Exercise

I think there will be quite a few posts on here that voice things that I can’t really (or won’t) say on Facebook. Nothing really bad I guess, but just thoughts that might come across as rude in only a few words. Yesterday, the gal who helps out in our cafeteria at work commented on my arms (I had a sleeveless top on). She said she really wanted her arms to have definition like mine, and asked how she could get them to do that. I paused and wasn’t sure what to say. In all honesty, she probably needs to lose 10-15lbs…so if she just did that she would automatically have more arm definition without even working out. But instead I just said that working out would really help (which is true), and to try and do push-ups at home to start with, but it was not totally what I really wanted to say. We gals are so sensitive about our weight, and I don’t know any girl who would want to be told she needed to lose weight, you know? I mean, we already know if we need to lose weight, and we don’t need reminders. We get reminders when we try to put our skinny jeans on!  :) And I really don’t feel comfortable telling someone they need to lose weight. It just seems easier to tell them they need to workout instead. So that is what I did…

Speaking of working out, I have really gotten into a rhythm with my workouts. I look better than I ever have, minus the teeny bit of extra belly skin that wrinkles when I sit down and the semi-outie belly button I used to never have…both thanks to my beautiful kids. I do several sets of lifting each week – back/chest, shoulders/biceps/triceps/forearms, and legs (adductors/abductors/calves). Lately since I have started swimming, I haven’t done any other cardio at the gym (i.e. elliptical, stair stepper) I just swim after I lift. 2 days/week I run – usually on Wednesday and Sunday mornings. 1 day/week I do yoga. 2 days/week I do an intense workout program at the gym, both slightly different. They are great workouts and have whipped me back into good shape. I started the ‘belly off’ workout about a month after I had Luca. I do vary it by substituting some moves so I don’t do the exact same thing each week.

Belly Off workout
Do each set of 3, 3 times with little or no rest between sets
Use as many risers on a step as you feel comfortable with

• Single leg step-ups (12 each leg)
• Push-ups (8-10)
• Jump rope (1 minute)

• Single leg deadlift (12 each leg)
• Swiss ball mountain climbers (10 each leg, alternate legs)
• Cross back lunges (1 min)

• Box jumps (10)
• Deadlifts with weights (12)
• Forward side lunges (1 min)

• Walking lunges, down and back
• Jump to pushup to kick-back (aka Burpees – 8-10)
• Jump rope (1 min)

• Single leg step-ups, step back down to lunge (step up with right foot, step up with left foot, step back down with right foot, step back down and lunge back with left foot, repeat with opposite legs) (12)
• Side jumps over cone (12)
• Jump rope (1 min)

* Push-up variation: push-ups with medicine ball alternating arms (roll it from hand to hand in between push-ups)
*Burpee variation: when you kick back, then kick your legs outward (like a jumping jack) then back to together.  Just makes it harder.  Or when you kick back, do a pushup

I started this leg intensive work out a few weeks ago. Until then I was just doing belly off (slightly different versions) twice per week.

Tuesday Leg workout

• Jump rope (4 minutes)
• Reverse lunges (2 minutes)
• Jump rope (2 minutes)
• Forward side lunges (2 minutes)
• Jump rope (2 minutes)
• Cross back lunges (2 minutes)
• Jump rope (2 minutes)
• Reverse lunges (1 minute)
• Jump rope (1 minute)
• Forward side lunges (1 minute)
• Jump rope (1 minute)
• Cross back lunges (1 minute)

Brief rest

• 1 Legged deadlifts (2 minutes)
• Push-ups (8-10)
• Ball hamstring curls (2 minutes)
• Push-ups (8-10)
• Deadlifts with weights (2 minutes)
• Push-ups (8-10)
• 1 legged deadlifts (1 minute)
• Push-ups (8-ish)
• Ball hamstring curls (1 minute)
• Push-ups (8-ish)
• Deadlifts with weights (1 minute)

Brief rest

• Ball pass over sit-ups (2 minutes)
• High knee Jump rope (1 minute)
• Repeat x2


But besides the exercise I do, I also eat pretty good most of the time.  Eating good is really the key to looking good.  I read somewhere that eating is 80% of how you look and exercise is the other 20%, and I think that probably sounds about right.  I typically eat fairly healthy anyway, but probably even more so since I have upped my workouts.  It's difficult to go run 6 miles without the proper fuel in your body.  We don't eat out much, and when we do its usually something like a sub from Jimmy Johns (fast food) or a margarita pizza and salad from Spin.  Ryan hasn't eaten McDonalds-type food since college and I haven't eaten it in probably 5 years.  I do still indulge with dessert a few times a week though.  I'm not one of those people who will give up eating foods I like!  I truly enjoy eating quality, tasty food and that kind of food can be healthy too...it just takes a little effort.