{Faith and Fitness}: The Key to Burning the Most Calories During Your Workout

Let's get real. With all of the responsibilities we have to our families, jobs, homes, etc...who has time to workout?

Obviously, we have to make time. Just like we have to make time for anything that is important to us. It is all about priorities.

BUT...if we are realistic with ourselves and want to manage our time well, we need to find a way to get the most out of our workouts, in the shortest amount of time, right?

Today, I am going to share a little secret with you that will help you to do just that!

Intervals.

Whatever type of workout you are doing, add intervals to burn more calories. Adding intervals simply means intentionally changing your pace every few minutes or so.

For example, I do the elliptical 3 times a week for one hour. With my back/hip/pelvic problems and history of chronic pain, that is all my body can handle. So instead of trying to add more time to my workouts, I add intervals to maximize results.

I love to listen to music while I workout, it motivates me and helps me go harder, faster, longer, while incorporating intervals. Here is what I do..

-Warm-up to a slow-paced song
-Alternate between fast-paced and medium-paced songs (1 fast, then 1 medium, back and forth)
-Cool-down to a slow-paced song

Doing this automatically incorporates intervals into my workout because during the fast-paced songs, I go faster and during the slower-paced songs, I go slower, which changes my heart rate up and down, causing me to burn more calories during my workout than I would if I stayed at the same steady pace the entire time.

So whatever it is you like to do (bike, treadmill, exercises, etc), simply change your pace...instead of doing the same steady pace, alternate between a "normal" pace and bursts of going as hard as you can!

2 more tricks to getting the most out of your workout...

1. Workout in the morning because you will continue to burn calories all day long, even after your workout is over, not to mention it helps get your metabolism going for the day.

2. Drink Spark which gives you the energy you need to workout as hard as you can. I know from experience that it allows me to "go, go, go" even when I am tired or not feeling great. I have way more energy when I drink it before my workout than when I do not drink it!

Whatever you do, I encourage you to take that first step to change your life and your fitness. You can't burn calories if you do not get off the couch. Even a short workout is better than no workout. Make the decision today to start. If nothing else, get outside and walk the neighborhood, remembering to walk a little faster every few minutes.

I know you can do it. God will get you through. And you can even spend time in prayer and worshipping God, while you workout. That's what I do. I listen to worship music, while on the elliptical. I spend time praising and thanking Him, while pouring out my heart in prayer. It is usually during that time that He inspires and motivates me, giving me my dreams and visions for this ministry.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

To see the previous posts in the {Faith and Fitness series}, go here.

About the Author: Erin Vick Franklin is the founder and director of Worthy of the Prize. Erin has a BBA in Marketing and Management from TCU and a Masters of Christian Education in Church Recreation from Southwestern Seminary. She is a published, award-winning author and poet. Purchase her book Worthy of the Prize Sports Camps: A Church's Guide to Implementing an Effective, Community-Reaching Christian Sports Camp to be used as an outreach tool for your church or mission organization. Erin is the wife of A, a Worship Pastor, and a work-at-home-momma to 2 crazy little boys, a and e.