A few days ago, I wanted to do some strength training before cycling at the gym. I tend to do weight exercises in the aerobics room because I like my space to bounce around, but a class was starting in the room in less than half an hour. I came up with a workout routine that focuses on triceps + chest to get my muscles fatigued in a jiffy -- and it certainly did just that. My triceps were sore for 2 days afterwards! Explanations of the above exercises: (Standing bent over) triceps extension Tricep bench dips Skull crushers aka head bangers Closed grip dumbbell press Happy exercising! ... [Read More]
workouts
At-Home Cardio Blast Workout
(source) I came across an article on Buzzfeed today titled 18 People Who Shouldn't be Allowed to Use the Gym. I always find fitness related humor to be funny, and it seriously had me cracking up. If you enjoy seeing people do ridiculous things like wear heels to the gym (I can barely walk in heels, let alone exercise in them!) or eat an ice cream cone while on the bike (seriously?!), you need to check it out. Speaking of the gym, I checked out one last weekend nearby but have yet to become a member of one in my new area, so at-home/outside workouts are my thing at the moment. When it came to exercising today, I felt like I haven't gotten a really heart pounding workout in lately, so I came up with a quick routine that I was confident would leave me very sweaty... and it did! I ... [Read More]
Product Review: Polar FT40 Heart Rate Watch
A few months ago, I reviewed a heart rate monitor from Sportline that I wasn't too happy with. After writing that post and knowing that I needed a better watch to work out with, I reached out to my fellow Girls Gone Sporty ambassadors to see what their picks were. I received some great feedback from some women and decided to go with a Polar heart rate watch, or what they refer to as a training computer. If you're curious as to how wearing a heart rate monitor during exercise can benefit you, check out an article I just wrote on FitKit on this subject here. I've been reluctant to try a sport watch with a chest strap, for the simple fact that I was convinced it would annoy me. I guess I'm weird in that I hate things bothering me during workouts. For instance, my iPhone armband ... [Read More]
The Trio Timed Challenge & Other At-Home Workout Ideas
Happy Super Bowl Sunday from the chilly, snowy East coast! I flew into Jersey yesterday to see my family. We recently got word that my grandma, who I've always been very close with, has cancer and needs to undergo a serious surgery. I wanted to come out here to visit her in the hospital and spend time with my loved ones, so I booked a last minute ticket. 2,500 miles is just a hop, skip, and a jump away when someone I love is sick! Most of my time this week is going to be spent at the hospital, hanging with my family, and getting work done, but I still want to live really healthily this week, especially to keep on track with my DietBet. Besides planning ahead with my eats as much as I can and making sure I always have nutritious snacks on hand, I'd like to fit in some exercise ... [Read More]
Everything But the Legs: Working Out Around an Injury
First off, I just wanted to say that my thoughts are with everyone in the path of Hurricane Sandy. It's been hard to watch the chaotic weather hitting my home state of New Jersey, where my family & friends live, while I'm so far away from it all. Luckily, all of my loved ones are safe and doing fine - just without power and with some minor damage, including the gigantic tree at my grandma's house that shines with Christmas lights every year that's now on the ground blocking her driveway. Natural disasters always remind me of what's most important in life -- the people I love. On a lighter note, let's talk workouts. I've mentioned it on the blog before, but I've been battling a calf injury for a couple of years now. I tore my calf muscle running, at first procrastinated getting help ... [Read More]
Getting Out of My Comfort Zone & Trying Out Tennis
"Don't fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have." - Louis E. Boone When I was about 12 years old, I tried taking tennis lessons for one summer. I don't think I was very good, and I hadn't played since then.... until today. My hubby had asked me a few times in the past couple of weeks if I wanted to take advantage of the multiple tennis courts in our community. He took my answer of, ''Yeah, sure, maybe..." as a go-ahead to come home with a new pink tennis racket for yours truly. Oh crap. Now I actually have to play with him! I thought. I guess I was a little hesitant about playing for fear of being completely horrible at it. But the truth is, I think I put ... [Read More]