Workin' it Out - Monday & Wednesday

Contrary to popular belief, I have been working out this week! On Monday I ventured over to the gym - along with everyone else in our town. The place was packed. Lots of guys with tiny heads and biceps as big as my thigh, and lots of gym bunnies on the ellipticals. The weights section of this gym is tiny but really crowded...the machines and benches are about 18 inches apart and I almost died multiple times. Party because I'm an idiot and partly because of the lack of space. Soooo that was not a fun workout. I didn't know where anything was and the big boys kept sassing me. But I was back again today and kicked some major booty.

Anyway, I won't bore y'all with what exercises I did on Monday or this morning, but I will say that I can't walk. And I'm pretty sure I can't lift my arms over my head. Laughing would be a terrible (painful) idea right now. Mission accomplished.


This gym doesn't have too many classes, but once it cools down again I'm going to give Zumba and Turbo-Kick a try. So much of it depends on the instructor!

Here are the playlists!
Monday's music (weights):

• Your Love is My Drug - Ke$ha - I'm officially sick of this song.
• Touch - Natasha Bedingfield
• Dynamite - Taio Cruz
• I Never Told You - Colbie Caillat
• Savior - Lights
• Rose Colored Glasses - Kelly Rowland
• Kissin' U - Miranda Cosgrove
• So Big - Iyaz
• Something More - Secondhand Serenade
• Raindrop - Carmen Reece

Wednesday's music (weights + 15 mins cardio):

• Spending All My Time - Aaron Fresh
• Misery - Maroon 5
• Dynamite - Taio Cruz
• I Run To You - Lady Antebellum 
• Got Your Back - T.I. ft. Keri Hilson
• Mockingbird - Rob Thomas
• Dancin' Around The Truth - The Stunners ft. New Boyz
• Lay Me Down - The Dirty Heads ft. Rome
• Gettin' Over You - David Guetta & Chris Willis ft. Fergie & LMFAO - I can't stand this song, so why do I keep listening to it? One of life's little mysteries.
• Ghost - Fefe Dobson
• Magic - Emii
• September - Daughtry
• 143 - Bobby Brackins ft. Ray J - This song = my jam. And probably the reason the boys were staring this morning. Sometimes I forget I'm supposed to be doing lunges and I dance instead. 

Does anyone else hate 'cardio' as much as I do? I get bored out of my mind on the elliptical, bike, treadmill, etc etc. How do you stand doing 45 minutes? 

No Work, All Play

The pile of stuff I brought to school last September.

I'm pretty sure it's going to be at least double the size when I move out next week.

First thing first, I'd like to announce that I'm officially done with my junior year of college! Today was the very last class of the quarter, and we had a delicious potluck (I brought these) and did readings of our final pieces. I absolutely loved hearing everyone read, and it's seriously amazing to see and hear how much everyone's writing has changed and improved over the past ten weeks. I never thought I'd write for any other reason than school, and now here I am 50 pages in to what has now become a murder mystery! At risk of sounding like a cliche, the past 20 weeks of school may have changed my life. 

Moving on! The workouts.


Thursday night I passed on Zumba and instead did some running and weightlifting on my own. Today is Saturday, and it still takes me a good 45 seconds to sit down. Slowwwwwly and paaaaainfully. I can always tell when it's been a while for me. This morning I went for a quick run on the treadmill in hopes that it would help with the soreness, but I'm still at maybe an 8 out of 10. I know, I know. I stretched afterwards, but not enough. I drank water, but definitely not enough. The soreness is definitely worth it though, and I found that I enjoyed myself a lot more while I was doing walking lunges and deadlifts than I do during other workouts.

And the music? Honestly, nothing worth mentioning here! A lot of Kid Cudi and a lot of Lil Wane and a lot of B.O.B. Obviously being around all the boys at the gym has rubbed off on my musical tastes this week. I've gotta say, why wait for Jersey Shore to come back for the second season when you can just head to your local gym?

I have cookies and nail updates to share, too! I'll be back with those later.

Question for you...
What's the best (or most helpful) moving advice you've heard?

ZUMBAAAA!

via.

I finally understand the love and devotion people have for Zumba. I was skeptical, and my previous experiences had been far from magical, but this class has allowed me to see the light.

We actually had two instructors, which I think made it a lot easier to follow along. They didn't do much vocal cue-ing, which I was a little nervous about at first, but I didn't have any problems with the steps!

Tonight was the most coordinated I've ever been in my entire life. I have noooo idea where that came from, but I loved it. The classroom was probably 90 degrees and I had to take a quick break a few times for water, but other than that it was non-stop dancing with lots of yelling and lots of booty shaking. Tons of fun, but I really really didn't enjoy the heat. That's just me though, I don't handle heat and humidity too well. I guess it adds to the atmosphere though? We were transported to Latin America via magical workout room!

So two questions remain:
1. Why did I put off going to Zumba for so long? I'll heading home in just a few weeks, and I don't think the gym near my house has anyone teaching Zumba. It's going to be a long summer.
2. Who knew they had cute Zumba clothes? Where can I buy the adorable hot pink cargo pants? (Okay, that was three questions, I lied)

Tomorrow's my longest run yet (20 consecutive minutes), and I think I may take a little field trip so I can run somewhere new and exciting. It's supposed to be 74 and sunny!

(Kanye's) New Work-Out Plan

So Kanye and I had a little sit-down last night, and we decided it was time for me to get back into the groove of things. (Yeah, we're bffs, it's okay to be jealous.) I really miss lifting weights!

Working out is always easier for me when I have a specific event in mind, like when I was getting ready for my spring break reunion trip back in March. And now, preparing for my 5k in June is another goal that I have to work towards.

Monday - Couch to 5k
Tuesday - Chest & Back + Abs + Cardio
Wednesday - Couch to 5k
Thursday - Arms & Shoulders + Abs + Zumba!
Friday - Couch to 5k
Saturday - Legs & Butt + Abs + Cardio
Sunday - Rest!

I would love to get into some classes at my gym, but unfortunately I'm either at work or in school during almost all of the ones I'm interested in.

BUT - There's a Zumba class I've been meaning to try for a long time, so this is the week! I've taken two or three Zumba classes before, but this will be the first one with this teacher. The first time is always the hardest, but it's totally worth it. And now that the universe knows, I have to do it!

Yoga and Spin are two other classes I'm interested in, as well. I've taken a few yoga classes before, ranging from Power Yoga in Santa Monica (with Brian Kest!) to 10 weeks of gentle yoga with my class back in the fall (which culminated with a concussion due to my poor handstand coordination). Super-chain gym yoga isn't as woo-woo or meditative as 'real' yoga, but we're talking baby steps here. Zumba class this week, Yoga next week.

Okay and spin. I'm terrified to take a spin class. They're so intimidating! So hardcore! I'm pretty sure I'll fall off. And then I'll have bruises. Do I need special shoes? Should I bring water? Will everybody laugh at me for not knowing how to work the bike? Oh man.

So, Zumba this week, Yoga next week and then...Spin the week after that. I think it's time I face my stationary bike fears.

What's your plan for this week?