What to eat to make your workout more effective

Before the workout

Try to stick to the golden mean here. You should neither overeat, nor do exercises on an empty stomach — both are unhealthy. You must keep in mind that it’s the last thing you’ll eat before your workout that your body will be digesting during exercise. Preferably, this should be protein-rich foodstuffs, fruit, or anything containing fiber. Animal proteins will help you build up muscle; fruit and fiber-rich products will help digestion and trigger natural cleansing processes in your body.

Examples of foods you should eat 2-3 hours before workout: 

• Apple and cheese sandwich 
• Grain bar or milk and fruit 
• Green salad with chicken or tuna
• Wheat crackers or whole grain bread 
• Eggs, omelet
• Yogurt and fruit 
• Nuts
• Fruit cocktail or natural juice

During the workout

When doing exercise, water comes first. Don’t forget to keep a bottle handy — one that is large enough to prevent you from dehydrating. You’ll need water to help your body retain nutrients and make it produce glucose — the natural fuel your body runs on.

Examples of glucose-rich products:

• Natural fruit juice
• Bananas
• Raisins and other dried fruit
• 
  

After the workout

The time immediately after a workout is crucial, as your body begins to change under the influence of recent physical exertions. Your metabolism rate goes up and your muscles undergo far-reaching transformations.

Examples of products that will help you recover after exercise:

• Fresh vegetables; steam-cooked or fried vegetables
• Any low-fat meat or fish
• Mixed green salad 
• Cottage cheese or greek yogurt 
Eggs

You don’t have to stick to a strict diet for the sake of your workout. Just try to eat more healthy food for a healthy way of life.

Source: Genial

Looking forward to seeing you in our classes!

www.balletbodysculpture.com

Secrets That Will Help You Attain the Figure of Your Dreams

New Year brings new years resolutions to achieve something you haven't yet managed or had enough motivation for in the past year. So why not to start now when you are full of energy and positive mind set? If you would like to get your body in shape as soon as possible and enjoy great results for a long time, here are a few important tips.

1. Set your goals correctly

To keep your body in good shape you need to eat less and move more. Even children know that. But there are other techniques that can help you become slimmer.

Losing a certain number of kilograms is a decidedly wrong direction for your great look and heath. Your correct goal should not be to lose weight but to reduce the percentage of fat and increase the percentage of muscle. Proper nutrition and regular exercise will help you achieve this.

2. Keep to the "1/ 1/ 4″ rule

In the most general terms, the ratio of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in the human diet should fit into the "1/ 1/ 4″ formula: 1 g of protein, 1 g of fat, and 4 g of carbohydrates per 1 kg of body weight. This ratio may vary depending on lifestyle and stress. The main thing is to ensure that your body is supplied with the full range of necessary nutrients. So forget about all those mono diets.

3. Dim the lights low at the diner table

Afraid of overeating? Try dimming the lights and turning on soft relaxing music before sitting down at the table. Soft lighting is known to decrease appetite.

4. Take photos in full height of yourself regularly.

If you have seriously decided to reconsider your habits and get a new body in time for the summer season, take pictures of yourself! Do this every week. A recent study has shown that people who adhere to proper nutrition programs and regularly photograph the changes in their bodies usually reach their healthy lifestyle goals. According to scientists, such photographic evidence of how your waist decreases serves as a primary motivator for you not to give up halfway.

5. Take fish oil supplements

Fish oil is very beneficial for the body. A study conducted in Japan has shown that this product not only reduces inflammation and prevents cardiovascular diseases but also acts as a catalyst for the process of the breakdown of fats. When it comes to weight loss, fish oil is particularly effective in combination with exercise. Well, now — shall we give it a try?!

6. Exercise using high intensity workouts regularly!

Most people think that exercising once or twice a week, like going for a run or cycling in the gym will make you slimmer. I'm afraid it will not make much difference for your figure. To make a real change you need to start exercising every day, at least 10-20 min for 30 days to achieve the desired result, then continue on 3 times a week basis to maintain the gains. If you don't have time to go to the classes every day, try online workouts. Remember, it's not about the length of time, but about the intensity and regularity. Studio classes will certainly give you more results from the workout, but at home plus studio exercise combinations every so often will set a new lifestyle for your body.

Try it here: http://www.balletbodysculpture.com/online-classes.html

See you in our classes!

http://www.balletbodysculpture.com

See What Happens if You Give Up Sugar for 3 Days

Almost all of us have thought about going on a diet at one time or another. For some it’s just a passing desire to shed a few pounds before a party; for others, losing weight is a struggle that lasts many years. However, one Swedish doctor,  Andreas Eenfeldt, has suggested it’s time to stop believing in myths about food and listen to the signals your body sends you. 

As is well known, we get energy from two different sources:

• from carbohydrates, which includes sugar;
• from fat.

For many years we’ve been told that fat is bad and that the only way to get thin is to eat low-fat products and celery. However, giving up sugar rather than fat is worth paying much more attention to. If you do, something very interesting will happen:

• Once you’ve stopped worrying about consuming fat (in reasonable quantities) and given up sugar, you’ll be able to stay slim on a permanent basis, and as a bonus you’ll have overall better health, more energy, and great skin and hair.

• You’ll no longer feel the need to check the calorie intake for everything you’re buying. Yet your waist will be the first thing to decrease in size.

If you give up sugar for as little as three days, you’ll soon notice a new feeling of satiety, and consequently you’ll feel satisfied despite eating less food. Many people who try this say they no longer want to eat a large supper and don’t even think about food until the next day’s breakfast.

A rough three-day menu

Breakfast :

• Scrambled eggs with ham, bacon or avocado 
• Boiled eggs with tomatoes and spinach 
• Cottage cheese (no less than 5% fat) with berries 
• Pancakes made with almond flour 
• A salad with green vegetables and olives 

Lunch:

• Meat or fish dishes: with vegetables (excluding carbohydrates like rice, pasta) 
• Soups (excluding the carbs, apart from potato and beans) 
• Salads (made with any vegetables and with vegetable oil) 

Diner:

• Roasted vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, bell peppers) 
• Meat or fish dishes: with vegetables (excluding carbohydrates like rice, pasta) 
• Salads (made with any vegetables and with vegetable oil) 
• Any of the options from breakfast 

Remember that any of these meal choices are interchangeable, and you should eat as much as you want and whenever you feel like doing so. Don’t be afraid to experiment and to try preparing ordinary food in new ways.


If you stick to this system for a while, you’ll be surprised to discover that you’ve dropped several clothes sizes. At the same time you’ll feel hungry less often, will be free of problems with your intestine and/or blood pressure, and be more energetic.


Most importantly, this method can put you in charge of your body and your life.

Source Andreas Eenfeldt , LCHF


Stay fit and healthy! See you in class:

www.balletbodysculpture.com

http://www.balletbodysculpture.com/online-classes.html

A Few Simple Steps To An Elegant Posture

Your posture is the key to looking and feeling healthy, attractive and young. Whatever your age or physical structure, our modern lifestyle of sitting in cars, behind desks, and on sofas, takes it's toll on our backs, shoulders, bellies and chests, not to mention the legs. Our muscles adopt the laziest way to hold our bodies over time, and without proper exercise, causes us to look tired, out of condition, and certainly not at our best.


Here a few of my tips to bring your posture to a better shape. Try each of the exercises daily, about 15-20 repetitions and you will notice a significant difference in a couple of weeks.

1. Swan port-de-bras

This exercise you can do either sitting or standing. If you are sitting, you will also get a benefit from working your abdominal muscles.



Open your arms to the sides extending them in full length. Lift the arms up dropping your fingers down. Then reach up with with the fingers and push both arms down bending through the your wrists and elbows.

Make sure that your back is held straight and shoulders pushed down, shoulder plates should be tight so your shoulders don't move as you lift your arms up. Apply some resistance as you move your arms to gain better results.

2. Back Twist

Open your arms to the sides extending them in full length. Twist your body and arms to one side without slouching in your back. Come back straight and repeat a twist to your other side. Always reach to your maximum extension and don't lift the shoulders. Concentrate in moving from your waist not from the arms or shoulders.

3. Twist with the legs

If you are doing the above exercise sitting, try also adding the knee. Bend your opposite leg as you twist, slowly drawing the knee close towards the chest, keeping lower back straight.

4. Back Twist with port-de-bras

In the next exercise is important to keep the resistance in your pelvis, especially if you are trying the exercise standing up. Hips should stay still as you will move your upper body and shoulders around. Bring both arms in the rounded position up in front of your head, shoulders should be pushed down and back kept straight. ( 3rd arm position in ballet, in some schools also call it 5th). Twist your shoulders keeping the hips straight and open both arms to the horizontal position, palms are facing down. Bring arms back up to initial position, straighten up and repeat the twist with opening the arms to the other side.

5. Boat

The next exercise is also great if you want to strengthen your back. Laying on the front, keep you legs apart and arms in from of you. Lift your arms and legs at the same time, keeping the legs straight and arms rounded in front of you. Hold the legs up and open the arms to the sides, keep lifting the chest of the ground and bring the arms back in front of you. Lower it down.

Keep practicing and you will notice the results coming quickly. If you would like some guidance, try our online classes:



http://www.balletbodysculpture.com/online-classes.html

10 Hot Chocolate Recipes For You This Winter

Winter we like to call as our hot chocolate season. So here are 10 exciting hot chocolate recipes for you to enjoy and warm up this season. You'll find quite the range of different and exciting new cocoa flavours: everything from lavender to matcha green tea hot chocolate:)

1. Vegan Almond Joy Hot Chocolate

It’s like your favorite candy was melted into drinkable goodness. Bonus: It's vegan (perfect for your dairy-free friends). 

Get the recipe here.

2. Super Decadent Barcelona-Style Hot Chocolate

Rich in flavor but simple to make—the recipe only has four ingredients (plus water). 

Get the recipe here.

3. Coconut Kahlua Hot Chocolate 

One perk of adulting: upgrading your cocoa with Kailua. 

Get the recipe here.

4. Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

Throw a few ingredients into a slow cooker for an easy DIY of the Starbucks favourite. 

Get the recipe here.

5. Strawberry Sweethearts Cocoa

Beautify your hot chocolate with this rose-hued strawberry treat. 

Get the recipe here.

6. Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

Pumpkin spice goes really well with hot coffee and hot chocolate. 

Get the recipe here.

7. Lavender White Hot Chocolate

This version keeps it light and sweet. 

Get the recipe here.

8. Dairy-Free Mocha Hot Chocolate 

This drink takes the standard mocha to the next level. 

Get the recipe here.

9. Matcha White Hot Chocolate

With just three ingredients you can whip together a super impressive green hot chocolate. 

Get the recipe here.

10. Peppermint White Hot Chocolate

The holidays can last all winter, as long as you’re sipping this sweet and minty treat. 

Get the recipe here.

Remember, hot chocolate is a great as well as fast energy source. So you can quickly recharge and have fun exercising!

See you in class!

www.balletbodysculpture.com

5 REASONS YOU AREN’T LOSING WEIGHT

You know what’s frustrating? When you work out, eat clean, are honest to yourself, and yet STILL you cannot lose weight! It’s weird! You’re thinking that life’s so unfair and what’s the point of all this suffering?!

Don’t give up! There are certain things you may be doing that are contributing to your plateau. I’m going to share with you 5 common, but unexpected reasons you may not be losing weight.

1. You’re not eating enough

You read that right. You may not be eating enough and therefore you’re not losing weight. Let me explain. The mentality of eating less to lose weight makes sense, but it’s actually one of the WORST things you can do! Depriving yourself increases the chances of binging later on in the day and you’ll end up eating MORE than you normally would! Not to mention, it totally messes up your metabolism. You’ll have no energy! Your body will go into starvation mode and it will hold on to the weight that you’re currently at because it thinks that it is dying. Over time you’ll find it harder and harder to lose weight or make progress in exercising. Restricting also tends to cause a continuous cycle of under and over eating, which just isn’t healthy. Instead, eat nourishing meals and snacks spaced out during the day. Give your body what it needs to continue to make progress. And also remember, being healthy is a LIFESTYLE. Your current diet needs to be something you can maintain your whole life. Please try not go under 1200 calories a day. But always consult with your doctor or dietitian.

2. You overeat on healthy food

Okay, so your problem may not be under eating, but it could be OVER eating healthy foods. Just because it’s deemed healthy doesn’t mean you can eat a crazy amount of it! Calories are still calories and if you eat too much of anything you won’t lose weight. So, you need to practice portion control! Be aware of how much food you’re putting into your body! Some foods may have more calories than you think! For example, nuts, nut butters and avocado are all super healthy, but they still have a high amount of calories per serving! I’m not saying don’t eat those foods – but instead pay attention to serving sizes and your waistline will thank you for it.

3. You’re not eating mindfully

Do you multitask when you eat? Do you eat on the go? Do you eat while you’re watching TV? It’s totally normal to eat and do a million other things at once because let’s face it, we’re busy! (Trust me, I can relate) But this tends to make us eat super fast and we may overindulge without realizing it. Being a mindful eater not only helps us listen to our hunger level, but it also lets us truly enjoy and savor each bite. (And who doesn’t want to enjoy their food, right?!) Try to sit down without distractions and only focus on eating. You may be surprised at how quickly you fill up! You owe it to yourself, your body and your health to be mindful about what and how much you eat.

4. You do too much cardio

Think you’re going to reach your goals by doing crazy amounts of cardio everyday? If so, you’re missing out on one of the most important ways to exercise – and that’s strength training! It not only sculpts lean muscles, but also boosts your metabolism so you keep burning calories longer throughout the day and night! Also, if you ONLY do cardio, your body will adjust and eventually you’ll plateau and stop seeing results. So, replace 3 of your cardio sessions with our Ballet Body Sculpture Classes and you’ll soon see the results you want! In our classes we are using your own body weight to build the strength, sculpt long lean muscles and also to create an elegant posture!

5. You aren’t surrounding yourself with supportive people

Losing weight can be challenging if you’re constantly surrounded by people who don’t support your goals. You’re more likely to cave into eating junk food and skipping workouts if everyone else around you is too. Try to tell your friends and family that it’s important for you to lose weight and reach your goals. They should respect you and who knows, maybe they’ll even learn from your healthy habits! Reaching a goal takes a positive and motivated mindset. Energy is contagious and if negative people surround you, then it can rub off on you! But DO NOT LET IT! Be stronger than that. Don’t be afraid to stay away from negativity. It’s YOUR life and YOUR journey. Do what’s best for you and surround yourself with positive influences ONLY.

There you have it – some surprisingly common reasons why you’re not losing weight! You may relate to all or some of these, but hopefully this will give you some perspective into your own fitness and eating habits! Making changes is difficult, but it starts with acknowledging where you can improve! Which one of these reasons can you relate to the most?

See you in our classes!


www.balletbodysculpture.com

Stretching: what that you should know

What is stretching?

I know you that some of you think that stretching means doing splits, bridges and stuff like that but in reality it is a specific technique that should relax your muscles and release the tensions.

In every sport activity there should be a section dedicated to stretching exercises and doctors reccomend it for everyone, especially who does a sedentary work.

In fact, this technique is helpful to stretch the connective tissue that needs to be worked to stay active and healthy.

1. Static stretching

It is the most popular technique and it consists in holding each position for 30 seconds. It can be active if you use your strength or passive if you add an external force.

This is also one of the oldest methods, however static stretching is not always enough if you want to achieve long terms results.

2. Dynamic stretching

It is the opposite of static stretching. In this method you are always in movement to keep your muscles working during stretching. It doesn’t always require to be extremely warm.

3. Contraction-relax

It requires a partner that helps you to add force for about 10- 20 seconds in a position and then relax. This method can significantly improve your flexibility! We use this technique a lot in our personal training sessions.

4. Active Isolated Stretching

In this method you hold the stretch for just 2-3 seconds and then relax, but it has several repetitions and in each one you have to increase the level.

5. Myofascial release

It consist in using a foam roller that helps you to massage, activate your muscles and release every tension in your body using your own body weight. There are harder and softer ones but both works very well, you can choose it basing on your sensibility and preferences

General tips

-A simple but important reccomendation is to breathe correctly in every single exercise. It may seem silly but believe me, you will have greater results!

-Another one it’s to stay hydrated and drink water often. You muscles need oxygen as well as liquids.

-Improve your stretching by doing it on a soft yoga mat. You should feel comfortable and your bones shouldn’t be pressed on the floor.

-Put on some relaxing music for your brain. It will help you to stretch your muscles more.

-Never stretch if you’re cold. I prefer doing some dynamic stretching after waking up and maybe something harder before going to bed, after an hot shower.

A little resume:

-stretching is a technique that lengthen and relax your muscles;

-there are different styles of stretching: today we saw dinamic, static, contraction-relax, active isolated and myofascial release;

-being warmed up is important!

-you have to stay hydrated and drin water to optimize the result.

See you in our classes! www.balletbodysculpture.com


We also have a number of online stretching classes that you can enjoy at your own space :


http://www.balletbodysculpture.com/online-classes.html

6 Healthier Breakfast Ideas To Get You Fitter

From our experience we already know that breakfast is the most important meal of your day, however having a large variety of choices doesn't always help and a lot of you probably wonder what would be the most nutritious, tasty as well as healthy breakfast meal.

Turns out, starting your day with a nutritious and healthy meal is surprisingly simple: all you need for a complete breakfast are carbohydrates and proteins. Your body breaks carbs down into sugars, which fuel your brain, and proteins keep you satiated until lunch time.

Many companies that market breakfast foods claim that their products contain at least parts of this golden ratio, but processed foods like sugary cereals usually contain "bad" carbs, such as simple sugars, which are quickly converted to fat rather than energy.

Here are a few common breakfast foods you should ditch for some healthier, more complete alternatives.

For something sugary:

Instead of a biscuits or cookies, eat steel cut oats with peanut butter, walnuts and honey. Many cereals are loaded with sugars and processed flours. Steel cut oats contain about 5 grams of protein, zero sugar, and are low in saturated fats and high in finer. The peanut butter and walnuts adds an extra shot of satiating protein, healthy fats, and honey will give you a 
sweet kick without the sugar blast.

For something toasty:

Ditch a plain bagel and cream cheese for whole grain toast with avocado, smoked salmon, and a poached egg.

You're technically getting carbohydrates from the bagel and protein from the cheese, but plain bagels contain refined white flour and simple carbs, which provide a quick burst of energy to your brain that quickly fades.

The complex carbs in the toast take longer for your body to process, leaving you satiated for longer. The smoked fish, avocado, and eggs are packed with good lean protein and heart-and-brain-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

For something creamy:

Instead of flavored yogurt, eat plain whole milk Greek yogurt with berries, nuts, and cinnamon. Flavored yogurt cups are chock full of sugars. Substitute with plain Greek yogurt, which packs in 17 g of protein and only 6 g of sugars. If it's too bitter, sweeten with antioxidant and fiber-rich berries, protein-rich nuts, and cinnamon.

For something eggy:

Instead of a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich, eat eggs with avocado and salsa in a corn tortilla. Bacon is a good source of protein, but it's high in sodium and saturated fats, which increase your risk of heart disease. Substitute bacon with protein-rich avocados.

They contain about the same amount of protein per serving as bacon, yet contain many essential vitamins and healthy fats, which also increase your absorption of antioxidants, like lycopene, from the salsa.

Corn tortillas are also low in unsaturated fats, sugars, and sodium, and high in fiber and vitamins like magnesium.

For something syrupy:

Instead of regular pancakes, eat whole wheat pancakes with a fruit compote on top.

Nowadays you can find whole wheat flour from just about any grocery store. It's high in fiber and sticks with you for longer than white flour.

Be sure to crack an egg into the batter to include your protein!

Fruit compote made from frozen blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries are a low-sugar and antioxidant-rich sweetener.

For something fruity:

Instead of a glass of orange juice, make a smoothie of plain Greek yogurt, peanut butter, and frozen berries. Fruit juices contain a ton of simple sugars and few protein and fibres. The protein in the yogurt and peanut butter keeps you satiated for a long time, while the berries not only naturally sweeten the drink, but contain good complex carbohydrates and antioxidants.

Keep healthy and don't forget to burn the extra calories in our classes!

www.balletbodysculpture.com

http://www.balletbodysculpture.com/online-classes.html