What it’s worth + Workouts + Factoid Friday

   For what it’s worth- the appearance of my obliques makes me pretty excited, 6 AM workouts 6 days a week… worth it

   I am constantly amazed by the bodies ability. Right now I’m studying the way that the body uses energy when we exercise- the 3 different ways which are directly related to the length and intensity of your workout- Pretty interesting stuff if you ask me..
    For what it’s worth, I think that Dara Torres is one of the most amazing athletes- There are so many, but I love her- probably because she swims my event.. A whole hell of a lot faster than I did, hah. Go to ChocolateMilkRefuel to watch the four part series they did featuring Dara..  If you don’t think that 2 hours in pool, 1 1/2 hours in gym and 2 hours of resistance stretching a day is impressive- you can at least get jealous of her ABS

   Or maybe use it as motivation.. Speaking of- lets talk workouts:
Thursday- Hamstrings and Glutes

• DB lunges 4x12
• SuperSet: Sumo Squat (12,10,8,12) +Barbell Deadlift 4x15
• Seated Leg Curl 4x12
• SuperSet: Single Leg lift- Roman chair 4 x 20 + Calf Press 4x20
• SuperSet: Glute Kickbacks 3x12 each leg + Leg lifts 3x20
• SuperSet: Side-to-side Heel reachers 3x 30 + Side crunch 3x10 each side

Today- Cardio Circuit + Sprint Interval 

• Mountain Climbers
• Push ups
• Russian twists on bench w/25 lbs
• Jump Squats
• Skaters
• Jump Lunges

 We did 2 rounds with 20 reps for each exercise + 3 rounds with 10 reps for each exercise. Then we headed to the treadmill for some sprints. 5 mins warmup + 15 mins 30 on/30 off @ 9.0 (Paula did 5.5) + 10 minutes of easy jog @ 5.0 + 5 mins cool down.

 Factoid Friday

1. The only kind of shopping I don’t feel guilty about is grocery shopping. I don’t care if my tubs of greek yogurt goes up to $20 each.. I’ll still support my 2 tub a week habit. 
2. This past week I threw out my favorite Nalgene water bottle..  It was totally covered with awesome stickers and I’m sad that its gone- BOO! Never mind the fact that I have other water bottles- I miss that one, WAAAAAA!
3. Last summer when I drove across the country from RI to CA and back again in 21 days- my co-pilot and I did handstands at EVERY.single.stop.. on the way out to CA and almost every one on the way back (by that time we were trying not to kill each other and were pretty cranky, lol)  I even have video footage- but I’ll spare you.. Instead here we are in Chicago :

(I’m in the red)

       Turns out people aren’t used to seeing a bunch of barefooted people doing handstands in the middle of everything.. The security guards (who took this picture) followed us around asking tons of questions and even made us move to this side of the “Bean” so that we could get the Chicago city line in the reflection.. Thanks for the suggestion guys! (And for standing there for at least 15 minutes taking pictures so that we got some good ones!) We did attempt to keep track of the number of handstands we did all trip but I think we stopped when we hit somewhere over 200.. It was pretty awesome :)

What are you weekend plans?

  I have the ENTIRE weekend off because of my shoulder- woohoo! Tonight we are having dinner at our house with some friends- grilling!  Plans are a bit vague for tomorrow- but hopefully will include canoeing and Sunday we are doing a walk to benefit MS!

What are you workout plans for this weekend? Any long ones out there?

  Paula and I might do the circuit we did two weeks ago- or maybe some other intense circuit with some cardio.. I’ll take suggestions! 

Hope yours is a great one!

Livefit Phase 3 COMPLETE! + Review and Photos

    I can’t even begin to tell you how proud of myself (and Paula of course) for finishing out this program. I have NEVER done any type of workout program like this in the past and I am very excited about the results; For me the body changes are important- of course- but more than that the unwavering discipline and dedication that I have found within myself. In just 3 short months I changed my body and my attitude about myself and my goals. I woke up at 5AM each and every single morning to get to the gym at 6AM; I didn’t miss a single workout; didn’t make a single excuse; didn’t tell myself I couldn’t do it… nope, none of that.. Somewhere mid-program I began to uncover this person I had buried beneath all of that self-doubt and bullshit- a person that helped someone else do the same thing and realize their potential (Though I believe that Paula taught me and gave me so much more)- a person that isn’t afraid to follow her dream, take a chance, and be fearless.

    Let’s get on with it shall we?

Pumped after the final workout

Had to share those hard earned sweat stains ;)

    The last workout of Livefit was an hour of cardio. Like the Saturday before, we decided to split it up into 20 minute sections. Treadmill/Arc Trainer/Treadmill.. I ran 15 minutes each time on the treadmill (spending the first five minutes walking at a fast pace to warm up my leggin’s ) The time flew by- which was impart I’m sure to the excitement of completion.. After a quick wipe down of the machines and a few fist pumps in the air- a couple high fives and a few heel kicks (ok.. I forgot the heel kicks.. Damn it!) we were done and enjoying the post workout glow… My husband is adorable and is taking me to pick out a pandora bead as a symbol of my accomplishment because he is so proud of me.. I almost cried.. He is the most supportive and amazing man a girl could ask for <3

    Finally- we get to the “after” photos.. Keep in mind (as always) that I’m no photographer, some pictures are a bit blurry.. and the composition is all wrong I’m sure.. and I’m in my undies- but you don’t care.. right?! 

 

  See Phase 1 and  Phase 2 for there complete reviews.. But lets check out this side by side…   

                    (Before)                              AND                   (After)

    Livefit Phase 3 was probably my favorite phase. I like jumping around the gym looking like a nut- I swear it makes other people laugh and lets face it it is so much more fun to be silly and have a great time while kicking ass and taking names. I was challenged for sure. The first two weeks were intense; with the combo of higher reps/plyo supersets, finished off with sprint intervals- I left the gym a sweaty mess each and every day. The last two weeks were circuit style with 30 reps per exercise on the leg day and 20 reps per exercise all other days- taking no rest until you finished all 6-8 exercises- rest for 3-5 minutes and repeat the whole thing 3-4 times; Then end that with 30-40 minutes of cardio with Saturdays being 1 hr cardio only days. I didn’t love the circuit style workouts on the days where we had to use multiple machines- which at our gym were scattered, making us take up the whole place-  but that was my only complaint was the inconvenience. 

    The Livefit program was AMAZING.. I don’t have a single negative thing to say about it. Yes there were days that we were at the gym for over 2 hours and that sucked; Yes there were times when I didn’t want to be on the treadmill for 30-40 minutes; Yes it was hard and I was sore a lot; But I LOVED every single minute-  and I will I’m sure do it again someday. 

      So Jamie Eason… Thanks so much for kicking my ass, being so sweet that I couldn’t have hated you even if I tried, and for being an amazing inspiration for me.