Stamina is one of the foundations of a fulfilling and healthy life.
Whether climbing the corporate ladder, running after active toddlers or building lean muscle at the gym, your stamina level determines how much you can do and how quickly you can recover.
Here are some signs that you could benefit from incorporating stamina-building strategies into your fitness program. Do you:
- Feel exhausted after a workout instead of refreshed?
- Work out regularly, but don't seem to be getting any stronger?
- Avoid important tasks or events because they are too physically demanding?
- Catch every bug that comes around the office?
- Get enough sleep but still feel weak or have low energy?
- Have the energy or strength to do everything you'd like?
- Feel like your body can't keep up with your mind?
Good stamina includes a range of physiological factors, including lung capacity, a well-conditioned endocrine system, good heart health and optimum lean body mass. Improving your stamina means you'll need to tweak your daily habits and steadily increase your fitness capacity.
Don't diet and don't fast. Calorie or carb-restricted diets are not a good choice when thinking about increasing stamina.
It's more important to focus on replacing refined carbs with whole grain alternatives and ditching unhealthy trans fats for heart-healthy omega-3-rich sources such as fish or nuts. Reduce your intake of sugar and caffeine, and eat small helpings of protein-rich foods with each meal. Add in plenty of raw and cooked fruits and vegetables.
Hydration is essential -- don't overlook it! Add lemon, orange slices, mint and other goodies to your water pitcher for added minerals and flavor.
Cardio is the staple of any stamina-building program.
Increasing lung capacity and strengthening the heart muscle should be your primary objectives. Going too hard is much worse, meaning it's better to err on the side of less intensity. Your best friend is a good heart monitor, especially if you are in the habit of overdoing it. Aim for maintaining a heart rate at about 60 percent of your resting heart rate. Following a cardio workout, you should feel pleasantly energized and relaxed, but not exhausted. (While being sure not to overdo intensity, the American Heart Association recommends that you should try to get at least 150 minutes of cardio each week.)
Building lean muscle is the other component of a stamina-building program. Focus on compound moves such as squats, lunges, pull-ups and push-ups. The correct form can be a challenge, so take the time to master it. Familiarize yourself with the machines and equipment at your gym, or ask for a guided tour. These machines can help you learn the proper alignment and form while you develop the strength to perform key body weight moves on your own.
Pacing yourself is key. Shorter and more frequent workouts can work better than marathon sessions. Increase the time you spend incrementally, never pushing yourself to the max. Use your heart monitor to measure your intensity and slow down if you need to, even if you're taking a class.
It's easier to push yourself physically, improving your stamina, when you're doing something you genuinely enjoy, rather than something you dread. Tailor your workout to include mostly activities that you enjoy - these may be things that you're already good at, but they may also be things that you haven't tried yet. If you're not sure which types of exercise you enjoy, experiment by including many different kinds in your workout for a month or two. You may discover, for instance, that you prefer low-impact exercises, like swimming and biking, over your previous attempts of running, or you may discover the opposite!
You must be logged in to post a comment.