Summer Meal Prep Made Easy: Light, High-Protein Recipes
Fresh, seasonal meal prep ideas to beat the heat and support your fitness goals!
When the temperature rises, heavy meals and hot ovens lose their appeal. But your fitness goals don’t take a summer vacation—and neither should your nutrition. Summer is the perfect time to shift toward meals that are simple, refreshing, and packed with protein. With a little planning, you can prep light, satisfying dishes that support your workouts and help you stay on track—even when it’s too hot to cook.
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Why Strength Training is Still Essential in the Summer
Strength training isn’t seasonal. It’s foundational.
Summer in New Orleans doesn’t just bring sunshine—it brings heat, humidity, and plenty of reasons to slow things down. When stepping outside feels like walking into a sauna, it's tempting to cut back on workouts altogether or settle into a lighter routine: maybe more walks, casual bike rides, or just skipping the gym until things cool off.
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Alcohol and Fitness: How to Enjoy a Summer Drink Without Derailing Your Goals
Summer brings longer days, warmer nights, and more opportunities to gather—whether it’s a casual evening with friends, a weekend cookout, or simply winding down on the porch. For many, these moments often come with a refreshing drink in hand.
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Beat the Heat: Why the Gym Is Your Best Summer Workout Ally
Summer in New Orleans is no joke. The heat is intense, the humidity is heavy, and even a short walk can leave you drained. Outdoor workouts are tempting in theory—but often miserable (and even dangerous) in practice.
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Get Lean Without Extreme Dieting or Overtraining: 7 Actionable Tips That Work
Getting lean doesn’t have to mean eating dry chicken and broccoli six times a day or doing grueling two-a-day workouts. In fact, the extremes often backfire—leaving you tired, frustrated, and stuck in a cycle of burnout and rebound.
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Spring Training for a Stronger You: How to Refresh Your Workout Routine
As the days get longer and the weather warms up, spring brings with it a natural burst of energy and motivation. It's the perfect time to shed winter sluggishness and breathe new life into your fitness routine. Whether you're just getting started or looking to level up, spring offers a powerful opportunity to reset your focus and commit to a stronger, healthier you.
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Springtime Fat Loss Myths: What Really Works for Getting Lean?
As the weather warms up and motivation kicks in, it’s common to see a rise in people looking to shed a few pounds and lean out. Unfortunately, this seasonal shift also brings a wave of misleading advice—especially when it comes to fat loss.
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Spring Clean Your Health: Detox Your Diet and Fitness Routine the Right Way
Spring is a season of renewal—a chance to shake off the heaviness of winter and invite in fresh energy. And while we often focus on decluttering our closets or deep-cleaning the house, this is also a great time to take stock of your health habits.
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Exercise Spotlight: BXF Trainer Cameron’s Favorite Move – The Cable Chest Fly
At Body By Ford, every trainer has their favorite go-to exercise—one that delivers results, feels great, and keeps workouts engaging. While Cameron loves a solid sled workout for building leg strength, his current favorite exercise is the cable chest fly.
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How to Shake Off Winter Habits and Revamp Your Fitness Routine
As winter fades and the days get longer, it’s the perfect time to hit the reset button on your fitness and nutrition habits. If you’ve been working out less and indulging in heavier meals during the colder months, don’t worry—you’re not alone! Instead of feeling guilty, use this opportunity to ease back into a sustainable, energizing routine. Here’s how to transition out of winter mode and set yourself up for success.
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Beyond the Scale: Non-Scale Victories and Other Ways to Measure Fitness Progress
When it comes to fitness, the scale is often the go-to measure of progress. But relying solely on that number can be frustrating and misleading. Weight fluctuates due to factors like water retention, muscle gain, and even the time of day. The good news? There are plenty of other ways to measure your fitness progress that have nothing to do with the scale. These "non-scale victories" can be just as—if not more—motivating and meaningful.
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The Truth About Spot-Reducing Fat: What Works and What Doesn’t
If you’ve ever wished you could shrink just your belly, slim down your arms, or tone up your thighs without changing much else, you’re not alone. The idea of spot-reducing fat—losing fat in a specific area by targeting it with exercise—is one of the most persistent myths in the fitness world. Let’s set the record straight and dive into what really works when it comes to fat loss and body composition changes.
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Building a Healthy Morning Routine: Tips to Start Your Day Energized
Mornings set the tone for the rest of the day. If you wake up feeling sluggish and rushed, it can be tough to stay productive, focused, and energized. On the other hand, a well-structured morning routine can boost your mood, improve your health, and set you up for success—both in and out of the gym.
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Winter Fitness Tips: Staying Active When It’s Cold Outside
When the temperature drops and the days are shorter, it’s easy to feel tempted to stay cozy indoors instead of staying active. However, maintaining your fitness routine during winter is essential not just for your physical health but also for boosting your mood and energy levels during this winter season. Here are some practical tips to help you stay active, even when it’s cold outside.
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Supplements 101: What Works and What to Avoid
The world of fitness supplements can be overwhelming. With countless options on the market, it’s easy to feel lost in a sea of promises for bigger muscles, faster recovery, and improved performance. As the founding trainer at Body By Ford, I often get questions about which supplements are worth the investment and which are better left on the shelf. Let’s break it down so you can make informed choices for your fitness journey!
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Kickstart Your New Year: Effective Fitness Goal Setting
The new year is the perfect opportunity to hit reset and focus on your health and fitness goals. Whether you’re aiming to feel stronger, lose weight, or establish a regular workout routine, setting clear and actionable goals is the key to success. Here are some practical strategies to help you make your fitness goals stick and start the year on the right foot.
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Snacks for Work: Fuel Your Day the Healthy Way!
When you’re busy at work, it’s easy to reach for convenient snacks that offer a quick energy boost but leave you hungry soon after. The key to smarter snacking, especially for those focused on weight loss or maintaining energy throughout the day, is choosing foods that are high in protein and fiber while being low in calories. These snacks keep hunger and cravings at bay, making it easier to stay on track with your goals. Here’s a guide to work-friendly snacks that will help keep hunger at bay and cravings in check…
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Cardio 101: Finding the Right Fit, Starting Strong, and Pacing for Success
When it comes to improving your fitness, few activities offer the versatility and benefits of cardiovascular exercise, or cardio. But with so many options and methods out there, how do you know what’s right for you? In this post, we’ll cover how to find the best type of cardio for your goals, how to get started, and how to ensure you're working at the right intensity.
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The Full ROM Advantage: Build Strength, Flexibility, and Resilience
When it comes to strength training, people often focus on the basics: lifting heavy, doing the right number of reps, and maintaining proper form. But one key concept that can significantly impact your results is something called range of motion (ROM). Understanding and using a full ROM in your exercises can be a game-changer in building strength, improving flexibility, and avoiding injury. So, let’s dive into what ROM means and why it's important for your workouts.
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Stretching: Good for recovery, or stretching the truth?
Stretching has long been considered an essential part of fitness routines, promising better flexibility, reduced muscle soreness, and injury prevention. However, recent research and real-world insights are sparking debates about the true value of stretching, especially static stretching before a workout. In this post, we’ll take a look at the science behind stretching, examine its pros and cons, and explore alternatives that might be more beneficial for your fitness goals.
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