Social media, with all of its filters, has gotten everybody all messed up. When you take a look at some of these people, especially celebrities, their social media feed is filled with pictures and videos that have special angles and filters to make it look better. And that's not real life.
But have you seen actress Tracee Ellis Ross lately? Recently, the star just turned 50 and we were reminded of her youthfulness when she released a number of pictures showing off her fit and shapely 52-year-old body--which looks amazing!
"It’s my birthday," the black-ish star posted on her Instagram. "... I’m filled with gratitude. I LOVE getting older and I LOVE my life."
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"I’m so grateful to be living this life I’m in. I’ve worked so hard to feel good in my skin and to build a life that truly matches me and I’m in it and it feels good. I remain curious and teachable and so it will all keep getting better. No filter, no retouch thirst trap! Boom!"
So, how does Tracee stay in such amazing shape? Well, she works out three or four times a week and only eats foods that make her feel good afterward, according to People. She also hydrates, drinking about four liters of water per day, People reported.
As for her specific exercises, Tracee prefers sweating it out in a fitness class to cardio machines. "I have to say that Tracy Anderson's workout the last five years has been really good for me," she told Health.com in 2017.
"I find that, as adults, we stay so regimented in our movement, even if we get on a treadmill. The music changes all the patterns, and my body gets to move freely, so you feel amazing—which is ultimately the point of the workouts, too."
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The other reason she loves workout classes is the camaraderie and body positivity in the room, especially among older women. "One of the things that's most encouraging is you see a roomful of women working their asses off looking beautiful," she said. "You see women in their 40s wearing jog bras and their stomachs out proudly, walking in a stance that says, 'I love my body,' and that's exciting to me."
Here are some more pictures below and on the next page.
Go 'head Tracee! And happy birthday!
Mobility Work: The Next Fitness Craze You Should Try!
Although “mobility” work is something we’ve been doing since the beginning of time, the term is becoming a buzz word in the fitness community and a growing trend among trainers and gyms everywhere.
What is Mobility?
Mobility is the ability to move a part of the body through its full range of motion. While mobility is linked to flexibility, the two are distinct concepts. Flexibility is the length of the muscle, and longer muscles usually lend to greater mobility.
Athletes have long been concerned with mobility, often performing lengthy warm-ups before training to increase their range of motion and prevent injury. Now, with the rise of Cross Fit, weight lifting, and attendance in tough group fitness workouts, gym-goers are beginning to pay more attention to mobility to reduce injury and improve their performance. Of course, mobility is also helpful for people who don’t hit the gym regularly, as anyone can benefit from joints that move with ease.
Should I Try “Mobility Training?”
If you have a body, then the answer is, yes! Just by living your everyday life, sitting for hours, bending down to pick something up, getting in and out of the car, and more can eventually decrease the range of motion in some of your joints. Your body makes up for these deficiencies by putting more pressure on another part of the body.
For example, if you have limited mobility in your ankles, your body will compensate by putting more strain on your lower back. So, when you go to do a simple squat, you might feel pain in your back instead of your legs, all because your ankles aren’t mobile enough. If ignored for an extended period of time, you can actually injure yourself and require much more than a few minutes of mobility exercises before a workout.
This is exactly the sort of thing that the fitness community is looking to rectify. Increasingly, fitness studios, personal trainers, and even big-box gyms are offering mobility-focused workouts to help people become hyper-focused about their bodies and correct imbalances.
How Can I Improve My Mobility?
There are multiple ways to improve mobility. If you have a specific imbalance, you might need to work individually with a trainer or physical therapist if you have serious issues. But generally, here are a few ways to improve your mobility for better performance in and outside of the gym:
1. Foam Rolling
This is great before and after any workout to loosen up muscle tissue and get rid of lactic acid, which leads to soreness. Rolling out your muscles also increases blood flow which all together can help to increase the mobility of that muscle. Check out trainer @gymhooky for a demonstration.
2. Hip & Leg Circles
If you ever ran track, then you may already be familiar with this move.
You start standing on one foot. Then you bend one knee toward your chest at a 90-degree angle and draw a circle with your knee in the air in front of you. This move will open up your hips and help you increase your range of motion.
3. Shoulder Pass Throughs
This is a stretch that can be done with a towel, PVC pipe, or even a large resistance band. Hold one of these objects between both hands and extend your arms overhead.
Keeping hands wider than shoulder-width apart (like making the “Y” in YMCA), try to reach the towel, pipe, or band up and over your head until your hands fall behind you toward your rear.
This move does wonders in helping you push through any overhead moves like shoulder presses, and snatches. Watch movement specialist Dr. Moses Bernard (@mosesbernard) to perfect your technique.
The world of mobility exercises is endless. If you notice a particular exercise is hurting in the wrong part of your body, or that you feel off, talk to your trainer about specific moves you can incorporate into your routine to improve your performance and the longevity of your body.
Sharita Jennings is a fitness and travel enthusiast and creator of Get Fit Like That, LLC. She is a health policy attorney and ACE certified group fitness instructor and fitness nutrition specialist. She provides online fitness plans and leads group fitness classes in Washington DC. Check out her fitness tips and workouts at GetFitLikeThat.com.
