“I, Megan, the exercise cheater, pledge to hold myself accountable and complete my training schedule to the ‘T.’ No cheating; no three sets instead of four; no ten reps instead of 15; no 20 minutes instead of 30. When I’m finished, I will wipe my brow proudly.” --Megan Searfoss

“My twin babies turn one-years-old this month, and they are starting to observe and mimic everything their daddy does. I want to be a healthy role model for them. That’s why I WILL lift weights three times weekly, and get in two cardio sessions. By being a fit dad, I hope to increase the chance that my children will be fit, too!” –Danny McLarty

“I will work out to look good; I will work out to feel good; I will work out to live longer. This is my body, and I pledge to put my health at the top of my priority list. That means waking up at 4:20 AM daily to do my weight-training and cardio. I want to prove to everyone that it is possible to fit exercise into your schedule.” –Franklin Antoian

“I think that if your pledge has personal significance, you’re more likely to stick with it. In honor of my parents who both passed away from cancer, I’ve decided to do 50 burpees daily this month. For me, burpees are tough. In fact, I kind of hate them so much that the mental challenge exceeds the physical one. But that exercise is easy compared to the battle my parents—and others diagnosed with cancer—fought and continue to fight everyday. Making this small pledge is my way of thanking my parents for the life they gave me and the awareness to enjoy another day of good health.” –Joyce Cherrier

“I pledge to do 15 minutes of yoga in the morning.  I’ve been feeling unfocused lately and when I do yoga regularly it always helps to center me and make me more productive.  Plus, it tones my arms, and tank top season is upon us.  Can’t wait for those downward dogs!” – Lisa Johnson

What you’ll need:
Barbell and plate weights
The moves:
1. Skater
2. Stomps left leg
3. Stomps right leg
4. Squat press (thruster)
5. Mary Catherines

Directions:
Do 15 repetitions of each exercise with little rest, and repeat the circuit three times.

Cruise down easier street. Sure, the rowdy music and chants from fired-up bikers wheel you into a whirl. But a less earnest approach may serve you just as well. In fact, FitStudio blogger, Joyce Cherrier, reports that a 155-pound person cycling at a leisurely pace (about 10-11.9 miles per hour), will burn approximately 420 calories in one hour. That’s around the same calories in a modest-sized burger. Best of all, the only barking you hear will be from neighborhood dogs.

Change the landscape. Admit it—you’re sick of staring at the dimple-free backsides of cyclists who hog the front row. You’d rather read bumper stickers on sedans, as you mold your own butt into brass. Here’s how: Get in racing position—forearms on the handles, shoulders relaxed, head lifted—and do a series of 30-second sprints. Try beating cars on the road (without them knowing it!). What a glute pinch!

Channel your chi. Passionate cyclists speak of a certain Zen, calm and connectedness they feel with the earth and even their own breath when they’re in the saddle. Can you find such peace in an acoustic, group Spinning room? If you haven’t already, you probably won’t. You may not have thought of cycling as a relaxation technique, but under the right conditions, it can be.

1. It boosts heart health
You’ll find 17.2 grams of heart healthy monounsaturated fat in ½ cup of this sliced gem. Studies show that monounsaturated fat can help improve blood cholesterol, which can decrease your overall risk of heart disease.

2. It’s good for your eyes
The plant chemical lutein, found in avocados, helps fight macular degeneration, an eye disease that causes loss of vision as you age.

3. It’s prostate approved
Avocados contain a plant chemical called beta-sitosterol that may help reduce the size of the prostate gland and also help fight prostate cancer.

4. It’s sexy
The word avocado is actually derived from the Aztec word Ahuacuatl, which describes its racy shape (think of the male nether regions). The Incans believed that the avocado seeds would provide aphrodisiac qualities in the afterlife, so they buried it in Incan tombs.

5. It’s super tasty
Whether you add it to your turkey wrap sandwich, smoothie, ice cream, or eat it straight off the core, the unique flavor and texture of avocado make it a must-have. I love traditional guacamole, but when I tasted this creative way to dress it up, let me tell you, there was no turning back!

Pineapple and Cucumber Guacamole
Recipe courtesy of Roberto Santibañez on behalf of Avocados from Mexico
theamazingavocado.com

Ingredients
1 (10- to 12-ounce) cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced (½ inch)
¼ cup finely diced red in onion
2 fresh Serrano or jalapeño chiles, minced, including seeds, or more to taste
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice, or more to taste
¾ teaspoon fine salt, or 1½ teaspoons coarse salt
2 large or 3 small ripe Mexican Hass avocados, halved and pitted
¼ pineapple, peeled, cored, and diced (¼inch)
¼ cup chopped cilantro

Directions
Stir together the cucumber, onion, chiles, lime juice, and salt in a large bowl. Score the flesh in the avocado halves in a cross-hatch pattern (not through the skin) with a knife, and then scoop it with a spoon into the bowl and gently stir together (do not mash). Stir in the pineapple last so the fresh acidity is a distinct counterpart to the avocado. Season it to taste with additional chile, lime juice, and salt. Transfer the guacamole to a wide dish and sprinkle the cilantro on top.

Because of the acid in the pineapple, this salsa will not discolor as quickly as the other guacamoles. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 hours with a piece of plastic pressed against the surface. Let it come to room temperature before you serve it.

Think you’re too old to get back in the saddle? Nonsense! If you rode a bike as a child, chances are, your body will remember. Standard mountain bikes are sturdy and offer great stability for adults of all sizes. Another option: Start out with a trike, or a bike for two (built in support system!). No doubt, you’ll have big fun, but you’ll also get an excellent workout without realizing it. Take your own trip down memory lane, and give biking a re-try this month. I bet you’ll be as happy as the guy in this photo!

Maybe you think it’s crazy to voluntarily spend the first five hours of your morning bear-crawling through sand, seashells in your shorts, shouting, “Hooah!” like an AWOL Army recruit. Lucky for us, eight FitStudio members were crazy enough to sign up for that exact treatment. And we delivered.

April 19-23 marked our first official Body Camp fitness retreat, which took place in Riviera Maya, Mexico. We amassed eight sweepstakes winners and our cadre of advisory board fitness pros at El Dorado Royale, the resort that hosted our active affair. Miles of white sandy beach served as a picturesque foil to our down-and-dirty agenda of tree poses and planks and leap frogs over our own shadows.

Between eating farm-to-table fare, sourced from the resort’s own fisheries and crop fields, our experts led a series of workshops: MMA training, Pilates and yoga, home gym training tips, and secrets to maximize your calorie burn and stay motivated. But perhaps the main takeaway of this trip was to never give up. “I don’t care if you start over a thousand times,” Steve Pfiester, co-creator of BCx Boot Camp said. “Just don’t ever quit.” And no one ever did.

Watch exclusive interviews with Body Camp: Mexico winners Wenonah and Jeff Haire and Leslie and Jarod Ballentine here!