A certified personal trainer and fitness instructor with a bachelor's degree in health education, Nicole loves living a healthy and fit lifestyle and helping others do the same. Nicole was formerly SparkPeople's fitness expert and editor-in-chief, known on the site as “Coach Nicole.” Make sure to explore more of her articles and blog posts.
Read More of 's Blogs:
Health Magazine Shares 3 'High-Tech Diets That Work'
Good morning everyone!
A few weeks ago, we announced some major upgrades to our Diet & Fitness Tracker app—as well as a new price: free! So far the reviews and comments have been overwhelmingly positive. Thank you for downloading the app and sharing your thoughts with us.
Last week, we were happy to find a story from Health magazine that put some of the most popular weight-loss apps to the test. We are proud to say that SparkPeople's app was ranked in the top three and got some great praise from testers and experts alike:
Posted 4/21/2014 6:00:00 AM By: : 8 comments 25,874 views
SparkPeople Radio Is Taking a Pause
Good morning everyone! I hope today is a lovely spring day in your region!
We wanted to give our members a quick SparkPeople Radio update. We launched SparkPeople Radio about a year and a half ago as a fun experiment—a new way to Spread the Spark and reach both our members and a new audience with the SparkPeople message. We've had some great hosts along the way—Lily, Karen and most recently, Bettina, as well as some awesome guests, from your coaches or inspiring members to outside health and fitness experts from around the country.
Posted 4/16/2014 1:00:00 PM By: : 49 comments 61,789 views
Getting Started with Strength Training in 5 Easy Steps
You know that strength training (also called resistance training) is good for your body. It can help you maintain and build muscle mass, rev your metabolism, make you a better recreational athlete, strengthen your bones and reshape your body. But unlike cardio, where you usually just pick an activity you enjoy and get out there and do it, strength training can be a lot more complicated to a novice. Most people don't just walk into a weight room, stare at the sea of weights, and know how to begin.
If you've never lifted weights before (or it's been a long time since you have), it can be intimidating to know how to start. There are so many weights, machines, classes and options. Which ones are right for you and your goals?
While the idea of strength training can be complex, hopefully these basics will point you in the right direction so you feel comfortable starting a training program.
Posted 4/8/2014 5:00:00 AM By: : 80 comments 257,266 views
Watch HSN April 10 to save $15 on a SparkPeople Fitness Bundle!
Update (4/10/14, 12:45 p.m.)
Thanks to everyone who tuned in to watch me on HSN! Because live TV programming is subject to change, we wanted to let you know right away about a scheduling change. The planned 4 p.m. segment will not be airing today. We apologize for the inconvenience. (P.S. If you missed the special on-air announcement I alluded to in this original blog post, click here for the news!)
Original Story
Hey everyone!
I'm very excited to announce that I will be appearing on HSN this Thursday, April 10! This is going to be a big milestone for SparkPeople—a chance for us to get in front of many new potential members. And it's also a great opportunity for you, as we are offering an exclusive deal on a fitness bundle that you won't want to miss!
Posted 4/7/2014 11:00:00 AM By: : 14 comments 25,731 views
You Asked: Does Pilates Count as Strength Training?
This is not an easy question for me to answer. As a certified Pilates instructor and long-time Pilates practitioner, I've seen the many benefits of Pilates first-hand, and with many of my students. A Pilates workout can sculpt your core, help you stand taller, improve your balance, tone your muscles and even prevent and relieve certain issues like lower back pain. I'm a huge advocate of Pilates and think it can benefit any body—male or female, young or old, beginner or athlete.
Posted 3/28/2014 5:00:00 AM By: : 69 comments 251,479 views
The New No-Excuses Way to Work Out
There are a lot of excuses—or hurdles if you will—that get in the way of our intentions to work out. Not enough time. Not enough money. Fear of being judged by others. Not having easy or affordable access to equipment or a gym. Not enough options that fit your schedule. Traveling all the time. Not knowing what to do on your own. Not having childcare. Bad weather.
Most of us have dealt with a number of these hurdles more than once in our lifetime. The truth is that working out is hard. All of these things are barriers that make it even more difficult to get and stay fit.
But there are a lot of amazing innovations that are bringing fitness to more people in ways that help you jump many of the hurdles above. One of my favorites recently launched. And while it sounds too good to be true that this one solution is affordable, accessible, flexible, easy to follow—and can help you get fit anywhere on your own time—it's true.
Posted 3/24/2014 5:00:00 AM By: : 18 comments 59,476 views
How Many Calories Does Strength Training Really Burn?
If you are concerned about how many calories you burn during strength training, chances are that you are actively trying to lose weight (or might want to ensure you are eating enough to support strength training without losing additional weight). Although strength training is challenging and requires a lot of hard work (especially when lifting heavy weights), it doesn't typically burn as many calories as cardiovascular (aerobic) exercises like running or cycling.
Posted 3/13/2014 5:00:00 AM By: : 94 comments 3,224,912 views
Introducing SparkPeople 'Friend Feed' Enhancements
Good morning, SparkPeople!
We've been hard at work revamping some of your favorite SparkPeople features to make them more fun and useful. Today we are happy to announce an update to your Friend Feed.
Posted 2/12/2014 11:00:00 AM By: : 54 comments 28,594 views
.png)
50 Love Songs You'll Love Working Out To
I know many people think of Valentine's Day as a silly non-holiday, something card and marketing companies conjured up so we'll buy more stuff. I don't consider myself a materialistic person, and I really can't explain it, but Valentine's Day has been my favorite holiday since I was a kid. I guess I just always thought it was sweet and fun. My parents always made us their valentines, so it was always special. In fact, now in my 30s, I still get a valentine in the mail from my parents every February 14. To me, a day that celebrates love of all kinds (family love, romantic love, friendship love, etc.) is a happy thing!
For others like me who are feeling the spirit of St. Valentine, I put together a fun workout playlist to inspire your next fitness session. We've collected 50 songs from a variety of genres and eras that celebrate love—and still have a beat that you'll want to exercise to. Whether you listen to them only in February or all year long, these are some love songs that you'll love working out to!
Posted 2/5/2014 6:00:00 AM By: : 49 comments 110,694 views
Sweat It Out: 50 Fast & Empowering Breakup Songs
When you're newly single or going through a tough breakup, it's common to channel that emotional energy into unhealthy habits like drinking, smoking and even overeating. This is especially true around Valentine's Day (and other holidays) when messages and images of happy couples are in your face at every turn (grrr).
But there is a better—and healthier way—to deal. You can use this time to focus on you—your goals, your desires, and your unique life vision. When you need an emotional release, let exercise be your friend (just channel your inner Bridget Jones and hit that Spin bike!). Use it as a focus or a distraction, a natural way to build your endorphins back up.
The following workout songs will help you get in the right spirit for your fitness session and empower you to be your best, happy self! Some are angry, some are celebratory, and some are an affirmation that you are stronger than ever—right now.
Posted 2/5/2014 5:00:00 AM By: : 26 comments 274,878 views
The Awards Show Workout Game: Sweat with the Stars!
It seems like almost every time you turn on the TV there is another award show coming. In January alone, there are the Golden Globes, People's Choice, Critic's Choice, Grammy's (this weekend!) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards. Later in winter, the always-hilarious Golden Raspberry (Razzes) Awards take place around the same time as the more serious Academy Awards. And throughout the year, there's a host of music related award shows (like the Country Music Awards) and even MTV has their own Video Music Awards and Movie Awards shows. I'm sure I haven't even listed them all...
If you love fashion, celebrity news, or simply think of yourself as a music or movie buff, you'll probably catch at least one of these shows. The performances are entertaining, the jokes and hosts often funny, and the fashion is usually worth seeing.
Many people have dress-up parties or get-togethers to watch these shows with friends, often with lots of drinks and appetizers. But you can enjoy the show—and work toward your healthy goals, too—by incorporating SparkPeople's "Award Show Workout Game" at home or with your friends. This workout plan works with any televised award show! It allows you to watch and enjoy the show while also fitting in a serious workout!
Posted 1/24/2014 5:00:00 AM By: : 36 comments 54,860 views
Try This Quick Workout to Get Trim and Toned From Head to Toe
Short on time but still want to squeeze in a good sweat session? You're not alone. "Lack of time" is the No. 1 reason people cite for not exercising regularly. It's easy to think that if you don't have an hour or more to dedicate to exercise, then what's the point. But quite honestly, short workouts really do have a big impact on your health and your workout—and that is especially true when you do the right types of workouts.
When you need an efficient workout to make the most of your time, that's where smart training techniques like interval training, circuit training and multi-joint exercises come in. All of these approaches help people get better results even when they're short on time.
I've put together a workout that combines all three of those fitness techniques in an 18-minute workout that'll give you a cardio boost and a head-to-toe strength training workout in one. And while that might sound ultra-intense, it's appropriate even for beginners.
Posted 1/22/2014 5:00:00 AM By: : 19 comments 62,946 views
Get Your Daily Dose of Motivation from the DailySpark!
Good afternoon!
At SparkPeople, we are committed to helping our members and readers reach their goals in health and fitness—and in life. We know how hard it can be to stay motivated—especially with so many negative stories spreading around these days.
This is why we are particularly excited about launching the new feature that launched today: DailySpark. DailySpark features uplifting, positive and inspiring stories and videos from around the web, curated by our editors and experts. It's something you can look at each day for just a few minutes to reset your outlook and your motivation. Here are a few of my favorite DailySpark videos at the moment:
Posted 1/17/2014 4:00:00 PM By: : 12 comments 30,997 views
7 Cool Health & Fitness Gadgets from CES 2014
I just spent the last couple of days at the gigantic Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. To say that this convention is massive is an understatement. Companies from all over the world come to CES to unveil and promote their latest technologies and gadgets in virtually every category, from cars to crockpots to TVs to headphones.
One growing section of CES is health and fitness technology. This wing is dedicated to "Digital Health," where you'll find dozens of types of fitness monitors and activity trackers along with technology based sleep solutions, smoking cessation tools, teeth whitening gadgets and more.
I had a chance to check out everything new in health and fitness tech earlier this week. Here's a selection of emerging trends and products that I thought were downright cool—and likely to take off in the coming years.
Posted 1/9/2014 5:00:00 PM By: : 17 comments 48,041 views
6 Surefire Ways to Make Your Resolution a Reality
There's no time like January to start fresh! It may be the dead of winter, but everyone's spirits are up and our willpower is in full force. We are ready and committed to make a change.
As a fitness instructor, I love this time of year. The energy in the gym is contagious and the classes are packed! And as a SparkPeople employee, it's a great time, too. So many new people find us and join our site to reach their goals!
But as you probably know, this New Year motivation fades quickly. It's easy to give up on your goals when you don't have a plan, don't have support, or don't have a realistic way to keep yourself motivated. Let's vow to make this year different. Let's commit ourselves to just one simple goal to keep our focus. You might not be able to do everything on your giant list of goals, but you can be successful with one or two things when you have a good plan in place.
SparkPeople has a lot of fun, simple and effective challenges that are the perfect way to get started and stay motivated. I would recommend choosing ONE program listed below to focus your efforts, but if you're feeling extra motivated, try a couple! Don't worry: You can join in the fun any time, even if you can't commit to everything you'd like to do at once. These are all great ways to hit the ground running in January!
Posted 1/7/2014 5:00:00 AM By: : 14 comments 71,203 views
‹ Back Read More Entries ›
