Tag Archives: weightlifting

5 Sports You Never Thought to Try

If you’re anything like me, variety is the spice of life, and something that isn’t challenging or engaging will quickly fail in holding your interest. This is especially tricky in finding a physical activity you love that keeps you healthy. It was five minutes after I took up running when I said, “Meh. No.” I feel your pain, and that’s why I share with you this brief list of sports you never thought to try. They’re mentally and physically tough, and they’ll keep you coming back for more.

olympic weightlifting and crossfit

Krav Maga

Krav Maga includes techniques from aikido, judo, boxing, wrestling, and more, making it an all-encompassing, constantly varied sport. It teaches you excellent self-defense while simultaneously keeping you in great shape. Anyone can find pleasure in mastering the basic movements of Krav Maga. It’s challenging and fulfilling, and you may very well find yourself hooked to it. (And if you’re a Crossfire series fan, you know that Eva Tramell took Krav Maga lessons – which means that it’s definitely cool.)

Indoor Rock Climbing

Another physically demanding workout is indoor rock climbing. With an added measure of safety and surveillance, you can really focus on your technique and progress. It takes incredible control, stamina, and efficient use of your own body strength. You make think you need to be lifting weights to get buff, but indoor rock climbing proves you have options. But, if you do prefer to pump iron, this next sport is for you.

Olympic Weightlifting


Ah, yes. My personal favorite. I started Olympic lifting more than three years ago, and I’m still in love. Progress is slow, and you really have to fight for it; but that’s what makes it so addictive — the constant fight. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you need cardio to stay lean. Olympic lifting will get you in the best shape of your life, and you’ll feel better than ever. A win win! Plus, you’ll feel like a total badass throwing a ton of weight overhead.

Barre

Barre has been picking up steam lately, and there’s a reason why. Based in dance (although this is not dance), practicing bar promises to help you build long, lean muscles, like a ballerina. Many people have claimed to notice a difference in their tone within the first week. Barre targets hard-to-reach muscles, and anyone can do it, regardless of age, weight, or experience. Much of barre consists of bodyweight exercises, but sometimes you’ll find light hand weights and resistance bands.

Dance


These girls can’t hide how much fun they’re having. If you need variety, then dance lessons could very well float your boat. Jazz, ballet, contemporary, tap, hip hop (like in the vid above) — there’s something for everyone. Learn to express yourself through the art of motion, and feel more confident in your own skin. I promise that you can have two left feet and still enjoy the benefits of dance. This former dancer of 12 years can attest to that. (Note: If you’re feeling extra spicy, look up pole dancing classes near you. Oo la la!)

What’s Cardio? Celebrities Who Lift Weights to Stay in Shape

Dear cardio, your days are numbered. While it doesn’t hurt to throw in a quick run or a warm-up on the elliptical here and there, people are finally catching on to the magic of lifting weights to stay lean, strong, and healthy. It’s simple, really: muscle burns more calories than fat, and it also takes up less space than fat. Therefore, the goal should be to have more muscle. And how do we do that?

All together now: lifting weights!

Even some of your favorite Hollywood celebrities have jumped on the gains train and started picking up some heavier weights in the gym. Yes, they have resources that most of us don’t — chefs, nutrition coaches, meal prep companies, and things of that nature. But they’re still just like you and me, and there’s a reason they’ve swapped a five-mile run on the treadmill for heavy back squats.

If you need a little more inspiration to go heavy at the gym, here are just a few badass celebrities who lift weights.

1. Kate Upton

Who said lifting weights makes you bulky?! Kate Upton is known for her feminine, curvaceous figure; and do you know how she stays in such fantastic shape? I’ll give you one hint: it doesn’t involve the stationary bike. Strong women are beautiful.

@kateupton supersets heavy landmine reverse lunges with some equally impressive dance moves. Strong! 💪💃

A post shared by Ben Bruno (@benbrunotraining) on

2. Demi Lovato

Lovato has certainly become a voice for women. After battling substance abuse and body images issues, she’s now on the right track and has been very vocal about her desire to lead a healthy, positive life. She often shares her adventures at the gym on Instagram, like these heavy squats in the rack. We must say, Lovato is looking smokin’ hot!

Friday 💪🏼 follow me on snap: theddlovato

A post shared by Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) on

3. Khloe Kardashian

People weren’t always very nice to little miss Khloe Kardashian. For many years, she was known as the fat sister, although she never was. Regardless, she turned a negative into a positive, and found a great love in fitness. She’s said before that it’s her therapy, and let’s be honest: it ain’t bad for her figure, either. While Kardashian was always beautiful, we can’t deny that in all her strong and curvy awesomeness, she’s major #bodygoals.

A post shared by Khloé (@khloekardashian) on

4. Chelsea Handler

She’s sharp, witty, and makes us laugh until our stomaches hurt; but that’s not all Handler is about. She’s also a beast in the gym. These hip thrusts are no laughing matter — super tough, but the perfect workout for a bigger booty. Handler doesn’t mess around with the weights, either. Go big or go home!

ChelseaDoes@benbrunotraining. He’s a monkey

A post shared by Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) on

5. Victoria’s Secret Angels

The secret is out. If you think that all of the angels are just naturally thin, well… some of them might be. But there are definitely others who have to work for it. These ladies break a sweat in the weight room so they can look flawless on the catwalk. Never dismiss the hard work that goes into modeling!

Weekend Winter Getaways to the Caribbean

The sun-kissed latitudes of the tropics may seem further and further away as the winter days get darker and colder, but in our shrinking world a sunny weekend getaway is never as far as you think.

Most of us weather the winter months believing that a quick rejuvenating jaunt somewhere warm is too distant, too expensive, or just plain out of reach. This was probably true even just five years ago; but in the meantime we’ve transitioned into a new era of travel, in which we’re all walking around with a pocketful of travel-hacking apps, and dramatically dropping airfares implore us to board a plane and soak up the sun stat.

If the thought of a romantic winter getaway gives you the chills, turn your wanderlusting gaze south to look at the Caribbean.

For under $300 round-trip, you can get from most major US airports to the Caribbean and back. You can go budget backpacker style, sleeping in a hostel and grazing on street food while you wander the streets of a new destination, or you can use the extra room in your budget to splurge on the star treatment.

However you spend your winter escape, try it out in one of these four affordable, easily reachable, and gloriously tropical Caribbean destinations.

Cancun

cancun

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula sort of reaches out into the Gulf towards Florida, and if you look hard enough and squint, it’s almost like Mexico is curling its index finger in a “come here” gesture inviting you down for a weekend out of the snow.

A classic destination for American winterbirds, Cancun is easily reachable, reasonably priced, and most importantly, never runs out of sunshine. Get packed for your beach vacation and spend a long weekend lounging on Playa Delfines near the Iberostar Cancun resort, or pop down to Playa del Carmen and set up shop at one of the dozens of hostels within walking distance of the sand. If you’ve got a roomier schedule, make an adventurous day trip down to the Mayan ruins at Tulum.

Cheapest departure airports: Miami, Dallas, Detroit, NYC, Chicago

Low-cost carriers with service to Cancun: Jetblue, Frontier, Spirit, Virgin America, Southwest

Havana

winter weekend getaways

Once illegal for US citizens, travel to Cuba sailed past off-the-beaten-path hipster destination and almost immediately exploded into the travel mainstream in the last couple of years. And at just over 200 miles from Miami, it’s one of the closest and most inviting places to spend a weekend thawing out and stocking up on some much-needed vitamin D.

The Cuban capital of Havana has become exceedingly easy to reach by plane or cruise in recent years, but there’s also more to the Caribbean’s largest island than the tourist districts of historic Havana Vieja. Treat yourself to a café cubano upon arrival and then shove on to the best beaches in Baracoa or Varadero. Once you’ve seen enough of the main island, take a boat across the narrow straits to idyllic Isla de Juventud, where you can go diving or keep it simple sipping cocktails in your lounge chair.

Cheapest departure airports: Miami, Orlando, NYC, Boston

Low-cost carriers with service to Havana: Jetblue, Spirit, Frontier

Cartagena

weekend winter getaways

Far from the street art of Bogotá, Cartagena is Colombia’s vivid and vibrant tourist outpost on the Caribbean; and despite being all the way on the other side of the sea, it’s one of December’s cheapest sunny getaways.

Spend your days walking under nonstop sunshine, walking between and upon the city walls and taking in the Spanish colonial architecture of the historic city center. You can walk up the Bocagrande peninsula to catch some rays by the beach, but the better choice is an hour south on Playa Blanca, where a couple dollars will rent you an overnight hammock just steps away from the aquamarine waves rushing up out of the Caribbean Sea.

Cheapest departure airports: Tampa, Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, NYC

Low-cost carriers with service to Cartagena: Spirit, Avianca, Jetblue

The Florida Keys

weekend winter getaways

Sometimes the depth of winter makes you feel like you’re stuck in a frigid world somewhere far from the center of the solar system, but actually you don’t even have to leave the country to feel the heat of the sun again.

The Florida Keys are home to some of the best beaches in the Sunshine State. You can fly into Key West and spend your weekend flip-flopping around the historic district under the shade of palm trees, or visit any of the quieter yet oh-so-splendidly-sunny keys leading back up to Miami. Islamorada and Key Largo are popular among Floridians, but all that really matters is that you enjoy fresh conch fritters and a proper key lime pie while you’re there.

You’ll be able to fly into Key West from New Orleans, Charleston, and Atlanta, as well as other major Florida airports, for around $300 round trip; but you’ll do better by finding a cheap flight to Miami from anywhere in the country and busing or boating the rest of the way.

You can reach either Key West or Miami at a reasonable price from most major US cities and carriers.