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Is Your Fitness Waiting For Spring
This article was recently published on Health Your Way Online
Staying active in the winter can be daunting. Depending on where you live, it can mean bundling up, getting in a cold car, driving to the gym only to get sweaty and repeat the process back out in the cold. Well, like the old saying goes…”If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” Winter is a reality that we can’t escape. It comes every year & there is no way around that. So instead of fighting the cold and snow, find a way to enjoy it.
Find a winter sport. You can find countless places dedicated to snow sports like skiing, skating or snowboarding and you can always find a trail that allows cross country skiing, snowshoeing or hiking. Not only will you get to get outside and enjoy the beautiful views, but you will be getting your heart rate up and getting a great workout.
Join a indoor sports league. Many community ed programs or local gyms have clubs or pickup games like basketball or volleyball that you can join in for free.
Have a goal. Set a fitness or health related goal that you want to reach by spring. Sign up for a running, walking, biking or swimming event like a 5K or triathlon or enroll in a charity event like Relay For Life, Mud Run or the 3 Day. Having a long term goal that you are excited about will keep you motivated to workout, eat right and reach your goals.
Make your home your gym! If you just can’t face Old Man Winter or if you get snowed in, have a workout that you can do at home. No equipment? No problem. Here is a great “Snow Day” workout that will keep you moving even when you are homebound.
There is ALWAYS time for fitness
Recently Posted On Health Your Way Online
Have you ever planned on getting in a great workout, but you have to skip the gym because you just don’t have the time? We are all running late, in a hurry or have something else that we need to be doing but that doesn’t mean that you have to forgo your workout. You just have to make the most of the time you have.
Time Your Rest Periods
In between sets or circuits, rest for ONLY the time it takes to catch your breath and feel ready for the next round and not a second more. Playing around on your phone, chatting with your workout buddy and flipping through a magazine will only distract you. Keep your rest breaks short and stay on task. You will be surprised how much time you save.
Interval Training
Unless you are training for a marathon or another endurance sport, there is no reason why you be doing long cardio sessions at a moderate intensity. Kick your cardio up a notch and decrease your workout sessions with interval training. By alternating high intensity bouts of exercise with moderate “recovery” periods, you can burn a ton of calories in a short amount of time. One great example is tabata training. Do a high intensity exercise like jump squats as fast as you can with proper form for 20 seconds then rest for 10 seconds. Repeat this for a total of 4 minutes. According to one study, “It would take five times the amount of typical cardio exercise, like a 20-minute brisk walk, to shed the same number of calories that result from a 4-minute Tabata.”
Strength Training and Cardio in One
Why split your cardio and strength training up when you can get them both done at once? Doing exercises that use multiple muscle groups as once in a circuit style with little to no rest between exercises, will raise your heart rate and challenge your muscles. Exercises like pushups, squat presses, lunges with bicep curls will have you breaking a sweat, toning your muscles and out of the gym in no time.
Resistance Band Exercises
This article was recently featured on Health Your Way Online. I am thankful and honored to write for them!
You don’t need a gym full of weights and machines to get a great full body workout. Using resistance bands can challenge your muscles in a whole new way. And the best thing about resistance bands is that you can do a workout with them anywhere. Here are 3 exercises that will are guaranteed to give you results.
Squat Press
Stand in the middle of the band with feet parallel and shoulder-width apart. Hold handles at shoulder height, with palms facing forward and elbows bent. Squat like you are about to sit on a chair, keeping knees behind your toes. Stand back up to the starting position and then press your arms directly over your head. Return hands back to shoulder height and repeat sequence. Repeat for 10-15 reps.
Reverse Lunge with Bicep Curl
Place the center of the band under the arch of your right foot and hold both handles with the palms facing forward. Lunge backwards with your left foot and perform a bicep curl. Return to start position and repeat for 10-15 reps. Switch legs and repeat.
Crunch with Lat Pulldown
Loop the band around a stable object, like a railing. Lie on your back, gripping the band’s handles with arms extended over head. Raise your legs and bend your knees so your shins are parallel to the floor. Crunch your upper body forward while drawing your arms toward your knees. Keep the elbows locked and straight during this movement and maintain a relaxed and neutral position in the neck – do not bring the chin to the chest. Roll back to starting position. Repeat 20 times.
12.4.Merry Fitmas: Even More Fitness Gifts
This year I had SO many great health and fitness items that I added to my life, I just had to add on to the Top 12 Fitness Gifts for 2013 and include a few more!!! I have used each and every one of these items and I highly recommend them for you or the health and fitness finatic in your life!
Aprea Performance Duffel
The Apera Performance Duffel was designed to carry EVERYTHING that you and still keep you organized and looking stylish! Every Apera bag includes antimicrobial product protection inside and outside, ventilated compartments, a water resistant base and wipeable linings keep your bag clean, dry and healthy. No more stinky gym bag!!! Use Coupon code holiday2013 when checking out and receive free shipping and 20% off any bag.
Sweaty Bands
I fell in LOVE with these headbands the first time I ever used them. I can’t stand having hair in my face when I am working out and Sweaty Bands really do their job. Using a non slip grip, they stay put through your hardest workouts and no matter how much you sweat or hard the wind blows. And with over 900 patterns, you will have on trouble fining one you love. And if you can’t, you have the option of creating your own custom Sweaty Band.
Ninja Master Prep Blender
Vitamix – Shimitamix! This blender could slice, dice and puree a concrete block! The Ninja Master Prep Blender is perfect for making smoothies and protein shakes. Toss in ice cubes, nuts, fruits, veggies, whatever and it will come out smooth as silk! A little spendy but totally worth it. It has become a staple in my kitchen!
Mane Message
The hair tie that actually doubles as a super cute bracelet. I wear a few at a time, one in my hair and a one or ten on my wrist. I am always losing the plain black hair ties, which is ok. They are constantly breaking, stretching out and breaking my hair. Mane Message hair ties stay put without breaking my hair and because they are brightly colored, I never lose them. Mane Message hair ties come in a ton of colors, variety packs and gift packs. But online and used coupon code HOLLY and get 20% off and a free gift.