It is tough to talk about summer being right around the corner when it’s 50 and raining. Hold the phone, it’s raining in SoCal.
Don’t everyone go and freak out at once.
But seriously we are just a few short months away from bathing suit weather and it’s time to get our butts in gear.
During the winter months it’s easy to get out of a normal workout routine. It’s cold and that makes it tough to get out of bed in the morning. Another excuse? It gets dark early so by the time we get home we just want to chill. It can be demotivating right? No more excuses. We just sprang forward and we have a lot more daylight to get our sweat on.
Training
While I run year round getting fit and tone for summer is a whole notha ballgame. My body is USED to running. Therefore it is efficient at it and not much change comes from it. The same would go for someone who is on the elliptical year-round. At first that person will see change and then once his/her bod gets used to it the dreaded “plateau” arrives. BOOOO.
To get fit and tone for summer I have to mix things up. I incorporate strength training that can be done anywhere (think use of own bodyweight: push ups, dips, squats, lunges) and step up my cross training. I once posted about my love affair with my medicine ball and how I work towards a strong core.
These two key workouts remain a constant in my life. Not only do they help prevent injury but they keep me feeling strong.
Ladies, do you feel intimidated by strength training? Maybe you just don’t know where to start. No need to panic. Start slow and ask questions. Workout with a partner. Make like me and tear out workouts from a magazine and try it at home before busting a move at the gym.
If you are a runner get out of your comfort zone and try a new cardio workout. Try spin, the moving stairs or the rowing machine. Sign up for a class. Shake it at Zumba or Hip Hop or get limber and strong at an Xtend Barre or Pure Barre class. Do something different. Make your body work.It will feel SO GOOD!
One thing I do not focus on is the number on the scale. When I focus on staying healthy and feeling fit everything else falls into place. This is JUST ME. It may not work for everyone. One thing in my life that is for certain is a low number on the scale does NOT define my health.
Eats
With constant training comes the need to replenish my body. Saying hydrated and refueling my muscles is key. When I first really started running I kept track of my calories via the Nutrition Data website. It helped me to determine how many calories I needed and if I was staying on track. As time went on I got better at eating clean (very few processed foods), feeling satisfied and seeing results. The better I eat the better I feel. The better I feel the better my runs are. The better I feel the stronger my workouts are. The better I feel the happier I am!
Remember the post on Fruits and Veggies?
They remain the center of every meal I eat. I can build breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks around them. I compliment them with lean protein (I eat a lot of fish) and whole grains. Eating healthy doesn’t have to be hard. Making a shopping list and preparing meals in advance saves time. If I can do it you can do too. If you have a slow cooker bust it out! It is amazing what you can create and have ready without doing a whole lot. Just don’t ever starve yourself. If you are hungry, EAT.
I have been told how important it is to drink water for my entire life. Not kidding. When I was a kid I would ask for juice and my Dad would say “Drink water. It will quench your thirst.” Dads are ALWAYS right. Well almost always 🙂 When we exercise we sweat. Replenishing and rehydrating has to happen. If you have a hard time drinking water (for me it needs to be ice-cold) there are ways to make it easier. I keep Nuun in my purse and in my desk drawer in my office. Not only am I getting much needed water that tastes GOOD I am replacing electrolytes. Hello, bonus. In no way am I saying run out and by Nuun, but if you have a hard time drinking water find a way to make it easier. Remember that fruits and veggies are also a great source of H2O!
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As I have mentioned March is National Nutrition Month. If you haven’t already check out the website and get cracking on a healthier you.
Ok peeps, I am headed to Road Runner Sports with my bro and sis-in-law so they can have their gait analyzed and get fitted for new sneaks. So excited to get to run with two of my favorite people. Who wants to take bets on whether or not I walk out with something?
Del Monte Fresh is hosting a pretty sweet shoe giveaway on FB. Deets coming later today. Yes today. Gasp. Two posts in one day while still dealing with home repairs. I know, CRAY.
Haute Running Mama 