logo

The Global Domain Name (url) Families.com is currently available for acquisition. Please contact by phone at 805-627-1955 or Email for Details

Spring Forward to Action 30-Day Challenge: Day 5: Cardio

Good morning! Welcome to Day 5 of the Spring Forward to Action 30-Day Challenge and congratulations! If you’ve joined us every day then you’re one-sixth of the way towards your goal. Speaking of goals, how are your goals for this week? Did you have any short-term goals you were trying to reach?

Mine were to stay on target and get these up by six a.m. each morning. I’ve not quite been on time as much as I would like, but I am getting closer. How about you? Are you reaching your goals? Are they just out of reach? Do a goal check today and if you have accomplished your short-term goals then be sure to give yourself something from the reward list!

All right, today’s cardio program maintains our 21-minute theme that we’ve held onto all week. You can choose to do one of our previously discussed exercises or you can add a new one to the repertoire. This 21-minute routine is a favorite of a friend of mine.

She calls it the Mall Haul. She cares for pair of two year olds 4 days a week and she likes to load them up in the car with the stroller and go to the mall. Once there, she secures the two kids into a doublewide stroller and they are off. She spends 20 to 30 minutes power walking in circuits around the mall.

She usually sets a goal for 10 laps or more and then gets to it. The kids enjoy the routine and she can do it whether it’s too hot, too cold or even rainy. After the 20 to 30 minutes of power walking she takes a break at the toddler area with some fruit juice and then the 2 year olds get in on the action, playing for a while.

Since she goes relatively early, she doesn’t have a crowd to contend with and she can wear out the kids so that by the time they get back home, they are more settled and likely to nap and she can get things done.

Remember; be sure to hydrate before, during and after your workout. So choose one of these and let’s get moving:

  • 21-Minute Incline Treadmill
  • 21-Minute Speed Increase Treadmill
  • 20-Minute Brisk Walk in the Outdoors (Take the dog out for a walk)
  • 15-Minute Trampoline Bounce (Oh yes, this can definitely get the heart rate up)
  • 20-Minute Chance to Dance
  • 20 to 30 Minute Mall Haul

How are you doing? Be sure to note your progress in your journal. Also, in the food for thought section, finish this sentence: It’s important to me and my diet that I get plenty of …..

This entry was posted in Fitness Programs and tagged , , , , by Heather Long. Bookmark the permalink.

About Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago. They have a beautiful daughter who just turned five years old. She is learning to read and preparing for kindergarten in the fall. An author of more than 300 articles and 500+ web copy pieces, Heather has also written three books as a ghostwriter. Empty Canoe Publishing accepted a novel of her own. A former horse breeder, Heather used to get most of her exercise outside. In late 2004, early 2005 Heather started studying fitness full time in order to get herself back into shape. Heather worked with a personal trainer for six months and works out regularly. She enjoys shaking up her routine and checking out new exercises. Her current favorites are the treadmill (she walks up to 90 minutes daily) and doing yoga for stretching. She also performs strength training two to three times a week. Her goals include performing in a marathon such as the Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness or Team in Training for Lymphoma research. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience through the fitness and marriage blogs.