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12 Weeks to Weight Loss - Day 6
Focus on Core Strength

By Paige Waehner, About.com

Updated January 04, 2006

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Cardio Focus: Active Rest

Your focus today is on being active and having fun. Don't worry about heart rate, intensity or any of that other stuff.

  • Take your dog for a long walk
  • Take the kids or your spouse out for a leisurely bike ride
  • If it's cold outside, stay indoors and put on your favorite CD or radio station. Do a little dance...no one's looking.
  • Wash the car...twice.

Strength and Flexibility Focus: Core Strength

First, get warmed up by taking a short walk or doing a few minutes of light cardio or marching in place. Then, choose one of the workouts below to strengthen your abs and back in challenging ways:

Dynamic Abs . This workout involves a resistance band, an exercise ball and a medicine ball. If you don't have all of the equipment shown, either subsitute or do the exercises without the equipment.

Abs & Back . This workout requires very little equipment, but the moves are challenging. Take your time or go back to Beginner Abs for easier exercises.

Nutrition Focus: Clean Out Your Pantry

Using the list you made on Day 4, choose ONE unhealthy food in your pantry, refrigerator, cabinets, etc. and substitute it with something healthy and lower in calories or throw it away. For example, if you drink a Coke every morning, replacing that with water will save you 150 calories. Add that to the exercise you're doing this week, and you're on the road to weight loss.

Motivation

If you've managed to fit in all the workouts (or at least most of them), keep yourself going with a reward. It's important to acknowledge all your hard work, so why not get yourself a new pair of workout shoes or that CD you've been wanting? Do something nice for yourself and get ready for next week!

| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Full Weekly Calendar |

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