Fitness Goals and Workout Motivation

Revive Your Resolutions

Your motivation to stick to your New Year's goals may have fizzled, but you still have six months to make them happen. Here's how
By Leslie Goldman womenshealth
 

Resolution: Weight train more often.

The problem: You can't tear your cardio-obsessed butt off the elliptical.

The fix: Think 30 minutes of lunges and pushups can't match an hour on the stair-climber? Think again. Circuit strength training (doing exercises without resting in between) challenges your muscles more than a lollygagging cardio workout, says Jen Cohen, official trainer for CW's Shedding for the Wedding. Plus, there's a bonus after-burn effect: A 2010 study found that people who did a strength-training circuit blazed an extra 100 calories per day for the next three days. The best part? The quick bursts of effort keep your heart rate up, giving you that cardio buzz you crave. Most gyms offer classes with this philosophy, but you can also find at-home versions at WomensHealthMag.com.

Search: Cardio or strength training—which wins the fitness face-off?

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