Maximize Your Heart Health

By Team eLifestyle Fitness and Lifestyle Specialist Robb Armstrong

Last week we helped you maximize the use of your elliptical to bolster more synergy between your goals, limited time, and your efforts.

February provides an extra 29-day-long incentive to champion your cardiovascular capabilities during Heart Month. So for good measure, this week we have three great ways to tax your ticker while you train. What's more, they'll also help dial in your mid-section!

Your Training Focus

When it comes to upgrading your heart health, employing training techniques outside of your traditional cardio routine that enhance your resistance-training program is the best way to bolster better results.

Your heart health is affected right from the onset of any type of physical activity. And not only do we want to assist you with fine-tuning your mid-section, we also want to help you live longer. So here are three superior strength-training must-haves that are proven to not only build lean muscle and burn fat, but also totally tax your ticker while you train …

Ticker-Taxing Trio

While training your abdominals ...

1. Shorten up your rest periods to 15-20 seconds to a) maximize calorie expenditure while b) challenging your cardiovascular output at the same time. Leaving less time for recovery between sets forces your heart rate up faster as you complete your set, rather than letting it drop and allow you to fully recover.

2. Employ extended set options, which lengthen the workload during an exercise:

Example: Super Sets – Two or more exercises back-to-back (same target muscle or different), then a rest break.

3. Active rest such as jumping rope, jogging on the spot, or step-ups for 15-20 seconds keeps your heart rate stoked while isolated muscles recoup for the next set, keeping intensity high.

Train Heart-Smart!

Whether you train at the local gym or in the privacy of your own home, employing these cardio-intense moves while training your mid-section will have you realizing big returns both on your physique and on your most important asset – your heart!

Want to guarantee faster results?

Following the training tips above will set you in the right direction. However, for a goal-specific program design customized to meet your specific needs and complete with all the necessary techniques and intensities, contact Robb @ www.elifestyle.ca!

Up Next … Core Focus: Creating your ab-solute best physique. Get the head-turning tips next week!

Note: Check back every week for more helpful health and fitness tips from eLifestyle's Fit Tips by Robb!