POWER your fitness routine....it WILL make a HUGE difference in your results!!

Using weights, rowing on machine, attending a spin class, hitting the treadmill are ALL great forms of exercise, however you may not be getting the best "bang for your buck" so to speak.  What many are lacking is POWER in their routines.  What do I mean?  If you're awake in the middle of the night or early in the morning--turn on your TV & catch one of those fitness infomercials(ie: Insanity or PX90) --you'll quickly see what I'm referring to!  Those quick, intense 'burst' type moves  torch extra stored fat & truly help sculpt your muscles quicker. 

Here are some professional insights & tips regarding this way of training from some top trainers
(as quoted in Fitness Magazine, Feb 2012 issue):

GUNNAR PETERSON (celebrity trainer)
"When you do power moves, you switch to burning fat stores sooner.....that will help you change the proportions of your body"

Some fitness tips from Gunnar:
*ADD EXPLOSIVE MOVES!  "Plyometric moves, like squat jumps, where you're catching air, train your muscles to work faster."  Start with 3 sets of 5 to 8 reps 1 day a week & build from there.
(Check out fitnessmagazine/com/powerup for some of Peterson's at-home plyo moves)

*RAMP IT UP!  As suggested by Peterson (if using the treadmill) walk or jog for 30 seconds @ a 0 or 1 % incline to a challenging hike--aim for between 10 & 15 depending on your fitness level--and walk or run as fast as you can for 5-10 seconds; repeat this 8-10 times.! 

Here's my suggestion (indoor or outdoor you can do this): walk or jog for 60 seconds and then SPEED IT UP to a sprint for a minute, bring it back down to a comfortable, quick, 'recovery' walk for another 60-90 seconds, then back up for a sprint....keep switching it up for a good portion of your walk/run.


TONY HORTON (creator of fitness craze PX90)
"There are 3 things we lose as we age: speed, balance & power....POWER TRAINING can HELP you get all 3 back." 
(Friends, I'm telling you--he is absolutely right!!  No pain, no gain--you must push it to achieve it!  No it's not easy, but if you want it bad enough than you need to work for it!)

Some fitness tips from Tony:
*MULTI-TASK YOUR MUSCLES! "Get away from myopic training programs & traditional movements that do only 1 thing....rather than a regular push up, add a hand clasp or travel across the floor during it."
(Check out fitnessmagazine.com/powerup for Horton's push-the-envelope picks)



JACKIE WARNER (celebrity trainer)
"Cardio can alter your size, but to CHANGE your body SHAPE you have to use resistance training!"

Some fitness tips from Jackie:
*REV YOUR RESULTS!  She suggests "Pickup a jump rope and try to do 200 rotations as you time yourself...the next session, attempt to do those 200 rotations in LESS time.  Moving FASTER in the same amount of time BUILDS POWER!"

*Another important tip: FACE YOURSELF!  "Do your strength moves in FRONT OF A MIRROR so you have the focus on what you're doing and make that MIND-MUSCLE connection....research shows this also improves muscle growth!"
I am a HUGE fan of this theory and say it ALL the time in my group fitness classes, as well as my 1-on-1 training sessions.  MIND/BODY connection is so important and really putting your "minds eye" into the muscle that you are working makes a HUGE difference.  Try it. 



SOURCE/CREDIT:
Fitness Magazine, Feb 2012