Tara Hunt (left) practises her breakdance form at Studio Sweat Shop dance studio AND MAIL / Robert J. Galbraith).Robert J. Galbraith for The Globe and Mail
Tara Hunt, 37, author of The Whuffie Factor: Using the Power of Social Networks to Build Your Business and CEO and co-founder of the e-commerce startup Shwowp.com, never considered herself a fitness nut. But this year, tired of pulling down her shirt to hide a paunch, she embarked on a turbo-toning plan pulled together from hard-core fitness magazines. Now, with equal gusto, she's tackling breakdancing and capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian martial-arts dance - mostly to keep her motivated and interested.
My goal "To be strong enough to do breakdancing headstands, handstands, hop-around arm balances, shoulder spins and look good in a tank top, at any given time to have someone say 'great arms.' I want my muscular definition to come through, but I like to have cold beers after work, so I'll have the beers and go dancing for three hours, which burns 1,100 calories - I'm always wearing my heart-rate monitor."
My workout
"Earlier this year, I did a three-month plan to get bikini-ready for my 37th birthday celebration in Vegas. I achieved my goal by exercising five days a week: Two yoga sessions; two cardio workouts on a StairMaster or treadmill or bike for an hour followed by push-ups and crunches; one day of weights (arms, shoulders and glutes or core, legs and back).
"The results excited me, so I started roller derby boot camp, but after witnessing broken ankles, arms and slashed chins, I now do Intro to Breakdance twice a week at Studio Sweatshop in Montreal and capoeira outdoors with a group."
My lifestyle
"I'm working 12- to 15-hour days. I have breakfast at noon after my workout, then I'll start work with everybody, and then around 6 p.m. I'll head to a class or the gym or rollerblade. After that, I eat and I'm energized from my workout and I get my second wind at 10 p.m. and work until 3 in the morning.
"I have a tough time following diets to a T. I'm a foodie, but I count calories and carbs and stay between 1,500 to 2,000 calories a day. I'm a snacker, so instead of eating big meals I graze on almonds and dried fruit."
My motivation
"For me, the whole idea of fitness and being able to visually see the results on me means that I'm taking care of my body, that I have discipline - especially at my age with a grown son - and I'm not afraid to work hard beyond my limits. Body health is biologically attractive, because it means you're going to have a longer life."
My anthem
" Tear it Up by Yung Wun and Work the Middle by Erica June from the movie Step Up 3D soundtrack, which inspired me to get into breakdancing."
My challenge
"Boredom. That's why I mix it up when the small increments of progress don't feel like a reward."
The critique
Ms. Hunt's choice of unconventional activities will help her stick with exercise, says Erica Jensen, certified fitness trainer at Totum Life Science in Toronto. But Ms. Jensen has some recommendations on how Ms. Hunt can bring out her physical best.
Switch to the ball
Breakdancing is continuous movement with no rest, so instead of traditional dumbbell exercises, try circuit training - alternating push and pull moves on an exercise ball targeting key muscle groups.
Ms. Jensen's prescription
"Try alternating chin-ups with variations of stability ball push-ups: wide, narrow, hands staggered on a wobble board, or push ups with one arm and one foot. For stronger back muscles, horizontal pull-ups with straight legs on the ball are great. And for triceps, try dips on a bench with bent knees on a ball - all of these require the abs and legs to work at the same time as the upper body, mimicking breakdance and capoeira moves."
Split up training days
Spread the workouts through the week to avoid fatigue at dance class after a punishing gym session earlier in the day. A balanced schedule could involve gym training Tuesdays and Thursdays so Ms. Hunt can be fresh for breakdancing on the weekend and have enough recovery time to prevent injury.
Stretch daily
Ms. Jensen suggests active isolated stretching - stretches held for two seconds, then repeated 10 times - to increase the range of motion and the elasticity of fascia.
"If Tara can do 10 minutes at the end of every day, she'll feel more fluid in her dancing in two weeks."