Coach Nicks Weekly - Valentine’s Day Special

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow. What is the number one thing on your mind? “How am I going to fit in my gym session?”I know most of you workout nuts will be thinking about your next session during dinner as your looking at what to order on the menu. For my lady warriors I know most of you are looking forward to a night out and will over analyze the menu trying to find something you can enjoy but not regret tomorrow. I have listed a few tips here to help get through dinner and enjoy your night

• Lay off the alcohol. Try to limit yourself to 1 drink or glass of wine if you can.
• Watch the salty and sugary foods.
• Stay home. Cook up a healthy recipe.
• Watch the chocolate intake. Just because there is a box of chocolate in the house does not mean you have to eat all of them!
• Get to the gym the day of or before. Feel good about looking good!
• If you are going away for the weekend, hit the gym early in the day!
• Sweets and treats are allowed but have PORTION CONTROL
• An example of a great dessert treat is the chocolate covered strawberry. Listed below is a recipe and list of directions to create the perfect batch of chocolate covered strawberries

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
• 12 large strawberries or 24 small, stems attached, at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons freshly grated lime zest

Preparation

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.
2. Place chocolate chips in a small glass bowl. Microwave on Medium for 1 minute. Stir, then continue microwaving on in 20-second intervals until melted, stirring after each interval. (Alternatively, melt in the top of a double boiler over hot, but not boiling, water.)
3. Dip half to two-thirds of each strawberry into the melted chocolate. Let the excess drip back into the bowl. Place the dipped fruit on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle lime zest over the chocolate. Refrigerate until the chocolate is set, about 30 minutes.

For those of you that are more interested in hitting a new Personal Record in the gym then you are at deciding a nice restaurant, check out this week’s video about the proper deadlift technique. This video pictures Big Mike doing what he does best. I talk you through all of the proper cues when setting up and performing this great compound exercise as Big Mike demonstrates with some of the best form you will ever see. So, if you need something to do tomorrow night besides sit on your couch, practice your technique.