Issue Date: July 13, 2008
Go for your personal gold
Let the upcoming Olympics inspire your workouts.
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The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games are just around the corner, featuring some of the world's top athletes. Although you may not want to commit the requisite four or more years to get in peak Olympic form, you can use the Games as a springboard to amp up your own workouts.
"The thing that everyone can relate to in the Olympics is competition," says Chris Robinson, fitness expert and founder of corecoach.net. "This means stepping up your personal fitness regimen to achieve your peak performance."
If you currently work out once or twice a week, push yourself up to three to four times a week. "Or maybe you work out for an hour normally; take it up to an hour and 15 minutes or an hour and a half," Robinson says. Apply this to whatever fitness activity you rely on to burn some calories. "Whether you're swimming, cycling or running, you can create an additional challenge for your body by adding time. With weight training, simply cut back on recovery time to push yourself."
Robinson, whose favorite Olympic event is track and field, also recommends working out with a friend or a group and creating friendly challenges to help push one another. "Try something like adding in a race at the end of a run or walk," he says.
And don't forget about diet if you want to achieve your best form. "Focus on having a cleaner diet," Robinson says. "Cut back on desserts, fatty foods and alcohol consumption."
Contact Jorge Cruise, author of The "12-Second Sequence," at 12second.com.
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