Isn’t it funny that pool workouts don’t make you sweat? (It’s a joke…heehee) Well, swimming is a great way to exercise, and honestly, it’s one of my faves. Lately I’ve been all about the pool workouts since the pool is really close to my place, its nice to be outside and also I get a bit of color. I was pretty stoked when I found this pool workout and wanted to share it with you all. Before finding this workout, I was just doing laps back and forth. That alone was already a workout. It takes a lot of work to swim (and honestly, I’m not that great at it).

This workout is circuit based, and there are about 6 different moves including the warm up. It’s a good workout for anyone really, since you’re in one place and it doesn’t require you to swim at all. I found it really challenging! Either that, or I’m just a wuss. Below the video is the outline of the moves so you can remember them when you head out to the pool.

1. Warm up with a lunge and swoosh
2. Jog followed by a 10 second sprint in place, then back to a jog
3. Cowboy runs
4. Fly like a bird
5. Ab, tuck and twist
6. Pike ab challenge

If you end up trying it, let me know what you think!

Links mentioned in this post:
Sara Haley’s website – http://www.sarafitness.com

So, I kind of have a love/hate relationship with running.  I think running is a great form of exercise.  I totally admire people who run and train for races.  But the “hate” comes from having to do it alone.  I don’t like to run out alone, so I usually run on a treadmill, which can be quite boring sometimes.

When I first started this blog, I really wanted to get into running, so I decided to train for a 5K.  I had no idea where to start, so I looked around and found this really interesting program called the Couch to 5K.  The Couch to 5K is a program that helps you get into running a 5K by working your way up, by doing intervals of walking and running.  Even if you never ran in your life, you could start this program.   I gave it a try.  Back then, I had used a podcast by Robert Ullrey, who put together music with verbal cues.  So for example, if you started on Week 1, Day 1, you would first do a 5 minute walk, followed by alternating 1 minute runs and 1.5 minute walks for 20 minutes, followed by a 5 minute cool down walk.  That podcast series helped me train for my first 5K, which was a great experience!  The feeling you get when you work so hard for something and you complete it is an awesome feeling!

I started running again yesterday at the gym using the Couch to 5K app on my iPhone.  It’s amazing how technology advanced from the time I ran my first 5K to now.  I can now use my own music and get the cues, which is great.  In addition, I use the Nike Plus+ app, which measures the distance and logs each run, showing my progress over time.  I figure it was a great enough incentive for me to see progress and get back into running.  After all, yesterday’s run wasn’t so bad for me.  Maybe I’ll decide to run a 5K this year!  We shall see!

Anyone else use “tools” to keep track of their running?  Whether it is an iPhone app, a heart rate, monitor, or whatever else, let me know!

So I just got back from my first ever Zumba class and boy, was it a workout!  I’m pretty open to trying out new fitness classes, so I was looking forward to it.  I went to a small dance studio nearby that offers the class and was able to try it out.  The class was fairly small, about 7 people or so.  The workout went right in and it was definitely a challenge keeping up!  If you don’t know what Zumba is, it’s basically a dance workout inspired by Latin dance.  It’s pretty popular and I’ve heard about it for a while but never knew where to go nearby.   I really like dance, but I realize that I’m not too great at it!  I guess it’s natural to feel a bit discouraged when you feel like you can’t keep up.  I’m not sure if I will go back again yet, but I definitely got a good workout!

Anyway, the whole group classes thing made me realize how shy I am.  It’s really difficult for me to just talk to someone, and after the class I noticed that I was just standing around, talking to no one.  I always find myself like this.  I’ve thought about being more social but it kind of terrifies me.  Anyone have any advice??

After work I decided to stop by my parents house. My mom had made some food, and I can’t pass up my mom’s cooking!  I was really starting to feel bad about the fact that I didn’t feel like working out on my way home. When I got home, I actually changed my mind, put on some shorts and put this Exercise TV video on…

Another great workout.  It was 20 minutes and I was sweating. The workout was mostly a cardio workout, with jump ropes, squats, kicks, and free weights. These are actually my favorite types of workouts – where you sweat your butt off and feeling good afterwards.

Anyone have a favorite workout they’d like to share? Why is it your favorite?

A busy day at work = getting out late = no 15 minute run like I planned.  Top that off with feeling hungry as hell and driving home with a headache.  Yes, it’s truly a Monday.  I was really thinking about the fact I wasn’t going to do my goal, but after a simple dinner and some water in me, I decided to work out.  It wasn’t my 15 minute planned run, but I managed to do this really good 10 minute work out video on Exercise TV.

Honestly, it was a great workout for a person like me, who is getting back into the workout groove.  Sure, you may think 10 minutes doesn’t even get your heart rate up.  But, this one did for me.  Being a Jillian Michaels fan, and a fan of feeling the “sweat” after a workout, I really lucked out in finding such a great 10 minute workout.

Exercise TV has tons of videos online you can watch and even work out to.  Even full videos for free!  It’s pretty awesome for a non cable TV subscriber like me.  I’m pretty excited because I hope to use this site for exercising a lot more.

Check out the video I worked out to, and maybe you can use it too!