Flick's Fitness Tips

With the holidays approaching, now is a great time to start putting together your Christmas list, and what better items to ask for than gym equipment? It's incredibly useful, and your relatives will be impressed with your new lifestyle change. Here are some essential items I use all the time in my fitness journey that you should put on your list to Santa:  1. Gym Clothes I used to throw on shorts and a T-shirt for a workout, but I really enjoy getting DRESSED for the gym -- similar to getting dressed up to go to a nice restaurant. It makes me feel confident and like I belong. There are so many fitness brands that exist today that didn't five years ago. Some brands are really good, and others are far too expensive for what you receive. My favorite fitness clothing brand is YoungLA. Their items have gone up in price lately due to their surge in popularity, but most of the items I have received have been amazing. Gymshark is also a strong brand choice. Their clothing is not as wel...

 Starting a fitness journey can feel intimidating, but it's a powerful step in the right direction towards improving both your physical and mental health. It's important to remember that everyone starts somewhere, and that it's normal to feel unsure at first whether or not working out is for you. I assure you, working out IS for you, and it will be one of the best decisions you ever make. In this article, I will outline the first steps you should take on your fitness journey. Understanding Fitness Fitness is an umbrella term that includes your physical, mental and emotional well-being. There are five components of fitness: strength, endurance, flexibility, balance and body composition. Mastering these five components will ultimately help you improve your physical, mental and emotional well-being and truly make you a healthy individual.  Setting Realistic Goals Similar to your business classes, your fitness-related goals should be SMART. They must be specific, measurable, ac...

A lot of us have been here before: you're at the doctor's office, and they'll say, "Your BMI is too high/low. You need to lose/gain weight." They're proceed to tell you a number and say you have to get that number up/down or you're more at-risk for heart disease. So, what is this BMI number, and how is it important? The Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a common tool used to measure health standards and obesity rates. Lately, however, it has fallen under scrutiny due to the belief that it doesn't accurately depict overall health. Let's dive in and see if the BMI has any validity. How To Calculate BMI and What It Means Equation: 703 x [ Weight (lbs.) / Height (inches squared) ] Results:  < 18: Underweight 18 - 24.9: Healthy 25 - 29.9: Overweight 30 - 39.9: Obese > 40: Severely Obese Example: I weigh 180lbs and am 5'11". My equation looks like: 703 x [180 / (71^2)]. My BMI is 25.1, and I am classified as overweight.  Please Note:  The BMI sc...

In today’s digital age, fitness influencers have become prominent figures, shaping trends and encouraging millions to pursue healthier lifestyles. With their curated posts, engaging content, and motivational messages, they can inspire positive change and foster a sense of community. However, the influence of these personalities is not without its drawbacks. Many influencers may prioritize sponsorships with athletic wear companies over genuine health advocacy, leading to potential conflicts of interest. This can promote unrealistic body standards and the risk of misinformation, complicating their impact. In this blog, we’ll explore the multifaceted role of fitness influencers, examining how they can both uplift and mislead their audiences. Unrealistic Body Expectations I have always been skeptical of the term "unrealistic expectations" when discussing fitness. The aim shouldn’t be to mirror the physique of a fitness influencer, as individual differences in muscle insertions—wh...