Daylight hours are getting shorter, temperatures are getting cooler. Welcome to fall in South Florida. It is always during this time of the year that I am the most content with the decision to have relocated from the NY/NJ area. While I feel bad for my Northern counterparts, I can’t help but gloat a little when they get bombarded by snow and we get bombarded with ocean breezes. If I could change one thing about the fall though, it would be the reduction in daylight hours. I am definitely not a morning person, so when I get home from work I usually decompress for a bit, throw on my gym clothes and head outdoors for a brisk walk. However I have no control over the amount of sunlight we get this time of year, but what I can do is adapt my workout plan and so can you.
One of the changes I made was purchasing a Reebok® Resistance Cord Kit. It includes a resistance cord, and instructional workout DVD. The kit allows me to workout indoors where lighting and security are not an issue. There two different workouts you can choose from. The first one lasts about 25 minutes and the second one Is 45 minutes. The first time I used the DVD I barely made it through the 25 minute workout, but with continued use I got better at it. If this is your first time working with a resistance band, avoid using one that has medium or high resistance. Instead purchase a band with low resistance and gradually move onto greater resistance.
A second great discovery I made is an app for my Iphone called the Nike® Training Club. I actually heard about this great workout app from a coworker of mine who is very much into fitness. The best way for me to describe it is to tell you that it’s like having your own personal trainer in your phone. You can choose your skill level (Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced). Once you set your skill level, you choose whether you want a workout that can help you get lean, toned, strong or focused. There are too many workout choices for me to even mention here. What I LOVE the most about this app is that you can set your workout to music. If for some reason you have no idea what in the world a squat jump is, no worries there are videos built in to show you how to do the exercises. While you’re going through a set workout, music plays and the volume will automatically lower a bit to tell you what the next exercise is. Have I told you I LOVE THIS APP?!! As with all exercise regimens, it is always necessary to consult your physician to make sure that it’s ok to begin any form of strenuous exercises.
I have a cruise coming up in December and I will definitely be using my resistance cord and my Nike® app to help get me to goal. While the changes in fall mean less sunlight hours it does NOT have to mean less workout sessions!
Yours in Health,
Cynthia Jean
Photo found on
iPhone
http://epicself.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/nike-training-club-app11.jpg
Lady working out in living room
http://whcollegedition.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/quick-workouts1.jpg
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Thanks for this helpful tip Cynthia! I quit the gym and was looking for an alternative workout now that its dark before I even leave work. I’m definitely going to give this app a try.