Celebrity Trainer, Latreal Mitchell, shared her tips with us to help you get on track and treat your pup to a new workout or two in the new year. Getting up and out has never been easier and soon you'll be racing your best friend to the door in a step-for-step challenge.
Latreal "La" Mitchell is a celebrity trainer and health coach who loves working out with her Poodle, Storm. She's worked with celebs like Michael Strahan, Terry Crews and guests on Revenge Body. Storm and La tend to get up and out together quite often. Her gym even allows Storm to sit in on sessions! That might not be the case for you, but don't worry, we've got tips to help you get your steps in while your pup maxes their activity points each and every day.
Working out in the winter isn't easy but January is Day 1 for healthy resolutions. How can you stick to them? La recommends writing it down. "I'm a big fan of writing things down. Write down some realistic goals and then write down your plan to crush them. Make sure your goals are realistic and that the routine is doable. If you're not working out at all, don't start with a goal that consists of you working out 6 days a week. After a month of consistency, you can increase the days and vary your activities."
What is the best partner workout with your pup?
La says a hike is the best way to keep your pup healthy while working on strengthening your bond. "Hiking is great for dogs, it teaches them how to socialize, gets them moving and you can get a great workout in as well if you push it", she says. The best part about hiking with your pup when they have on their LINK AKC Collar? You can keep track of your trips using the Adventure feature and make sure you're keeping the intensity up with Activity tracking.
How to turn a chore into a fun activity.
We all know our dogs need to get up and out for a variety of reasons every day. No matter how cold it is outside, chances are, you'll still have to walk your pup as much as you did in the Fall. That's another opportunity to increase your activity levels too, La says. Her fix for using your pup's walk as an extra workout for yourself? Make it a game! Run or jog a block and then walk the next, encouraging your dog to do the same, increasing their heart rate and activity level at the same timep.
"You can add in high knees, butt kicks or lateral shuffles down the street. You can challenge yourself and your dog by running certain portions of the hike. There are several hills on our hike that I jog up and Storm is racing me up the hill. She pushes me hard when we race the hills. She has four legs and I have two, so she has a bit of an unfair advantage."
Make it a habit that sticks.
In addition to writing things down, La recommends making small tweaks to stay consistent. Three small tweaks you can make today? She says:
- Set a timer to get up and move every 30 minutes throughout the day.
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator to your office or apartment.
- Park far away and walk when you and your dog run errands or after park time.
As you go on your adventures this year, share them with us for a chance to be featured!
