Fun and Fitness for the 40-Something

If you’ve been working out to lose weight or improve your fitness, you’ve probably noticed that your progress can seem to plateau. To fend off such plateaus and continue making fitness gains, the American Council on Exercise recommends “periodized training.”

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I’ve written plenty about the sports drinks now lining grocery shelves. Runners in particular seem drawn to the drinks—especially in the summer heat and humidity that are so trashing my runs in Chicago this month. But I’m still turned off by those pricey, neon-colored drinks. Fortunately, Runner’s World has suggested some natural alternatives.

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By now, we’ve all read about celebrities who swear by Pilates for achieving a long, lean and strong look. But, if you’re like me, you have only a vague idea of what Pilates actually is—a different kind of yoga, right? Not exactly.

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Looking to crank up your metabolism? Women’s Health offers a 30-minute workout, designed by a spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise, to do just that. According to WH, the exercises “torch extra calories because they work several major muscle groups at the same time.”

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Last year, I wrote about an easy way to carry your emergency contact information—the Road ID. It’s a secure, light-weight shoe attachment that provides all of the information you would want on you if you have an accident. I’ve been wearing a Road ID on my running shoe for several years, but I always wondered whether a first responder would even notice it there. Now I know.

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A strong core is critical for fast, efficient running. According to Fitness, runners who did the following four times weekly cut a minute off their 5K times in six weeks.

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Did you know that July is Cankle Awareness Month? Well, at least to the degree that Gold’s Gym has the power to declare such things. The company has even launched a Web site called Say No to Cankles that’s devoted to ridding us of this scourge. But what, you might ask, can you do to help with what Gold’s says is “no laughing matter”?

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I’m temporarily away from home, with no access to a gym. I can run outside, but I thought I’d have to just skip strength training for a while. But then I thought of all of the “Monday moves” I’ve posted here over the last year and decided to put together a workout I could do around my sister’s house, using nothing more than two sets of 8- and 15-pound dumbbells. I’m posting it here for others who might be looking for a low-hassle, 50-60 minute strength workout.

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From the American Council on Exercise: the squat jump.

It can be hard to get yourself to the gym under the best circumstances. And if Oprah happens to have a good guest, it can be even harder. Fortunately, Fitness offers a five-move workout you can easily execute in front of the television.

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