BodyPump - I kinda love it

Want to hear a story about Body Pump?  What is Body Pump you ask?  Well, lets start with that.  BodyPump is a group fitness class done using weights.

A TYPICAL BODYPUMP CLASS

• Improve your strength
• Perform 70-100 repetitions per body part totaling up to 800 repetitions in a single workout
• Improve your general fitness
• Shape and tone your muscles
• Protect your bones and joints from injury
• Get into shape fast
• Feel confident

 Years ago (before my children) I went to BodyPump classes regularly.  I LOVED them.  I actually took the 6 am classes before work and I am so NOT a morning person.  Well then I moved back to Indiana and at the time there were NO BodyPump classes anywhere near.  So sad.  Fast forward to just recently and I finally tried doing them again.

I was hooked just like the first time.  I don't know why I haven't done them before now.  I should note that I did like 4 Crossfit classes a few months ago and of course I almost died every time.   So after doing Crossfit (even for a short time) everything is easier.  I mean at least BodyPump doesn't make me want to puke most of the time.  I means sometimes the squat track can make me want to cry and lunges too but I haven't thrown up yet.

With BodyPump you work pretty much every muscle group and you lift weights and you do it to fun music.  You can go here to get a better idea of how it works.  I actually have started looking forward to this class.  I've been trying to go three times a week.  I'm sad when I miss.  Who am I?  I never used to look forward to exercise.

The weights are much lighter than regular weights but you can load up your bar if you are ready.  I am trying to make sure I get the moves done correctly before going heavier.  If you want to see some of the moves for the class check them out here.

If you haven't tried a BodyPump class I urge you to find one close and give it a shot!

P.S. I am not compensated in any way to tell you about this class.  I just love it that much.





 

Weekly Workouts - Going Primal

I've been pretty consistent with my diet for a long while now but not so much with my exercise.  I've walked most weeks but I'm trying to kick up my strength.  My husband does crossfit and loves it.  I've done crossfit and I hate it.  I mean I like the idea of it.  I like the workouts but I don't like doing the workouts quickly with people which is kind of the point of crossfit.

So I've been doing primal instead.  I like it so much better.  I've been following the Primal Blueprint from Mark's Daily Apple.

You can get the ebook for free here.

So I have two strength days and one sprint day and then  the rest of the week I do walking or yoga or Pilates and I LOVE it.  And if I love it I'll actually do it.

 Monday - I usually try to do my sprints on this day.  I walk one mile, then I sprint 30 seconds as fast as I can and recover for 2 minutes and repeat for mile 2, then mile 3 I walk again.

Tuesday - Strength day - I follow the primal blue print  so I do two rounds of push ups, pull ups, squats and planks (and side planks).  I'm following the progression according to the plan.

Wednesday - 3 mile walk, pilates or yoga

Thursday - 3 milk walk, Pilates or yoga

Friday - 3 mile walk, Pilates or yoga

Saturday - strength day - same as Tuesday and possible followed by yoga flexibility

Sunday - Rest baby!

I also downloaded a yoga app that I really like called Yoga Studio.  I highly recommend it.

Since going Paleo and reading lots of crossfit and primal things about exercise I have changed so much of my thinking.  Right now I lean more that chronic cardio can actually be more detrimental than helpful.  It is a tough concept to wrap my mind around since it has always been hammered in my head  - cardio, cardio, cardio.

Now I'm actually eating to live and trying to think more of adding muscle than losing weight.  I have a long way to go but I'm trying to get there.

What workouts are  you doing?

 

Skimble - It actually makes me want to work out!

I have been out of the habit of working out for about 5 years now.  I know how to work out.  I know what to do.  I was really good at it once.  Lately though, I don't waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaant to do it.  Do you actually hear me whining?

But this mamma wants to keep up with her kiddos and she knows she needs to work out.  I tried the Couch to 5K but I don't really care to do a 5K.  Maybe someday I  might.  Right now I just want to get in shape and be healthy.

I was browsing Facebook one night and one of my FB friends posted this workout she did on Skimble.  She even had a board on her Pinterest of workouts that she created for herself - say what?  I had to check it out.  So I did.

And I LOVED it.  I still love it.  You want to know how it works?

There is a free version but you don't get as much.  I tried the free version and liked it so I paid $14.99 for the year and $1.99 a month - worth every penny and then some.  You can go PRO for $6.99 and get more and do the workouts on your computer.

You can also put a workout to come up on your calendar on your phone and set reminders.

I love that I can pick out a different workout every day.  You can scroll through the workout and see what exercises there are.  You can filter your workout - by time, by endurance and so on.  You can make your own workout!

You can make workouts and pin them to Pinterest.

What I really like is that I can do it in the living room with the kids while they are watching a cartoon or something.  Most of them only require a little space and no equipment.

I did not get paid to write this review I just love this so much that I had to share it with you!


I have to thank  Annie (my Facebook friend and one of my cheerleaders that I used to coach) for introducing me to this app.  It is awesomeness!

 Go check out Skimble!

 

Workout with the Kids for Free

I need to workout (story of my life) but I wanted to find something I would actually do that might be fun for my kids.  While I was reading a homeschooling mom's Facebook post I found some interesting ideas that other people posted.  This was one of them.  She said her kids really liked this jump rope video on Spark People.  I looked it up.  I hooked up our lap top to our TV and we all did this together this morning.  We did it without the jump rope and the kids really liked it and finished it all.

Its only 10 minutes.  I am going to try to do this at least three mornings a week before we start school.  After the video, I had them do 10 squats, 10 lunges on each leg, 10 push ups, 10 squats and holding a plank position for 10 seconds.  My 7 year old was the only one that made it through the whole thing.

I have always struggled with making exercise a habit but maybe we can start this habit with our whole family and it will carry them into adulthood.

I am going to try out some of the other 10 minute videos on Spark People and see if the kids like those too.

An added bonus - no equipment needed!

Anyone else out there have ways to workout with the kids?

10 Minute Microwave Timer Workout

I am the worst at getting workouts in and I need to get them in badly.  I saw this on Dr. Oz yesterday.  I thought it was a great idea and I actually did it today.  Check it out here.

 Here is how I made it work for me:

Set the timer for 10 minutes.

1 minute of  standing oblique crunches

1 minute of tricep dips.

2 minutes of squats.

11/2 minutes of bicep curls (with 5 lb. weights - I am a wimp)

2 minutes of lunges - alternating legs

1 minute of shoulder flys

1 1/2 minute of yoga/stretching - downward dog pose, warrior pose

And DONE!  I did this in the afternoon after I finished cleaning up the kitchen.  I think this is doable and something I can commit to if I can't commit to anything else.  It also makes me want to do some more once I am done with that.

Now if I could get my walk in we would be good for the day.

How do you fit exercise into your day - cheaply and easily?  I am always looking for ideas.