New Year, New You // Bridal Workout

Written with love, by Jennifer Dene

Happy New Year beautiful bride!!

I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas, and perhaps it was your last as an engaged couple? If 2016 is your wedding year then I have good news for you — today we are adding a New Year kick to your bridal workout routine.

As you know, I love quick workouts that engage multiple muscles and also have a cardio element. Today I’ll take you through a short series of compound movements that give you the most bang for your fitness buck. This workout honors the New Year with 16 repetitions of every move (broken into four sets of four).

What We’re Focusing On Today:

1. Legs

The first move, Jump Squat Split Jump, gets those thighs burning and sends your heart rate sky high! Try to stay light on your feet as you jump, and deeply bend the knees as you land. If you want to make this move harder, stay in the squat or lunge for 2 seconds before exploding back up.

2. Abs

Moves two, three and four all engage different parts of your abs. In the second move, Oblique Bends, you strengthen the muscles at the side of the waist. Move three, Burpee Jacks, are for the deep low belly muscles, and the final Canoe Crunches strengthen the outer abs.

3. Cardio

Transition quickly from one move to the next to keep your heart rate up, even in the strength based moves. After the four sets of four in the video you have the option to repeat the workout up to four times (it’s a killer, believe me!)

Let’s Get Started!

Press play and let’s do it to it.

See you in the workout,
   Jennifer Dene

How to Properly Wash Your Expensive Workout Clothes

Written with love, by Jennifer Dene

Hello lovely bride!

I hope that you had a magical Christmas yesterday and were the beneficiary of some hot new workout gear! There’s nothing like getting your sweat on in a trendy outfit that makes you feel that little bit more fit, toned and downright sexy.

But let’s be honest, these clothes aren’t cheap and they need to be cared for properly to extend their wearability...a fact that my darling husband now knows.

Despite 26 months of marriage bliss, there was one moment when I came very close to calling the divorce lawyers. The day came when my husband, Nate, decided to be “helpful” and wash my favorite workout clothes with . . . the towels! Yep, no kidding - Lululemon, Carbon 38, Beyond Yoga, Spiritual Gangster and white fluffy towels from Macy’s.

Fortunately, the clothes made it through the wash relatively unscathed (i.e. no pilling, stretching or irreversible damage), and so did our relationship. Although needless to say, he has never been allowed near my laundry again.

But then it got me thinking about whether you also knew how to best care for your special workout clothes?

Today I’m sharing a quick “How To” for washing fancy workout clothes. Use these tips to keep your outfits (and your engagement) feeling so fresh and so clean in the New Year.

How To Wash Your Expensive Workout Clothes

1.    Turn everything inside out before it goes in the wash.

2.    Use a lingerie bag for all of your expensive workout clothes if you’re sharing the wash with regular items. Otherwise it’s preferable to do a single wash with only workout clothes of the same fabric.

3.    Wash on the gentle cycle to preserve the integrity of the high-tech fibers in this kind of apparel. The tag recommends using cold water but I use warm to help eliminate odor build up.

4.    Never use fabric softener on synthetic materials - it leaves behind a coating that will prevent the clothes from getting fully cleaned. Similarly, don’t overdo the detergent with these kind of fabrics. Less is more and an occasional detergent free wash is a great way to freshen-up the fabric (counter-intuitive as it may seem).

5.    Lay flat on a drying rack (inside out if it’s in the sun) The dryer is a lycra killing machine and folding over the rungs of a rack will cause the edges to stretch as gravity pulls them down. Plus the smell of fresh air and sunshine will give you a boost when you’re next ready to workout.

Now I’d love to hear from you? What was your favorite holiday present from your fiancé this year? Let me know in the comments below.

With Love,
   Jennifer Dene

Totally Toned Arms // A 10 Minute Bridal Arm Toning Workout

Written with love, by Jennifer Dene

I love Saturdays! Taking time with my morning cup of coffee and not following a schedule is my idea of heaven. I also use Saturdays to create new workouts for myself and my clients, and this week I have a special Overwhelmed Bride workout that I know you’ll love. 

This workout focuses on the number one body part that brides want to trim, tighten and tone before their wedding days . . . arms, of course!

Today’s 10 minute at-home arm workout will create shapely shoulders, toned triceps and overall awesome arms! I recommend repeating this workout 3 times each week, after a cardio session.

While you can’t spot reduce weight — it slides off the body evenly, which is actually nice — you can tone specific areas with targeted exercises.

What we’re focusing on today:

1.     Triceps

These are those pesky muscles at the back of the upper arm, otherwise known as “Tuck Shop Lady” arms. Defined triceps give your upper arm that lovely rounded shape, rather than having them look like flat pancakes (tuck shop style indeed)!

We’re using Tricep Kickbacks, Praying Mantis Pushups and Seated Dips to tone those triceps.

2. Deltoids

The deltoid is the tear-dropped shaped muscle that wraps around the upper arm and shoulder. If you’re wearing a strapless or cap-sleeved dress, you definitely want your shoulders in tip-top condition.

We’re using Standing Windmills, Side Plank Press and Prone Airplanes to create shapely shoulders.

3. Chest

So while not technically part of the arm, strengthening muscles of the chest (commonly known as “pecs”) will create a beautiful décolletage. Plus, you can’t really train your pecs without using your arms (and often your abs) so this is a two-for-one kind of deal!

We’re using In-Out Pushups, Chest Press and Dumbbell Flyes to strengthen the chest.

Let's get started!

So grab a pair of light (2 — 5 pound) weights and let’s get sculpting!

With love,
   Jennifer Dene