Tag Archives: circuit workout

3×3 (or not) Workout

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Ever have one of those days where you just don’t want to do a damn thing? I don’t feel sick, or really that tired (and only a tad sore from the last few workouts), and all I want to do is go home and veg out in my jammies.

Ok, I probably lied a little bit. Now that I think about it, I am pretty effing tired and super sore and just want to NOM the hell out of all the junk in the house (note: there is like NO junk in our house, which gives me a big huge sad face on days like this). Woof.

I just wanted to check in today and share with you the workout I did last Wednesday that I said I’d post.

So, to give you a bit of info about this workout: there are three sets of three exercises (first set are compound exercises, second set focus on upper body, and third set focus on lower body). When I wrote up the workout, I originally decided on completing 50 reps of each move.  Then I thought maybe I’d nix that and attempt  rounds to fatigue of each set before moving to the next. I finally went with lumping the 9 moves together and moving through the list, completing 10 reps of each at a time. I managed to get through it 4 times before hopping on the treadmill  to finish off with some intervals before it was time to get back to work.

Moral of the story: you can do this workout any way you’d like!

  • 50 reps of each move (completing 50 before moving to the next)
  • 10 reps through each for ‘x’ number of sets
  • 3 sets of ‘x’ number of reps per grouping before moving to the next
  • completing reps to fatigue of each move, ultimately reaching 50 reps per exercise (completed in however many sets needed)
  • go home and eat Ben & Jerry’s and think about the workout (unless you live in Canada, it’ll probably be Chapman’s ice cream since B&J is like $30283520386 a pint).

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There ya have it! Now I want a nap.

Forgotten Cookies and a Circuit Workout (because cookies and workouts go together)

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You’d think with all this free time I have that I’d be able to keep up with blogging everyday. You’d think.

Yesterday afternoon, Layla started drooling like CRA-ZAY. Tyler thinks her drooling is linked to her butt issue (oh, you don’t know about the butt issue? She starts yelping and getting in downward dog position. Apparently her anal glands fill with fluid, so she has to have them expressed at the vet) so of course, I was on edge all last night about it.

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The drooling from yesterday made it inevitable that she would start yelping today, but so far so good (knock on wood).

In light of some butt-talk, I have a cool recipe for ya: Forgotten cookies!

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I don’t think you could mess these up if you tried. They’re called forgotten cookies because you can mix the ingredients together, put them in the oven and forget about them!

Ingredients

  • 2 egg whites
  • pinch of salt
  • 2/3 sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

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Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the egg whites and salt until they get foamy. Slowly add the sugar (still beating), and continue until the mixture form stiff peaks.
  3. Fold in the vanilla, chocolate chips, and nuts. Spoon onto baking sheets.
  4. Place the cookies in the oven. As soon as your shut the oven door, turn the oven off and leave the cookies in there overnight (or 5-6 hours).

Yum.

Yesterday, I also got my Glymm Box in the mail.

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A couple of goodies: lip gloss, fake eyelashes, $10 gift card, nail polish remover, and $20 off a panty of the month club (umm, no thanks).

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Tyler and I are having a date night on Friday, so I’m thinking of slapping those lashes on the ol’ eye curtains. I predict I’ll either look like a drag queen or….a drag queen.

For your entertainment:

The 12 Daze of Christmas (performed by Fay McKay) If you’ve never heard it, you’ll get a chuckle. *and a tree….and a tree…and a treeeeee innn the meaaaadowwwwww*

(Not gonna lie, I’m sitting here staring at my computer trying to think of what to write next. I have nothing else to do except an at home workout that I have yet to write)

Ok, perhaps we should do that! (Give me 5 minutes so I can write it on paper first, then I’ll type it.)

….5 minutes later…

GOT IT. Here’s my workout for the evening that I choose to share with you:

Warm up tabata: alternating between skiiers and jump squats

5 minute AMRAP (as many rounds as possible) of:

  • 10 bicep curls
  • 20 reverse lunges
  • 10 crunches
  • 20 donkey kicks

Cardio tabata: alternatig between jumping jacks and side to side lunges

5 minute AMRAP of:

  • 10 deadlifts
  • 20 overhead press crunch
  • 10 sit-n-stands
  • 20 prone ball glute press

Cardio tabata: alternating between mountain climbers and jump rope

Polish it off with the following at your own pace:

  • 50 single leg stability ball squat (each side)
  • 50 pushups
  • 50 leg lifts

What’s your favorite holiday song? What’s your favorite go-to exercise at home?

Sunday Blogging

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Simultaneously blogging while watching Home Alone 2 on a Sunday. Ambitious.

But what do I have to blog about? Nothing, really. This is where I ask you, dear readers of this silly little blog, to give me some suggestions. Have questions you want me to answer? Want me to write about a certain something? Let me know. Otherwise, the next 7 months of blogging will consist of only Layla pictures, crap I’ve baked, and my workouts. That gets slightly boring.

To briefly recap the weekend thus far: Friday afternoon I did a nice SWEATY home circuit workout.

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Each set is done 3x through before moving on to the next (if it’s one side-specific, 10 reps for each side=1 set). Each move will consist of 10 reps.

  • Stability ball split squats
  • Weighted pliet squat

 

  • Bicep curls
  • Up-Down plank (5 with right arm leading, 5 left)

 

  • Gliding curtsy lunges
  • Single leg deadlifts

 

  • Pushups
  • Overhand grip standing row

 I alternated the moves in each set (ex: 10 pushups, 10 row, 10 pushups, 10 row, 10 pushups, 10 row) and completing the set 3x through without rest. 1-2 minute rest between each completed set.

Tyler came home with an awesome bag of goodies that were being handed out downtown. AND IT WAS FROM TARGET! OHMYGODIMSOEXCITED.

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A sweet reusable bag with even sweeter shades

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A fleece throw and a snow/ice scraper thingy.

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Friday night was spent on the couch (BOOOOOO-RING). A nice little dinner and Elf.

Saturday’s face:

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Tyler was working pretty much ALL DAY yesterday, so Layla and I had even more quality bonding time. We watched The Holiday, then went to the park for about an hour or so. 

I started to get really bored, so I randomly got dressed up (it lasted for about 15 minutes before I switched back to jammies) I think I was influenced to dress up because I was watching RHONY. As soon as a wedding show came on, I was all F this noise and F these tights, I’m getting comfy y’all. Anyways- here’s the get-up:

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Today was an early wakeup- obviously because of football, but also because we hadn’t yet submitted our picks. Tyler ran to the store to submit them, and came back with Tim Horton’s. Good guy. Good, good guy.

So, ummmmmmm, yeah that’s all I got. 

Best Body Bootcamp is over, so I’m actually going to have to plan my own strength workouts. At least until the next round of BBB starts up in January.

This commercial is hilarious:

I started watching Dexter.

The neighbors behind us have all their Christmas lights and blow up things in their backyard. I don’t understand. Backyard? Then only *I* can enjoy them. Thanks, I guess.

Let’s talk about the pigeon lady in Home Alone 2. I never liked her. 

The guy from here:

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(Source)

Is THIS GUY:

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(Source)

Never made the connection before. Crazy pants.

Give me suggestions/questions for future posts

Or, leave me something random.

Thanks!

Weekend Catch Up. And free lululemon!

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Ok, I think I can get back to normal now. School is over and grades are in. 2 A’s to finish grad school! My cumulative GPA is 3.751. Not. Too. Shabby. I am really glad it’s over. The other night, I dreamt that I hadn’t finished all my work. But I also dreamt bears were chasing me, so I couldn’t take it too seriously. I finally checked yesterday morning and had to refrain from hooting and hollering because Tyler was still sleeping.

Made me feel even better about getting this puppy from Tyler as a graduation gift:

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I have already made a batch of chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies and biscotti. The chocolate chip recipe that was my go-to recipe has been officially taken over by a new recipe that came with my mixer. Tyler and I agreed that this batch was the best because it wasn’t as sweet. I thought they were chewier, too. Makes them last longer (or not). I am still on the hunt for a savory dish to make with this. But why rush, when the obvious thing to make during the holiday season is tons and tons of cookies?! I loaded up on sugar, flour, brown sugar, powdered sugar, eggs, BUTTER, and food coloring in preparation for the madness that will be my kitchen in the next few weeks. PS: If you have any cookies recipes you’re dying to share..PLEASE DO!

Saturday was a busy day. It was a FUN day! And, after two weeks sans makeup and normal clothes, I got myself dressed.

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I rocked some red corduroys, brown leather boots, a plaid long sleeved tee, and my wool scarf from Zulily. If you haven’t heard of Zulily, I highly recommend you check out that link I provided. There are some insane deals on there! (The girls got their bridesmaids earrings from there!)

We had a Groupon for Fatburger that was due to expire this week, so we decided to make the trek to the NE for some fat-kid food.

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The voucher was for the standard burger, fries, and soft drink. A meal that is totally out of my norm. I managed to finish most of the burger which was OK, and a couple of fries. Had to force feed those, since I am NOT a fry person. The best thing I can say about that meal was that it wasn’t greasy. So I didn’t feel like a tub-o-lard that I planned on feeling like.

While eating the meal, I spotted a Bulk Barn across the way. I had never been to one yet, and I really wanted to sneak a peak on what goodies they had to offer. Yup, it was heaven. I was surprised by the variety of things they had- coffee to spices to baking ingredients to candy to nuts to….everything. 

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I managed to restrain myself, and we walked out with only a couple of goodies:

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Irish cream coffee beans, hot tamales, corn nuts (for Tyler). and silver sugar pearls. I was entirely too excited to see the pearls because I remember my mom always having them in the cupboard, ready for baking. I guess the store we went to stopped carrying them or they were discontinued because we couldn’t find them for the longest time. Tonight, we will be definitely using them to decorate christmas cookies- made with my new mixer 😉

We also stopped by this shop that was within the same neighborhood- and we got a home brewing kit! Tyler and I LOVE drinking beer, and Tyler has been interesting in making it at home. We ended up getting the kit and a box of wort for mexican cerveza.The guy at the store said it was more like Dos Equis than Corona. As soon as we got home, we got right to it!

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I can’t wait to see how it turns out. We have already been looking into other ‘flavors’. I’m rooting for Apricot!

After the beer was all set (it is currently still sitting in the basement fermenting. Or doing whatever it does), we got to our gingerbread building. I opted for the traditional house, while Tyler mixed it up and got the tree. I think they turned out pretty good. Mine included red and green fondant that I had to roll out and shape myself. I now have a new respect for wedding cake bakers. But I’m still going with cupcakes.

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We rounded out the evening with Caesars and Home Alone.

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And Layla drooled all over us. Typical.

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Sunday was nothing unusual. Except for the fact that I wasn’t bogged down with homework! Tyler watched football while I did laundry and napped and snuggled with the pup. I was feeling pretty blah and didn’t want to go to the gym, so I did a pretty quick- but effective strength circuit:

  • 50 left reverse gliding lunges
  • 50 right reverse gliding lunges
  • 50 overhead presses
  • 50 shoulder presses
  • 100 stability ball situps
  • 50 right single leg deadlifts
  • 50 left single leg deadlifts

Yesterday’s workout was Workout A from Best Body Bootcamp– 6 rounds of tabatas, with each alternating between two moves (this is my favorite series for arms, because I have seen immediate results after both last night’s session and last Monday’s session. Score!) I also got to the gym and did a 30 minute treadmill interval workout.

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I think that makes me sufficiently caught up. What’s going on with you?

PS: Don’t forget, if you’re looking for a fitness-related gift for you or someone you know, check out the monthly fitness apparel subscription box from pv.body. If you click here, you can get 20% of regular price! AND IF YOU SIGN UP BY 12/13 (THIS THURSDAY) YOU WILL GET A FREE $25 LULULEMON GIFT CARD!!!!!!! (You can thank me later. Or now. Or send me cookies/lululemon gift card)

Heading Back to Boston

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hola.

i’m kind of excited about today. ok, really excited. i’m heading back to boston! Wait, wait, wait..let me rephrase that- I’m heading back to the GYM in boston! For the first time since I moved I will be able to go to two-a-day Tuesday for CBC Kix then Athena‘s class. I’m considering carbo loading now since I haven’t had a good gym beating in a while.

my mind is a jumble because i am scrambling around over here to get ish done so I have no coherent post to write.

-I went to my second tasting for the wedding. the atmosphere and service was awesome, BUT- if the food wasn’t fried, it was creamy. not my cup of tea. I didn’t even care for the vegetables. Looks like I’m going with the first (more expensive) place. Their food was THE BOMB DOT COM

-I did a circuit workout in my room yesterday. It went like this

The IN-YOUR-ROOM workout (appropriately named)

Upper body (3 sets, 12 reps-each side if necessary)

  • bicep curls
  • dead lifts
  • tricep pullback then tricep kickback
  • overhead press

Lower Body

  • kettlebell swings
  • curtsy lunge
  • weighted leg lift (laying down)
  • weighted pulse (with leg raise as high as possible)
  • weighted inner thigh lift
  • froggers

Core

  • weighted russian twist
  • toe reach
  • crunch
  • weighted side dips
  • standing crunch

You will ending up doing 3 sets of each for 9 sets total. In between each set, I did a 90 second cardio burst comprised of 30 sec jacks, 30 sec buttkicks, 30 sec jump rope.

ok. i gotta go!

(obviously i am going to stop by the bridal store and try on my sample dress again. pfff)