Home Update - Meet our New Gym

Our new home gym is finally complete. After COVID hit, we slowly started to add things. It started with the Peloton bike, some free weights (when I could find them in stock), then the Peloton tread and finally an organizational system to keep everything in some order and not thrown all over the place. I have to say I was skeptical around all the Peloton hype but after being a "member" for the last six months, we are OBSESSED. It really has everything we need. Follow along with my workouts at Xtina620. And if you are interested in Peloton use code 2DKM63 for $100 towards accessories (this is not sponsored).

cube organizer / fabric cubes / yoga blocks / flooring

I have found the Swiffer Wet Jet cleans the flooring really well and this under $10 water bottle fits perfectly in all of the Peloton equipment. 

free weights / free weights / weight rack / flooring

DRESSING ROOM DIARIES - Amazon Leggings

I've been hearing really good things about the leggings sold on Amazon so I thought I would take advantage of Prime Wardrobe and try out a few.  I'm wearing the same super soft and comfortable Daily Ritual sweatshirt. 

Who doesn't love camo?  I've heard really good things about Core 10 so I had to try these leggings.  They are technically 7/8 cropped leggings but they fit me perfectly as full length.  Very comfortable but definitely run a little small.  I'd recommend sizing up one size on these.  They have a bit of a shine/sheen to them so if that's not your thing, I'd wouldn't recommend these. 

Next up is a pair of PrAna brand leggings and again these are supposed to be capri length but on my 5'1" frame they are basically full length.  Another great quality pair of leggings.  Love the heathered look.  True to size.  Also come in a charcoal gray and purple/red color.  Would recommend these for lounging or working out. 

And the last pair of leggings I tried were another pair of Core 10.  These are also 7/8 length.  Love a good basic black and you can never have too many.  These are really great quality with a great under $40 price tag.  I went with my traditional size of XS and found them to be great...a little snug but didn't bother me.  If you don't like them very snug, you might consider sizing down. 

Pinterest Wednesday: Getting Fit

I'm very proud to say that I've been keeping up with my New Years resolution of getting fit.  I haven't been at the gym as much as I would like because of many illness plaguing the house.  I can say that I've gone at least twice a week since the beginning of the year.  One new workout that I've been loving came from Lauren Conrad via Pinterest. 

This calorie blast workout is great for a quick 30 minute session and can be done pretty much anywhere.  I did this after a mile on the treadmill and followed with an ab workout (remember I'm trying to get rid of the baby belly).  She has another 20x3 workout that I'm going to try next week.  What are some of your favorite workouts?

Another Great Rue La La Boutique

Tomorrow Rue La La is featuring luluemon athletica. They have some really cute work out clothes. This isn't the first time they have featured this brand. Last time they did I got a super cute workout jacket for really cheap (I think under $30). I'm definitely going to check this one out and so should you. Remember sale begins at 11am so check it out early before all the good stuff is gone.

Rue La La is a By-Invitation-Only Sample Sale site. Click Here to sign up using my personal invitation link. This link will grant you immediate access to the site after you sign up. (FYI - If you just sign up the regular way you will just be put on the waiting list.)

Workout - Weight Loss Update

Well it's been about two weeks since my new workout regime started. I'm going to try and do weekly updates about my progress but things are starting to get really busy. Starting out wasn't easy because work was really busy so it was hard to keep track of my food and avoid temptation - My co-workers ordered pizza one day and we have had at least two days where the boss has brought in different cakes and pies for the office but I didn't give in.

Here are my results/takeaways from the past two weeks -

Miles Run/Walk - 22

Weight - 125 (2 lbs. lost) I forgot to weigh myself when I started so I'm just going with what I was weighing in at before I started (127) as my starting weight.

Food - In the beginning I wasn't getting enough water. You are supposed to drink 64 oz of water each day. I thought I drank a lot of water but I wasn't. I've gotten into more of a habitat and find myself drinking more and meeting my goal (sometimes even going over). Some days my food/drink intake is high in sugar (especially on the days when I have a non-fat chai latte) so I'm working on that as well.

Workouts - I can use 8 lb. weights all the time now (except for Jillian Michaels - start out w/ 8 lb. then go down to 5 lb.) I'm starting to see definition in my arms (thanks to the past two months) but still not enough. I've done a couple of "two a day" workouts and it feels so good to push myself. Since the weather is getting warmer hubby and I try and run at least twice a week in the morning before work. My runs have not been as good as I would have liked.

Clothing - One great motivator is my clothes fitting and this past week one shirt that was WAY too tight on me last year fits great now and I put on a pair of white pants that were really tight last year and they fit fabulous this year! Still a few pairs of jeans that really don't fit well so I just need to keep pushing myself.

Mood - I feel great. I finally feel like working out and watching what I eat is really paying off. A colleague told me yesterday that I'm looking skinny and that just made my day. :)

Need Help - I want to start drinking recovery drinks on my "two a day" days...any recommendations?

New Work Out Regime

I've been back to working out (since my surgery) for almost two full months and I am very frustrated. I'm really trying to push myself and workout hard to lose weight and I feel like I'm not seeing the results. I have noticed my arms and lower legs are getting toned but that's it. So I'm using April 1st and that day to really step it up and hopefully reach my goal of losing 10 pounds by my birthday (June 20). Here's my new work out/lose weight plan.

Track EVERYTHING that I am eating at MyFoodDiary.com. I've used this service below and have gotten lazy about entering it. Not anymore! Everything I eat, drink, and the workouts that I do are all going to be entered here. This will help me know how many calories I can eat and what kind of nutrition I am getting in my food.

New work out schedule -
Sunday- Run
Monday- Jillian Michaels 30 day Shred
Tuesday- Run on the Treadmill at lunch
Wednesday- P90x (weight workout) at lunch and run or walk after work
Thursday- P90x (cardio workout) at lunch and lift weights after work
Friday- DAY OFF (or do a stretching/yoga workout)
Saturday- Run

Run 100 miles in the next 60 days (thank you Like a Valentine) for the motivation.

Restart the 100 push up challenge. I definitely have slacked there and I need to recommit.

And I need your help to reach my goal. Please help me with the following -

• Good healthy recipes to try
• Other workout tips
• Motivation and encouragement
• Recommend a good stretching or yoga DVD?
• Great songs to run too
  
• And anything else you may think will help me reach my goal
  

To keep myself accountable to meet this goal I am going to do weekly weigh ins on Monday morning and report my results.

Favorite Thing #141 - P90X

P90X is my favorite lunchtime workout. One of my colleagues purchased this DVD set a few weeks ago and ever since then we have been doing the work outs twice a week. The set includes 12 very intense workouts (some cardio, some weight training) most of them are about 50 minutes long. Included in the set are the following work outs-

1. Chest and Back - This superset chest-and-back-blasting workout emphasizes two classic upper-body exercises, push-ups and pull-ups, to build strength and develop shape. The combination of these two push and pull movements will help you burn loads of calories while simultaneously attacking, strengthening, and developing multiple muscle groups.

2. Plyometrics - Get ready to go airborne. With over 30 explosive jumping moves, you won't be spending much time on the ground during this highly intense cardio routine. Plyometrics, also known as jump training, has been proven to dramatically improve athletic performance. If your sport involves a ring, rink, field, court, or track, then this training will give you the edge. Just be prepared to "Bring It" for a full hour when you leap into this workout, because there is no letting up.

3. Shoulders and Arms - Nothing rounds out the perfect physique like a pair of well-defined arms and shoulders, and with its potent combination of pressing, curling, and fly movements, this routine will leave you feeling stronger and looking sexier. Whether you want to build muscle mass or just slim and tighten what you've already got, these targeted shoulder and arm exercises will get you the results you want.

4. Yoga X - Yoga is a vital part of any fitness regimen, and is an absolute must for an extreme program like P90X. This routine combines strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, and breath work to enhance your physique and calm your mind. Yoga X will leave you feeling energized, invigorated, and maybe even a little enlightened.

5. Legs and Back - Get ready to squat, lunge, and pull for a total-body workout like no other. While the main focus of this workout lies in strengthening and developing the leg muscles (quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves), there's also a handful of great pull-up exercises to give your legs a quick breather while you work the upper body.

6. Kenpo X - Kenpo X was created to give P90X users a high-intensity cardiovascular workout packed with lots of punching and kicking combinations to improve balance, endurance, flexibility, and coordination. During this workout you'll learn some of the most effective ways to defend yourself, while at the same time getting your body in peak condition.

7. X Stretch - Stretching is the one thing that will help you achieve a higher level of athleticism over a longer period of time. The X Stretch routine is an integral part of the program that will help prevent injuries and avoid plateaus. The extensive full-body stretches that make up this routine use disciplines from Kenpo karate, hatha yoga, and various sports to ensure that your body is fully prepared to meet all P90X challenges head-on.

8. Core Synergistics - Each and every exercise in the Core Synergistics workout recruits multiple muscle groups to build and support the core (lumbar spine and trunk muscles), while at the same time conditioning your body from head to toe. Loaded with a variety of fun, unique, and challenging exercises, this routine will get you moving in all directions to maximize your P90X results.

9. Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps - Packed with an array of moves that target both large and small muscles, this workout will do wonders for your upper body. In just one full sequence you'll get a healthy dose of presses, flys, and extensions to push you to the brink. The results will be a stronger, leaner, and highly defined upper torso that will leave you looking awesome, with or without a shirt.

10. Backs and Biceps - With a host of curls and pull-ups, this routine will make it fun to flex those powerful biceps. But don't worry, ladies—by using lighter weight, you can focus on toning and tightening these showcase arm muscles without adding the size that most guys covet. Additionally, this workout will also provide some great back definition that everyone can appreciate. No matter what your goals, you will achieve them in dramatic fashion if you dig in and max out your reps.

11. Cardio X - This low-impact cardio routine can be used in a variety of ways to meet your P90X goals. Use it in addition to your standard P90X workload when you want to burn some extra calories, or as a substitute if your body needs a break from the program's high-impact workouts. Whatever your reason for using Cardio X, you'll find it to be a fun, full-throttle, fat burning workout that will leave you feeling lean and mean.

12. Ab Ripper X - The combination and sequence of movements in this unique workout taps into not only abdominal strength, but true core strength as well. Master these 11 highly effective exercises and you will achieve vital abdominal muscle strength to benefit your overall health and physical performance. You'll also develop that highly coveted 6-pack as you take Ab Ripper X to full throttle. It's extreme work that's better than any machine in any club.

Here's a review of the ones that I have done -

Chest and Back - This was the first one we did. This workout was A LOT of push ups of all different kinds. It was hard to do most of the "back" exercises because we needed to do pull ups and that's impossible to do in our large staff conference room. I used weights but you can also use resistance bands.

Plyometrics - This is a great cardio workout. It is a jumping workout and pretty high impact. I definitely felt it in my legs the next day.

Legs and Back - It a great way to tone your legs (especially thighs). Lots of lunges and squats. I used resistance bands but wished I would have used weights. You can use either but I think it is more effective to use free weights.

Kenpo X - Another great cardio workout. It is very similar to the Billy Blanks Taebo workout. Lots of punching and kicking. I was super sore after this workout...but it was a good sore.

Ab Ripper X - This is an INTENSE 20 minute ab workout. I wish I owned this DVD because I would do this every day. It is amazing.




Still love Favorite Thing #41 and it tops my favorite movies of all time. If you haven't seen it I definitely recommend you rent it. The soundtrack is amazing too.

Where in the World...

...is my 30 day shred DVD? Yesterday, I got home from work, changed into my work out clothes and turned the DVD player ready to do the 30 day shred. Much to my surprise it wasn't Jillian Michaels on the screen but it was the credits to the movie Milk. And then I realized my hubby accidentally mailed the 30 day shred DVD to Netflix instead of Milk. He felt horrible and called Netflix but there is nothing that they can do except credit our account $1. He's going to buy me another DVD and promised to run with me this weekend at my parents house since I missed my workout yesterday.

Back in my groove

I am getting back in my workout groove. It's been about two months since I had my surgery (I had cysts removed from my tailbone) and I finally feel like I am getting back to where I was before my cyst issue. Today I hit a workout milestone - I ran 4 miles on the treadmill. I know for you hard core runners out there that's not that far but for me its is. It's been almost four years since I could run that far without lower back pain. I'm going to keep going and hope to hit my goal of running 7 miles at one time by the fall.

Favorite Thing #121 - Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred

Several of the blogs I follow (Like a Valentine and Confessions of A Overweight Shopaholic) and my co-worker convinced me to get Jillian Michaels' (of Biggest Loser fame) 30 day shred and after day one it quickly became one of my favorite things. The workout is perfect for days when you are busy and don't have time to head to the gym. It is a 20 minute work out that consists of cardio and weights. All you need is a mat and set of free weights (I had 7.5 lb. weights and home and ended up buying 5 lb. ones just for this workout). You are constantly moving and working all parts of your body. There are three different levels so as you get in better shape you can move up a level and then it isn't the same monotonous workout over and over again. I'm not a big fan of DVD workouts but this one is so worth it and right now you can buy it at Amazon for only $8.49 (that's only like 2 lattes at Starbucks).

Still loving (and using) Favorite Thing #21. This is something I wouldn't want to live without. It gives me that I just got my hair professionally done look. I'm not cooridnated enough to do the regular blow dryer and round brush when doing my hair so this does that job for me all in one easy tool. Thanks again to April for introducing me to this favorite thing.

One Hundred Push Up Challenge

Jane at In the waiting line has motivated me to do the 100 push up challenge. Since doing Favorite Thing #121 - 30 Day Shred (see tomorrow's post) I realize that I suck at push ups. I can do the girlie push ups but I want to be able to do real push ups and really build my strength and tone my upper body. The program last six weeks and there is a week by week training program. And what I like about this is that you take an initial test to see what level you are at and then you following that program. I just started it so I will let you know in a week how it is going.

Favorite Thing #97 - Women's Ironman Watch

I'm back from a nice long break and I hope you had a great new year. With this new year comes lots of new favorite things for me to share. The first one of 2009 is a new favorite thing thanks to my husband. This was one of my Christmas presents - Ironman Watch. I love this watch for several reasons:

1) I didn't want a "girlie" watch - no pinks, purples, etc. This one is perfect because it's a woman's watch so it fits my wrist and it is in neutral colors.

2) Its easy to use and read.

3) It's affordable. Right now it's only $21.06 from Amazon.