Links You’ll Love
Health & Fitness:
Adding some healthy recipes to your repertoire is a great way to stay in shape and make sure that you’re getting all the necessary nutrients and vitamins. Here are some great options to try out:
- Choosing Raw’s Quinoa Chickpea Burgers with Za’atar Spice and Creamy Tahini Sauce
- FitSugar’s Tasty Twists on Traditional Hummus Recipes
- Prevention’s Summer Fruit Recipes And Vegetable Ideas
Interested in the benefits of a raw diet and how eating high raw can help your health and digestion? Why Raw? Revisiting the Question from Choosing Raw.
Staying hydrated while you’re working out during the summer is key, whether you’re hitting the gym or going for a long run, it’s something that you need to be sure that you’re considering – 5 Tips for Staying Hydrated in the Heat.
And what’s life without a little dessert? 25 Vegan Desserts – Including every delicious thing from Coconut Tiramisu to Fudge Daddy Brownies to Cinnamon Sugar Monkey Bread to Caramel Peach Sticky Buns.
You can eat it or you can take it in a pill, but you should be sure that you’re getting enough! Enough what? Garlic, of course. Read Organice Your Life’s Garlic health benefits.
Fashion:
Here’s a fun, quick project that will help you entertain fashionably at your next dinner or cocktail party – Cupcakes & Cashmere’s Sparkly Rustic Tray DIY.
Need some new nail art ideas? Check out Refinery 29’s Nail Art’s New Wave: How To Get The Bubbly, Beautiful “Pop Fizz” Look.
I’m a fan of Fashion Vibe’s Zina Charkoplia’s personal style so it’s great to see her showing up on others radar as well – Looks of the Week & Looks of the Week. Check out some of her best looks on WhoWhatWear’s Style Stalker piece.
Hope everyone had a great weekend!
Links You’ll Love
Let’s start this Sunday off with some INSPIRATION – Wise Words: 24 Inspiring Prints to Start Your Day
Fashion:
I’d hate to label myself as lazy, but even I have to admit that I definitely get into fashion ruts so… Stop Being Lazy: 7 Chic AND Easy Switch-Outs from Refinery 29 with fun new options like trading your old, torn cut-offs for some adorable printed shorts or trying cropped trousers so you can give up your legging habit. Definitely some great ideas!
If you’re looking for some new products to add to your skin care routine why not take some Kiehl’s suggestions from Italian blogger and fashion It Girl Eleonora Carisi – I Can’t Live Without.
Need some fabulous fashion inspiration for your next tropical vacation? Unstoppable Style: Poppy Delevingne Shares Her Ultimate Summer Wish List.
Want to create the perfect pair of jean shorts this Summer? Follow The Glamourai’s step by step instructions and enjoy the fabulous results! { DIY } Denim Cut-Offs.
If you’re in the market for updating your accessories stash or just looking for some advice on styling, why not turn to a professional? Anna Dello Russo – 10 TOP Rules for ACCESSORIES.
Health & Fitness:
A major part of finding internal motivation to hit the gym or trails is feeling comfortable and confident in your workout clothes. A great pair of pants that highlight your assets are going to get you out the door much faster than a tattered, stretched out pair of yoga pants. Trust me. Check out The Fitnessista’s recommendations – Summer Workout Gear.
Who better to give health & fitness tips than someone whose livelihood is based on their body? Top model Izabel Goulart shares her Five Minute Brazilian Butt Workout with Modelinia. What else does she mention? Walking! I just can’t recommend it enough – Low Intensity Fasted Cardio!
If you need to amp up the healthy fats in your diet avocados are the perfect choice during Summer, so pick some up next time you’re at the store and take of these recipes for a spin – 5 New Ways to Use Avocado.
Finding the right snack to give you energy and satisfy you before a workout without causing a sugar crash or an upset or overly filled stomach is a balancing act. See what Fit Bottomed Girls suggest – 4 New Healthy Snacks to Put in Your Gym Bag.
In the mood to get a little creative in the kitchen? Why not whip up some healthy desserts in the form of vegan ice cream? I made Choosing Raw’s Blueberry Ginger Ice Cream and it was divine, so follow my lead and give one of these tasty recipes a try – Veg Out: Dairy-Free and Delish Ice Cream Recipes.
No matter what your diet is, putting together a good grocery list is a Must. Check out FitSugar’s 7 Grocery Shopping Tips For a Plant-Based Approach or Caveman Strong’s Grocery List Paleo Style.
I hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend and has a great Sunday! I’ll be back tomorrow to share with you all weekend in sunny, secluded Fallen Leaf Lake.
Links You’ll Love
Fashion:
Here’s a serious, fashion-forward French manicure that’s perfect for your next big event – DIY Nail Art: A Modern French Manicure Inspired By Marchesa.
If you love the current reigning queen of fashion, Diane Kruger, as much as I do, you’ll adore this interview from the Wall Street Journal – Diane Kruger: 20 Odd Questions.
I’m a huge devotee of ballet flats, they suit my classic and simple, but feminine style to a T, but I love to mix things up. This summer has been all about topsiders, smoking flats, and Oxfords. Don’t believe me? WhoWhatWear – How They Wear Summer Oxfords featuring celebrities like Audrey Tautou, Jessica Alba, and Rihanna, and fashion insiders like Olivia Palermo and Annabelle Dexter-Jones.
Shoe porn anyone? How about closet organizing and gorgeous shoe storage? Thought so… Be Frassy – Shoescribe & Frassy.
Health & Fitness:
If you’re like me and enjoy trying new and interesting ways of eating in order to find the best way of eating for yourself, then here’s another to try. Paleolithic, primal, caveman – These have all been used to describe the high protein, gluten-free diet known as Paleo. Check out this health nut’s experience –30-Day Paleo Challenge: I Tried It!
If a gym membership is too pricy for you right now or even if you’re just not in the mood to head to the gym, it doesn’t mean that you have to skip your workout. Try Women’s Health’s Work Out At Home for great body weight moves you should incorporate into your workouts.
Some new duds always motivate me to get my booty to the gym, but that doesn’t mean you need to break the bank! Get Your Om on For Less: Yoga Tops Under $30.
Not sure about you, but I whole heartedly believe that there are healthy desserts out there that you can indulge in without guilt. And while I wouldn’t say it’s my life’s goal to try them all, that statement wouldn’t be too far off. Case in point? The Fitnessista’s Sweet potato chocolate chunk cookies – I made these with a few little adjustments, MCLV Mange post to come soon!
Whether you’re a native San Franciscan like I am or new to the City By The Bay, if you’re looking for some great places to workout look no further than the FitSugar headquarters – Work Out Like a Local: San Francisco Edition.
Links You’ll Love
Health/Fitness:
The title of this article got my attention for a number of reasons, but primarily because I’m deeply in agreement. I’m 29, I’ve been working 12+ hours a day for 7 years, and I’m ready to retire! LifeVest – Why Women Are Burning Out at Work Before 30.
Pizza is hardly considered a diet food and any healthy eating regime is likely to outlaw it, but I’m a rebel and I think these versions sound ah-mazing! From the Fit Community: 6 Diet-Friendly Pizzas. From fresh veggies and goat cheese to whole wheat dough to mini versions, there’s something to make everyone’s mouth water! I’m partial to the socca myself, I’ve been making socca-crust pizzas since I was first diagnosed with gluten intolerance and I can’t recommend trying them enough!
To me Summer is all about fresh produce and as much I as love the colorful array of options at the farmer’s market, not all produce is created equal – Game, Set and Match to Strawberries: The Superfruit.
One of the first things that my doctor did last fall after my spinal injury was write me a prescription for a stand up desk. My office amazingly had one in storage so three days later it was up and running. The results have been amazing and I’m planning to keep it even once I’m fully healed. Interested in learning more? Fit Bottomed Girls – Stand Up for Your Fitness: Review of the Standing Fit Standing Desk. And if that’s not enough to convince you, this piece for the SF Gate may change your mind – Sitting Less Adds Two Years to U.S. Life Expectancy.
You don’t need hours and hours at the gym, even squeezing in 10 minutes a few times a week can make a difference if you’re also walking and eating a healthy, balanced diet – Get R.I.P.P.E.D. in Just 10 Minutes With This Total Body Workout!
Fashion:
Whenever I get the urge to freshen things up in my apartment I turn to wall decor for that extra zing of unique creativity. If you’re the same check out Apartment Therapy’s – 10 DIY Wall Art Ideas That Anyone Can Do.
If you’re still dying for more fashion week madness after the Spring 2013 Resort and Fall 2012 Couture collections, check out Harper’s Bazaar’s Moda Operandi and Taylor Tomasi-Hill Go To Sao Paulo Fashion Week.
There are many celebrity “designers” out there but few who really have the fashion chops, a la Victoria Beckham, to make a real impact on the fashion world. Which side of the line do you think Miss Gwyneth Paltrow’s first collection will fall on? FabSugar has the details – See What Gwyneth Paltrow Designed For Her Special Goop Collection So Far.
Get in the mood for next season’s crop of fabulous frocks by checking out Banana Republic’s Anna Karenina inspired holiday collection, Karl by Karl Lagerfeld for Fall 2012, and the H&M Summer 2012 Magazine.
Links You’ll Love
Fashion:
Looking for a pretty new up do for the Spring & Summer weddings you’re attending or participating in? Refinery 29 has you covered with their 3 Pretty ‘Dos For Wedding Season.
Not sure what to keep in your closet and what to donate? Miranda Kerr’s stylist tells us just how to Spring clean this season – Modelinia.
Or if you’re interested in jumping on the ombre train, Fashion Fazer has you covered – Ombre and Dip-Dye Hair.
Love that collar necklace? Ya, me too. Check out Fashion Love Affaires for her DIY Diaries: In All My Glittery Goodness.
I’ve clearly shown that I’m a fan of Olivia Palermo’s personal style, I did Style File posts on her adorable polka dot maxi skirt AND her chic outfit for the menswear shows last fall. She recently started a blog and I wanted to share her little piece on closet organization – Glam Tip: Keep Off-Season Clothes Fresh.
Refinery 29 doesn’t want to see your old college sweats or your ratty t-shirts at the gym. Ever. Chic Gym Gear To Replace Your Sweats. Its time!
Are you in the mood for ladylike glitz and glamour this Spring? Me too. From Elie Saab to Christian Dior, Cristina’s got you covered. Read on!
Health/Fitness:
Did you sign up for a race to meet a New Years Resolution and get so busy and distracted this Spring that you’ve hardly started to train? Read the No Meat Athlete’s 3 Steps to Planning the Perfect Running Getaway to Re-energize Your Training or Stuck Running on a Treadmill? Make the Most of It with These 3 Workouts.
Not sure when to nosh? What about which foods will be best for you? Check out Fit Bottomed Girls’ Foods to Fuel You– A helpful list of what foods will help fuel you before, during, and after your exercise sessions, Women’s Health’s Eating Well: The Best Fitness Foods for Women, and OhSheGlow’s 3 Ready-in-a-Jiffy Warm Weather Snack Recipes!
Not sure which oils to use for what? Read through Wake Up World’s 160 Uses For Coconut Oil.
If your Spring has been anything like mine you’re a busy busy bee. Don’t let that get in the way of staying healthy and meeting your fitness goals though, these mini workouts will keep you motivated:
- A 10-Minute ‘Move Confidently’ Workout from Fit Bottomed Girls & Dove
- A 10 Minute Full-Body CrossFit Workout from FitSugar
- A Pound Melting Pilates Workout from Women’s Health
- 10 Crunch-Free Moves for Killer Abs from Shape
Or check out all my links over at A Healthy Mentality!
Links You’ll Love
Happy Sunday!
I don’t know about you, but I had another amazing weekend. The perfect combination of relaxation, family time, and social events. Before we get to this Sunday’s Links You’ll Love post, I just wanted to say a quick congratulations to my childhood friend Sophie who got married in a beautiful, moving ceremony yesterday.
Fashion:
Interesting news on the supplement front from Natural News – Vitamin D and sun exposure work synergistically to prevent breast cancer.
Here’s this week’s healthy recipe round-up: Kale Salad with Oranges, Almonds and Avocado (the “detox” salad) from Eat, Live Run, 10 Flavor-Packed Tofu Recipes from Shape Magazine, Broccoli White Bean Soupfrom FitSugar, How to Make the Perfect Big-Ass Salad (and the Best Dressing Recipe—Ever) from Fit Bottomed Girls, Healthy Zucchini Breadrecipes from FitSugar readers, Sun-dried Tomato Cheezy Kale Chips from the brilliant OhSheGlows, and 15 Gluten-Free Recipes from Heath.com.
Video time! Check out these two motivation and instructional videos to get you in the mood for healthy eating and working out this Spring .
- Women’s Health – Total Body Transformation
- Healthy Eating with David Kirsch
I think that this is a great idea! I’m always looking for something fun to do with friends that doesn’t revolve around eating or drinking. Yes, I love a cocktail as much as the next workaholic, but with my early mornings a booze-fueled “school night” is never a good idea. Barry’s Bootcamp – Party Fitness: 7 Workouts Better than Happy Hour. From a yoga rave to a Zombie Run, there are some great ideas here to try out.
How do you stay healthy and in shape when you have a hectic schedule and lots of traveling on the horizon? See what Miss Garance Dore has to say about her routines here.
Links You’ll Love
Health/Fitness:
Did you watch the recent 60 Minutes piece Is Sugar Toxic? Raise your hand if that guy scared you a little! I consider myself very well-informed when it comes to health and nutrition, and I don’t consume much sugar, but that guy was still creepy intense. Doesn’t mean the message was wrong though, to be sure, let’s just try to hear it from a different, more palatable source. The Difference in How Fructose and Glucose Affect Your Body from Kimberly Snyder, Do We Need Better Advice About Eating Well? I Vote Yes from Marion Nestle, and The Sugar Blockers Diet from Prevention.com.
Need some healthy snack ideas? Obviously you should reach for fresh fruit & veggies, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit before anything packages & processed, but sometimes you just need to throw something in your purse or keep in your desk in case of a snacking emergency. Check out the Hungry Hungry Hippie‘s suggestions or my Lollihop review. I’ll also be reviewing my Healthy Surprise box soon!
Are you a fan of yoga? Since I’m going through physical therapy for a back injury and trying to strengthen my core and stay flexible, I’m going to give it another try. Here are some beginner and not-so-beginner yoga sessions to give a try:
- Get a Calorie-Burning Workout With This Yoga Flow Series
- 10 Yoga Poses for Health Problems
- 8-Minute Workout: Yoga for Better Sleep
Did you enjoy Part I and Part II of the Mark’s Daily Apple series called Why Fast? that I posted here? The next installment in this series is a great beginners guide to fasting – Why Fast? Part Six – Choosing a Method.
Healthy motivation to start your week off right tomorrow! 4 Great Ways To Use Chia Seeds from Canadian Living, professional triathlete and author Brendan Brazier’s favorite ingredientsfrom leafy greens to pseudograins, seeds and nuts, and In Defense of Fat: 7 Surprising Facts from The Huffington Post.
Fashion:
As we get ready for Spring why not take inspiration from the Aussie’s who are finishing up their warm weather dressing – Sydney Snaps: Street Style From Down Under.
I read lots of pieces on how to be a good hostess – from menus to glasses to centerpieces, but I was excited to read this article from Apartment Therapy on Hosting Overnight Guests Without A Guestroom. San Francisco is a city of apartment living and when a one bedroom is usually over $2000 a month, most people don’t have an unused bedroom, so this is incredibly relevant!
Nothing but fabulousness from the arrivals at the Gucci Fashion Show After-Party in Shanghai. If you need inspiration for a night out on the town these ladies are a great place to start!
A great look for Spring is a crisp button down shirt. You can pair it with cropped pants, a pleated mini, over a flowy maxi dress or even tucked into jeans. And why not mix up the classic white button down and try a Chambray shirt. Do A Little Chambray! from Eat Breath Fashion.
Whether you’re breaking out your Spring dresses for weekends or planning a shopping trip for your Summer wedding season, take inspiration from FabSugar’s Ultimate Spring Dress Guide!
Links You’ll Love
Fashion:
It’s that time again… Time for all the new ad campaigns for Spring 2012 that make us swoon and wish the weather would hurry up so we can throw on sundresses and gorgeous resort wear. Sigh. Tom & Lorenzo have the lowdown on Valentino, Harper’s Bazaar previews the fabulous Burberry video featuring Poppy’s younger sister Cara Delevingne, Mama’s A Rolling Stone has gorgeous photos from the 2012 campaigns for Lanvin, Chloe and Balenciaga, and My Dress.My High Heels.My Style shows off the Proenza Schouler Spring/Summer 2012 Ad Campaign with the lovely, tan Natasha Poly, a breathtaking Mila Kunis for Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2012 and great mixing and matching of prints in the DKNY Spring/Summer 2012 Ad Campaign where Ashley Greene giving great face on New York rooftops.
Looking for something light and entertaining to read this weekend? Try Simon Doonan’s Gay Men Don’t Get Fat, see Harper’s Bazaar’s review here. Not your typical fashion tome, that’s for sure.
Need some ideas for comfy clothes and cozy accessories as this latest cold weather front moves through? WhoWhatWear has the breakdown on outerwear worn by everyone from Ashley Olsen to Rooney Mara, Frugal Fashionista has the lowdown on snowboots under $100 and FabSugar has 5 ideas on how to mix and match your feminine, warm-weather wear with cozy pieces for winter.
Need some extras to finish up your daily looks these days? 10 sweet winter accessories under $50, China Glaze creates a Hunger Games inspired line of nail polish, 7 pairs of nerd-chic glasses and leopard print scarves.
Health & Fitness:
Personally, I don’t own a scale, I’m much more interested in how my clothes fit. One reason? Muscle mass is important for your health. Is bulking up at the gym one of your fears? Fit Bottomed Girls discuss common fitness fears.
The girls over at Tone It Up give great daily updates – check out their great suggestion to keep you healthy and moving all day at work. Need some more motivation to get you going? FitSugar has you covered with quotes and mottos to get you up and out the door.
I can’t decide what I want to make first next weekend: FitSugar’s black & white bean sweet potato soup, The Wannabe Chef’s tofu stirfry or The Hungry Hungry Hippie’s clean food cornbread.
Looking to add some new foods to your diet to increase your health? You could try hemp seeds, antioxidant-rich foods, green monster salads, “cheesy” veggie quinoa Quiche and some of the newly popularized superfoods of 2011.
Hope you had a great weekend!
Links You’ll Love
Fashion:
Want to see Darance Dore dance? Thought so.
Not sure how to apply current and upcoming fashions to yourself? Check out Bazaar’s Fabulous At Every Age for some tips on how to style Resort looks for yourself. But keep in mind your personal style and what’s appropriate for you.
Need some Zoe in your life? Frugal Fashionista has a breakdown of Zoe Saldana’s fabulous 2011 looks, Mama’s A Rolling Stone shows off her love of brights here and here and WhoWhatWear featured her fabulous fringe.
Did you enjoy Chanel’s Paris-Bombay Pre-Fall 2012 show that I reviewed here? Then check out the video – Eerily gorgeous is the phrase that comes to mind…
Health & Fitness:
Are you all set to make some huge fitness resolutions for 2012? Perhaps run a race, start using the fitness DVDs you got for Christmas, squeeze in even mini workouts when you’re short on time, taking up yoga to keep yourself calm and relaxed,
30 Things To Start Doing For Yourself from Polish My Crown and take some time to reflect on yourself and how you spend your time like Holly Would If She Could.
Both sides of the meat-eating versus non-meat eating arguments – Dead Cow Walking: The Case Against Born-Again Carnivorism and The Meat Of It. What’s your stance? Do you make your food choices based on moral choices? Nutrition? Health?
Ready to get started on your 2012 fitness regime? Whether you’re a gym-rat, take as many classes as possible or like to workout from home, there’s something for everyone to get into shape this year!
- Fit Bottomed Girls – The 10 Best Intermediate Workout DVDs
- Tone It Up! – Motivation Monday’s 2012 Challenge
- Health.com – 5 Great New Classes To Get You Fit
- Functional Movement Systems – Balanced Body Series: Dead Lifting
- FitSugar – At Home Circuit Training Workout
- Ignite the Fire – 5 tips for training on the road
MCLV’s Non-Resolution 2012 Resolutions
You know what I hate? New Years Resolutions. And not just because I can’t get any time on the elliptical for the month of January while everyone whose New Years Resolution was to get into shape wears themselves out and rethinks their life choices. No, I dislike them because for the most part you just spend fifteen minutes on January 1st spitting out a list of grandiose plans for the year and then you forget about them around the time your hangover wears off.
But hey, I’m as guilty as most when it comes to the charade that is New Years Resolutions. However, this year, this year I have a plan. A good plan. I’m going to set goals at the beginning of each month, small goals, just some aims to keep in mind for the upcoming four weeks
This is inspired by my friend Holly of Holly Would If She Could who embarked on the Look Better Naked Challenge in November of 2011 and has been writing about her progress each week. Reading her posts I realized just how beneficial it is to approach this sort of challenge a week at a time – its less intimidating, its more manageable. And for someone with the attention span of a 2-year-old, I figured even I could maintain a set course of action for seven days at a time.
Overarching 2012 Resolutions:
- Buy a house
- Take no money out of my savings accounts (other than to buy said house)
- Publish something (this goal is a LONG TIME coming, I’ve been writing since I was a child and I’ve still never let anyone read my writing. It’s time. Past time.)
January Goals:
- Start back rehabilitation when I get doctor sign off & be diligent about my exercises
- Finish decorating my new apartment
- No taxis – Walk to and from work 5 days a week and run all errands on foot
See? Baby goals. Nothing I can’t do. Just a few things to keep me on track for January. Curious what everyone else is saying and doing?
Miss Rachel of The Life & Lessons of Rachel Wilkerson takes a different stance on New Years Resolutions. Each year she picks a verb and molds her goals and ambitions for the year around said verb. “Before you do anything in life, you must select a verb. You can begin, or quit, or change. You can choose, share, trust, try, think, relax, open, hope, serve, speak, write, save, flee, organize, believe, commit, or give.” I think that this is an incredibly creative and personal way to set goals for the year. For 2011 Rachel chose “invest” as her verb and for 2012 her verb is going to be “push.” What would you pick for your verb for 2012? I think that I might have to choose “evolve.” In 2012 I would like both myself and my life to evolve. Maybe this will be the year I become a grown up… Who knows! 🙂
Justyna at Chameleonic is approaching the New Year in a sanguine and entertaining way in her post: 2011 & These Are My Thoughts. I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for a happy, optimistic take on life and the future. And while I’m not always able to stay positive and idealistic in my daily life, I always appreciate and look up to those who can. Are you a glass half full or half empty type?
The Fitnessista focused on the great moments and highlights of 2011 – From family time and sweaty workouts to delicious recipes and fun trips that she took. At the beginning of a new year do you like to think about the amazing moments that the year before held for you or do you prefer to immediately let go of the past and start planning and hoping for the future? Or a little bit of both? 🙂
Rather than set Resolutions for 2012 Gena of Choosing Raw has a hope for the year – “I hope people will stop setting short-term dietary goals for themselves.” Gena is a vegan and raw food enthusiast who is a clinical nutritionist currently attending medical school. Her blog is an important and educational site in both the vegan and raw food worlds and she receives requests, questions, suggestions, ideas and pleas regarding food, healthy eating and diets. “I cannot count the number of emails I get each year at this time, detailing the fasting, calorie restricting, food group eliminating, and wacky beverage drinking that people intend to start their new years with. And it makes me sad, because these “plans” are not nourishing, they’re not always pleasurable, and most of all, they’re just not sustainable.” As a reader of her site I would say that one of Gena’s ultimate goals is to encourage people to really think about their food choices and to ultimately make healthier decisions. And that’s a huge part of her New Years Hope. “Instead of flirting with diets that promise you a new beginning, but deprive you of pleasure in order to get there, try, for a change, to greet the new year by being generous with yourself. Envision a way of eating that will feel rewarding–not just this week, or this month, but for years and years. Remember that finding pleasure in the way you eat is just as important as being healthy, because without the former, the latter won’t last.”
Jenn from the Fit Bottomed Girls has a list of 5 goals for herself to tackle in 2012. Including “make fewer goals.” As you’d expect from a contributor to a blog titled Fit Bottomed Girls, her goals for 2012 are primarily health and fitness related. When you make resolutions do you focus on career, health, family, friends, fitness or something else?
Happy 2012 and I hope this new year brings you everything that you hope for!
Gym Goddess – Part V
Welcome to How to be a Gym Goddess Part V, if you’re new to this series feel free to check out Part I, II, III & IV at your leisure.
The goal of Week V was to increase Liz’s endurance further with longer cardio bursts, more HIIT and additional rounds & repetitions to lengthen the workouts.
*Note: Discuss changes to your fitness regime with a doctor in advance to avoid injuries.
Day 1: All HIIT, all the time.
10 minute cardio warm up
- 30 seconds as fast as possible
- 1 minute 30 seconds recovery – moderate speed
- 30 seconds as fast as possible
- 1 minute 30 seconds recovery – moderate speed
Repeat for 15 minutes of intervals
Change machines and do an additional 15 minutes of intervals (if possible you should use three different machines for the warm up, first 15 minutes and second 15 minutes, or you can jog in place or outdoors).
This ended up being the perfect start to the week, we were both suffering from a severe case of the Mondays and battling through headaches and knew that as awful as the gym sounded we’d be more well-adjusted individuals if we went. And we were!
Day 2: Play time! This workout was inspired by two articles that I read in Men’s Health (15 Minute Ski & Snowboard Workout and The Immortal Workout). What? My boyfriend just left it lying around… Couldn’t let it go to waste!
10 minute cardio warm-up
3 Rounds:
- Bosu medicine-ball twists – 10 (one twist left + one twist right = 1 rep)
- Bosu 180 jump – 10
- Lateral medicine-ball hop – 10 (one left + one right = 1 rep)
- Bosu Medicine-ball goblet squat – 10
- Bosu medicine-ball swings – 10
10 minute cardio warm-down
This workout was really fun once Liz got the hang of the individual moves — I suggest that you take some time to play around with them after you check out the Men’s Health descriptions, it’s a perfect little warm up.
Day 3: Mini workout – The goal with these smaller workouts is to get your heart rate up, so head down to the gym even if you only have 20 extra minutes. You’ll thank me afterwards. Promise. (And if you have more holiday traveling to do, why not try airplane yoga?)
10 minute cardio warm up
5 Rounds:
- 250M row
- 15 squat jumps
- 30 mountain climbers
10 minute cardio warm down
Stretching
Day 4: Shorter HIIT workout
5 minute warm up
- 30 seconds as fast as possible
- 1 minute 30 seconds recovery – moderate speed
- 30 seconds as fast as possible
- 1 minute 30 seconds recovery – moderate speed
Repeat for 15 minutes of intervals, change machines and do an additional 15 minutes of intervals
5 minute cool down (i.e. walking on a treadmill etc)
Weekend Goal: Before the weather gets too cold, get outside for some exercise. Go for a jog, take a long walk after dinner, walk to run your errands instead of driving, go for a hike. Do something outside and aim for at least an hour’s worth of exercise.
Looking for some new ways to spice up your workouts? Why not take a look at The Fitnessista’s Favorite Workouts of 2011 – From Bodyrock to fitness DVDs to dance classes, there’s something for everyone!
Need a little inspiration and entertainment before hitting the treadmill? Check out Modelinia’s Cardio Boot Camp with model Julie Henderson and trainer David Kirsch.
Happy almost Friday!
Moi Contre La Vie 