Spring Clean Your Workout

It's Spring cleaning time again! How about adding some new areas to your clean-up routine? While sprucing up your house also consider doing the same for your fitness and wellness routines. Spring is a great time to both toss out and replace workout gear and even mental attitudes.

Here are some tips to get you started:

Your workout plan: Clean it out. Start with an examination of your weekly fitness routine. For example, if you have been doing the elliptical trainer religiously for several months or longer, take a break from it and replace it with an comparable workout, like running or cycling.

Fitness Attire: Still stuck in the 80s or 90s with your workout clothes? Treat yourself to one or two new outfits that put you into the 21st century. Got up-to-date workout clothes but you still don't feel comfortable or confident in them? Give them away and find clothing that you actually enjoy wearing. It doesn't have to be a strain on your wallet. Discount retailers offer great variety these days or consider a local or online consignment shop.

Exercise Equipment: Got a room or corner in your home piled high with the latest, ineffective trendy fitness gadget? Get rid of the clutter. Replace them with pieces that actually work. This does NOT have to be expensive. You can achieve goals with inexpensive items like dumbbells, fitness ball, resistance bands and a jump rope.

Unhealthy food choices: Take a look in your pantry and refrigerator. Small changes can result in big results. Toss the fatty milk and replace with skim. Ditch the soft drinks and replace with no calorie flavored water options. Stop eating white breads and adopt whole wheat varieties. Avoid high sugar yogurt. Instead take plain yogurt and mix with fresh fruit.

Sneakers: Write the date of purchase somewhere inside your shoe to help you keep track of when it is time to toss and replace. Your shoes should be replaced at least every year, more often if you log many walking or running miles.

Weight Training: Stop using weights that you can perform more than 8-12 reps with. Every time you get to that point, it's time to increase the weight size to ensure your body is not adapting to your workout causing it to be ineffective.

Replace quantity with quality: Starting to feel like a hamster on a wheel as you spend hours and hours performing cardio. Cut your time in half but make sure that every second counts. Choose quality over quantity. Interval training and high intensity interval training can help you achieve that.

Throw Out Negatives: Stop the negative thoughts in your head. Don't focus on how you dread putting on shorts or a swimsuit. Just remind yourself of how good you feel when you eat right and exercise!

Happy Spring.