Keep your Fitness Mojo going…

Today was the first day in like 3 weeks that I felt compelled to go for a run. I mean come on, summer is still not over and there is definitely plenty of good weather to come. Don't let the thought of labor day around the corner slow your fitness momentum down because you aren't wearing a bathing suit after two more weeks. One of latest fitness trends to hit NYC are bootcamps.  A few popular ones in NYC are Warrior Fitness, Stacey's, Barry's and Phoenyx Fitness. If your budget doesn't allow for the additional expenditures, try the following 6 strategies to give yourself a boost:

1. Add interval training to your workout mix - alternate between strength training and 60-90 seconds of cardio routines including jumping jacks, jack squats, jump roping, squat jumps, and mountain climbers.

2. Consider plyometrics - it doesn't have to be 1 hour of plyometrics and I am hoping it certainly isn't! You won't be able to walk the next day. However, adding a few reps towards the end of a set of plyometrics (adding the 'jump' with the movement) will boost calorie burn.

3. Add double time movements with strength training movements - i.e For bicep curls, lower weights in one count and curl up in two counts or vice versa. Same concept can be applied to single-leg lunges. Try lunging down for one count and coming up in two counts. In addition, to incorporate point # 2 above, add the plyo by doing single-leg jump squats alternating each leg.

4. Try using your body as it's own weight - pushups, planks, tricep dips with hip lifts or without are great examples

5. Muscle confusion - Try 12 to 15 reps with light weights one day, 8 to 10 reps with moderate weights another, and 6 to 8 reps with heavier ones another

6. Add yoga to the mix - yoga postures have a long-term effect to increase flexibility and improve range of motion as well as certain moves are very core friendly and challenging