Workout Wednesday: 3 Mile Run

I've been trying to run about 1-2 times per week lately, just to ease myself back into things.  On the weekends, I usually have no problems heading outside and doing a long(ish, for me) run.  But it's the weekdays when I'm stuck at the gym that are killer.  Usually I just end up doing a bunch of sprints for 10-15 minutes and then moving onto various strength exercises or switching to the bike or elliptical, which is a good workout, but isn't really helping me build up much endurance.  

I'm usually ok with running a mile straight on the treadmill before boredom sets in, but a mile's not all that great of a workout for me.  My solution?  Break up a longer run by hopping off of the treadmill every mile and doing a quick blast of strength training.  My move of choice recently?  The burpee - it's versatile, relatively quick, and provides some full body strength training while keeping my heart rate up for an active break. 

I love that this gives you a full body strength and cardio workout, and that the strength exercises require no equipment, so you can do this with a treadmill run or if you're running outside - just be sure to find an area where it's somewhat softer and not super rocky to do the burpees.

If you wanted to make this a longer run, you could always repeat it for a total of 6 miles and 66 burpees.  Or, add in another mile and do some jumping jack burpees, or some regular burpees, or some one legged burpees, etc. 

Enjoy!

Logging some serious outside time

I had forgotten what it felt like to be exhausted by a day or a weekend being outside in the fresh air and the sunshine. I guess a few nights of not great sleep added to the exhaustion, but there really is a difference in a "I didn't sleep well" tired and a "being outside just sucked my energy out of me" tired.  Sure, they both probably make me cranky and not super fun to be around (I'm like a five year old sometimes).  But the latter is a much more happy, peaceful exhaustion.  It's falling asleep for an afternoon nap and waking up a little while later recharged.  The former is waking up from a nap crankier and more tired than before you fell asleep. (Although apparently either nap might not be good for me. Not cool, science!)

This weekend brought a lot of outdoor activity (and sunscreen, of course!).  It wasn't the warmest or the most perfect spring weekend - Saturday started drizzly and ended with thunder, lightening, and hail, but was perfect from about 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday was partly cloudy and a bit chilly, but bright and warm when the sun was out. But it's not about getting the perfect day - it's about taking the time in the day that is perfect and getting out there. 

Saturday started off with a walk for the dog, then an aerial yoga class.  During the hour plus class, the weather went from icky and drizzly to sunny and fairly warm.  So after yoga, my sister and I headed for a four mile run near the beach (although not on the boardwalk - there was a half marathon taking place and we didn't want to be in the way).  We ran through a few cute little towns, picking out the houses that we liked along the way.  After our run, we stopped in a quaint, Stars Hollow-esque downtown area, where we bought a scone and coffee cake and sat outside to eat them.  Which totally negated our run and then some, but were oh so yummy!  We also bought hyacinths to plant in my dad's yard.  After a quick stop home to shower and change, we headed to another little town near us to run a few errands and walk around a bit.  Late in the afternoon, I went to get a facial, and had the convertible top down on my way there.

We all ended up going to be by 10 p.m.  We really know how to party a Saturday night away!

Sunday we were up bright and early again.  First, a 6 a.m. wake up call from the dog, who insisted on a half mile walk up the block.  This is after he woke up wanting water at both 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. (because he stole his bag of food off of the kitchen counter while we were out for dinner on Saturday and ate his two cups of food for Sunday). Then, we headed down the shore again for the annual MS Walk.  Between hanging around waiting for the event to start, walking the 6 mile route, and eating free burgers and hot dogs after, we were outside for a good four plus hours. By the time we made it back to my dad's house, I was utterly exhausted.  I took a quick shower and then planned on closing my eyes for about 20 minutes, just so that I'd be refreshed enough to drive back home.  

I guess I forgot to set an alarm, because when I woke up it was about an hour later.  I can thank my sister and her salad shooter for not letting me sleep any longer!  I honestly felt really refreshed after my nap.  Don't get me wrong - I was still tired.  An hour of sleep isn't going to make up for a sleepless night and four hours on my feet.  But it was invigorating - like taking a cold shower, but much warmer and more cuddly. 

All the fresh air and sunshine this weekend felt great, but it feels kind of like starting to run again after you haven't for a while - you know that it's good for you and it really does make you feel good, but even the littlest bit takes a lot out of you when you first start back up.  You need to ease yourself in.  I'm looking forward to the weather getting more and more spring-like (I'll ignore the fact that it's supposed to rain most of the week) and building up my outdoor endurance more.  I'm going to need it for all of the new (and long-forgotten) activities I'm planning on trying out this summer.  I'm looking at you, gardening, trail maintenance, and horseback riding!

What's missing in the office

I've always wanted to work in an office that has a ton of cool perks.  Free lunches, workout classes, funky decor, etc.  While we recently moved offices and our new digs are 1 million times better than the old ones (which frankly, wasn't hard to do), we still don't really have anything cool.  Anything brag-worthy.  

There are two things that I really, really want in our office, and that I wish the had incorporated when they were planning it out.  Honestly, I think that these would make people much more pleasant in the workplace, and probably even more productive. 

So, what are these? I'm glad you asked.  They are - wait for it - a nap room (could also double as a yoga room) and what I like to call an anger room. 

I'm sure you understand the nap/yoga room concept.  A quiet, serene space with soft lighting, comfy pillows, blankets, and a couch, where you can go to relax when you're having a particularly hectic day.  Maybe you stayed up too late last night or just didn't sleep well.  Instead of reaching for your tenth cup of coffee, you could take a power nap and wake up feeling refreshed.  Or if you're stressed from a tight deadline, you could head into the nap/yoga room for some quick sun salutations or a five minute meditation to relax. All things that would be kind of weird (or, in the case of napping, frowned upon) to do at your desk, but totally acceptable in the nap/yoga room (noga room? yap room?).  Maybe even have a massage chair or something for some extra relaxation. 
 
Offices have these. I know it. I'm pretty sure Google has sleep pods or something.  This is not an innovative idea.  But it totally makes sense, especially since a lot of people are at the office more than they're at home during the week. 

The anger room is a bit different.  It's kind of the opposite of the yoga room.  Ever been on a call or talked to a coworker or read an email that made you irrationally angry?  There's really not much that you can do about that when you're at the office, except maybe gchat with your friend about how unfair life is and how stupid other people are.  Which is valid and cathartic in its own right.  But sometimes, you just need to actually blow off some steam. Sure, you could go for a brisk walk around the block, but what if it's raining or you just don't have time to head out of the office?  That's where the anger room comes in.  This room would be equipped with boxing gloves and a punching bag for when you need to hit something; pillows or a soundproof area for when you just want to scream; old ugly plates and a contained area for when you need to throw and break stuff; and an iPhone dock with great speakers for when you need to crank up some music and dance it off.  I'm sure there are other things that could be added - it's totally customizable. 

I don't know of all the workplaces in all the lands (or even like .0001% of them), but I've never heard of an anger room being included as one of the cool perks that a company offers.  But how much less hostile and more productive would this make a company? It seems like it would be incredibly beneficial - instead of stewing over a perceived slight all day, or passive aggressively procrastinating on that thing that the annoying client asked for, you can just get it all out and then return to your work a new person.  Plus, you can avoid overreactions from happening. 

If you didn't have the space, you could probably make these rooms one in the same - just not at the same time.  If someone is taking a nap or getting their om on, common courtesy would dictate that you hold off on your screaming until they're done, and vice versa.   

But, alas, we didn't incorporate either of these into our new design.  Nobody consulted me.  You should always consult me first.  And, because of the way that our office is designed (read: sliding glass doors on all offices, ensuring that there really isn't much privacy at all), there's not really an opportunity to make these after-market add-ons without doing some serious work (and also tipping off our COO, who I'm sure would not be on board with either).  But don't worry - it's on my list for the future. 

Workout Wednesday: Fast and Slow

I generally like to get in and out of the gym as fast as possible.  I don't like to hang around and chat (not that there's anyone at my gym to chat with at 5:30 a.m.).  And I don't like to dilly dally too much between sets or in the middle of a workout.  Fast is the name of the game for me.  

But, there are certain exercises - like those aimed at building muscle - where you'll actually get more benefit from taking the tortoise slow-and-steady route.  It has to do with the amount of time that your muscles are under tension.  And while I like lifting and generally try to take a slow and steady pace (both up and down - using gravity is cheating!) while maintaining good form, that can also get boring sometimes.  So, I mix sets of slower, muscle building moves with faster, cardio-focused exercises to get a great full body workout and keep my boredom at bay.

As always, make sure that you're using a weight for each exercise that is challenging, but will still allow you to maintain good form throughout the entire set.

Enjoy!

Outdoor workouts are back, jack

Spring is in full force around here, and I couldn't be happier.  One thing that has made me incredibly happy these past few weekends (and weeks, really), is getting to go outside without having to bundle up against the wind and the cold.  And seeing the sun and feeling the hints of the summer to come.  Along with this comes more mid-day walks to the park to sit and read or just relax for a few, as well as weekend afternoons spent eating outside or laying in the hammock. 

Perhaps most exciting is that outdoor workouts can resume full force.  It's generally difficult for me to get an outdoor workout in during the week - unless I go running in the morning once it starts getting light out just a bit earlier, or do something right after work.  But on the weekends, that's when the magic happens.  Running, walking the dog, kayaking, rollerblading, hiking, or any number of other random outside workouts. 

While it's great to have a ton of indoor workout options at your fingertips for early mornings, late night, crappy weather days, or just times when you can't muster up the mindset to head outside, I find it really is so much more fun to be outdoors, and frankly, much easier to keep going.  It's so easy for me to just hop off the treadmill when I get bored, or cut a circuit workout at the gym short when I'm not feeling it.  But when I'm outside, I've either committed too much time and energy to getting to a good workout spot and setting up, or I'm too far away from my car or house to just quit. 

My favorite part of outdoor workouts is obviously the fresh air, the sun on my face, and the significant dose of Vitamin C.  But there is one other benefit that I really love about working out al fresco: it's really hard to quit mid-workout.  Think about it - if you're out for a run and suddenly you just get bored or tired or don't feel like running, you can't just stop and go lay on the couch.  Yes, you can stop and walk for a while. Heck, you can walk for the rest of the workout.  But, at some point, you need to get back to where you started.  Whether that be your house or your car or your hoverboard.  Same with rollerblading or walking or hiking.  And if you're, say, kayaking, canoeing, or out on a SUP, sure, you can hang out and relax a bit, enjoy the water, but eventually, the tide is going to start taking you somewhere you don't want to go (unless you're really lucky/good at reading the tides) and you're going to have to put in some work not to float away.

Even if you're just doing a strength workout outside - maybe, an interval workout or a bootcamp of sorts - I feel like there's a bit more accountability.  You've gotten dressed and left your house.  You've gone through the hassle of dragging whatever you needed outside.  You've found a nice flat, animal poop free spot to do your workout.  And, unless you're working out in your backyard in the middle of nowhere, chances are there are people around.  Even if they're not looking at you (they very rarely are), if you're anything like me, just the thought that random people might be watching you do strange exercises in the middle of a field is enough to make you want to give it your all and not quit before your workout is over.  Because obviously they care greatly about what you're doing and inherently know when you're slacking or cutting it short.  (I know that there are people in gyms too, but for some reason, this mentality doesn't apply there.)

And after the winter that we just had, I am planning to do whatever I can to be outside as much as possible during this spring, summer, and fall.  I'm already thinking of fun activities (SUP, hikes, kayaking, rafting, horseback riding, gardening), and different types of workouts to do (running, rollerblading, jungle gym workouts, biking).  I just need to get a big bottle of sunscreen and prepare for a nice farmers tan (actually, a tank-top tan, but I don't think there's a name for that).

Workout Wednesday: Triceps and Calves

It occurred to me the other day that my calves and triceps are often neglected.  While they get worked as part of many of the workouts that I do, I very rarely focus on them.  So, I wanted to give them some love and incorporate calf raises and triceps extensions into a workout.  I guess that I could have just made a full workout of triceps and calf exercises, but that gets kind of boring.  Instead, I combined several compound exercises to create a full-body workout.  

And, since I'm into 50 reps lately (and breaking them up into several sets), I went with the 20-15-10-5 rep scheme.  It seems to work well for me because I can keep my form better throughout the whole thing.  When I'm fresh at the beginning of my workout, doing 20 reps doesn't feel like a struggle.  But by the end, sometimes there's no way that I'd be able to get out more than 5 reps.

Give it a whirl:

 Enjoy!

Meatless Monday Recipe: Brussels Sprouts and Asparagus Egg Scramble

Sometimes I feel like my eyes are bigger than my stomach when it comes to buying fresh veggies.  Or maybe it's just that I don't go in with a plan and am incapable of estimating what I'm going to want to eat on any given day of the week. Or I just get lazy and don't want to take the time at night to make them. 

Either way, I sometimes end up with a good amount of veggies that are quickly getting past their prime.  I obviously don't want to throw them out, so I usually turn to one of two options: I either chop them all up, roast them, and then eat them as a side throughout the week, or I make an egg scramble out of them.  

Egg scrambles are great.  They're quick and easy to make, they've got tons of veggies and eggs for protein, there's a million ways to customize them, and you can make as much or as little as you want - so if you want leftovers and easy meals for the rest of the week, just double or triple the recipe.  Plus, you can eat them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. 

Here's one that I made last week when I got home from work kind of late and didn't really know what to eat (and then ate for 3 nights).  Feel free to throw a piece of toast or an English muffin on the side, too. 

It's not the prettiest thing, but it sure was yummy!

Brussels Sprouts and Asparagus Egg Scramble
(makes about 4 servings, unless you're super hungry)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Brussels sprouts, quartered
• 2 cups asparagus, sliced into bite-sized pieces
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 6 eggs, scrambled
• 1/4 cup shredded cheese (of your choice - I used cheddar)
• Salt, pepper, and garlic powder, to taste

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, heat oil and butter until butter has melted. 
2. Add sprouts and asparagus. 
3. Sprinkle on salt, pepper, and garlic powder and stir to coat. 
4. Cover and let cook, stirring occasionally, until veggies are brown and have softened (about 5-10 minutes, depending on how firm or soft you like your veggies).
5. Once the veggies are done, add in the scrambled eggs, and cook, stirring frequently, until the eggs have firmed up (about 2-3 minutes). 
6. Remove skillet from heat and add cheese.  Stir to combine and melt the cheese. 
7. Serve immediately, or store in tupperware in the fridge and reheat in a skillet or microwave.  

Like I said, this is a very versatile recipe.  Once you have the basics down, you can really add anything that you want - different veggies, meats, cheese.  It's kind of like a quicker version of a fritata, plus you don't have to turn on the oven.  You could also throw in some leftover bread and make it more like a strata. The sky is really the limit here!

Enjoy!  

Spring has sprung

Spring is in the air!  The birds are out, the sky is blue, the sun is making occasional appearances, and it's just the right temperature to actually enjoy an outside workout. 

There's this one park by my dad's house that I absolutely love to run in.  It's not a very long run - about 3-4 miles, depending on which route you take - but it's hilly (for me, at least) and it's a dirt trail and part of it is in the woods. 

I don't know why, but I actually like to run hills.  I'm a little mental, I know.  But they're so much more interesting to me than flat runs.  And I love anything that gets me into nature for a little bit.  Never mind that I can see the parkway from part of the trail.  It doesn't matter.  I'm surrounded by tall trees and fields and not a lot of people.  

And it's not a trail on the edge of a cliff or something that I'm afraid I'm going to fall off of (I have a serious fear of falling).  It's relaxing and lovely.  Even though the running part generally sucks.

I'd love to go find other trails to run on.  Probably something more up in North Jersey.  There are a few parks up there that I've done mud runs at that have some crazy hills.  But that also means crazy hills to drive on.

Or do the Big Bear 5K.  But that's coming up pretty soon and I'm definitely not ready.  Maybe I should add it to my list for next year. 

In any event, I'm glad that the weather is finally breaking, and people are emerging from hibernation.  I can't wait to once again explore all the county parks and go to the countless street fairs and festivals this summer. 

I really feel like I've been cooped up (and hunched over, trying to keep warm) all winter.  The warm weather and the sunshine and the bright flowers and trees and grass really do make me a much happier person.  I've never been one to really complain about the stifling heat in August (aside from the usual "wow, I need another shower after being outside for 10 minutes" and "crap, my hair's all frizzy"), but after this winter, I definitely have a new appreciation for the warmth and the sun.   

So it's time for me to get to work planning all sorts of outdoor activities for the upcoming weekends.  Runs and rollerblading and kayaking and hiking and whatever else I can think of.  Fire pits in the backyard (hopefully we're better at it this time.  And hopefully we'll make Smoreos.).  Sitting on the deck or the roofdeck reading a book (or taking a nap).  Trips to the park with the dog.  Trips to the horse track.  Outside dining. Boardwalk food and ice cream.  I can't wait. 

Heck, even if it rains, I'll take warm rain over snow any day.  It's too bad that New Jersey is subject to winter every year.  It kind of ruins my vibe.  

Workout Wednesday: The Dreadmill

I absolutely loathe running on the treadmill.  While I can run for a while outside (although at this point, that "while" is probably like 35-40 minutes, max), I pretty much cannot run for more than 10 minutes on the treadmill.  My brain just shuts off.  It gets bored.  It does not want to be there anymore. 

Which makes it really hard to keep going.  

But, I've been trying to add some more cardio into my life lately, and the treadmill is probably the cardio machine in my gym that I feel gives me the best workout (not that I really have a ton of options - it's between the treadmill, bike, and elliptical.  I'd love a rowing machine).  And since I just started running again and even bought new shoes, I'm trying to get some bang for my buck.  It's still too cold/icky/dark out in the morning to go running outside, so I've had to be creative and come up with some treadmill workouts that are short and sweet, that keep me engaged, that mix it up, and that still get my heart pumping. 

Here's one of my favorites: 

You can switch this up anyway that you like.  You could play with the time for each interval (i.e. sprint for 30 seconds and jog for 30 seconds, sprint/jog for a minute each, etc).  Or, you could play with the incline. For me, I like to play with the speed - I slowly increase the speed of my sprints each interval to see how fast I can go.  I usually start off at 7.0 and end at 8.0 (or sometimes higher).  And I keep my jogs steady at 6.0 for some recovery time. 

Enjoy!

(P.S.- In my head, I'm saying "Sprint & Jog" like Ringo in this video)

To splurge or not to splurge (or how many times can I use the word "splurge" in one post)

I feel like I went a little out of control for a while.  Lots of treats all of the time.  Lots of sugar and carbs.  Lots of swapping out a healthy lunch or afternoon snack for Hale and Hearty soup or Cool Ranch Doritos.  Lots of eating jelly beans by the handful and snacking on all the leftovers from office meetings.  So, I'm trying to reign that in a bit.  

But it's hard!  There's always something around.  Whether its leftover meeting cookies in the kitchen at work, the hospitality room at work conferences, random lunches, bagel Thursday, pizza Friday, or whatever junk my dad has laying around when we visit on the weekends.  Or, you know, everything and anything in Duane Reade or the dozens of eating establishments within a two block radius of my office. And the displays of holiday candy at the grocery store. And the impulse racks at virtually any store.

I was talking to a client the other day about this.  He said that he hates waste, so he always just figures that he should eat the leftovers from office meetings so that they don't get thrown out.  I totally buy that logic.  But, it's probably not the best from a health perspective. 

I think its the worst when I'm bored.  Or feeling deprived or lacking in something.  Or just being totally mindless. 

I know that eating a bag of Doritos or a cupcake at 3 p.m. isn't going to do much for me.  The cupcake will probably leave me feeling slightly dizzy and weak from all the sugar.  And I'll be hungry like an hour later.  Same with the Doritos.  But it's something to do when I'm bored at work and something that feels like a treat.  A little bright spot in an otherwise drab day. 

And leftover meeting cookies - those are like surprise packages from your grandmother or something.  They're a godsend. Even though I don't usually need to eat them, they're there and they're yummy and they're still pretty small, right?  Let's ignore the fact that you generally can't just eat one. 

And there's nothing better than eating the myriad Entemann's offerings that my dad has at his house on the weekend. I usually don't buy them for our place, so I tell myself it's ok to splurge when I'm there.  It's only one weekend, right?  Let's ignore the fact that we're there pretty frequently.  And that two weekends ago for dessert I had a hot fudge sundae followed by a cannoli (I will admit I felt pretty crappy after that).

But like I said, I've been trying to reign it in a bit lately.  Trying to let myself only have one "splurge" a day.  Except that I haven't really defined what a splurge is.  Yes, ice cream is most definitely a splurge.  A cannoli is a splurge.  A bag of chips is a splurge.  But is a piece of pizza for lunch?  Or is that just a slightly crappier-than-normal lunch but in the long-run not that horrible.  Three pieces would definitely be a splurge.  But is one? Two? What if I eat salad on the side?

What about a bagel with butter for breakfast.  Sure, it's not the healthiest thing that I could have gotten, but it's not a completely huge calorie bomb. It had to be better than, say, a McDonald's breakfast sandwich (those biscuits are so good, but my stomach hates me after...). Should that count as my splurge for the day?  And do I really want to use that up as my splurge if it does? 

I obviously need to better define this if I'm going to be successful at all.  In my mind, anything overly sweet or overly processed automatically is a splurge.  So cookies, chips, baked goods, ice cream - those are all splurges.  But really, that's a pretty vague definition, even for me.  If I'm going to be at all successful, I need to get  more specific about what's acceptable - and at what quantities - and where something turns into a daily splurge. 

I also need to figure out if this is really the best way for me to go.  I'm afraid that limiting myself to one splurge a day is going to make me want to eat. all. the. food.  Like I'm depriving myself.  Is it better to just eat what I feel like eating, but do it more mindfully, so that I'm not eating just because I'm bored or unfulfilled or tired or whatever. 

I think I need to play around a bit.  Figure out what works best for me and then go from there.  And I'm sure what works best for me tomorrow is going to be different then what works best for me 2 years from now or even 2 months from now.  But I need to somehow get to a good baseline and then work from there.

Pulling the oil

Since everyone and their mom is doing it, I figured I should try oil pulling. Because nothing says individualism like giving into Internet peer pressure. 

So what exactly is oil pulling?  It's an ancient Ayurvedic method for detox and rejuvenation.  You take a tablespoon of oil (coconut, sesame, or olive seem to be the most common) and swish it around in your mouth for 20 minutes - like you would do with mouthwash, but for much longer - before spitting it into the toilet or garbage (not the sink - it can clog the drain).  It's said to have myriad health benefits, including whitening your teeth, improving oral hygiene, and helping with digestive issues. Although there haven't really been comprehensive studies to prove any of this.  (Also, it's called oil pulling because it's supposed to pull the toxins out of you.  I'd prefer if they just called it oil swishing because that's basically what it is.)

(Slightly off topic, but I totally think oils of all kind are great. I used to wash my face with a combo if olive, tea tree and castor oil - I might actually go back to that, since my face was super moisturized when I was doing it - and I use argon oil as a daily facial moisturizer. My foundation is also argon oil foundation, which I amazing. I just slather it on like tinted moisturizer, put a little concealer under my eyes and I'm good to go. Plus, I'm (half) Italian, so I use olive oil a lot in cooking. I'm very pro-oil, for all facets of life.)

So, when I was at my dad's house last weekend, I swirled some olive oil around in my mouth while I took a shower on both Saturday and Sunday. And it surprisingly wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. 

Granted, I only did it for maybe 7 minutes each time, instead of the prescribed 20 ( it just doesn't usually take me a long time to shower unless I have to shave). But I didn't gag or accidentally swallow it. (I did accidentally spit some out when I was putting face moisturizer on...) And it didn't taste horrible. At first it actually didn't really taste like much. As I went on, it started to get a much stronger olive oily flavor. I'm not sure if that's supposed to happen or if it was just a cheap brand of olive oil. Maybe that's why people use coconut oil - it probably tastes better. 

What really intrigued me is that the oil looks nothing like it did going in when you spit it out (which I did in the toilet so as not to clog the drain). Going in it just looks like olive oil. Coming out it was kind of milky yellow. I guess that's what happens when you agitate oil for that long? 

I've kept up the practice this week during my morning showers.  So, did it do anything? I have no idea. My teeth aren't any whiter and I don't suddenly feel amazing. But it's only been a few days, so I wasn't really expecting any of that. I'm going to do it (or try to remember to do it) for the next month and then reevaluate it's usefulness. 

The next thing I want to try? Cold showers. They're supposed to help improve your blood circulation, energy, and mood, among other benefits.  And, many people use it as kind of a rallying call to work toward their dreams - if they can do something as uncomfortable as purposely taking a cold shower in the morning, they can do anything.  I like my warm, warm showers, so this one might be tough - and might take some working up to.  And I might gasp and scream like a little girl the first time I try, so I might not want to combine that with oil pulling. That could be a disgusting mess. 

Workout Wednesday: Short on room and time

I had wanted to go for a run outside this weekend, but it was just a rainy, dreary weekend.  And since I'm not training for anything, I didn't really need to run, and I wasn't in the mood to get soaked and cold for no reason.  Plus, I didn't want to get my new shoes all wet and nasty.  So I just worked out at my dad's house.  

Saturday I did the cardio workout from P90X (which was just ok - yea, I got sweaty and everything, but I'm not sure that I got a great overall cardio workout.  Next time, I'd probably just choose a Shaun T or Chelean HIIT workout and stick with Tony for resistance training).  On Sunday, I had a limited amount of time because I had to be at a cake decorating class by noon.  Right when I went to workout, my dad's cousin came over to do some work in the basement.  So, I had to scrap my plans to workout down there, and come up with something else that I could do in the limited space in my dad's living room (the family room has more space, but also two dogs roaming around and getting in the way.  And one of them likes to lick any exposed skin when you're working out or stretching. Not worth it.). 

This workout totally met my criteria - quick, compact, and still difficult and sweaty.  I did the upright rows with a heavy resistance tube, and the manmakers with 10-lb weights (the heaviest that my sister has) - but I still felt them!

Enjoy!

P.S. This is the cake I decorated.  I think I totally missed my calling!