You know I love intervals. They are simply the fastest, most effective way to get rid of unwanted flab and jiggle. But, sometimes a session of steady state cardio is in order.
For example, all though I run a fitness company, I still end up sitting for a large part of the day. I’m not quite as active in my day-to-day work life as I used to be when I was a full time personal trainer. It goes with the territory. Someones got to do the paperwork right?
So anyway, even with my vigorous workouts each day, I still feel like I need some good old fashioned movement. Does that sound familiar? Do you have an office job where you sit all day with only a trip to the printer to break up the seat time?
So for me, a few times each week in addition to taking my dogs for walks I do long steady cardio sessions to help me reach my 10,000 steps a day. And I have to admit, it can get a bit tedious. So I try to focus on something other than the clock to pass the time.
What about you? How often do you check the clock while doing cardio? Those last ten minutes seem to crawl by don’t they?
Well instead of focusing on every remaining second think of how great it feels to get into shape and give yourself soemthing else to do.
Here’s what I do so I actually look forward to my long cardio sessions:
1) I load up a great playlist that keeps me pumped. For me it’s songs from singers like Beyonce and Ciara.
2) Sometimes I plan my cardio so it falls at a time when a favorite TV show is on. That way I can watch and sweat at the same time.
3)I download an iclimb or itread workout from itrain.com those always leave me worked and far from bored.
4) I bring a book. It took me a few sessions to get the coordination right but yes, I can read and run at the same time. All the way up to about 6.5mph, any faster and the book has to close. With my busy schedule it’s often the only time I get to read so I actually look forward to doing my cardio so I can dig into my book again.
And some days I do it all, I load up a itread, read on the parts that are a little slower and watch my favorite TV show when the pace picks up to a full out run. Whew! I exercise my brain as well keeping all that in order.
I actually find I often work out a little longer than planned just so I can read, watch or listen a little more.
I’ll never give up my intervals but when steady state cardio is on the menu, this is how I get it done.
Give it a try!
Sarai D. Jones