Increasing intensity without running.. any other ideas?

StaceyL76

About to take my 3 year old out on a stroll.. this is my only opportunity to get a workout in today.. she will nap late because of it.. I hope to get a great burn in. I might try HIIT today... That way I can burn more in a shorter period of time... I was planning to wait until I was a bit lighter to push myself to jog/running too much as a preservation strategy for my knee.. I guess I can up the intensity in other ways like holding my abs in, taking long strides and not locking or fully extending my joints.. Any other ideas out there. I will be pushing her in a jogging stroller - she weighs about 40lbs.

Thank you!

baldzach

Are you near any hills? A buddy of mine pushes his twins up a hill in their jogging stroller and does repeats for 40 minutes. Just speedwalk up the hill like you would on an incline treadmill.

jolyned

When I'm walking and I want to burn extra calories, I lunge walk. Lunging will burn more calories and is easier on the knees than running or jogging.

antoinemb

Have you tried rowing ? it is one of the best cardio exercises for you and no impact...Check your local gym or www.concept2.com

StaceyL76

Thank you! yes, I do live near a hill actually I have a really great route for hills that I walked last night.. that may be my best option next to lunge walks.. I was trying to shorten the time so I could still get her home for a nap at a decent time.

Rowing - YES! i have just started doing that at the gym - LOVE IT. Unfortunately, today, I can't make it there. ; )

Thank you for your input.. all of you. I appreciate it.

cbirdso

Jump rope. You can do it anywhere (well, not while you are pushing a stroller), but it is easy on your knees and is lower impact than running/jogging and it burns calories like crazy. The stroller walk could be the warm-up or cool down.

CeleryStalker

I bring small hand weights. Bring two 3-5# weights with you and do a variety of upper body toning moves with them while you're out walking. You can always do one side at a time if you want to be able to push the stroller with something other than your stomach, LOL

This routine I'm about to describe (which you can do outside of the gym or on the treadmill as described) will give you about twice the calorie burn, and firm up your arms as well. It was the first workout the trainer at my work's gym had us do in my group workouts. He'd have us get on the treadmill and do intervals. Go fast for one minute (not a sprint, but fast enough that by the time the minute is up, you're like PHEW THANK GOD!).

1. Warm up, 3-5 minutes, walking pace
2. Run. Fast. 60 seconds
3. Slow down to walking pace and pick up your hand weights. Raise your arms up at your sides (making a T with your upper body). Lower your arms. Repeat for 90 seconds.
4. Run. Fast. 60 seconds.
5. Slow down to walking pace again, this time raise your arms out in front of you, like a zombie. Lower. Repeat for 90 seconds.
6. Run. Fast. 60 seconds
7. Walking pace again, this time doing shoulder presses with your weights (grip weights, hold at shoulder level, then press up over your head. Lower, repeat, 90 seconds)
8. Run again, 60 seconds
9. Walk again, repeating upper body portion from step 3.

Continue this for the duration of your stroll and you'll be burning a buttload more calories and toning up too. Have fun!

StaceyL76

This is AWESOME! Thank you so much! I needed this... I continue to learn the lesson that many minds thinking on something almost always produces a better outcome but definately produces more creative outcomes!

Thanks again!

I am copying this to my phone and I am off!

Stacey

CeleryStalker

sweet! have fun!! if you can raise your arms over your head (say, to blow dry your hair, etc) tomorrow without going 'oh MAN! wahhhh!', then youre using weights that are too light.

StaceyL76

I bring small hand weights. Bring two 3-5# weights with you and do a variety of upper body toning moves with them while you're out walking. You can always do one side at a time if you want to be able to push the stroller with something other than your stomach, LOL

This routine I'm about to describe (which you can do outside of the gym or on the treadmill as described) will give you about twice the calorie burn, and firm up your arms as well. It was the first workout the trainer at my work's gym had us do in my group workouts. He'd have us get on the treadmill and do intervals. Go fast for one minute (not a sprint, but fast enough that by the time the minute is up, you're like PHEW THANK GOD!).

1. Warm up, 3-5 minutes, walking pace
2. Run. Fast. 60 seconds
3. Slow down to walking pace and pick up your hand weights. Raise your arms up at your sides (making a T with your upper body). Lower your arms. Repeat for 90 seconds.
4. Run. Fast. 60 seconds.
5. Slow down to walking pace again, this time raise your arms out in front of you, like a zombie. Lower. Repeat for 90 seconds.
6. Run. Fast. 60 seconds
7. Walking pace again, this time doing shoulder presses with your weights (grip weights, hold at shoulder level, then press up over your head. Lower, repeat, 90 seconds)
8. Run again, 60 seconds
9. Walk again, repeating upper body portion from step 3.

Continue this for the duration of your stroll and you'll be burning a buttload more calories and toning up too. Have fun!

This was awesome! It was challenging and I pushed through and feel great because of it! Thanks again. ; )
I am going to keep this in my back pocket!

CeleryStalker

I'm so happy you enjoyed it. If you wear a heart rate monitor to track calories burned, do the intervals one day without weights, one day with them. Make a note of the calories burned and see for yourself how effective this routine is My trainer rocks!