Juicing Like a Victoria's Secret Model

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I don't typically watch the Victoria's Secret fashion shows, but this year, I noticed that a lot of my friends did. After watching the show, a lot of people felt inspired to make good choices, because let's be real, watching a parade of super fit and beautiful women prancing down a runway can have that effect on you.

That said, it's important that that inspiration lead us to make healthy choices instead of just skipping a meal or depriving ourselves. I follow one of my favorite Victoria's Secret models, Izabel Goulart, on Instagram because she is upbeat and honest about her regimen, and tries to share healthy secrets and recipes with her followers. She also frequently posts videos of her workouts on Instagram (like this video of a TRX workout move), or uploads pictures of her morning juices. Also, she does hilarious stuff like jump into a pool with shoes on, so she's got that going for her.

(Photo screen-shotted from Iza's Instagram)

Having recently gotten really into juicing, I was excited when she posted the recipe to her red juice this week. I immediately took a screen shot and made it the next day, because I happened to have everything on hand besides collard greens, which I picked up (seriously... does anyone have collard greens on hand? teach me your ways...).

The juice ended up being very good. It is significantly milder than the red juice I have been making lately, which I think is partially due to the fact that adding so much coconut water dilutes the strong flavor of the beets and ginger. I think it depends on the person, here... I actually like beets, so I wouldn't mind it being a bit stronger, but I may be in the minority here. 

So, if you're looking for a milder taste, either because that's your preference or because you're just getting into juicing, this recipe will be great for you. If you're a beet fan like me, this juicing recipe might even help you reign it in (if you have ever juiced too many beets, you might understand why this is necessary... it tends to dye you red on the inside if you have too much). 

Please excuse the ridiculous that is my hair.

Here's the recipe!

Izabel Goulart's Red Detox Juice

Ingredients:

• 1 carrot
• Half cucumber
• 1 beet
• A bunch of mint
• 1/2 inch fresh ginger
• 2 leafs collard greens
• Juice from 1/2 lemon (don't put the entire lemon in there, just add the juice after)
• 1 cup coconut water

Directions:

1. Put the first 5 ingredients (not lemon juice and coconut water) in a juicer and go, baby, go! Add coconut water and lemon to the juice, stir, and serve. 

Notes:

• If you do not have a juicer, combine all ingredients in a high powered blender (don't forget to juice the lemon first instead of adding the whole thing) and blend well. The coconut water and lemon juice will add enough liquid for blending. Then, strain the finished product through a cheese cloth or very tight strainer to end up with just the juice. Or, if you'd prefer to drink it as a smoothie, feel free to drink as is.
• Don't put lemon rind in your juicer or blender! It will not end well for either party. ;-)

So, now you know how to make the juice, but you might be a little curious about her workouts since I have already blabbed about it. Want to check out some new workout moves? I have no idea what these moves are really called (she does not name them), so here are some super basic descriptions.

• Iza's TRX V Ups (Elevated plank and down dog)
• Iza's TRX Air Lunges (Lunges without tapping your foot, plus a knee up)
• Iza's Half Burpee Plank Push-Ups (Like doing a plank at your knees with a push up, except you send yourself into the air for a second. Kind of like clapping push ups)
• Go box!

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Do you follow any celebrity recipes or juicing plans?

Have you tried any celebrity workouts? What about Megan Fox's Butt workout?

Variation Station

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I have my bridal dress fitting this upcoming Tuesday! I'm so excited to see the dress again, try it on, and see how it will look when it truly fits. In anticipation, I'm trying to stay consistent with my workouts and follow some kind of plan instead of the "seeing what happens" approach I sometimes take. 

This week was pretty varied. I included a few runs (mostly short runs with my dog), Bodypump (weights), TRX (body weight resistance), Pilates, hot Pilates, Ballet Barre Burn, and Spinning. As far as variation goes, I made it happen.

For those of you who are worried about my dog on a long run: yes, we take many breaks. Mostly sniffing breaks.

Wednesday: 45 Minute Interval Run

Thursday: Bodypump (60 Minutes) + 30 Minute Stairmaster Sprint

Friday: TRX Class (60 Minutes) + 60 Minute Run w/ the dog

Saturday: Hot Pilates Class (60 Minutes) @ The Mercury Method

Sunday: 60 Minutes Barre Burn Class (awful) + 60 Minute Run w/ the dog

           -Oh my gosh this class was awful, boring, and really not a workout at all. I had to take my dog on a run/walk afterward just to blow off some steam at how frustrating it was being stuck in a 60 minute long class that felt like a waste of my time. 

Monday: Spinning Class (60 Minutes) + Bodypump (60 Minutes)

           -I had all the time in the world on Monday, because my fiance was taking a practice GMAT, so I had like 4 hours to kill before we could do anything together. I ended up taking two classes and then cooking a bunch of food. Sounds about right.

Tuesday: Pilates Class (30 Minutes) + 20 Minutes Stairmaster

Wednesday: 60 Minute "Barre Fly" Class @ The Mercury Method

            -I haven't taken this class yet, so I'm slightly nervous because it is arm-focused and that is not my strong suit. Here's hoping I can make it through the class tonight without dropping something!

Question:

What about you? How much variation do you get in your workouts?

Technological Malfunction (and Workout Schedule)

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It's been an interesting week in workouts. Other than the pictures I posted in my review of TRX classes, I only have one picture from this past week of workouts:

I'm trying to be positive here, but there is one thing that has been driving me nuts during my workouts. My Polar Heartrate monitor just flat out stops working. In the middle of a workout, it will suddenly show "00" for my heartrate (obviously wrong) or will say "Check heart rate transmitter!"

The monitor and strap? The strap is definitely too big, and tends to slide around a lot despite being on its smallest setting. But, if I am on a machine, the machine still picks up the data from my heart rate strap, even when the watch is showing no data. This leads me to believe that the culprit is not, in fact, the strap, but is instead the watch, itself.

So, what the hell is going on with this thing? It is so insanely frustrating to be in the middle of a workout class and have my heart rate monitor malfunction not once but twice in just a 30 minute class. Argh. Hence, I've taken no pictures of my workouts the last few days because I spend an unreasonable amount of time wondering if something is going to malfunction.

HAS THIS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE?

Okay, moving on. Deep breaths. Chill out, Carly. Done and done. Here are my workouts for this week... (picking up just before I left off, since last week's workout post was on Thursday).

Wednesday: 60 Minute Stairmaster
Thursday: Bodypump Class, 60 Minutes
Friday: TRX Class, 60 Minutes
Saturday: Active rest - about 9 miles of walking
Sunday: Active rest - about 9 miles of walking
Monday: Extreme Cardio Class, 30 Minutes; 15 Minute Stairmaster Sprint; Body By Science
Tuesday: Pilates Class, 60 Minutes
Wednesday: (Planned) 4 Mile Run, Upper Body Weights

QUESTIONS:

• Do you use a heart rate monitor or other fitness tracking equipment? Does it ever malfunction? Obviously, I'm having this problem. Hopefully, I can get in touch with Polar and resolve it.

GRATITUDE:
Dear Future In Laws,
Thanks for getting your son the Jawbone Up for his birthday. Suddenly, we are walking EVERYWHERE, which means I have an automatic HEALTHY excuse for an active rest day. 
Love, 
Carly

TRX Classes - "Hanging" Around At The Gym

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Have you ever done a TRX class? It's technically "Suspension Training," but I just call it "Hanging From The Ceiling."

My gym in Chicago recently started offering the classes. I stopped in last weekend to try it out and see how I liked it. Hanging From The Ceiling = Fun. And hard.

In that first class, we alternated between doing regular cardio (jumping jacks, burpees, running in place, high knees, etc), and bodyweight exercises where we had our hands or feet attached to the ropes suspended from the ceiling.

The alternating of intense, short bursts of cardio with extremely difficult suspension training kept my heart rate pretty darn high. Polarbear says that I burned 367 calories, which is pretty decent when you consider the fact that half of the workout was strength based (which generally keeps my heart rate in the low 100s). Generally, when I get my Cal Fat that high, I will only have burned like 150-200 calories (and I'm fine with it). So, this was a nice surprise!

Say hi to my Polar Heartrate Monitor! It's white for WOMEN!

Ironically, on the same day I started TRX, I proceeded to go to the circus and watch other, much more skilled people do some REAL hanging from the ceiling. Seriously. Please don't die.

Obviously I'm giving it a positive review, because I got up at 5:30 this morning to go BACK there and get MORE of it. Ugh.



So far, here is the basic run down of the class:

• 5 minute warm-up. We generally run around the room in a circle, maybe do some skips or kareoke or something like that. Just to get your heart rate up.
• First TRX set (legs focus), alternating with short cardio bursts, X3. So far, it seems that the first TRX set focuses on lower body - squats with rows are common. We will do two or three exercises on the TRX, then do a minute of cardio, then repeat that cycle two more times.
• Second TRX set (arms focus), alternating with short cardio bursts, X3. The second TRX set has focused on the upper body, using your lower body to create leverage and then using your biceps, triceps, or shoulders to pull yourself up and lower yourself back down. We did bicep curls and rows today. Then, another cardio minute, and repeat 3 times.
• OPTIONAL additional TRX sets, alternating with short cardio busts. I think we only had an extra set in here for one of the classes. I'm guessing it depends on time.
• Last TRX set (abs focus). The third and last TRX set was ab-city. We hooked our legs into the TRX handles and did various planks, plank swings, hovers, etc. I don't think we did an alternation with cardio for these. In my first class, we just alternated with regular floor planks or floor sit-ups. In my second class, we stayed on the TRX the whole time.
• Cool down and stretch.

Overall, I'm definitely a fan. I can feel that my muscles have gotten a great workout, but I also got some good cardio and heart-work in. It's got a similar feel to Bodypump, but my upper back isn't killing me the way it does after holding the Bodypump bar on my back during class. Thumbs up for relief!

QUESTIONS:

• Have you ever tried TRX? Any other suspension-related classes? What did you think?

GRATITUDE:

Dear today's TRX instructor,

Thanks for finding a way to make it hard while still not yelling at us or making it too complicated. A gracious fitness instructor is much appreciated when your wake-up call was 5:30 and your mind still hasn't gotten its coffee fuel.

Love,

Carly