Secrets to Staying Motivated From Fitness Expert Marra Okola

Marra Okola on the GYROTONIC tower at Body Design

One of Body Design's fitness experts, Marra Okola shares her secrets for staying motivated:

1. Find a picture of you looking your best physically and put it on the fridge, on your gym bag, in your car, everywhere. Make sure it is realistic -- not from when you were 18!

2. Keep track of how you feel when you eat well and exercise. Even when the results are not visible, they can nearly always be felt. Acknowledge that feeling. Savor it and then try to recreate it the next day.

Things Every Woman Can Do At Home To Stay In Shape

I love getting expert advice from those in-the-know. So we decided to ask a few experts at Body Design for their easy tips every woman can do at home to stay in shape. Here is what they said:

Leslie Bergey:

Women (and men too) could do just four things to stay in great shape. But these things have to be done with consistency and integrity:
1) Plank (elbow and regular)
2) Slow pushups
3) WALK every day!
4) Stretch....there's nothing a good Down Dog can't fix!

Marra Okola

1. Eat healthy portion controlled food
2. Eat healthy portion controlled food
3. Eat healthy portion controlled food

Jennifer Parra

1. Cardio - Cardio is important for fat burning. I can have Evangeline Lilly’s muscle tone but no one will know if I have a layer of fat over it. Some form of cardio for 40 minutes, 3 to 4 times a week. It could be spent on the treadmill, elliptical, kickboxing class, going out dancing or running after your kids – just move.

2. Strength training - It’s also important to focus on building muscle tone 2 to 3 times a week.

3. Making healthy eating choices - Be mindful of eating healthy foods and portion control. Not everyone can have a personal chef whip up their diet conscious meals, but we can all make better choices within our means: choosing a light dressing, having half of the bread serving, opting for carrots over French fries, sorbet over chocolate cake, ice tea over the frappuccino and cutting our plate down by a third. Incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables and drink TONS of water!

Pilates With A Purpose

Marra Okola, one of Body Design's Pilates experts, is teaching "Pilates with a Purpose". 100% of the proceeds will go toward a great cause - one that some folks are climbing Mt. Rainier for! Read all about it below!

If interested, please book directly with Marra Okola. She can be reached at (714) 742-5137 or marraokola@yahoo.com. You can also reach Body Design directly at getfit@bodydesignonline.com.

HOW, WHEN & WHERE:

Make a $120 donation to Cure Duchenne in exchange for 5 Pilates Reformer classes.

Classes are to be held at Body Design in Newport Beach at 12:00 on Wednesdays. The dates are August 5, 12, 19, 26 and September 2nd. Even if you only can make four of the classes, the cost breaks down to be $30 per class.

It is a fully tax deductible donation to a fantastic organization. Sign up by Sunday August 2nd.

DETAILS ABOUT YOUR DONATION:

Cure Duchenne is a local Newport Beach charity making a focused effort to find a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The organization was started by parents whose only child has DMD. The organization supports the most viable research efforts to help find a cure. Their efforts are targeted and they have the leading scientists in the world helping to determine the best research opportunities.

Please visit their website to learn more and watch the video on the front page at http://www.cureduchenne.org/.In an extraordinary effort to raise awareness and funds for Cure Duchenne, a team of 12 people are climbing Mt. Rainier in Washington. My husband, Tom, is one of the climbers who are taking on this challenge. It's an arduous climb up 14,410 feet to the top of the glacier mountain. Motivated by this outstanding charity, the climbers are determined to reach the summit. Each climber is attempting to raise $14,410: One dollar for every foot climbed. The flights, hotel and guides for the climbers have all been donated. So every dollar you donate goes directly to finding a cure for muscular dystrophy!

If you can not participate in the class but would like to make a donation any way: we thank you in advance for your kindness. Please pass this on to anyone who may be interested in the class or the cause.