Hi friends! I missed my second post last week due to a fire breaking out in a neighboring town of mine. With smokey skies clouding up the view from my house and the fire rapidly spreading due to insanely high winds and very dry conditions, for a few days it was hard to think about anything besides keeping my family safe. This was the first time I've had a fire dangerously close to me since moving to California, and it's a surreal experience packing an emergency "just in case" bag. Besides some important documents, my computer, camera, wallet, phone, and a few pieces of expensive/sentimental jewelry, I really couldn't think of anything else to bring. It was a reminder that while I obviously really, really didn't want my house to burn down, what matters most is that my husband, ... [Read More]
workout index
Shoulder, Bicep & Leg Burner HIIT Workout
This HIIT workout combines upper body strength training with efficient leg-heavy cardio moves, including squat and lunge variations, for a butt-kicking workout (literally!) that focuses on the legs, shoulders & biceps. Keeping up with my goal of adding more HIIT routines into my workouts, lately I've been doing some interval training at home. I've done my election hangover HIIT workout too many times to count in the past year, and while I still very much have an election hangover (I think I'll continue having it every time I turn on the news for the next 3 years...), I wanted to come up with a new challenging go-to routine to switch it up. This HIIT workout really works the whole body, but it focuses most on shoulders, biceps and legs. All you need to do it is a pair of ... [Read More]
The 10-Move Medicine Ball Workout + Giveaway! {closed}
I think that sometimes people make exercising more complicated than it needs to be. While I certainly enjoy getting to work out with fancy equipment like the Megaformer at Lagree fitness studios, sometimes I like to keep it simple. After all, we don't need tons of equipment to get a good sweat session in! Some of my workouts involve just bodyweight or only one piece of equipment. I'll do an entire strength training workout with just a pair of 15-pound dumbbells, or an entire cardio session with no cardio machines in sight. There's something nice about the simplicity of getting creative with just one kettlebell for an hour-long work out, ya know? Recently the folks at Rep Fitness sent me some of their equipment to try, and I've been having fun playing around with my new gear doing ... [Read More]
The Cycling + Strength Circuit Workout of Threes
What kind of workouts have you been getting into lately? I've noticed that when I get crazy busy, I tend to stop getting as creative with my workouts. And since April was a hectic month for me, my workouts were not all that exciting. I had been going to some fun classes that were challenging me, but the first thing that goes when my schedule is packed is fitness studio visits. After all, not having to drive to studios saves time in my day! I was also traveling for half of the month, during which I snuck in quick morning workouts before full days. Oh, but I did go on an awesome hike during my quickie getaway to Idyllwild! No matter how busy I am, I make it a priority to workout. I tell myself, no excuses! Truth be told, I have exercise ADHD, so my "boring" workout stretch is ... [Read More]
3 At-Home Kickboxing Workouts to Try
Out of all of the workouts that I enjoy doing, boxing is high up on my list of favorites. I just love the intensity and how fast-paced it is. I've gone to a few boxing classes at a Title Boxing Club near me recently, and boy are they tough. After the last one I went to, my abs, glutes, and shoulders were sore for a good three days. Every time I laughed or sneezed my mid section would be hurting! San Diego area readers, I've been booking my classes through the Lymber Fitness app - which lets you book classes for a variety of workouts at studios in the area without memberships. It's great for exercisers like me that like to switch it up a lot! If you're interested in trying the app out, you can use the code NICOLELYMB-1-21 to get $5 off your first class. While I love the ... [Read More]
Three Workouts to Try This Holiday Season
Between holiday shopping, parties, travel, and family traditions on top of the usual busyness, most of us are pressed for time at the end of the year. But don't let that stop you from fitting in exercise! Today I'm sharing 3 workout ideas to try over your holiday season. The first routine is a 30-minute HIIT (high intensity interval training) workout that consists of 5 circuits, with 3 exercises in each circuit: a cardio move, a bodyweight strength move, and an abdominal exercise. For each exercise, it's 30 seconds on / 10 seconds off, and once you complete the three exercises, you repeat it for 3 rounds, then move onto the next circuit. This one can be done anywhere, and chances are I'll be doing this one when I'm staying at my parents' house over Christmas! Tip: I use a free ... [Read More]