💪🏼Power Duo: Strength Training AND HIIT🔥

Sweet Friends,

February is off to a great start! Let's work to reach the goals that we have set for this month—step outside of your comfort zone. Try incorporating Strength Training and High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts 3-5x per week to reach your maximum potential.

TransFit is so unique because it provides a combination of both strength training and HIIT workouts. These are two workouts that will allow you to transform—body, mind, and spirit.

You may be thinking, “doesn’t lifting weights make me ‘bulky’” or, “I thought I should only be doing hours of cardio to reach my goals.” Thank goodness those aren’t true. We want to clear up these misconceptions!

Below are some key details and benefits to help you understand why we as women should and need to build strength training AND HIIT into our fitness plans.

Basics of Strength Training

Suddenly, dumbbells sound like a smart idea! Strength training involves resistance bands and balls, hand weights, barbells, and even your own body weight in order to boost your metabolism and lean out your body to create a sculpted look. Strength training is just what your body needs to fight the loss of muscle, bone mass and strength that comes with age.

Basics of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

High-intensity interval training, or HIIT for short, was named one of the top fitness trends in the world for 2020, based on an annual survey by the American College of Sports Medicine. These are the best workouts for developing a healthy heart because HIIT is comprised of short, hard bouts of cardio exercise—anywhere from 10 seconds to 3 minutes in length—broken up by brief recovery periods. Workouts may involve jumping, lateral movements, sprints, plyometrics, and quick bodyweight segments. This workout is designed for women of all ages and ability levels at TransFit

Key Benefits of Strength Training

• Improved body composition & increase lean body mass

• Increased metabolic efficiency (burn fat!)

• Increased bone density

• Decreased psychological stress 

• Increased energy levels and mood

• Increase balance

• Increase flexibility

3 Ways HIIT Can Help You Live Transformed:

1. Lose abdominal fat: In a study of sedentary women, 20 minutes of HIIT were compared with 40 minutes of steady-state exercise, and the HIIT subjects were the only ones who lost fat— primarily excess abdominal fat!

2. Protect your heart: Research shows, depending on how fit you are when you begin, HIIT can boost your VO2 max (how much oxygen you can use) up to 46 percent in 24 weeks. It can also increase your stroke volume (how much blood your heart pumps out per beat) by 10 percent after eight weeks of training and significantly lower your resting heart rate.

3. Recharge your cells and boost your hormones: HIIT is proven to make more proteins for your energy-producing mitochondria, which helps slow down aging and boost youth hormones! It fires up the production of your body’s growth hormones that help you maintain muscle and burn fat for hours after you’re done, and it lowers insulin resistance for better blood sugar control.

Need to Reboot Your Nutrition?

It’s a new month which means you have another chance to reach your nutrition goals. Not only do we have great FREE recipes and a FREE MEAL PLAN for you on our website, but our Registered Dietitian, Kaeti Shurling, would love to help you with your nutrition goals for 2020. Learn more about our nutrition counseling options HERE!

College-Girl Client Spotlight: Sarah Kate Jones

Sarah Kate’s Favorite Things about TransFit: 

1. I love that when I walk into TransFit, I feel known by the trainers. They are constantly pushing and encouraging me not only through workouts but through their words and accountability to reach my goals.

2. I love that Transfit encourages a healthy lifestyle where being ‘skinny’ isn’t the primary goal. Instead, I find myself seeking a whole transformation—body, mind, and spirit! 

Goals for February: 

1. Limit my sugar intake

2. Drink more water

3. Take time to rest

We want you to help you live transformed this February! Check out our February calendar challenge. Fill this out each day of the month, with the movement you did daily, send it to us at the end of the month for a chance to win a FREE MONTH of sessions! Let's commit to doing everything with our WHOLE heart! We believe in YOU!

We can’t wait to see you in the studio. TransFormer sessions are strength training based and offered multiple times a day. HIIT sessions are offered Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30am and Friday mornings at 5:30am! If you have any questions, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com.

If you would like to do a 1-1 or semi-private session with one of our Personal Trainers please reach out. We are here to serve you and want to help you live transformed!

Blessings, 

Team TransFit

Amazing Client Spotlight: Hannie Lanclos

Happy Saturday, friends! 

Today, we want to introduce you to one of our sweet clients and share her inspiring story with you!  Hannie Lanclos lights up the room with her contagious joy and beautiful smile! Her hard work, determination, and positive attitude, even through adversity, are an encouragement and inspiration to us! Hannie has made an amazing transformation over the past few months at TransFit! Hanna exercises  2-3 times a week at TransFit with Trainer Katie Lord! We are so proud of all she has accomplished so far, and we are amazed at how God has worked in Hannie’s life!  We are excited to share her story with you today! Congrats Hannie - keep living transformed! 

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My mom, sister, and I were in a terrible car accident on the way to school March 2, 2016.  I had multiple injuries, including a torn aorta, a C-2 spine fracture, a shattered pelvis, kidney and liver lacerations, brain bleeds, and a collapsed lung.  I spent 21 days total in the ICU at Egelston and on the rehabilitation floor at Scottish Rite and came home in a wheelchair, wearing a halo- brace for my broken neck.  I was in pretty bad shape, but after about 16 weeks, I was walking again on my own, and after 18 weeks, I got my halo off. I had to wear a neck brace for a while after that but was eventually discharged from physical therapy in September.

Before the accident, I ran cross-country for my school, but my main sport was horseback riding. Although I was released from physical therapy, I was nowhere near where I had been physically before the accident. I had lost a lot of muscle strength after 7 months of not doing any significant activity and could not return yet to my sports. I wanted to get back to where I was, but I had always hated the idea of exercising!  My mom found Trans Fit and made me go; I thought I would hate it!

I started going twice a week for 30-minute training sessions in October 2016, and I haven't quit because I have ended up loving it! I have come to realize that exercising actually makes me feel good — mentally and physically! Thanks to the encouragement and fitness plan of my trainer, Katie, I started riding horses again in December!  I love going to Trans Fit, getting stronger, and celebrating the body the Lord gave me back!

Hannie's mom also said- 

We have been so appreciative of the quality training Hannie has received at TransFit!  This March will be a year since the accident, and we will be forever thankful for all God has done to heal Hannie.  She has made such progress and looks forward to more!  We are glad Hannie is regaining her strength, but we are also glad she is learning the value of life-long regular exercise and healthy choices.  We believe God placed just the right people in the right places at the right time for Hannie’s miraculous recovery, and Trans Fit has now become part of that plan too! 

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Hannie, we are so proud of your hard work and determination! You are an inspiration to all of us! Keep motivated, striving for progress daily! 

We look forward to seeing you next week in the studio! If you our your daughter would like to set up a 1-1 session with one of our trainers or nutrition consultants please email us or check the TransFit App under 1-1 Personal Training.

Have a wonderful weekend, and enjoy the everyday blessings in your life! 

Love, 

Team TransFit

5 Superfoods for Your Heart ❤️

Happy Saturday! 

It has been another incredible week in the studio! We can celebrate the love we have for our bodies through movement and change our perspective to view exercise as worship- that is how you live transformed!  While exercise is a way to honor your body, eating nutritious, healing, and nourishing foods is another way to live transformed.  Exercise and nutrition are also a vital piece of keeping your hearts healthy! We want to share five superfoods for your heart and a fun, new recipe to try! 

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1. Hemp Hearts. Hemp hearts are they "heart" of a shelled hemp seed. They are rich in protein and have the almost highest balance of proteins, fats, vitamins, and enzymes. They have been shown to decrease blood pressure, as well as lower the risks of colon and prostate cancer. Also, they can relieve indigestion because they have no known allergens.  Sprinkle hemp hearts on your salad, yogurt, or smoothie. 

2. Avocado is full of healthy fats and contains many vital nutrients and fibers that your body and heart need. Avocado offers nutrients so that you can have a healthy heart! 

3. Leafy Greens contain a nitrate content. This nitrate content allows the heart to pump blood more efficiently and allows for an overall better blood flow. 

4. Tomatoes have nutrients that are found to help prevent cardiovascular disease. Additionally, tomatoes have nutrients that can protect and reduce cholesterol and blood pressure. 

5. Berries are a source of micro nutrients and fiber. They support your heart through decreased activity of carbohydrate digestive enzymes and inhibit inflammatory gene expression and foam cell formation. If the cell formation and gene expression is not kept under control, it can result in heart disease and a lower, decreased heart health.  Raspberries are the highest in fiber, lowest in sugar fruit! Enjoy! 

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Hemp Transformer Energy Bites

• 1 cup oatmeal (not quick cooking)
• 1/2 cup nut butter
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 cup coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup ground flaxseed
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup of Hemp Hearts (to roll the energy bites in)

Put all the ingredients in one bowl, mix, and roll them in Hemp Hearts. Then, let chill for 30 minutes in the fridge. Enjoy! 

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Keeping our hearts healthy is such a vital aspect of our whole body health! We look forward to seeing you in the studio soon and hope you enjoy your weekend! Continue to work hard towards your February goals! We believe in YOU!

Come join us next Friday, February 24th at 12:30 for our Favorite Things Luncheon! You can register on the app! The cost will be $10 to cover lunch! Bring THREE of the same favorite item and at the end of the luncheon you will walk away with three new items! 

If you have any questions, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. 

Blessings, 

Team TransFit 

💗 Hey Valentine... 5 Ways to Love your Body!

Good Morning Beautiful friends!

 As we all know, Valentine's Day is approaching and typically that means - lots of candy and sweets everywhere we look! Valentine's Day is the perfect holiday to take extra time to show others how you love them!  Let's also take some extra time to love our bodies Valentine's Day? Take just a moment to dwell on this verse-

"You are altogether beautiful my love; there is no flaw in you." Song of Solomon 4:7

These are the Lord's thoughts about you! He has created you exactly as you are for a purpose. You are so beautiful and perfectly made in His sight! Take a few minutes today to write down things you love about the way God made you. Now, go share this verse with a friend! Encourage your sweet friends today in their own beauty, inside and out. Valentines Day is the day of love! Let's be intentional about spreading love, encouragement  and blessings as much as we can.

Now we know many of you will be spending Valentine's Day with your families so we wanted to share a few of our favorite healthier Valentine's Day recipes with you all! We guarantee these will satisfy your sweet tooth just as well as that box of Russell Stover- but without compromising your nutrition goals! These are treats (in moderation) you can feel good about, because they will not only make your taste buds happy but make your body happy as well. 

First, here are our Top 5 Ways to Love the Body you have been gifted this Valentines Day! 

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1. Make a Valentine's celebration breakfast! Make some fun Strawberry Love Parfaits to start your day with a sweet, healthy breakfast that tastes like a treat! Take some time to say 5 reasons why you love each other as you eat your breakfast. 

2. Celebrate with non-food items! If you're sending your kids to school with Valentines, try sending cards along with temporary tattoos, stickers, pencils or other fun little toys instead of candy. Be sure to emphasize that these are things they can enjoy over and over and not just once! Get crafty and make fun, homemade cards with markers, watercolors, etc.

3. Spread out the sweets! Naturally, we're all going to eat some sweet treats on Valentine's Day. However, all of these treats don't have to be eaten on this one day! Pick 1-2 of your top choices for today, and then put the rest away to enjoy in moderation for days to come. The longer you spread it out, the more times you get to enjoy the treats! 

4. Try a new, healthy recipe! Below you will find several of our most favorite healthy and easy sweet treats! Try making these for you and your family, friends or significant other! 

5. Celebrate with red foods! See how many delicious and nutritious red foods you can put into your diet that day! Maybe try strawberries on a spinach salad for lunch, Tomato Tulips as an appetizer (just cut a plus sign on the top of a cherry tomato, fill with cottage cheese, then use chives as the stems) or Share the Love rice krispie treats (recipe below)

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Dark Chocolate Granola Bark

• 2 cups dark chocolate chips
• 1 cup Kroger Ancient Grain granola (or granola of your choice)
• 2 tsp. orange zest
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 cup dried tart cherries
• 1/4 tsp sea salt

Line baking sheet with wax paper. Melt chocolate. Stir in granola, zest and cinnamon. Spread out onto baking sheet and top with cherries and salt. Chill for 30 mins or until firm. Enjoy!

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Strawberry LOVE Yogurt Parfait

• 1 large container of greek yogurt
• 1 container strawberries
• Granola cereal (lower sugar)
• Stevia drops or honey to taste

Take 1 cup of strawberries and blend in blender until smooth. Hullrest of the strawberries and cut them into slices. Mix the yogurt with the blended berries. Begin layering the Mini Trifles. Start with a layer of greek yogurt. Add a layer of strawberries. Next sprinkle granola on top of the strawberry layer. Repeat layers until the mini trifles are full. Garnish with strawberries and/or granola.

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Share the Love Healthier Rice Krispy Treats

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoons butter
• 3 cups miniature marshmallows
• 6 cups Whole Grain Brown Rice Krispie Cereal (I actually found this at Target Kids had no clue!)
• 1 Cup Fresh sliced strawberries (blend or chop finely)

Directions:

In a large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add in marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Add Brown Rice Krispie Cereal and stir until fully coated. Flatten the mixture on wax paper and use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out hearts or use your hands to shape the mixture into hearts. Top the hearts with fresh sliced strawberries and gently press down to seal them. (You could also mix the strawberries in with the marshmallows). Cool before serving.

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We hope you enjoy these recipes with your family and friends! Take a picture of your healthier Valentine's day! We would love to see what you and your family and friends did! We look forward to seeing you in the studio! Come join us this morning at 8:00 AM! 

Blessings, 

Team TransFit

❤️ Love Your Body! New Runner's Home Workout!

Happy Tuesday! 

We want to encourage you to live faithfully fit this February! So many fun 5k races in the coming weeks and we want your to be prepared to be your best! Today, we want to share with you our Transform Runner's Workout! In the midst of your "full" week, this is a great quick workout to help strengthen your core, quads, and glutes! Set your timer for minute intervals, completing the workout for a 45 second blast of exercise with a 15 second rest! Don't forget to get in 2- 3 sets! Check out the video below to see the each exercise! 

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Check our schedule to see our new sessions! We would love to see you in the studio this week! Come join us Thursday's at 12:30 for our Live Transformed Bible Study! If you have any questions, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com for more information! 

Blessings, 

Team TransFit 

Heart Healthy Body Weight Workout

Friends,

You've worked so hard through January to eat right and exercise more.  Many of you met your goals! I'm excited for all of you who will be continuing this journey with me in Faithfully Fit February. If you are interested in participating in this month's wellness program, it's not too late to sign up! Just email me at transfitblog@gmail.com to get started. Another great way to stay accountable with yourself is to use a fitness app to track your progress. I love the My Fitness Pal App and use it daily to track nutrition and exercise. Try something new this month to keep motivated!

Since February is American Heart Month, we will be focusing our energy towards strengthening our hearts physically and spiritually.

One of the best ways to get in a good workout for your heart is through high intensity interval training (HIIT for short). This type of workout combines a variety of exercises performed in short, intense bursts for amazing results. Try the Heart Healthy Body Weight Workout below to show your heart and body some love today!

To get the most out of your training, make sure you are using proper form for all the exercises! I frequently see people confused or struggling to hold proper form while doing plank rotations and side lunges, so use my pictures below as a guideline.

For plank rotations, start in the normal plank position. While keeping your core tight, rotate to one side and extend your arm towards the ceiling. It is important to move your hips and shoulders together in one fluid motion, instead of having one following the other which will put unnecessary stress on your spine. Return to the normal plank position, then rotate towards the opposite side.

For side lunges, begin standing with feet together. Step one foot out to the side in a deep lunge. It is important to make sure your knee is not going out past your toe during this part of the exercise. Return to standing position and repeat with the other leg.

Blessings,

Caroline

How can I get my kids to eat more healthy?

When we think of teaching our children, we often focus on lessons we can tell them and show them. For instance, being on time, completing homework, and helping out with chores around the house. These are all valuable lessons, but what we can fail to consider are the lessons our children are absorbing from our behaviors. My 3 spirited kiddos each have their own struggles, of course, but Kelly & I try our best to lead more by example not so much by words alone.  I believe the best way to get your kids to eat healthy is to focus on "everything in moderation" and leading by example! Below are some great tips to help you and your family on your quest for a healthy lifestyle! 

"In everything set them an example by doing what is good" Titus 2:7

1. Model healthy habits. Children who see their parents buying and eating healthy food, as well as exercising on a regular basis, are more likely to adopt these habits themselves. 
2. Start good habits at an early age. Help your children establish good eating, sleeping, and exercising habits at a young age so you won't have to break them of bad habits later. Try exposing your children to a variety of different flavors by mixing healthy ingredients into foods they already know and enjoy. In addition, make sure to model good behaviors like playing outside instead of watching TV so your children will adopt these habits too!
3. Keep healthy foods at home. By keeping the pantry and fridge stocked with healthy foods, you will be more likely to cook and eat healthy foods, which in turn will make your children more likely to do the same. This doesn't mean you have to swear off all sweet foods--try frozen yogurt or frozen berries instead of ice cream for dessert and top with fresh fruit instead of sprinkles.
4. Make eating healthy easy. Oftentimes when hungry we reach for whatever is the most convenient. Make eating healthy easy for you and your family by planning nutritious snacks in advance and having them available. Cut up veggies such as celery and carrots and keep snack sized portions in individual bags for quick snacks.
5. Have meals as a family. Research has shown that in families who shared at least three meals a week, children were 24 percent more likely to be eating healthy foods than those in families who ate few or no meals together. The children were also 12 percent less likely to be overweight, 20 percent less likely to eat unhealthy foods and 35 percent less likely to engage in dangerous weight-loss efforts like taking diet pills and laxatives, or vomiting. As a bonus, you'll be able to connect over meaningful dinnertime conversations and save money as compared to eating out.

Here is a great recipe you can make with your family- that everyone will enjoy! My sweet friend, Gena Knox shared one of her families favorites!  You can bake in a loaf pan or mini muffin pans and add flax or chia seeds if desired.

Whole Grain Banana Bread 

By Gena Knox

Prep Time:  15 minutes

Cook Time:  50 minutes

Yields:  16 slices

1 cup whole wheat flour

½ cup plain flour

¼ cup ground flaxseed or chia seeds (optional)

¾ teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ground allspice

1½ cups mashed, ripe banana (about 2 medium)

1/3 cup nonfat Greek yogurt

5 tablespoons melted coconut oil

2 large eggs

½ cup brown sugar

¼ cup plain sugar

FIRST  Preheat oven to 350°F.  In a medium bowl, combine flours, flaxseed, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and allspice and set aside.NEXT  Using a food processor or mixer, combine bananas, yogurt and eggs.  Gradually add sugars and beat until combined.  ¼ cup at a time add flour mixture to banana mixture until combined. LAST  Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake for 50 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.  Remove bread from pan and let cool on wire rack.  Slice and serve with fresh fruit.

In order to help some of my friends who wanted to start making healthy choices and modeling healthy decisions for their families, this past month I offered a January Jump Start program. It was so successful, that I have created a new program called Faithfully Fit February for the upcoming month. The Faithfully Fit February Program will include 4 workouts you can do at home, 4 weekly meal plans and recipes, weekly bible verses and inspirations, a February workout calendar, and recipes for healthy Valentine's Day snacks for only $75. If this interests you, please email me at transfitathens@gmail.com or click the PayPal link below to sign up.

Blessings,

Caroline