Month: September 2014

This Week: Workouts, Moving is Hard Work & Things I’m Looking Forward To

5 Comments

Phew. Is it really Monday already? I certainly wasn’t ready to get out of bed to go teach a 6am Muscle Class this morning after all of the moving/heavy lifting/etc. that I did for the past 4 days, but- it’s done, which means I have tonight to do whatever I want 🙂

For those of you who are also moving (or have moved), I’m sure you can relate to how hard it is. Thankfully I’m only on the second floor, but still- that’s a LOT of trips up and down the stairs, often times with a lot of weight in your arms. I wore my heart rate monitor on Thursday night (which is when we did most of the heavy lifting and moving) and I burned 676 calories in 2 hours. Not too bad!

Non-moving workouts were also good this week, and between my workouts on Monday and Tuesday, I was SORE. RM and I also went to the driving range on Tuesday night, so that definitely contributed to some of it.

BSC’s 40th Anniversary- This Wednesday!

I got an email last week that I thought I should share with you! The BSC is celebrating their 40th anniversary and are offering free workouts on THIS WEDNESDAY. You know what that means, right?? You can come to my class on Wednesday at 6:30pm at the Central Square location. Let me know if you’re interested 🙂

Boston Sports Clubs is proving that “good things last,” especially when you’re fit! On September 17th, Boston Sports Clubs is celebrating 40 years strong as a fitness industry leader and opening their doors and offering free workouts to all Bostonians. Already a member? Bring a friend to join you in this special birthday sweat-sesh. During this open house celebration, BSC will be offering members and nonmembers alike free fitness classes and demos, meet & greet with top fitness instructors, giveaways, prizes, and fresh post-workout snacks.

Last Week’s Workouts

  • Monday- I did 15 minutes on the elliptical before doing some random exercises in the UXF Zone. I did 3 sets of 1 pull-ups AND chin-ups. Someday I’ll be able to add on haha I also subbed Cardio Kickboxing at the Watertown BSC. Great crowd!
  • Tuesday- I taught my bootcamp at the Wakefield lake and boy did we work hard! The girls were all feeling like they were so out of shape so I had to remind them that I was huffing and puffing and dripping sweat, too. I’ll post the workout hopefully this week as it was good and didn’t require anything but yourself!
  • Wednesday- I tweaked my knee when I was at the driving range and although it was feeling mostly better by the end of the day, I took it easy at the gym. I just did 22 minutes on the Arc Trainer and a pull up and chin up (they felt easier!) before teaching UXF Burn. I did the low-impact modifications and skipped out on the lunges and squats. Luckily my glutes were already sore so it was nice to have a break. It’s funny because whenever I tone it down or do the low-impact version, there are so many other people who join me… some of which I know are doing it only because I am!
  • Thursday- Rest day from the gym, but walked 20 minutes at lunch (rain set in at that point) and moved all of the big stuff into my new apartment. In 2 hours, I burned almost 700 calories… I had no idea moving was such a good workout!!

IMG_8799

  • Friday- I ran 3.5 miles during lunch- it was a gorgeous- almost cool- day and the miles were easy… can’t beat that! After work, I made another thousand trips up and down the stairs to continue moving stuff.
  • Saturday- I couldn’t sleep on Friday night so I was up before 7 on Saturday, again making multiple trips up and down the stairs. I thought moving in the same building would be easier, but it’s really not because you don’t end up packing things up… you think of something you need and run down to get it. That happened all morning! I also taught kickboxing at the Y- the fall crowds are back! We had a blast.
  • Sunday- A much needed rest day. I did some final trips up and down between the apartments and did a preliminary clean of my old place, but my body was SO TIRED.

This Week’s Workouts

  • Monday- I will have taught my 6am Muscle Work class and probably have done some cardio by the time this post goes up.
  • Tuesday- Teaching my bootcamp! If you’re in the Wakefield/Saugus area and want to join for the next session (starting on 9/23 at 5:30pm and runs for 4 weeks), let me know!
  • Wednesday- Probably some cardio before teaching my 6:30pm UXF Burn class at the Central Square BSC
  • Thursday- I’m on the waitlist for a free yoga class at Exhale Spa, so hopefully I can get in. If not, I’ll figure something else out 🙂
  • Friday- Not sure. I’m heading to Maine after work so I’d like to get something done during the day. Maybe a run or maybe go to the gym.
  • Saturday- I’ll probably go the YMCA near my parents house in the morning… and hopefully do a lot of dancing at the wedding!
  • Sunday- Not sure- it may be a rest day depending on how the rest of the week turned out.

Things I’m Looking Forward To

I’m excited to have the majority of the move behind me! It will be nice to finish unpacking, organizing and generally just getting more settled in. The nice part about moving in the same building is the address change is easy and I don’t have to get used to a new area or a new commute! Hopefully RM and I will have another mid-week date night since we don’t get to spend this weekend together… again… 😦 Lastly, I’m excited to go home for my cousin’s wedding! My sister can’t go, so it will just be my mom and dad and me, but that’s ok- we’ll have a blast I’m sure!

Questions for you: Did you move this year? What’s your least favorite part about moving? What’s your favorite part? What was your best workout last week? What are you looking forward to this week?

Wednesday Workout: My Favorite Kickboxing Combos {Take 2}

6 Comments

A while ago, I posted some of my favorite kickboxing combos (with videos) and have received a bunch of great feedback, so I thought it was probably time to post a new set of combos! Back when I was teaching 2 kickboxing classes a week, I was coming up with a LOT of combos; some I loved and repeated and others got used once and I realized they just didn’t work how I wanted them to so I didn’t used them again. It’s hard to know what works and what doesn’t when you’re making them up in your head at your desk 😉

Check out my previous post on “how-to’s” for the various basic punches!

Shuffle & Jabs, Up, Up, Down, Down Jabs & Steps, Knees & Burpee

  • Shuffle & Jabs 4 times to the right, then back to the left
  • V-Step forward and back with high and low punches (twice)
  • 2 right knees, 2 left knees
  • Burpee

http://vimeo.com/104861313

For this one, you start with 4 jab and shuffles right and left. I do this a bunch of times for us to get warmed up and ready to add on. From there, you step up with the right foot and punch up with the right arm. Do the same thing with the left and then step back with the right and punch down with the right and again with your left so you’re back where you started. Next, add on 2 knees on the right and 2 on the left. Lastly, add in a burpee, then start from the top!

Alternating Quick Jabs, Squat, Double Jabs, Hops, Burpee & Kick

  • 4 alternating quick jabs, 1 squat
  • 2 double jabs, 4 hops forward and back
  • Burpee, kick right, Burpee, kick left

http://vimeo.com/105595238

(This video is formatted weird… if you press play, then pause, then play again it will show up how it’s supposed to. sorry about that!)

This one starts out pretty basic: alternating jabs, focusing on strong arms and a tight core. From there, you add on a basic squat: 4 jabs, 1 squat. Taking the same theme, you switch to double jabs right and left and then with your guards up, hop forward and back twice. I love this move because I can feel it working my inner thighs a lot! The last part is killer: burpee, front kick right, burpee, front kick left.

Side Facing Quick Jabs, Squat, 4 Alternating Wide Knees, Hooks, Upper Cuts, 2 V-Jumps

  • 4 quick left jabs in a low squat position, 1 squat
  • 4 alternating wide knees
  • 2 hooks, 2 uppers (twice)
  • 2 v-jumps with 2 hops back

http://vimeo.com/104860957

We turn to face the side of the class on this one and start with left quick jabs. I usually do about 3 sets of 8 to start so the shoulder really feels a burn! From there, you do 1 squat. Adding on, you’ll do 4 alternating knees, right hook & left hook and right upper cut & left upper cut- repeat the hooks and uppers once before doing 2 V-jumps forward with 2 hops back.

Jab, Jab, Elbows, Knees, Jump Squats

  • Right & left jabs with jack feet then 2 elbows (twice)
  • 2 right knees, 2 left knees
  • 2 jump squats

http://vimeo.com/104860480

This one is high cardio, so you may want to take it down a level before adding in the jumps. You jump your feet out as you jab with the right, back in as you bring your arms back in and back out as you jab with the left. Then you jump your feet out and bring your elbows back two time: jab, jab, elbows, elbows- do that twice through before you add in 2 right knees, 2 left knees and end with 2 jump squats.

Speed Bag, Shuffles, Knee & Kick, Kick Front & Back, Kick Touch Down

  • Speed bag with shuffle feet (right, left, double right, left, right, double left)
  • Right knee & kick (twice)
  • Right front kick, left back kick (twice)
  • Right front kick & touch down (twice)

http://vimeo.com/104860860

Start this on by just doing the feet shuffles: right, left, double right, left, right, double left. From there, add in the speed bags. After doing it on the right and the left, do a knee & kick on the right and then the left. Then do a right front kick, left back kick (2 times) and then right kick & touch down (2 times). So it looks like this: Speed bag & shuffle right, then left, knee kick right then left, front right kick back left kick (twice), right kick and touch down (twice).

For all of these combos, you’re going to want to do them on the left lead, too, so that you’re training both sides evenly. Also, I realize I messed up in a few videos (didn’t repeat things enough), so pardon me for that! I was too far in to re-film them as  my sister was losing her patience for helping me 🙂

So, there you have it! I hope you like these and are able to incorporate some of the combos in classes you teach or if you’re working out at home! Everything I do with a right lead gets repeated in the second half of class with a left lead. I usually do 3 combo sets with the right lead and the same 3 with the left lead- I hate being uneven!

Edited to add: I recently posted my 3rd post of kickboxing combos which can be found here.

Questions for you: What’s a kickboxing combo you like?

Fresh White Summer Sangria

4 Comments

A few weeks ago, I went up to my friend Lisa’s apartment to have drinks on her deck. We originally talked about doing margarita’s, but decided to skip those in favor of something a little healthier. Enter: sangria! Although some sangrias can be filled with too much sugar, this one doesn’t have any added sugar and is naturally sweetened by the fruit, brandy and white wine.

It’s also a very simple, minimal ingredient sangria because, well, I just wanted to throw something together quickly and easily. Feel free to sub out the wine for something you prefer more and pick fruit according to what you have or what’s on sale. The beauty of sangria is that there are endless possibilities for what you can put in it!
Fresh White Summer Sangria

Ingredients

sangria 1

  • 1 bottle of white wine- I suggest a sweeter wine like a Riesling or Pinot Grigio
  • 1 or 2 nips of Brandy- I only used one, but using 2 might make it sweeter if that’s what you’re looking for
  • 1/2 large orange, sliced
  • 1/2 lemon, sliced
  • 1/2 lime, sliced
  • 1/2-1 cup strawberry seltzer water- feel free to use whatever flavor you want, but I had this and thought it was a great addition

Directions

Pour the wine and brandy in a container, add in the sliced fruit and half of the seltzer you plan to use. Stir and refrigerate for a few hours so the fruit juices can settle in. Before serving, add in the rest of the seltzer to give it a bit of fizz. Serve over ice and enjoy!

sangria 2

We all loved this sangria and I think what made me love it was that it wasn’t TOO sweet. Sometimes I feel like sangria’s are all juice and, as a wine lover, i’m always a little disappointed when that’s the case. I want to taste the wine and this sangria accomplished that.

sangria 3

I realize it’s September, but the weather is still great for outdoor cocktail hours so there’s still plenty of time to hang onto summer drinks with this recipe!

Questions for you: Do you like white or red sangria? Have you ever made sangria?

 

This Week: Workouts, Preparing To Move & Things I’m Looking Forward To

5 Comments

Good morning! Happy Monday! Although I love getting my workout in early on a Monday morning, I was thankful for the extra sleep this morning. After an incredible weekend celebrating Sheila and Bryan, to say I’m still recovering is an understatement. I can’t wait to recap the day, but until then, let’s get back on track this week!

I had planned on taking this week off from the gym, but between subbing, teaching and moving, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. Hopefully it will soon. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it on here before, but I’m moving upstairs to the second floor apartment in my building this weekend! I’m SO excited to be out of the “garden level” unit (aka, basement). It’s a 2 bedroom and my sister is going to move in with me for a few months until she and her friend get a place of their own. While I love living alone, it will be nice to have her live with me for a bit (plus, the help with rent is never a bad thing 😉 ). So, it’s an exciting week, but moves- even just upstairs- are never easy, so it will definitely be a long and tiring few weeks getting settled in!

Last Week’s Workouts

  • Monday- I was home in Maine and ran 3 miles before doing the Shapleigh Corner Circuit.
  • Tuesday- I taught my second week of my outdoor bootcamp. It was SO humid… I literally looked like I had just gotten out of hot yoga!

IMG_8617

  • Wednesday- I ran 3 miles before teaching UXF Burn. It was a fun class!

IMG_8625

  • Thursday- After work I ran 4 miles and did some strength stuff in the outdoor gym at Piers Park. I did a full, unassisted pull-up! woohoo!

IMG_8626

  • Friday- I wasn’t feeling great, but knew I needed to get some fresh air so I walked a brisk 2 miles and did feel better! After, I did 25 reps of a bunch of different strength exercises before hitting the road to go to the Cape.
  • Saturday- I got up and ran 4 miles before the wedding festivities started. It was super overcast, super humid and misting a little… it was not very pleasant, but I did it! I also danced my butt off… literally! I haven’t danced that much in a LONG time. It was awesome!

IMG_8649

  • Sunday- Nothing. I hadn’t rested all week and my body was just sore and tired!

This Week’s Workouts

  • Monday- I’m subbing the 6:30 Cardio Kickboxing class at the Watertown BSC!
  • Tuesday- I’m teaching my bootcamp at 5:15.
  • Wednesday- I’ll do some cardio before teaching UXF Burn at 6:30. There’s a chance I may not teach, but it’s a very small chance. I’ll update my Facebook page when I figure it out!
  • Thursday- I’m taking the day off from the gym to move the bulk of my heavy stuff into my new place. RM is going away this weekend for a golf tournament on the Cape and therefore won’t be able to help over the weekend so I want to get the big stuff moved beforehand.
  • Friday- Not sure- I may go running or to the gym during my lunch break. I have to help my sister move her stuff that night so I don’t want to do anything TOO strenuous.
  • Saturday- I’ll be teaching the 10am Cardio Kickboxing class at the Oak Square YMCA. Hope the crowds are bigger now that summer is technically over.
  • Sunday- I’m not sure! Maybe a walk or jog with my sister?

Things I’m Looking Forward To

I think this week will definitely be stressful, but hopefully it goes smooth and we get settled quickly! I’m excited to see my parents again and have their help- my mom has always been the person who has made my bed when I move and has set up my kitchen, so it wouldn’t be the same if she wasn’t here to do that this time! RM asked if I wanted to go to the driving range at Granite Links, so if I get a sub on Wednesday it will be fun to do that with him!

Questions for you: What was the best workout you had last week? Did you try anything new? What are you looking forward to this week? What’s a tip you have for a smooth move?

Weekending: Cocktail Hour, A Weekend in Maine & Lots of Family Time

10 Comments

Good morning! After I looked back on this past weekend, I realized how blessed I am to have such a wonderful family and place to escape to during the hot, crazy days of the summer. Since I had to teach on Saturday morning, I hadn’t planned on going to Maine until late Saturday afternoon to wait for the traffic to die down. My office closed at 11:30 on Friday, so it was nice to have some time around my apartment to relax, get caught up on stuff and even meet my sister at the beach (love having a BLL at the beach!).

IMG_8567

That evening, my sister and I went up to Lisa’s deck for cocktail hour. Lisa lives on the 3rd floor in my apartment building and it’s so fun that we’ve become friends throughout the year. Our 1st floor neighbor, Lauren, couldn’t join us, but it’s so awesome to have 2 other girls in the building that are not only neighbors, but friends!

IMG_8575

How about that view?! I love it! I also made my first real sangria and can’t wait to share the recipe with you- I think it came out pretty darn tasty!

IMG_8570

We decided to head down to Kelly’s Pub for some pizza (I hadn’t had REAL, non gluten free pizza in ages!). It was such a fun night!
IMG_8576 IMG_8577

After teaching on Saturday, I treated myself to a pedicure. With all the working out I do, my poor feet need that kind of TLC every few weeks at this point!
IMG_8580

Danielle and I headed north around 3pm to wait out the weekend traffic- it was a perfect idea! We didn’t hit a stitch of traffic. We even had time to grab an ice cream- yum!

IMG_8583

Saturday night was SO MUCH FUN!!! We ate, we drank, we laughed, we danced. I just love when the 4 of us get to be together!

IMG_8591 IMG_8592

The pizza came out AMAZING!!! And it was so nice out so we decided to dine al fresco on the back patio. Dad had gotten the bonfire going so it was a perfect place to eat!

IMG_8594

We definitely had a dance party post dinner as well- so so fun!

Sunday morning wasn’t as sunny as we wanted, but it was still a good day! I filmed some videos for the blog and then we headed to the Mahoney’s for their annual Labor Day BBQ. It was a small crowd, but we still had a blast! Emma is at the age where she’s super active and so funny with the things she says and what she does!

photo 2

Waking up on Monday morning, I was so happy to see that the rain had stopped, the skies had cleared and the sun was shining! We packed up and headed to the beach before bringing Danielle to the train. Going to the beach with my mom is the best- she is always stocked with drinks, treats and magazines. Anything you might need or want, she has- it’s awesome! Nothing like some sun and bubbly!

photo 1 photo 3

After dropping Danielle off, we headed to the hotel where my aunt and uncle are staying for the next 10 days or so. Since I won’t be able to go home this weekend because I’ll be on the cape, it was good that I was able to visit with them for a bit on Monday while I was around!

Monday night was quiet and relaxing- the most perfect way to end the day and weekend home. I decided to get up on Tuesday morning and drive right to work, which was so much better than stressing about the traffic on Labor Day. Such a fun, fun weekend- I’m so lucky to have such wonderful people in my life and such a great place to call “home”.

Questions for you: What was the best part about your weekend? Did you go away for Labor Day? Do you bring drinks to the beach?