#CardioSwag; The Maintenance Edition

"It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you,

Without a strong rhyme to step to,

Think of how many weak shows you slept through

Time's up, I'm sorry I kept you,

Thinking of this, you keep repeating you miss

The rhymes from the microphone soloist... "
(I Know You Got Soul - Eric B & Rakim, 1987)

 It has "been a long time" since my last "Health Remixed" blog entry. The summer got a bit nutty at the end of July with a couple trips, and before I knew it we were starting the Fall semester, and I was getting schooled by the trainers at Balance CrossFit in DC...more on that in another post.   

In about 4 weeks (2am on 11/4 to be precise), the clocks go back. Thanksgiving is a couple weeks after that, and then it's a countdown to Christmas. You may not be thinking about it, but it's all coming, fast.  Those long hot summer days are gone, it's getting cold, it will be dark when you get up, and dark before you leave the office. Sounds depressing, but it doesn't have to be. If you want to keep humming through the holidays, here's the #CardioSwag Fall 2012 hit list. Let's go!

1. Get out & get some!

Putting on extra layers of clothing doesn't mean it's time to put on extra layers of blubber. Layer-up and get outdoors for a couple of your workouts each week. It's a literal breath of fresh-air, and it's what cold-gear was made for.

2. Warm it up, Chuck!

(RIP Chuck Brown) Soups are always so soothing in the winter, but watch what you pour when you're at the soup counter. Look for soups with low salt, and low fat, preferably with a non-cream base. Chicken-noodle is great, but go heavier on the chicken than the noodle.

3. H2(the izz)O...

Just because it isn't hot outdoors doesn't mean your body doesn't need to stay well hydrated. Tank up on your water the same way you did in the summer. Approx. 1/2 an ounce per pound of your body weight. (32 ounces in a liter, about 4 liters in a gallon)...get some.

4. Made to fit.

So you are doing your best to keep things 100 on the #CardioSwag side, now do yourself a favor and buy clothes that fit (or get a tailor to take them in).  That is all.

5. Don't sleep on sleep.

The sleep you get makes a difference in how you feel and look.  It also helps you power through those #CardioSwag sessions. Try getting to bed early without the TV.  You can't catch-up on sleep, it's like time, once it's gone, it's gone.