 by Gabby
Slim up for Summer - Part 2
 Last month
we started shedding a few pounds. This month we'll add a
little exercise to jump start our metabolism. You're
thinking of chucking it all because you're still carrying
around an extra 15 pounds. Or maybe you're not getting
stronger, faster, or more energized. Before you give up
on exercise, no matter what type you're doing, here are
five steps to fine-tune your workouts for maximum
results:
1. Be a little pushy If you've been
doing the same type of exercise for more than 3 months,
you may be stuck. It's easy to amble on walks or coast
along on your bike. But for meaningful results, you've
got to challenge yourself. Push to go just a little
faster, a little longer (even an extra 5 minutes can do
the trick), or to do it more often. (To avoid injury,
increase only one aspect of your workout at a time.)
2.
Experiment The more proficient your muscles
become at a particular activity, the fewer calories you
burn. Add a new activity such as swimming, kickboxing, or
volleyball to your usual exercise routine. You'll burn
more calories as you master a new skill -- and you'll
have fun! Cross-training is also a great way to prevent
injuries and boredom.
3.
Be active all day Don't think that
you can veg out the rest of the day just because you took
a low-impact aerobics class or a brisk hour-long walk.
The 300 to 400 calories that you likely burned won't make
up for all the calories you're not burning throughout the
day thanks to the TV remote, automatic garage-door
opener, e-mail, and more. It's estimated that in the past
25 years, labor-saving devices have decreased the number
of calories that we burn daily by no less than 800.
4.
Check your fridge Exercise is key to
losing weight and keeping it off, but you can't ignore
what you eat. An extra slice of pizza, for example, can
put right back the 240 calories you burned jogging for
half an hour. And even if you're choosing low-fat,
nutritious foods, eating too much of them can have the
same effect. Be aware of what and how much you're eating
so that you don't negate the calorie-burning benefits of
exercise.
5.
Take a break Doing too much, particularly
vigorous, high-intensity exercise, can actually hinder
your progress. Your body needs time to recover from
intense workouts in order to get stronger. Take at least
2 or 3 days off between these high-intensity workouts to
let your muscles recover; or mix in some lower-intensity
walking, swimming, yoga, or stretching.
Next month I'll tell you about my
progress and give you some resources that will help you
reach your goals.
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