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After a long summer, the season of cooler temperatures and shorter days has finally arrived here in Cypress, Texas. When the mercury drops and the sun sets earlier, it's tempting to hibernate until spring. But regular, year-round exercise can boost your energy levels and overall health. Here are some tips for staying active this fall.
Take a Fitness Class
As the holidays approach, busy schedules may give us an excuse to put off going to the gym until it's time to make New Year's resolutions. But you don't have to wait until then to work on your fitness goals. Many workout facilities have classes that begin in the fall, so now is a great time to sign up.
Exercise at Home
When you just can't find the time (or the motivation) to get to the gym, you can still work out at home. Pop in an exercise DVD or download a fitness app and go through an aerobics routine without leaving your living room. Even if you're just watching TV, you can do stretches and calisthenics during the commercial breaks.
Team Up
Exercise can be more fun if you enlist a buddy to team up with you. You can keep each other accountable to prevent slacking, and cheer each other on as you get closer to achieving your fitness goals.
Spend Time Outside
Crisp autumn weather can be ideal for outside activities such as hiking or cycling. Even better, since summer is the peak time for these pastimes, you probably won't have to contend with huge crowds when you hit the trails, making your outdoor pursuits even more enjoyable.
Get Creative
No matter how much you have going on, you can probably think of creative ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. At work, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park the car farther away from the mall or the grocery store for some extra walking. Or take your pet to the dog park, where you can both get some cardio.
To stay active during fall and winter, residents of our Cypress, Texas apartments enjoy frequenting our fitness center and dog park. Contact us to learn more about the many amenities we offer.
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As spring comes into full view and summer is just on the horizon, many of us are thinking about our figures and beach season. If you're looking to have a killer bod this summer, it's important to start now. After all, June and July are only months away!
Getting a killer figure is about two main things: diet and exercise. And while exercise is certainly an important part of toning your body and shedding pounds if you need to, your diet is where everything should start.
The following is a list of the top foods that you should start eating now if you'd like to improve your figure before summer arrives!
Eat These Foods for a Killer Figure This Summer
1. Salads
The truth is that salads are a dieter’s best friend. That's because they are mostly made up of vegetables, and vegetables are super-good for you and low in calories. And remember, we're not talking about macaroni salad, potato salad or tuna salad here. We’re talking about a big bowl of dark and leafy greens covered with various other vegetables, possibly some lean protein or cheese, and a light dressing.
To get yourself to eat more salads, a good idea is to make a bunch of them all at once and ahead of time. Choose a prep day in the week and go to the grocery store. Buy all of your favorite salad supplies, and come home to prep them all at the same time. The next time your belly starts to grumble, remember to reach for a salad before anything else.
2. Lean protein
Protein is great for toning your body for two reasons. First, protein is an important ingredient when it comes to building and toning your muscles.
Next, protein keeps you feeling full. That way, you won't get the tummy rumbles for sweets and salty snacks quite as often throughout the day.
What lean proteins should you specifically be eating? Basically, stay away from the red meat family. Instead, focus your diet on proteins like chicken breast, turkey breast, lean ground turkey, fish (such as salmon and tuna), eggs, nuts, and beans.
3. Water
This one probably sounds too basic, but it's really not. Water is so important for improving your figure.
Not only does it help to speed up your digestion and metabolism, but it also gives you the energy you will need to get in that daily workout. Finally, water is important because it helps you replace all those sugary drinks (sports drinks, coffee drinks, sugary juices, soda and more) with something that is way healthier for you and has zero calories.
Our Cypress Apartments are the ideal place for starting a new workout regimen and eating plan. Give us a call today to find out which floor plans we have available.
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Working out and staying on track with a fitness program can be more difficult during the winter months. Temperatures are cooler and the holiday season also brings a range of distractions, not to mention the extra calories you’ll encounter at holiday gatherings. We have less time to work out during this busy time of year as well.
Your Cypress Apartment Workout Plan
Fortunately, there is a way to make workouts much more efficient and effective. Interval training, sometimes called high impact interval training (HIIT) can help keep you in shape with a time commitment of as little as one hour per week.
Here is a sample HIIT workout format. It can be used with any physical activity, including running, biking, swimming, circuit training and more. This workout program is flexible, and you can change up the activity at any time. Each workout takes just 20 minutes and should be done three times per week.
Sample Interval Training Workout
- Stretch and warm up.
- Exert yourself at 80 to 90 percent exertion for 30 seconds.
- Slow down to light exertion for 60 to 90 seconds.
- Repeat seven more times.
- Stretch and cool down.
Again, the workout activity you engage in is your choice. The main variable is that you should be able to safely exert yourself at a minimum of 80 percent capacity.
The only downside of interval training is that there is a risk of injury due to the high level of exertion. Activities, like sprinting or running, could lead to muscle pulls or joint issues. Be sure to consult your doctor or other health professionals before starting this or any other new workout routine.
Luxury Living in Cypress
The Cypress apartments at Carrington at Barker Cypress offer a variety of options to assist you in staying on track with your fitness routine. Your residence includes access to a resort-style pool with WiFi sundeck as well as a cardio strength training center.
Carrington at Barker Cypress is close to parks and recreational options, so you’ll never get bored with your workout routine. Cypress, Texas, is an up-and-coming community with many employment options. Contact us today for more information about leasing your very own Cypress apartment. Amenities include loft-style ceilings, crown moldings, garden tubs, gourmet kitchens and much more.
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You don't have to leave your apartment at the Carrington at Barker Cypress to exercise and feel good about yourself. At the apartment complex in Cypress, TX, you'll find a state-of-the-art fitness/gym area where you can exercise to your heart's content.
Fun Exercises You Can Do Indoors
If you want to exercise at home, there are many different activities you can do to keep yourself in top shape or lose those unwanted pounds.
Dance While You Clean
Dance while you clean! Turn the music up and get your groove on while you vacuum and dust. Before you know it, your heart's pumping and your apartment's clean!
Play Time With the Kids
Play with your kids or grandkids. Include them when you exercise. They can sit on your feet while you're doing sit-ups or help you to stretch when you're lying on the floor.
Chair Yoga
Yoga is a great exercise with many different options. If you are just getting started with your exercise program, try chair yoga. You get all of the benefits of regular yoga without straining or going past any physical limitations you may have.
Sit and Twist
Don't waste your money on those boards you stand on and twist. You can get the same type of results by sitting in an office chair. Firmly plant your feet and twist from side to side. You can do this while you're surfing the web or talking to friends and family on Facebook. A few minutes a day will start to tone and strengthen your abs and lower back muscles.
Walk It Out
Walk it out! Whether you walk inside your apartment or to the gym and mailbox at the complex, walking is one of the best ways to get exercise.
If you don't already live at the Carrington at Barker Cypress, call and schedule a tour of the complex. When you start your search for an apartment in Cypress, TX, the Carrington is the place to start. Stop by the office and look over their available layouts and floor plans. They have something for everyone!
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Your pets are family members. You treat them just like you do your children or grandchildren. The Carrington at Barker Cypress in Cypress, TX is the perfect place to live if you have a pet. Being close to many local veterinarians makes it easy to remember their annual checkups each year.
Why Your Pet's Annual Checkup Is So Important
At every age, your pet has needs that must be met to maintain good health. Just like with humans, an annual checkup is beneficial so you can ensure that you are doing everything possible to keep your pet healthy and happy.
Choose a Time You Will Remember
Many people choose the holidays or the first of the year to schedule their pet's annual checkup. It is easy to remember and you don't have to put it on a calendar to remember. You choose any day or month you like as long as it's significant in some way and easy to remember.
A Clean Bill of Health
During the checkup, your veterinarian will be able to identify any changes in your pet's health that may cause issues in the future. The vet will check their teeth and trim their nails if necessary. He will also be able to tell you if any changes need to be made to their diet or if a supplement is needed (mostly for older pets).
On Schedule With Their Shots
During your pet's annual exam, the vet will also give them the vaccinations they need each year. This will protect them from serious illness and keep them healthy throughout the year. These are especially important for puppies and kittens whose immune systems can't fully protect them.
When you have pets, your home should be as welcoming to them as it is to you. If you are looking for an apartment in Cypress, TX, visit the Carrington at Barker Cypress. By scheduling an appointment with the manager, you will be able to take a tour of the complex and view any available floor plans that you like. Your new home is here at the Carrington!
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Living in an apartment doesn't mean you have to buy an expensive gym membership to be able to exercise.
You can always get a great calisthenics workout using just your own bodyweight, but if you like to use equipment, there are plenty of inexpensive and apartment-friendly options out there.
Strength Training
Home exercise machine
Modern machines have come a long way from the enormous units you’re probably used to seeing at the gym. There are now a variety of compact models that can be used and stored in an apartment and offer a full range of popular and beneficial exercises such as dips, pull-ups, and hanging leg raises, etc.
Suspension trainers
These ingenious devices are very simple to set up and can add variable resistance to dozens of bodyweight exercises to suit your current level of strength and flexibility. TRX is probably the best-known brand, but there are many alternatives on the market.
Pull-up bar
One of the most demanding, but consequently rewarding, upper body exercises is the pull-up, and it’s now easy to buy and fit an inexpensive pull-up bar within almost any apartment.
Abdominal wheel
The simple ab wheel gives an intensive workout to the abs and back muscles. More advanced models will also allow you to train your legs and upper body, but all variations are compact and easy to use.
Push-up grips
The humble push-up is one of the best all-around exercises there is, but it can be made even more effective and intensive by using a pair of the many kinds of push-up grips that are now available.
Cardio Machines
In addition to strength work, cardiovascular training is a vital part of any comprehensive fitness regime.
You might think that it would be difficult to get a satisfactory cardio workout in an apartment, but it’s now possible to buy compact treadmills, exercise bikes and rowing machines to use at home.
They may not have all the high-tech features of those you find in commercial gyms, but they do offer the convenience of getting a good workout in the comfort and safety of your home.
Your Apartment Home Gym
You don’t need to own all of these devices, but all are apartment-friendly, and it’s quite feasible to design a highly effective home gym that includes several of your favorites.
But if you want just one exercise device, then for sheer versatility it’s hard to beat a set of exercise bands. These provide a range of resistance levels and can be used to add instant intensity to many different exercises, including cardio and stretching routines.
Our Carrington at Barker Cypress apartments in Cypress, TX, are situated with easy access to the many big city amenities of Houston. But there are times when for all sorts of reasons it still makes sense to exercise at home.
To get details of our currently available floor plans or to schedule a tour, call us on (877) 655-7991 or fill out the online contact form here.
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