Today is going to be a long day!
Here’s a little overview of what today’s schedule looks like:
| 6:30 – 8:00 | Get ready for work/breakfast |
| 8:00 – 4:00 | Work Day |
| 4:00 – 4:30 | Drive to/get ready for gym |
| 4:45 – 5:45 | BodyAttack class |
| 5:45 – 6:30 | Come home/shower/eat dinner |
| 6:30 – 7:15 | Attend a wake |
| 7:15 – 8:00 | Drive 45 mins away to get our taxes done |
| 8:00 – ?? | Finally get those taxes taken care of! |
| ??? | Get home, go to BED! |
Even though it’s going to be a long one, I’m just hoping that all goes as planned without any snafu’s. Fingers crossed!
So since I’m not really sure if and when else I’ll get a chance to post today, I thought it would be a good time to talk fitness!
Between the internet, blogs, and various magazine subscriptions, I come across a plethora of information when it comes to health and fitness. When I see tips that I like, I will often keep them saved, bookmarked, or just written down in a notebook.
So today, I’d like to share with you all some of my…
Favorite Fitness Tips
Lay It All Out There
- And by “it,” I mean your gym gear! Truth be told, I’m not a very good morning person, and sometimes it amazes me that I’m actually able to get myself up and out of bed in the morning. But the only way this happens is if I lay all my gear out the night before: clothes, socks, sneakers, water bottle, iPod, and anything else I may need. Knowing it’s waiting for me is a great motivator to get me up and moving.
High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) ROCKS!
- Not only do my HIIT workouts keep me moving, but they’re also great at helping to beat treadmill boredom. The constant changing of speeds always keeps me thinking about what’s coming up next, and before I know it, I’m done!
- HIIT workouts are also great for when you’re crunched for time. Most HIIT workouts can give you a fast, efficient workout in only 20-30 minutes…but you’ll be feelin’ the burn!
- Here’s a sample of one of my typical HIIT workouts:
| 0-5 mins | 4.0mph Warm Up |
| 5:00-5:20 | 9.0-9.5mph Sprint 20 seconds |
| 5:20-6:00 | 4.5mph Recover 40 seconds |
| 6:00-25:00 | Repeat sprint/recover intervals |
| 25:00-30:00 | 4.0mph Cool Down |
Give Yourself An Easy Workout Day
- Some days, I know I want to do some cardio, but I really don’t want to push it to the max. It’s ok to not have every single workout leave you as a hot, sweaty mess! One of my favorite “easy workouts” is the 45 minute treadmill walk. It keeps me moving, gets my heart pumping, and gives my muscles a little break.
Set Mini-Goals
- I like to do this in all facets of my workouts. Again, it helps beat boredom, and keeps me thinking about what’s to come.
- For example, I can never run at one speed on a treadmill. That just sounds awful to me! However, by changing my pace or incline every few minutes, even if it’s just a small amount, still gives me something to work towards. A favorite of mine is this 30 Minute Calorie Blast:
Pump Some Iron!
- It’s no secret that I love my BodyPump classes. I love the total body strength training it offers, not to mention the fun music tracks. Plus, being in the middle of a class definitely keeps me from “phoning it in” (Jillian Michael’s talk for ya!) and pushes me to my limits.
- Even if you don’t have group classes such as BodyPump available to you, there’s still plenty of options! Exercise TV, magazine clippings, and some of my favorite blogs have often given me great ideas for lifting the weights! But even if you don’t own a set of dumbbells, there’s plenty of exercise options that utilize just your body weight. Here’s an example of some good, no-weight exercises to try at home.
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If I had more time, I’d add more, as these are only a few of my favorites. BUT that doesn’t mean we can’t keep the list going!…
What are some of YOUR favorite fitness tips??
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