Showing posts with label Fitgear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fitgear. Show all posts

Thursday, May 3, 2018

A Leg Workout and My First Fabletics

We woke up in Connecticut on Wednesday morning. We took a different route back and ended up getting great views of New York City as we crossed the George Washington Bridge. There was a little traffic, but overall it was an easy ride (thanks to mrC's driving).


As a bonus I also woke up with a jacked up shoulder blade, I guess from my sleeping position. I tried to pinpoint the spot with my trusty tennis ball, but no luck.

Feeling motivated after telling the world (well, my blogging world anyway) that I need to bring back the strength training, I went to the fitness center armed with a leg workout from my SHRED days. It. Was. Killer.


Here's the workout as written: 10 minute WU, 10 sets of 10 walking lunges, 2 sets of 10 weighted goblet squats, 2 sets of 12-15 dumbbell deadlifts, 2 sets of 12-15 plie squats, 10 sets of 10 side lunge to squat, 100 calf raises, 10 sets of 10 burpees, 10 minute CD.

I did the workout as written until...the side lunges. This is when I started thinking that maybe I should have considered modifying earlier. I did 3 sets instead of 10 side lunges and only 3 sets of burpees (just enough for the Pushups, Planks, and Burpees challenge by Running on Happy ---> it's a repeat of what she did in January).

I'm afraid I may have over-done it on my poor hamstrings. There's not much that is good about the hotel fitness room, but there is a spongy foam roller.


As we headed out of Newark on Tuesday, we made a pitstop at the mall. Besides popping into New York and Company (where I found this dress, these linen pants), I wanted to check out Fabletics. I didn't even know they had an actual store! I wore my new leggings during my workout and they were great. I don't usually like the floral designs on myself, but the color combo of the Oasis print made this one a winner. I kind of wish I had bought the capris though.

We spent the afternoon visiting mrC's family. My sister-in-law and I went to the trails at the local university to walk a couple dogs (the puppy in the middle of the pic didn't join us). We couldn't believe that it was 90 degrees out!


For dinner we picked up some ready made parm-crusted haddock, garlic mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli from the local grocery and took it to mrC's parents. Then we hung out at his brother's for a bit watching the hockey game.



Anyone doing the (January repeat) PPB challenge?
Have you tried anything from Fabletics?






Friday, September 1, 2017

Friday Five: What I Learned in August

Does anyone else feel like August went by in the blink of an eye? Maybe the old adage, time flies when you're having fun, is true because there were a lot of good times happening in August. I had fun trying new things and learning new ways to do the things I love to do.

I love that we are never too old, young, etc. to try something new. At any given time we may find our fitness changes because of life events, age, injury, or whatever. Being able to embrace new things and look at familiar passions with a new perspective is important to being happy and having fun.


Here are a few things I learned this month (some links are affiliate):

1. Discovery Run group - I learned that I can still run with a group. I started joining this Monday night social running group a couple of weeks ago and I'm so glad that I did. I'm not a huge fan of running at night, but being part of a group (of at least 30+ people) running through the streets of DB is quite fun. I was craving the days when I would run with my MRTT friends in New Hampshire, but apprehensive about whether I could "keep up" with my knee. It was the perfect environment to run my run. I even got mrC to join the fun!



2. SUP racing - I learned how to race on my SUP. I thought being on the cover of the Around DB Magazine as part of the DB Ladies SUP group was exciting until I participated in my first SUP relay race with the Paddling Section of the Lantau Boat Club. Racing on a stand up paddle board is hard but fun! My arms have never been so tired and I only went 500 meters. It's definitely something I hope to do again.


3. August Miles - I learned that I'm ready to run in a race. As the temperature increased, my running days in Hong Kong decreased. A lot of people run on the treadmill in the summer, but with my knee I do not feel super comfortable doing that right now. Most of my miles for the month came from sprint workouts on low carb days and the Monday night group. I ended the month with 8 runs for a total of 12.85 miles. The group runs have let me know that I could do ok in a race situation. I've got my eye on a 5k (and possibly a 10k) in November, so I'll be making sure to log some longer runs each week moving forward.


4. FWTFL VIP - I learned how to make the carb cycling fitness plan work for my every day lifestyle. I started carb cycling in Spring 2016 because I was working out all the time, but continuing to gain weight ---> especially in my belly. I had moved to China, stopped running almost completely because of my knee and just seemed stuck in a rut. The results were so amazing that I have continued the program and recently joined the FASTer Way To Fat Loss VIP group. The VIP group allows me to maintain my weight, get stronger and leaner all through brand new workouts each month. This program works for me because it is challenging and I can incorporate the things I love to do (running, Bodystep, hiking) into my workouts. Amanda is starting a new FWTFL group on September 14 ---> learn more here (affiliate link).


5. New gear - I learned that you can always find another pair of awesome shorts :) (and other things). A good sale by my favorite brands will get me every time. I ordered the Trekkie shorts from Athleta in flint grey and crossed my fingers that they would work even though I hadn't tried them on. I think I wore them almost every day for a week, ha! I'm also loving this pair of running shorts that I ordered at the same time (and I put these from Lululemon on my wish list). I also got a great deal on this tank and this one too. This new running bra goes great with my new shorts and tanks.



What have you learned this summer/month/training cycle?

Today's post is part of the Friday Five 2.0 with Lacey and Meranda and Rachel and I'm also joining  Nicole for the Fit & Fashionable Friday link-up.




Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Run and SUP for a Full Body Workout

Some days I want to run and some days I want to SUP. Instead of choosing, today I followed up my run with a paddling session and got the best of both worlds!

mrC was home, so I took him on my 5K run route. I set my interval timer to 2:1, but modified as we ran like my last couple of runs. We also modified the route a little by cutting through the park and then taking the ramps (for handicapped and strollers) up to the big hill in the final mile.

In the end, we took about five recovery breaks including two on the ramp/hill section at the end, one restroom stop (paused my watch for this one) and one longer recovery at the beginning because the road slopes down pretty significantly and I'm still avoiding running downhill for the most part.

Although the finish time wasn't my fastest lately, I did spend more chunks of time running and that is the most important thing for me right now.


After watching some hockey and having breakfast, we headed to the beach with our paddles. SUP works a lot of muscles at one time: back, shoulders, arms, abs. We paddled for about an hour, going out and back twice. Using Mapmyrun, I estimate that we paddled a little over a mile.

The combined cardio and strength workouts really wore me out ---> which means it was a really good day.


I love getting mail and today my BAMRbands order arrived. I love that they can be shipped to me in Hong Kong. I can't wait until my next workout when I can sport one of these.


To cool down after the beach, I made us berry delicious smoothies. This is seriously the best way to lower my body temperature and the added protein (Bob's Red Mill is my favorite) makes it a good recovery beverage too.



Do you ever double up different types of workouts?
Do you add protein to your smoothies?


I'm linking up with Annmarie, Nicole and Jen for Wild Workout Wednesday!!





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Saturday, November 26, 2016

Our Hong Kong Apartment + A Workout


I'm getting used to living in Hong Kong day by day.

We are settling into our nice, little Seaview apartment and the cleaning, decorating, endless grasping to get things just right is winding down, finally. I'm pretty sure that I spent the first two weeks walking around with my hands full of things that needed a home and mumbling, this place is so small! 

The apartment was originally unfurnished (more common in HK than Shenzhen), but the owner agreed to furnish it for us. Little by little we have blended our few belongings with her choices and then picked out other items to complement and help us get organized.

The main living space is my favorite because it's filled with all my favorite comfort colors (love my blue pillows). It may be small, but the amazing view of Discovery Bay makes it feel much bigger.



It's been challenging at times to figure out how to make small spaces work for us, but it makes me happy to see that we can. I just have to teach mrC to watch where he walks so he doesn't break any toes! This is by far my favorite duvet cover.


We have an awesome window BED in the second bedroom which saves the floor space to be used as the office. It'll be fun when our first guest arrives and sees the sleeping arrangement with a view from the 20th floor.


The kitchen is actually pretty spacious. We even have a dishwasher! There's tons of storage, just not a lot of counter space. It's been interesting when mrC and I try cooking together.


It's still a work in progress, but I'm happy with how it looks.

Today's workout:

I think I was the third person to arrive at the fitness center after it opened this morning. I went early because it looked like it was going to be a rainy day and I wanted to walk there and back without getting rained on. Success!

Sprints: 15 sets, 20 seconds work, 20 seconds recover
Planks: 2 sets, 30 seconds each forearm and both sides.
Bridges: 2 sets singles leg lifts both sides

Three things that made this workout better:

1) This interval app. I love the versatility that it offers. I created an interval program for my sprints and another for my plank workout. All I have to do is push start and then the app talks me through the workout.

2) These wireless earbuds. They are so easy to link to my phone and then I can hear my music and the interval app commands to work or rest and I'm not bothering anyone else in the gym.


3) This view. Seriously, that is the view from the elliptical when I look to the right (the new ellipticals have a TV attached). I'll show you the view to the left another day ;)



Have you ever rented a furnished apartment/house?
Would you sleep on a window bed?
What's your workout today?





Friday, February 26, 2016

Friday Favorites

It's the final Friday of February, so I thought I'd share some of my favorite things.

Food - I picked up some goodies on a recent shopping trip to Hong Kong (there are A LOT more options there). I figured munching on the Sweet Potato chips would be better than my usual choices and they're good. I love a little something sweet for dessert and these Organic Hard Candies just sounded healthier (50 calories for 3 pieces works for me!). I was hoping to find hemp hearts but could only find chia seeds...a good runner-up. And I've gotten back to making a daily smoothie. 


Fitness - I'm on day 22 of the Yoga Camp videos. I don't know what I'm going to do when I get to the end. I've been doing strength every other day (abs, arms, legs) and mixing up the workouts to prevent getting bored. My goal to walk at least 30 minutes feels really good, even without sunshine. Today I walked nearly 2.5 miles.


Fitness fashion - Loving my Aspire pants from Athleta, my new Apple Sport Watch, and the Power Y tank (with built in bra) and the design on the Enlighten Crop from Lululemon. 


Free fitness equipment - First, I love these little areas scattered throughout our apartment complex and the parks in the city. Mostly, I'm loving this leg press. Who needs a gym membership when you have this?!?


What's on your favorites list this week?






Saturday, December 12, 2015

6 Holiday Gifts for Runners

Every year my list of gift ideas for runners pretty much stays the same: store gift cards, massages, books, magazines, etc, but I like to highlight my favorite products. These are the ones you see see me using, wearing, and going ga-ga over on Instagram. Click here if you've been missing out!


All of these items are easy to order and ship online, but can probably be found in most running and sports stores in your neighborhood, too. (I've linked to my favorite brands, but I'm not being compensated for doing so.)

My faves:

Head bandsBAMR Bands - Love! So many pretty and affordable bands to choose from, plus 10% of sales goes to charity. Win, win.

Running shoesMizuno - I'm currently wearing Wave Rider 19s, although I've worn other styles and loved them just as much.

Running socksFeetures - I don't know how I ever ran without these socks. They are so light, but at the same time the softness feels like a cushion.

Recovery shoesOofos - I wear these babies all the time. My feet and legs just bounce with happiness.

Training LogJournal Menu - I just started using a journal to keep track of my workout details: distance, pace, weather, route. This one also has room to jot down injury notes (which in my case is very helpful) and race plans. Oh and you can design it yourself!

Water bottleSimple Hydration - Best hands-free option out there. Holds just the right amount of water and makes hydrating during your run...simple. Just hook it on your waistband or Flipbelt.


Other favorites of mine not pictured:

Oiselle Distance Shorts $46 - These shorts are the best because of the front pocket that makes it easy for me to carry the gate fob to our apartment villa plus more in the back pocket if needed.

Athleta Relay Capris $69 - These just make me feel like a rock star...

Flipbelt $29 - Perfect for carrying my iPhone 6 and other essentials as needed.

Nike Racerbacks $25 - They fit just right and they're longer than other brands which is important since I have a longer torso. I have a lot of these because they're often on sale at sports stores.


What gifts do you recommend for runners?

Do we have any faves in common?







Saturday, November 7, 2015

Streaking Continues & A Boot Camp Run

Well. We made it back to China after an amazing two weeks in the US. 16 hours in an airplane and a ton of time zones later = a whole lot of jet lag for me. My body clock has been upside down. That hasn't stopped me from running though.


In fact, my #runstreak is alive and well! For 34 days now, I have been running at least one mile a day, and I'm still feeling good. Three days a week I run longer. Typically Tuesday and Thursday are 5Ks and on the weekend I try to run a little more. While in the US, I did a couple of weekend long runs. I ran 5.5 with my MRTT group in Manchester and then 6.5 with the MRTT in NJ. These were my longest non-treadmill runs since March!

Fast forward to today. mrC joined me for my #runstreak morning mile.


Instead of just running my #runstreak mile and calling it a day, I decided to add some boot camp exercises at the end. I've been missing my #SurfnTurf classes at TI Fitness, especially after my visit while in NH, so I've been trying to do my own strength training. The other day I ran to the fitness center, did some strength exercises, then ran home. I was sore. I loved it.

Here's what it looked like today:

triceps dips

step ups

push ups

split squats

squats with side crunch

On a side note, you can probably tell from the pictures that I'm back to warm weather running. Although I am missing the cold weather I enjoyed while in New England, I do like that I can still wear my favorite shorts. The Oiselle distance shorts became my go-to when I was looking for shorts with less bulk, but good coverage. The bonus on these is the three separate pockets, including two with zippers. I never have to worry about my keys!



What body weight exercises do you do on your own?
Do you have a favorite pair of running shorts?



Monday, October 5, 2015

Back to Back Runs, Hands Up Planking, and Yoga Mats

There was no way I was going to get stuck on a mountain in the rain this morning. After 90 minutes of flip-flopping between hiking the mountain or running and two good downpours, I chose to run. NBD, right? Except that I ran yesterday and I never run back-to-back days anymore. That little knee surgery in December has really changed things around here.


Since this back-to-back thing was kind of a test, I told mrC that I would run for about 20 minutes and secretly hoped I would hit two miles. Hitting a 10 minute pace has been challenging since we moved to China and began living in this tropical climate. Plus the boardwalk is slippery when wet and the whole knee thing. Turns out I did ok and it only rained a little while I was running.


Even though I was smoking' hot, I planked before getting in the shower to cool off. I was reminded again recently about the palms up position being a better challenge for your core. It really is.


While I love my free yoga mat, it is very stretchy making planking and stretching difficult at times. Today I finally picked up a new one and would you believe it was only $5 USD?? Isn't that crazy?


And just because random things can make me happy:





Do you plank with your hands up, down, or clasped in prayer pose?
How much did you pay for your yoga mat?


Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Do this one thing and every workout will feel brand new!

Sometimes I am not super excited about my workout.

After waking to a rainy day, I took one look at my stability ball and yoga mat and thought, ugh. So instead of hitting the floor, I grabbed a second cup of coffee and went out on the balcony.

It felt so nice (it's in the low 80s today)! That's when I decided to move my workout outside.


As usual, I brought the stability ball into things. Today I worked on single leg squats. Just like when I use the ball during wall squats, it aids the motion of moving up and down. I still get the burn, but I feel "safer" especially since the ball is pushed up against the door.

In addition to my normal strength exercises, I mixed in some yoga poses that specifically work the quads. Here's a ***list in case you are looking to add yoga into your strength workout:

chair pose
warrior 1-3
crescent lunge (low & high)
goddess pose
bridge

***I linked to GaiamTV because I think it has the best information and step-by-step directions for beginners like me.

It's amazing how doing one little thing, like moving your workout to a new place, can make it feel brand new. It works with my runs, so I should've thought to use this trick with my strength workouts too.

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Another amazing thing that I want to share is dinner from last night. Back home we always grill the blackened salmon fillets, but here in China my only option was the microwave method. I usually steer clear of using the microwave (except to reheat), so I had a backup plan to order pizza if it didn't turn out well. It was DEE-LISH-OUSSS!! Oh my GOODNESS! I can't wait to have more.


In case you want to get some for yourself, here's the exact brand we buy from Sam's.

I saw this on Instagram and definitely think I should get it. mrC and I run a lot together.



The links I shared in this post are just from me...no compensation was made to me on behalf of any product or company.




Monday, July 20, 2015

New Running Partner and New Gear

We had a mellow weekend. We went to church Sunday afternoon. It takes about 45 minutes to get there, so we combined it with a shopping trip to Sam's Club (along with about 100,000 Chinese locals). We did score some Blackened Salmon, which we'll be having for dinner tonight. I love finding favorites from home.

On the walk to the church from the metro, we stopped to buy some water and I saw this Pea Protein. I'd never heard of it, but I guess it's all the rage now especially if you are on a plant-based diet.


Today I met up with my expat friend for our first morning run together.

The weather was on our side: no rain, but lots of clouds. It was still warm as heck, but so much nicer than trying to run when the sun is out.

We did an easy out an back along the waterfront. It worked out nicely that we have a similar pace in this yucky humid environment and she likes to run for time, not distance, too.

My knee was a little stiff after the run, so I made sure to foam roll, massage, and stretch.

Later while I was surfing Instagram, I saw BAMR Bands was having a bundle sale, so I snagged myself some new gear to celebrate my knee feeling better and because I love my MRTT group.


If you haven't tried BAMR Bands yet, you should. They are super cute, affordable, and a dollar from every sale goes to charity. You can read more here ---> BAMR Bands

To see my Instagram posts, like from my run this morning, follow me --> Running Escapades

Tomorrow is strength day. I'll be putting those videos I shared in my last post to work again.

When you look at the beginning of the week as a fresh start, Mondays don't seem so bad.







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