More ideas for making your recipes healthy

Start your week off right with yummy foods but healthier ingreidents!

Benefits of the apple

We've all heard apples have health benefits - you can't argue it's better than picking up a bag of chips. But besides the fact it's a piece of fruit, what else are you gaining by eating them - well, from Shape Magazine, here are eight more reasons to grab one.

Okay Pumpkins, it's up!

The Dynamic You Fitness October schedule has arrived! Just like those fabulous pumpkins - and carving those feels like a workout itself.

Not that many of you have been out of the habit of joining us for classes each week - but if you're looking for a jumpstart just think of all the delicious holidays coming our way! Don't worry about those holidays now, just get fit, trim and healthy and you'll enjoy the pies, potatoes and family traditions even more.

Rachel has been with Dynamic You Fitness from the beginning. Her energy, creative workouts, knowledge and positive encouragement have been an amazing part of our fitness studio. Due to an injury so many of you know about (because she's a trooper and has been fighting through it) she will no longer be teaching her weekly classes at Dynamic You Fitness after the first week of October.

It is with deep gratitude we say goodbye, wish her healing and happiness. And we encourage you to register for her final classes so you can say thank you as well!

Taste it Tuesday with Stuffed Zucchini

Whether zucchini is a 'fall' food we're not entirely sure....but this Stuffed Zucchini recipe from Clean Eating sounded so good, we had to share it.

3 tsp olive oil, divided

1 clove garlic, diced

1 small yellow onion, diced

8 oz. mushrooms, diced

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

3 tbsp whole-wheat bread crumbs

2 tbsp Parmesan cheese

2 zucchini, halved, seeds and pulp removed

Fall has arrived

The fall season officially arrived this past weekend, and with it comes a whole new crop of seasonal foods to enjoy. 

Sweet potatoes and pumpkins are both delicious fall foods, and while you don't need to actually choose between them, here is some information from Prevention Magazine about the two foods.

Warm-up with Chili

The official start of the fall season is just days away, and with the gray skies and cooler temperatures (at least compared to our usual 80 degree days) we're thinking chili.

Here, from Shape Magazine, are ten healthy chili recipes - for this weekend or into the fall.

All-natural energy boosters

Step away from the Red Bull

When you're feeling low on energy - whether due to a lack of sleep, stress, allergies attacking you - don't reach for unhealthy, unnatural products to boost your energy. 

Try checking out these 11 all-natural energy boosters, suggested by Shape Magazine, instead.

Foods to improve digestion

If you watch more than a few minutes of television every so often, chances are pretty good you've seen these ads with the message probiotics are important for your digestive tract. Fortunately, there are additional options beyond yogurt for improving your digestion.

Oprah Magazine did some research and found other foods you can incorporate into your daily diet to help ease gut distress and calm your digestive track.

We don't want to hear it

Did you wake up this morning intending to take class and sleep in instead? Are you a tad sore from the classes you've already taken this past week?

Does an entire weekend of college and NFL football sound way better than adding in an hour with one of your favorite instructors?

Well we don't want to hear it.

No excuses.

Join Pete tomorrow morning at 9:15 am for Athletic Interval Training or at 10:00 am for Hip Hop (last chance - Gina returns next week with Zumba!) or add yourself to the 11:00 am class with Sarah Ann for Pilates + Interval Training. 

And there's two chances to grab a workout on Sunday too! Join Jannet for Zumba at 9:30 am or Eagle for TRX + Kettle bells at 11 am. 

www.dynamicyoufitness.com

Autumn Produce

All seasons have their peak-of-perfection foods. So, from Clean Eating, here is the official list of foods not to be missed this fall (even though we're hanging out in the 70s and 80s this week)

Just dance. It'll be okay.

If you watch - or have ever watched - The Ellen Degeneres Show - you know she fits dancing into the beginning of all her shows. She loves to dance (she didn't tell us personally, but we just assume) 

And it turns out those who dance significantly up their chances of overall good health compared to those who do not. 

Our Dynamic You Fitness clients who take Zumba each week are dancing with delight.

Women's Health magazine recently shared some information about this - and while there is always room for interpretation, ours is dancing makes you happier and healthier. 

Does your appetite have a mind of it's own?

Controlling your appetite can be as challenging as obeying your alarm in the morning - at least for some. 

Recently, Shape Magazine shared some easy to manage tips meant to inspire you the next time your stomach (or your brain) speaks to you about chips and guacamole. Or cookies.

Anxious about being sore? Do it anyway

We can admit it, sometimes we're afraid of how hard a class will be. Every Sunday night we think about how challenging Power Cardio Blast with Kayte will be on Monday morning - at 7am no less. 

There's no doubt if you took Eagle's TRX + Kettle bell class on Sunday you'll be feeling it. We all know Megan knows how to make you work hard. Way harder than you would on your own.

And don't let Core Strength Conditioning for a half hour with Donna or Pilates + Interval Training with Sarah Ann fool you. They may not sound intense, but you'll feel the hard work - we promise.

Being apprehensive about being sore or challenging your body beyond it's comfort zone is normal. But each and every time you do, we know you'll make it through and you'll be stronger for it.

What Dynamic You Fitness classes are YOU taking this week?

www.dynamicyoufitness.com 

Lululemon SoulCal Warehouse Sale countdown

We could keep this amazing warehouse sale a secret....but that's not the way we roll. So mark your calendars, Dynamic You Fitness clients, for the SoulCal Celebration Warehouse Sale

Some good information to prepare yourself....

They're already setting up at the LA Convention Center. But you'll have to wait til Friday.

We can't wait to see what you pick!

An experiment in transformation

Recently, an article was published showing a personal trainer exposing the hidden truth behind a before photo and an after photo. It caught our attention for two reasons. First, we're proud of our Dynamic You Fitness Wall of Success - a wonderful example of the true hard work our clients put in and the results they see because of it. 

And second, we know the marketing power of 'before' and 'after' photos with regards to weight loss efforts, products and promises.

One of our Dynamic You Fitness clients, Jimmy, wanted to put the theory to the test. So he volunteered to do a before photo and an after photo for us.

Jimmy takes his fitness routine, health and active lifestyle seriously. Almost every client has taken a class with him because he's practically tried them all and he often takes two classes a day. He never misses a class he's registered for and he rides his bike to the studio, rather than driving his car.

Jimmy has been a client of Dynamic You Fitness for approximately four months. While he didn't have a weight loss goal, per se, he had a goal of lowering his body fat percentage and improving his strength, endurance and definition. 

So take a look at what Jimmy has accomplished since joining our studio...

There's no doubt Jimmy has accomplished a great deal in the last four months. But these photos are a mere 15 minutes apart. 

With a change of clothes, flex of his muscles and a quick shave (oh and did you notice the change of glasses) there's an obvious change. 

Simply altering his posture, demeanor and appearance - he could easily tell someone he had taken the first photos in May and the second in early September.

And no one would be the wiser.

While not as dramatic as some photos, it proves you can't always believe all the hype with before and after photos on the internet these days. What's important to remember is the effort required to truly change your body is day in and day out - both with your fitness and your nutrition.

Despite the photos being within a short period of time, we're still really proud of you Jimmy!

Self kindness

If like many people you spend a lot of time planning your workouts (and actually doing them), as well as creating healthy meals & snacks to keep you full and satisfied then you know you're working hard to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. 

But if you engage in a lot of unhealthy 'self-talk' - beating yourself up if you miss a class or feeling bad about yourself if you select the less healthy option at dinner - you're un-doing a lot of the effort. Shape Magazine has an article about ten unhealthy fitness self-talk traps to avoid. Take a look, we promise it'll be worth the time and effort. 

Skip the food, grab the sneakers

Ever notice when we get together with friends, or schedule a meeting outside the more common office environment, it's over food? It might be small, like grabbing a cup of coffee. But often, when we think of getting together with people we think about what restaurant, coffee shop or local eatery would work best.

But when we have mornings like this in Los Angeles, who needs to meet over a meal? Next time you're meeting a friend or if you need to meet with someone about something, suggest a walk on the beach, a bike ride or find a local park to have your conversation. 

With fresh air and physical activity, the conversation might go even better!

Oh NOW it's summer

While a majority of country starts to prepare for the fall season and change in weather, summer has finally arrived in our corner of the world. And while some love the heat, there's a handful of us who can't wait for fall to arrive. 

Shape Magazine shares seven healthy reasons to get excited for fall...even though it may be quite some time until we actually experience it.

Smiles to start September

Be sure you sign up for your Dynamic You Fitness classes in advance! The September schedule is up, and even with summer winding down there's no reason to slack.

Or look awkward.

Happy Labor Day

We wish you a very Happy Labor Day!

What is Labor Day, you ask...

A public holiday or day of festivities held in honor of working people, in the United States and Canada on the first Monday in September, in many other countries on May 1. 

Enjoy your day!

Your fitness routine: more beneficial than you think

Happy September! With a fresh start on the first day of this new month, it's time to set your intentions for the month and the rest of the year. With just four months left til 2014, it's still not too late to change or improve your health, lifestyle and daily habits. Everyone knows exercise can help us achieve the healthy weight we desire to be, but did you know there are mental health benefits as well!

Shape Magazine shares 13 benefits to your mental health with exercise in a recent article. We like that the effort we make in the fitness studio boosts our happy chemicals.