Beginner Incline Cardio Routine

If you see me on a piece of cardio equipment you can count on the fact that I either have it at an incline or I'm sprinting. Incline training is often overlooked but it's one of the best things you can do for your booty! Many days during our hiking trips we are racking up 15-25 miles per day so in order to stay in shape for climbing most of my cardio is incline. Instead of logging miles upon miles on the treadmill or road, try climbing a mountain! You will still be torching calories (possibly many more!).

I do different intervals, varying my speed and incline, each time. The one that I created for you here is a beginner incline routine. It's easy to follow and easy to adjust to your fitness level. If this is too difficult simply dial back the speed, if it's too easy raise your incline and/or speed.

Note: Do NOT hold onto the treadmill during your workout. You can do so if you need to step off and take a break but by holding on it you are only cheating yourself. Get the most out of each workout by using proper form.

If you are doing one of our workout plans, you can try this cardio routine to mix things up!

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Beginner Incline Cardio Routine

• WARM UP: 3-5 minutes, easy pace to get your blood flowing
• 1 - 5 minutes
  • 3.0 incline
  • 3.0 speed
• 6 - 10 minutes
  • 4.0 incline
  • 3.0 speed
• 11 - 15 minutes
  • 5.0 incline
  • 3.1 speed
• 16 - 20 minutes
  • 6.0 incline
  • 3.2 speed
• COOL DOWN: 3-5 minutes, easy pace

Hearty Oats

This is another one of those where I have a hard time calling it a "recipe" but it's something that we actually accidentally made and loved it. It's super easy...you just add cottage cheese to your oats! It doesn't sound that great but it is delicious.

Looking for other ways to use/love cottage cheese? Try it in your scrambled eggs, make zucchini lasagna, or pasta/alfredo sauce (yes, really!) with it. Don't knock it until you try it!

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Clean Eat Recipe: Hearty Oats

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup gluten free quick cooking oats
• 1/2 cup cottage cheese (we use 1%)
• water (or unsweetened almond milk)
• 1/8 tsp pure vanilla extract (avoid HFCS)
• sweetener of your choice (we use stevia)
• cinnamon, to taste
• sea salt, just a sprinkle (may not be necessary if your cottage cheese has salt in it)

Directions:

1. Prepare oats as normal (we usually boil water to add to plain oats)
2. Add desired amount of liquid and microwave for 30 seconds
3. Remove, add cottage cheese and return to microwave for 30 seconds
4. Once finished, add remaining ingredients and stir together
5. Enjoy!

Macros:

• Calories: 270
• Protein: 22 g
• Carbs: 33 g
• Fat: 4 g
• Sugar: 5 g
• Fiber: 5 g

Clean Eat Recipe: Coconut Oil Cinnamon Toast

Okay so maybe calling this a "recipe" is a stretch...but we just have to share it. We made this a few times on our hiking trip in Utah and Colorado last fall. It was so easy and gave us the energy we needed for our hard hikes! Oh, and it brought back childhood memories of white bread with butter and cinnamon on top. ;-) The coconut oil makes this snack amazing - no butter needed!

Clean Eat Recipe: Coconut Oil Cinnamon Toast

Ingredients:

• 1-2 pieces of bread (we love Food for Life Ezekiel Bread or Canyon Bakehouse)
• 1/2-1 Tbsp Coconut Oil
• Cinnamon, to taste
• Sweetener of choice (stevia, coconut sugar, etc)

Directions:

1. Toast bread until desired crisp
2. Spread coconut oil on top
3. Sprinkle cinnamon and sweetener on top
4. Enjoy!