Seeing as this week is all about looking tropical chic we felt it necessary to bring you some amazing get fit tips so that you are ready to rock the beach in style. Mission accomplished with this cardio myth busting session with MCbJ contributor and fitness guru Cortney Taketa. Girl speaks the truth… even if we don’t want to hear it! Can it really be true that if you workout you can’t eat whatever you want?? Oh the devastation! Or perhaps an obvious reality check. Either way these tips are going to help take you to the next fit and fab level. xx
Okay, so you workout almost everyday, eat reasonably and you still aren’t rockin’ those skinny jeans like you want! What gives??? Besides that obviously distorted mirror and bad lighting there could be a few other reasons. Recently, I came across a few myths about my cardio workouts that I found to be eye opening, informational and down right true!!! So I made a few simple tweaks to my favorite cardio sweat session. (SPIN class at YAS fitness is my addiction, but feel free to try these tips in your own way). The results were everything I had hoped for! These words of fitness wisdom will have you ready to rock those skinny jeans or that fab tropical bikini.
The Myth:
To speed up weight loss, increase cardio and decrease strength training.
The Truth:
WRONG! Strength training builds long lean muscle, which both increases your metabolism and decreases fat. Furthermore, those weight sessions are cardio. Resistance based exercise burns more calories per minute than steady cardio. The lesson I learned was tap up that resistance on the spin bike, run up that hill and grab some light weights in your yoga class.
The Myth:
You should burn a specific amount of calories every time you exercise.
The Truth:
Nope! First of all, those annoying consoles staring at you on the treadmill are not an accurate read of your calorie burn. The only really accurate way to gauge individual caloric burn is with a heart rate monitor. Instead of numbers, focus on your intensity. On a scale of 1 to 10 strive for an 8 or 9 during interval pushes. Scale back to a base pace of 6 then build back up to an 8 or 9. Sweat achieved!!
The Myth:
You must stay in the “fat burning zone” for every workout.
The Truth:
While it’s true that your body burns fat at lower intensities, when it comes to weight loss, what counts most is consistency. Trudging through a high intensity workout can lead to burnout, injury and fatigue. Plus, it takes away the fun of working out. You should feel fab after a great sweat session, not exhausted. The best way to find balance is to alternate between high intensity interval training and moderate training. Ex: Spin class Mon,Wed,Fri and yoga or pilates Tues,Th. Hike or go for a SUP (stand up paddle board) on the weekends.
The Myth:
“I work out so I can eat whatever I want.”
The Truth:
I wish!!! Okay, I have to admit this myth has been the hardest for me to accept. I believe in work hard and play hard. If you are just maintaining a healthy lifestyle and weight, this theory is for you! (whoo hoo). However, IF you are trying to lose weight you need to be aware of your caloric output AND intake. Most of us overestimate the amount of calories burned and underestimate the size of that bowl of ice cream. There is a simple equation to determine your caloric needs. (Harris-Benedict equation is the most widely used method, Google it for more info) But if you just simply move more and eat smarter, you WILL lose those extra few pounds.
Be Healthy!
with love,
Cortney
Photo Credit: Fashion Gone Rogue
Cortney Taketa is YAS spin instructor, and a fabulous mommy of three. For more fitness tips by Cortney, check out her other posts here, here, and here.
Leave a Reply