Tag: YMCA

This Week: Workouts, JP Morgan Race Review, Things I’m Looking Forward To

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Hi there! Happy Monday 🙂 Can you believe tomorrow is JULY 1st?!?! Where the heck has the spring gone?! I feel like once July 4th hits, it’s a race to the end of summer- I hate that! Although my July is crazy busy with a cape trip for the 4th, Bachelorette party on Nantucket the weekend after and Chicago at the end of the month, August should be a bit slower, which will be nice.

Last week was a good week of workouts, for the most part. I’ve really started to enjoy teaching my Monday morning class- it’s such a good way to kick off the work week! On top of a full teaching schedule (5 classes this week), I also ran the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge with my company. There were over 12,000 runners this year and while they tried to make it more organized by bib colors, the start of the race was still a big cluster and I found myself forced to walk until the crowds thinned out a bit. But, even with that, I finished the 3.5 mile race in 29:29, which I was happy about considering my first mile was 9:25! I came in as the first girl for my company which was pretty cool, especially because I’m not a “runner”. We headed to Granary Tavern after the race for celebratory drinks and food. I was STARVING by this point, so the flatbreads, sweet potato fries, fried calamari and buffalo wings couldn’t have tasted better 😉

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Last Week’s Workouts

  • Monday- I taught my 6am muscle class and did a Tabata format, which left me sore for literally 3 days! I finished up my workout with 20 minutes on the elliptical.
  • Tuesday- I ran the 3.5 mile race and did a little extra running/walking when getting there, too.
  • Wednesday- I ran a hard 3 miles before teaching my UXF Burn class. It’s so crazy how runs can be good one day and bad the next day. I blame it on the heat!
  • Thursday- I taught SHRED and Cardio Kickboxing… in some more new lulu 😉

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  • Friday- I went for a 25-30 minute walk during my lunch break and then walked a bit when I went into the city for drinks.
  • Saturday- I taught Cardio Kickboxing at the Oak Square YMCA. Smaller crowd, but we still got in a good workout!
  • Sunday- I did an at-home, self lead 30 minute yoga sesh and then 15 minutes of abs. After breakfast, RM and I went for a 45 minute power walk.

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This Week’s Workouts

  • Monday- I plan on going for a run (4 or 5 miles?) and then doing some core work.
  • Tuesday- Some of the ladies in my office invited me to check out a muscle class at their gym during lunch time, so I think I will do that, which works out well because I have a hair appointment after work.
  • Wednesday- I’ll probably run before teaching UXF Burn.
  • Thursday- Sunday- To be honest, I’m not sure! My Thursday classes were cancelled and I am heading to the Cape so it’s hard to tell what I will do. I’m sure I’ll go running and go for walks and do some at-home boot camps when I’m on the Cape. Anyone have any good ones I should try?

Things I’m Looking Forward To

This is a fun week because the 4th of July is one of the best holidays! Tuesday I have a hair appointment to get some highlights, which I’ve been waiting to do for a while now. On top of that, I’m really excited about going to the Cape for the holiday weekend. Although I’m going to miss being in Maine with my family and friends (and going to the parade!), it will be fun to try something different.

Questions for you: What was your best workout last week? Did you run the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge? What are you doing for the 4th of July?

This Week: Workouts, Another Busy Week & Things I’m Looking Forward To

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Good morning! I’m here! On a Monday! I can’t believe I only posted TWICE last week. I wanted to post, I really did, but the time just wasn’t there. I really tried not to stress about it because at the end of the day, I blog for FUN, not because I have to or because it’s a job… I do it because I love it and if there are weeks when I can’t fit it all in, blogging sometimes just has to be the thing that goes to the back burner.  I’m happy to be back this week, though- I love sharing things with you!

Speaking of being busy… I totally “hit the brick wall” on Thursday night. I think between ending my job, starting a new one, going away… all while still teaching and working out and blogging… I just hit my limit. Changing jobs isn’t just hard because it’s a new schedule to get used to, it’s hard because it’s mentally and emotionally draining. So far, I’m totally loving my new job and the people I work with, but the days are long! I’m up at 6 or 6:30 every day to start work at 7 or 7:30- Thursday’s I leave the house at 6:30am and get home at 8pm- no wonder why I’m tired!

So, with that said, I spent my weekend home in Maine to relax and recharge- it was perfect!

Last Week’s Workouts

  • Monday- I took a rest day on Monday since we were flying back from Miami and I wanted to sleep instead of workout.
  • Tuesday- I ran 4 miles after work and then did a 20 minute core workout. Felt great.

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  • Wednesday- I ran 3.5 miles and then taught my UXF Burn class. I did most of the class with my members because I loved the workout I planned. I was SORE on Thursday.
  • Thursday- I taught fun superset workout with a new cardio format I stole from Athena, which everyone loved. Thanks, girl! My kickboxing class was small, but it was a good one!
  • Friday- I took another rest day on Friday. I was really sore from my workouts earlier in the week.
  • Saturday-  I taught my cardio kickboxing at the Oak Square YMCA. The summer (smaller) crowds are the norm these days, but it’s ok- we still got in a good (and super, super sweaty) class!

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  • Sunday- It was such a beautiful day when I got up that I decided to go for a run. I just did a 20 minute run then did exercises like walking lunges and squats up and down the driveway, burpees, pushups and some standing ab exercises. Solid workout!

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This Week’s Workouts

  • Monday- I’m finally back to teach my Monday morning Muscle Work class. I’m excited to be back!
  • Tuesday- I will probably run after work and then do some core stuff.
  • Wednesday- I will NOT be teaching my UXF Burn class! I have a work bowling outing in the afternoon so Kate will be subbing… she knows to kick your butt like I do 😉 I’ll either workout before work or go to the gym during my lunch break.
  • Thursday- I’ll teach SHRED and Cardio Kickboxing
  • Friday- Rest day since I’m subbing both Saturday and Sunday
  • Saturday- I’m subbing the 10am SHRED class at the Central Square BSC- I hope my regulars from Wednesday and Thursday come 🙂
  • Sunday- I’m subbing the 9am UXF Burn class at the Allston BSC- hope to see some familiar faces there!

Things I’m Looking Forward To

Even though this week is another busy week, it’s all fun stuff! Monday night I am going to dinner with RM’s sister-in-law. She is just a year older than me and we get along really well, so it will be fun to catch up over some food and drinks. Wednesday is my company’s bowling outing, which will be fun because I’ll get to meet people and hang with all the people I already know. Friday night my plan is to swing by my friend Jen’s place for a drink on her porch and then Saturday RM and I will head up to Exeter, NH for a party at Christy and Jaime’s. On the way home, I’ll swing by Liz’s for a gym friends BBQ. Finally, my friend Jess is having her baby shower- Jack and Jill style- at the Shake Shack in Harvard Square on Sunday, which should be a blast. I’ve been looking forward to all of these things for a while!

Also! I wanted to give you a garden update! My dad was so sweet and make the trip down to my apartment last week to do the planting for me. Look how good it looks!

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He’s making me a map of what is planted, but I know he did kale, green beans, carrots, onions, peppers, tomatoes, Brussels sprouts.. and I think something else. I’m so lucky that he is a. so good at gardening and building stuff and b. he wants to do it for me. I’m seriously SO excited for everything to start growing this summer so we can have lots of fresh veggies to eat!

Questions for you: How were your workouts last week? What was your best one? What are you looking forward to this week?

This Week: Workouts, New Job & Things I’m Looking Forward To {MIAMI!!!}

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Good morning! I’m about to head out for my first day of work at my new job- eek!! On top of starting a new job, this week is a little crazy since the boy- let’s refer to him as RM from now on since those are his initials- and I are heading out to Miami for a little long weekend getaway on Friday. Have any of you ever been there? Where should we eat? What should we do? We aren’t looking for a hectic vaca- we really just want to chill out and- gasp- relax! What a thought, right?! It’s not necessarily the most convenient time to be going away with starting a new job and all, but this was planned well before the job thing happened so I’m just going with it 🙂

But, since I have 4 days until I’m on vaca, let’s focus on workouts. My workouts last week were a little all over the place, and the same will probably be the case this week.

Last Week’s Workouts

  • Monday- Since I ran on my planned rest day last week, Monday ended up being a rest day, more or less. My sister and I went for a nice, long hour long walk all around Eastie- it was awesome!
  • Tuesday- I was able to go to a 10 am class at a nearby BSC since I wasn’t working . I was looking forward to it because I’ve heard the instructor is really good, but sadly, I was not a fan. I didn’t like the class at all, actually- the instructor had weird music with vulgar language and kept yelling things like “BURN FAT!!! BURN CALORIES!!! DON’T THINK ABOUT QUITTING- PUSH YOURSELVES”… and I just wasn’t a fan!
  • Wednesday- I went to the East Boston YMCA and ran for 20 minutes on the treadmill (also ran there, which was .6 miles), walked for 10 minutes and completed 2 circuit workouts (see below). It was a good workout even though I wasn’t feeling good (stupid allergies!). I also taught my UXF Burn class and tried to not do much of the workout since I had dinner plans with my sister after.

Complete 3 sets of 10 reps in set 1 and then the same for set 2:

Set 1:

BOSU Push-Ups

Opposite Knee to Elbow Plank

Standing Weighted Side Dips

Upright Rows

Set 2:

BOSU Squats

Standing Oblique Twists on BOSU

Underhand Grip Rows

Triceps Kickbacks

Thursday- I taught my SHRED and Cardio Kickboxing classes. In SHRED we did a format I haven’t done in a while: 5 minutes lower body exercises, 5 minutes cardio, 5 minutes upper body exercises, 5 minutes cardio, 5 minutes combined exercises and 5 minutes core. It was good- perhaps I’ll post it for you!

  • Friday- Since I had not been feeling well all week, I decided to rest on Friday. I did walk a ton- probably 3 miles, but nothing else. I got a massage which was wonderful!
  • Saturday-I taught my cardio kickboxing class at the Oak Square YMCA and I think it was a good one! Sad I won’t be there for 2 weeks now 😦
  • Sunday- I ended up running 6 (!!!) miles… with an 8:13 min/mile pace!! I planned on doing 3 or 4, but felt great and the weather was perfect so I kept going. I haven’t run more than 5 miles since the fall of 2008. I also did a little circuit halfway through my run consisting of: 10 reps and 4 rounds of push-ups, tricep dips, plank with opposite knee to elbow crunch, in & outs and side planks with hip drops (right and left). Solid way to round out a run!

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This Week’s Workouts

  • Monday- To start my first day of work out on the right foot, I will get up and workout in the morning. If I’m sore from my run yesterday, I’ll do some light cardio and then just lift.
  • Tuesday- I would love to workout in the morning again so that I can have the afternoon off to get stuff done for my upcoming trip: pedicure, packing, etc.
  • Wednesday- I’ll head to the gym after work to teach my UXF Burn class. Hoping I won’t have an issue with traffic.
  • Thursday- I will teach SHRED and Kickboxing- I’m stressing about the traffic situation, though. I think my hours will end up being 7:30-4:30, but I’m not sure an hour is enough time to get from Wakefield to Central Square that late in the day. I may have to do a 7-4 shift or something those days. I’m not sure what my first week will be like, but they do know my teaching schedule so hopefully it won’t be a problem!
  • Friday- I may get up and do a little core work/stretching/yoga before we head to the airport (9:15 flight), otherwise it will be a rest day.
  • Saturday/Sunday/Monday- Not sure! I’d love to get a workout in- either a run on the beach or a quickie workout in our hotel room or the gym, but I’m not going to stress about it. I’m really going to focus on relaxing and going with the flow and if a workout isn’t something I feel like doing, I’m not going to stress about it or force it!

Things I’m Looking Forward To

I’m not really sure if I’d say I’m looking forward to starting my new job (more nervous than anything!!), but I am looking forward to getting back on a schedule and seeing how things will be. Let’s face it, though, what I’m looking forward to the most is a little R&R weekend getaway to Miami! I’ve never been before and have heard mixed reviews (we chose Miami because it was the most affordable flight option), but for what we are looking to do: sun, beach, pool, drinks, dinners- it will probably be perfect!

Questions for you: Have you ever been to Miami? Any restaurant suggestions? How do you fit workouts in when you travel? What was the best workout you had last week? What are you looking forward to this week? I love to hear from you 🙂

This Week {A day late}: Workouts, week off and things I’m looking forward to

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Good morning! It feels weird posting my Monday post on a Tuesday, but I wanted to spend my day with family yesterday since I was only in Maine for a short period of time. I hope you all had a great day off (if you had one off). I’m feeling pretty fortunate this week as I have the WHOLE WEEK off. Technically, I guess it’s kind of like I’m unemployed since I’m not getting paid, but that’s ok… the new job is right around the corner now!

It’s funny, last week I had half of Wednesday off and all day Thursday and Friday and on Thursday, it wasn’t even noon before I felt bored and lonely. I have issues! The time off is good, though. I’m so busy all the time with work and teaching and blogging and being a girlfriend (<—- did you see that?! woahhh!) and a friend and a sister that I forget what free time feels like. After a few days, though, I get in my groove and appreciate it so much. A little downtime every once and a while is such a wonderful thing, and something I think most of us don’t do enough of. We have so many “obligations” that get in the way.

One fun thing about more time is that I have more flexibility with my workouts… and way more energy to do them. I was laughing last week after my Thursday double because I had so much more energy than normal. It’s not like I have a physical job during the day, but I think the fact of getting up and out of the house early, working all day and going straight to the gym just wipes me out!

Last Week’s Workouts

  • Monday- I did another lunch break workout at the gym in my building. I’m so sad that I won’t have that luxury anymore 😦
  • Tuesday- I got up Tuesday morning and ran a 5K before work. I also did some core work… and something else, but I can’t remember what it was!
  • Wednesday- I actually went to a class! I know the instructor who teaches before me on Wednesday is intense so I figured I would check out her class before teaching my own. It was a really great class and totally challenged me. UXF Burn was also a fun class- we worked hard and did LOTS of burpees.
  • Thursday- I taught a stations circuit class in SHRED and then taught cardio kickboxing. It was great to have lots of energy to get me through both classes!
  • Friday- I got up and attempted a workout but didn’t get very far. Looking back, it was a dumb move. I was tired and sore and should have just slept or foam rolled, but instead I got up and tried to push myself until I realized: a. I didn’t have it in me and b. I was too sore. I knew I likely wouldn’t be working out on Sunday so I wanted to get something in on Friday, but since I did a double on Wednesday and Thursday, working out on Friday was not necessary. It’s all about quality over quantity, but stupidly, I had quantity over quality on the brain. Although I’m good at giving advice of listening to your body and not over doing it, I have a hard time following it myself. There are times when I just need to know a crappy workout isn’t the right choice. Oh well.
  • Saturday- I was finally back at the Oak Square YMCA for my cardio kickboxing class and it felt great! There was a pretty good crowd considering it was a holiday weekend.

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  • Sunday- I wasn’t planning on working out, but the boy and I were in the Twin Mountain area in NH and I was wide awake and bounding with energy (he was sleeping off the booze from the night before…) so I headed out for a 3 mile run and my standing ab workout. I feel like I just did that workout but yesterday my core, especially my obliques, was so sore!

This Week’s Workouts

  • Monday- My sister and I went on a nice hour long walk throughout East Boston.
  • Tuesday- My plan today is to go to a 10am class at the Wellington BSC.
  • Wednesday- I’m going to dinner with my sister after teaching UXF Burn, so I will workout during the day at some point and just instruct in my class.
  • Thursday- Teaching my double: SHRED and Cardio Kickboxing
  • Friday- I bought a deal for a massage at Exhale Spa, so I would like to book a massage on Friday. Before the massage, I’d like to take a class- either a Core Fusion Cardio or maybe a yoga class?
  • Saturday- Teaching my second Saturday in a row at the Oak Square YMCA- yay!
  • Sunday- I will be in Maine (Zeke turns 1 on Saturday so I’ll be up there for the birthday party!) so I may go for a run or a walk.

Things I’m Looking Forward To

I’m looking forward to having time off! On top of that, time off with no real plans. It’s the weirdest feeling to know I don’t have to get ready for a week of work, packing lunches, planning out my days, etc. This week I hope to get caught up on lots of blog posts that I’ve wanted to write, as well as make other blog updates that I generally don’t have the time to make. I can’t wait to finally get a much needed massage- I shouldn’t push that to the back burner so often. Lastly, I’m excited to go to Zeke’s first birthday party on Saturday. I cannot believe he is already 1!!!

Questions for you: What was the best workout you had last week? Do you ever go for quantity over quality when it comes to workouts? What are you looking forward to this week?

 

This Week: Workouts, getting back to a normal schedule & things I’m looking forward to

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Happy Marathon Monday! Do any of you have it off? I wish I did, but I did decide to work from home in Maine today, so that counts for something 😉

Last week was a tough week of workouts, for some reason. I don’t know what it was, but I was pretty sore all week, especially on Friday. There’s something about doing my own workout and then teaching on Wednesday, followed by my double on Thursday that just makes me physically very tired on Friday. Guess it kind of makes sense, right?!

Last Week’s Workouts

  • Monday- This was my birthday workout! I taught my favorite “across the floor” workout (similar to this workout) and then ran 2 miles on the treadmill. I had wanted to run 2.9 miles for my 29th birthday, but I ran out of time. Oh, well!

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  • Tuesday- I was going to go to the gym after work (I worked from home… had 1 too many cosmos the night before 😉 ), but it was raining and windy and gross, so I just stayed home for an at-home workout. I did 10 minutes of cardio before completing this workout from Blonde Pony Tail, which I loved! I felt this the next day for sure. I ended my workout with 10 minutes of abs. Solid at-home workout if you ask me!
  • Wednesday- I woke up feeling kind of crappy (I’ve been battling a stupid cold for weeks now- it comes for a few days then goes away. so annoying), so rather than running before class, I just did some steady-state easy cardio. After, I taught a tough UXF Burn class. We used towels in place of Glider discs and it was awesome! I also made them do the plank run, which I think they loved to hate.

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  • Thursday- I tried to get a sub for my classes because I felt awful in the morning, but by mid-day I felt ok, which was good because no one agreed to sub. I taught a pyramid workout in SHRED and a high cardio kickboxing class. Few. Between Wednesday and Thursday workouts, I was really sore on Friday!
  • Friday- Rest day, besides some walking around the city.
  • Saturday- I taught my cardio kickboxing class at the Oak Square YMCA. Even though most of my “front row” wasn’t there, the class was still packed with people ready to earn their Easter candy. My sister also came, which is always a fun treat. My heart rate was SKY HIGH the whole class- seriously, like upper 170’s the whole time… wonder if it was a mix of being excited and having had a couple of wines the night before? It was weird.
  • Sunday- I helped my dad move some wood from the yard and went for a walk with my mom. I also practiced some “new to me moves” from the Shape magazine my mom got me.

This Week’s Workouts

  • Monday- My plan today is to get in a strength workout in the morning before I start working. I feel like I should run since it’s Marathon Monday, but I doubt that will happen. Maine is still cold… and really hilly…
  • Tuesday- I will probably do some type of cardio class. I was invited to take a class at The Handle Bar in Fenway, so my sister and I are either going this Tuesday or next Tuesday.
  • Wednesday- Cardio before teaching UXF Burn
  • Thursday- Teaching SHRED and Cardio Kickboxing
  • Friday- Rest? Probably!
  • Saturday- I need to go to Maine for the day, so I’ll get up and do something before I head there.
  • Sunday- Not sure! Maybe yoga? A run outside? Nothing?

Things I’m Looking Forward To

I thought I’d never hear myself say this, but I’m looking forward to my birthday month celebrations being over! Don’t get me wrong, it was a really great month filled with lots of fun things, but I’m ready to get back to a more normal schedule- not drinking during the week, no birthday cake, no days of multiple celebrations… call me boring, but it will be nice to have a little more time to breathe. This week isn’t necessarily a light week, but it’s coming! My sister will be staying with me a few nights while the bathroom in her apartment is getting re-done, so it will be nice to have company! I am going home to Maine for the day on Saturday to model in a fashion show, but will probably come back to MA on Saturday night since I am going to a baptism on Sunday.

Questions for you: What was the best workout you had last week? Do you like to workout on your birthday or give yourself a day to rest?