The Daily Check-In 8.19
Crank up the speed.
The name of this Precision Run class on Variis—Halftime—gives you a clue to its format. “After tackling our first segment we’re going to cut our interval times in half and crank up our speed for a fun shift in timing and intensity,” says instructor Chelsea Aguiar.
Collect cookbooks.
Staying inspired in the kitchen is essential for Ali Castriano, a Tier X coach in Chicago who has a masters in nutrition education. Here, the cookbooks she returns to again and again:
1. The Defined Dish by Alex Snodgrass. “It’s great for healthy weeknight meals, with some indulgent date night and special occasion recipes as well.”
2. 5 Ingredients by Jamie Oliver. “Each recipe is only 5 ingredients and they are all brilliant combinations of foods and flavors that I couldn’t come up with on my own.”
3. Smoothie Project by Catherine McCord. “It has a variety of smoothie recipes, but also educates the reader on how to incorporate smoothies into a daily routine, the benefits of certain ingredients, and general tools of the trade in the kitchen.”
Lower your RHR.
Another reason to stay hydrated: It’ll keep your resting heart rate (RHR) low, a strong marker for health.
When you’re dehydrated, your blood volume drops and your heart has to pump more to circulate the same amount of blood. Combat dehydration, and lower your RHR, by drinking water every time you sit down or stand up.
Host game night outside.
“Quarantine virtual game night with family was one of my favorite ways to stay socially connected,” says Bianca Shaughnessy, a Tier 3+ trainer at Seaport in Boston, who notes “Psych!” was one of their go-tos.
Since they’ve been able to meet in person again, the Shaughnessy family (that ranges in age from 3 to 60) has taken their games outdoors with active pursuits like corn hole and board games like Scattergories.
“We did this before quarantine too, so it was great to keep them going virtually, and then be able to bring them back IRL,” Shaughnessy says.