Trying New Things - WOTDs

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The past week in workouts has been very interesting. Ever since our Engagement Party, my fiance and I have both felt a little lethargic. I think we just needed a week to de-stress, which is crazy because we didn't even plan or host the party. But, I think it was still a big deal to have so many of our favorite people in one place, plus I was working out pretty heavily to pull off my blue dress.

Wednesday
Full Body Weights, 10 Minute Abs, 1 Mile Cooldown Run
My brother visited on Wednesday. He took the train down from the burbs and met me at work, and we went straight to the gym afterward. He's sort of a workout nut, so it was fun to hit the gym together. We did our own thing for full body weights, and then did some ab exercises together before a cardio cooldown.

It was a great workout and I was totally sore the next day. Especially my legs. Yet, my heart rate monitor swore that I'd only burned 224 calories. Really? Argh.

Thursday

Skip

I was a little bit crazy this day. Just a ball of weirdness. So, Thursday night consisted almost exclusively of eating food and watching Harry Potter. I'm not sure if this is #winning or #losing. Whatever. 

Friday

Barre Burn  

After work, I headed over to the gym for a barre burn class. While last week's class was pretty much a total bust because of an obnoxious sub, this week my favorite instructor was back, so it was great.

Saturday

Skip

Saturday was yet another skip day. Did I mention we've been feeling lethargic and uninspired? Yeah. Saturday, we were pretty much just inspired to celebrate St. Patrick's day, so that's what we did. 

Sunday

4 Mile Run, Ab Ripper X

Sunday morning, my fiance and I woke up suddenly inspired to work out together. Finally. We suited up and went on a 4 mile run with the dog. I wore an awesome purple pull over that my future MIL and FIL gave me for Christmas. It has thumb holes and everything. #Winning

 

I generally run on the treadmill, partly because I'm super ADD about working out so I like to be able to watch TV or a movie. Because I run on the treadmill 99% of the time, it's always a bit of an extra challenge to run outside. The ground is less even (hello, crooked sidewalks and sidewalk cracks), and also much harder. So, while we didn't run a particularly far distance, it still felt like a good workout. 

My trusty heartrate monitor told me we burned 435 calories... meanwhile, my fiance burned over a thousand. Ah, the perks of being 6 foot 7.

After the run, I busted out a quick Ab Ripper X session.

Monday
Insanity Pure Cardio (~35 minutes)
15 Minute Abs
Body By Science (Full Body Weights) 
I forgot how much I missed Insanity. It's definitely much harder to do on my own than it used to be doing with my girlfriends but, as long as I really push myself, I'm always drenched in sweat. Also, confession: After hearing so much about it, I finally tried to watch Game of Thrones again. I tried once a few months ago and was too creeped out by the first scene. But, on Monday, I put it on during Insanity and watched as I worked out. It was actually pretty awesome. I think I might be hooked.

Tuesday
6 Mile Run, Stairmaster Sprint

Yep, watched Game of Thrones again. I put the brightness on the screen down as low as it could possibly go, so that any nudity scenes wouldn't be seen by my neighbors at the gym. As it turned out, Game of Thrones managed to keep the nudity to a minimum for a few episodes. Score.

Wednesday
Mercury Method 98 Degree Class
Today, I'm planning to try something totally new. My coworker and I bought a Gilt deal to The Mercury Method, and we're kicking it off with their 6-Days-For-$6, starting today. I'm not planning to do it 6 days in a row, but I am planning to do Weds, Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon. Wish me luck.
What's the big deal? It's a workout at 98.6 degrees. If you've ever done Bikram Yoga, you know why this is somewhat terrifying. No matter how hydrated you are, you almost always walk out feeling hungover, simply because you've sweat so much.

I. Am. Freaking. Pumped. --- except that I woke up today feeling like total crap, with swollen glands and a throat ache. We'll see if resting will fix me enough to start the classes... fingers crossed!


GRATEFULNESS...
Dear Body,
I am grateful that you give me cues when I need to rest. I need to a better job listening to you, but nonetheless your whispers are wise indeed!
Love,
Carly

Wardrobe Malfunctions and Rest Days - WOTDs

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Last week, I was competing in a Hackathon at work (wrote about it slightly here), so my brain was all over the place. It was so hectic, between Hackathon stuff and Engagement Party stress, that I was pretty worried about my workout schedule. After all, I had to fit into a pretty tight dress. The stakes were high. Dun dun dunnn.

 

Everything ended up working out (hah, pun intended?), but not without some scheduling on my part. I can change my work schedule as long as I get stuff done, so Tuesday and Wednesday, I worked 7-330, and then 730-4 on Thursday. It was kind of brutal at first, but I ended up liking it so much that I'm doing it again this week. Lesson learned - the good kind! :)

WEDNESDAY: Upper Body Weights Routine (45min), Pilates (45min)
This is pretty much a Wednesday-Usual. But, I did arrive at the gym a bit earlier than normal, so I was able to do even more upper body weights than I typically do. Wedding shoulders, here I come!

I was running out of exercise clothes (my laundry is currently haunting me, but I still don't feel like doing it - why?), so I threw on some tight running/biking shorts with one of my fiance's plain white T's on top. This is a horrible outfit for running - but for lifting weights and yoga, it wasn't bad.

THURSDAY: 30 Minute Stairmaster, CXWORX (30min)
I got home from work and got ready to hit the gym with Justin. I decided to take it easier on my joints and did the Stairmaster for 30 minutes instead of running. Then, I did a CXWORX class that was pretty weird.

There was a girl in this class that was ME. Like, almost to a "T." She was the same height, same build, same dark0brown-hair-plopped-on-top-of-her-head. Same color eyes, same lack of makeup. We even stood next to each other and made some of the same faces in the mirror as we worked out (embarrassing? I think not!). She also had on an engagement ring. No wedding band. IS THIS AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE? Okay, probably not. But still, it was weird. In all of my distraction and pondering of The Matrix, I failed to snap a pic. #oops


FRIDAY: 45 Minute Run, Ballet Burn (45min)
I got to the gym in time for a 45 minute run before the Ballet Burn class I had really enjoyed the week before. I was honestly very excited for it. My run had gone well, and I was pretty pumped to "feel the burn," so to speak.

Unfortunately, things went downhill from there. [Now begins the rant] Instead of the bubbly red headed instructor who was sweet as hell from the week before, we had a sub - a really harsh, loud drill sergeant. Good for Bootcamp? Probably. Good for Ballet? Hell no. This was honestly one of the worst classes of my life. Nothing was particularly difficult since we only did each move like 4-8 times before moving on. The real burn in ballet burn class is when you repeat a move until the muscle cramps... no cramps here. On top of that, her mic was up so loud that she was screaming at us. Like, I plugged my ears a few times. The entire class, I debated leaving, but felt too bad (people pleaser? yes) so I stuck it out. [Now ends the rant]

Ultimately, I'm just really grateful that I had built in time to go to the gym early for a run. I left work at 3, so I had more than enough time to squeeze it in before the 4:45 class. If I hadn't done that, I think I would have left the gym very discouraged.



SATURDAY: 4.5 Mile Run (40min), Cardio Boxing Circuit
In anticipation of the day's festivities, I squeezed in a solid 4 and a half mile run and a cardio boxing circuit before my hair appointment. I worked out in my parents' basement, which can occasionally be creepy because the treadmill faces away from the rest of the unfinished part of the basement (so, in theory, I couldn't see a serial killer come up behind me). Good thing there weren't any serial killers lounging around down there.



SUNDAY: Rest Up
I seriously needed a rest day after the Engagement Party. I ate almost a whole "White" pizza from our very favorite Coalfire, and Justin and I lounged around and watched the movie Couples Retreat. #WorthIt

MONDAY: Yep, still resting.
Between Daylight Savings and recovering from the party, my fiance and I both felt like H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks. So, we took another rest-day and finished watching Harry Potter. Yet again... #WorthIt

TUESDAY: Slow 9 Mile Run (took me like 1:40)
I honestly still felt like I was easing back into it yesterday. You would have thought I would be super fresh and energized after two days off... not the case. It's like I was injured or sick or something. My body is just tired.

I had a total wardrobe malfunction at the gym that ended up being totally humorous and awesome. Basically, I've been spoiled by the Nike running pants and capris that my fiance bought me. So, when those were dirty (remember that heaping, haunting pile of laundry? yeah... still growing), I grabbed another pair of yoga capris from my drawer and packed them for my run.

Proof that I'm spoiled now? Within two minutes of putting these other pants on, I was miserable. The seams on the inside of the pants were super itchy and I only got a few minutes on the treadmill before freaking out and hopping off. What's a girl to do? Head to the locker room and flip them inside-out. Yes, seriously. I borrowed scissors from the front desk to cut my tag off, then went on my merry way running on a treadmill with my pants on inside-out. #NoShame

Evidence of Tag-Cutting

WEDNESDAY: Full Body Weights, BBS
Today is actually going to shape up to be an atypical Wednesday workout. My brother is taking the train in from the suburbs (he's home from Ohio State for break). We're going to head to the gym from downtown, but I'm not planning to ditch him for Pilates, so we'll see what happens.

Questions:

• Any workout wardrobe malfunctions? How did you deal with it?
• How do you typically feel after taking rest-days?

And now for that gratefulness I've been practicing:
Dear God,
Thanks for helping me find humorous solutions to wardrobe malfunctions. Janet Jackson would be proud. It's all in the attitude, not the circumstances - thanks for the reminder.
Love, Carly

A Lazy Week - WOTDs

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I checked out a new dentist office yesterday. I had a semi emergency surgery last fall, when my wisdom teeth randomly decided to come in without warning me with any pain. My back molar is sort of tipped/twisted/moved over from that, so I figured I should hit up a dentist.

I tried White, on Chicago Ave. It's in the West Town / Noble Square area, and is my new favorite place. Ever. The lounge is totally modern and fancy, and I got to watch none other than HOUSE HUNTERS INTERNATIONAL as my teeth were cleaned. Are you kidding me? I'm totally sold.


ANYWAY, now on to... Workouts!
On to workouts... this week has been a bit light for me. I started a new medication that is leaving my stomach feeling a little off, and I've been much busier than average. Those two elements added up to leave me with less hours logged in the fitness realm. I'll be back on the horse this week.

Wednesday
45 Minutes Pilates
I still love this class with the fire of a thousand suns.

Thursday
6 mile (60 minutes) run, 30 minute bike ride
I had a nice long run while watching some show on Netflix about wedding planning in New York (I think it's called Wedded To Perfection?). The show makes me pumped for my wedding yet insanely stressed about it at the same time, which is somehow perfect for running. I do my best running under just a bit of stress, I think? Normal?



Friday
Rest
Justin and I had planned to hit up the gym for a nice run, but then plans changed a bit. My parents dropped off their puppy, FatBooty (fine, you can call her Rena if that sounds offensive, but trust me, she loves it). Once FatBooty was there, we just wanted to relax and play. With a pup this cute, can you blame us?

Saturday
Full body weights, 1 hour Spinning Class 
To make up for Friday's skip, we did double duty on Saturday. We arrived for our spin class about an hour early, signed up for our bikes, and then did some serious weight lifting. I started with the new armsandshoulders routine I've been perfecting, then moved on to just about everything else.

 



Sunday
5 mile (45 minutes) run, 15 minutes rowing, Abs
The rowing machine is weird, and this was my first time on this one. I'm not sure how I feel about it -- I kind of just feel like a dork who's about to fall on her butt.

I'm also still in a bit of pain from this ab machine. I did three 45 second sets at 90lbs, then moved on for a while, and then came back to it a bit later and did it again. I'm just now getting over the deep pain I caused myself. Humph.



Monday
Skip
I told you this was a lazy week, right? Well, on Monday, I had to work fairly early, and then I met my friend Emily at J. Crew for some Bridesmaids Dress Shopping and dinner. That meant no workout for the day. I don't regret it :) It was some much needed fun time.

Tuesday
Skip
I woke up early to try to get a run in, but my stomach was having some issues. I felt really sick and ended up just sitting on the couch drinking coffee, kind of staring into space. Oh well. I think my body needed a bit of recovery, and I'm hoping that I'll be back in full force after resting Friday, Monday, and Tuesday.

Wednesday
Shoulders/Arms and Abs Weight Training, Pilates
I'm looking forward to feeling the burn with some of my fave weight exercises, then cursing myself for 45 minutes during Pilates.

Just kidding. Somehow, despite how difficult Pilates can be and the burn I always feel in my core, I am never angry during! HOW DO YOU DO IT, ANNA?!

Your turn...

• What justifies an unplanned rest day for you? 
• Do you ever feel bad about it, or do you expect that it will give you more excitement when you get back in the game?