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I'm a mommy, wife, chauffeur, zookeeper, reader and book reviewer

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

June 9 resistance

Now that summer is here, I’m running around more with my dogs and girls, and counting that toward my cardio. This week I’ll be focusing on resistance training videos from Popsugar.

The Lazy Girl Workout You've Been Waiting For! | Class FitSugar
With a title like that, who wouldn’t want to give it a go? Even though this entire workout is done on the floor—either laying down or sitting up, never on your feet—this is still a challenge to your abs (at least it was to mine). I chose 5 lb weights and I think that was just about right.
Would I do it again? Yes.

10 Minutes to Tighten and Tone Your Entire Body! | Class FitSugar

This workout seemed a little familiar, but I don’t know if it’s because I reviewed it before, or I’ve done of few of these and some moves are repeated. You will need a mat for this. The further I got into the workout, I realized I had not done it just the first few were familiar. Other than a mat you will not need any other equipment, but I definitely felt the burn in my legs, abs and arms.
Would I do it again? Yes

10-Minute Hot For Holidays Workout | Class FitSugar

This workout combined resistance with weights (I used 5 lbs) alternating with getting the heart rate up. While I liked some of the weight exercises, I personally do not care for a workout that combines the cardio and resistance like this.

Would I do this again? No.

Thursday, June 4, 2015

June 4 Resistance

Quick, Intense, and Fun P90X3 Workout | Class FitSugar
PopSugar has various guest and celebrity coaches come to demonstrate their expertise. In this video, Tony Horton gives a taste of P90X3. In usual Tony Horton fashion, multiple muscle groups are targeted. I did have to make some modifications, and my legs cramped up a couple times (leave it to Beachbody to make me feel out of shape, lol).
Would I do this again? Yes. I wasn’t able to attack this workout with full intensity as I was trying to learn the moves.

Fat Blasting Workout, R.I.P.P.E.D. Fitness, Class FitSugar

This seemed to be a combination of cardio and resistance—which I guess could work if you’re really pressed for time. However, I did not see where they instructed what size weights to use.  Also, for one of the resistance exercises they actually speed it up. Since you are using weight and it works the shoulder, I would caution against speeding up when doing resistance. Usually slowing down is a better way to increase difficulty. When I follow a video, I like it when the instructor counts the reps out loud (helps me know if I'm not staring at the screen that I'm keeping up or if they have moved on), however this lacked rep counting.
Would I do this one again? No.

Metabolism Boosting Workout, Full Body Fitness, Class FitSugar

This was an interesting non-stop workout where once you pick up a set of weights, you aren’t supposed to put them down. I liked the instructional style, very thorough and clear. I chose 2lb weights as I wasn’t sure what I was getting into and it was my third video, but I did not have to modify or put down my weights.

Would I do this again? Yes, I’d like to try this again with 5 lbs.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Cardio for June 3

30-Minute Bodyweight Bootcamp Workout You Can Do Anywhere


I went with one 30 minute workout today. I had to modify some of the exercises, but I pushed through and was dripping by the end. My arms and legs were a little shaky too.

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Cardio workout by PopSugar from May 29

10-Minute Fat Burning Body Weight Workout | Class FitSugar

This workout was very challenging and I had to modified alot.

The 10-Minute Fat Incinerator Workout | Class FitSugar

Tough--I’ll have to work up to this one.

At-Home Cardio Sweat Workout - No Running Required! | Class FitSugar

O. Holy. Cow.

Would I do these again? These totally kicked my butt.

Friday, May 29, 2015

Strength workouts by Popsugar from May 27

Fat Blasting Strength Training Workout | Full Body Fitness | Class FitSugar

This one was kind of fun and didn’t need any weights. I did need some extra cushion for the floor work (guess it’s my wide hips :) )
Would I do this one again? Yes.

10-Minute Workout With Hayden Panettiere's Trainer | Class FitSugar

I found this one intense--or maybe I am just still recovering from late nights due to the storms. I definitely had to modify.
Would I do this one again? Yes.

Strength-Building Workout, Fat Blasting Fitness, Class FitSugar

I wouldn’t do this workout back to back with the above 10-minute workout with Hayden as the plank exercise at the end of the above is very similar to the plank at the beginning of this one. Some of the same exercises were also in the above fat-blasting workout, but this time weights were included.
Would I do this again? Yes

BTW, I am dripping.


Thursday, May 28, 2015

Cardio 5/26

Cardio from May 26

So far what I have liked most about the Popsugar workouts is the time factor. Most workouts are only 10 minutes. I can combine them to create 20-30 minute workouts depending on the demands of my time. And as  a busy stay at home mom, I can check on the rest of my household every 10 minutes (which is when someone is usually calling for me)

The Most Effective Tiny Apartment Workout | Class FitSugar
This workout really is done in a small amount of space equal to a yoga mat. The one-legged burpees challenged my balance and I had to use modifications for couple of them. I also had to modify the twist exercise at the end by tapping my heels to the floor, but I still felt it.
Would I do this one again? Yes.

Tabata Workout to Tone Everything in 10 Minutes | Class FitSugar

The exercises are kind of fun but in the Tabata format can be made intense. I was so sweating after just these two workouts.

Would I do this one again? Yes

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Popsugar fitness from Tuesday 5/19 – strength training

Since I did cardio on Monday, Tuesday I looked for workouts that were designed for building strength or using resistance. Here's what I found:

10-Minute No-Equipment Home Workout, Full Body Exercise, Class FitSugar
While I like that this video is only 10 minutes and uses no equipment, there is a side plank move that bothered my shoulder (granted this shoulder is one of my weak joints that I have to be mindful of), so fair warning this one could be hard on some joints. Also, my abs have never been strong (probably my weakest muscle), and they are getting stronger, but I found the runners crunch to be particularly challenging.
Would I do this one again? No


10-Minute Body Toning Workout With Weights | Class FitSugar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa0GAC5DpLg&index=1&list=PLSuYYJnt6ooSO_HLsGm5JPz0CDTgwjibr
I found this challenging in a good way. I felt a bit of a twinge in my shoulder during one of the exercises, but for now I’m chalking that up to the exercise in the previous workout. Some moves in this video were similar to P90X so I’m impressed they fit a whole body workout into 10 minutes (since P90X workouts are at least 1 hour long).

Would I do this one again? Yes

CrossFit Workout With Weights | Full-Body Exercise | Class FitSugar

I’ve been curious about CrossFit so I figured I’d check this one out. The Man Makers were difficult (think burpees with weights and thrusters), but I still pushed through.

Would I do this one again? Yes, I’d give it another try.

Friday, May 22, 2015

PopSugar fitness 5/18/2015

I discovered PopSugar fitness via Facebook news feed and decided to check out some of their videos. So far, most of what I have seen I have liked so I'll start with the videos I tried on Monday.

These three videos are cardio and about 10 minutes long.

Become Beyoncé With This Sexy Dance Workout
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0Dnf5Y0_Hk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0Dnf5Y0_Hk
This was a series of night club like dance moves. While it got my heart rate up some, I didn’t feel like it was really a workout.
Would I do this one again? No.

Full Body HIIT Workout | Fat Blasting Exercise | Class FitSugar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EGrv6O8z7w&index=1&list=PLSuYYJnt6ooTip9negHW1BMjqZNMwxcVI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EGrv6O8z7w&index=1&list=PLSuYYJnt6ooTip9negHW1BMjqZNMwxcVI
This was a short warm up followed by rounds of 40 seconds of exercise followed by 20 seconds of rest. I worked up a sweat and my heart rate was definitely up.
Would I do this one again? Yes

Tabata Fat Blasting Workout | Interval Training | Class FitSugar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axydnGTufOs&index=2&list=PLSuYYJnt6ooTip9negHW1BMjqZNMwxcVI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axydnGTufOs&index=2&list=PLSuYYJnt6ooTip9negHW1BMjqZNMwxcVI
This was a warmup followed by 20 seconds of exercise and 10 seconds of rest. I was dripping by the end (though walking the dog before and doing two other workouts before this could have contributed) and was definitely spent by the end.
Would I do this one again? Yes

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Turbofire

Pros: shorter amount of time, focus more on women, modifications available Cons: Uncoordinated for some resistance training, wasn't getting muscle toning results. Initially I tried Turbofire for the cardio. The HIIT workouts of 15, 20 or 25 minutes are great. It did take me a few times before I felt like I figured out the moves but I definitely got my heart rate in the appropriate zone and it definitely burned calories. Unfortunately, I think the resistance portions require a knowledge of muscle groups and how to properly activate and engage them. Sometimes I found it difficult to get into the correct position. Maybe it's my lack of coordination that hindered me from being able to concentrate on multiple muscle groups and engaging them properly, but I do not feel i was getting the muscle-toning results I expected. Would I try it again? I will use the HIIT workouts, but pass on the resistance.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

P90X

pros: gets results, plenty of modifications cons: time investment My husband has been through P90X and got great results. As a stay-at-home-mom I liked the flexibility of working out at home. While it does get great results, and I liked a couple of the suggested recipes; I have never made it through the whole program. I didn’t stop because I got the results I wanted and thought I could quit. The time investment is just too much for me. I don’t have over an hour each day to workout. Also, the recipes seemed to be either too involved or had hard to find ingredients. When I had time, I enjoyed P90X, I just don’t have that much time often enough. Would I try it again? Yes.

Monday, January 5, 2015

Final blog about The Purpose Driven Life

p315 “While you are shaped to serve others, even Jesus didn't meet the needs of everyone while on earth. You have to choose whom you can best help, based on your shape.” Is anyone elese relieved? I know there is more to Jesus' life than what is recorded in the Bible, but we also no His ministry was primarily to God's chosen people. As I remember the story of the Tower of Babel, I wonder how many people groups, races, tribes that did not know of His existence on the earth. We are humans and God's calling and purpose for us is limited—we aren't supposed to do it all! Hallelujah!!