February 2008 Archives

Here's a great idea for those of you who, if you are like me, sometimes get bored with the same old gym routine. You don't need to leave your home, so there is no excuse. Whether you have 5 minutes or 30 minutes all you need is a tv and digital cable box... then tune into Exercise TV On Demand (Time Warner Cable Channel 1025, for those of you in NYC). Here you will find a variety of exercises to suit your level and fit into your busy schedule all for FREE! From abs to pilates to cardio, it's a great resource for whatever you need. I just completed a 22 minute intermediate cardio yoga session. I don't feel guilty that I missed out on my workout and I got to experiment with something new. If you don't have the upgraded cable or don't have Time Warner then log onto exercisetv.tv and you can download the programs or find out if your cable carries the channel too. Enjoy!

Seven weeks into your new healthy routine and suddenly the scale stops moving. It happens all the time, the dreaded plateau. I get asked this question a lot, how do I break through this phase? The first thing I say is that plateaus are necessary to give your body time to adjust to its new dietary input and exercise output. Plateaus also give us a chance to make changes that suit your newly fit physique. The odds are if you lose weight too quickly, you'll just gain it back, its almost a guarantee. But if you seem to be stuck for more than a few weeks, don't stress... it just means its time to examine your current plan and make some minor adjustments.

• Re-look at what are you eating. The less you weigh, the less calories your body needs. Be careful though, taking in way too few calories can actually slow down your metabolism, and you need to eat enough to maintain your activity level. Keep a food diary and see what's going on and where you can make changes. Sometimes small changes go a long way.
• What is your exercise routine? Are you already at the gym 6 days a week and can't imagine going everyday? Well you may be spinning your wheels, metaphorically speaking of course and its not realistic. It may not be the frequency but the intensity and the duration. I'm not saying work out for 2 hours a day, but make the time that you're there count! Make sure you are doing a combination of both strength training to build lean body mass as well as cardio. I recommend interval training that provides maximum results, especially when crunched for time. Talk to your trainer or if you don't have a trainer, ask for assistance at your gym in helping set up a program. Another exercise tip is to "mix it up". If your body has adapted to your current workout, shake it up by trying something new like spin or yoga.

Don't get discouraged! Keep focused and maintain a positive outlook that you are so close to achieving your goal and you will be over that plateau hurdle in no time!

As an avid Pilates fan, I never really took a liking to yoga, holding poses for a period of time didn't hold interest to me. Today I ventured outside my comfort zone. I have been experiencing lower back pain and my trainer/friend suggested I try a yoga class to help increase my flexibility and stretch out what ails me. I'm one of those people who like to do things that they do well and yoga isn't one of them.