Hello FitFeat friends!
Thank you for the great feedback in yesterday’s post about what fitness and nutrition topics you might like me to cover in future posts. Cindy requested some more in-depth exercise instruction, preferably with photos. Joan liked the idea of my attempting to put up some video instruction. Tray would like more recipes. Fantastic suggestions — thank you! I’ll do my best to get more of that going for you.
Yesterday’s exercise included 50 minutes of cardio: 30 of it spent on the treadmill speedwalking at an incline, then 20 minutes of BOOGIE TIME!!
Some of my best cardio sessions have been from random dancing (among other random things, i.e. yardio, snowblowing, etc.) My heart rate while on the treadmill stayed neatly in the upper-130s. But when it was time to get my dance on?? It shot up into the 160s, which is what I want! And time spent dancing to get my heart up goes by MUCH FASTER than being on the hamster wheel treadmill. It’s fun and you don’t need a gym membership to do it!
Get together an amazing playlist on your iPod or MP3 player, strap on your heart rate monitor, dim the lights a little for effect, and close the blinds!
It’s home-clubbin’-time!
No, that's not me...!
Hop around, throw in some jazzy jumping jacks, skips, jump-rope movements, it doesn’t matter! No one will see you so just have some fun with it!
My playlist yesterday was short since I was only doing 20 minutes, but these songs get me in the mood to groove!
- Bad Romance by Lady GaGa
- Damaged by Danity Kane
- Single Ladies by Beyoncé
- 3 by Britney Spears
The point is that exercise can always be made to be fun. You shouldn’t have to trudge through boring cardio workouts ‘just to get your minutes in’. Be creative, have a little fun, and you’ll reach your fitness goals that much faster! (And no, there will NOT be an embedded video of my dancing!)
Do any of you secretly boogie for cardio?? Drop a comment!
Have a TERRIFIC Thursday!
– Shari B. =)
#1 by Alison on November 19, 2009 - 7:06 pm
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Yardio is still my favorite new word of the moment!
Single Ladies is one of my favorite songs – it’s on my Dance Dance Dance playlist!
Even the girls like it, but we changed the words to “All the Single Babies”
.-= Alison´s last blog ..Laundry Catch 22 =-.
#2 by Shari B. on November 20, 2009 - 11:37 am
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Hi Alison! So glad you love yardio!
It cracks me up for some reason and just makes yardwork so much for fun. I know, I’m such a dork!
‘All the single BABIES, now put your hands up!’ That makes me smile!
#3 by Joan on November 19, 2009 - 6:05 pm
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Hi Shari,
It is so freeing.
What a great idea! I love to dance and must admit I’ve boogied now and then when a great song comes on the radio but I never kept it up more than a few seconds…I like the idea and will give it a try. At least I should finish out the whole song!
.-= Joan´s last blog ..Are You Latin-o-phobic? =-.
#4 by Shari B. on November 20, 2009 - 11:34 am
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Hi Joan! Yes, definitely give it a try. Then when you finish one song, you’ll want to add a second song!
#5 by Cindy on November 19, 2009 - 12:29 pm
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I boogie with my JJ…does that count?
I used to. years ago when I lived close to work I would go home (all by myself) and crank on the music and dance like no one was watching.
it’ always cheered me up. Now I dance and the polka for JJ while he’s eating. we all have fun. OR i give pony rides…or let him climb Mt. Mommy….Ya know..I think I get a lot of “off the clock” cardio in even before I hit the “wheel” (that cracked me up btw)
I don’t think i’ve heard any of those songs yet and I need to up date my shuffle…gonna check em out!
all your suggestions look great! Thanks for asking for input! xo
.-= Cindy´s last blog ..The Nothing =-.
#6 by Shari B. on November 19, 2009 - 3:37 pm
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Hi Cindy! Wahoo, dancing for JJ! And piggybacking, GREAT exercise. Who needs weight vests when one has children???
I loved taking my niece on piggyback rides up and down the stairs when I visited them in September – great workout for the legs!
#7 by Sammi on November 19, 2009 - 12:03 pm
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Boogie for cardio = wonderful! I don’t do it nearly enough. Lately I’ve been watching way too much tv while getting ready rather than listening to music. I’ve gotta switch it up a little
.-= Sammi´s last blog ..How important is breathing anyway? =-.
#8 by Shari B. on November 19, 2009 - 3:36 pm
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Hey Sammi!
I watch a lot of TV too… but LOVE my music for cardio. Something about a great new Britney song gets me off the couch and ready to run! (Or boogie!)