Exercise Band Workout

Sweat…. sweat….sweat it out! Sweat is just  fat crying and this little workout is sure to get you wailing!

A few weeks ago I received a great exercise band from Nature’s Bounty as part of a facebook promotion they were running.  But let’s be honest I’m a runner and wasn’t really sure what to do with it. After chatting with some folks about different ideas I came up with this super quick and CRAZY intense band workout.

For the biceps curls keep your arms close to your body and control the motion! The downs are just as important and as the ups. It’s 20 seconds control your breathing and your form. Again I’m not a certified trainer or medical advisor I am simply sharing with you a workout I am currently doing. Please consult with a profession before beginning a new workout.

Biceps Curls: Arms

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Rowing Arms: Shoulders

This is also a tummy trimmer if you do them this way. You can also stand similar to the biceps curls but pull arms up in towing motion to really work your shoulders.

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Jumping Squats: Buns, Legs & Belly

For this you will need to wrap the band around an object that is NOT movable. A tree, post or kickboxing weighted punching bag at the gym. Wrap the band around the object and hold on to the handles. For this you don’t want to use the band to pull up on but rather as a stability check. This is a slights altered version of TRX.

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Calf Raises/Leg Lifts: working your legs and inner thighs

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And of course like every good workout you need a plank!  I was sweating so badly into this work out after the first 4 :20 I knew it was going to be a good burn. Remember the point of this is to do as many for these as you can in the 20 seconds with correct form and posture.

Today is a VERY special day at our house! My little mister is turning 5! Love him!

Breakfast today is not healthy looking at all and I’m sure will include sprinkle pancakes and cupcakes! Happy June 20th to all.

Day #1

And so with little fanfare it began. My first day as a stay a home mommy/part-time freelance worker. I have to say it was amazing waking up without the impending flood of trying to get myself and two boys ready for school before heading out the door to my own job. BEFORE 9am it was refreshing to enjoy a cup of coffee, get some work done, get a workout in and make my boys breakfast.

Amazing…..

With my new-found time I took a moment to enjoy the June Birchbox that arrived a week ago. This month I’m a little on the fence.

I think my first box spoiled me. I loved it soooo much that now each month that goes by is a slight disappointment. Also I have friends whose box had a really sweet polka dot headband in them.  I was really looking forward to that….. but the box was void of such items.

Here is what the box was full of this month:

These Band-Aids are pretty amazing. They will look much better than my current go that include  Cars or Toy Story design.

This perfume is very spring/summer.

I also signed up for another 5k Virtual Run! This one is from Running, Loving, Living. Sign up the more the merrier and you don’t need to be a blogger!

I made a killer salad for lunch…veggies, sunflower & Chia seeds and SUPER spicy chicken.

How was your Monday?

Running Au Natural?

This morning was the absolute perfect morning for a run. The sun was shinning the trail was quiet and it wasn’t too hot!

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The more I have run over the years the more dependent on electronic devices I have become. A GPS that tells me how far I’ve run. A heart rate monitor to tell me how many calories I’ve burned. A training coach to let me know how off my target pace I am. With all of these “needed” distractions while running, I think I’ve been missing the best part about running. The freedom of it.

Running for me is the one time I can be alone with my thoughts. I don’t have my kids crawling all over me, crying to me, or begging for things. I’m not trying to balance the craziness of being a mom, wife, and, a bazzillion other commitments. It’s the one time  during the day when the time is MINE and MINE alone. I know this might sound selfish but I think I deserve to be selfish once in a while.

I always run with my iphone but lately getting beeps about e-mails, text messages and phone calls from my husband wondering how long till I’m back, have been ruining what used to be a great release for me.

This morning I left all my gadgets behind. No music, no GPS, no heart rate monitor and no trainer. It was one of the best runs I have had in months. I had a chance to think while I ran, I could hear my breath. I rather enjoyed the sound of my feet hitting the trail and nature all around  me. I said hello to people and for the first time in a long time I  could hear what they said back.

All this time I thought the electronic were helping me run faster and get in a better workout. Really I think they were all distractions from why I love running in the first place. I don’t run to time myself, and have yet another thing to measure and track. I run for me, for my mind, my body and my spirit. I run so that if there is a zombie apocalypse I can live,  just kidding. I run to give myself a break, a much-needed me place and time.

I think for the month of June I’m going to challenge myself to run without all the gadgets and get all natural on running. I’m going to call it running au natural….. pronounced super French like. 😉

Breakfast after my amazing run was a summer time favorite.

Chobani, granola & fruit:

The day has been filled with adventures including returning $68 worth of bottles and cans! Sweet baby I can actually see my porch again. It’s the one task I will put off until I have no choice but to go. Today was the day. On the bright side I’m $68 richer!

Question of the day, when it comes to running do you like electronic gadgets or not?