Mara Schiavocampo's Five Tips to Get Fit
She lost 90 pounds and wrote a book. Here are her top get-fit tips.
— -- It’s January, which means a lot of us are thinking about getting into shape. But who has the time, especially after the holidays, which are downright exhausting?
I know the feeling. Three years ago this month, I started on a weight loss journey. Unlike with my previous attempts, this time, I was successful, dropping 90 pounds, a journey I share in my new book “THINspired."
One of the biggest things I learned is that if you work smart, you don’t have to devote endless hours to getting in shape. I'm not a trainer, but I know what worked for me.
Here are my five time-saving tips for losing weight and getting fit.
1. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): Spending hours at the gym is so 2014. High Intensity Interval Training is fast becoming one of the most popular ways to exercise, with good reason. This is a combination of intervals, where you work hard for a period of time, and rest. For example, you sprint for 45 seconds, then walk for 45 seconds, and repeat. The best part of HIIT? You don’t have to devote a ton of time. 25 minutes will give you great results, and you’ll continue burning calories throughout the day!
2. Sweatworking: Combine those business meetings with a workout. Sweatworking is a great way to build and maintain professional relationships, while staying on track with your routine. Plus, when you’re in a group class, there’s not a lot of time for talking, which takes some of the pressure off.
3. Lift Heavy: Let’s face it, you’ll never get those Michelle Obama arms without lifting weights. But if you lift heavy, you’ll get results with fewer repetitions. Instead of lifting a light weight for dozens of reps, go for a heavy weight, for three to five reps. Don’t worry, ladies, you won’t get bulky. That’s a myth. You’ll get shredded.
4. Shake and Bake: Don’t have time to cook? Oven to the rescue! You can cook everything in the oven, from veggies, to meats, to potatoes. Just shake on some seasonings, and stick the pan in the oven until it’s done. Yes, it’s that easy. If you line the pan with foil, you don’t even have to wash pans. The oven is kind of like that personal chef you wish you had.
5. Freezer Friend: Take advantage of the freezer, for groceries and cooked food. Freezing uncooked meat will save you a trip to the grocery store. Buying frozen vegetables is also a great way to save time, and they keep much longer than fresh veggies. You can also cook bigger batches of food and freeze half for later. Sauces and pureed vegetables freeze especially well. Defrosting is easy; just leave them out on the counter overnight.