After more than two decades on TV and with 64 exercise videos and DVDs under her belt, Denise Austin is still cajoling Americans to get fit with the unflagging zeal of an Energizer Bunny - a fact not lost on the folks at Energizer, who were so impressed with the similarity that the battery-maker teamed up with her on a nationwide health promotion tour that begins Jan. 1. Her newest DVDs, "Denise Austin: Burn Fat Fast - Cardio Blast" and "Denise Austin: Yoga Body Burn," are due out this month.
Question: You exercise 30 minutes a day. What do you do?
Answer: I've been working out for 30 minutes almost every day for 25 years. I change it up constantly.
Three days a week, I do cardio, usually a run or a walk. At least once a week I do my boot camp workout, which is three minutes of cardio, then one or two minutes of light weights, then right back to cardio.
Q: How has your routine changed over the years?
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A: I've changed my routine a little (I turned 50 this year), but I still believe in the three elements of fitness: You have to do cardio to burn fat and condition the heart; you have to do strength training to keep muscles firmed and toned and because muscle works miracles on your metabolism; then you have to stretch. All three are important in a well-balanced routine.
Q: If you could recommend only one exercise for someone who is stuck at a desk all day, what would that be?
A: Isometric exercises. They really do help. While sitting at your desk, try tightening up your tummy muscles and releasing.
