fitness Archives

Black Women Fitness: Serena Williams Splits Warm Up

Arianne SuggsUpdated on April 18, 2022August 10, 2015Leave a Comment

When we saw these photos our mouths literally dropped to the floor. Yes, we have fitness goals, but Serena shows how to really take things next level! In the pics Williams shows off her extreme flexibility which we are sure is one of the major reasons she dominates on the court. In a caption for the photos Serena even writes, “Proceed with caution.” Oh we will Serena, trust us we will LOL.

Flexibility is one of the most important yet often neglected aspects of fitness. Why is flexibility so important anyway when it comes to having a knockout physique? Here are three reasons why you should not ignore working on being more flexible:

1. Increases blood flow to the muscles.

2. Helps to improve performance in physical activities.

3. Decreases risk of injury since joints are encouraged to move their full range of motion.

So then, flexibility will protect you from needing a doctor after dance class and help you to be a better athlete. Nevertheless, being more limber is not always an easy task. We all have different ranges of flexibility which is why it is good not to compare ourselves to others. However, what are some ways that can help to improve the situation?

Warm Up– Never go straight into your workout, warm up first in order to prepare your body for more work. By the time you are done warming up you should be lightly sweating.
H20– Drink plenty of water because dehydrated muscles will not stretch to their full range of motion.
Be Still-Save static stretches for after your workout and remember not to stretch to the point of pain when holding positions.

There you have it girls some tips to help us all beast like Serena in the athletic department. None of us may win Wimbledon or a Grand Slam but who says we can’t look like we did! Keep up the good work Serena you inspire us to be more fit.

Thoughts? Join the discussion on our Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr or tweet us @1966magazine.

Beauty

Why Drink Filtered Water

Arianne SuggsUpdated on August 5, 2015August 5, 2015Leave a Comment

We all need water to live and if we try to go without consuming it within days we would perish. Moreover, there are many beauty benefits that come from drinking the daily recommended amount of H2O. Beauty experts agree that drinking 8 glasses of water will keep your body healthy and your skin glowing.

However, the scary part is the kind of water that most city dwellers have available to them. Most tap water is filled with various impurities and some can even cause cancer. Well, what’s a girl to do to be able to get her daily intake of water in without causing other health problems?

Some have turned to bottled water, but is that truly the answer? Unless, you have hundreds of extra dough available to spend on a yearly basis that may not be the best route. Instead buying a device to filter your water could be a more suitable choice.

For instance, Brita has designed a facet water filtration system that removes the following from your tap water:

Benzene
Lead
Asbestos
Toluene

The only thing Brita will leave behind and not filter out is fluoride. This is actually beneficial because fluoride helps to keep your teeth strong. Therefore, protect yourself from harmful chemicals in water and your body will reward you.

Fashion

Streestyle: Rihanna in NYC

Arianne SuggsUpdated on April 17, 2022July 9, 2015Leave a Comment

Yesterday, there were several sightings of songstress, Rihanna in New York City. For her first look RiRi rocked black tights, sneakers, Thrasher tee, snapback and Fenty necklace. RiRi had been doing a little body maintenance at Titan gym and was quietly exiting the building. See, isn’t comforting that celebrities have to put in the work for their hot bods too?

Rihanna kept her relaxed chic vibe going as night fell upon The Big Apple. Her nighttime ensemble consisted of green sweats, gray shirt, gold hoops, tennis shoes and another snapback.

So why was Rihanna on the streets of NYC this week? It looks like the singer is conducting a little business while she is there. Rihanna was meeting with world renown producer Timbaland at a studio.

Beauty Notes: Knowing how to compliment or marry your nail color with your makeup can be very easy. A simple way to not create a color clash is by matching your lip color to your nail color. For her look, Rihanna chose a gorgeous red and the tint pops!

Fashion

Get the Look: DJ Hannah Bronfman for Boohoo.com!

Arianne Suggs July 9, 2015July 9, 2015Leave a Comment

If you haven’t heard of Hannah Bronfman will let us do you the honor of feeling you in on this doll. Hannah is a DJ, model and investor in numerous restaurants such as Acme as well as Hotel Griffou. Being a successful entrepreneur seems just flow through Hannah’s veins for she also is a co-founder of the mobile app Beautified. Beautified can be used in order to locate last-minute beauty services. Oh yeah, by the way, this chic New Yorker is only 27!

Bronfman is one of fashion’s front row darlings at designer runway shows. So then, it is no wonder girls from around world wouldn’t want to immolate her cool, fresh style. Now Boohoo.com is giving us ladies the chance to do just that! Hannah is the face of We Are Fit and the fashion site is selling off the awesome active wear. Get your hands on some while you can.

Celebrities

Successful Black Women: Misty Copeland Named American Ballet Theatre’s First Black Principal Dancer

Arianne SuggsUpdated on June 28, 2017July 1, 2015Leave a Comment

Misty Copeland is making history this week due to the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) naming her as it’s first black female principal dancer. We tip our heels in her honor and hope that she continues to break a leg on stage. Trust us this is no small feat because this is the first time such honors has been bestowed upon a black ballerina (2nd black dancer after Desmond Richardson) in the dance company’s entire 75 years of existence.

Successful Black Women: Misty Copeland Named American Ballet Theatre’s First Black Principal Dancer

Misty hails from Kansas City and mentioned that being a high level dancer is something she has always wanted. Copeland revealed,

“This is it. This has been my dream since I was 13, to be a principal dancer and reach these heights… But it hasn’t been overnight. It’s been 14 years of extremely hard work … I’m just so extremely honored to be an African-American and to be in this position.”

Copeland is shining as a luminous star at time where in the current social climate there are those who believe that members of the black community are lazy, uneducated, violent or lack proper training to accomplish great things. Such views are proved incorrect time after time by such talents as Misty; nevertheless, Copeland believes there is a much different reason as to why more black dancers do not reach the career heights that she has achieved. Misty explained,

“So many young dancers of color stop dancing at an early age because they just don’t think there will be a career path for them. I hope that will change… I had moments of doubting myself and wanting to quit, because I didn’t know if there would be a future for an African-American woman at that level. At the same time, it made me so hungry to push through.”

Therefore, we implore all of you young dreamers out there and even those who think they have passed their prime to NOT GIVE UP. There may be times of doubt, times when that little voice in your head wants to tear your joy out your heart and convince you to quit. Like Misty you may feel like you are just not seeing others who “look like you” on the journey to the top. Do not be dismayed ladies, as more of us make it up the mountain of success it soon will not feel like such a lonely place. There is plenty of room up there for everyone, let’s help each other push towards the summit… it’s closer for us all than we might think.

Congratulations Misty! You are a true inspiration for us all!

Lifestyle

Why Drink Green Tea In the Morning

Alicia Suggs June 18, 2015June 18, 2015Leave a Comment

I’m an avid tea drinker. There is not a morning that goes by where I don’t have tea. Unlike coffee I still feel healthy and not completely caffeinated in the way that coffee makes you feel. It gives me just the right amount of energy I need! But besides my preference on why I drink tea their are other reasons why you should drink tea especially green tea in the morning.

Green tea is extremely rich in antioxidants. It has 10 times more antioxidants than the amount found in fruits and vegetables! It has also shown to be more powerful than vitamins C and E in halting damage to cells.

So whats a good choice for green tea? I swear by Bigelow Green Tea 40 Count Boxes Pack of 6 so yummy and the ingredients are simple… green tea.

Lifestyle

Half Marathon Training

Alicia Suggs May 26, 2015May 26, 2015Leave a Comment

This time of year everyone is out and about trying to get that last bit of weight off, before you have to start showing some skin because it’s blazing outside. A sure way to torch …

Lifestyle

Healthy Habit: 2/30 Rule

Alicia Suggs May 19, 2015May 19, 2015Leave a Comment

Todays Healthy Habit is the 2/30 Rule: 2 hours of TV, 30 minutes of exercise. Why not start here with this great workout by KeairaLaShae Hip Hop Tabata Dance Workout it’s a killer.

Beauty

Ciara Reveals How She Got Her Physique On Point Post Baby!

Arianne Suggs May 2, 2015May 2, 2015Leave a Comment

You would never think that Ciara even had a baby when looking at her toned, sculpted physique. Nevertheless, CiCi revealed to her fans just how she got her sick abs back after having her precious little bundle of joy. Ciara said, “After my son I started waist training with Girly Curves to get my pre-baby body back. Loving the results! Thanks Girly Curves!” Waist training has become a major trend thanks to its promises of a super small waist to enhance womanly curves. Well, one thing is for sure whatever Ciara is doing it’s working!

Thoughts? Join the fitness discussion on our Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram or tweet us @1966magazine.

Lifestyle

Living Well: How to Loss Weight Without Fad Dieting

Arianne Suggs March 12, 2015March 12, 2015Leave a Comment

For those who are trying to lose weight, the fastest growing trend is not a special workout routine or weird and wonderful diet; it is an adjustment in lifestyle. Are you tired of dieting and calorie counting that is not really producing the results that you want?

Perhaps you are one of the many gym goers, working out until you have nothing left to give. At the end of the day, however, you find that all that work does not amount to much in terms of weight loss.

Most people try fad diets at one time or another, even though they do not produce the desired results. Of course you need to exercise, but this is not the magic answer either. According to a wide range of credible studies, the only truly effective way of losing weight is to make a dramatic lifestyle change. A lot of people that have tried doing this can lose 60 or more pounds and are able to keep that weight away as well. This is the way they did it.

1. Eating well. There is nothing mysterious about calories. When you eat more calories than you burn off, your weight will go up. Still, you do not have to worry about calories if you make smart choices from the get go. Eating lots of produce and whole grains along with low-fat proteins are the ideal foods. These should be consumed in appropriately sized portions.

2. Exercising sometimes is all it takes; perhaps an hour of walking to lose weight. That’s all. They don’t join a gym, buy equipment or struggle with exercise routines. Exercise needs to be regular, and mildly challenging to be effective.

3. Strong support. If you’re able to get people around you that put out positive energy towards you, it’s easier to lose weight. However, if you keep going out with people who pay no attention to healthy living or who do not encourage you to be mindful of your health, you have a bigger chance of failing.

D. Proper sleep habits. When you do not get enough rest, your body does not make enough insulin, which is important when it comes to overeating. When you only get a couple of hours of shuteye, you are going to make poor decisions when choosing what foods to eat. You get more of the energy you need to stay active and exercise when you’re properly rested, too. Insulin is also a contributor to a healthy metabolism.

Five: You need to document your progress. More powerful than any diet book or piece of gym equipment is the simple journal. Tracking weight lost, food eaten, and exercise taken makes it a lot easier to get to your overall goals. Doing this will allow you to see what things work best for you and help you to maintain awareness of your daily behaviors. You may notice certain patterns emerging in your journal, and these can be easily changed once they are identified. Still uneasy about keeping a journal of what you eat? Consider that those who keep track at least six days a week are more likely to lose twice as much weight as those who don’t. Keep a food journal to document what you eat and how much you exercise for optimal success.

A change in lifestyle is what will help lose weight on a regular basis and keep it off for a long time to come. These benefits are what you should be striving for. Get realistic about your goals. Follow this lifestyle change and realize that the fads don’t work.