How to Build Your Own Gym at Home

Source : http://www.528crossfit.com/

Ever get tired of that guy hogging the weight bench? Yeah, me too.

I got so sick and tired of spending half of my time at the gym waiting on equipment to free up that I had a crazy idea: what if I could bring the gym home?

On first thought, I reminded myself how expensive that idea would be. After all, most gym equipment costs a pretty penny, but being a CrossFit enthusiast, I use my body-weight for most of my strength & cardio activities anyway. Using your body as a weight is very simple, smart, and pretty darn effective for leaning out.

So, I began my quest for searching for equipment online that I would need to start my own home gym. After spending the initial investment, which is costly, it has been worth every penny that I have spent.

The biggest benefits of creating your own home gym are:

• saving monthly on gym memberships 
• not having to wait on other people at the gym
• the convenience of not having to leave the house
• the ability to workout whenever you want
• the ability to workout with your kids nearby (if you are a mommy)
• privacy and comfort

Here are some great pieces of equipment to get you started for a home gym:

• Kettlebells
• Dumbbells
• Resistance Bands
• Medicine Balls
• Ab Bench
• Plyo Box
• Jump Rope
• Pull Up Bar
• 15 foot rope
• Weighted Vest 
• Ab mat
• Dip Station
• Squat Racks
• Foam Mats
• Bumper Plates
• Tractor Tire
• Bench Press Stand
• Space (to run, to do body weight exercises such as jumping jacks, mountain climbers, etc)
• And the list goes on....

Please keep in mind that you do not have to go out and purchase each and every one of these. Some of these can even be made at home or that you can DIY to save money. To each their own! 

One con of a home gym is that it just takes time to build-unless your crazy rich or know how to find a great deal! So do not get discouraged at the idea of creating your own home gym just yet.

What would you add to your home gym?

SugarBabies Nuroo Nursing Scarf Review

Hi ladies, I have something pretty awesome to show you from SugarBabies! (If you do not remember them, I reviewed their Blanqi pregnancy shapewear when I was around 8 months pregnant.) I love this boutique for lots of reasons. First of all, they carry RuggedButts-my new favorite clothing line for my little boy! Second of all-they sell EVERYTHING that you need for a baby. You can practically make your whole baby registry from this place alone. Also, the owner Ashley, is just the sweetest and most helpful!

So I am reviewing the NuRoo Nursing Scarf that SugarBabies carries. Unlike most "hooter hiders" or nursing scarves, this one actually WORKS. Not only does it work, it features snaps so you can actually WEAR it instead of it just hanging on by a thread.

 Don't you just hate those big ole apron looking ones?? 

I DO!

The NuRoo scarf that I had received was so soft to touch. Other nursing covers such as the Bebe Au Lait tend to be a little rough as far as the material goes. The first thing that caught my eye were the snaps at the bottom. The snaps make this scarf super versatile when it comes to styling how you wear it. The problem with infinity scarves is that you are limited in your options.

See how it snaps??

It was very lightweight and non-distracting like those apron looking covers (THANK GOD).

And whats even better?

You can actually wear it days after your are finished with nursing. 

There are tons of ways to wear this scarf.

My favorite way is snapping half of the scarf in the front, and snapping half of it in the back.

As you can see, it wears almost like a vest.

Pretty, cool huh?

NOW GET YOURS!!

Check out SugarBabies and tell Ashley that Fit Mommy sent you!

SugarBabies Main Site

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Disclaimer: I was given a NuRoo scarf to test, at no cost. All opinions are my own.

Sitting Is Killing You

You may want to stand up to read this.

On average, most people sit down anywhere between 5-12 hours a day. Some of us tend to even sit on the couch more than we sleep in our own beds. YIKES! The chair is our worst enemy because the human body was simply not made to sit around all day long! Sitting too long can lead to chronic disease, reduced life expectancy, weight gain, heart disease and depression. Here's how!

When you sit down for long periods of time, your body starts shutting down at the metabolic level. Our body's circulation also slows down, burning less calories, and  making it easier for us to gain weight. Also, the enzymes responsible for breaking down fat stop working as hard, leading to heart disease. Not to mention, your body starts using less blood sugar. Sitting is so passive that you can actually burn more calories chewing a stick of gum than just simply sitting. A new study review of more than 80,000 people shows that spending too much time sitting is linked to a two-fold increase in the risk of diabetes. Scary, huh?

I get it, most of us have jobs that require us to sit at a desk for up to 6-8 hours on a daily basis so sitting can be very hard to avoid in that situation. Get creative and find a way!

Here are some ways to break that cycle of sitting too long at work:

• Don't forget to take your breaks-outside.
• Go grab a cup of coffee or glass of water.
• Don't forget bathroom breaks as needed!
• Stand up every half hour and stretch at your desk.
• If your building as an elevator-take the stairs instead.
• Go out for your lunch break.
• Do squats at your desk.
• When you make phone calls or reading emails, stand up to do so.

What are some ways that you keep active during the day?

Sitting Is Killing You source [MedicalBillingandCoding via Daily Infographic]

Sitting Is Killing You [MedicalBillingandCoding via Daily Infographic]

Paleo Blackberry Cobbler

Hi there!

A few of you had asked me to post my skinny blackberry cobbler recipe when I had mentioned it on my Facebook page. It is so simple to make and it is absolutely yummy! And, it is a lot better for you than the regular version.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups blackberries
• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 cup almond flour
• 1 cup coconut palm sugar
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine sugar, flour, oil, and milk into a bowl and whisk thoroughly.
3. Pour into a greased dish.
4. Top blackberries over the mixture and place dish into the oven
5. Bake for 25 minutes.

10 Best Sports Bras to Tame the Ta-Tas

Boobs.

Let's face it: they tend to get in the way!

As a woman, having big boobs can make working out way more difficult than it has to be, but there are some awesome sports bras nowadays that are built to secure and hold your lady bits in!

So what are the top rated bras out there for the well-endowed ladies? I have searched high and low for the best ones around. Feel free to add your favorites that did not make the list!

1. Freya Active Sports Bra {$72.00}: Best fits sizes D & up. Features a high impact level. Best for running, jogging, and hiking. Features a 2 part hidden underwire cup for maximum support.

2. The Booby Trap from Moving Comfort {$54.00}: Fits cup sizes C-E. Features a high impact level. Best for running, hiking, tennis, and soccer.

3. The Underwire Sports Bra by Panache {$68.00}: Best suits cup sizes C & up Features a high impact level. Best for running and jogging.

4. Enell Sports Bra {$64.00}: Best suited for cup sizes DD and up. Features a high impact level. Best for running, yoga, and hiking.

5. Moving Comfort Maia Sports Bra {$56.00}: Best fits D cups and above. Features a high impact level. Best suited for running, jogging, hiking, tennis, and soccer.

6. The Armour Bra by Under Armour {$57.98}: Best fits a D cup size. Features a high impact level. Best for activities involving running or jumping.

7. Shock Absorber Sports Bra {$65.00}: Best for DD and up. Features a high impact level. Best for running, hiking, tennis, and soccer.

8. Lululemon's Ta-Ta Tamer II {$58.00}: Best for C-E cups. Features a high impact level. Best for yoga & jogging.

9. The Elomi Energise Bra {$56.00}: Best for DD and up. Features a medium impact level. Best for activities such as biking or yoga.

10. Moving Comfort's Juno Bra {$56.00}: Fits a C-DDD.  Features a high impact level. Best for running, biking, and tennis.