Tag Archives: exercising

My Secrets to Aging Well – Part 1

14 Monday Feb 2011

Posted by in Abdominal Muscles, Anti-Aging, Cardio, Exercising, Fitness Classes, Health and Wellness, Running

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Yesterday was my birthday; I turned 40-something. I wasn’t ashamed to admit my age to those around me since I very easily look 10 years younger. Whenever I tell my age, all respond, “Noooo! Really?” in total disbelief, which of course puts a grin on my face as it would anyone hearing those words.

In celebration of my special day, I took myself shopping to some of my favorite clothing stores. I easily slipped into my standard XS or size 0. While changing in the dressing room, I smiled to myself and felt very blessed as my body still looks only 25 with its firmness and sleekness.

At 5’4″, I weigh 100-105 pounds. I am very tone and still very solid with just the right amount of muscle definition; not to the point I look like a body builder, but to the point one can tell I go to the gym regularly. No belly fat. No saddle bags. No double chin.

My facial skin shows no wrinkles, only a hairline which no one else notices but me. My Italian olive skin keeps a year round slight tan while my dark chocolate brown hair falls past my sculpted shoulders. And to top off my younger-than-my-age look, I dress the latest fashions and keep my hair cut to current trends.

So how do I do it? Besides dressing the part, how do I stay so young and fit looking? What are some of my secrets that have defied the aging process? What is my regimen like to achieve such lasting results?

Well, there’s a lot that goes into it how I have evolved to where I am today. All has been a way of life for me from the very beginning, with my parents’ own healthy ways, and have continued to develop throughout my life. I fell in love with sports and fitness at a very young age, so working out is like playing to me. I have never smoked, rarely drink alcohol and always pay attention to health in the news. I also maintain a balanced lifestyle of work, family and fun with as little stress as possible.

My Schedule. I am Type A and have an enormously high energy and endurance levels as anyone close to me can vouch. I am ambitious, driven and determined; the Energizer Bunny without any given caffeine. Here’s a quick rundown of what I do weekly to stay fit. I run six days, lift three to four, abs six to seven days, yoga one to three times a week, Pilates three times, cycling once, swimming one to three times, and finally boot camp and lift-it classes once a week each. Yes, that’s all in one week. Yes, I do have a full-time job and thensome. Maintaining my workout regimen is a priority for me. I love doing it and I love the payoffs.

 

Running. This is my number one, must do workout activity. If I just have 30 minutes to workout, this is how I will spend it. Depending on my availability and if I’m on a treadmill versus outside, I run 4-5 miles a day, six days a week. If I am training for an event like I am now, then one of the days I will reserve for a long run and run a higher mileage based on my planned out schedule. I prefer to run outside as I enjoy the fresh air and scenery and like the end results I see on my body better. I do believe running outdoors versus on a treadmill are two different types of running (like swimming in a pool versus the ocean) and exert certain leg muscles differently.

 

Abs. I love working my abs and do so almost daily. I start out with a warm up, 100 crunches on a fitness ball followed by 25 sit-sups with a six pound medicine ball, twisting my torso side-to-side when I’m in the almost upright position. Next, 300 straight on crunches with my legs at three varying angles to catch the three areas of my abs. Then 200 crunches on the ground with my lower torso turned 90 degrees left, then another 200 twisted right. This is followed by 300 sit-ups with bent knees and hands behind my head. In between each 100, I do 25 reps of hand reaches. I wrap up with three sets of toe-to-toe beats while still on my back, then I flip over for planks. Remember, good form is very key and pulling your belly button to your spine at all times is a must or else you will build out.

 

Check back next week when I continue to share how I stay fit and young looking. I’ll discuss what I do for weight training, fitness classes, swimming, cycling, diet, skincare and sleep.

Be Fit. Be Strong. Be Well.
Adriana

Introduction – Welcome to Fit Past 40!

04 Tuesday Jan 2011

Posted by in Health and Wellness, New Year's Resolutions

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New Year’s is always a time of new resolutions. New beginnings. New opportunities. With the fresh year and bright hope, many of us vow to lose weight, start exercising, spend more time with family, get longstanding projects complete, and so forth.

For a couple years now, I have contemplated writing a column or blog to share my inside tips, thoughts, and suggestions on staying fit and living healthier. I have had this growing feeling as many people often come up to me and either ask me how I stay so trim or ask if I am a trainer. The surprise factor is when they also find out my age; they are typically stunned as they have thought I was many years younger than I actually am. So what’s my secret? How do I do it? “Please tell,” I’m asked. Well, now I will.

Each week, I will post a new blog. I already have numerous topics in mind: Cardio, Yoga, Pilates, Weight Training, Hydration, Vitamins, Super Foods, Meals, Snacking, Sleep, Skin care, and many more, and how all of these combine play a role in your overall wellness and fitness.

But first, let me tell you a little more about myself. I am the youngest of three, with the elder two being brothers. One is a pain management physician who specializes in interventional spine procedures and the other recently stepped down as a CEO to become a partner in an executive firm who coaches CEOs around the country as to how to optimize their biasness operations. Our mother was before her time in the sense that she was extremely interested in vitamins, foods and herbal supplements. Growing up, the right side of our refrigerator was always filled with countless bottles of vitamins and all sorts of supplements. She made very healthy meals, kept little or no sweets in the house, and made sure we took our daily vitamins. Dad loved eating right, having a glass of red wine with his dinner, and keeping very fit. He walked 5-10 miles every day as well as performed the old-fashion calisthenics, such as push-ups and sit-ups, as his workouts.

I grew up tagging behind my big brothers – climbing trees; running in flag football and flashlight tag; swinging bats and racquets; reaching for and throwing balls; riding bikes and skateboards; roller and ice skating. In my early years, I played any sport activity that was made available to me, including gymnastics, softball, track, tennis, badminton, table tennis, and riding horses. In school, I played field hockey, lacrosse, and, for a few years, played in five different basketball leagues. In college, I played lacrosse for Villanova University in the center position and additionally ran, swam, and worked out in the weight room to make me a stronger all around athlete and player.

My passion for fitness has continued ever since. Over the past 10 years or so, I have competed in fitness competitions, running events, bike tour rides, and triathlons. This is all supplemented to various aerobic classes and strength training, and not to mention still participating in other physical endeavors including tennis, racquetball, skiing, swimming, riding horses, and golf. Actually, I will participate in almost any sport activity that is made available to me as I still love to play.

Throughout my life, I have remained very fit and very healthy and look years younger than my actual age. In addition to the exercising, I have a healthy daily diet, get plenty of rest, take good care of my skin and hair, and aim for a balanced life with less stress. How I achieve and maintain all of this to keep me young-looking, healthy and fit will be forthcoming in my weekly blogs to come. So, I hope you return and bookmark this site. Tell your friends about the blog. I look forward to sharing with you my tricks and tidbits. And if you have something to share, please feel free to pass it along to all of us trying to live a healthier life.

Be Fit. Be Strong. Be Well.
Adriana