With the Holidays upon us, what could be a better time to start thinking about your health and fitness goals! Being the Social Media Guru that I am, I am very excited to announce the 1st #GetFitSD Tweetup Event at AIRE Urban Fitness on Saturday December 3, 2011! Mixing Social Media and Fitness! Come get fit and mingle with the staff of AIRE Urban Fitness, while tweeting your fitness goals and fun! Be sure to follow us on Twitter @GetFitSanDiego!

Event Details:
DATE: Saturday December 3, 2011
LOCATION: AIRE Urban Fitness,

10am - Check-In

10:30am Classes Start - Choice between FREE Pilates or TRX/Kettlebell Class. Email jennifer@getfitsd.com with your full name and the class you would like to take. SPACE IS LIMITED SO FIRST COME.

11:30am
- Meet the Staff of Aire Urban Fitness @AireUrban
- Interactive Fitness Stations
- Learn Fitness and Health Tips
- Healthy Snacks provided by Fitzee Foods @FitzeeFoods
- Healthy Drinks provided by Mix1 @Mix1SanDiego
- Live Twitter Stream provided by @MingleSteam for you to Tweet your Fitness Fun (Hashtag - #GetFitSD)
- Stay Socially Fit with http://FitTogether.com/ @FitTogethercom
- Find a Personal Trainer in your area with http://TownFit.com/ @TownFit
- Raffle Prizes through out the Event

PARKING:
- Meter street parking
- Parking Structure on 5th Ave right after AIRE Studio front door. FREE 3hrs with Validation.

I look forward to seeing you!

The pursuit of the ever elusive “6-pack” may be more important to some gym goers than any other body part, period.  Let’s face it; rarely do we see Ads featuring sculpted forearms and a nice set of lats. There are 3 critical facts that must be understood before embarking on hours of crunches, leg lifts, planks, and other spine contorting abdominal movements.

1. Use Free Weights Not Machines:  Only plastic surgeons can spot reduce:  Yes it’s true, for enough money you too can have the fat around your mid-section sucked away!  Until then, use free weights instead of machines to sculpt your stomach.  Free weights require the use of your “core” musculature, this will help develop the abdominal muscles.
   
   
2. Eat Right:  You can have the best abs on the planet, but if they’re nestled under a blanket of fat it sure won’t appear that way.  Proper nutrition attributes to 80% of the fat loss around your stomach. 
   
   
3. Get Your Heart Racing:  Cardio is the only form of exercise that uses fat for energy.  Strength training will not do it, nor will crunches.  A round of cardiovascular exercise after your strength training workout will use a greater percentage of your total calories burned from fat.
   

To crunch or not to crunch? The abdominals are a muscle group too. In order for them to get bigger and stronger they need to be worked. But remember, working your abs will NOT decrease the fat on your stomach. Working your abs on a regular basis will help strengthen and sculpt the muscle but you must lean out in order to see your nicely defined and sculpted abs. While abdominal exercises won't get rid of belly fat, a strong core is important for keeping your body healthy and protecting your spine.

We all look at celebrities, magazine models, talk show hosts and think "I wish I looked like that". The reality is you can! Being fit and healthy takes dedication and essentially requires making it part of your life style. I have always been a "Health Nut" and "Gym Rat", it is a way of life for me. I spend up to 6 hours a week working out, countless time preparing meals from scratch,making daily decisions like skipping that yummy cupcakes someone brought into the office and the list goes on. One of my favorite motivational quotes is "Nothing is Impossible, the word itself says I'm Possible". I truly believe you can be who/whatever you want to in life and physically look anyway you desire all you need to do is BELIEVE! A healthy diet and life style begins with learning how to “eat smart”; it’s not just what you eat, but how you eat. Learning the habits of healthy eating and physical exercise can boost your energy, sharpen your memory and stabilize your mood. Here is a list of tips for living a healthy and fit life style.

• START YOUR DAY OFF WITH BREAKFAST
  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It provides the body with fuel (aka food) helping you get off to a great start.
  
• GET MOVING
  Including physical activities into our daily routine is quite easy. Go for a walk/run in the morning before work. Ride your bike to work or the store instead of driving. Use the stairs instead of elevators. Schedule a "walking meeting" instead of a phone conference.
  
• SNACK SMART
  Small snack between meals are a great way to refuel the body. Choose snacks that are healthy like, fruits, nuts, protein bars, yogurt, whole grain crackers, raw vegetables.
  
• WORK UP A SWEAT
  Start each workout with a warm up easing into high intensity cardio or strength training. When you're breathing hard and sweating it helps your heart pump better, giving you more energy and helping you look and feel best.
• BALANCE YOUR FOOD CHOICES
  You do not need to deprive yourself of the foods you love. Its about a balance of carbohydrates, protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals to sustain a healthy body. Make smart choices when it comes to your meals and snacks. If you want pizza for dinner, eat a healthy breakfast and lunch. Balance is KEY.
  
• GET FIT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
  Fitness should be fun. Grab your friends for a bike ride, hike or even start a softball team. Set aside time each week for a fun physical activity the whole family can enjoy. Set realistic goals health goals with your friends and reward yourself at each mile stone.
  
• EAT MORE GRAINS, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
  Include a variety of whole grains in your diet; such as, whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, and barley. Experiment with different grains to find your favorites. Fruits and vegetables are the foundation of a healthy diet. They are low in calories and are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. Try to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day with every meal. Colorful, deeply colored fruits and vegetables contain higher concentrations of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Aim for a minimum of five portions each day.
  
• MAKE HEALTHY FOOD AND EXERCISE FUN
  Be adventurous, put a healthy spin to tradition family favorites. From healthy lasagna to brownies, there is a way to make traditional favorites healthier. The same applies to exercise. If you are not a fan of the gym but enjoy swimming or mountain biking, make that your form of exercise. The key is to enjoy the food you put in your body and take part in physical activities that you find fun.

To set yourself up for success, think about planning a healthy life style as a number of small, manageable steps rather than one big drastic change. If you approach the changes gradually and with commitment, you will be living a healthier life sooner than you think. In addition, you will be able to maintain "your" desirable weight, look and feel great! Enjoy!