5 Gym Etiquette Rules Rule #1: Clean Your Machine We all sweat, as we should at the gym, but just be sure to wipe down anything you touch. I would even recommend wiping it down BEFORE you touch it as well, just to be safe and minimize spreading any germs. Rule #2: Don’t Be Obnoxious […]
3 Moves to Light Up Your Lats by Samantha Coogan, MS, RDN, LD 1) Bent Over Barbell Row • Set up in a snatch grip (wide). • Place the barbell in the crease of your hip, and bend at your waist (back should be as flat as possible) • Start with your arms straight, then […]
3 Delicious Vegan Recipes For The Family by Samantha Coogan, MS, RDN, LD Avocado Pasta Ingredients • 12 oz. brown rice pasta • 2 ripe avocados • ½ cup fresh basil leaves • 2 cloves garlic • 2 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste • 1/3 cup […]
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness Prevention and Relief by Samantha Coogan, MS, RDN, LD Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) is the feeling you typically get the morning or two after a workout. Your muscles take some time to feel the intensity of your previous day’s workout. That’s why you can usually do 100 lunges without thinking […]
7 Foods To Help You Sleep by Samantha Coogan, MS, RDN, LD Bananas Bananas contain the muscle-relaxing minerals potassium and magnesium, which can help you to get to sleep a little quicker. They also have tryptophan, which gets converted to serotonin and melatonin, which helps you feel relaxed. Cherries These are like natural sleeping pills! […]
What Lifting Gear Do You Really Need? by Samantha Coogan, MS, RDN, LD Now, I’m sure the entire topic of this article is up for debate. There are the purists when it comes to Olympic and Power Lifting, who prefer the raw approach (no belt, knee sleeves, wraps, etc.). Then there are others who may […]
Back Blaster by Samantha Coogan, MS, RDN, LD 1. Close-Grip Chin-Ups/Pull-Ups • A chin-up grip makes this movement a little bit easier, but you’ll get even more out of your back, especially your scapula, with a regular pull-up grip. • A narrow grip increases the range of motion and allows for more muscle activation, but […]
4 Ways to Rid Your Life of Negativity by Samantha Coogan, MS, RDN, LD No Gossip You won’t agree with everyone on every issue. They’re called opinions for a reason. Now, just because someone doesn’t see things the same way as you doesn’t give you a right to gossip about them. And definitely don’t start […]
Dolce Diet Summer-Ready Slow Cooker Recipes by Samantha Coogan, MS, RDN, LD Slow Cooker Salmon Ingredients • 1-2 lbs. salmon fillets, skin left on • Salt • Pepper • Spices of choice (optional) • Sliced lemon (optional) • Sliced onions and/or celery (optional) • 1-1 ½ cups water Directions 1. Cut the salmon into pieces. […]
How to Increase Your Deadlift by Samantha Coogan, MS, RDN, LD Focus on Form! There’s no way you’ll ever improve your deadlift without proper technique, like any movement out there. Set up with your feet just about shoulder-width apart. The bar should be touching your shin. Hands should be a thumb’s length away from the […]
DOLCE DIET LIFESTYLE: Food Substitutions Based on Preference or Allergy by Samantha Coogan, MS, RDN, LD These foods carry similar nutrient profiles and can easily be substituted into your diet due to personal preference and/or the presence of an allergy or intolerance. You’ll still get essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Don’t be afraid to […]
Foods that Can Help Lower Your Cholesterol According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 1 out of 3 Americans has high cholesterol. High cholesterol can be hereditary, but it can also be largely caused by diet and lifestyle choices, such as smoking. Here are some foods that can potentially help lower cholesterol levels, which […]
Overhead Press • Stand with feet wide, holding dumbbells with arms in a goal post position • Brace abs into spine and extend arms straight overhead. • Slowly lower elbows to return to start. • Repeat for 20 reps. Bent Over Row • Pick up dumbbells and stand with your feet hip-width apart. • Push […]
DOLCE LIFESTYLE: 5 Things to Stop Putting in Coffee 1) Artificial Sweeteners • More and more studies are linking artificial sweeteners to impaired glucose metabolism, even though they don’t spike blood sugars upon intake because the body becomes more tolerant to the sweetness levels and increases cravings • Can also destroy gut bacteria (the good […]
DOLCE LIFESTYLE: 15 Foods That Keep You Feeling Fuller for Longer by Samantha Coogan, MS, RDN, LD The following foods are rich in fiber, which can help feel fuller for longer. How? It acts as a bulking agent and slows down digestion. Some of these foods also contain protein and healthy fats, which both contribute […]
At-Home Back and Chest Exercises *You’ll need some light dumbbells (8-10 lbs.) or something similar to use in each hand Push-Ups • Start by lying on the ground with hands just outside the shoulders. • Trying to keep your body as straight as possible, push yourself up into a plank position, then return to the […]
3 Slow Cooker Oatmeal Recipes You’ll Love Classic Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats Ingredients 6-8 cups of water depending on how thick you want the oatmeal 2 cups steel cut oats ¼ cup pure maple syrup 2 Tbsp. honey ½ tsp salt 1 tsp cinnamon Directions Add all of the ingredients to your slow cooker […]
DOLCE LIFESTYLE: 5 Habits to Help Improve Your Life by Samantha Coogan, MS, RDN, LD The Dolce Diet is not simply a platform for healthy eating and exercise. We strive for overall wellness, and that includes mental and emotional states. Changing little things throughout your day and creating healthy habits can make a huge impact […]
4 Common Chemicals That Increase Breast Cancer Risk By Amber Lowry October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we wanted to do our part in sharing ways you can decrease your risk of breast cancer. Below are a handful of cancer-causing agents that many of us come across in our everyday lives. 1. BPA (Bisphenol […]
5 Dinners in 30 Minutes Sometimes (most of the time) we have a limited window of opportunity to make dinner. While we would love to prepare and feast on a delicious five-coarse spread, sometimes (most of the time) that just isn’t feasible. No time for Instagram-staged food pics today! We need a recipe that is […]
