A Guest Posting from one of our favorite Lipstick Money Ladies, Tara Cameron, a great runner, mom, friend, and fabulous all-around lady!
Memorial Day marks the beginning of Summer, glorious Summer. With sunnier days upon us, it is so fun to head outside to get some exercise. Running outdoors is my most favorite thing to do, but I also love swimming in an outdoor pool or the ocean, playing tennis or lacrosse with my kids or horseback riding.
All of these fun outdoor activities require physical preparation so we can stay healthy and uninjured!
Here are just a few things to remember as you head outside for some cardio:
1. Stretch, stretch, stretch - before and after you exercise. Our bodies need to get warmed up and stretched in order to prevent sudden strains or injury. Try a FOAM roller, if you haven't already. They are excellent for stretching and releasing any built up lactic acid in your muscles. You can buy one for $18 at
Power Systems.
2. Hydrate. You need more than your daily 8 glasses of water in the summer heat. Drink water before and after outdoor activity. Flavor it with a single dose of the new
Crystal Light Pure line or Iced Tea if you get bored with the taste. Gatorade and Propel are decent options but have chemicals and additives, so if you can, stick with ice cold H2O!
3. Take a daily supplement. I like
Metagenics Wellness Essentials for Women. They come in a 30-day supply of daily "AM" and "PM" doses. It is a comprehensive vitamin and can be purchased through a nutritionist, chiropractor or doctor - as well as some places online.
4. Buy some jolly workout clothes to motivate you! I like the
Nike running skorts because they are feminine yet sporty. The Nike tennis skorts come in a variety of jazzy colors - such as
this one. They also have some new running shorts with compression shorts built in that look fun yet functional. Of course
Lululemon and
Athleta have cute workout gear as well.
5. If it is too hot to go outside, try out the TRX system (core suspension straps). These straps are excellent for their versatility as you can do a variety of workouts with them. Focus on stabilizing your core while challenging every muscle group to build stronger, leaner muscles. You can find them at
TRX Training. A set of dumbells are another great multifunctional tool to build core and joint stability - start off with 3-pound hand dumbells. You can find some great simple routines at
Self Magazine's site.
6. I
f you do get injured or need some medical attention,
seek out an Active Release Therapy practitioner in your area. ART providers utilize highly developed skills and anatomical knowledge, in conjunction with symptom patterns and functional testing, to locate scar tissue on and in between muscles and nerves. A precise hand or thumb contact is applied to the problem area and the patient is directed to move the region of the body through a specific range of motion. I have had a recurring tendonitis and IT band pain and my ART doctor used a variety of modalities to eliminate my knee and IT band pain. These include: a hands-on contact to break up any scar tissue, lasers to reduce edema in the knee area and chiropractic adjustments to ensure my running gait was proper, to prevent further injury. It worked for me after 8 visits and most insurance policies cover this type of physical therapy. (Be sure to see your doctor though as this isn't medical advice - just one running girl's experience!).
Have fun and enjoy a great summer!! xoxox