Stacie Venagro Fitness Tips

Fitness

Tips:

By Stacie Venagro - 2017 World Miss Fitness America Pro

How about all those recent cookouts and barbecues?! I’m sure July & August were filled with a ton of them! I bet you’re asking yourself a lot of questions. What can I eat at these functions? What should I bring that is healthy next time? Well, we must change our habits and make them a lifestyle change! Personally, I would bring turkey burgers to a cookout! When you arrive, choose the salad over the chips and salsa. I would do this out of habit! Do I grab dessert?? Of course I do; I am human and enjoy myself, in moderation. See, there is a difference between habit and need. You do not NEED the chips that are being served. You will want to have the salad over the chips because you’ve made this a lifestyle change, which then turns into a habit! I have been eating clean for 17 years now, and everything I do is out of habit. When I say eating clean, I mean healthy, real, whole foods. I always eat fresh so I can get the best possible nutrients. The common misconception is that people must eat bland, boring foods in order to live a healthy lifestyle! That’s extremely false! I enjoy the same foods as the next person, but I prepare them in a cleaner fashion. For example, chicken parm can be baked instead of fried. Pasta can be brown rice pasta, and veggies do not have to be smothered in butter. Again, these can become habits that will turn into a healthy lifestyle change and something that your future body will thank you for. So, I challenge you to change your lifestyle, change your habits, and in turn, it will change your body, as well as your state of mind! Who wouldn’t want to feel more energized, well rested, and happier throughout the day?! It all starts with the food you put into your body!

Welcome fall! I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to cooler weather, sweaters, apple picking, and pumpkin everything! It’s also the best time to savor the time spent outdoors before colder weather comes. If you haven’t already it’s a great time to focus your fitness routine a couple of times a week getting out of the house. New England is well known for beautiful fall scenery, so why not get out and discover something new.

Exercise doesn’t have to monotonous, there are plenty of great places to hike locally. There’s a wonderful book called Weekend Hikes in Rhode Island by Ken Weber that I was introduced to awhile back. He does an excellent job of breaking down each destination with detailed directions, approximate walking time, and the distance. A couple that are great for fall are Napatree Point and Browning Mill Pond- Roaring Brook. These are just a couple of the many that are close by. Always be safe when hiking new areas and do your research prior to heading out. As always never hike close to dark. If hiking new areas isn’t your thing take a walk or run in your neighborhood or local park.

Get your family involved in fitness! If you don’t have children take the dogs along with you. Children love to get outside and explore nature. There’s plenty to explore to stimulate the mind and get some physical activity in. When you’re having fun exercise doesn’t feel like a task. Most dogs are always up for a walk, you can train them to run while you’re training g yourself. Alternate between jogging and walking in 30 second intervals to start off and work your way up from there. Bring water for you and your pet to keep everyone hydrated.

Enjoy the beginning of this beautiful season and stay motivated. Just because it’s getting cooler out doesn’t mean that it’s not a good time to start working out. Anytime is a great time to start!

Stacie Venagro Fitness is located at 161 Macklin Street in Cranston.

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Stacie Venagro Fitness 161 Macklin Street, Cranston, RI