How to do double cardio sessions close to comp time??
I have been asked this question a lot, and thought I might as well post this. I have been asked many times how to get through the double cardio sessions (am and pm), and to break the boredom. During contest prep, I do LONG low intensity cardio sessions, twice a day EVERY DAY- including non training days! I lift 5 days a week, but every single day I do cardio twice..starting at about 9 weeks out. This works for me and has brought me to 1st place and overall wins.
So this is what I do:
I have a treadmill at home- I would highly suggest you get one if you don’t have one already.
I get up one hour before I have to get ready for work- so for me, that is at 5:30 a.m. I have one cup of plain black coffee to rev me up (no sugar, no cream). I either pop in a movie (big fan of netflix), or find something on cable. I watch the movie for 45 min while on the TM at speed 3.5-3.7 on incline of 6-10. I vary it up. This is low intensity for me. I keep my heart rate between 110-125.
So I guess the only thing that killed the boredom was watching a movie. Don’t watch TV shows, cuz the commercials feel like an eternity. So you can just imagine how many movies I have watched over time! MANY! Then I get ready for work and have my first meal. So Yes, I do cardio on an empty stomach (other than the black coffee). After work, I hit the gym and do weights. After weights, I get on the cardio machine- not TM- usually elliptical or stepmill, for 30 min- low intensity. Usually at the gym there is a lot going on to keep my mind stimulated and boredom at bay. I have many friends at the gym so typically someone will hop on a machine next to me and chit chat while we do cardio, and that just makes time fly by. I know it sounds rough, but your body adjusts to the time. The next morning I finish watching the other half of the movie from the previous day while on the TM. This system works for me =)
Just stay motivated and the results you start to see will keep ypu on track.
Kelly
