Tag: cardio

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Salud! And Summings Up..

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Hola!! Long time, eh? Well, laptop self destructed itself and that has left me blogging from my app indefinitely. I’m not fancy enough for a tablet and am too  lazy busy to drop my laptop off apparently for repair. But, I need to do something because this blog has become my 3rd home (gym is 2nd) and I have missed promoting the joys of fitness…

Well, back at the ranch lots of working out has been goings ons!! Lots of legs and heavy lifting..

I have even injected running back into the groove of things… I was challenged in Nikeplus and that’s all it took to get crazy competitive again…

Random, but I remember how toned my lower back was when I was running 20+ miles a week. I need to get back there and that’s that. Also random have been on this MonsterMilk that I got on sale half off and it is gonna be tragic when I run out!

I may have to break down and buy that big $50 tub and sacrifice my Visa payment, or flu shots desire for things like this…

I also started operation Beyonce booty. Is time for a glute upgrade.

I’ve got a lot of work to do. But I can sure rock a pair of jeans in the mean time 🙂

Anyone? Anywho.. it’s Christmas Eve and I just finished a 4 miler.

Going to brave Walmart one more time to make sure we have every tiny thing we need. Because I think they’ll be closed so employees can spend quality time with their families and that’s really what Christmas is about these days, right?

Have a Merry Christmas Hip Huggers!! And a Happy.. well, i’ll see y’all before the New Year! Salud!

3 mile run tomorrow 🙂 Do you work out on holidays, too?

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Bow Down, Doubters!!

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Have you heard the buzz?! Queen Bey released her self-titled album at midnight…no announcement… exclusively on iTunes… Like a boss. I totally sweat Beyonce. Love. Her.

That totally warped my whole Friday. I had so much planned to get done. Instead I danced around sat and watched all her videos on the visual album… Because I’m uh.. obsessed.
And, uh, apparently distracted. I have not worked out in 2 days. I’ve been so busy! Christmas lights shopping has taken over my life! I’m not even worthy of blogging right now, Hip Huggers. I’m such a tease boob. But I do feel great today!!!

I have been keeping up with my 3L though. I frequented many public bathrooms today, against my better judgement, but I am a week into my challenge… and allowing no excuses.

Was at Target and finally found what I’ve been searching for…

I need it for a specific mug muffin. I’ve become a boss at making mug muffins! There are sooooo many different ways to try them! I made a cinnamon flax one yesterday…

Topped it with Justin’s maple almond butter.. Heaven. Even if I did share almost half…

Lastly, I opted not to take the position. Very hard decision, but I decided I was going to be a trainer and that’s what I am going to do! I can’t let doubt take over my mind. I did have to quiet that b*tch in my head, she was being a thorn!! We worked it out though, for now….

Onward and upward.

What artist are you absolutely obsessed with?

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Countdown…

runswithhips

Happy Friday! Still ice cold weather here, Déjà Vu from yesterday, but I woke up in such a fantastic mood today! I was ready to work this body! I had planned to really get it in yesterday, but instead, I did diddly squats nothing.
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Listen, I struggled between bracing the cold garage and running a few miles to get the blood flowing, or doing a full body workout inside. I really, reeeeally 4 e’s needed to do some strength training. I had only focused on it one day this week… slap sigh.

So, to break even, I did Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred Level 3. I also worked my stems with this 7 minute glute workout. You need this glute workout in your life! Add ankle weights and the burn is intense! Hey, I’m trying to Upgrade You.
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In other news, I used to drink water like a fish! When I lost my weight, I was drinking at least 6-8 bottles of water a day! After that, I drank about a gallon a day, up until last summer. When I took on a new job last October, I cut back because of all the bathroom breaks, lol, and I didn’t want it to be all about Me, Myself, and I and my water addiction sadly dwindled down to a few bottles a day.
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But, I am starting back today! Jay-Z and Beyoncé are challenging themselves to be vegan for 22 days. Not interested in living vegan, living la vida loca maybe but I too have heard it takes 21 days to start a new habit and albeit it’s not new, it needs to be a part of my daily again and will…

I want to be a habitual water chugger until the End of Time. So, this is happening.
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                                              All measured and ready to H2O!

Countdown begins!
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What’s your daily water intake? Is there a healthy habit you’d like to adopt for 22 days?

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Big Chop, Big Shop

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Hello, Hip Huggers!! I’ve missed you. Feels like forever since I’ve blogged!! Hope you all enjoyed Thanksgiving with family, friends, laughs, and of course some good ol’ this…

Decided to chop off all that God awful bronze hair. That means I’ll be rocking the hats buzz for awhile…

But enough about life, this IS a random fitness blog right?
Cardio all day… breezy 5 miler. I missed you, mileage.

Home for a little leftover recovery…

Did a billion things today. Let’s just say I murdered Old Navy. We also crashed Walmart. Went in looking for a marked down juicer, wasn’t marked down enough so, I’ll just wait…. online. You’re just too mental for me, Walmart.

Whattt? Can’t believe I found this in there, and for $8! Saves me a trip Uptown.. Yessss!

Walmart also had all their spring/summer workout gear on clearance. Had to get a size big in shirts but hey, $14 for the whole lot! Can’t beat it with a stick!

Just in time because I’ve been very picture heavy on Instagram…

Did you start your Christmas shopping this weekend?

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Coffee, Cookies, and the Crazies

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I woke up moody with a neck ache from those shoulder shrugs yesterday… and also because my house is a mess! Its driving me crazy! I need coffee to get stuff in order. Just want to curl up in a ball and be rolled under the couch with all the other socks and junk I now see under there. Stuff. Just. Everywhere.

Got moving and ready to run away workout. The usual roundup for breakfast. Oats for me are essential for heavy lifting days. I will be shaking halfway through my workout if I don’t have this carb in my belly to sustain me.

I like my oatmeal thick, not just kinda fine..

Coffee in hand, we headed to the gym. Worked legs heavy! Weighted squats, deadlifts, and walking lunges. For machines: calf raises, lying leg curls, leg extensions, sitting leg curls, hip adduction, hip abduction, and leg press with a calf raise superset. Takes just over an hour to do it all. 4 sets of everything. I get busy in the gym. I need one of those massive headphones so people know I’m not kidding, I’m here to put in work!!!

Finished up with a 1 mile hike walk on a 15% incline.. Sweat session complete!

Fiber is a regular in the house. I make sure my kids get a good amount everyday. For tonight’s bakery delight, I made Farmland Flax Cookies. They are delish! Kids love them! Recipe detail below:
Farmland Flax Cookies
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour (I use soy)
3/4 cup rolled oats
2/3 cup ground flaxseed meal
1 tsp baking soda
•Preheat oven to 350
•Blend together first 3 ingredients until light. Add egg and vanilla.
•In separate bowl, mix flour, flax, oats, and baking soda: stir into butter mixture until dough forms.
•Drop by teaspoonfuls balls (about 16) onto ungreased baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Gently flatten.
•Bake for 15 minutes on middle rack. Cool 10 minutes.

Pair with milk, coffee or Bailey’s and Swerve Serve 🙂

Surprisingly, they’re only about 69 calories each. Now, that’s not a license to go crazy!
We’ve got fit goals, remember?

What’s your favorite go to healthy treat?

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Mental Monday

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My sons just had a 45 minute conversation of the importance of purchasing an Xbox One for the entire family.. I didn’t hear any of it. I was too busy having a 45 minute conversation with my blogging app about the importance of me lifting weights today.

But anyway…
Had breakfast before we headed out to the gym: eggs, oats, turkey bacon, and Joe.

Got to the gym and worked Arms and Back. I upped all my sets to 4 because I am straight intense like that. I also added a few supersets into my workout, which was a real challenge, but I am trying to get my body somewhere, and I have to push myself harder now.

Ended my workout with a 1 mile intense walk. Started at 3.5 mph on a 10% incline and moved up to 4 mph for 1 mile… With my hoodie on! Intense sweat session…

Played a little basketball w/ the hubby too before leaving my 2nd favorite place on Earth.
Needed to grab some more almond milk for my Musclemilk, so I braved Walmart..

Why is Walmart so mental after the  weekends? I can’t even…
Also grabbed my favorite chips to accompany my wraps 🙂

Now home to recover, stretch, and watch the kids hold the TV hostage with Madden. The screaming and ridiculous clapping, and trash talking have already begun… And that’s just from my husband.
Ray Lewis has a little piece at the beginning and his words always ring in my mind:
What will you be remerebered for?

Got me thinking about some things I want to be remembered for… get busy!
#lightsleeperheavydreamer
Motivational Monday! What does yours look like?

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Rest Day and the Rundown…

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Yesterday was an unplanned rest day. I just couldn’t get my Friday going. Yes, I planned on working legs heavy at the gym but a) my hamstrings were tight.. b) It was cold, and that made my hamstrings feel tighter, and c) I didn’t feel like walking around with tight hamstrings.. I just didn’t.

So, I got up early this morning and did 45 minutes of Step Aerobics.. before the rooster crowed coffee! Fasted cardio. Sweat equity for real!!

Ran a few errands, which included taking my girls to the library to get books for Thanksgiving Break next week – so their brains don’t completely turn to mush playing Minecraft all week.

Later, went to gym. Way later. Also found out the center is closed Thur-Sat (sucks, right?) and that slams our plans because my husband is off all week and we’d planned to work out every day in some capacity. But, maybe its a good thing! I have been missing my running, and this is the perfect way to get a few runs in without being too fatigued to do a strength workout. The weather outlook is really nice next week! Win? No, because I am gonna miss lifting this week.. we’ll just call it a draw.

Well, my husband brought home almost an entire birthday cake from work. So, of course that meant I had to dive right in make me a sweet, yet healthy treat and fast before I caved. So, I made a quick, yet exquisite Mango Nice Cream 🙂

Mango Nice Cream:
• 2 cups frozen mango
• 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Blend, serve and enjoy your Saturday night 🙂

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Second Time Around…

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I am a huge advocate for home workouts. When I first decided to become physically active, I walked and incorporated step aerobics into my life.

Backstory: I found a Step and 4 risers at a garage sale for $5 back in 2008. I bought a step DVD for plus size women online. Mind you, I had never stepped before in my life. I completed the workout 2 times, and then unapologetically retired all that stuff to the hall closet. Step is intense! I wasn’t as ready as I thought I was to get fit that way, or at all. I gave up…

Fast forward 3 years and THIS time, it was the beginning of a great relationship! When I couldn’t walk outside, I made no excuse for not working out. I pulled out that step, threw in that DVD and got moving! Even now, if I want to build up a good 45 minute sweat session, it’s my go to. So glad I held onto it all these years – I absolutely love all things Step. I am also a recent convert of all things Jillian Michaels. I have only watched her on ‘Biggest Loser and a few appearances she’s done, but I made up in my own mind that I really liked her (she may not be for everyone, but she’s for me!) and wanted to try her home workouts. If the opportunity (frugally) presented itself, I was in.
So, we were at a garage sale this summer and my husband spotted a couple JM DVDs: Yoga Meltdown and 30 Day Shred…He got them. And they sat on my shelf until last Monday. The weather was super cold out last week, so I was looking for something at home that would build up a good sweat and involve a little strength training… Voila!
After one week, I’m a fan! I love the intensity of 30 Day Shred. I did Level 1 Monday, Level 2 Wednesday, and Level 3 Friday. That workout is tough! Afterwards, I felt brand new, but it was a real challenge with each new circuit. I used 5 lb. weights for the strength segments… oh man!!

I shared my excitement on Instagram. My sister saw and remembered she had stuffed away her ‘Biggest Winner Collection after losing her baby weight. She saw my interest, and since she’ll never use them (she is an avid runner, I have drawn so much inspiration from her.. that’s another post), she sent them on down to me! With winter coming, these alternatives are perfect! New toys to try!Today’s workout: 30 Day Shred Level 3 (20 mins.) and a 3 mile run…
Done… and done.
Protein recovery… Open and shut.Crazy the mental transformation. I remember dreading putting that step DVD in after my first go. Made up in my mind I was modifying everything before I even started. Now, years later and a mind/body transformed, I go full out! I push it to the limits! I don’t like getting left behind, so I dig! I love working out!
What weightloss/fitness programs have worked better for you the second time around?

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Happy Monday!

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If there is ever a day I run or workout, Monday is that day. I have learned once I push myself to get out after a weekend filled with eats, rest, and fun… getting up and working out the rest of the week is easy peasy!

Ahh, and an added bonus, it’s such a beautiful November day outside! I really considered just running an easy 3 miler and soaking up the sun. But, I needed to lift some iron.

So, off to the sports center…

Todays workout: 2 mile run and heavy shoulders and back.

I ran it pretty quick! Which is a feat considering there is NO a/c here and it’s a sweat fest from the time your body gets warmed up! But, I won’t complain.. sweat is sweet!!

My favorite body part to work is shoulders because I am totally convinced I see instant results! The pump is no joke! It’s also a good confidence booster when I am trying to lean out and need to see that definition coming… Ahh, I love it!

With that check in the box, I had to stop and reload on chicken breast to prep some meals this week. I grabbed a quick recovery drink so I can multitask without starving once I get home. Workout complete!

What was your workout to kick off the new week? Did you run? Lift? Complete a DVD?

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