When the sun begins peaking over the horizon, you shouldn’t be burying your head underneath a pillow, praying it will get dark and turn into night again. Instead, you should take advantage of the early hours to get in an hour of exercise. Why? Because the benefits far outweigh your desire to sleep in a bit.

Benefit #1: You’ll Lose Weight

Exercising during any time of the day is proven to help you obtain and maintain a healthy weight. However, recent research hints that exercising in the morning gives your weight-loss goal an extra push. How’s it do this? By improving your life a few ways all at once.

The first change is that working out during the first few hours of the day helps you sleep better, whereas working out in the evening can actually make it more difficult to sleep at night. Since healthy sleep habits assist your weight-loss goals, it only makes sense to want better sleep.

Working out in the morning also helps your metabolism to get high early on in the day and stay there throughout your day.

In addition, exercising early puts you in a healthy mindset from the moment you wake up, helping you make better decisions later in the day.

Benefit #2: You’ll Stick with It

Another reason morning workouts benefit you is the ease with which you can stick with them. Whereas it can be difficult to find time during your busy day to squeeze in exercise, making exercise the first thing you do during the day ensures you get in some calorie-burning time no matter what the rest of the day may bring.

Think you may not have the strength to stick with an early morning exercise regimen? Remember that in addition to sleeping better, early exercising gives you increased energy and gets the blood pumping throughout your body. This helps you fire on all cylinders, whether you have a big meeting coming up or have to pull a double shift at the warehouse.

Benefit #3: You’ll Get a Raise

As if an energy boost in the morning and increased metabolism weren’t reason enough for working out in the morning, this early-morning fix-all may be just what your career needs. If you’re skeptical, think about your attitude at work. Have you been down in the dumps? Too tired to go the extra mile?

Working out first thing in the morning may give you the boost you need to get past these issues. Once your boss recognizes your improved can-do attitude, your sudden willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty, and the infectious smile you carry everywhere you go, you may find yourself on the fast track to promotion. And to think-all of this just because you woke up a few minutes early for some running, weight lifting, bike riding, swimming, or calisthenics!

Rules

• Once entered into the challenge, each challenger must record his/her initial statistics with the gym. Before/After pictures, Body Weight and Standard Measurements .
• Each challenger must eat a Paleo compliant diet during the challenge. You will be required to turn in a weekly food log for evaluation and assessment of points.
• Each challenger must attend a workout at the gym a minimum of 3 times per week.
• Each challenger must post comments on progress and thoughts to this blog post page daily.

Point Schedule During Challenge

• 2 points each will be awarded for daily meals: B – L – D – S
• 1 point for bringing a friend to the gym.
• 1 point for each blog post.
• 1 point each week for turning in weekly food log

Note: 1 point will be deducted for each item missed.

Final Point Assessment

• 10 points for fastest male timed workout
• 10 points for fastest female timed workout
• 1 point for each pound lost
• 1 point for each inch lost

Final Workout and Body Composition Assessment: At the gym

Entry Fee: $35, non-refundable

Prizes:

1st Place – Total Package Value $325

• 1 month tuition free at the gym
• $75 gift card to store of your choice
• Hair cut and style at “Hair by Sue”
• Hot Stone Massage by Samantha Cooper at Tina Marie’s Salon
• Manicure by Stacey Bates at Tina Marie’s Salon
• Pedicure by Danelle Johnson at Tina Marie’s Salon
  

2nd Place – Total Package Value $200

• 2 weeks tuition free at the gym
• $50 gift card to store of your choice
• Hair cut OR style at “Hair by Sue”
• Manicure by Stacey Bates at Tina Marie’s Salon

Visit our awesome sponsors at their websites:

Hair By Sue

Tina Marie’s Salon

Samantha Cooper’s Massage at Tina Marie’s Salon

Welcome!

WELCOME!

Reshanda Tatum

Cheryl Fidelia

Angela Clemons

Timika Bynog

Gaynor Lewis

Please welcome the new following fighters!

Jayden Grigley

Chase Smith

Lynjoy Watson

Yvonne Tanner

]]> http://www.combativesgroup.com/archives/1455/feed 0 http://www.combativesgroup.com/archives/1431 http://www.combativesgroup.com/archives/1431#comments Fri, 09 Jul 2010 02:28:16 +0000 Jim http://www.combativesgroup.com/?p=1431 Welcome to our family!

Maggie Jimenez

Adriana Silva

Roasted Red Pepper Chicken and Avocado Salad
1 medium ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced

1 tsp.  lemon juice

1 bag (10 oz.) torn romaine lettuce (about 10 cups)

2 cups  shredded cooked chicken

1 medium tomato, cut into wedges

1 small  cucumber, sliced

1/4 of a medium Vidalia or Walla Walla onion, chopped

½ cup Red Pepper

1/2 cup  Light or Fat-free Italian Dressing

¼ cup Parmesan Cheese

Directions:
Toss avocados with lemon juice in large salad bowl.

Add lettuce, chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers and onions; mix lightly.

Add dressing; toss to coat.

Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Serve immediately.

Hey, if you like that one they’ve got 196 more! Seriously, Prograde has a really cool 197 Healthy and Delicious Fat Burning Recipes ebook for just $4.95!

Check it out here: http://jimmahan.getprograde.com/prograderecipebook.html

Stephanie Hill

Lameka Grayson

Cameron Lopez