March 20th is the first official day of spring, and is just around the corner! With daylight savings this weekend, the days will get longer and especially here in Colorado, folks are ready to head outside! This is a great time of year to check in on ourselves and see how we are feeling! Are you happy with your fitness level or weight loss progress? Do you have the energy you want? Are you staying hydrated and putting enough good stuff in your body for fuel? It's never to late to make changes, whether they are small tweaks or big time overhauls. Here a few reminders as you prepare to Spring into Action!
1) Calling all Weekend Warriors: Whether it is cycling, running, golfing or playing recreational team sports, make sure you get yourself physically prepared and ready. Most injuries can be prevented with a little preparation work. Don't go from the couch to the batters box or the elliptical at your gym to the soccer field. Better to invest a little time getting your body ready for the upcoming sports or recreational season. Lots of gyms and studios offer programs specifically designed for you! Get a on a strength and conditioning program that will help you get your body ready, avoid injury and maximize the Fun!
2) Hold on a minute! Freezing your gym membership or abandoning the gym completely for the warmer months is okay from a cardio standpoint, after all you can walk, run, bike etc. outside. But remember, you still need to hit the weights! Strength training is year round : there is no off season! Whether you are a pro, non-athlete, weekend warrior or fitness enthusiast, the importance of resistance training cannot be overstated. While you can and should be mixing up your routine and training protocol throughout the calendar year, you cannot stop strength training completely (if you have no idea what that means, or what strength training is, you may need to consult with a trainer to get on the right track). Either invest in some basic home strength equipment, or find a boot camp or other class you can build into your weekly workout routine to make sure you're getting your strength training in!
3) Equipment Check! Spring is notorious for "Spring Cleaning". This can apply to our gear and equipment too! Organize, clean and inspect your gear and equipment. From golf clubs to swim goggles, ball bags to running shoes and bike tires, now is the time to see what may need to be repaired, cleaned or replaced. Get the stuff you need ready to go so you are ready to go!
4) Plan it! Spring break, vacations and special events can all be part of this time of year. Make sure to include exercise into the itinerary! If you are going out of town, check that the hotel has a gym on the premise or at least offers it's guests access to a local health club. If not, plan a body weight workout that you can do anywhere, anytime! Vacations are great for taking a break from your everyday life, but this does not include exercise! Why would want to take a break from something that does so much for you and that makes you feel so good anyway?
5) Be Real! Weddings, graduations, reunions and summer body time...The first day of summer is June 20th, that's just about 15 weeks away. In weight loss time, that's about 15-30lbs. So if you have weight loss goals, you need to be real about the time it takes to lose the weight in a way that is not only healthy, but that will prevent you from gaining it back! A 1-2lb weight loss per week, is a healthy and realistic goal. If you have a specific event you'd like to trim down for and look great at, make sure you realize how much time you realistically have to get your body ready! The "I'll start Monday" syndrome, may not work with your time frame. Be real, and get a plan so you can reach your goal safely and successfully!
It's time to Spring Forward, Spring into Action...Make sure you are Springing in the right direction!
