Heart health

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So, stats for the gym this morning (arms on the step and 30 mins StairMaster): 1 hour and 7 minutes, 399 calories, average heart rate 127, max 157. Now, here’s where having both a blog and a heart rate monitor come in handy. One month ago, for the exact same workout, these were my stats: 1 hour and 6 minutes, 539 calories, average heart rate 149, max 176. As I mentioned yesterday, this is both good news and bad news. Clearly, my fitness is increasing. But now I need to change things up ASAP! What are your suggestions for increasing intensity while continuing to combine strength and cardio in under one hour???

Breakfast this morning was soymilky black tea and pumpkin pie crockpot oats:

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With 1/2 cup “yogurt,” 2 crumbled graham sticks, 1 Earl Grey Biscotti Bite, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a heart-shaped strawberry:

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My “yogurt” actually consisted of an immersion-blended combo of nonfat cottage cheese and Greek yogurt, cooked cranberries left from tart-making yesterday, cinnamon, vanilla, chopped dates, and a teeny bit of honey. I also may have stolen a small spoonful of real cream cheese icing that my roommate Brigitte made to frost the red velvet cake that she also made and plans to bring to a family gathering this weekend. Sorry, Brigitte — you know I can never resist your cream cheese icing!!

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We’re having a Valentine’s celebration lunch at work, so get ready for an exciting post later tonight!

In the meantime:

1. Visit Every Gym’s Nightmare for your chance to win gym apparel!

2. And check out the AMAZING homemade sushi scarf Mara is giving away at What’s for Dinner?!

3. Remember, I need your help with exercise suggestions! 😀

13 thoughts on “Heart health”

  2. fitforfree says:
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    that’s exciting to be able to chart your fitness progress in such a concrete way! I think intervals are a great way to change things up — do you use the interval setting on the stairmaster?

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  9. Maggie says:
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    I would check out Jillian Michaels’ 30-day shred – that is a great strength and cardio workout that takes about 25 minutes. For the other 35 minutes you could just do more cardio.

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  10. Sweetie Pie says:
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    Love the berry heart!!

    I’ve been doing quite a bit of cardio over the past few years as I’ve been shedding the excess poundage, and my trainer recommends a sort of cardio circuit. I don’t know if you have options in your gym besides the stairmaster, but I usually switch machines every 10 minutes (elliptical… to treadmill… to stairmaster…) and I play with the intensity as well. I try to bump up the intensity on whatever machine I’m on every two minutes. If I’m running on the treadmill, I increase the speed. If I’m walking on the treadmill, I increase the incline.

    I’m no expert, but that has worked pretty well for me. I’ve also taken up kickboxing and cycling as a way to shake things up. It is both amazing and a wee bit frustrating how great our bodies are at adapting!! I hope that’s helpful. For what it’s worth, I also think that changing machines every 10 minutes helps me with my boredom issues…

    Happy Valentine’s Day!

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  11. healthy ashley says:
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    How freakin cute is that strawberry!

    On one machine I up the cardio and strength by… Going as fast as I can at a moderate resistance (cardio) and bending my legs for brief periods (strength, on the elliptical + stair master). I alternate between the two. Works for me!

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  12. mom says:
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    sar- Did you see my comment from yesterday under the tart recipe posting? It’s neat to see that J’s mom is checking in with you too. I’ll see her tomorrow night. I wonder if the cake will be yellow or chocolate this time, but it will definitely have the amazing fudge frosting that’s the family tradition. I’ll think of you with each bite! (I guess it’s no surprise you have such an affinity for cake-haha- obviously, it’s a major topic of entertainment for your mom,too.) I’ll check your later posting tomorrow. Have a great night. Happy Valentine’s Day! Love and hugs, Mom

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