Thank you to McLoone's Running Store for posting my recent running blog: September 1st - First Day of Spring on their website! Check out their website and you can see my posting if you scroll down to the #fitness section.
Click here to see the posting on their website Ahh, the differences you find being in the Southern Hemisphere. Today is September 1st. Usually, when back in Canada, I would be gearing up for a long weekend camping trip, soaking up the last month of sunshine rays and preparing to put away my shorts for the winter. But when living in New Zealand, this day means buying a new pair of sunnies and searching for my flippy floppies. Although it is not hot out yet, I can feel it coming! Today I went for an evening beach run and was so very proud of myself! I ran for double the amount of time as my first beach run, and I even had enough energy left over to do a beach-side workout!! I've been thinking a lot about running and exercise in general and here's my theory: It doesn't matter if you aren't training to run a half marathon. It doesn't matter if you don't run every single day. It doesn't matter that when you run you're really just barely jogging. It doesn't matter if when you do run, its only for 15 minutes. What matters is that you put on your running shoes, get outside and just do it. No matter how slow you go, |
The morning was gloriously sunny, the water was beautiful and it was nice to see the happy and fit people out walking their dogs or jogging along the shore. We did have one sad point in our run. We found a small seal beached quite far up from where the tide was. He opened one eye and looked up at us, but we weren't sure if it was okay to lift him up and put him back in the ocean. Luckily, a local woman ran by us and told us that it happens all the time and he was just taking a sun-bathing rest and would be able to make his way back to the ocean no problem. But just in-case he was injured, she would call the animal rescue centre after her run and let them know. |
Fewwwwwf!
After our run we ventured back home where we both devoured a yumm Spinach and Berry Bliss Smoothie (click here for the recipe) and Luke made us home-made hash-browns and scrambled eggs. Double yum! Then it was off to work for both of us!
After a few hours of work and a few hours of wonderful "play time" with a good friend, I decided my morning run wasn't enough exercise and that I needed a good weight lifting workout. Down to my little gym I went. I did a bit of random cardio (jumping jacks, burpees, elliptical trainer, etc) and then my Belly Blaster workout! I swear I can feel every moment of that side plank working!! I finished off with some hardcore upper body weight lifting because that always makes me feel tough!
I finished the night off enjoying time with friends, eating lasagna and enjoying a few glasses of red wine. Yum and Fun!
It seems that every single woman I talk to has something to say about her body and how she would like to change it. The vast majority of those "changes" are pinpointed to the mid-section. I am one of those women. I enjoy being fit and strong because of the benefits it brings to my body and my health, but I of course, am also pleased when my body looks a certain way. thank you social pressures for always ensuring that I have a "target" body to strive for... sigh.
I have spent many years doing cardio and crunches, cardio and crunches and more cardio and crunches... gaining some results, but never quite feeling that I was becoming stronger in my abdomen.
I recently found this workout on the Women's Health Magazine website and was intrigued. I thought, why not? So I gave it a try.
The goal was to complete the workout for the full 6 week period, but alas, due to my ever-changing schedule and short attention span, I lasted approximately 4 weeks. However, the results were there! My abs were suddenly much stronger than ever before. And although I will never have a 6-pack, I feel great when I can feel the strength in my stomach.
I have become so familiar with this workout that it is now my "go-to" belly blaster workout when I am feeling a bit "loose" in that area. It may look simple, but after a few reps, your heart rate rises and you definitely begin to sweat! I often pair it with 20 minutes of jogging for warm-up!
Here is a glimpse of the workout:
I have spent many years doing cardio and crunches, cardio and crunches and more cardio and crunches... gaining some results, but never quite feeling that I was becoming stronger in my abdomen.
I recently found this workout on the Women's Health Magazine website and was intrigued. I thought, why not? So I gave it a try.
The goal was to complete the workout for the full 6 week period, but alas, due to my ever-changing schedule and short attention span, I lasted approximately 4 weeks. However, the results were there! My abs were suddenly much stronger than ever before. And although I will never have a 6-pack, I feel great when I can feel the strength in my stomach.
I have become so familiar with this workout that it is now my "go-to" belly blaster workout when I am feeling a bit "loose" in that area. It may look simple, but after a few reps, your heart rate rises and you definitely begin to sweat! I often pair it with 20 minutes of jogging for warm-up!
Here is a glimpse of the workout:
Click the button below for the entire 6-week workout from
Women's Health Magazine.
Women's Health Magazine.
xoxo
Sweet Dea
I am not a fan of running. I find it to be the most challenging workout mentally. Growing up I spent years and years playing soccer, which requires a LOT of running, but somehow it's much more fun when you're chasing a ball and yelling to team mates. I get bored. Regardless of how many entertaining songs I play or how many interesting people there are to look at... I. Find. Running. Boring.
That being said, the benefits of a good run are undeniable. I always feel amazing after pushing my body beyond what my mind says my limits are.
So, when my good friend challenged me to run UP A MOUNTAIN... I thought... Why Not? Our local mountain has steps for most of the way up and gravel for the rest. She challenged me to run up ALL the steps and said I could "rest" and walk on the gravel bits. The word "rest" is used loosely as you are still hiking up a MOUNTAIN!!
Earlier this week we ran up the mountain together. I was enthralled and absolutely captivated by the fact that I did it! When we got to the top of the mountain, after many groans, grunts and squeals, I was blissful! I could not stop smiling and saying "thank you for making me do this". I was definitely feeling it the next day! Which was a pleasant reminder of what I had accomplished the day before.
That being said, the benefits of a good run are undeniable. I always feel amazing after pushing my body beyond what my mind says my limits are.
So, when my good friend challenged me to run UP A MOUNTAIN... I thought... Why Not? Our local mountain has steps for most of the way up and gravel for the rest. She challenged me to run up ALL the steps and said I could "rest" and walk on the gravel bits. The word "rest" is used loosely as you are still hiking up a MOUNTAIN!!
Earlier this week we ran up the mountain together. I was enthralled and absolutely captivated by the fact that I did it! When we got to the top of the mountain, after many groans, grunts and squeals, I was blissful! I could not stop smiling and saying "thank you for making me do this". I was definitely feeling it the next day! Which was a pleasant reminder of what I had accomplished the day before.
Since my challenge was met with such success, I figured it was time to try it again, except this time on my own. Don't you find that pushing yourself is just that little bit harder when you're buy yourself? I sure do! And so I did. Wow... was it ever hard! I had attended my awesome BoxFit Bootcamp the night before and was already feeling sore from that (we did so many wall squats that I was sure my thighs would fall off ) I'm sure that added to the pain I was experiencing. But I just kept saying to myself, "prove to yourself that you can do it alone!" And I did!! |
I'm sure it helped that as I got to the top of one massive set of stairs, two good-looking guys were sitting there resting and said "You sure make that look easy"
Moral of the Story:
don't allow your mind to underestimate what your body is capable of!
that goes for all of life, not just fitness!
don't allow your mind to underestimate what your body is capable of!
that goes for all of life, not just fitness!
xoxo
Sweet Dea
Today was an absolutely wonderful day! I got to wake up late, made my way to the couch and was greeted by a delicious cup of tea! After getting myself very acquainted with the couch through a few episodes of Modern Family and a delicious breakfast, Luke and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful sunshine outside poking through the clouds (a rare occurrence lately) and hike up our beautiful Mount Mauao! After a slightly sweaty hike up to the top, we enjoyed the view at the summit and discussed our future plans here in New Zealand. Life is good!
We spent the rest of the day relaxing on the couch, eating delicious food and even took a trip to the Library! Towards the late afternoon the clouds began to dissipate and the sun really shone through! As I cozily sat on the couch and read through a magazine, I decided the best way to take advantage of this late-in-the-day sunshine was to go for a beach run.
I have been aching to do this ever since we moved here, but for some reason I always held back. I am not a big fan of running and have found it hard to get myself into it. I've been working hard on the treadmill and finally felt ready for the big leagues! The Beach! :o)
The run was glorious, exhilarating and fantastic! With my music pumping, the sun shining and the waves crashing in, it was exactly what I wanted to be doing at that moment!! Bliss!
We spent the rest of the day relaxing on the couch, eating delicious food and even took a trip to the Library! Towards the late afternoon the clouds began to dissipate and the sun really shone through! As I cozily sat on the couch and read through a magazine, I decided the best way to take advantage of this late-in-the-day sunshine was to go for a beach run.
I have been aching to do this ever since we moved here, but for some reason I always held back. I am not a big fan of running and have found it hard to get myself into it. I've been working hard on the treadmill and finally felt ready for the big leagues! The Beach! :o)
The run was glorious, exhilarating and fantastic! With my music pumping, the sun shining and the waves crashing in, it was exactly what I wanted to be doing at that moment!! Bliss!
Tonight, I'll be going hard at Boxing Bootcamp! I have been living in the Mount for two months now, enjoying my own personal gym as many days a week as I can muster, but still haven't quite met the results that I want. So, when your workout isn't quite working to your satisfaction, what's the best thing you can do...? |
Change It!
I found a great deal on GrabOne Tauranga, $60 for 10 sessions of BoxFit - a boxing bootcamp - with Define Fitness. The studio they workout in is just down the road from me, which is perfect and convenient.
I went to my first class last Friday morning and am SO happy that I did. The class was phenomenal, I forgot how wonderful bootcamps can be! They are not only a great full body workout, but they really push you to your max! A great bootcamp instructor will encourage you to push yourself...and having other people around to notice if you're slacking helps with the personal motivation as well! We alternated between boxing moves, weight lifting and other full-body movements. I had a wonderful time punching things, crunching things, lifting things and squatting things.. overall, it was a great workout. (I was reminded of that the next day when my body seemed to be a wee bit harder to move than it had been the day before (aka.. stiff as a board) It was a fantastic first class and I am excited for more.
Bootcamps are a great way to meet like-minded individuals. It just feels good to get out and meet a few new faces, whether I will see them again in the future or not. And the fun part for me, the instructor was, of course, a complete gem, and I saw her earlier this week at the movie theatre... (she also arrived too late for Magic Mike tickets and ended up watching TED instead) . What better way to make a new town feel like home than to run into someone you know when you're out and about!! Perfect!
So tonight, I will continue on with my 10 sessions, tonight being number two. I am so happy that I took that step to include something new and different into my workout routine. Not only does it energize me, but it helps me to see results, which motivates me even more when I am working out on my own. Plus... it feels pretty good to know that you can pack a mean punch!
I found a great deal on GrabOne Tauranga, $60 for 10 sessions of BoxFit - a boxing bootcamp - with Define Fitness. The studio they workout in is just down the road from me, which is perfect and convenient.
I went to my first class last Friday morning and am SO happy that I did. The class was phenomenal, I forgot how wonderful bootcamps can be! They are not only a great full body workout, but they really push you to your max! A great bootcamp instructor will encourage you to push yourself...and having other people around to notice if you're slacking helps with the personal motivation as well! We alternated between boxing moves, weight lifting and other full-body movements. I had a wonderful time punching things, crunching things, lifting things and squatting things.. overall, it was a great workout. (I was reminded of that the next day when my body seemed to be a wee bit harder to move than it had been the day before (aka.. stiff as a board) It was a fantastic first class and I am excited for more.
Bootcamps are a great way to meet like-minded individuals. It just feels good to get out and meet a few new faces, whether I will see them again in the future or not. And the fun part for me, the instructor was, of course, a complete gem, and I saw her earlier this week at the movie theatre... (she also arrived too late for Magic Mike tickets and ended up watching TED instead) . What better way to make a new town feel like home than to run into someone you know when you're out and about!! Perfect!
So tonight, I will continue on with my 10 sessions, tonight being number two. I am so happy that I took that step to include something new and different into my workout routine. Not only does it energize me, but it helps me to see results, which motivates me even more when I am working out on my own. Plus... it feels pretty good to know that you can pack a mean punch!