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Fitness Buzz
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May 27, 2009
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The NO-EXCUSES Workout!
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 When I travel the country and speak to groups about how to lead healthier lifestyles, there's one question I keep asking: What's your excuse? With all that we know about how vital it is to take better care of ourselves - the data on exercise and diet as it relates to longevity just keeps piling up - how could anyone NOT make it a priority?
I usually ask people to give me their best excuses for not exercising - and sometimes even offer a prize if I get one I've never heard before (which is rare - I've heard them all). You can probably imagine the typical responses: "Not enough time." . . . ."Can't afford a gym membership or any fancy equipment." . . . "It's boring." . . . "I don't know how to do it properly."
I'm never too judgmental with people when I hear these excuses - they're all pretty valid. But there's one form of exercise that's an absolute excuse-buster. You can do it virtually wherever, whenever. It doesn't cost a cent. And trust me: You already know the basics of this one. That exercise, of course, is walking.
I really became passionate about walking when I was pregnant with my first daughter Kate - I needed to find an exercise that helped maintain my cardiovascular health, but was gentle enough that it was safe to do during my pregnancy. I quickly fell in love - while strength and flexibility training (and various other types of cardio) are all key, no other workout clears the mind and allows me to shake off the day's worries like a good walk outdoors. To this day, even though I do a variety of fitness activities, walking and hiking are a major foundation of my regimen. And there's no better time to start than now, since spring has finally sprung, and for most of us it's the ideal time to be outdoors. 'Tis the season to get moving!
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First Things First:
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Whether you're just starting out or you're a seasoned fitness buff, when it comes to walking, good technique is an absolute necessity. Here are the essentials:
Take a stand!
Practice good posture while walking by standing tall, and don't arch your lower back. Keep your spine in a neutral position and engage your abs.
Heads Up!
Don't tilt your head or drop your chin - keep your eyes focused straight ahead and not on your feet.
Drop 'Em Down!
Keep your shoulders down and back, and open your chest for easy, deep breathing. Don't slouch or let your shoulders creep up toward your ears.
Roll it Out!
Let your foot roll naturally as you walk, really pushing off with your toes to propel your body forward. Make sure to use a stride length that's comfortable.
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Introducing my LEAN WALK System:
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 Looking to take the guesswork out of your walking workout? I've created a complete aerobic program, called the LeanWalk System, to help you break through fitness plateaus through walking - and it's all based on a dynamic concept in exercise called periodization. Periodization is a method of training that varies key aspects of your training - length, activity, and intensity - so that you can continue to progress. And I'll be there with you, as your coach, helping motivate you every step of the way. The system is a 3-parter:
LeanWalk I is your foundation. This walking workout is designed to get you off the couch and onto your feet. it will build stamina and endurance, providing a good base to help you progress. It will start you at a comfortable, steady pace, and help you with proper form and technique.
LeanWalk II is a step up. It will increase your endurance and fitness, helping you burn even more calories, and get you walking at a slightly higher speed. This is also where we introduce the concept of aerobic intervals: cycles in which you push yourself a bit harder than you're used to, before returning to a steady state.
After you've made significant progress with the first two parts of the program, you'll graduate to LeanWalk III. It's an advanced walking program that uses even more aerobic interval cycles, pushing you to the next level of fitness (and burning a ton of calories in the process). An added advantage to this program is that this audio "download" is that you don't need to wait for shipping, you can download it today. Check out the special purchase price below!
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The Power Of Music:
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 Sometimes it's great to walk alone, in silence, with nothing but the sound of your breath and the nature around you, to really clear your thoughts and leave you rejuvenated. And on some days, a walk with friends or family members is the perfect way to socialize. But if you have a portable CD or MP3 player, don't underestimate the motivational power of good music to help you turn your walk into a workout.
I like to load my MP3 player up with a fun variety of tunes that will let my mind really wander and power me through my walks: With a current hip-hop or pop song, I imagine I'm dancing in my own music video, or entertaining thousands on stage in a stadium (if this floats your boat, check out Pump Up The Pace).
If I'm feeling a little more earthy and want to feel more grounded on my walks, I'll go with something a little more moderately paced, with a country flavor (like in my Country Walking audio). Or if I want a blast from the past, I'll pop in some oldies-but-goodies, like the tunes on my Let's Go Disco download program...and suddenly I'm Donna Summers, working it out in old-school leggings and headbands.
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From the Comfort of Your Own Home:
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 While nothing compares to walking in the great outdoors and drinking in the beauty of nature, you can still get a solid walking workout in without going out. I designed one of my classic workouts, "March To Fitness" available on my Shed The Pounds DVD, around that very concept.
And recently, I released my PowerWalk For Weight Loss DVD, which takes indoor walking to a whole new level with my fat-burning Matrix Clock method. And one of the best things about this routine is that it's much more than a walk - it's a full-body sculpting workout that defines your legs, arms, shoulders, and core!
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FOUR Walking Workouts for UNDER $10!
Start Today...buy now and get your audio workouts within minutes!
Pick Up Kathy's LeanWalk 3-Volume Set
for only $9.95 and get the Walking Easy download for FREE!
 SAVE OVER $15 - Regular $24.95
BUY TODAY!!!
No Minimum Order Required Enter Coupon Code MAY09b and be sure to click the "APPLY" button at checkout to activate your savings.
(above named items are digital download files...not CD's or DVD's) |
Offer expires June 7, 2009
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