Television personality and AZfoothills.com columnist Nadine Toren is scouring the area, finding savvy Valley features, bringing readers “on the scene.” Every day she’ll introduce you to celebrities, athletes, and give you an inside look into local events and hot spots. She'll touch on topical issues, and keep AZ fans posted on all the big talkers around town.
Whether you love it or hate it, running is a great way to battle the bulge. That's why we're talking all about cardio, giving you tips on landing an A-list body just in time for fall.
Running late on landing that bikini body? While you might not be that picturesque summer size, you can get a savvy physique as we fall into autumn. If you’re like me, you need an extra dose of motivation to get moving—like being in two upcoming weddings wearing rather unforgiving bridesmaids dresses. That’s why we’re talking all about cardio—running to good health and weight loss.If you want to drop some pounds, it’s suggested you do vigorous work-outs 4-5 times a week, each at 45+ minutes. But this doesn’t mean partaking in monotonous activity. Experts say you should take a fresh approach with running, making weekly tweaks. According to David Allison, owner of Marathon Coaching Consultants in Phoenix, your body adapts to a routine within 3-4 weeks, so you must commit to consistent variety. For example, you can switch up the run time and tempo; giving your body a bit of a shock in pace isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
However, this doesn’t mean you should make sprinting your BFF—thank goodness! While running fast is good, a simple once-in-a-while jog gets the job done just fine. That’s because you don’t want to stress your system. Be good to your body—give it some re-coup time if need be. On the flip side, you can reap benefits by moving quick—do 8-10 surges lasting 15-30 seconds during any given work-out.
And here’s a buzz-kill for all you aspiring marathoners…don’t walk the hard parts; instead, power through. Truth be told, you can conquer those tough moments even if you have to slow down. Experts say you should teach yourself to overcome discomfort.
Once again, I’m guilty as charged, especially because we are experiencing a hot streak at 100+ temps. I have grown to like the gym (at least that’s my mantra), befriending the treadmill. However, experts say you don’t want to limit yourself to machines. Instead, run outside once a week to get used to wind resistance, change in terrain, and a different sense of pacing.
And as mentioned, I favor mantras like, “I love the gym;” and turns out, mantras actually help. According to many trainers, you also need to give your brain some mental stimulation—short, positive, proactive phrases actually improve performance.
Last but not least, if you think running off the calories is good enough, think again. It’s essential you cross-train, lift weights, and stretch to increase strength and flexibility.
And just for an extra dose of motivation, consider this. In addition to weight loss, reduced stress, better sleep, and a strong heart; exercise (running, in particular) takes a good toll on your sex life, providing you with greater confidence. Yep, it doesn’t need to be bikini season to score an A-list body—now is as good as ever to get moving and look good.
