Strawberry Yogurt Pop
Kick-up your workout!
Recently, I’ve been feeling bored in my normal exercise routine and was glad to get some inspiration from the article mentioned below to restart interval training and shake things up a bit!
In this article, Walk Hard. Walk Easy. Repeat. by Gretchen Reynolds with NYtimes.com discusses the benefits of interval training. It is especially good for those that only are able to work out a few days a week and shown to improve cardiac fitness, reduce blood pressure and increase low-body strength.
For anyone unfamiliar interval training; essentially this workout method involves changing the pace, resistance and/or difficulty level of your chosen exercise alternating between low to moderate to difficult and back down. This article specifically highlights how a walking interval routine improved the physical capabilities for individuals age 44 to 78 in Japan.
Unrequested R & R
Last week I was forced into rest and relaxation. That might sound strange, but for those that know me, this was a struggle. I sometimes have a hard time sitting still. To paint the picture, I identify best with Tigger when compared to the characters on Winnie the Pooh.
What is wonderful about winter is the mind and body’s natural interest in hibernating and certainly not venturing out nearly as often as during warmer months. Perhaps you have noticed the same?
This time spent resting has been a time of peace in an otherwise busy life and with it I have found a lot of contentment. I am becoming increasingly aware of how much more I can get out of life when I slow down. Whether you do yoga, meditate regularly or make it a point to relax daily this recharge time is crucial for staying sane and I believe ultimately being more productive.
Go ahead take a mental health day! Let yourself sleep in and see how much more you get out of the week :-).
Partner for Health
I have recently adopted a new approach to life – working in a group, pair or team is better than flying solo. As someone that prides herself on marching to the beat of my own drum this is a big deal!
I’m well aware of the challenges of teamwork –including compromise and learning to share the work load. There is a give and take, but that can help us grow as individuals.
The Health Behavior Research Centre at University College London in England conducted a study that confirmed couples that live together tend to be healthier if at least one of the individuals is attempting to make ‘healthy’ lifestyle choices. These include losing weight, getting more active and quitting smoking. One specific figure sited includes 50% of the partners quit smoking when their husband or wife quit, while only 8% quit if their partner continued to smoke.
It’s of no great surprise that these lifestyle changes are good for general health, but also more specifically for decreasing the risk of heart disease. For more information on ways to reduce your risk of heart disease check out www.heart.org.
In honor of this past Valentine’s Day, I’d like to offer a challenge to each of you: Talk to your partner, roommate or close friend about a healthy change you’d like to work on (and ideally something they would benefit from too).
Come up with a game plan together. Example: We will have fresh fruit after dinner as dessert at least 5 times/week.
Let me know what you picked so we can cheer you on!