Weighted Fire Hydrants

This exercise is the same as regular hydrants, but with a bit more "umph" - challenge.  Ankle weights are used for this version. Wrap the ankle weights around your left ankle. 

Then, get down on all fours, raise your left leg, knees bent, your thigh is parallel to the floor, then lower your leg back down to the starting position.

Do as many as you can do. Maintain proper form, especially since you have added weight for this version. Repeat the other side.

Remember to stretch after this exercise and all others that you do.  

Star Crunches

The target areas for this exercise are your abs, thighs and core.  No equipment is necessary which makes this great for when you're traveling, or at home watching TV.  

Simply, lay on your back.  You can place a mat down for comfort if needed.  Extend your legs upwards and your arms above your head.  

While you focus on squeezing your abs, lift your shoulders off the ground, and extend your arms forward as you open your legs. 

As you close your legs, lower your arms back to the beginning position. That is one rep. Repeat for your desired number of reps to complete the set. 

Simple, yet effective. Enjoy!

Zucchini Boats w/ Chicken, Tomatoes and Cheese

Dinner, definitely, should not be boring.  Nor, does it have to consist of the same method over and over and over again.  Here is a simple, and fun, way to enjoy zucchini.  Surely, you already have the ingredients on hand, or at least most of them.  

Ingredients:

• 1 or 2 large zucchini
• ½ pound ground chicken
• 1 T. olive oil
• Crushed garlic
• Grape tomatoes (halved lengthwise)
• Parmesan cheese (grated)
• Mozzarella cheese (grated)
• Dried basil

Preheat oven to 350℉. Place olive oil in a skillet. Season chicken with oregano, basil, salt and pepper.  Place chicken in skillet with oil and cook.  Be sure to ground the meat up while it’s cooking. 

Cut the zucchini in half lengthwise.  Scoop out the seeded centers of each half and discard.  Trim a bit off the bottom of the halves so that they lay flat in a shallow baking dish. Brush the insides of the halves with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Place the boats into a baking dish.  Bake zucchini in prepared oven for about 15 minutes.

Remove the zucchini and add the chicken, tomatoes, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. Bake for another 15 minutes.  Be sure the cheese has melted.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with dried basil. Enjoy.