Clara's Clever Spot

Winter is hard. I love the holidays, but I can't stand the shortened days and the dark and cold. I love to be outside, running whenever I can , but mostly just the thrill of being outside. Here are a few images that remind me of the beauty of Summer. Riding a bike is one of my favorite Summertime activities. When it's Summer, you'll often find me at the beach. I love to run at Sunset. Cute guy running in the hot desert. Running past shady trees with full green leaves. Sigh. I miss it. Hey, it can't all  be about exercising. Summer is also for relaxing. Ahhhh!

Form is more important than you might think! A few running tips on proper form, courtesy of YouTube...

I was reading this article on improving speed by running 20 minutes on a treadmill using a HIIT (High Intensity Training) plan . Thank you to Cara Camp's collection on running for the link. This is pretty good for working on your speed when you're forced to run indoors. Personally, I like to get outside , but this is great for when the weather is no bueno . Check out the complete article for the full workout, but here are the basics... Jog for 5 minutes Run at a high intensity speed for 1 minute Walk at rest speed for 30 seconds Repeat the high intensity sprint, but with an incline Walk at rest speed Repeat this cycle for 20 minutes Seems kind of brutal but much better than just running at the same pace on the treadmill for an hour.

I like to get outside and run. Even when it's cold outside. And right now at the very end of November, it's freaking cold outside. Running has more benefits than simply staying in shape. There are plenty of reasons to run. So get out there! Running Benefit - Lose Weight Running is one of the top types of exercise for keeping or losing a consistent weight . You will find that it's the next most successful exercise when it comes to calories burned per minute, following only after cross country skiing and that it is a leading solution to burn extra calories off. Running Benefit - Increase Your Confidence Not all of some great benefits of running are physical. Jogging can offer a noticeable boost to your own confidence and self-esteem . By setting and reaching goals related to your running activity , you can help give a greater sense of empowerment that will leave you feeling much more joyful and happy with yourself. Running Benefit - Chill Out and Alleviate Anxi

This is for all my American friends who ate too much turkey yesterday at Thanksgiving. Want to burn off all those calories? Try a high-intensity post-turkey workout .

Been to the gym seven days in a row and lifting weights on every day. I've moved off of cardio for a while and am focusing on a variety of weight lifting exercises . When done right, I think you get as good as a workout as with cardio.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I really like to workout . Especially if I have the right workout music while I'm grinding out the reps. Here are some tips and tricks for keeping your exercise routine on track. I promise you'll enjoy working out. Maybe as much as I do! Here's some motivation. Would love a behind like this one! Suggestion #1 - Do Something You Enjoy Does n’t have to mean spending hours at the fitness center peddling away on a stationary bike. It doesn’t mean you will need to spend cash on exercise gadgets you will probably never use, either. Anything you do to get the body going is going to be better than doing nothing. Walking is an easy exercise that you could do just about everywhere, in any climate. Bike riding, dancing, gardening, weight lifting, swimming, playing house cleaning, a favourite sport as well as playing in the yard with your children are merely some of the ways it is possible to add exercise. Suggestion #2 - Schedule Time

So clever!! Here is a list of simple workouts you can do in the office ! See, you don't even need to go to the gym!

My workout schedule is picking up a lot in the past few weeks. After my ankle injury I stopped going to the gym every day but now I'm back and rocking the machines and free weights. Here are two photos I have for inspiration. My stomach is not quite this flat yet, but a girl can dream! This will be me at the beach next summer!

Not everyone actually enjoys  working out, but I do. It's fun to do if you listen to the right music and despite the fact that some people hate working out, it's easy if you zone in. Here's a YouTube with some workout inspiration music. I just bring this up on my iPhone and then get going!

Hello out there on the Interwebz. It's Clara and I'm invading your turf.