The Paddy Melt Challenge

In November I did a one week exercise and nutrition challenge called Thin for Thanksgiving.  It was fun and having accountability is always a good motivator.  I also had great results so when my friend Astrid announced she was holding another free week long challenge called The Paddy Melt, I jumped on board.  One of my cousins is also doing the challenge, so that's been fun.  Monday and Tuesday were hectic, so I didn't make it out to run or to the gym, so it was actually perfect timing.  I did these at home HIIT and Tabata workouts at home.  They are really great fat burners, and although they're not my favorite (I'd rather hit the trails) I know they're a good addition to an overall strong body.  

Monday

Tuesday

WOD

My workout today.  Enjoy!

Week in Review

Monday Weight lifting: full body

Tuesday Trail run 2.07, HIIT fitness blender video: abs & butt, weight lifting: back, Treadmill run 1.2

Wednesday Rest

Thursday HIIT cardio crusher, abs, fitness blender video

Friday Weight lifting: legs, elliptical

Saturday HIIT fitness blender video

Sunday Tabata

Total miles: 3.27 (This makes me laugh out loud!)

Total awesomeness: 100%

WOD

Wow, did I even run this week?  I might have to change my blog title to "run on dirt only Renee."  It actually feels a lot better than I anticipated to take so much time away from running.  With the single digit temps, the horrid air quality and the deep snow, I just can't find it in myself to feel bad about not running when I'm indoors sweating like a pig.  I realized that I like sweating.  I like the warm sun on my face.  I like dirt.  No, I love dirt!

This morning, I got up extra early to do a little workout before Jeff and I took the kids to Snowbird to snowboard.  It was really a fantastic day and perfect end to the week!

Today's sweat inducing fun!

Saturday Night Special

What does a thirty-something year old mother of three do on a Saturday night, you ask?  This insane, hour long workout video is what.  And bonus, my legs weren't even wrecked from leg day on Friday!

Do this, I dare you!

WOD & My Push Up PR

Friday I went to yoga.  I always go to yoga thinking about how it'll be an "easy" workout and good relaxation.  I always end up with muscles shaking, threatening to fail and thoughts of hatred running through my head.  However, when it's over I'm always glad I went.  It is  relaxing, just not until I'm laying in corpse pose wondering how I made it through the entire hour without collapsing on the floor!

Then, I had a small moment to spare before taking the kids to acting class, so I busted out this little beauty.  It's only fifteen minutes long, but don't let that fool you.  I was wishing for it to be over by half way through!


Today I slept in, looked outside at the frozen tundra and decided to throw on my kicks and head for the TV.   I did another workout by Fitness Blender.  Let me just say that the title is more than accurate.  They didn't throw the word brutal in there just to make it look tough.  This was a bitch!  I was huffing and puffing and near muscle failure by about three minutes in.  These guys do not fool around!  Brutal HIIT Ladder it is!  Then, I tried their Abs Boot Camp, which was great!  But, now for the truly exciting news!  This morning I decided that it had been quite a while since I had tried real push ups.  I was up to 10 "real" not "girl" push ups a few months ago.  Well, you'll never guess how many I can do now.  Go ahead, guess.  Did you guess TWENTY?  Because if you did, you're right!  I did 20 push ups!  Go me!!!

WOD

Monday:
stiff leg dead lifts
overhead dumbbell press
incline bench press
leg press
lat pull down
hip abductors & adductors
close grip tricep dips
pull ups
4 sets of 8-15 each

20 minutes on the elliptical

Tuesday:
Katherine and I were originally going on a trail run today, but it didn't work out for her and is probably best as my knees are hurting a bit.  It also looks like the north pole outside today, so I wasn't motivated to run in the snow by myself.  Here is what I did instead:

I modified this just a bit, because of my sore knees.  I did any squats very minimally and replaced lunges with high knees.


This afternoon, Jeff was home early so he and I hit the gym together.  I figured I had better add this on to today's workouts! Here was our evening routine:
Incline bench press
Incline dumbbell press
Low cable flies
Wide grip Hammer Strength press
Tricep pull down
Bicep rope hammer curls

Week in Review

Considering I've been sick and had quite a bit of asthma trouble this week, I managed a pretty damn good workout week!  Now, to just incorporate a bit more yoga and my cross training for the winter plan is shaping right up!

Monday- Sick
Tuesday- Sick
Wednesday- 3.6 miles + Pyramid ab workout
Thursday- WOD* + Plank Challenge
Friday- Weight lifting, leg day + 300 Abs
Saturday- HIIT & Tabata workout + Pyramid ab workout
Sunday- 5.25 miles

*Thursday WOD
-50 side jumps
-50 jumping jacks
-50 reverse plank crunches
-50 crunches
-50 walking lunges
(three times through)

HIIT it hard, ladies & gentlemen!

Katherine and I got together this morning and did this little gem of a workout & the pyramid ab workout while the kids watched cartoons. A perfect Saturday morning, if you ask me!