Make Your Workout Work For You
Getting to the tools you need for a great workout shouldn’t be stressful!
The fact that the word workout includes “work” makes it an unappealing concept for many people right off the bat.
That being the case, I decided to kick off the new week with this motivational tip: it’s easier to incorporate exercise into your daily routine when you make the workout work for you. One of the easiest ways to make that happen is to make it convenient!
I’ve been meaning to write about this fitness tip since it came up during a walk along the beach in Montauk with my dear friend Michele. Now with many back-to-school deals still being offered in many gyms, it looks like I haven’t missed my window of opportunity.
Obviously in this economy, we’re all looking for the best deals we can find on pretty much everything. However, here’s the bottom line: when it comes to a health club membership, I don’t care if it’s a free a month; one dollar a day for a year; or half-price for everyone else in your family; if it’s not convenient, chances are you’re not going to get there. When taking those five extra subway stops or driving 20 extra minutes becomes a chore on the first day of your I’m-going-to-workout-three-days-this-week plan, it can become all too easy to throw those other two days right out the window.
We’re all creatures of comfort to some degree. So whether you’re planning to get your workout in first thing in the morning or at the end of your work day, it’s hard to find many people who want the extra burden of worrying about getting stuck in traffic or facing some other delay in getting to what’s supposed to be a physical and mental pick-me-up. If you’re going to stress over how much time it takes you to get your workout done thanks to extra travel, you’re bringing negative energy to an activity that’s designed to make you feel better. Exercise isn’t supposed to add to your stress levels. In fact, it’s one of the best ways to help keep them in check.
So on this Motivation Monday, remember this: exercise doesn’t have to be complicated. If you can’t find a gym near your home or office, think about adding some exercise DVDs to your movie collection to get moving in your den. If you hate the idea of being inside to exercise, look at places where you can walk or run near your home or office. Find a community center en route to work or near your kid’s school and see if they have fun group exercise classes at a time that works in your schedule. Keeping things simple is one of the best ways to stay on track with your plans to have fun, be fit and feel fabulous!
Friday Fast Fact: Don’t Drink Your Calories
Stick with good ol’ H20 to keep your health & fitness goals on track!
As I often wrap up the work week with a food-related post, I thought I’d address one of the biggest mistakes I see people make all the time. The good news is it also happens to be a mistake with an easy fix.
You already know the most basic way to lose weight is to slash calories. Studies show the average person can drop a pound a week by trimming 500 calories a day. If you’re looking for an easy way to cut back, here it is: just say no to those sugary drinks!
Here are a few things I urge you to nix right now:
- Soda: You might be saying, “Oh come on, Laura, I only have one large Coke from the deli everyday for a caffeine fix.What’s the big deal?” I’ll tell you. That’s usually a 16-oz serving, which weighs in at roughly 187 calories. Cutting it out means you’re already 1/3 of your way to eliminating those daily 500 calories for weight loss. If you look at the bigger picture, you’re saving 1,2888 calories each week; 5,610 each month and a whopping 68,255 each year!
- Frosty coffee drinks: If your idea of a “light lunch” is “I’ll just have a (insert name of favorite frothy coffee drink here),” it’s time to re-train the brain a bit. Starbuck’ Mocha “Frappuccino” packs 400 calories while a vanilla bean “Coolatta” at Dunkin’ Donuts registers at 440 calories. Considering both have zero nutritional value and will most likely leave you hungry for real sustenance after, it’s easy to see how using these drinks in place of real meals is healthy-eating sabotage.
- Sugary cocktails: I’ve written several posts on how many frosty drinks are more like indulgent desserts thanks to ingredients like syrup, sour mix, sugary fruit juice and cream. Sipping drinks mixed with club soda, diet tonic water and a splash of citrus as opposed to full-on juice can help shave off hundreds of calories.
- Sports drinks: The truth is unless you’re a power or endurance athlete who plays a sport for more than an hour, there’s no need to re-hydrate with a high-calorie option like Gatorade or Vitamin Water. On days when I can can only squeeze in 30-minutes on the elliptical followed by a plank Tabata, I’ll burn approximately 350 calories. If I guzzle a sports drink, I’ll consume roughly 125 calories. So I walk away from my abbreviated workout with only 215 calories burned. That is not the post-cardio high I was looking for!
When in doubt, put down the syrupy beverage and load up on the water. The bottom line is good ol’ h2o will always be one of your best friends when it comes to keeping you on track with your plans to have fun, be fit and feel fabulous!
Another Killer Outdoor Workout Wednesday
With CrossFit UWS Co-Owners Roberto & Ashleigh
Happy Workout Wednesday!
For this week’s installment, I gladly share another kick-butt workout courtesy of CrossFit UWS head coach Roberto Murichi.
I survived..I mean enjoyed…this workout with seven other Saturday morning warriors in Central Park. Here’s what we did:
- Active stretching: included walking lunges, reverse walking lunges, side hops and knee-up hops.
- Warm up: 200 m run followed by the maximum number of push ups we could do before having to drop to our knees. The alternative was to hold a plank as long as possible before dropping. Three rounds total.
- Workout: Roberto put together another heart-pounding combination of exercises. This time, each of us was timed upon completion of the following three rounds:
Round one
- 100 m run
- 21 burpees
- 21 squats
- 21 push ups
- 21 box jumps (using park benches)
- 21 sit ups
For rounds two and three, we again started with the 100 meter run and moved on to the exercises in the same order. The only thing that changed was the number of reps. For round two, we dropped to 18 reps for each exercise and for our final round, we were down to 15.
Honestly, after 21 burpees, I had no idea how I’d make it through the rest of the exercises in the first round, let alone get through all three.Yet, thanks to the positive coaching from Roberto, shout-outs and high fives from the rest of the group, I somehow made it to the last sit up and heard myself shouting “Time!” I finished in 17:05.
Workout completed, I found myself covered in sweat, grass and dirt, feeling completely spent and exhilarated at the same time. Then, the heavens opened and we all welcomed the soaking rain as we sprinted out of the park to get to our next Saturday morning destinations.
It’s been great adding this outdoor workout to my weekly fitness routine. Being in the park offers a break from the ordinary, and having Roberto cheering us through the reps and rounds while keeping an eye on our form offers some great motivation. If anyone lives in the city and wants to give the workout a try, click here for more information about CrossFit UWS.
If you’re beyond the beginner level and looking to kick things up a notch, this kind of workout won’t let you down! Regardless of your fitness level, mixing up your exercise routine by venturing into the great outdoors is a wonderful way to have fun, be fit and feel fabulous!
Special Tuesday Edition: Remembering 9/11
May We Never Forget
As our nation commemorates the 11th anniversary of 9/11, I hope you will forgive this break from my ordinary health and fitness posts as I share my thoughts surrounding the day that changed our lives forever.
Some of you may remember my account from last year’s anniversary. Considering the significance of this day in our history, I thought it was worth repeating.
On that bright, crisp day in 2001, I was a general assignment reporter at News 12 Connecticut. Shortly after 8:46 am, as we prepared for the daily meeting, our morning show executive producer ran out of her office to tell us a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. Soon, all the televisions behind the assignment desk were breaking in with news of what we thought was a horrible accident. We then watched in horror as the second plane hit the South Tower.
It was the first and only time I can remember a newsroom being brought to complete silence. What followed was a blur. Our assistant news director shifted into auto-pilot and sent us out. Reporters teamed up with videographers and sped off in live trucks. There were no lessons from my journalism classes or past experiences as a reporter that could have helped me prepare for that unfathomable day. Before leaving the newsroom, I left a message on my parents’ answering machine telling them how much I loved them. I’m pretty sure I said a few prayers, too.
I started the day reporting on local reaction from people glued to the TVs at a local diner in Norwalk. Eventually, I was sent to the Fairfield train station. A medical team was set up for triage to help those returning from the city. As the trains began pulling in late in the day, men and women emerged from the cars covered in ashes. Those were the people I knew I had to approach for live interviews. Some approached me. Most were in shock. In between live shots, I would sit in the news car and cry. When I had cell service, I would check for voice messages with any news about my many friends and loved ones who lived or worked in the city.
I couldn’t tell you how many live shots I actually did that day or how many people I interviewed. I do remember the faces of the medical team anxiously waiting to treat injured survivors; the tearful embrace between an ash-covered man and the woman waiting for him on the platform; and all the cars that remained in the parking lot as midnight approached. I wondered how many people would never return to claim them.
In the days that followed, I learned a former colleague and friend from News 12 Long Island, Glen Pettit, was killed. He was a talented videographer and NYPD officer. I learned about other people’s loved ones who were killed. I held back tears while interviewing people who still hoped someone they loved would come home. I held back tears while speaking with members of the Stamford fire department who wanted to do more to help their firefighter family in the Manhattan. In the fleeting moments when I was alone, I let the tears flow freely.
I also remember how sales of American flags skyrocketed and how people wanted to help each other in whatever way possible. We were wounded, but the American spirit was not broken.
Eleven years later, as we remember those who lost their lives on that tragic day, let us honor each and every one of them by doing good for others.
God Bless America.
It’s-All-About-Me Monday
Self-Doubt? Knock It Out! Photo by Leslie Hassler
Welcome to another Monday and a new shot of motivation to kick off the work week!
Today, I want to address one of the worst things we can do to ourselves when we make the decision to pursue a healthy lifestyle and start exercising. Do NOT waste your energy comparing yourself to others!
Whether you’re out for a power walk, sweating it out on the elliptical, lifting weights or taking a group exercise class, you should be working out at a pace that feels good for you. The reality is there will always be someone who can walk or run faster, lift more or be more graceful at Zumba than you. Who cares?
I’m still working on getting over my own insecurities. While my love affair with fitness dates back to my childhood, I got certified in the fitness industry “late” in life. Many of my new fitness friends have been personal training or teaching group exercise classes since the days I started my journalism career. That’s about 15 years ago. Others got certified at the same time I did, but they’re 10 years younger. They recover from some of the tougher workouts more quickly than I do at the age of 38. Comparing myself to any of these peers is pointless. Instead of feeling inadequate about my capabilities, I’ve decided it’s much more productive to turn to these fitness friends for motivation and information on everything from human movement science to exercise program design.
So, stop comparing yourself to that “ripped” girl or guy on the machine next to you. Focus on yourself. Do what you can, as best as you can and remember, you’ve made exercise a part of your life to make your heart healthier, your body happier and your mind a little saner.
Sometimes, we all need a reminder on why it’s important to be our biggest cheerleader when it comes to following through on the plan to have fun, be fit and feel fabulous!
Friday’s Food for Thought: Back-to-School Edition
We all survived the post-Labor Day back-to-school, back-to-the-grind work week!
I wrap up this fitting-fitness-into-your-fall-schedule-themed week with some simple reminders about how to get your healthy eating habits back on track. Remember, diet and exercise go hand in hand. If you want your body to perform at its best, you need to give it the right fuel.
As a happy follower of the everything-in-moderation lifestyle, none of my “diet tricks” involve extremes:
- A Little Prep Goes A Long Way: Every weekend, I stock up on easy-to-chop or no-chop-needed produce like baby carrots, celery, peppers and cherry tomatoes. At some point on Sunday, I pack up five ready-to-grab containers and so I have no excuse for not having veggies with my lunch every day at work. Same goes for fruits. I chop strawberries and bring a large container to work on Monday and divvy out portions each morning with non-fat plain Greek yogurt and high fiber cereal. Add a pre-workout banana, and this all adds up to a no-brainer approach to getting multiple servings of fruits and veggies during the day!
- Take the guesswork out of staying hydrated: Save your dollars and the planet by stocking up on a few reusable water bottles. Keep one in your backpack, briefcase, purse, gym bag and/or at the office. Reports differ on how much water each individual needs, but the general rule is eight, eight-ounce glasses each day. I keep a 16-ounce water bottle in my office and I fill it at least three times while I’m at work. So, between my post-work workout and at least one glass of water with dinner, I hit my daily intake without even thinking about it.
- Don’t wait until you’re famished to eat: I have to eat every 3-4 hours or I get sluggish. I also make sure to eat a snack about an hour before my workout so you don’t burn out too quickly. My new favorite pre-workout snack is a chopped medley of one banana and three or four pineapple strips. I enjoy the mix with a side of string cheese and big glass of water.
- Keep healthy snacks handy: There are few places I’ll go without a Fiber One bar or some raw almonds. If you find yourself sans snack, chew on a piece of gum or have a glass of water to take the edge off before scarfing down something less healthy.
- Be realistic: When a craving gnaws at you, it’s not always a bad thing to give into it. Ignoring a guilty pleasure for too long can end up being worse. It’s amazing how the desire for one cupcake on Monday can turn into inhaling a colossal sized one meant for four people to share by Friday.
I leave you with this final thought: there will be “off” days. Even as a lifelong fitness enthusiast, there are times I simply don’t want to workout and all I want to do is drink red wine and eat chocolate. It happens. Don’t let one bad day throw you off course. Just wipe off the crumbs, prep your gym bag and remember tomorrow is your next chance to have fun, be fit and feel fabulous!
Workout Wednesday: Back in Action!
Don’t forget to pencil in some time for fitness!
This is always a strange time of year for me.
Even though I’m not a mom, the back-to-school, no-more-beach-weekend mode always arrives with a shock to the system. Here in New York City, all the people who spent a good part of the season in their summer homes are back. Students crowd into the subways along with the rest of the commuters. The incessant buzz of the city that never sleeps kicks up a notch back to its norm.
Wherever you live, we’re all faced with leaving the lazy-days-of-summer schedule behind. No more summer Fridays away from the office. The kids may have new school schedules and new after-school activities. There may be life changes that involve new responsibilities, too. If you’re trying to fit “working out” into your fall schedule, here are a few tips to make things a little less overwhelming:
- Be realistic: Saying you’re going to exercise two hours a day, seven days a week is sabotage. The first day you miss, you’ll be discouraged, and could wind up saying, “Well, I just blew the whole week, so why bother going back?” A better approach is to aim for two or three days each week for the first month. Trust me, as you start experiencing the benefits from exercising, you’ll want to spend more time working out.
- Adjust the Attitude: Think of exercise as a “chore,” and you’ll be done with the new routine in no time. Instead, think of exercise as “Me Time.” No matter what’s going on in my life, the time I spend working out is the one time my brain goes into neutral. Use exercise as a break from the ordinary, and before you know it, you’ll be looking forward to sweating out whatever ails you.
- Research deals: Backpacks and computers aren’t the only things you can get a good price on at this time of year. Many gyms are offering back-to-school membership rates. Just remember to make sure it’s convenient for you to get to. I don’t care if a gym is offering a free membership. It if takes you an hour from the house or office to get there, chances are you won’t go based on the distance.
- Reward yourself: No, not with cupcakes or candy. Instead, treat yourself to a new pair of sneakers, a hoodie or refresh your playlist with some new high-energy workout tunes. Really want to splurge? Set up one or two sessions with a personal trainer so you can receive a proper assessed and start on a safe program.
- Give yourself a break! If you’re starting on an exercise routine for the first time in your life or getting back into it after an unexpected hiatus, you can’t expect to see drastic changes overnight. Habits take about six weeks to take root in your psyche, so take it day by day, week by week and focus on the positive responses from your body.
Stay tuned for Friday’s post where I’ll offer some food for thought on getting your healthy eating habits back on track, too.
For now, remember even though getting back to the grind can be daunting, it’s also the perfect opportunity to sharpen your focus and welcome a whole new season filled with countless opportunities to have fun, be fit and feel fabulous!
Using Other Peoples’ Words for Some Monday Motivation
A great resource for motivation!
Happy Labor Day!
I usually kick off each week with some words of motivation to get people moving or put some life plans into action. However, since today is a holiday, I thought I’d take a bit of a break and borrow a few words of wisdom from some notable folks.
Anyone who follows me on Twitter or keeps up with me on Facebook (and if you don’t, why not start today?) knows I share all kinds of quotes from sports legends, philosophers and pop culture icons. Some have been worthy of repeat postings. So today, I though I’d compile a list of my very favorites.
I believe many of these sayings offer a boost beyond the walls of the gym or your favorite running route. They’re reminders on why we should push the body, mind and spirit in our everyday pursuit of overall physical and mental wellness.
- “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” -Bill Cosby
- “He who does not risk will never drink champagne.”-Russian proverb
- “The difference between life and the movies is that a script has to make sense, and life doesn’t.” – Joseph L. Mankiewicz
- “The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.” -Ben Stein
- “The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.”-Paul Valery
- “You’ll always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”-Wayne Gretzky
- “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”-Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” -Andy Warhol
- “It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.”-Confucius
- “Lead, follow or get out of the way.”-Thomas Paine
- “Clear your mind of can’t.” -Solon
- “Practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.”-Vince Lombardi
- “The man who has no imagination has no wings.”-Muhammad Ali
- “All things are difficult before they are easy.”-Thomas Fuller
- “Good judgment comes from experience, and experience usually comes from bad judgment.”-Anonymous
- “Sometimes you have to play for a long time to be able to play like yourself.”-Miles Davis, Jr.
- “If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not trying hard enough.”-Vince Lombardi
- “Experience is not what happens to you, it is what you do with what happens to you.”-Aldous Huxley
- “You ain’t gonna learn what you don’t wanna know.”-Jerry Garcia
For number 20, I leave you with my favorite quote at this time in my life:
“Some people believe that holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go – and then do it.” -Ann Landers
It’s amazing how the words of others can sometimes be the eye opener you need for that extra push to have fun, be fit and feel fabulous!
The Last Hoorah!
Here’s to a sun-and-fun-filled Labor Day weekend!
TGIF!
For lots of people, including me, it’s getaway day for the last long holiday weekend of the summer of 2012.
Like many other summer weekends, we can look forward to kicking back at the beach or pool, maybe packing a picnic for the park or heading to a backyard barbecue. Whatever’s on your agenda this weekend, be sure to make make the most of every minute and enjoy the downtime!
Wherever you’re headed, I thought I’d offer some timely reminders on how to fit some fitness into the holiday weekend and make some smart food choices.
Click on these links for:
- Some beach workout ideas
- Other exercises you can get done outdoors
- A barbecue game plan
- Alternatives to high-calorie cocktails
Here’s to a Happy Labor Day weekend filled with plenty of reasons to have fun, be fit and feel fabulous! See you in September!
Workout Wednesday: Outdoor Edition
All Smiles After a Killer Workout!
Saturday in the park…
No, this isn’t a tribute to that old Chicago classic. Instead, it’s a post sharing one of the more intense workouts I’ve had in recent memory courtesy of CrossFit UWS head coach Roberto Murichi. I cannot in good conscience recommend this workout for anyone just starting a fitness routine. However, for all you seasoned fitness enthusiasts looking to kick things up a notch, I guarantee this will do the trick!
I was one of the nine brave souls who met in Central Park at 9 am for Roberto’s workout of the day. Here’s how it broke down:
- Active stretching: included walking lunges, reverse walking lunges and bear crawls and monkey jumps. The bear crawls got some second looks from tourists out and about in the park as we literally crawled from one end of our grassy spot to the other with our glutes high in the air
- Warm up: 30 seconds of squats; 30 seconds of push ups; 30 seconds of rest. Six rounds total. (Yes, this was just the warm up.) Here’s what some of that looked like. I’m the one in the gray top. (Ironically, Roberto chose “Misery” by Maroon 5 to play from his iPad for this part of the program):
- Workout: Nothing short of killer! Our mission was to complete the following in six minutes or less:
- 400 m run
- 40 squats
- 30 sit ups
- 20 push ups
- 10 burpees
Afterward, we got a three-minute rest period. We then did the workout two more times for a total of three rounds.
Done!
I’m happy to report I got it all done in about 5:20 in the first round, but I won’t lie, I didn’t get through all of it for the remaining two. For the second round, I made it to through everything but the burpees. On the last round, I only made it through the sit ups.
Along with Roberto’s positive coaching, we nine Saturday morning warriors kept each other motivated with high-fives, and a mixture of grunts and laughter when we heard the 10-second warning beeps or “dings” signaling new rounds for new exercises. At the end of the hour, I felt totally spent and exhilarated at the same time. A few of us went out for a healthy breakfast afterward. (I enjoyed an amazing egg white, avocado and Swiss cheese wrap along with a lot of water and a huge iced coffee.)
If anyone lives in the city and wants to give the workout a try, they happen every Saturday at 9am and also on Thursdays at 6:30 pm. Click here for more info. I hope maybe I’ll see a few of you other in the park sometime! Trust me, mixing up some exercise in the great outdoors is an awesome way to kick off a Saturday -or any day of the week! – and the perfect way to have fun, be fit and feel fabulous!
lauralovesfitness 