Enthusiasm will get you far when starting a new workout routine, but you can't stop there. When it comes to strength training, start by simply learning the basics.

Perfecting the basic moves — think sit-ups, push-ups, squats, and planks — helps you build on your strength-training routine safely and effectively, especially since once you've learned how to do a basic move, you can add variations to make it more challenging. Not taking the time to learn a move correctly before you advance can lead to overuse or straining injuries as you continue your workout routine.

If you're new to strength training or it's been awhile since anyone has helped you correct your form, sign up for a circuit class at your gym and ask the instructor questions afterward, or buy a single personal-training session for a refresher. Our basic strength-training exercises primer will also have you lunging, planking, and squatting with the best of them.

When it comes to training, it can take time to find the right balance. If you regularly do intense workouts, then it's possible to burn out, but if you aren't consistent, you won't see results. The solution to the problem? Make sure your workout routine contains an easy rest day that incorporates stretching, massages, and, yes, rest. Here are three reasons why a rest day is such a good idea.

1. It helps your body repair itself: Exercise can cause tiny tears in your muscles, and rest is what will help the muscles recover, rebuild, and become stronger. Make sure that you give your body ample time to repair and replenish energy every week to avoid injury and overuse.
2. You'll help prevent injury: That nagging pain in your ankle can become a full-blown chronic injury if you refuse to take time off from your intense workout routine. Make sure you ice, foam-roll, and rest your body regularly, but especially when you feel a possible injury creeping on.
3. It helps you mentally: It can be hard to stick with a routine, especially if you're burnt out. And while exercise is one of the best ways to lift your mood, feeling guilty when you've missed a workout and stressing over whether or not you've worked out enough can be major demotivators. Make a standing date for a rest day during the week so you aren't second-guessing your decision to sleep in instead of get up for a run.

If you're like me, luggage space is at a premium when you travel; after all, you need an outfit for every possible situation! But lack of space in your suitcase for a pair of running shoes isn't a good excuse to skip on a workout while you travel. Whether you've forgotten to pack your gear or don't have any space to add your fitness travel essentials, here are three workouts you can do using only what you've got in your hotel room!

Glide it: SLT Yoga trainer and Under Armour model Natalie Uhling loves using hand towels or washcloths in place of gliders (one for each foot) to do this effective move almost anywhere when she doesn't have that much time to exercise. "On any slick surface, do sets of 20 knee into your tricep [to work] your obliques and your glutes," she recommends. If your hotel room is carpeted, use the floor in the bathroom or room foyer to do this move.

Video workout: If you have a laptop, follow along to our workouts that use props you already have in your room. Try this hotel room video workout, or grab those towels again and do this total-body towel workout from Madonna's trainer.

Pilates: A mat workout like Pilates helps you tone your entire body in a small space. Natalie recommends doing sets of the Pilates classic move Hundreds whenever you get a chance; you can do these anywhere on your hotel room floor.

If you're like me, luggage space is at a premium when you travel; after all, you need an outfit for every possible situation! But lack of space in your suitcase for a pair of running shoes isn't a good excuse to skip on a workout while you travel. Whether you've forgotten to pack your gear or don't have any space to add your fitness travel essentials, here are three workouts you can do using only what you've got in your hotel room!

Glide it: SLT Yoga trainer and Under Armour model Natalie Uhling loves using hand towels or washcloths in place of gliders (one for each foot) to do this effective move almost anywhere when she doesn't have that much time to exercise. "On any slick surface, do sets of 20 knee into your tricep [to work] your obliques and your glutes," she recommends. If your hotel room is carpeted, use the floor in the bathroom or room foyer to do this move.

Video workout: If you have a laptop, follow along to our workouts that use props you already have in your room. Try this hotel room video workout, or grab those towels again and do this total-body towel workout from Madonna's trainer.

Pilates: A mat workout like Pilates helps you tone your entire body in a small space. Natalie recommends doing sets of the Pilates classic move Hundreds whenever you get a chance; you can do these anywhere on your hotel room floor.

Starting a running routine can be a relatively simple process — just slip on the right pair of shoes and out you go. But if you want to make your run work for you, make sure you keep these five must dos in mind.

1. Warm up: Prepping your muscles for a run helps you feel your best throughout your workout. Make sure you start each run with a dynamic warmup or a slow jog before you go intense.
2. Add strength training: Adding a few strength-training moves after your run saves you time, since you've already warmed up, and is great to do if you find that your workouts are more about cardio than toning. Even just five minutes of simple moves like planks, push-ups, and lunges will help you tone muscles and see results in just a few weeks.
3. Have a goal: Whether it's to become a faster runner or to make it farther than your last run, each workout should have a specific goal. But you don't always have to push yourself; even your easy jog can have a specific goal, like to help stretch out your muscles or relieve stress. Think about why you're running and what you hope to accomplish before you head out.
4. Switch it up: You may have your favourite route or treadmill pace, but you won't see results as fast — whether you're trying to become a better runner or looking to lose weight — if you stick to the same workout. And doing the same routine won't help you motivate to get out of bed if you're sick of your workout. Instead, switch up your routine regularly so you are keeping your body guessing and your mind invested in your workout.
5. Cool down: Don't go straight from the treadmill to the locker room; a few minutes of stretching will help you build muscle, increase flexibility, and become a better runner. These post-run stretches should become part of every run.

1. Warm up: Prepping your muscles for a run helps you feel your best throughout your workout. Make sure you start each run with a dynamic warmup or a slow jog before you go intense.
2. Add strength training: Adding a few strength-training moves after your run saves you time, since you've already warmed up, and is great to do if you find that your workouts are more about cardio than toning. Even just five minutes of simple moves like planks, push-ups, and lunges will help you tone muscles and see results in just a few weeks.
3. Have a goal: Whether it's to become a faster runner or to make it farther than your last run, each workout should have a specific goal. But you don't always have to push yourself; even your easy jog can have a specific goal, like to help stretch out your muscles or relieve stress. Think about why you're running and what you hope to accomplish before you head out.
4. Switch it up: You may have your favorite route or treadmill pace, but you won't see results as fast — whether you're trying to become a better runner or looking to lose weight — if you stick to the same workout. And doing the same routine won't help you motivate to get out of bed if you're sick of your workout. Instead, switch up your routine regularly so you are keeping your body guessing and your mind invested in your workout.
5. Cool down: Don't go straight from the treadmill to the locker room; a few minutes of stretching will help you build muscle, increase flexibility, and become a better runner. These postrun stretches should become part of every run.

1. Start fresh: Time to look through your workout gear. Donate any old equipment you don't use anymore, clear out your workout wardrobe, and take a peek into your gym bag. Clearing away all the excess, old, and germ-y gear can help you re-commit to your routine.
2. Re-assess your routine: Feeling bored? You may not be challenging yourself. Check your routine — if it's been awhile since you switched it up, then now's the time to get a new one. Our printable workouts will help you switch up your routine.
3. Make a goal: Having a specific goal helps motivate you to commit to a workout and can make it all that more fun as well. Sign up for a race, take a beginner yoga class workshop, or challenge your friends to some friendly workout competition.
4. Seize the weekend: If your workouts consist of time-constrained weekday workouts, then it's time to incorporate something that's both active and fun into your weekend. Round up your family and take a long hike, or catch up with an old friend at gentle yoga class.
5. Find your inspiration: Sometimes, it just takes a few wise words or a healthy success story to spur you back into action. Use your friend's successful weight loss or motivating fitness quotes on Pinterest to help you find your enthusiasm.

Heavy cream can elevate many dishes, but its high saturated fat and calorie content doesn't exactly make it the healthiest option. And if you're vegan or lactose intolerant, your meals may be lacking that distinct texture from the dairy product. Stop pining and get the creaminess back with these five vegan substitutes!

Avocado: The creamy high-fat content of avocados make them a perfect substitute for milk and cream. Use avocado in baking or as a base for creamy sauces; one of our favorite ways is this vegan creamy avocado pasta from Oh She Glows.

Beans: Pureed beans can offer the consistency you're missing in those comforting creamy soups. Use canned cannellini beans; not only are the white beans the right hue when substituting for heavy cream, but their mild taste also won't overpower other flavors in your dish.

Bananas: Who needs ice cream when you've got frozen bananas? Keep a few ripe ones in your freezer (peel them and put in a container before you do for easier handling once they're frozen). Before creamy cravings strike, toss one or two in a food processor or blender with a little peanut butter and freeze for two hours. You'll have a 150-calorie vegan ice cream treat to enjoy after dinner.

More vegan cream options after the break!

1. Start fresh: Time to look through your workout gear. Donate any old equipment you don't use anymore, clear out your workout wardrobe, and take a peek into your gym bag. Clearing away all the excess, old, and germ-y gear can help you recommit to your routine. Read our tips for donating old running shoes and cleaning your gym bag.
2. Reassess your routine: Feeling bored? You may not be challenging yourself. Check your routine — if it's been awhile since you switched it up, then now's the time to get a new one. Our printable workouts will help you switch up your routine.
3. Make a goal: Having a specific goal helps motivate you to commit to a workout and can make it all that more fun as well. Sign up for a race, take a beginner yoga class workshop, or challenge your friends to some friendly workout competition.
4. Seize the weekend: If your workouts consist of time-constrained weekday workouts, then it's time to incorporate something that's both active and fun into your weekend. Round up your family and take a long hike, or catch up with an old friend at gentle yoga class.
5. Find your inspiration: Sometimes, it just takes a few wise words or a healthy success story to spur you back into action. Use your friend's successful 10-pound weight loss or motivating fitness quotes on Pinterest to help you find your enthusiasm.

Start the morning right with a nutrient-packed juice that will give you what you need to get through the day. Here's another recipe to add to your list: the carrot-ginger-orange-spinach detoxifying smoothie.

This is a great smoothie to have in the morning since it's "very liquid based (compared to many others)," says Heather Scott, owner of San Francisco catering company Purple Plant Smoothies. "Liquids are easiest to digest in the morning hours. Carrots are a great detox agent, given the high levels of the powerful antioxidant beta-carotene. This converts to vitamin A in the body, which helps the immune system function properly." Read on for the recipe!

Sometimes, your lunch break is the only time you have to make it to the gym. But fitting in an intense run can be hard — after all, the pre- and post-workout prep can take out a big chunk of your lunch hour. Luckily, short runs don't have to be ineffective. Here are some short and sweet (and intense) treadmill workouts to do on your lunch hour, so you can get in, get out, and get back to work.

1. You can do anything for a minute: Intense intervals are the way to go if you want to maximize your short time on the treadmill. Use this minute-interval workout as a guide for your run; even if you can't fit in all 30 minutes, you can stop at 17 or 21 minutes for an effective workout.
2. Ramp it up: Adding speed and incline means you can burn almost 300 calories in just 20 minutes. These incline, interval, and speed workout ideas burn just as many calories as a steady-paced 30-minute run.
3. Just 15 minutes: Want something that raises your heart rate but doesn't leave you drenched in sweat? The 15-minute treadmill workout portion of our two-machine elliptical and treadmill workout will have you mostly jogging at a manageable pace, but with a few fast minute-long intervals thrown in the mix.

Snacking can be a helpful tool for weight loss — or the main way you sabotage your goals. For snacking success, we asked healthy chef and fitness trainer Katy Clark to share with us which healthy snacks keep her on the right track. Stock your fridge and pantry with these go-tos.

• Bagged baby spinach: Katy loves ready-to-go, organic baby spinach because it's so versatile. "You can sauté it, you can eat it raw, or you can put it on top of pizzas. Love it," she says. Keep a bag of washed spinach in your fridge so you can add the bone-strengthening, antioxidant-rich veggie to your meals anytime you want.
• Nuts: They're "healthy crunchy choices," says Katy. While nuts are high in healthy fats, they are still calorie dense, so watch portions with our guide to what 100 calories of nuts look like.
• Cacao nibs: Packed with flavonoids, cacao nibs add a bit of chocolaty sweetness without a lot of calories. Toss a teaspoon or two into your favourite sweet snack to calm chocolate cravings in no time.
• Sprouts: "They're definitely in right now, and they are more nutrient dense than other greens," Katy says. Sprouts are also high in phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals, so adding them to any of your salads or sandwiches is an easy way to get even more nutrients into your meals.
• Kombucha: While the health benefits of kombucha may be hotly debated, many people love the fermented tea for its energising, detoxifying abilities. Katy keeps kombucha in her fridge as a healthy treat. "It's kinda fun: it feels naughty, but it's not," she says of the fizzy, slightly alcoholic drink.
• Coconut water: Mix it with a little water for a refreshing drink that's not too sweet, Katy recommends. You can also add coconut water to your daily smoothies or porridge to add a high dose of potassium to any meal.

When you're training intensely, fueling right becomes a top priority. Just ask Natalie Uhling, an instructor at the yoga, Pilates, and cardio hybrid SLT Yoga who also leads kickboxing classes. Teaching up to five classes a day means that the Under Armour model needs to stay energetic from morning to night. "Because my classes are super intense, I really have to be engaged," Natalie says. "I do the workout, so I'm drenched and I'm really bopping around." Even if you're not working out five times a day, you'll benefit from Natalie's tips on eating for energy. Check out a few of her favorite all-natural snacks below.

Green juice: For a pre-workout snack that keeps her energy up throughout an intense cardio class, Natalie uses her Vitamix to blend up a nutrient-packed green juice made of kale, spinach, cucumber, broccoli, half a banana, and an apple. "I feel alive when I'm teaching, not weighed down" when she drinks this juice before a workout, she says.

Natural protein bars: Look for all-natural bars, Natalie says; you'll avoid the processed ingredients found in many other protein bars. She recommends Lärabars for their simple ingredient list; make your own similar fruit and nut bars with our easy recipe here.

Perfect pairs: A piece of fruit will give you a natural energy boost, and pairing with protein will help give you the endurance for an intense workout. "For foods that are going to give you a lot of energy, any fruit like bananas [with] peanut butter or almond butter" helps you stick with your workout, Natalie recommends.