Tag Archives: exercise

Lean, Mean, Non-Green Machine

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I had some good runs last week and actually was able to squeeze three of them in! WHAT! Three runs in a week? Unheard of the past two months around here! But I got motivated, pushed myself and was able to complete them without killing myself. Progress, people, progress.

dailymile

dailymile

I received my weekly report from DailyMile, where I  track all of my runs and some of my other cardio work. And was so excited to see that for last week, I not only squeezed in three separate runs but went for 9.68 miles total on the week! I wanted to high five myself…and maybe I did at the gym. So now that my running is back, I’ve been trying to incorporate some weight lifting here and there and am mostly using machines and some free weight workouts I know. But I’m getting BOOOOORED with it. Any advice on how  to spice up my lifting routine? Any good apps out there with weight lifting workouts incorporated in there?

I’m looking to tone up, not bulk up but am also in the process of trying to lose weight … I don’t want to be the Hulk but am looking to increase my strength, endurance and trim up all areas of my body.

marvel comics

marvel comics

 

Running + Not Running

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Last week I vowed to crank out 6 miles as a weekly goal for myself. I missed the mark and was only able to get in 3 miles. It wasn’t because I didn’t try but I didn’t put in the best effort and losing motivation 8 weeks out from your 30th birthday and 12 weeks out from your wedding isn’t really helping either. I ran twice last week and realized that I’m completely at square one with my couch to 10K program. I have zero endurance and I just feel heavier which makes it much harder to run. People seriously! What do you do when you don’t feel like doing anything!?

I’m back to tracking my calories on MyFitnessPal because I think that stunted by weight loss. I spoke with a nutritionist at work who told me to stop counting calories. Well, not counting calories doesn’t really make me aware of what I’m eating – so I just eat. And with a lack of motivation to work out, that means I’m not really moving either. It’s bumming me out and I feel terrible. Not a good mix since I’m looking for my wedding dress this weekend. Joy!

Ok, let’s make a promise! Let’s get those 6 miles in this week and track calories in AND incorporate some non-running exercises. Serrrriously! I can do this!!!

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What are YOUR exercise goals this week? How do you stay motivated?

 

Songs To Run To

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I recently updated my running playlist because I found I had too many slow songs that I had to flip through to get to the high energy songs. Annoying if you’re trying to focus on making it through a workout. So I went through my phone and picked out the songs I most liked to run to or were really upbeat or that I just liked. What’s on my list?

song

Chris Brown “Beautiful People” – So Mr. Brown may be the poster child of domestic violence but this is probably my favorite running song. It has such a great beat that I can’t ignore it! It makes me pump out those strides longer!

Foster the People “Call it What You Want” – Anything by FTP from this album is a running favorite. Great beats, catchy tunes.

The Wanted “Chasing the Sun” – This Brit boy band has an okay album and I have actually downloaded a few of their tunes. I like this one because the chorus is really fast and is great to time your steps to.

Tegan and Sara “Closer” – This is a fairly new tune and I just love it. I’ve been a long time fan of T&S and their new album is pretty decent. This is one of their more faster paced songs though. Tidbit – a good love song on the album is “Love They Say”.

Young the Giant “Cough Syrup” – This is one of the songs I discovered when I was in California so it always immediately evokes images of palm trees and sun which make me happy and make me want to run.

The Wombats “Jump Into the Fog” – This is an obscure addition to a running playlist. It’s kinda creepy and somber and doesn’t have a terrific upbeat tune. It actually starts with a really slow pace first verse. But I like how it builds up and is kinda relaxing – it’s a good pacing song.

V.V. Brown “Shark in The Water” – This is a fun song! Catchy and playful upbeat tune – kinda beachy feel. What’s not to like?

DJ Tiesto (feat. Tegan and Sara) “Feel it in My Bones” – T&S makes a second appearance on the playlist. This is a great, fast tune with DJ Tiesto controlling the tempo. It has a marching-like quality, which I like, and some power-like lyrics. “Left hook, I didn’t see it coming…”

Robyn “With Every Heartbeat” – So she was popular a REALLY long time ago, but Robyn still has some good tunes that I hear from time to time. I like this song because it has a slower pace but quickens up through the song – really builds you up!

Radiohead “15 Step” – Not going to lie, I snapped this song up from the closing credits of Twilight. Not because I’m an enlightened Radiohead fan. I do like some of their music, but not enough to call myself a faithful fan. This song has a serene-like quality, very flowy and has a terrific back beat to keep you right on pace without blowing out your eardrums.

Phoenix “1901″ – One of the best songs to work out to. Great up beat tune from beginning to the end. Another song with a great beat to pace yourself with!

M83 “Midnight City” – I loooove this song. It reminds me of California and has a quirky, techy feel to it and a 80s-feel to the end.

Foster the People “Houdini” – FTP has the best music to run to. Futuristic and upbeat. I love their entire album and “Houdini” is one of the best tracks on it!

Florence + the Machine “Dog Days Are Over” – Um…is this not THE best song to run to? Gradually building up, super upbeat, and Flo’s amazing voice. I love it to pieces. Plus, I feel like they are clapping for me during the song – hello, encouragement!!

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros “Home” – A FUN song! I love the lyrics and it’s so playful. It reminds me of weddings because I think a lot of people use them in their wedding videos – so it’s a happy song to run to!

Calvin Harris (feat. Florence Welch) “Sweet Nothing” – A great DJ paired up with Florence’s AMAZING voice – can’t beat this. It’s a great super fast song! Seriously, it’s like being in a techno nightclub! Get your glow sticks out!

The Band Perry “Done” – I’m not a huge fan of country music, at all. I usually like a song here and there but I’ve liked the sibling trifecta of The Band Perry since they came out with “If I Die Young.” This is their newest tune and you may have seen it on advertisements of their new album during the NCAA tournament. It’s a fast song and full of break-up angst.

Atlas Genius “Trojans” – Another song that reminds me of California. Great pace and beat. Nothing too intense, but something to keep you bobbing your head to.

So, that’s my long list of my most recent running playlist. What’s on your playlist? What’s your favorite tune to work out to?

Ultimate Loser: Week 9

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Between food posts and work out posts, I probably have you really confused and wanting to slap me. That’s ok – that’s half the battle in life anyways – the struggle to want super delicious food and to be lean and fit.  I know that’s always been a problem for me, growing up in a household raised by a woman who showered you with food and love and it always worked out because I was soooo active as a kid. But now as I’m approaching 30 this year, I can feel myself start to slow down. I can sense a small shift in my metabolism. I can tell when I get tired (even though I’m out of shape) quicker. And that has me worried.

I’ve steadily lost weight now for the past 8 weeks and that’s been great! Even on my worst days (and weekends) I’m seeing at least a 0.4 lbs weight loss.  I have been really worried the past few weeks because I’ve been mainly just running to lose weight. I haven’t been adding weight training, I haven’t been taking extra classes, I haven’t really been eating the BEST I can. Which if you can tell from all of those statements, means I haven’t really learned a long-term weight loss plan/life-style change that’s sustainable. This past weekend, I ate a lot. A lot more than I did in LA and Ohio. I had a big breakfast, paired with a lunch at Stir Crazy and even had more food on Sunday. With only playing 1 game of volleyball and doing a 45 minute run on Friday, that really wasn’t going to counter-act the food consumption I took in.

Weighing in today was a little bittersweet. I gained 1.8 pounds over the week, which means I was absolutely correct in knowing that I need to go back to moderation and need to start CONSISTENTLY putting in workouts. I was immediately fine right after weighing in, finding myself shrugging and saying, “I knew it was going to be like this – I ate bad this past weekend.” A few minutes later it hit me that I’m going in the exact opposite direction that I wanted to on the weight loss journey and with only 10 weeks until my 30th birthday and 15 weeks until my wedding – I have some time but also am starting to feel the time crunch a little to make it to my goal of at least down to 180 by the wedding. With 15 weeks to go – that means a little over 1.5 lbs per week. I’m upset about the weight-gain but I know that I CAN do this!

A little dive into my workouts – I ran on Friday but was feeling some pain in my right hip so cut my 58 minute run/walk short to about 42 minutes. I have been struggling in Week 5 of the couch to 10K program. I can’t make it through the full 2.5 minute runs, or I start to hurt in my legs … and it’s just getting tougher. I want to be able to breeze through this before Week 6′s 73 minute run/walk with 3 minute runs – this is my dragon to slay.

This week’s work out is for your booty – so get to it!

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