Today, I continued my detailed research about my double page spread. I specifically was looking for things that are the most effective and have showed the best results. I will stragtegically pick 10-12 different ab exercises that will be labeled on the calendar, for example- "ab exercises 1,2,3, 4 (x)4 with the page following it having each exercise numbered with a picture of bella each one with a description of directions/ maybe benefits of the exercises (if it doesn't look too crowded). Some that are a little more difficult will have alternate easier options.
Opposed to typical belief, a rest day is just as important as any of the other elements of the whole process of transforming the abdominal region. Knowing this, I looked into how rest days sound come into play in a workout plan, how many rest days, how often, etc. Well Bridges' website aided me in knowing that rest days are needed for results because it allows the body to recuperate and become more efficient. For someone who is more of a beginner, it is suggested a full rest day is very important because the body is not very accustom to the strain. Opposed to this, someone who is, for example an athlete or works out very often, it is suggested if anything a lighter day if a rest day is not wanted. Skipping a rest day can put anyone, advanced or beginning, at risk of injury. So, with this information I picked at least one out of the 7 days a week for a rest period. I will note however, that on these rest days diet should be cleaner than others since the body is not working to burn off excessive calories consumed during the day. I chose Sunday as a rest/light day every week (depending on level) because it is typically a family day and a day where someone most likely does not work or have school.

"3 Keys To Killer Abs." Bodybuilding.com. N.p., 06 Oct. 2002. Web. 07 Apr. 2016.

"Cardio For Fat Loss: Interval Training Beats Out Low Intensity!" Bodybuilding.com. N.p., 27 Jan. 2009. Web. 07 Apr. 2016.

Calendar Info

As many ab exercises as I know from prior knowledge, and being a fitness junkie myself, I decided to put all those aside and stick to the pure facts. Of course other elements like cardio and diet are major players in my schedule as well as the legitimate ab routines, in order to attain that summer tummy everybody wants! Although my magazine naturally will target much more women than men, all the exercises chosen are unisex (which is why I randomly selected women and men in my survey).

According to BodyBuilding.com, before any real ab's can show, the layer of fat covering them need to shed. Three to four times a week of running, jogging, stair master, jumping rope, or biking etc will do the trick. This is why I decided to make week one of my schedule very cardio oriented-with 6 days of interval cardio to prep the body.  Since we only have a limited time frame to get the best possible results for summer, I decided to include more cardio than usual. The other three weeks will have cardio incorporated 4 times a week to maintain, but much more physical ab work than week one. Interval cardio is something that I've been doing for a long time and have had great results with it. Not only does it strengthen the body's endurance but allows for high calorie burning which is hard to achieve by doing the basic run till you're too tired and need a break. Specifically, it's four to six challenges that are typically 60-90 seconds long but very intense followed by a rest period. Challenges get more and more intense as you continue. For example, running on level 8 on the treadmill for one minute straight with a 30 second walk period, followed another minute long sprint but on level 9, so on and so forth. Another major benefit I found through BodyBuilding's website was that, opposed to jogging where as soon as you stop your body is finished burning fat, interval cardio continues to burn fat for 2-4 hours post workout AND saves time!

more double page spread

Today I conducted a survey to put my research to the test. I randomly selected 30 students at Cypress Bay High school, 15 girls and 15 boys, and asked each one whether having a set schedule for something helps them excel in their goals. Just like I predicted, over 75 percent of the students asked said having schedules benefits them greatly. I made a chart to show my findings:

My findings lead me to my 100 percent decision to make my double page spread in the layout of a calendar. Readers can easily cut this portion out of the page and have it for easy excess to aid in physically doing exercise. In each boxed day of day there will be a list of ab exercises and directions on the second page of the double page spread for those we need further help. Bella will also be my model for these photos to stay consist and have readers believe Bella looks the way she does because she does these routines.

Double Page Spread

     I decided that I'm going to make one of my double page spreads in the layout of a calendar with pictures and 31 days of May all planned out for someone who wants a nice toned tummy for the Summer.  A lot of people need something planned out ahead of time for them to actually follow a routine schedule. This step by step guide is the perfect tool, also aided with detailed information about each step for full understanding; not only for intermediate but for beginners also. Research shows people who have a routine in front of them in an easy to read formate are more likely to follow through with their goals then having made up the routine from prior knowledge and not knowing if it encounters great results.
      Considering this is meant for all levels of core abilities, I am going to pick simple ab routines (not anything too fancy/hard) and fluctuate the intensity, duration, and or reps for more advanced viewers. Luckily, having a passion for fitness endures lots of prior knowledge to this subject. However, according to Men's Fitness, constantly switching up routines in terms of intensity, duration, and reps is key to seeing the most results. Considering this I am going to provide plenty of exercises and change up options for each ones. My friend Bella, who's also being featured on the cover, will be one of my model options for photographs of someone doing the real routines. Either at the gym or outside on a sunny day would be ideal.

May issue!!!

     I've decided to make a May issue of my magazine. I chose this because when May comes around the corner, absolutely everybody wants to get in tiptop shape for bikini season, SUMMER! I believe my consumers are more likely to buy a fitness and health magazine in the summer months where they want to look great, verse the winter and fall months, where most time is spent indoors. According to my research there are lots of bright colors used in the summer month magazines. Additionally, in these months people have more time on their hands and more time to sit around reading a magazine for their health than they would during the other seasons where work and school are more intense.
     I want to stick with my theme of summer, sun, and outdoorsy kind of feel to the magazine in order to keep all parts tied together. A white background with colors like orange, bright pink, lime green, yellow to be used for the mass head and/or cover lines. All foods showed will be ones associated with summer and health and not foods like mashed potatoes and turkey. I would like to make one thing thats special about the this specific May issue apposed to other month issues, like a 31 day guide to abs or squat challenge with exercises listed on each calendar day along with pictures.

Cover Model

I began researching magazine covers for health and fitness oriented magazines and decided one of my closest friends, Bella Maietta is going to be my cover model. Bella has blonde hair and blue eyes and is very photogenic and would be a perfect person for me to use as the main subject. During my research I noticed most covers had women with their hands/hand on their hip with a striking pose. I would like to use a white background for the clean and crisp look, and the model will be wearing bright color fitness gear that will really pop. The title will be in orange, because during my research I found that the color orange represents happiness, creativity, and determination. Orange is a combination of yellow and red which (happiness and energy). All capitals and a larger size front than the rest of the cover lines. 

I will also use Bella as my model for the page I am going to do about at home workouts. Many people don't have access to a gym and don't realize they can utilize a few simple things that everyone has around their home to make for a great workout. Bella will be preforming these at home routines and I will be photographing her and going to label each step to the workout with an explanation underneath the photo. I want to lay it out like a flow chart going from left to right with the background being my backyard on a sunny day or even just a photograph of the sky. 

      For my Final Portfolio Project, I have decided to create a magazine spread in which I am going to feature a unique cover page, table of contents, double page spread and hopefully more which is undecided. I have a passion for fitness and healthy living so I decided that would be a perfect genre for my magazine. I am decently familiar with magazine layouts and the type of magazine writing they encounter considering my mother is a writer and has written for many magazines.

     Today I began researching my genre- healthy life style. I want to incorporate healthy eating, recipes, yoga, gym work outs, fitness attire, ways to loose weigh, etc in my issue. During research I found that many fitness magazines have confident women on the cover in either gym or sports clothing. Most Fitness magazine layout patterns appear to be very similar, with the model centered in an either full body or mostly full body shot with luring cover lines. Magazines like Oxygen, Women's Fitness, and Healthy Living are ones that I would like to take after and of course throw my own twist to it. My target audience would be women ages 15-35 mostly middle to upper class. My magazine would also be sold at places like supermarkets, book stores, airports, displayed in doctors offices etc. considering these places are typically where you would find women of these ages.