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Fitness Friday: Don’t forget lower body

rachel_swick
February 3, 2012

While cardio helps burn through that stubborn chub, don’t forget to do some strength-training for the lower body.

Today’s Fitness Friday tip comes from exercise physiologist and author of "Beat the Gym,” Tom Holland.

My fitness routine mostly consists of brisk walks, either pushing the stroller or during lunch breaks at work. I also get in some stationary biking some days. Strength training can actually help fight the flub as much as cardio because it targets specific muscles.

Holland says muscles need to work together to be at their best. This requires strength from cardio and also muscle strength from weight-lifting or free-standing exercises.

You don’t want to have imbalanced muscles, do you? I didn’t think so.

Squats and lunges are relatively easy, target leg muscles and can be done practically anywhere. On my strength-training days, I often do lunges or squats, while holding Droolface, during commercial breaks or while we are listening to music.

To lunge – Standing with feet together, take large step forward, bend slightly at knee, hold and then bring foot back to its starting point. Switch legs. Try starting with ten lunges on each side. Then try doing it holding your baby.

To squat – Standing with feet about shoulder width (or wider) apart, bend at knees, lowering weight until knees are mostly bent. Then raise weight back to standing. Repeat 10 times. Then do it holding baby.

 

 

 

  • Real Parents. Real Food. Real Fun.

    Welcome to Adventures in Drool! Talking about green living, getting rid of plastics and toxic chemicals in our homes and raising happy kids on a budget. Join the conversation (www.adventuresindrool.com) and don't forget to Like us on Facebook!

    Rachel Swick Mavity, author of the blog, lives with a reformed drooler (Droolface), who at age 3 loves to get muddy, drink homemade smoothies, giggle and flirt with old ladies. Her current drooler (Birdy) enjoys spitting up on work clothes and leaving drool trails as a way of showing her love.

    Mavity previously worked as a journalist for seven years at newspapers from Pennsylvania to Maryland and Delaware. In Sussex County she worked for several newspapers, including the Cape Gazette. She lives in Lewes with her husband, Ryan Mavity, their son, "Droolface," and daughter, "Birdy." 

     

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