Just Bought a Dip Station!

I just ordered my dip station and can't wait to start my dips and rows!  Great exercises for your chest, back, triceps and biceps!  Not only will these exercises be great rehab tools for my back, but there is nothing like sculpted shoulders and toned arms on the beach!

Click here to go to the dip station website if you want to order your own.

Bodyrock: Ready to Sweat Workout Today!!

My workout today was a Bodyrock workout and it kicked my ass! 


Click here for the workout.

My score:
Combo #1-- 12 reps
Combo #2 -- 11 reps
Combo #3 -- 12 reps

My Workout Tonight

I have made a deal with myself.  If I follow the workout plan I've made up for the next two weeks, then I get to go shopping and fill up my closet a little!  But only if I follow the plan.  So tonight I did Julianne Hough's Cardio Ballroom DVD.  I love this video, not just because it is a lot of fun and has some good moves, but because all the twisting in the dances if amazing for a back that has been in 5 car accidents.  I always feel really limber after the Cardio Ballroom! 

I also did a bunch of ab work:
-50 crunches and reverse leg lift combo

-30 windmills

-50 reverse crunches

-10 side planks on each side

-held plank pose for as long as I possibly could

I followed up this workout with a lot of stretching.  I was in a car accident last month, and even though I wasn't badly hurt, my back has definitely felt it.  Thanks to my chiropractor and all of the stretching I've been doing, I'm healing faster than I ever have before.  I just wanted to let you know this in case you are following my workouts and doing them with me.  So if you are, expect a lot of back and core work, which is good for you whether you have a good or bad back!

Focus, focus, focus and you will succeed!

"Failure finds success in adjustment." -Unknown

The New Way to Drink Coffee

I love my coffee.  I mean, I REALLY love my coffee.  I used to spend $300 a month on fat free vanilla lattes.  16 oz.  When I started my journey to health, I happened to be cleaning up my financial life as well.  Cutting out the lattes only made sense: I would be saving $300 month and cutting down drastically on sugary syrups and unnecessary calories.  I started drinking one cup of coffee a day, brewed at home in the morning, and always with a delicious flavored creamer--French vanilla, pumpkin spice, and peppermint mocha are my favorites.  I know the flavored coffee creamers are bad for me.  They are full of chemicals.  They might be low in calories, but they are a fake, processed food that should have no place in your diet.  I know this.  I do.  But I don't care.  I drink them anyway.  I figure I did good enough cutting back as much as I have and...sometimes you just have to cheat and throw caution to the wind!

Meanwhile, while I'm rationalizing my bad behavior, a friend of mine came up with a genius solution.  Instead of using French vanilla creamer, use a vanilla flavored soy or almond milk and a packet or two of stevia.  It tastes just a little different and might take a little getting used to, but think of the benefits.  Instead of ingesting chemicals every morning, you are giving your body real natural foods and some protein to top it off.  I have to admit I really like the almond milk/stevia mix.  Try it out and let me know what you think!

Short-but-Intense Time Challenge

My workout today was short but intense.  It will leave you short of breath but you'll get a full body workout in less than ten minutes.  The perfect workout for those short-on-time days!

Make sure to do a 5 minute warm up before the workout and a 5 minute cool down and stretch afterward.  Now set that timer and try to beat my time!

The Workout:

Do this circuit 5 times, as fast as you possibly can. (See below on instructions for each exercise)

-5 one-legged squats on the right leg
-5 one-legged squats on the left leg
-5 burpees

My time was 7 min and 55 seconds.  Let me know how you did in the comments!


Instructions:

One-Legged Squats

Stand on your left leg and extend your right leg out in front of you.  Extend both arms toward your toes.  It is extremely important to tighten all the muscles in your left leg and brace your abs for balance and proper form.  Maintaining your form, squat down as low as you can go and then push back up to starting position. This is one rep.
For Beginners:  One-legged squats are an advanced exercise.  If you are a beginner and need to work up to the advanced version, start by lowering yourself into a chair.  If you can't keep your balance, it is ok to hold onto something for support.  Just do your best.  You'll get there!

Burpees

Start in a standing position.  Squat down and touch hands to floor.  Jump back into plank position.  Keeping your abs tight and without lowering your hips, do one push up.  Jump back into the squat position.  From the squat position, raise your hands over your head and jump up.  Return to standing position.  This is one rep.