Good morning!
Our good weather has come to an end. The weatherman is saying that we are supposed to get rain all weekend long! What a mood kill!! Thankfully I have some fun indoor shopping plans on Saturday with Krissy. We are going to a huge outlet mall and I hope to snag a couple of deals for our trip. Shopping is so much better when it is raining outside, isn’t it?
I started my morning off with some Bootaaaay! I did about 20 minutes of the cardio quickie from the Booty Camp Fitness DVD. Love, love, love this DVD.
I have done about 5-6 weeks of the booty camp now and I have noticed a lot of great changes in my body and I have built a ton of muscle. When I started the DVD back on Feb. 1st it was a sad sight. I could barely crank out TWO full push-ups! Now I am happy to say that I can do about 8-10! I have yet to wear my knee sleeves this season because my legs just feel all around stronger now as compared to last year. It is pretty exciting what strength training can do.
I used to be a huge cardio junkie. I would only do cardio day in and day out. I never saw any changes with my body which wasn’t too surprising!
I will be bringing the DVD with me on our trip to Florida. The great thing about it is that the exercises require no equipment, so I can do the DVD anywhere. Just pop it in my suitcase and go. The Booty Camp DVD might be available for purchase online in upcoming weeks, but this has not been verified. I will let you know when I find out any info! :)
Following the booty camp I did a 20 minute Hip Opening Flow yoga class from Yoga Download. I have been doing about 5 minutes of yoga a few times a week, but today I felt like doing something a bit longer. Plus, running and strength work make my legs reeeeeally tight!
By this time, I worked up an appetite and had an awesome post-workout green monster:
Post-workout GM:
- 1.25 cup almond milk,
- .75 cup spinach (ran out!)
- 1 scoop Amazing Grass chocolate meal,
- 1 frozen banana,
- ice,
- chia seeds,
- 1/4 cup oats,
- 1 tablespoon cashew butter
A meal in a glass!
This GM is about 450-475 calories and packs a ton of protein, fibre, vitamins, healthy fats, and minerals!
And now it is time to share with you some of my favourite health links of the week…
Health News Round Up
Is hooping the next big fitness craze? – NY Times
A vertical marathon? One woman is climbing all 7 continents for women in the Congo – That’s Fit
Secret of success: Sneak in more exercise – Daily Spark
Running: How to transition from the treadmill to the road – Fit Sugar
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein: What it is and where it is found: – CBC
Running Gear you don’t need according to some runners – That’s Fit
I’m working out, so why am I not losing weight? – Vitamin G
Raw Lemon Blueberry Scones – Fitnessista
Top 25 cardio workouts – Fitness
Currently drooling over: Mediterranean Black Bean Quinoa Burgers – The Voracious Vegan
All is right in the world: Sid the Kid’s equipment is found – Hockey Canada
Is a thin body celebrated more than a fit one? – Daily Spark
Today’s questions…
– What is your favourite health link from above?
– Do you do strength workouts on a regular basis or do you focus on cardio?
Have a great end to your week!
90% strength training! I’ll strength train 5 times a week at the gym, switching things up between, heavy days, super sets, high reps and circuit style… I’ll incorporate about 3 cardio sessions a week, mostly running or cycling. However, when the weather gets nice, there is nothing like rollerblading, long outside runs, trekking… anything sweaty and “outdoorsy”! There is just something about indoor cardio, I can’t get myself to do it!
You look great BTW… I’m happy you picked up strength training, it does wonders for the body, not just the outside physical aspect, but it also helps your bones get stronger and fights osteoporosis, amongst other things!
Keep up the great work :)
i defintely focus a lot of my efforts on strength trianing. Have you ever tried kettlebells? They are great for strength training AND cardio – double whammy! I have tons of info if you’re interested (or just search “kettlebells” on my site.
have a great day — you AND those gorgeous guns of yours ;)
xo
I think that thin is worshipped over strong and fit and I think that is such a shame. I love my body so much more now that it is strong and sculpted than when I was a skinnymalink!
As I cycle 6-10 miles a day for work I tend to concentrate on strength and stretching, mostly through different forms of yoga :)
Lifting! And lifting heavy. You just don’t bulk up as a woman, you just get strong.
I focus on both cardio and strength but I have to force myself to do weights. I hate it! I could do cardio for hours but strength training just bores me!
I really just run, and I think that’s because my motivation for doing it isn’t to have a super hot body. However, I know I really should start strength training because I know it would make me a better runner. You’re looking great, and if the video goes up for sale on the internet I’m probably going to get it.
you have no idea how encouraging this was for me to read this! i just did a post about not running anymore..im starting to feel a slight bondage to it so im not going to do it anymore and do more weights/yoga.. and YOU LOOK AWESOME!
I started doing pilates 4-5 months ago, found that it really helped stabilize my back so that I could workout at a higher intensity without increased pain, but I got to a lull even though I was doing more challenging exercises – my body just wasn’t responding anymore and my brain was getting bored. So in the last 4 weeks I have begun re-incorporating weight training into my workout program and am loving it. I do weights 3 times/week with focus on Legs, chest, back, biceps, triceps and abs. I need to add another leg day in there and am going to start that in the next week or two…otherwise, I do cardio 6-7 days/week and stretch on a daily basis. I love yoga, but can’t do it as I have the horrible issue of being too flexible, so I need the stability and strength of weights. Amazing how much easier my running is since incorporating the weights, not to mention faster times :)
I just recently have become more into strength training and like you said- it was the first time i saw major results in my body. However, I didn’t really like how my arms bulked up since I’m getting married in July and don’t really want to look like a body builder in my dress haha. So I’m taking it down a bit until July and then I’ll go back to my body building self haha.
I love the Fitness great cardio routines link you posted. Especially now that I am going back to my cardio junkie ways :)
congrats on the push up success!! i can totally relate–when i first started with my trainer i could do like 7 and wanted to cry. the other day i knocked out 20 in a row and was like OMG did i really just do that?!? haha. i was laughing with excitement! then i did 2 more sets of 20! it’s so so worth the pain to get better. good job!!
I love cardio, but I definitely try to lift weights once or twice a week. I think it is important to be strong. I read this article on pushups (and it points out that when you’re older, the ability to do a push up means that you are strong enough to catch yourself when you fall) and since then I’ve been trying to increase how many I can do. I recently moved from two sets of 10 pushups to three sets of 7! And I do them “men’s style.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/health/nutrition/11well.html
i gotta say i was a huge fan of the scone post from fitnessista :) i would love to do more cardio, but my knee is so messed up right now that it’s hard to do more than walking. i love doing weights, but am deliberating how i’m going to incorporate more of that into my day. i’m re-reading your posts about waking up earlier in hopes of inspiration :)
I used to be a pure cardio junkie too, but since I started strength training I’ve seen so much change! Hello biceps!
I find myself focusing on strength more so than cardio sometimes. I did a bikini bootcamp last spring that focused on interval work and I got in the best shape of my life with very little cardio involved!
Love the Fit Philanthropy article… I’m an avid hiker with plans to learn the basics of mountaineering this summer. I always love reading about other women who are out there doing it as the sport is primarily dominated by men! Attaining the summits she already has is no easy feat. Thanks for posting that!
to be honest, your arms do not look very toned to me….your stomach does!
btw you look very diffrent in this picture…like a completly diffrent person
I challenge you to an arm wrestle!! muhauha
I think you look great and your arms looked super toned to me! Oh and pretty sure noone looks like themselves after a great workout! :)
strength and building muscle or being “toned” are two very different things. Being able to do more push ups or lift heavier weights (or win at arm wrestling :)) means you are stronger and/or have more muscle endurance but it takes months and months of HEAVY lifting (not bodyweight work) and lots of extra calories to build significant muscle. You can definitely get stronger and look more “toned” or defined but that is mainly a function of muscle fibers tightening and losing some body fat, not from building muscle mass. Just wanted to clarify that.
I LOVE Body Pump. I think that I am addicted to it. I love LOVE the way my muscles and body feel after I get done with a good work out, pumping iron. :)
I focus on cardio and yoga….more strength work would definitely be a plus!
Oh my I used to be such a cardio junkie! Granted I still have my cardio loves but I do b/c I have a blast. I’m a kickboxing junkie so that is just pure entertainment for me!
I do all at home fitness programs myself by Beachbody. I love being able to wake up and crank out any type of workout I want all in my living room.
In the last year I have really upped my strength training and it has done WONDERS! It not only changes your body but it truly does rev up your metabolism which keeps my body burning like a furnace! The key though = you have to eat! Without enough fuel I saw little to no change. Now that I listen to my body, feed it well = everything happens!
Good health links!
Ha! The link of things runners don’t need on thatsfit.com: Runners don’t need “compression anything?” Pshhhhh….Not for people with thigh jiggle! Chafing is painful. I do agree about carrying water bottles while running is difficult and uncomfortable.