Tag: at-home workout

Wednesday Workout: The Kitchen Chair Workout {Because I was snowed in…}

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Good morning! If you’re a fellow New Englander, I’m sure you’ve had your fair share of “snowed in” hours at home, right? Most of Boston was entirely shut down during Juno and even though this past storm didn’t have the same effects on the city, I still only left the house to shovel. Since I’m someone who gets antsy pretty easily, I was definitely itching to get some movement in (other than shoveling, that is. I’m so over it at this point.). But, since I couldn’t make it to the gym, I had to get a little creative.

I wasn’t feeling my Step360 and wasn’t in the mood for a lot of cardio or upper body exercises since I was pretty beat from shoveling. Enter: the kitchen chair! I was just playing around on it at first, but soon enough I was adding on and doing multiple sets of something that started out as an innocent way for me to get some energy out.  Continue reading →

This Week: Workouts, Countdown to Christmas & Things I’m Looking Forward To

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Good morning! Can you believe this is the last full week before Christmas!?! I literally cannot wrap my head around it. But, the good news is I’ve completed almost all of my Christmas shopping, which is half the battle, right? I plan on finishing up a few more things this week and then packing my car up so I don’t forget anything when I head to Maine.

I had some good workouts last week, however none really left me sore or “feeling it” the next day. Well, except for the workout I did in RM’s kitchen on Tuesday morning. I had to make the workout as quiet as possible and therefore eliminated most cardio, but whatever I did seemed to work!

Last Week’s Workouts

  • Monday- I got up early and went to the gym on my own- a rarity, for sure! I ran 3 miles on the treadmill, completed my 1 minute of burpees and a few other upper body and core exercises. Although it’s never fun getting up and going to the gym at the 6am hour, I ALWAYS feel amazing after!

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  • Tuesday- I got up early (again) and worked out in RM’s kitchen, as it seemed as though that would be the quietest place. I did a lot of punches, squats, lunges, core work, etc. It’s amazing how versatile workouts can be. I didn’t want to do cardio and didn’t have any weights, yet I was still able to put together a workout that left me sweaty and sore the next days. The challenge on Tuesday was a lower body workout, so I did Booty Burner #2″ workout. Never fails to leave me shaky 😉
  • Wednesday- I only had time to run 2 miles before class, but I did most of my UXF Burn class as I liked the exercises I put together! The cardio blast between sets was killer.

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  • Thursday- I went to the gym near my office and completed a 15 minute HIIT workout before going to a total body conditioning class, which ended up being the same 45 seconds on, 15 seconds rest format that I did for my HIIT workout.

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  • Friday- Rest day, besides lots of walking. I also got up for some stretching which was a nice way to start the day.

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  • Saturday- I taught my cardio kickboxing class at the Oak Square YMCA. Per usual, it was a packed class with lots of energy! Thanks for coming, Mary 🙂
  • Sunday- Another rest day… cleaning was my source of active rest.

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I got some new lulu and was excited to try it out!

This Week’s Workouts

  • Monday- I’m subbing the 6:30pm cardio kickboxing class at the Watertown BSC. Happy to get some extra subbing in as I’m losing my UXF Burn class for 2 weeks due to the holidays 😦
  • Tuesday- I want to go to the morning Box 360 class at George Foreman’s boxing studio. Any fitness friends want to come? The challenge for Tuesday is to try a new workout class, so I figured this would be great.
  • Wednesday- A little cardio before teaching my UXF Burn class at the Central Square BSC. What should I teach?! Any new moves you’re loving?
  • Thursday- I think I have to do a day trip to Rhode Island for work, so I may try to get up early to get a little something in. Maybe rest. Maybe hit up a 6:30 cardio kickboxing class. We’ll see!
  • Friday- Today’s challenge is an upper body workout, so I’ll squeeze something in- maybe this 7 Minute Body Weight Upper Body Burner. I also have to go to a UXF Burn training for a few hours in the afternoon as they’re releasing a new format- can’t wait to see what it is.
  • Saturday- Teaching my last cardio kickboxing class of the year 😦 I can’t believe it! Come sweat with me and jam out to my Christmas playlist!
  • Sunday- Rest day, besides a core workout as part of my challenge.

Things I’m Looking Forward To

Although this week is busy with lots of parties, teaching and maybe another road trip for work, I’m totally in the Christmas spirit and am just excited! I also know that I have an extended vacation coming up shortly, so that’s helping me make the last final push of the holiday season.

Questions for you: What was the best workout you had last week? Are you trying out any classes this week?

This Week: Workouts, Making the Mental Shift & Things I’m Looking Forward To

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Good morning! How are you doing today? I hope you had a great weekend. Some of you may have seen my Instagram post at the end of last week:

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I have never experienced what I experienced last week, but I can tell you it wasn’t very fun. Looking back, it’s likely from pushing myself too hard and too far, but I struggle because if I feel ok and want to work out, how do I know that I’ve pushed it too far until something happens? In the past, I’ve struggled with rest days… more than I’d like to admit. But, over the past few months, I’ve been much better at not only TAKING 2 every week, but also ENJOYING it. I look forward to my rest days now, actually.

But last week, 4 unplanned rest days really threw me for a loop. I didn’t want to rest on Thursday. I wanted to go to a class and I wanted to rest on Friday. I wanted to race on Saturday and rest on Sunday. Unfortunately, my body had other plans for me, and even though I knew I needed to listen to my body, it was hard to not have negative thoughts about the extra rest and not being able to do anything. I hate that I still think that way when things don’t go as planned. It’s definitely my Type A personality showing throw- I hate not being in control and going off plan. But the thing is, plans don’t always work out and sometimes our bodies just have a different plan for us.

I know that I won’t lose any physical gains I’ve made by taking extra rest days, but making the mental shift to get rid of negative thoughts during unplanned rest days is hard! I’ve mastered it for the rest days I plan (I feel zero regret and I don’t miss my workouts at all), but when something throws a kink in that plan, that’s when I struggle.

I received some great feedback from some followers and every single message made me feel so much better. There’s just something so nice and comforting to hear advice from fellow friends who workout and can likely relate to how I was feeling. So, thank you, friends- your words meant so much to me!! And you know what? I really ended up enjoying the extra rest and had way fewer negative thoughts about it than I thought I would. Rather, I tried to soak it up and appreciate the slower paced life for a few days.

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Last Week’s Workouts

  • Monday- I taught my 6am Muscle Work class and then did 10 minutes on the stair stepper.
  • Tuesday- I went home after work and did something I haven’t done in a LONG time: I did an at-home workout! When I was at MANIA, I won a Step 360 so I decided to go home and test it out. The verdict? I LOVE it! It’s probably one of my new favorite workout tools. I’ll post the workout I did because it can be adapted to using a step (like I did in UXF Burn last week) or a BOSU even if you don’t have a Step 360.

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  • Wednesday- I ran a 5K before teaching UXF Burn.

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  • Thursday & Friday-  Rest  days, as mentioned above.
  • Saturday- I got up and felt much better, so I did some stretching and light core work to start my day.
  • Sunday- I went for a 30 minute walk around East Boston. I had been inside for too long and realized I really needed to get some fresh air so I laced up and headed out. It was chilly, but it felt great.

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This Week’s Workouts

  • Monday- I’m not sure my plan today. I may head to the YMCA for a workout after work.
  • Tuesday- I may try to go to Cara’s Tabata Treadmill class at Beantown Bootcamp, but if I don’t, I’ll maybe go to my favorite bootcamp at the Wellington BSC. I’ll see how I’m feeling, I guess!
  • Wednesday- I will probably do some light cardio before teaching UXF Burn. It’s our last class before the holiday so I need to make it good 😉
  • Thursday- Hopefully I’ll be able to go to the cardio kickboxing class I wasn’t able to go to last week.
  • Friday- Rest day
  • Saturday- I’m teaching cardio kickboxing at the Oak Square YMCA
  • Sunday- Rest

Things I’m Looking Forward To

I think what I’m looking forward to the most is going home to Maine this weekend with RM. We are going to head up after I teach on Saturday and will stop in Kennebunkport for lunch and some shopping before going to my parents for the night. I can’t wait to cook and drink wine and just hang out. I’ll be back home next week for Thanksgiving, but I’m never mad about extra time up there!

Questions for you: How do you feel about weeks with more rest days in them than you’re used to? What was the best workout you had last week? What are you looking forward to this week?

Wednesday Workout: Tight Buns! Without squats or lunges! {video}

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I find myself going through phases with the types of workouts I share with you. Sometimes I post workouts I’ve taught, sometimes I post quickie at-home workouts, sometimes I post upper/lower body specific workouts and sometimes I post videos. Well, I’m in my video phase right now and have another video for you today, but instead of focusing on upper body exercises like last week, I’m focusing on the tush/buns/glutes/butt today.

I hate lunges and will do squats (even though those are more for the quads than the glutes), but in general, unless I’m doing deadlifts, I don’t like working out my legs. Today’s workout, though, works your glutes in a different way- without even standing up! It’s all mat work, so feel free to get comfy, workout in your living room and get in a great burn without even putting sneaks on.

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The workout is about 10 minutes, so it’s totally doable before you go to work, during your lunch break (if you work from home), or while you’re watching tv at night.

And, if you’re not interested in watching the video and working out with me (I totally get in to “instructor mode” when I film myself. so dorky/awkward), here’s the text format:

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And, I will say- I was SORE on Tuesday after I did this/filmed myself on Monday. I was pleasantly surprised- try it- I dare you 😉 Think I’ll be doing this in class soon!

Questions for you: What’s your favorite glute workout?

Wednesday Workout: My Favorite Cardio Blasts {5 of them!}

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Good morning! How’s your week going so far? I’ve got a fun post for you today, but before we get to that, did you catch my post last week on how do get your workout mojo back? I had a blast writing it and have received a lot of positive feedback from it, so I’m happy it helped!

Today, though, I’ve got 5 “Cardio Blast” workouts for you that will surely leave you “sucking wind”, as I appropriately named one of them! As I’ve mentioned before (and included in my UXF-inspired workouts), when I teach UXF Burn I include a cardio blast in between sets. I love it because the cardio blasts allow people to work at their own pace and really push themselves if they want to be pushed. I can also include a lot of different cardio exercises which helps to keep boredom and dread at bay.

My favorite cardio blasts include a pyramid format where you either work from 60 to 50 to 40 and so on until you get to 10 reps OR you work the opposite way where you go 10 reps to 20 reps up to 60 reps (usually a 60 second plank). However, today I’ve tried to give you a good variety using different formats and exercises so you can play around with all of them. They are great on their own if you’re looking for a quick cardio workout that will leave you winded, or they’re a great addition to a strength workout (either between sets or at the end). I hope you enjoy them as much as my members do…. 😉

Shoulder Burner Cardio Blast Core burner cardio blast Tabata Cardio Blast sucking wind cardio blast Burpees and High Knees cardio blast

Let me know if you try any of these! Also, big thanks to Athena for sharing her cardio finishers, which is where I got the idea for the Burpee and High Knees Cardio Blast- it’s such a fun (and challenging!) cardio format- I love it!

Questions for you: What’s your favorite type of cardio? Do you have a favorite format? Suggestions for a new cardio blast that I can include in my classes?