Fitness In The Raw

Exercise and raw foods go hand in hand in making you the healthiest, most beautiful person you can be! Exercise doesn't have to be a chore...it should be fun! With raw foods- you don't have to focus on burning those stubborn pounds and countless calories, but you can concentrate instead on how good it feels just to move your body! Giving your body the fresh enzymes it needs will cause you to feel more energized instead of exhausted after a workout. Here are a few ways that exercise will help your body:

*Improve your moods by increasing the level of endorphins flowing through your body, and this helps reduce feelings of depression and anxiety.
* Reduce risk of chronic diseases. Regular exercise can help prevent heart disease and osteoporosis, increases levels of good cholesterol and lowers the bad, and keeps the bones healthy through regular use.
* Strengthens the heart and lungs. The heart pumps harder and more effectively to transport oxygen, and the lungs become more effective at transferring oxygen to the blood stream.
*Promotes better sleep. Being active helps you to fall asleep faster, and remain in a deep sleep for longer.
*Gives you a sense of well-being and empowerment.

Choose a variety of activities! Don't stick to the same old, or it can get boring. The amazing thing is, you can eat less and exercise more without dying of hunger, since you are getting full nutrition from your fresh fruits and veggies and dark leafy greens.
Here's a workout that I enjoy doing:

*15 minutes- jumping on a rebounder (a mini trampoline...available at http://www.irebounder.com/  Jumping on a rebounder for 15 minutes is equal to working out and the gym for 1 hour! Plus it's fun!)
* 1 minute- elbow plank
 * 30 squats
* 20 bicycles 
*20 leg lifts (on each side)
* 15 pushups 
* 20 situps
* 20 lunges

Feel free to make up your own personalized workout that feels right for you, and is right for your fitness level. Have fun!