Yoga

March 7, 2013

I got an early start today and I headed to yoga at 9am. It was a great hour long class. It always surprises me how hard some of it is! There is a lot of muscle work involved! I would also love to work at being more flexible. I was so flexible as a kid, and now some of that has gone away. And I know yoga can help bring that back!

After class, I did 100 abdominal exercises... 25 sit ups, 25 crunches, 25 sit ups, 25 crunches.

Then I got on the treadmill and I ran for 5 minutes. I went .50 miles. (2 min at 6mph, 1 min at 6.5mph, 2 min at 6mph)

It was a great way to start my day! There is something so wonderful about starting things off with some yoga!

Treats!

March 6, 2013

I made some treats today! Both were rather healthy too! And yummy! Here are the recipes for the two things I made. You just might like one or both of them too...

Cookie Balls -

Ingredients-

Ready to eat!

• 2 Bananas
• 1 cup quick oats
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate, but that is up to you!)
• 1-2 teaspoons of natural peanut butter.

Directions-

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Put the two bananas in a bowl and mash them up- I used my hands, and that made it pretty easy.
• Add in the oats, chocolate chips and peanut butter, then mix it all together. (You may want to use more or less chocolate chips depending, just eye it for what looks good to you.)
• I put some wax paper on a baking sheet, and then I put balls of the mixture onto the baking sheet. 
• Put in the oven for 15 minutes.

I could also see adding some nuts (maybe walnuts or something) also maybe a dash of cinnamon and/or raisins. You could make them your own and add whatever you wanted! 

That made about 11 gooey cookie/cookie dough yummy snacks! They were especially good right out of the oven while the chocolate chips were still melted! It is a pretty healthy treat, but it tastes pretty great!

The other treat is a bit more sweet and sour... A fun frozen treat, and easy to make!

Sour Grapes -

Ingredients-

• Grapes
• Jell-o mix (Sugar Free - for a lower calorie/sugar treat)

Directions- 

Frozen Sour Grapes

• Wash the grapes a few at a time, and while they are still wet, roll them around in some jell-o mix. The powder should cover the grape, or most of it anyway.
• Once you have them all done, put them in the freezer and let them freeze. 

This time I used red seedless grapes, and Strawberry (Sugar Free Jell-o). But you could use any combination that you want! I have heard green grapes with lime Jell-o mix is great too. I have a feeling I'll keep trying different flavor combinations...

But I have to say that they are a nice frozen treat! I am a big frozen snack person. (I love ice cream and ice cream treats of all kinds...) But I found this to be quite a good fix for frozen! 

More Zumba!

March 6, 2013

I was still sore this evening... Quite sore. But after I finished all my running around for the day, I just felt I could get up once more today and go back to the gym. Especially for Zumba! That is always such a fun time that it sometimes seems like less work and more dance party! But it always gets you sweaty! Glad I went!

So Sore...

March 6, 2013

I woke up and was extremely sore! Yesterday and the day before had really kicked my butt! Well, actually my legs- my legs are crazy sore! But so is my butt and back, and pretty much everywhere. However, I wasn't about to give up, so off to the gym I went...

Workout -

• Cardio - 20 minutes - 1.45 miles [All at 0 incline unless otherwise noted] (3min at 6mph, 1min at 6.5mph, 1min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 5 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline.)
• Weights - Circuit - 600 movements total - 25 bench presses on a ball for added core workout with two 20lb weights, 25 sit ups, 25 tricep extensions with a 20lb weight, 25 crunches on an abdominal machine at 50lb, 25 hip abductions at 140lb, 25 hip adductions at 100lb. Repeat 3 more times.
• Cardio - 20 minutes - 1.45 miles [All at 0 incline unless otherwise noted] (3min at 6mph, 1min at 6.5mph, 1min at 6mph, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 5 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 2min at 3.8mph at 0 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 4 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 3 incline, 1min at 3.8mph at 0 incline.)

I feel like it was a pretty good workout. Got me moving and I pushed what I could. Getting on that treadmill while being that sore was tough! But I made it!

Personal Trainer Time

March 5, 2013

I woke up, and I was quite sore from Body Pump and Zumba the night before. Body Pump was killer! But I got up and did my thing until it was time to go to the gym.

I asked my boyfriend Michael if he would maybe train me once a week. He is a personal trainer, and somewhat of a fitness guru... He had actually trained me for a long time in the past- but we don't work out together much anymore. (Kinda hard when you are a couple.) But I wanted him to push me, so I know at least once a week I am getting pushed to my limit.

Today, I was pushed to my limit! I feel exhausted. My legs still feel like jelly! There was a lot of running involved, a lot of squats, and some arms and abs too. There were a few times I was ready to give up! But I kept going... All the while panting and gasping for air while my muscles felt like they were on fire. It was crazy. I definitely got a good workout today!

• Treadmill - 5 minutes - .50 miles (2 min at 6mph, 1 min at 6.5mph, 2 min at 6mph)
• 20 box squats with a 45lb bar, 20 bench presses with two 10lb weights on a machine, 20 row/squats at 50lb, 2 min on the treadmill at 6mph. Repeat 3 more times. 
• 20 second plank while holding onto an exercise ball, 20 crunches on the ball, 10 crunches reaching to right side on the ball, 10 crunches reaching to left side of the ball. 20 second plank while holding onto an exercise ball, 20 crunches were you crunch in and then punch side to side four times then release on the ball, 50 crunches on the ball.
• 20 squat presses (box squat into a shoulder press) with two 12lb free weights, 20 bicep curls with a 25lb bar, 10 assisted dips, 20 bench dips. Repeat 3 more times. 
• Treadmill - 3 minutes - .29 miles (3 min at 6mph)

And I did all of that in 50 minutes!

That is pretty much what I did. And it was a lot!! I am feeling worked over for sure! But proud that I made it through it! 

Change of Plans...

March 4, 2013

My plan was to go to the gym earlier in the day... But plans changed! So instead, I ended up there later in the afternoon. And instead of doing my own workout, I did two different classes.

The first class I did was Body Pump. It is always very challenging. It is all low weights and high repetition. It is an hour long, and it kicks your butt! I hadn't done one of those classes in a few months, so I know I'll probably be sore and paying for that tomorrow. But it is a fun workout! The music is nice and time seems to go by pretty quickly. Plus you can make it as hard or easy as you want to- the amount of weight is up to you. I have to say I did pretty good on the amount of weight considering it has been a long time since I have done repetitions like that!

After that class- and a quick ten minute break... I did Zumba. I wasn't in my best form for Zumba since my body was pretty exhausted from the class before. But I kept my sweat going and definitely got some cardio in!

It was a fun day of exercise. Always nice to mix it up!

Workout Clothes

March 4, 2013

My shoes!

Exercise clothing can be so expensive! And I try not to buy into it... At least too much! It can be really pretty and fancy and cute, but just because you spend a bunch of money to look pretty, fancy and cute doesn't mean you are going to get better results! 

Now I do believe in a good if not great pair of tennis shoes. I got a bit more expensive of a pair a couple months ago, and I cannot believe the difference! I love them! (But I had very bad tennis shoes before...) And I don't think it is price that matters too much, you just need to find the right pair that fits your feet the best!

Back

And a good pair- or two, of exercise pants is a good idea... I have worked out in other pants before, but at least the exercise pants breath a bit better. (Especially if you are doing Zumba or something- a lot of other cheap pants will not hold together as well when you squat down... I have seen a lot more of some people than needed! So a thicker material can be better!) But I know exercise pants are very expensive, however, I have ordered some on Groupon when they have offered them and gotten some great pairs that would normally be $55+ for only $16. That works for me!

But my real problem always tends to be shirts. Let's face it, they get the dirtiest and smelliest the quickest- by far! And I feel like spending that much money for workout shirts is a bit crazy. (As pretty as they may be...) I have always just used old shirts. Ones that really weren't good enough to be wearing somewhere nice anymore, or ones I was ready to retire. Mostly just form fitted or slightly loose t'shirt types. 

Front

I also have a million Large and X-Large T'shirts in my closet- they seem to accumulate. They are band shirts, or gag shirts someone gave me, or random shirts from different cities. And they are usually pretty gigantic on me. But if you cut one up, it can make a nice and somewhat fashionable workout shirt!

I used an old Boogie Kings shirt to make a workout shirt for today. I just cut the bottom on a bit of a curve- to give it a little style, then I cut the sleeves off. Now it is a nice comfy workout shirt! (And it will only get more comfortable the more times I wash it!) 

This isn't my best job because I was in a hurry this morning, but you can get the idea. Get creative with it!