Name: Justin McClelland
Occupation: iHeartCardio Founder and Philanthropist
How will cycling from New York to Los Angeles help you raise money for the American Heart Association?
This trip will be thoroughly documented with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and a blog at iHeartCardio. Those that follow along will have a first-person perspective of the journey and will be able to make donations to the cause.
How are you preparing for the trip?
The journey will begin on Wednesday, Aug, 15 in Times Square. I’ve been preparing with long distance runs and weight training twice a day for the last 21 consecutive days. I plan on this helping me progress daily on the trip without feeling the need for numerous days off along the way.
What are the top five exercises that people should do to help lower the risk of heart disease?
It’s recommended by the American Heart Association that you get 30 minutes of exercise per day at least 5 days a week. The 30-minute minimum doesn’t necessarily have to be satisfied all at once as it can easily be broken down into three 10-minute sessions. I have five exercises that anyone can do at any particular time as well as remove the excuse of gym membership costs and lack of equipment.
1. Park at the back of the parking lot to get some exercise as you walk from and to your car.
2. Ditch the elevator and take the stairs even if you’re carrying groceries. If you want to increase the difficulty, take two stairs at a time.
3. Fire your gardener and mow your own lawn and rake your own leaves.
4. Don’t be a couch potato! There [are] 16 minutes of commercials for every one hour show on television, that’s plenty of time to get on the floor and do some yoga poses. Studies have shown that yoga practice may reduce one’s blood pressure, resting heart rate, and overall risk of heart disease.
5. Skip the car wash and wash your own car in your driveway or at the wash-it-yourself car wash. You’re sure to feel a burn in your arms when you do this right.
What’s Next?
In November I’m pledging my birthday, Nov. 23, to the nonprofit organization, Charity Water. I’m asking for donations instead of gifts to bring clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations.
For more information, please visit www.iHeartCardio.org www.facebook.com/iHeartCardio www.twitter.com/iHeartCardio
