Lose Weight & Feel Great: 6 Expert Fitness Tips & Tricks

With the official start of summer just weeks away many of us are getting more serious about our fitness goals (goodbye layers… hello bathing suit season!). Get yourself in tip-top shape for everything summer has to offer with these great fitness tips from Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain’s fitness and wellness director, Kara Thomas, and Olympic gold-medal swimmer, Misty Hyman.

Misty’s Tip: Moderation is Key

“Swimming is a fantastic sport for weight loss. It’s easy on the joints, it uses the whole body, and is great for the lungs and heart. It is a complete workout, but to get the best fitness results an extreme plunge into a rigorous workout routine is not the answer.”

Misty’s Tip: Balance and Tone the Shoulders

“Any workout that involves the upper body requires shoulder stability. Prevent injury and get the defined shoulders you crave by externally and internally rotating the shoulders with moderate resistance. Use a stretch cord or small dumbbells with the arm bent at a 90 degree angle. Keep the resistance moderate and work up to 2-3 sets of 15 on each side.”

Misty’s Tip: Lift to Lighten Up

“Weight training helps slim the body (despite the stigma that it bulks us up). To get the ‘swimmers back,’ alternate between 15 repetitions of seated lat pulls and 15 repetitions of seated rows, both with medium weight. Train your way up to three rounds per strength workout.”

Kara’s Tip: Condition the Heart

“If you’re new to exercise, strengthen the heart by being consistent with your workout program. Try 20-30 minutes of a sound cardio program five to seven days a week for two weeks. Then, kick the cardio up a notch to 45 minutes for two weeks. After a month, increase to 60 minutes at least five days a week. Before you know it, 60 minutes of cardio seven days per week will be a breeze! Plus, you’ll feel great.”

Kara’s Tip: Plank it Out

“Strengthen the core for better posture and balance. Move into a plank position on your forearms with the elbows under the shoulders and palms flat, keeping the inner thighs together. Pull the navel in to engage ab muscles and prevent arching the lower back. Inhale, and bend your right knee, pointing the foot to the sky, then exhale and pull your abs in tight. Inhale again, then exhale and release your foot back to the floor. Repeat sequence five times on each side.”

Kara’s Tip: Rest

“Muscles need recovery time post-workout. After your favorite boot camp or power strength and resistance class, rest for a day – stretch or do yoga, and then go after that high intensity workout again.”

Looking for more fitness tips? Check out our Fitness section for workouts, expert advice, and more!