One of the biggest complaints I get from women (and men) is that they are doing everything they can to get fit, yet are not seeing results. (Read: weight loss).When I ask them about their exercise routines, I often get answers like, "I walk every night", "I use light weights at home" or "I do fitness classes a couple times a week."
While all of these activities are great ways to contribute to overall health, there is one thing missing. Intensity.
Intensity is the key to decreasing fat and increasing lean muscle mass.
Many people just don't push themselves enough to see the changes in their body that they are hoping for.
So, how do you increase the intensity of your exercises?
Here are some ideas:
Walking
Try doing sprints. Walk for 5 minutes, jog for 1 minute. As you build your endurance, reduce your walk time and increase your jogging time.
Weight Training
Increase the weight. If you are doing arm curls with 3lb weights, try the exercise with 5lbs. Do as many repetitions as you can until your muscles are fatigued.
Fitness Classes
Take it to the next level. If you are in a beginner pilates class, switch to intermediate. Ask the instructor for options to make the exercises even more challenging.
Still have questions? I will be doing a Q & A post about everything health and fitness in the next few days, so ask away!
Stay Healthy,
Stay Healthy,
Tracy
