Playground Workouts - The Sequel

So Jane and I did round 2 of the playground workout with the Mums from my local school.  I decided to change the session totally from the week before, just to arm them with some extra ammunition when it came to their summer workouts.

Here is the workout we took the ladies through.  I gleaned my ideas from a number of sources, I am not really that original, so check out Turbulence Training and Alwyn Cosgrove if you like what you see here.

I also introduced a new made up exercise by my friend Natasha.  I don't have any photographs of the 'Natasha push-up', but it is basically this;
- perform 1 full push-up and come back to plank position
- in plank position, take right knee to outside right elbow, then repeat on the left side (this is called spiderman)
and TA-DAHHHH  you have just done a Natasha push-up, and you will do 20 of these in total.

Enjoy the workout!!

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There has been a lot of Winter Games watching at my house this weekend.  The athletes are so inspiring and watching them has me pumped about working out.

Here are a few interesting links I found this week:

Did you have a nice valentine's day?  Keep the love on fire:  couples who play together, stay together.

Yet another reason to exercise.

But having trouble falling in love with a workout?  Here's how.

And after that workout, treat yourself to one of these.

Twenty things you didn't know about digestion.

Strange but true health tips.

Tip of the week: avoid boredom.

I'm a housewife - can I get lean while I clean?

Ladies, get your coats on.  We're going to the pub...

...and when we're older, we can head to the playground.

(image from BC Living Games Guide)

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"There are temptations which strong exercise best enables us to resist" - John Lubbock

What a weekend!  Amanda and I went to a huge birthday for our friend and exercise partner Nicola thrown by another exercise partner, Mandy, and attended by a number of other exercise partners.  (Yes, Amanda has a lot of exercise partners.  We should have t-shirts made.)  I'm still recovering but I must go to the gym to burn off birthday cake.  Wish me luck!

I'm always interested to read about other people's workouts.  This guy takes fitness pretty seriously.

Personally, I don't know how chocolate and cherry scones can be good for you - not least after a workout - but this nutritionist swears they are.  Who am I to argue?

Can you be convinced to go on the Nordic Diet?  Would you join the calorie restriction movement?  Ummm...no and no.

If it came from a plant, eat it (and other food rules to live by).

Eight secrets to all day energy.  Do you have any to add?

I *heart* Google.  I recently stumbled upon this sweet commercial and now this?  Sigh.

Did I get enough exercise/burn enough calories/get enough sleep today?  Better check my fitbit.

Not much love for moobs, I guess.

...but there should be lots of love for man's best friend.

I can't wait to hear what Amanda thinks about this.

Repeat after me: "must not eat cake".  Still craving cake?  Listen to this.

(photo credit The Bitten Word.  Oh, and in case you are caving into temptation, find the recipe here)

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If I had my way I'd make health catching instead of disease ~Robert Ingersoll

Can you believe it's already February?  While you ponder that question, here are a few neat articles I've found on the web this week.

Please, I don't want to hear about your post-pregnancy body.  You look fine.  It's our obsession with post-partum weight loss that's the problem.

In fact, our obsession with with health isn't a good thing either.  Let's stop worrying so much.

It's not that I'm worried or anything, but Amanda's been threatening her disciples with a fat caliper.  I like the false sense of security my scales give me! Maybe we can meet her half way and agree to look at our measurements instead.

Super oatmeal: breakfast of champions.

1982.  My mom and me in leotards and headbands, working out to Jane Fonda in the living room.  Good times.  Maybe we could do this together, but with better outfits this time.

Or we could just work out outside.  What a great business idea!

Now if you're looking for something fun to do this week, go ahead, get naked.  It's good for you.

(picture credit "Skating in Central Park" by Agnes Tait, Smithsonian American Art Museum via cliff1066)

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The first wealth is health - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I am so glad that I had a relaxing weekend because the real work starts today.  Amanda gave me and the rest of her disciples a brand new workout and it looks t-o-u-g-h!  It's called "hot chicks" and I swear if I'm not a hot chick by the end of it, I'm asking for my money back!

Here are a few odds and ends I found on the web this week:

Before you go out and buy that new treadmill, you should pick up the February issue of Consumer Reports so you can tell the difference between the good equipment, the bad and the downright ugly.

If you're not lucky enough to be one of Amanda's gym buddies, you should get Pump One's new Fitness Builder app.  With thousands of exercise images and videos, the ability to share and receive new workouts and unlimited access to a personal trainer, it's like having an Amanda in the palm of your hand.

Fish oil: fountain of youth?  Well, it could be that or pregnant women's urine.

It's a good thing I picked up a big bag of almonds at Costco the other day.

If you're serious about studying the connection between exercise and weight loss, this three part series is a good place to start.

So this is why Amanda is so clever.  It's also why she'll probably have all her marbles when she's old and grey.

Yikes!  It's time to blog standing up.

This is unfortunate (but what an athlete...she kept on going!).

One reason to be having more sex (as if you need one).

Fascinating debate here on Foxyburd re: Butter vs Margarine.  Me?  Either one will do, in moderation, and as long as the bread is fresh and tasty.  Off to do some baking!

(photo credit Library of Congress)

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Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb.

~ Winston Churchill

Hope you had a great weekend.  It was my friend Tonia's birthday so we had a party, of course, and I ate too much, of course, so you'll find me at the gym where I'll be doing penance for my dietary sins.  Here are a few interesting bits and pieces I've found on the web this week:

Marketing ploy or actual fact? If you invest in stylish new gym clothes, you might be more motivated to go to the gym.

If flattering gym wear will get you in the gym, why not splurge on some lululemon, Sweaty Betty or Peak Performance?  However, if you're into bargains like me, check out Joe Fresh in Canada, Target in the US and Primark in the UK.

Speaking of lululemon, they're offering free yoga classes during the Winter Olympics, potentially accommodating more than 72,000 participants.  Pretty cool, huh?  Unfortunately the offer's only good if you're in the Vancouver/Whistler area.

Nobody says you have to go to the gym to get fit.  Go for a walk or run, or if that doesn't appeal, stay at home.  You don't need much, but for starters,  you may want to consider a pair of running shoes, a jump rope and a couple of dumbbells.  If you'd like to do more exercise at home, this article might give you some ideas.

While you're at it, why not find out if you're fitter than the average Canadian.

If you're trying to lose weight, drop the calorie counter.  A study has shown that the more complicated a diet is, the higher the chance you'll quit.

And if you're trying to stay healthy, watch less TV.

Health and fitness is important, but at the end of the day, happiness trumps all.  Here are 50 steps to simple happiness.  I like number 10 (offer to help a stroller person up the stairs).


(photo credit Library of Congress via socialworkout.com)

Weekly roundup

I'll admit that I'm not loving the current workout I'm doing, but I pushed myself today and I feel great! I hope that you've been active too. Here are a few posts I think you might find interesting...

Slow and steady wins the race (but tabata still rules!).

The scientific reason why hanging out with Foxyburd makes me fit.

Conversely, if Foxyburd was out of shape, I probably would be too.

I thought shuffling the kids to school in the freezing cold burns more calories. I thought wrong.

Don't like the gym? Hate running? Walk your way to fitness in just 28 days.

If you only have 21 days to get fit, check out Elle magazine's new dvd collection.

Eleven foods you should be eating and a few you shouldn't. Pass me the beets!

(photo credit unknown via woohealth.com)