My Thighs Are On Fire!

I did something rather crazy this weekend. I paid for workout classes. WHAT? Such insanity! I know, I never saw myself doing such a thing either but with less than four and half months until the wedding, I needed a change. Admittedly, I was becoming bored with home workouts and my level of intensity throughout my sweat sessions has not been at it's full potential. I was over it. 

Enter late night online purchases.

This afternoon I went too my first Pure Barre class. I took ballet growing up, I do pilates regularly, and while my arms and abs leave some room for improvement my legs have always been solid and strong. Ho. Ly. Crap. The arms were a bit tough, core work was a struggle, but my legs literally went to jelly, nothing like looking at yourself in a mirror and being terrified your lower half will give way under you as it shakes like crazy! Regardless, I loved it. I am super crazy and going back tomorrow morning and every day the rest of the week (it's my spring break, I have to take advantage!). 

I have a month unlimited pass and I am hoping this will be my wedding workout match from heaven. Because, although it snowed/hailed on me as I was walking (dragging myself) home, swimsuit season is also approaching! Yay beaches, warm weather, and SUN!

Becoming one of THOSE people

I now obsess over table linens. Oh yes, table linens. We are turning the corner into the final countdown to wedded bliss. We are getting legally married this weekend (long story) but in  a way it's super awesome. After over seven and a half years it's kind of fun to do this twice, and my name change paperwork and appropriate documents will be in order before summer even hits. I love getting things done ahead of time! 

Now, back to the linens. Our venue requires us to rent chair covers and ties. Fear not, I have found a virtual online builder to appropriately envision the colors and now want to rent table cloths because, why not??? On the upside I nearly have the bridesmaids gifts figured out and assembling invitations will begin over my spring break in a couple of weeks. I can't even complain about our progress, we're accomplishing a lot each month! But I am still freaking out over mundane things and need to calm down.

One area I am NOT thrilled about? My diet and exercise. To be honest, winter has wreaked havoc on my weight. I have also had the flu for about a week and am feeling miserable. Such things are not too great for my desired washboard abs. After my body heals itself a bit, I look forward to implementing (and strictly following) a healthy, manageable regimen. But considering I just ate some full fat, full delicious coffee ice cream, I plan to begin tomorrow. With a 6 am workout. Can't wait. 

Vanity absolutely plays a role in considering myself bridal material, but more importantly I just want to feel amazing. There is a lot of build up for one day to kick of the rest of my life with the one perfect person, but I want to begin feeling confident and healthy. 

Get Your Yoga On

Last night, on Valentine's Day, my relationship of seven and a half years reached a whole new level of intimacy. That's right, my fiance asked for my assistance in working out and getting in wedding shape! And no, not working out like that either! A month or so ago I had asked him his plan on getting ready for the big day, I volunteered to cook leaner dinners and suggested he started to think about how he wanted to work out and begin to get in shape. He dismissed me, saying he had no problem eating better, but exercise wasn't really a priority.

Well yesterday we decided we will start doing yoga together once a week. This weekend will be a fail as I have hair and make up trials tomorrow and I get to try on my dress on Monday, plus we need to get him his very own yoga mat! I feel like a proud parent here.

The whole conversation brings up an interesting point, for the longest time I dismissed yoga as a legit form of exercise. Back in the day, I believed if you weren't lifting or jumping it didn't count as exercise. Yoga was simply for hippies or the elderly. Then I tried power yoga and fell in love. The routine did indeed zen my overanxious tendencies, at least temporarily. Also, holding some of those poses caused me to break a sweat and really focus on my body and how it was moving and supporting itself. Now, I can't speak highly enough of yoga. It's a great in between workout for when your body needs extra stretching, toning, or if you're not feeling up to something super intense.

Try out at least one yoga workout this week. Nearly every YouTube fitness channel offers a free routine but I recommend at least forty minutes of yoga to really get all the benefits. I prefer the strengthening and toning benefits of power yoga, but maybe you want to try something more gentle and ease into a new routine. Either way, give it a go and incorporate yoga each week. You will see your body being a bit more toned and your mind a bit more relaxed. Do it with your significant other for extra bonus points!

Get More From Your Workout

As a fitness enthusiast and bride to be, my level of svelte-ness over the next few months is extraordinarily crucial. However, sometimes a fitness plateau occurs. Sometimes it occurs as your the date of your first wedding dress try on is rapidly approaching. Awesome. As frustrating as the timing is, I have been working on slowing down my workouts in order to continue improving my fitness.

Everyone has their favorite type of workout. In general, I prefer circuit training with weights. You get your strength training in for your muscles, while breaking a sweat and getting your cardio. A double whammy. Really slowing down each move, feeling your shoulder blades pinch together during back work, focusing on keeping your belly button in during core, is going to make a difference. What if you prefer cardio? Get your arms all the way up during jumping jacks. Bring your knees as high as you can in tuck jumps. Really breathe through yoga poses. You get the point.

Often, reviews on workout DVDs or fitness YouTube videos complain about the difficulty of a move and how they couldn't get through the repetitions. Doesn't matter. Make the exercises more effective for you. No one cares if you only eek out 15 of the 30 reps as long as you're using the proper form. Form is what will ensure your abs are strong and your legs are rockin. Even if the routine is super easy for you, want to make it hard? Slow down and focus on contracting each muscle as you are moving. 

In a sick, twisted, workout lover way, making yourself feel the burn is the best. While it doesn't necessarily make your workouts fly by, it seems like each move is custom made to improve your own body. Moving through each position allows you to be more effective and develop a better appreciation for your body and your own strength, and isn't that what exercise is all about in the first place?

Fabulous in February

Winter is really starting to get on my nerves. My energy is gone, I have been cranky, and all motivation is often a lost cause. While February is typically a month where the bitter cold reaches a peak, I hope we have already seen the worst of what this season has to offer. February is going to be all about being positive and making life just a little bit better to help me survive the last month and a half before spring. Plus, my birthday is in March and who doesn't want to feel more fabulous in time for their birthday?!

What does all of this even mean? Throughout the month my posts will focus on one thing you can do each day - from organization, to fitness, to relaxation - which will help you break through the doldrums of the cold and radiate will improved wellness from within. Also, I promise they won't break the bank. Fabulous in February series begins tomorrow, get excited!

Five Ways I've Been Working Out For Free

I have never in my life paid a gym membership fee. With the exception of the half off group fitness glasses at college, when the price is reduced half way through the semester. I bought a workout class Groupon once. I never went as they were good in the peak of winter. Point is, I love fitness and breaking a sweat but I don't think anyone should have to pay a hefty price to improve their body. The bonus about these tips? They don't even require you to leave your home in this horrid polar vortex.

1. YouTube. I mentioned before how I adore the Blogilates videos. I will often print out her workout calendars and mix them with my own. Other favorites are Tone It Up, Fitness Blender, and PopSugar Fitness. I just sign into my account and their latest videos are in my feed, ready to go.

2. Amazon Prime. Yes, technically I pay for the prime membership but I have that anyway due to my free Kindle rentals and the shipping perks. This membership is becoming my new favorite thing. I recently discovered the free shows and movies, as they occupied bitter cold days on my Christmas break. Well now, I have been trying a new workout video each day for the past few days and it's pretty awesome. They offer everything from Jillian Michaels, to yoga, to Densie Austin for nights when I feel my body needs a low impact recovery routine. I am in love. 

3. Magazine workouts. I subscribe to a couple of fitness magazines currently but have read a variety for years and years. I now have a pretty impressive stock pile of their top workouts. Following Shape, Self, Fitness, or the like on Twitter or Facebook will provide the same information. They will link you to a ton of free workouts you can print out or bookmark for the future.

4. Make it up as you go along. Interval training is all the rage and it's quite effective. We all know the basics, intense moves such as split squats, burpees, or speed skaters for 20 - 45 seconds and 10 - 15 seconds of recovery. Choose different exercises and continue for 20+ minutes. Back in the day I used to attempt to watch the clock for these routines but I now use a website that tracks the time, circuit, and when to begin and end each set for me. It's the perfect workout for when you aren't feeling any workout in particular.

5. Keep it brief, yet frequent. Jumping jacks during commercials. Crunches when your favorite movie/television character says their catch phrase. Squats while you brush your teeth, or hover while you pee. All the small changes you make add up. Have an impromptu dance party or clean the house vigorously, it will be done faster that way! Whatever you choose to do, you should be breaking a sweat every single day. Your mind will equate fitness as a habit, a lifestyle change; not a fleeting trend. 

BONUS FREEBIE:
6. Run. I am not a big runner, and I will never run in this brutal weather we are currently experiencing. However, running is free. So is walking more. As it warms up, grab some comfy kicks and go for a brisk stroll.

Revving Up Your Resolutions

Some coffee and blogging on a snow day!

As I relax in my apartment on this bitter cold snow day number two, I have been reading through some of my favorite websites. We all love an extra kick in the pants to get us going each January, right? Gotta make good on those resolutions and goals somehow! While looking through Greatist.com, their article on the 100 Most Influential People in Health and Fitness caught my eye. This article captures every thing that I love about health, fitness, wellness, self improvement, and how accessible the internet makes all of this information. While I don't envision myself cultivating a six pack in the near future, or going Paleo and abandoning my love for chocolate, I truly enjoy motivational pieces like this, offering up new tid bits and perspectives on a fascinating subject: us. 

So how can a list of ONE HUNDRED PEOPLE with differing view on health and fitness possibly be beneficial? It captures the reality of getting healthy. While there are a few basic truths (vegetables are good, so is exercise), what is perfect for me, may not be perfect for you. Don't be afraid to try and fail. What if you are determined to go vegan, be a pro crossfit athlete, and run a successful business and it doesn't quite pan out? Oh well, give something else a go. We're always changing, as are our needs. Respect your body and give it the love, nourishment, and activity it requires. Stop making it a battle.  

Here's what I got from the post: 1. My love for Cassey Ho and Gabrielle Bernstein is well founded. They are fitness/health/spiritual geniuses. 2. Give "The Glute Guy" (yes an actual person on this list) a go. Change up your workout, tweak your diet, your lifestyle, or try something new. Me, I am interested in giving acupuncture a go in the near future. New year, new experiences. After all, if it doesn't work, there are ninety nine other views to explore.

What's A Girl To Do On A Snow Day?

Thankfully, I can stay indoors all day today. The snow  out back is nearly over the top of our yard table and furniture. While I'm glad to have my break extended by a day I'm dreading making it out into the winter tomorrow...

This morning I slept into a glorious 7:15. I have to get back in the habit of waking up early, right? To kick start my workout regimen in the New Year I'm following a hybrid of some YouTube exercise schedules. As always, I've downloaded the Blogilates monthly calender, I'm adding in additional videos from Tone It Up and other trainers when I have time. Today, I obviously had some spare time on my hands and added their daily toning videos. 

I needed to break in my new workout shoes! The last few pairs I've purchased weren't quite what I was looking for, but so far these are awesome. I had some money left on a Zappos gift card and put it towards these Asics. They are perfect for cardio and lightweight enough for my cross training style activities as well. 

Even though the guys are going to track in snow and salt tonight, I vacuumed and mopped our apartment while catching up on last night's episode of Downton Abbey. The place will look lovely and fresh for the next few hours! Our heat has been running practically all day in an attempt to combat the terrible temperatures outdoors. Soon, I am going to make myself some green tea in an attempt to stay warm! For dinner my fiance's favorite, meatloaf, is on the menu. It will be the perfect cold day dinner. I'm actually getting hungry just thinking about it...maybe I need a snack. Hopefully, some of you are enjoying a day off from work as well. Bundle up and make yourself some tea!

Working Out. Without the Gym.

Not a gym person? Me either. Don't get me wrong, I've been surrounded by fitness my entire life. My mom was a part time workout instructor when I was younger. My brother and I spent a serious five minutes each class curling two pounders. Exercise is in my blood. 

Purchasing what you need to work out at home could be pricey. But think about it, all you need in this day and age is a yoga mat and some free weights (I have 5 and 10 pound weights). The wonderful world of YouTube provides all the workouts you could ever think of, and more. Personally, I own a dozen or so workout DVDs. Growing up, we did the old school workouts by The Firm, now I like their newer program. I also enjoy yoga, circuit training, and dance DVDs. Check out the ratings online before you order, they can be helpful. Also, put your health and fitness magazine routines to work. There is always something new for you to do, if you're willing to try.

It's not always easy, my apartment is long and narrow so doing a proper burpee can be more like an obstacle course some days. However, I am personally way more likely to get my workout in if I can do it on my time and focus on the workout. Especially when it means I don't have to leave my house in this cold weather! 

I always have a few dvd's sitting on my desk and my yoga mat on hand. The calendar above is from blogilates.com. I have been incorporating a lot of her workouts this month to switch up my daily sessions. I like to keep a running total of how often I workout each week, as well as the "type". Above I have: running, yoga, pilates, weights/circuit training, and dance. Variety keeps me going.

Getting Back on Track, by Switching Things Up

I mentioned earlier how I have been longing for a change in my routine. My workouts have become methodical and difficult to get through because they don't hold my interest. My daily routine needs some excitement and variety in order for me to keep up my healthy lifestyle. 

(Source: http://thinkingmomsrevolution.com/where-the-magic-happens/) 

I believe by now we've all seen this little gem made popular on pinterest and many other sites. No? Well according to online articles, health magazines, and personal experience; this picture may capture the essence of success. I have a secret for you, I am scared of running. Not just scared, thinking about running gives me anxiety. Why? No clue. However, I am determined to improve myself, my fitness, and the way I have been going about my day to day life. Because that's where the magic happens. I've picked some key points I want to improve upon inspired by this logic. Won't you join me?

1. Run 20 minutes, twice a week. Why? It is a form of exercise I am uncomfortable performing, and without a good reason. I went for a 20+ minute run/walk yesterday so I'm off to a good start.
2. Decrease my caffeine intake. One cup of coffee in the morning, a cup of caffeinated tea or coffee at lunch. Maximum. My dependence on caffeine is embarrassing.
3. Eat clean for the next week. No cheating. This long holiday weekend was kind of a set back for me health wise. This means no chocolate, added sugars, or artificial beverages (I'm looking at you Coke Zero) for seven days. Today was day one.
4. Exercise first thing in the morning at least twice a week. I have to get to work relatively early so this is sometimes tricky, but it sure beats having to work out as soon as I get home each night. I've already had some success with this but look forward to improving on it.

5. Drink more water. I have a serious need for an insane amount of water. As in liters and liters of water each day, a very unfortunate problem when you have limited bathroom breaks at work! Lately, I have been struggling to drink water because it's been so boring. I picked up some lemon and mint at the store this week to add in and keep me guzzling more.

6. Stick to my meal planning. I was thrown off by this today as I dropped my homemade salad all over the floor, but I hurried over to Mariano's to get another salad from their salad bar to compensate.

7. Do many types of exercise each week to prevent boredom. I tried to follow fitness plans online, or even my own. However, I've realized some days you come home and want to swap yoga or weights for that 45 minutes of cardio you have planned. And that's okay.

What would your goals be? I will be updating you on my progress, and would love to hear suggestions for more ways to keep it interesting.