How I Get My Cardio In

I grew up living a pretty active lifestyle. I started playing basketball in the second grade and ran cross country and track for seven years, so being active and fit is in my blood. Being a former cross country and track athlete, I still have a love for cardio, especially running. I love going out for a run and pushing my body to work as hard as it can. Incorporating cardio into your weekly workout schedule is important and will help maximize your results, so I'm sharing four ways I like to get my cardio in. 

1. Outside Run 

There are two different places I typically run at in Knoxville. I love going on at least one long run a week (if it fits into my schedule/weight training). I usually do at least three miles depending on how my body feels. There's nothing better than the feeling after a good run and the release of endorphins. I feel happier, healthier and just overall better after I go out and get my heart rate up. 

2. HIIT Workout 

HIIT stands for high-intensity interval training. This means pushing yourself as hard as you can for short periods of time. I usually add this in after a good lift. Here's two treadmill HIIT workouts I usually do: 

:30 at 8-10

:30 off 

repeat 10 times 

1 min at 7-8.5

3 min walk 

complete for 20-24 min

3. Bodyweight Cardio 

I like to add cardio in between sets when I'm working out to help burn more calories. Jump-squats, burpees, jumping jacks and high knees are some of my favorite ways to add cardio into weightlifting. 

4. Incline Treadmill 

My gym doesn't have a stair stepper (lame, right?) so I'll use the incline treadmill to get some extra cardio and leg work in. Raise the treadmill as high as it will go and bring your speed down to about 3-3.5. I'll usually incline walk for 1 minute, :30 side shuffles on both sides and walk backwards for :30, totaling my time to 20 minutes. This is one of my favorite treadmill workouts! 

Golden Hour

Jumpsuit // Wedges 

There's just something about the top of a parking garage that I absolutely love when it comes to taking photos. We (Jordan, who takes my pictures, and I) waited until the sun was starting to go down before we started shooting this look the other day. The sky looked absolutely beautiful, giving off the perfect light. If you looked around, you could see different parts of Knoxville from the garage. Some of downtown, a little bit of Tennessee's campus, the up-and-coming North side of Knoxville, the Sunsphere... It was the perfect night to shoot this jumpsuit because it paired so well with what was happening around me, which was Golden Hour. 

This is one of my favorite times of the day. The sun starts to set, the sky changes colors, and the night begins. My jumpsuit from 2020AVE was the perfect look for this time of day because it was a transition, going from day to night. This jumpsuit I'm wearing? Perfect for going from day to night! I was surprised by how great the material was on this piece. It's thick enough to wear you can't see your underwear but still has a light and airy feel to it. I personally love pairing the wide-leg of the pant with wedges. It makes this look perfect for a spring day or summer night. I also really like the low cut and belt detailing on the jumpsuit, it just looks so flattering! Overall, this jumpsuit  is one of my favorite pieces from 2020AVE and I highly recommend checking them out. For sizing reference, it runs a little big so i ordered a small! I'm usually a medium or size 4/6.

-Kasey