Cardio

The leaves are falling and soon enough, so will the snow.  Now is the time to prep for your favorite fall and winter activities.  *(From an article I wrote for Athleta chi)

Remember how quick and agile you were as a child?  You ran flat out on the playground, darting and dodging the other kids in games of tag.  You were having fun, but you were also building valuable sports skills.

The Outdoor Fitness Body Mind Workout (Podcast)
 
Take this audio podcast with you anytime, anywhere!
 

Find out how outdoor exercise measures up to indoor gym workouts -- and then hit the trails!
NOTE: The following is from an interview I did with FITNESS MAGAZINE's Betsy Stephens.
 
Question: "Can I quit the gym this summer and still stay in shape by exercising outside?"

Answer: Absolutely.

I just got back to my desk after slipping out for an hour of fun, adventurous butt-kicking (my own). Whenever I have had a little too much fun or strayed away from my healthy lifestyle, I don't fret about it, I take care of it right away (really, I do!). So this morning, after a weekend of catching up with girlfriends, eating and drinking a tad too much, I head for the hills – Nordic Walking Poles in hand.

Nordic skiers are among the fittest athletes on the planet and walking poles are a cross training tool used by competitive Nordic skiers to stay in shape in the off-season. Here are some workout ideas for you...

Running or walking, intervals are a time efficient way to get lean!
Interval training is alternating periods of hard work with low-intensity recoveries. This type of training can help push you off a plateau—boosting aerobic fitness and burning a load of calories.
 
The Plan
Run with it. To blast your body into shedding fat, do this interval workout once or twice a week. Not a runner? See recommendations below.