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!
Hahah! Glad you’re drooling over those burgers! Hope you try them, they are quick and delicious!
I tried those burgers! :) I ate two! That is unheard of for me. Need I say it, I loved them. :)
Hi Angela,
Just wondering if you’ve ever tried the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred? I wonder how it compares to the Booty Camp? And can you tell me where you got that Booty Camp DVD (I’m in Southwestern Ontario) or take a pic of the front of it and post it??
Sorry for all the questions!!
Thanks!
Dawn
ps. Your Green Monster looks yummy!
It might be for sale online soon…will spill the deets when I have them!
oops I forgot to answer your Q about 30 Day Shred. I have it and it is a great workout DVD. The shred is good because the workouts are short. I like booty camp because it has 7-8 workouts on 2 DVDs and a lot more variety.
damn girl look at those muscles.. hehe.. I can’t wait to pick it up as I just left the gym and I am looking for some new dvd’s..
i’ve started to really focus more on strength. i have a challenge going for myself in the month of march that involves 30 day shred. I know that I feel better when I’m stronger…i just have to remember that when I’m tempted to do all cardio
Look at those guns!! ;)
Good for you for incorporating strength training into your workouts! SO important! I try to do lower body, upper body, and core each at least twice a week.
I’ve neglected my strength training lately, but after this 8K I’ll be able to scale down the running a little and amp up the strength training. Hopefully that will help prevent all the injuries I’ve been getting.
Your guns look great!
I used to be cardio-crazed too and then I stopped seeing changes and got discouraged (not to mention bored!). I started adding some DVD workouts almost daily (mostly Jillian Michaels — The Shred, Banish Fat Boost Metabolism, No More Trouble Zones) and have seen a HUGE difference in the way my body looks. The scale hasn’t moved but I’ve lost inches in all the right places. I guess you can say I’m also working on “whittling my middle” :)
I loove cardio and am a complete cardio queen, but weights totally reshaped my body! I will never stop doing them – they make me feel great! :)
I love to do cardio because it helps me relieve stress BUT I include a good amount of strength training too so that it balances out. Having strong muscles makes me feel confident…and cardio can’t do that like strength training can.
Plus, I think it there needs to be some more female representation in the weight room so I show my face in there regularly :)
I do my best to get both strength 3x per week and cardio 5-6!
You look great Angela – so strong! Last year I was mainly just doing cardio but since I have added in yoga and strength I feel so much better.
I absolutely love weight/resistance training just for the fact of being able to see the results. I was a huge cardio junkie too (still love it don’t get me wrong) but now I find myself really looking forward to weights!
I love doing strength workouts, mostly upper body weight lifting. I am very proud of my arms, shoulders, and back these days.
I’ve been wanting to get in more strength training too! Cardio is great, but I definitely notice more of a difference with strength. But I am terrible at lifting weights by myself! I need a class or a DVD to get me going!
Angela! You look amazing! So toned and strong, congrats girl!!
I just want to say that I really enjoy your blog. You’re SO POSITIVE and I love that. I am by nature a really positive person and it’s so refreshing to find others who are the same. You inspire me everyday to cook yummy, healthy, veg meals! So thank you for having such a positive, interesting, healthy blog! :)
~Nicole~
p.s. I’m in Orlando, FL and I think you’re doing a meet-up on your trip. I’d love the info and hopefully I can make it!
your ‘guns’ are amazing!! :)
Of the links above, I liked the one on running gear you may not need (Spark).
Yes, strength training is a focus for me. It depends on what I’m doing. If I am focused on running, then I aim to incorporate high reps of weights, or just use my own body weight to compliment the running. At least 3 times a week. If I’m taking a break from running (I usually do 3-4 months on, 1-2 months off of running to avoid injury), I do a wide variety of weights training, sometimes focusing on one body part/day (about 30 minutes 4 days/week), in addition to some cardio.
I love your health news round-ups. I’m thinking of adding something similar to my blog.
you look amazing! i can’t wait to try those dvds — your glowing reviews are making me so interested! what a kickass GM with so many good things in it!
when i was losing weight (quickly), i did 40 minutes of cardio 5 days a week, and lifted weights 3 of those days as well. it actually felt like too much time in the gym, especially on the cardio, but i think what really made me lose the weight was restricting my calories. :/
i’ve since upped my calories to a healthy amount and have discovered high intensity interval training. a 20-minute workout that gives me better results than 40-minutes of steady state cardio? amazing! i still strength train 2-3 times a week and love the muscles i’m building, but the HIIT just a few days a week has cut my cardio time drastically. :)
however, i still need to work on getting my hand out of the granola bag and cereal box at night. i’m not seeing results because of this. i know what i need to do, i just need to do it!
happy friday!
Hi Tiffany,
What 20 minute work-out do you do now?
I’m definitely a weights junkie.
Having had to quit running earlier this year because of my funky hip, I haven’t found any cardio I enjoy as much as running.
I still do it, but I don’t enjoy it.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE lifting, though. It makes me tired, make me feel strong, and I love seeing the muscle gains, and being able to do more things in my every day life because I’m stronger.