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Weekly Workout Rundown

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Monday:
  • 15 min LiveFit back workout in the AM
  • 30 min AM run, 2.44 miles

Tuesday:
  • 20 min LiveFit chest and abs in the AM
  • 30 min AM run, 2.55 miles
  • 25 min walk at lunch with mom
  • 20 min rest of LiveFit from Monday and Tuesday

Wednesday:
  • 45 min LiveFit legs workout in the AM

Thursday:
  • 25 min LiveFit arms and abs in the AM
  • 30 min run, 2.55 miles
  • 30 min bike ride
Friday:
  • 15 min LiveFit shoulders in the AM
  • 30 min AM run, 2.57 miles
  • 15 min FlashFit workout
Saturday:
  • 60 min LiveFit legs and more of Friday’s shoulders
Sunday:
  • Rest

I am past the halfway point of the LiveFit Series, baby! Every day since I got to add cardio back into my routine, I’ve beat my past mileage by at least a smidge. It really helps to have that little personal competition to be ~Better Every Day. 
Today I feel like junk, so I’m not really that talkative. I was thisclose to leaving work early, but slugged my way through the day and actually got some things done. Can’t quite pinpoint what is wrong, but I’m just not feeling up to snuff.
This past weekend, I went to the Sports and Fitness Expo in Oshkosh and had a great time. I’ll share more about that hopefully tomorrow. I also started training my mom, who gets to be my first personal training guinea pig. I’m so excited about doing this! And I really hope she gets some great results, because she deserves to feel good about that. After that, I worked on a writing project while watching a Big Bang Theory marathon. #BigBangBinge I’ve been challenged to put together a 4-5 page document for my church, so I’ve been giving that some of my undivided attention. Well, sort of…
Sunday was just as busy with church, followed by a Donut Date with my Peanut (yes, I am human!) and then a living room screening of the Great Gatsby. That is one of my very favorite books of all time, so I love anything to do with the Great Gatsby. After that was Bible study and bedtime. Now, I’m dreaming of bedtime again. I just want to curl up and have someone sing Soft Kitty to me. Only my fellow Big Bangers will understand what that means:)

Donut date after-church tradition

Weekly Workout Rundown

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Monday: 

Tuesday:
  • 30 min LiveFit chest and abs in the AM
  • 30 min AM run, 2.22 miles
  • 20 min casual walk at lunch with mom

Wednesday:

Thursday:
  • 30 min LiveFit arms and abs in the AM
  • 30 min AM run, 2.4 miles

Friday:
  • 20 min LiveFit shoulders
  • 30 min AM run, 2.45 mi
  • 15 min FlashFit workout at lunch

Saturday:
  • 90 min LiveFit legs, triceps and abs

Sunday:
  • Rest

On weekday mornings, I only have a set amount of time that I can dedicate to my workouts. When 6:45 rolls around, I have to hit the shower or Peanut will be late for school. That’s my cut-off and there’s no compromising it. So what happens when I hit snooze an extra time and don’t complete a full workout? I save the moves for a day when I have more time or for after work. This happened on Thursday. I didn’t get to my triceps and abs, so I did them on Saturday with legs. It worked out pretty well because my arms weren’t too tired by Saturday. Plus, I had time to spare on some really good stretching and self myofascial release while watching the amazing Veria channel.
I can’t even tell you how sweet it is that I can run again!!! I betcha in heaven, there will be running involved. I feel like myself again, only a bit stronger version of myself since starting the LiveFit series. I play little games with myself, trying to eek out just a little extra mileage every day in my 30 minute runs. I always warm up and cool down for three minutes each, so I try to play with that other 24 minutes. I’m nearly halfway through Phase 2 and can’t wait to see what Phase 3 does to me when HIIT runs and hypertrophy training are involved. I can already notice a difference in my strength level. I was pulling down our garage door a few days ago, and it felt like such a smooth simple move that I even had to stop and make sure nothing was wrong. Ha! Nothing was wrong…with my muscles!
I found a pull-up bar at a local second-hand sporting good store, so I can finally perform a real pull-up. I was modifying my workout at home by just doing extra pull-downs with my stretch tubing. Then, whenever I took Peanut to the park, I would practice pull-ups on the monkey bars. Now I can do the workout properly. The only door frame that the pull-up bar fits around is Peanut’s door though, so I have to wait until he’s awake to eke those bad boys out, one measly pull-up at a time. I’m loving the convenience of the bar though. I’m planning a full post on how to do some of the LiveFit moves at home, since it seems to be a recurring question. You can be really clever and resourceful and do all the moves just fine at home. I’ll show you how soon.
Going strong so far! See you next week.

Weekly Workout Rundown

photo 0e340d3e-62ba-4e55-9f4a-7258f16cd99a_zps3484b587.jpg

Monday: 

Tuesday:
  • 30 min LiveFit chest and abs in the AM
  • 30 min AM run, 2.22 miles
  • 20 min casual walk at lunch with mom

Wednesday:

Thursday:
  • 30 min LiveFit arms and abs in the AM
  • 30 min AM run, 2.4 miles

Friday:
  • 20 min LiveFit shoulders
  • 30 min AM run, 2.45 mi
  • 15 min FlashFit workout at lunch

Saturday:
  • 90 min LiveFit legs, triceps and abs

Sunday:
  • Rest

On weekday mornings, I only have a set amount of time that I can dedicate to my workouts. When 6:45 rolls around, I have to hit the shower or Peanut will be late for school. That’s my cut-off and there’s no compromising it. So what happens when I hit snooze an extra time and don’t complete a full workout? I save the moves for a day when I have more time or for after work. This happened on Thursday. I didn’t get to my triceps and abs, so I did them on Saturday with legs. It worked out pretty well because my arms weren’t too tired by Saturday. Plus, I had time to spare on some really good stretching and self myofascial release while watching the amazing Veria channel.
I can’t even tell you how sweet it is that I can run again!!! I betcha in heaven, there will be running involved. I feel like myself again, only a bit stronger version of myself since starting the LiveFit series. I play little games with myself, trying to eek out just a little extra mileage every day in my 30 minute runs. I always warm up and cool down for three minutes each, so I try to play with that other 24 minutes. I’m nearly halfway through Phase 2 and can’t wait to see what Phase 3 does to me when HIIT runs and hypertrophy training are involved. I can already notice a difference in my strength level. I was pulling down our garage door a few days ago, and it felt like such a smooth simple move that I even had to stop and make sure nothing was wrong. Ha! Nothing was wrong…with my muscles!
I found a pull-up bar at a local second-hand sporting good store, so I can finally perform a real pull-up. I was modifying my workout at home by just doing extra pull-downs with my stretch tubing. Then, whenever I took Peanut to the park, I would practice pull-ups on the monkey bars. Now I can do the workout properly. The only door frame that the pull-up bar fits around is Peanut’s door though, so I have to wait until he’s awake to eke those bad boys out, one measly pull-up at a time. I’m loving the convenience of the bar though. I’m planning a full post on how to do some of the LiveFit moves at home, since it seems to be a recurring question. You can be really clever and resourceful and do all the moves just fine at home. I’ll show you how soon.
Going strong so far! See you next week.

Weekly Workout Rundown

photo 0e340d3e-62ba-4e55-9f4a-7258f16cd99a_zps3484b587.jpg

Monday: 
  • 40 min LiveFit legs in the AM
  • 25 min incline interval run in the AM
Tuesday:
  • 30 min LiveFit back and biceps in the AM
  • 25 min moderate walk at lunch
Wednesday:
  • 35 min LiveFit chest and triceps in the AM
  • 30 min moderate walk at lunch
Thursday:
  • 40 min LiveFit legs in the AM
  • 30 min moderate walk at lunch
Friday:
  • 30 min LiveFit shoulders and abs in the AM
  • 25 min run at lunch, 2 miles
Saturday: 

  • Active rest (jet skiing)
Sunday:

  • Rest


I am now 1/3 of the way through the LiveFit series, entering Phase 2. Even though I threw a few runs in during the past four weeks, I am excited to get back into my full-on running habit in Phase 2. I finally get to run 4 days per week! The younger me never thought the older me would be making such a statement, ha. This morning was the first allowable run and it felt great!

Our jet skiing adventure on Saturday worked out my lung muscles more than anything. Hubster is quite the beast on a toy like that, and I swear, the screaming that I did was completely instinctive and unintentional. When you feel like you’re going to flip, you just scream. And I was flipped off three times at lower speeds, so the worry was not unfounded. Oh boys! Peanut was even braver than I was, laughing through the scariest moves. I was just happy to be dropped off at a public sandy beach while the boys went crazy.

Other than that, not much to report this week. I haven’t yet seen the results on the LiveFit plan that I’m sure will come, especially with the addition of cardio again. I have lost a few inches, but the scale seems to be creeping up, which can only mean that I am gaining muscle, and I’m happy about that. I’ll keep you posted!

Weekly Workout Rundown: LiveFit Week 3

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Monday:
  • 30 min AM LiveFit Legs
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
  • 40 min AM LiveFit Chest and Triceps
Thursday:
  • 40 min AM LiveFit Legs
  • 30 min casual walk at lunch
Friday:
  • 15 min Tough Mudder boot camp at lunch
  • 40 min LiveFit Shoulders and Abs after work
  • 30 min run after work
Saturday:
  • 1 hr Crossfit class (10 min warmup/cooldown, 12 min WOD)
Sunday:
  • Does 6 hours of pushing Hubster in a wheelchair through the Milwaukee County Zoo count? I say it does. Holy sweaty!
I tried a CrossFit class for the first time on Saturday. Our new local studio offers free community classes so you can try before you buy. I’ve read a lot about Crossfit, but never actually tried it, and I thought it would be good for a personal trainer like myself to try out. I had a great time! Our instructors were very passionate and knowledgeable about Crossfit and nutrition. By the end of our 14-minute WOD (workout of the day), I was super sweaty, shaking, and exhilarated. My favorite kind of feeling! Seriously, 14 minutes to torched! We did three rounds of the moves, four minutes on and one minute of rest. We did AMRAP (as many rounds as possible) of 15 kettle bell swings, 10 air squats and 5 burpees, oh my. It was even fun to be able to chalk my hands and write on the floor, all hardcore-like.

I am going strong, beginning week four of the LiveFit Series this week. By today, I am already through legs, back and biceps, with a little off-program running thrown in. I should admit that I don’t do as well with eating on the weekends as I would like. Prepping food for 5 days is quite the chore. Prepping for 7…ugh! Plus, most food doesn’t keep in the fridge for that long. Double plus, it was Labor Day weekend which meant several cookout invitations. I tried to keep it clean, but I did have a slice of cake and a few chips. And my hamburger bun was of the white variety, but what gives anyway, right?
Don’t forget to check back here tomorrow, where I’ll be posting Workout #2 of the Workout Stick series. It’s a full-body workout this time, so get ready to work everything!

Weekly Workout Rundown

photo 0e340d3e-62ba-4e55-9f4a-7258f16cd99a_zps3484b587.jpg

Monday:
Tuesday:
  • 30 min AM LiveFit back and biceps
  • 30 min casual walk at lunch
Wednesday:
  • 35 min AM LiveFit Legs
  • 15 min HIIT run
Thursday:
  • 25 min AM LiveFit shoulders and abs
Friday:
  • Rest
Saturday:
Sunday:
  • Rest
Oh, you knew I couldn’t rest for 3 days in a row, didn’t you? And I just couldn’t give up running for four whole weeks, so I snuck some in. Nothing too dramatic, just a little 15 minute-er on Wednesday and some intervals on Saturday. Previously, if you remember, I was doing 5 mile runs (1 hour) on Saturdays, in addition to four weekdays of running. I just can’t quite give all of that up yet. What Jamie Eason says about the plan is that these four weeks without cardio are necessary for prepping the body to draw on its fat stores. If you’re a cardio queen, you’re probably pulling your energy from your muscle stores. I don’t remember reading anything quite like this in my NASM textbook, but I’m willing to give the program a shot (with a little bit of cheating built in) since it was created by a bodybuilding phenom.
I am beginning my third week on the plan now, and man is my body sore! It’s a good feeling though. I have never really worked on muscle hypertrophy with intent before. I always did strength training during the week, but never in such a focused way. My weight has just about stayed the same, but I have lost an inch in my waist and hips already. I’ve been sticking to the plan pretty strictly during the week, but I do have hiccups when it comes to the weekends. I do ok for breakfast and lunch, but dinner… We had a birthday party that went well into Saturday night and we had a potluck-style picnic. I’ll admit to a cupcake and a S’more, but they were so delish and part of the party requirements:)
There’s a free CrossFit class in my town this Saturday that I’m hoping to try as well. I’ve read a lot about CrossFit but have never actually attended a class. It will be good for me to see what it’s all about. Saturday is supposed to be a rest day, but we’ll just see about that.
Until next week…Cheers!

Weekly Workout Rundown

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Monday: 
Tuesday:
  • 40 min AM run, 3.1 miles
Wednesday:
Thursday:
  • Rest
Friday:
  • 35 min run, 2.64 miles
  • 30 min Jillian Michaels Shred It w/ Weights
Saturday:
  • 40 min Insanity Power and Resistance

Sunday:
  • Rest

A weird thing happened on my Monday run. I took my dog with me on my run and only grabbed one plastic bag, which we used and disposed of within the first mile. I bet you know where I’m going with this… I’ll spare you the details, but someone saw the unexpected incident and admonished me. Instead of getting defensive, I simply asked him if he happened to have an extra bag. His whole demeanor changed when I told him what had honestly happened and he was cordial about it. It makes for a much better world when we all try to do the right thing, dontcha think? And remember to bring two bags next time!
 By now, I’ve already completed a full day of the Jamie Eason LiveFit Series and going strong. I mean, how can you not be going strong on the first day, right? I was worried about the “no cardio” thing for the first two weeks, but my workout partner and I are still doing our lunch routine, so I do feel the lung burn at least then. I also worried that I might get hungry on the high-protein plan, but I’m actually feeling pretty great so far. I can at least tell you I’m well-hydrated by the copious amounts of water I’ve been drinking. I can’t wait to update you next week on how I did.
How are you doing this week?

Weekly Workout Rundown

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I just noticed I didn’t post my workouts for the week. Here is last week’s workout rundown:
Monday: 
Tuesday: 
  • 35 min AM run, 2.7 miles
  • 30 min casual walk at lunch
Wednesday:
  • 35 min AM run, 2.9 miles, my 30-20-10 plan
  • 30 min, Supreme 90 Day Legs at lunch
Thursday:
  • Rest
  • 30 min brisk walk at lunch
Friday:
  • 35 min AM run, 2.5 miles
  • 25 min Maybe Mudder at lunch
Saturday:
  • 60 min run, 5 miles
Sunday:
  • Rest
  • 20 min casual walk

Well, next week, I think I’m finally going to try Jamie Eason’s 12-week training plan. I like to try different plans every now and then to get my body wondering, try new workouts, and keep from being bored. I’m going to have a really hard time giving up cardio for those first two entire weeks though, so we’ll see if I cheat on that:) I’ve been quite the cardio queen for awhile now, so it’s time to work on my muscular development for a bit. I am a born runner though, so I’m sure I’ll have to sneak a little of it in. I don’t want to lose all the endurance I’ve built up for that either. But I’m looking forward to training my body in a different way.

Right now, I’m trying to get through all the reading, organize the print-offs, and put together a menu plan. This plan definitely requires some pre-planning and preparation. However, it really breaks everything down for you so you don’t have to wonder about anything. There are recipes, food group breakdowns, exercise guides, daily tips and so much more. It’s a wonder, with all the work that went into the plan, that it is absolutely free!

How are your workouts looking this week?

Weekly Workout Rundown

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Monday:

Tuesday:
  • 35 min AM run, 2 miles
  • 30 min brisk walk at lunch

Wednesday:
  • 40 min AM run, 3.2 miles
  • 20 min Maybe Mudder

Thursday:
  • 30 min brisk walk at lunch

Friday:
  • 20 min Maybe Mudder

Saturday:
  • 60 min TurboFire

Sunday:
  • Rest

You’ll noticed I added something a little new to my routine this past week. My lunch workout buddy is training for a Tough Mudder this coming September, so we’ve been incorporating the boot camp training plans into our routine. I don’t mind. They’re actually pretty tough. You start out as a Mudderling, grow into a Maybe Mudder and emerge as a full-grown Tough Mudder.
Since the Tone it up Bikini Series is over, I’ve been toying around with what I want to do next. Until I decide, I’ve been blending different programs like TurboFire, Barre and Insanity into my daily routines. I like to think that this plan provides really good cross training for my body.
I recently purchased Tracey Mallett’s FIT program after reading this great review. I really like it. And it does get your heart working. I’ve loved Tracey Mallett ever since I picked up a VHS tape of her boot camp at a rummage sale several years ago. It was the only video I could justify substituting for running because of its intensity.

Other than that, I’ve been trying to spend my days being more present, really focusing on summer traditions and giving my son some full-on attention. While I was busy studying for my NASM test, I was still doing things with him, but not giving him my undivided attention. He played outside while I studied in a lawn chair. So, it’s time to actually throw a few pitches and hit a few baseballs instead of just handing him the T-ball stand.
I was going to do a separate weekly food prep post, but really the menu this week was quite easy and can be explained quite simply. I felt that I needed to go light this week, and this menu definitely delivers. It’s piled with colorful fruits and vegetables and aside from the syrup, contains absolutely no processed foods.
  • Breakfast: Whole wheat pancakes Hubster made from scratch + a small handful of blueberries + sugar-free syrup.
  • Snack 1: Vanilla Greek yogurt + a small sprinkling of sliced almonds
  • Lunch: Giant helping of Power Greens + a few dried cranberries + a few walnut pieces + 1/4 sliced avocado + this fabulously easy and tasty strawberry vinaigrette.
  • Snack 2: A pile of veggies (broccoli and beans from the garden!) + artichoke hummus

I just read that probiotics might have a positive effect on anxiety and depression. Isn’t that fascinating?! I’m sure there needs to be more studying done to confirm that, but in the meantime, it can’t hurt to add Greek yogurt into my repertoire more often.
Any good workout program suggestions for me?

Weekly Workout Rundown

photo 0e340d3e-62ba-4e55-9f4a-7258f16cd99a_zps3484b587.jpg
Monday:
Tuesday:
  • 40 min AM hill interval run, 3 miles
  • 20 min Beach Yoga
  • 25 min PM run, 2.3 miles
Wednesday:
  • 40 min AM interval run, 3.25 miles
  • 20 min circuit training at lunch (my workout)
Thursday:
  • 30 min walk at lunch with mom, 2 miles
Friday:
  • 45 min AM run, 3.6 miles
  • 20 min circuit training at lunch (my workout)
Saturday:
  • 62 min run, 5 miles
Sunday:
  • 45 min family kayaking trip
This was the last week of the Tone It Up Bikini Series. I finally made my #100bySummer miles on Sunday. And as much as I hate for all the excitement to end, I’m excited to change and charge up my routine this week a bit, perhaps trying out a new challenge. Any 30-day challenge suggestions would be well-received, friends.
I’ve said it before, but kayaking is one of my favorite active things in the world to do. Not only is it active, but it’s so rejuvenating and rewarding. In our kayaks, we can get down little shallow channels that other boats can’t get down. Which means: 0% boat traffic and 100% natural surroundings. I’m so glad I let Hubster talk me into buying kayaks when we were first married. After kayaking, we hit the beach for a little while where it looked like the whole hot city was hanging out.
Overall, we had fun this weekend. I finally got me a new laptop, made Creamsicles with Peanut, prepped food for the week (menu to come) and gathered some supplies from the hardware store for some more fitness-related DIYs. You’ll have to stay tuned for those! They’ve been cooking in my mind for awhile now, but I finally scoped out and purchased the supplies, working out some of the details by bouncing ideas off Hubster. Let the creativity begin!
What did you do this weekend?