Amy was reading through the instructions for a 20 min ”Glute Camp” workout courtesy of Women’s Health as part of their “Olympian-inspired” workout series.

I had come across a similar Olympic themed arm workout on Love Eat Run.

That got us talking about where it is we look for workout inspiration. Between the two of us our list included:

Blogs
Peanut Butter Fingers is most often where I go. Julie has an easily accessible workout page with tons of options.

Twitter
I follow Healthy Living Blogs, Women’s Health and FitFluential and they are constantly tweeting links to workout posts on various other blogs and sites.

Pinterest
Thanks to the entire category dedicated to “Health & Fitness, ” you have quite a few to choose from.

YouTube
This is a good resource to use if you’ve heard of a move, but have never attempted it. There are plenty of videos that you can watch to learn the proper form.

As you can see, we came up with a pretty good list! It’s fun getting to discuss and share workout tips.  Amy and I have an outstanding workout date which we have yet to schedule. I hope to get to the gym with her some day.

Until I get more confident and knowledgeable about the different muscle groups and how best to work them, I rely on these resources to create workouts for me and tell me what to do. I am constantly looking for new ideas, so if you have any, send them my way!

- Adam Hochschild.

With work, school and life in general I can understand why sometimes it just doesn’t seem like fitness fits in. But as I said before (and will continue to say)- you have to make time for fitness. Here’s a simple idea to get 20 minutes in a day:

Step 1- Create a playlist. (If you are like the 4.4 million people involved in this survey… you most likely have some type of MP3 player or other portable music player… Walkmans and Zunes are still floating out there somewhere in a sea of Apple products). This playlist is gonna be short at 4 to 5 songs in length or roughly about 20 minutes. Could be whatever songs you like but hopefully songs that get you motivated (to run, jump, skip… whatever really).

Step 2- Stop whatever you are doing that is not fitness related… bills, internet, cooking, washing, cleaning… you fill in the blank.

Step 3- Hit play and do something physical. Could be anything… walking, running, rock climbing, basketball, tennis, wrestling, lift weights, yoga… you fill in the blank. Something to get your heart rate up and you moving. This 20 minutes is for you. Utilize it to do what makes you feel good, happy, strong or powerful.

Step 4- Go back to whatever you were doing before your 20 minutes.

Taadaa- fitness in 20 minutes or less.

Stay Moving Fitness Fan.

I know we usually start the week with a dose of motivation, but I thought I would mix things up a little.  I feel like I haven’t shared many workout ideas lately, even though I love working out! So today it’s all training talk.

Since finishing the LiveFit program a few months ago, I’ve taken a more relaxed approach to my gym sessions.  I still lift weights, but am enjoying a wider variety of activities such as going for walks, taking classes, and practicing Pilates.  Pilates in particular is one of my favourite ways to workout.  It is great for core strength as well as stress relief; a saving grace during hectic times in our lives!

I could go on and on about my love affair with Pilates! But I’ll spare you that rant and just share my top 3 moves instead.

The roll up

This exercise works the entire abdominal region so kicks butt over the standard crunch in my books

For a description of how to do the roll up click here.

The Hundred

One of my favourites! Get your heart pumping and abs burning

For a description of the hundred exercise click here (scroll half way down the page)

The Teaser

This exercise is no joke…it really targets the abs, and requires good posture.

This picture shows the full version of teaser, but there are many modifications to suit all fitness levels. Click here to read the descriptions.

If you haven’t tried out Pilates I urge you to give it a try.  It will challenge your body, your mind, as well as sculpt some amazing abs.  While we’re on the topic of abs, I’ll also mention Angela’s July No-Crunch Core Challenge. This lady puts together some amazing workouts that are super effective and leave you feeling energized (and more than a tad sore at times too!).  During the month of July there will be 4 different workouts to try on her Fit Bit Friday, so head on over and check them out.

Here’s to an awesome week ahead!

-Sarah xo

What’s you favourite abs exercise?

Pilates, yoga, or both…what’s your favourite?

Be ready for it, because you are going to love this!  We are extremely excited to add this new section to the site!

Also check out our Facebook Page for more great content!

“THE IMPULSE TO BE ELYTE LIES WITHIN SOCIETY.”

I’ve been bummed a bit lately as I am nursing a stress fracture on my left foot. Complements of wearing my flip flops too long doing city waking. Epic, total fail on my part.

I’ve had a similar injury on my right foot but that was after doing 26.2 hilly miles in 3:40. My left foot is a total wimp.

This means running is nonnegotiable and cycling is slow and painful. “Team weights and elliptical” for a few days while I rest this out. Personally, I hate the elliptical because many people abuse it.

The profile of some ellipticallians includes reading magazines, leisurely exerting themselves to the point it looks like they are going to swing themselves right off the machine.

If you’re going to rock out on the elliptical give yourself a hefty challenge and remember that the elliptical is an exercise that is suppose to mimic cross-country skiing. It should be difficult enough to where you aren’t solely focused on flipping tv channels between Jersey Shore and Real Housewives.

Here’s a good example of an elliptical workout we can trust. Thank you Pinterest.

Oh and you probably want your winner for the Hydrapak Soft Flask! Selected by the fancy random # generator…..Congrats AMY for being the big winner! Now e-mail me for deets!

Let’s hear your honest thoughts on the elliptical. Fan or snub?

Whether you’re training for a marathon or just looking to improve your fitness through running or jogging, your dog could be perfect companion.

Your best buddy won’t accept your excuses… When that tail starts wagging, it’s hard to say no…

He may be as out of shape as you, so go easy. Before starting him out on your exercise program, have him checked by a veterinarian (his heart, lungs, joints, etc.). By the way, if you haven’t been exercising for some time, you may want to consider a checkup as well.

Start out slowly and build up endurance. You will see that going out for a run makes us all happier souls.

Love,
Verena

Other than today being Father’s Day, it’s also Sunday.. And Sunday’s as we know it should be declared the “let’s-sit-around-and-relax-day” of the week. If only it was that simple… For me it’s not.

While most normal people are relaxing on their sunday afternoon, I have to spend every Sunday until the Chicago Marathon on October 13th doing 45 minutes of some kind of cardio other than running.

I woke up this morning not feeling like doing much except laying in the sun and reading 50 Shades of Grey. But, in the back of my head my conscience was telling me to get my lazy butt up to do 45 minutes of SOMETHING.

So, I had an idea. Why not do a workout in the pool? I’ll be tanning and working out!

Fitness Magazine gave me some fantastic ideas for getting a 20-minute workout done in the pool. It’s a total win-win situation. Even though this workout was only 20 minutes, I helped my mom do a complete makeover of my house helping her clean. I justified the other 25 minutes of cardio by running up and down stairs.

Hope you had a great Father’s Day!

xoxoxox

I’m still trying to settle into the reality of being back in America. Greece was the most incredible experience I could have ever asked for, but fitness wise, I definitely didn’t keep in shape as expected.

Like I mentioned before, signing up at the gym there was expensive, and people don’t run outside in public as much as

LA Boxing Orland Park, IL

they do in Chicago, so I ran around a dirt semicircle track to attempt to stay in shape. But, I was in Greece for 4 months, why would I waste time staying on a diet and running when I could be eating gyros and exploring?

Needless to say, I slipped out of my normal routine and quickly became out of shape.

I allowed myself a lax week before getting back in shape when I returned to America. My first day back to working out my best friend Alyssa, my cousin Val and I decided to do a free kickboxing class at LA Boxing. Well, I didn’t kick any butt, but LA Boxing kicked mine.

Overall, though, I absolutely loved it. I definitely got a beating, but I feel empowered and much more motivated to get back in shape.

In a couple weeks I need to start training for the Chicago Marathon I’m running in October, and LA Boxing was the perfect way to get my routine started!

I definitely suggest you try a class at LA Boxing. The schedule is online and all you have to do is pick one and show up!

I love to run at the circle in Aventura… On lap is almost 3 mi… great for beginners and advanced runners…

;

There are many big old trees along the path… That means you get a lot shade and there are drinking water fountains too to stay cool and hydrated in the hot Miami sun…

I’m running there once a week and it’s a great alternative to my beach and treadmill runs…

Try to find your own favorite spot to run/walk… And do it together with a friend… Double up the motivation!

Love,
Verena

Well, I did.  It was fab.  And now everything hurts.

I’ve only done this workout once before, last summer, and included the 10 minute run.  I was much heavier the last time, and I remember running on a pretty humid day, so that felt like a rough workout.  This one isn’t quite as bad now, but the soreness 24 hours later makes me think it’s still worthwhile!

Yesterday, I knew I didn’t want to run, so I did everything except running 10 minutes.  Tomorrow is another 3 mile day, so even though I had plenty of energy to run a mile or so, I skipped it.

You really can make this workout as long or as short as you want.  Personally, it took me maybe 25 minutes?  I took short breaks between every number set, and brief breathers between the mini sets I did within some of the exercises.  I broke it down like this:

100 jumping jacks (in a row, no stopping)
Jumping jacks, for me, are the easiest, so it’s best to just get them over with.

90 crunches
Honestly…I can’t remember how I split these up yesterday.  3 sets of 30 or 6 sets of 15 sounds like something I would do.

80 squats
4 sets of 20. 

70 leg lifts
This is where I got a little creative.  I did 30 leg lifts on my back, lifting both legs in the air at the same time.  Then, I did 10 one-leg lifts, laying on my side, where 10 on each leg = one set, bringing me to 40.  Then, 15 double leg lifts (55), then 15 one leg lifts on each side.  I haaaaate leg lifts…

60 JJ
Get them over with.

50 crunches
2 sets of 25.

40 squats
2 sets of 20.

30 LL
 10 doubles, 20 singles on each side.

20 JJ.

DONE!

I think this is great to throw into the week, especially if you really just want to watch TV or listen to music.  No video to follow, no complicated moves, and you can make it work for you.  If you wanted to do it super speedy cross-fit style, you could, or if you want to take your time, you could.  I definitely felt like I could run, but again, I just wanted to have a day off from running.

Now, today is truly an off day.  It’s beautiful outside, (my allergies won’t let me forget it) and I think I’ll be out and about with my roommate today.  There’s some sort of festival/fair/something in her boyfriend’s hometown that we’re going to. If they sell fried dough, I’m in.

Happy Saturday!

 P.S. I start counting down to my DMB weekend…6 days!

]]> http://inspiredbyverena.com/2012/05/18/hiit-thats-the-best-way-to-train-for-sure/ Sat, 19 May 2012 01:42:38 +0000 inspiredbyverena http://inspiredbyverena.com/2012/05/18/hiit-thats-the-best-way-to-train-for-sure/ You are wondering what HIIT is? It stands for High Intensity Interval Training… I just read this article and I really believe that this is the most effective way to get stronger and to burn fat…

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=621

Love,

Verena

I took full advantage of the day and planned a long walk, an ice cream treat and hours of outside entertainment. It was the first real “summer” weekend after most of April was a rain-out.

My workout was a 5 mile walk…. pushing a thirty-five pound stroller and two little boys that each weight in right at thirty pounds a piece. Runkeeper says I burned 514 calories but with pushing the extra 95 pounds I’m hoping it was a little more?

While I love these days as a person and am a firm believer that they are good for the soul. A little time with nature never hurt anyone!  I am always challenged at about 4:30 when my tummy starts to grumble and I have no energy left to make a healthy dinner.  Luckily I’ve been pinning the culinary world on pinterest and had an idea for a simple, easy and healthy dinner.

I’m calling this 1, 2, 3 Dinner:
1. Make pasta of your choice
2. While its cooking add in a few handfuls of spinach, Drain then add in some veggies of your choice (I added tomatoes it was all I had on hand!) & some parmesan cheese (I added some mozzarella too!)
3. Serve

It was so easy and my husband/ kids actually ate it! Truth be told they may be starving from the long day but it was a victory in my book!

This morning I used my handy iphone app Daily Workouts App for a quick 20 minute all over work out and WOW my buns are on fire I had never tried a froggy lift legs before!

Here are some of the workouts I got screen shots of:

This App is a free download in the app store and I think it’s pretty good especially when I have run out of ideas!

Terrific Tuesday Post is coming later today and is filled with workout gear Can you tell where my brain has been lately?

What are some of your favorite fitness apps?

There’s a dance going on at one of the private schools of the Archdiocese of Seattle today, but I decided to stay home and chill. Not many of my friends are going– a few are, but they’re such social butterflies that they meet a ton of people at these dances and me –being a wallflower– usually wind up just standing there or looking for some other friends to hang out with.. The dance at my school was different, because I knew almost everyone there, but the truth is that when I go to other dances, speaking to people I don’t know means stepping out of my comfort zone. And with me just wanting to jump back in bed when the school day ended, I knew that I just wasn’t up for that.

Nikki went, though, and I hope she has fun! I’m going to have fun, too, just by doing other things.. Blog reading, book reading, watching movies on Netflix.. Maybe if I’m up for it, I might even get a head start on the homework! All of that sounds pretty lame compared to a night of dancing with friends, but we’ve been having these events more than 6 times a year for the past 2 years, and it’s really not a big deal anymore. It’s a chance to socialize, sure, but the only people I care about socializing with at the dances are usually busy or I already see them everyday. Give me a girl’s night out or a Disney Princess Sleepover instead (..I’m not making myself sound any less lame, am I? haha!), and I’ll drop my homebody attitudes and actually join in!

Anyway, just because I’m choosing to stay home and relax doesn’t mean you guys shouldn’t go out and have fun! I hope you enjoy my Friday Favorites for today (with a lot of stuff found on Pinterest), and then start your weekends choosing to do whatever you like to do on these Free-days!

Favorite Fluffy Friend: Boo!

I already posted this picture of the stuffed toy on my weekend recap post, but I mean, c’mon! This little guy is adorable, and it’s the closest I’ve gotten to the real deal!

He's. So. FLUFFY!!

Favorite Craft: Embroidery art! From grades 2-4, I was really into sewing, and I kind of want to jump back in to that!

Favorite Saying: This is basically what I’ve been saying a lot lately!

Favorite Workout Idea: Working out with playing cards! I read the article about Carrie Underwood in the last Self Magazine issue.. I really want to try it out some time!

Favorite Food Art: A Fruit and Cheese Rubik’s Cube?! I saw this on Iowa Girl Eats’ post first, but I just had to repost! It’s soo cool!!

Fun Fact: I can actually solve a Rubik’s cube in less than a minute and a half. Not impressive when you consider how quickly a lot of people can actually solve it, but it’s a feat I’m proud of!

Favorite Workout Machine: I’m really loving the stationary bike now! I used to think that you couldn’t get a good cardio workout from it, but your legs really burn if you pedal hard and set the resistance up! It’s kind of a “duh” moment, but I’m happy I’ve found a new love! More options at the gym now!

Favorite Shoes: I love the flowery ruffles on these flats! If only I didn’t live in a place that rained for three-fourths of the year!

Favorite Places: Port Townsend or somewhere on the Olympic Peninsula! Haven’t been there in two years, and I kinda want to go visit! We’ve been studying the beginnings of early communities in Washington State, and it’s kind of made me want to go back, since I actually know a few things about places there now!

Favorite Meal Recipe: A Mediterranean FEAST! I really want to try this out. It looks amazing, and it would be lovely for dinner, especially with the temperature warming up.

Favorite Exercise Style: Tabata and interval-style circuit workouts have been on my exercise radar lately. It’s quick and effective, because it gets my heart pumping and me sweating! Here’s a tabata workout for you to try out! (From In Sweetness and In Health)

If you’re not at the fitness level to do all of it, you can just try out one or as many as you can! Push during the work times, though, and make the most out of the allotted time for rest.

Favorite Funny: Hehe.. Toilet humor.

Have a great weekend!