#LiveHealthyNOW

During your next ab/core workout, add hip bridges and/or rotations. Challenging the musculature in different planes of motion is key for optimal development. Blast your abs in Workout #4 with seated dumbbell rotations and bicycle crunches.

Remember to eat a protein-rich snack within 30 minutes of your workout to refuel and recharge. And make sure you get a good night’s sleep, a major component of recovery. NOW^® ZMA^® can help with a vitamin and mineral trifecta of zinc, magnesium and vitamin B-6 that helps optimal recovery, from replanishing electrolyte balance to supporting tissue repair.*

Try a different cardio machine every two workouts for your 30-60 minute cardio session. You are doing cardio, aren’t you? #LiveHealthyNOW
Workout #5 is a killer cardio challenge.

Don’t give up dessert; you’ll just want it more. Have a small dessert every night for a week then NO dessert for 2 weeks, then repeat. You’ll look forward to having it again and work harder to do so. And if you need that chocolate fix in between, sprinkle a few NOW Real Food® Cacao Nibs into your yogurt or even grab a few from the bag as a nutrient-rich snack sure to satisfy!

End every night with hot mint tea, like NOW Real Tea® Ginger Mint Comfort Tea, and a small piece of dark chocolate. It will help signal “doneness” to stop night munchies and get you into a mode of relaxation before bed.

Focus on how you feel every day instead, and maybe weigh yourself once a week or once a month even. Remember that fitness, diet and lifestyle habits all work together to help you achieve your goals. This should include taking high-quality supplements to support your active lifestyle. Some of my favorites are NOW^® Sports HMB and Sports Omega with CLA.

Choose a few of your favorite healthy meals each week, and then put them on repeat. Instead of having lots of variety, repetition helps decrease the time it takes to plan, shop, and prep.

Chewing well improves digestion and can help naturally decrease portions. For added digestive support, take one NOW^® Super Enzyme capsule with every meal.*

Make at least three of the exercises in your routine single-limb for the next two weeks. Example: Single-leg deadlifts, single-arm bench press, etc. Believe me, you’ll feel it! That’s why it’s important to let your muscles and joints recover properly before tackling the next workout. NOW^® Sports Recovery Factors™ is a smart addition to your daily supplement routine.

Stock up on portable options like dried fruits and nuts for snacking. One awesome option that has them both in one healthy bite is NOW Real Food^® Cran-Blueberry Crunchy Clusters™. Loaded with cashews, pistachios, dried blueberries and cranberries, they’re the perfect balance of sweet and salty natural goodness plus protein to keep you full.

Drink 16 ounces of water first thing in the morning for a week and notice the difference in how you feel AND perform. Pair that with a healthy breakfast and daily multivitamin to ensure you’re starting the morning off with the nutrients you need. My faves – NOW^® ADAM™ for men and NOW^® EVE™ for women.

Buy your best friend or spouse a membership to your gym or workouts with your trainer, or classes that you take for a month and then go to theirs. No whining, just try it! It’ll keep you from plateauing in your fitness routine and it’s a lot of fun.

Swap meat and poultry for plant proteins like beans, quinoa, lentils, nuts, and seeds. Quinoa and Chia Sliders, anyone?

Try exercise-specific intervals during your workouts for 2-4 weeks. Every 2-3-4 sets, add 100 skips on a jump rope or a set of 20 crunches/push-ups/body weight squats. P.S. – If you need a boost to push yourself to the extreme, add NOW^® Sports Energy Extreme into your nutrition regimen. The unique nutrient blend plus naturally occurring caffeine can help promote sustained energy production and mental alertness.*