Fitness Bucket List + Swim + Photo Droppings

       If your anything like me, you love a challenge. Some of my better qualities are determination and dedication, of which I seem to have an overabundance of.. so I’m always looking for something new to work towards and keep these things in check. Like a lot of you I have a fitness bucket list and I thought it was about time I shared some of it!

• Swim once again a 50 meter freestyle in 0:26 secs flat and 100 meter freestyle in 1:01 mins flat- I did this when I was 16 in the best swimming shape of my life
• Run a 1/2 Marathon 
• Run a Marathon
• Triathlon
• 5 minute plank
• Hold a freestanding handstand for 3o secs
• Back handspring
• Crossfit
• Tough Mudder

    If you’ve been reading for a while, you know that I practiced handstands like it was my job up until a couple months ago when my shoulder started to hate me

 Luckily, my shoulder has been behaving and handstanding is happening once again.. Planks and swimming are happening too.

   A few months ago during my journey through Livefit I got back in the pool for the first time in years- for laps. It was pathetic.. I mean I realize that it was 10 years after my peak swimming years, but wow… Out of swimming shape was an understatement! But it made me remember what I loved so much about the sport.. and it made me determined to get back into it on a more regular basis- just to prove I could do it. But coupled with the daily intense lifting of Livefit and teaching multiple classes a week, swimming only lasted about a month before I had to put it on the back burner, until this last week. 

    Maybe it only makes sense to those of you who are swimmers, but there is something that happens when I put my cap and goggles on and push off that wall, the way my hair and skin feels and smells afterwards, and the endorphin high… like no other! 

   But wait- let me get back to the story.. I went for a super casual swim with a friend who can swim but needed some direction.. for over an hour I taught her about freestyle. We covered breathing, stroke, and even flip turns. She was a great student and so excited which made it so much fun for me as well! Considering I had never taught anyone to swim before- she was doing great so I guess I did a pretty good job too ;) As we were leaving the adult swim group was getting in the water. I had swam with them a few times years ago and the coach still remembered me! After chatting for a few minutes, I got invited to swim with them this week and I’m PUMPED about it!   

   The last week has been filled with workouts from Phase 2 of Livefit trainer, and some cross fit from home:

 “Cindy”- 20 mins AMRAP

     5 pull ups

    10 push ups

    15 squats

I was able to complete 18 full rounds and made it halfway through the 19th.. Holy Guacamole- I was SORE the next day.. and can’t wait to be able to go to a cross fit gym someday so I can get the real experience.. But that will have to wait until I get a real job because man it is expensive around here! 

    Today I did the workout from the Fitnessista’s Summer Shape up. I really loved the workout. It was challenging and pretty speedy- even with 20 minutes of HIIT on the treadmill I was done in just under an hour- with a sweat halo around my head proving I got a good workout in :) 

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Remember this frame? 

I made it into this and hung it up and everything!

                                                                (P is our last name initial)

  Not only was this exciting because I finished something in a timely manner, but it also came out JUST like I had envisioned it! By the way Antique glaze is the most fun, ever! 

    I also got more pictures from the Warrior dash:

The Fire really did seem so much bigger and more scary- especially when you have a tutu made of very flammable materials! 

Dragging out from the mud for the finish

    And my most favorite of them all

  Nothing says a good time like Mud in my mouth and your eyes!

What is something from your Fitness Bucket List?

Happy Monday!!!

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. 

“Jumping” into Phase 3, Adderall update, another Interview

EXERCISE	Set #1	Set #2	Set #3
Superset:	XX	XX	XX
Leg Press: 3 sets of 15 reps	180	180	180
Squat Jump: 3 sets of 15 reps
Working Set Active Rest:	XX	XX	XX
Smith Machine Single-leg Split Squat 3 sets of 15 reps, per side	20	20	20
Jump rope: 3 sets of 1 minute
Superset:	XX	XX	XX
Walking Barbell Lunge: 3 sets of 20 reps, 10 steps down, 10 back	50	50	50
Long Jump: 3 sets of 20 reps, 10 jumps down, 10 back
Superset:	XX	XX	XX
Leg Extension: 3 sets of 20 reps	40	40	40
Lateral Bound (side-to-side single leg hops): 3 sets of 20 reps
Smith Machine Squat: 3 sets of 30 reps	90	90	90
Working Set Active Rest:	XX	XX	XX
Standing Calf Raise: 3 sets of 20 reps	bw	bw	bw
Jump rope: 3 sets of 1 minute
Working Set Active Rest:	XX	XX	XX
Calf Press on Leg Press: 3 sets of 20 reps	bw	bw	bw
Jump rope: 3 sets of 1 minute

    I know Spring is coming and everything- but I felt like a fricken bunny jumping around the gym like a goober, lol. Actually I prefer workouts that combine plyo-moves and even though we looked ridiculous pretending to jump rope and doing long jumps in the middle of the gym at 6:30 in the morning I had a lot of laughs and fun with this workout. Don’t get me wrong I was super sweaty and working hard! I have a feeling this is going to be a long week, hah.

    Today is day 3 of Adderall and I haven’t much to report for today besides thirst. the initial jolt that I felt the last few days hasn’t happened.  Day 2 I didn’t have that talkative jabber mouth but I swear the thirstiness and dry mouth got worse! I definitely feel that and the decreased appetite more than anything and this day I felt the “switch- off” around 3pm which the doc said might happen. (Because I’m taking a 12 hr time release version, the way the body metabolizes the medicine is different for everyone.. it might make it through my system more quickly or  slowly so I have to keep track of this… In which case I will then be prescribed the “Instant” release version to take in conjunction with the 12 hr for when the switch-off happens… this is something that I would take when needed)
 
     Ah yes, another interview today at noon. This is the Wellness coach job I was telling you about, so I’m pretty excited! Wish me luck!