Add Variety and some Fun to your Workouts!

Winter Is A Good Time To Mix Up Your Training and Try Something New!

By Lorae McCall

 

After months of the same type of exercise your body becomes extremely efficient performing those types of movements and your overall fitness is limited. Rather than continuing to improve, you simply maintain your current level of fitness. To continue making gains you need to vary the types of exercise you do. Using several different activities to ensure total fitness is referred to as cross training. Not only does cross training improve your overall fitness, but by varying your workouts you will use your muscles in different ways and also engage different muscle groups. This will reduce your risk of injury from repetitive strain and overuse. After several months of doing the same activities, I sometimes find that I start to lose some motivation for my workouts. Cross training is a great boredom buster!

We live in an area that offers many opportunities for us enjoy the outdoors. Two great activities to try during the winter are snowshoeing and cross country skiing. We are fortunate to live in an area where we can do both of these sports right outside our door. These sports will build strength and endurance and will help your performance in the other activities that you enjoy. They are a great complement to what you are doing in the gym.

For snowshoeing, all that’s required is a pair of snowshoes and some winter clothing. You can purchase a set of snowshoes without breaking the bank, or some local shops, like EMS rent equipment. Cross country skiing is another great activity to try. If you have your own equipment, the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (which runs along rt. 27 from Westford to Chelmsford), the Carlisle Cranberry Bog, and the many conservation trails in the area are great places to snowshoe or ski. If you prefer groomed trails for skiing, then check out Great Brook Ski Touring Center in Carlisle. If you don’t own your own skis Great Brook has equipment available for rent. Be sure to wear non-cotton clothing that wicks away the sweat from your skin so that you can stay dry. Water resistant pants, jacket and gloves will keep you dry and happy. So get outside and challenge yourself by trying something new this winter! Your body and your mind will benefit from a change in your routine. 

 

Lorae McCall  is an AFAA Certified Personal Trainer, a USA Triathlon Certified Coach, and a USA Cycling Certified Coach

Last minute great gift ideas ....Give the Gift of Fitness This Holiday Season!

"The holiday season is stressful enough without adding 'find the perfect gift' to your to-do list.” Why not give the gift that will benefit friends and family for a lifetime? If you’re in the position of giving your loved ones a treadmill, then go for it! But seriously there are some great ideas for gifts to promote health and fitness this Holiday Season. These gifts are great and won’t break the bank.
 

1. How about a Gift Certificate from the Westford Regency Health Club?

2. Jump Rope. Less than $15, jumping rope is a great approach to physical fitness and a fun, inexpensive gift option for kids or adults. A single 30-minute jump roping session at a moderate speed can burn between 200-300 calories a session. Great bang for your buck!

3. The Valslide, created by Valerie Waters, personal trainer to Hollywood’s elite was created with every level of fitness in mind. Valslide® makes lower body exercises smoother and easier on the body with more effective and immediate results. The simplicity of movement makes this exercise tool an obvious addition to any workout routine. My clients love the Valslide and it can travel anywhere. It’s a great gift and they will love it!  Click on the Valsides on this page.

4. Resistance Tubing. Less bulky than dumbbells or weight sets and easily stored, resistance tubes are a great way to strengthen and build muscle. The correct resistance will make a fun and effective workout. Check out SPRI, a leading resistance tubing manufacturer. www.spriproducts.com

 

 5. Heart Rate Monitor. Perfect for a beginner or advanced exerciser. The idea behind a monitor is to accurately track exercise intensity. A heart rate monitor can help individuals know exactly where they’re at. They not only get the most out of their workouts they know when they’re pushing too hard. Some Heart Rate monitors require use of a chest strap make sure to review yours before buying. 

6. Personal Training Sessions. Working with a personal trainer has been shown to increase motivation as well as teach the most safe, efficient exercises. Personal training is the perfect gift for someone interested in starting a new fitness program looking to lose weight or updating their existing routine. Check your local area for certified Trainers and use references if possible.

Welcome to the Westford Regency Health Club's Blog

Welcome to the Westford Regency Health Club’s new blog! Here you will find out about the latest in personal training, overall fitness, and group exercise as well as weight loss and industry trends. The health Club is located in Westford MA we are a specialty health club focused on full fitness including both physical and mental well-being. We offer the finest in health and fitness for both adults and children.

Our Personal Trainers and Group Exercise Instructors can help you with setting your fitness goals and improving your health and wellness. We would like to provide you with more information here, on our new blog with the latest on fitness and general health topics.
We are happy to share with you our extensive health and fitness knowledge. Let us help you get in the best physical shape of your life, lose weight or increase your physical activity. Together we can change your lifestyle.

At the Westford Regency we have the equipment, space, knowledge and the staff to help you with your goals and lifestyle changes. And now, we would like to share our extensive knowledge with you in this informative blog. We will be updating our blog regularly so please feel free to comment or send us suggestions on what you’d like read about!