I #TrainWithKohls! This post is sponsored by Kohl's. I was compensated for my writing. All opinions stated in this post are my own.
Next to running shoes, sports watches are the most beloved accessory of runners. Sports watches help runners train harder, faster and farther. They keep us in check tracking our distance, time and pace. They're also that little extra bit of motivation we need to push ourselves to the next level in our training or to maintain the level we've achieved. I know what some of you are thinking, "but I'm not a runner" Perhaps you're sidelined with injury or maybe you're just not a runner. But did you know you can use a sports watch when you're not a runner?
Using a sports watch to fuel your non-running workout is a great way to take kick your workouts up a notch. Especially if you're not used to going to the gym, with a sports watch you can new fitness goals. It can help you train shorter, more intense intervals and complete circuit workouts. It can also help you set boundaries for yourself if you're returning from an injury.
Suffering multiple injuries myself last year, I know what's it like to not be able to hit the pavement every day. Being injured forced me to get creative with my workouts to maintain my fitness and forced me to do things I'd never done before. I was always working around something which meant my workouts varied day to day. Thanks to Casio Sports Watch I was able to train better and more efficiently than before. Here's a few ways I've trained with a sports watch when I wasn't running and you can too!
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To Set Boundaries When You're Returning From Injury
When I finally started walking for the first time post injury, I made the mistake of wearing my GPS. I remember looking at my snail pace on my GPS and dying inside. I could still go the distance, but I was painfully slow. It's a hard pill to swallow that you're basically starting over. What helped me overcome this mental hurdle was not thinking about pace and simply focusing on going. Eventually I left my GPS at home so I wouldn't place that unnecessary pressure on myself. I wasn't training for a race and my body was still healing. The only thing that mattered was that I was doing something active.
I always wished I had a sports watch that didn't track my mileage or pace. I didn't need that constant reminder of how slow I was staring me in the face. I already put enough pressure on myself without having a GPS adding to it. What I really wanted was a timer that I could set to remind myself to stop. This may sound silly, but when you're used to long distance you mentally check out and do it. You train yourself to not feel your body until it's over and that's a dangerous thing for someone coming back from an injury. You need time boundaries to avoid re-injury. My fancy GPS was too complicated for that simple need. Having a Casio Sports Watch was the perfect, simple answer to that. I could track my time without feeling the pressure of achieving the pace in my head. It also has 120 lap chronography which allowed me to work on speed.
Interval Training
Most people hop on equipment at the gym, press go and peddle away. The problem with steady state cardio though is after some time, your body goes on auto pilot so unless you switch up the workout it's not doing your body much good. You may find your not getting the physical results you're looking for. I like to incorporate intervals in my cardio workouts to keep my body guessing. The elliptical is where I like to do intervals. The Casio Sports Watch has 2 countdown timers which I used to switch between high and low paces. You really get a sweaty workout doing this!
To Become More Efficient Lifting Weights
When I lift weights, I like to know how long each set takes me to complete. The faster I complete a set, the proficient I know I'm getting at it. If it's a weight training workout I do regularly, I don't want my body to get used to the workout so I push myself harder to get sets done in a shorter timeframe. As always, form first. No sense rushing through a workout with poor form. You don't want to risk injury. Remember crazy lifting guy? Don't be like him! With a sports watch, you keep track of the amount of time your sets take you to complete by writing them down or logging them in your phone. Over time, you should see you're becoming more proficient in completely them in smaller timeframes. This gives you flexibility to do shorter, more effective workout or add extras in between sets like wall squats.
For Counting Down Burners
Speaking of wall squats, I like to use the countdown feature on my sports watch for those. Set for 1 or 2 minutes and man those thighs will burn! Some workouts will forever and never be easy and for me that's wall squats. I'm a numbers girl so that countdown feature is my savior. Something about seeing that number decrease as the burn increases just pushes me through them. This one's good for planks too!
Circuit Training
I love circuit training! I will jump on a spin bike, go all out 10-12 minutes then jump off do walking lunges, deadlifts, weighted step-ups and other leg day goodies. I time the entire set beginning with the bike and my goal is to always finish each set in 25 minutes or less. Using the timer on my Casio Sports Watch I'm able to track and monitor how efficient I'm becoming at doing the circuit. Once my time begins to decrease, I know I can either add repetitions to my leg workouts or heavier weights to make it harder. This is a great way to train legs and make it fun too!
To Get To Work On Time
I don't know about you, but I'm not great about watching the time when I'm working out. If I hop on a StairClimber, my only focus is hanging on for dear life! I know you guys know what I mean. That machine is killer! The Casio Sports Watch has 5 daily alarms. I set two just in case my music's too loud and I miss one.
Just a few more things I love about the Casio Sports Watch. It's solar powdered which means no charging required. All you need to do is grab 'n' go! It's water resistant up to 100 meters so if I jump in the pool for a few laps I know it'll be safe. The band is resin, super soft and flexible. When I sweat, it doesn't stick to my arm. No sticking is always important!
That my friends is how you use a sports watch to fuel your workout when you're not a runner! See you don't have to be a runner or training for a race to workout with a sports watch. My motto is I'm always training for the healthiest and best functioning body I can achieve. As long as you're doing something to stay active is all that matters. It doesn't matter whether it's biking, walking, weight lifting, yoga, group fitness, Pilates, barre, dying on the stairclimber or peddling away on the elliptical. At the end of the day, you're doing something good for you, good for your health and good for your body. So get out there and do it and oh yeah, don't forget to bring your Casio Sports Watch!
Now you have a chance to win your very own Casio Sports Watch from Kohls! Enter below for a chance to win your very own sports watch. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents and open through Friday 6/19. Be sure to checkout all the other awesome active watches at Kohl's too. Good luck!
Casio Sports Watch
Do you own a sports watch? What workouts do you do with a sports watch?
Lots of Health, Food & Love,
Carissa Joslyn says
I currently don't have a sports watch. but it would be useful while I'm doing insanity, Treadmil and outside running!
Lauren says
I would use it to count reps.
Jody - Fit at 57 says
I don't even have one of these gadgets so I have lots of ways now to try it if I win!
paige c says
I would use it while running!
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West says
Hi Megan! I love that you went with the red! I'd use this watch for timing intervals in the group fitness classes I teach. Yes, there are so many ways to make the best out of a sports watch! 🙂
Megan says
Hey Ashley! Group fitness class is a good idea. I didn't think of that one!
Jill @ Champagne for Everyday says
This is actually a super good idea! I NEVER do as efficient of intervals as I could when I am watching the treadmill clock tick and I am so watch illiterate I never thought to try one. Not just for running on the street! I love all your suggestions for using it.
Megan says
Steady state cardio will only get you so far. Intervals are key!
Jamie says
I own a GPS watch, but it also has a lap counter and interval timer. So even when I'm not running, I find it extra useful to monitor my intervals for circuit training. Luckily, my watch also has a heart rate monitor so I can use it during all cross training activities. I love it! 🙂
Megan says
I heart heart rate monitors. They're the ultimate way to count calories and how hard you're working.
Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment says
Very cool! I lost my Nike tracker when I was on a run and haven't replaced it yet. I use apps on my phone for when I am at the gym. Thanks for the review. 🙂
Megan says
Phone apps are a great tool as well!
kristin | W [H] A T C H says
the countdown feature is so useful!
Michele @ paleorunningmomma says
I actually used to have that watch prior to a garmin watch and really appreciated that it was solar powered! I still think that's so cool 🙂
Megan says
You don't see many solar powered anymore do you? I have to say my Garmin is not very reliable. Kind of makes me crazy.