Happy Monday! So this week should...SHOULD...be better than the last two. 3s a charm, right? I officially filled out the form to transfer between schools, now going into the Colombian School of Arts and Sciences and declaring a major in Political Science in the Spring if all goes as planned. I'm just happy all the language shenanigans are over. Thank you all higher powers that I get to speak English! To make up for those credits I dropped, I am taking a 3 credit Health and Wellness class on the topic of "Functional Fitness". The text book is seriously like a health class text book and the class has a culminating end project where we design our own fitness plan. I'm pretty sure this class is going to be a breeze considering...well, health and fitness is basically my life. I have the class on Mondays and Wednesdays, so today will be my first day. Crossing my fingers it will be good!
Now, for that workout I promised. I like high reps. It's just my thing. So I guess I am more of the "endurance" strength athlete if you will, but I don't use light weights either. All I know is, it works for me, to each his/her own, right? The best thing is I can complete all of these exercises in my bedroom with the weights I have and then just run down to the gym to finish off the leg presses (since I sadly don't have my barbell with me in college). There is one barbell rack in the gym, but I have been scared to use it. I've never used a rack, but I'm pretty sure I could figure it out. I've been creepily watching the guys set it up for chest presses and squats, so I think I know how to get it ready. But I'll watch a few more times before I give it a try myself...I do miss my barbell squats!
So here is the lower body workout I threw together last week. It is a variation of a few of my favorites, but something new a fresh to keep me interested. This bad boy got me through some of the rough patches and emotions last week so it's here to stay! That's whats so wonderful about workout out. It really does have so many benefits and the endorphins and stress relief are what I think...the best! (These two benefits were even spoken about at length in my new textbook, haha!) I was nodding along and actually enjoyed ready a college health and fitness textbook!
Use whatever weights work best for you. I used dumbbells for everything except the squat jumps, jumping lunges, fire hydrants, and mountain climbers. I used 1 dumbbell on my lap for the bridge lifts. Also, break up the reps however you want. I like to take 2 exercises at once and superset them. But whatever floats your boat is fine! Have fun!
Believe me, it is a good time π I loved it at least! You all know how I don't like music when working out, but I do like some sort of distant background "static" so to speak. Which usually would be CNN, HGTV, or The Food Network. But since my cable was not working until (FINALLY FRIDAY!), I was using Netflix on my laptop. Some of the TV shows I would randomly put on were Say Yes To The Dress, 20 Kids and Counting, 4 Weddings, Cake Boss, and my favorite DC Cupcakes! It is so weird that the shop is just a few miles away and that I have actually been there! Hello Georgetown! Which I actually miss so much. It is really hard to get to from where I live. I would have to take the campus shuttle to the main city campus and then walk (backtracking) all the way to Georgetown. An all day ordeal...
So tell me:
+ Lower body or upper body workouts? Legs all the way! But I'll take either. It depends. But I think legs more!
+ What embarrassing TV shows do you watch/put on? That's the thing, I don't actually watch them, nor can I hear much of whats going on since I keep the volume down in the mornings so I don't wake anyone up. So really I just put these on to make my room less "creepy" and quiet.
βββββββββββββββ-
Stay connected: Facebook: Strength and Sunshine Twitter: @RebeccaGF666 Instagram: rebeccagf666 Pinterest: RebeccaGF666 Bloglovinβ: Strength and Sunshine Google+: Rebecca Pytell
The Frugal Exerciser
That above workout looks like a beast. I might try it one day so pinning it for later use. I watch Finding Bigfoot, it is not embarrassing to me but kind of campy, IMO. #wowlinkup
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Totally give it a try!
Haha very interesting π
Diatta @ Femme Fitale Fit Club
OY what embarrassing show do I watch? You don't even want to know. I'm educated with college degrees yet my husband says my brain will melt from the shows I am watching. I also like static/white noise while I workout. Something...anything. The sound of a fan! It all works for me. Do you want to be a certified training? #wowlinkup
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I could lift to silence, but cardio I have to have noise, but even just the noise of the machine will suffice!
Simple answer to that...do I want to be certified??? YES!
Kimberlee
I have done some pretty high rep workouts but I don't know if they were this high - I bet your legs really feel this one for days after! Hope your week is going well.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It's a good one! If you use the right weights!
Amanda H
Oh man that's a lot of reps lol! I love and miss Georgetown too since moving to California. #wowlinkup
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Reps = Love π Hahaha! Love to fatigue the muscles!
Georgetown is so beautiful! (But I bet California is too! I hope to get there one day...soon!)
Robin
I hate doing lunges, now curtsy lunges that I'll do. Thank you for sharing at Fluster's Creative Muster Party. I hope you'll come back by and share more motivation.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Normal lunges "pop" mu Achilles heel for some reason...it's weird. But curtsey, I never have a problem!
Patty @ Reach Your Peak
This workout made me think "dayyyummmmm 150 lunges?!" lol but then if you think of it broken up into sets it's more feasible/less scary. I haven't actually done curtsy lunges actually - I should start incorporating them into my routine!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Right! I always break up the lunges and deadlifts together. I do 10, 10, 10 and another 10, 10 ,10, then rest and repeat!
Curtsy lunges are great for a mix up up since normal ones get so boring π
Pure Grace Farms
Oh my, I am tired just looking at that list. You are definitely my hero!
Blessings,
Shari
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, thanks Shari π
You can do it too!
Lynda@fitnessmomwinecountry
Rebecca...I read this post and went back to bed .... LOL, I was tired just looking at it π
Great workout, I need more coffee LOL
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha! Last week I did this workout at 5am π It will wake you right up!
Christina @ Juggling Real Food and Real Life
Hi Rebecca. I hope this week is much better for you. Sounds like this health class is going to be a "cake walk" for you. You sure do like your reps. I am more of a music girl when I workout. I think it has something to do with my dance background.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks love!
Haha I have 13 years of dance in my years and I'm still not a music person!
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine
I love lower body strength training- and think upper body training is torture! I do it because I want to have nice arms. This workout looks killer!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Upper body is more fatigueing when isolating those smaller muscles!
Emily @My Healthyish Life
I always go for the upper body workouts because I assume running is enough to strength my legs (wrong). This looks very challenging! I need to incorporate more lower body training in my workouts. Glad to hear you were able to switch classes! Hope it goes well today!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I think I like legs more because I hate biceps...a lot, haha! But I work them anyway to keep it all balanced π
Thanks! I'm crossing my fingers I survive! I got an email today to wear athletic clothes for our "fitness assessment" haha!
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables
I'm not a music girl when I workout either... at least weights. Looks good girl!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Right! I just think its so distracting! Haha! I don't need "pump up" music π
Amber
I love LOVE doing legs, but also upper body, it's a tie, depending on my mood for the day, as for the squat rack...I've NEVER used one, and want to, except, not really sure how/there's always too much of a crowd at my gym to go on and I don't want to look like a silly fool...so I too have been watching the boys set it up π GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE <3
As for transferring, glad you found what makes you happy <3
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yea, it's always crowded too! They only have ONE squat rack in the main gym for all of GWU and then they have one in my dorm's gym. Kinda weird...
Well....I'm not sure it is what I want. I have no idea if I'll be happy with it, but I had to do it π
jill conyers
Love upper and lower but probably legs first. Should I be embarrassed that I watch True Blood?
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Same here Jill!
Haha, that show is terrible! It's so unnecessarily "graphic" haha!