No more figuring things out on your own. Dr. Ian Smith shared 5 fitness favorites to enhance your year-round wellness. You may want to print or save this!
What is your favorite power-packed breakfast before a busy day of meetings?
Smith: I enjoy a Purple Power Detox Smoothie. It is the signature drink of my latest book, The SHRED Power Cleanse, which is a healthy and extremely productive two-week eating detox. The drink contains blueberries, strawberries, flax-seed, kale, and is jam-packed with antioxidants, fiber, and phytonutrients. It delivers a healthy punch, and tastes delicious! Plus, it takes just minutes to prepare in the morning, which is great for people on the go. In just one drink there are 3 servings of fruits and vegetables – more than half of your daily recommended intake.
What is your favorite music (or audiobook) to work out to?
I am a mixed bag when it comes to workout music. It really depends on my mood. Â I love Yolanda Adams’ music. Not only is she a dear friend, but her music really gets me motivated, focused, and feeling the spirit, which is important with a great workout. I’ve been working out with churches in Chicago and we incorporate gospel into the playlist, which really gets the congregation ready to have a great session, sweat out unhealthy toxins and increase lung capacity.
I also like a variety of high energy music, and have been known to play some Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Jay Z, and Prince as well. When I’m feeling nostalgic, I dip back to Boy George, Cyndi Lauper, George Michael, George Clinton, and Parliament.
What is your favorite healthy snack?
Popcorn is great. Specifically, air-popped popcorn. It’s nutritious, filling, can be high in fiber, and is a way to satisfy you when you’re on the move. Stay away from the heavy butter and non-healthy added ingredients, and go for simple toppings. We have our own popcorn, SHRED POP, and my favorite flavor is the Honey BBQ. I get a rush every time I eat it!
What is your favorite workout to do when you have little time?
Exercise is a key component to a healthy and happy life. The reality is, however, so many men and women are extremely busy and simply don’t have time to go to the gym for hours on end. I recommend what’s called H.I.I.T. (High Intensity Interval Training) exercises. This is a much shorter workout that requires less than 30 minutes. Â It’s basically alternating periods of high bursts movements with periods of rest or recovery.
This allows you to burn more calories in a shorter period of time than if you were doing a steady state exercise, such as walking on a treadmill for an hour. For me, ‘mountain climbers’ is a great workout that I can incorporate, whether I’m on the road or at home. I put my favorite workout in a DVD called the SHRED 27 Burn.
You can check it out at ShredLife.com.
What is your favorite way of winding down after a hectic day?
You mean, aside from getting out onto the golf course, which is something I wish I could do every day the sun comes up? Â Well, I really enjoy being in the kitchen at home. Family is my number one priority, and our family enjoys cooking. Some of the recipes featured in our SHRED Diet Cookbook actually came from time spent in the kitchen; experimenting with recipes and trying to make meals in a healthier, more fun, and accessible way. My family makes up recipes together and my children have actually become mini-foodies. Spending the day winding down, and enjoying delicious food is always time well spent. Remember, you can control your health destiny!
Follow Dr. Ian on Twitter: @DrIanSmith and Instagram @doctoriansmith. He is the #1 NY Times Bestselling Author of SHRED Power Cleanse, SHRED: The Revolutionary Diet, and Super SHRED: The Big Results Diet, among other titles.