio Boost: Frog Jumps – Inner thigh squat low, jump forward 2 x’s and back 2 x’s, staying low in squat.  Take off and land on balls of feet (30-60 seconds)

0 Spring Tune Up 20 Minute Workout

 11.  All 4’s Boost:  works arms, legs & core

  • Start on all 4’s, lift knees so shins off ground
  • Straighten legs as if moving into downward dog, while lifting R leg off ground & pushing up to ceiling
  • Head comes between arms and hips are lifting to the sky. Do reps and repeat L
0 Spring Tune Up 20 Minute Workout

 12.  Scissors: works core

  • Lie on back, hands under low back to support. Lift straight legs off ground a few inches
  • Alternate crossing feet at ankles and pushing legs out into wide V, while keeping legs straight & off ground
0 Spring Tune Up 20 Minute Workout

 13.  Bicycles: works abs – Lie on back, crunch knee into opposite shoulder.  L & R = 1 rep.

0 Spring Tune Up 20 Minute Workout

14.  Stretch

0 Spring Tune Up 20 Minute Workout
Also posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Weekly Challenge: Frog Jumps

Try to do 20 a day as a physical reminder of your weight loss goals.

0 Weekly Challenge: Frog Jumps
Posted in Weekly Challenge | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Weekly Challenge – Mountain Climbers

Perform the exercise everyday as a physical reminder of your weight loss goals. With every movement you’re generating great heat, blasting calories and shedding fat.

Mountain Climbers – do the move for a count of 30 everyday for the next week.  Commit to a time that you’re going to do the exercise – as soon as you get up, before bed, at lunch – whenever it is convenient.

0 Weekly Challenge   Mountain Climbers
Posted in Weekly Challenge | Tags: | Leave a comment

Fitness In A Flash – 20 Minutes to Feeling Great Over the Holidays

  • Warm-up for 3 minutes before starting the workout.
  • Do 10-15 reps of each muscle conditioning move.
  • Move quickly to your cardio boosts between muscle conditioning moves to keep heart rate elevated.
  • Cool down and stretch for at least 3 minutes at the end of the workout.

1. Ballet Squat & Scapula Squeeze: works legs, glutes, back, shoulders
• Wide stance, toes pointed out, push knees back, arms out to side
• Bend knees, lowering into squat. Squeeze arms into body, shoulder blades together, elbows behind back
• Release out of squat, moving arms back to side. 2 counts down & 2 counts up (option w/ tube or weights)

0 Fitness In A Flash   20 Minutes to Feeling Great Over the Holidays

2. Cardio Boost: Jumping Jacks (30 seconds)

3. Squat with Side Leg Lift: works legs, glutes
• Lower into squat & lift R leg to side as you straighten up.
• Repeat, lifting L leg to side = 1 rep (option step on tube, hip width apart)

0 Fitness In A Flash   20 Minutes to Feeling Great Over the Holidays

4. Cardio Boost: Jump Rope (30 seconds)

5. Lunge & Torso Twist: works legs, glutes, obliques
• R leg forward in lunge position, keeping knee at 90 degree angle over ankle
• Lower into lunge, pause and twist torso to R side
• Release twist and push through front leg to standing. Complete R side then L

0 Fitness In A Flash   20 Minutes to Feeling Great Over the Holidays

6. Cardio Boost: Side Glides – big & low step touch, arms arc overhead (30 seconds)

7. Push-ups: works chest, shoulders, arms

8. Cardio Boost: Squat & Kick Front (30 seconds)

0 Fitness In A Flash   20 Minutes to Feeling Great Over the Holidays

9. Tricep Dips: works back of arms
• Sit on edge sturdy chair or stairs, hands at hips
• Lower hips below chair by bending at elbows. Keep elbows tucked in
• Push hips back up and repeat

0 Fitness In A Flash   20 Minutes to Feeling Great Over the Holidays

10. Cardio Boost: Repeater Knee – arms reach & pull down. On R leg 15 seconds then L leg

0 Fitness In A Flash   20 Minutes to Feeling Great Over the Holidays

11. Bridge & Leg Extension: works glutes, hamstrings, quads, core
• Lie down on back, feet planted on floor and push hips up. Hold for 30 seconds
• Advanced: Lift 1 leg off ground & hold parallel with supporting leg, while continuing to push hips up. Switch legs

0 Fitness In A Flash   20 Minutes to Feeling Great Over the Holidays

12. Cardio Boost: Mountain Climbers – plank position on hands, bring alternating knees into chest as quickly as possible (30 seconds)

0 Fitness In A Flash   20 Minutes to Feeling Great Over the Holidays

13. Superwoman: works core
• Lie face-down, hands stretched overhead
• Lift chest & feet off the ground and hold 4 counts, feeling back muscles engage. Release and repeat

0 Fitness In A Flash   20 Minutes to Feeling Great Over the Holidays

14. Plank: works core
• Lie face-down, lift body into table top position on forearms. Hold for 30 seconds on toes or knees

0 Fitness In A Flash   20 Minutes to Feeling Great Over the Holidays

15. Seated Pikes: works abs
• Sit on floor, place hands behind your back, lean backwards to engage abs.
• Bring knees up and into chest, crunching abs. Next, lengthen legs out (keep off floor) while leaning backwards.

0 Fitness In A Flash   20 Minutes to Feeling Great Over the Holidays
Posted in Weekly Challenge | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

GROUP FIT Weekly Challenge – Sept. 2 – 9, 2009: Tricep Dips

Oh, I love Tricep Dips – they are simple and effective.  Your challenge this week is to complete 3 sets of 12 Tricep Dips on alternating days before our next Group Fit class on Wed. Sept. 9th.  For example, do your dips on Friday, Sunday and Tuesday and let me know how you did on Wednesday!

Here is a YouTube clip of the set up and how to complete the move with good form.  Is anyone up for the advanced version (two chairs!)…

0 GROUP FIT Weekly Challenge   Sept. 2   9, 2009:  Tricep Dips
Posted in Weekly Challenge | Leave a comment
  • Follow Us

    Keep in touch by following us on Facebook and LinkedIn, or subscribe to our RSS Feed to find out when this site is updated.

  • Testimonials

    “I have worked with Beth for years both as a career coach and fitness coach. She's an extremely motivated -- and motivating individual. She truly cares about each and every client she takes on, and gives her full commitment to help them achieve their goals. I would highly recommend Beth and CareerFit Mom and wouldn't hesitate to work with her again.
    - Brenda Hampton”