adidas Routine Refresh - Keep your Body Guessing

Now that the weather is getting colder in Michigan I have to bring all of my workouts inside. Bundling up in layers and going out for a winter run is not appealing to me. I rather get a good sweat on indoors!

As you know from other posts of mine, I LOVE kettlebells. I discovered kettlebells about 4 years ago and haven’t turned back since. It only took me 28 years to find a sport that I love! Year round, I mix in cardio, circuit training and weight lifting with my ketttlebell workouts. I like to keep my body guessing as to what kind of workout it’s going to get. This can also be referred to as ‘muscle confusion,’ which basically means to constantly change up your workout routine so that your muscles are always exposed to a new stimulus (as defined on fitjerk.com). 

I not only like to keep my body guessing, but it’s also fun to switch it up! Here are a few example workouts….

Circuit training

The gym my husband and I belong to, Funk Fitness, has circuit training classes a few times a week. A workout usually consists of body weight movements, kettlebells, TRX, ropes and big tires. We usually spend about 20-40 seconds on each move, with a 10 second rest, and then repeat 4-8 times (depending on how many stations there are and how many people show up). It’s a ton of fun, and a great way to incorporate new moves into your workout.

Kettlebells

I’m currently training for a competition (Worlds Kettlebell Competition) and I’m less than a month away! My workouts right now consist of competition training, using my competition size bell (16kg) to do long cardio sets and a heavier bell to build strength.

Indoor cycling

I’m certified through my work, so I can only teach spin to my coworkers. This is the best cardio…for me. I can’t run for hours like some people can, and quite frankly, I think running is boring on a treadmill! I put together fun, fast paced classes to energizing music to keep everyone up beat and wanting to push themselves. I usually put together a 45 minutes series of sprints, climbs, rolling hills and jump drills to crazy up beat music.

Weightlifting

I also belong to a regular gym with your typical cardio machines, free weights and weight machines. Sometimes a girl just needs to do deadlifts and squats with a squat rack! 

I also switch up my gear depending on which workout I'll be doing. Tanks, capris and shorts are pretty standard. But if doing a competition workout for kettlebells, I also like short sleeve tees, like the adidas tee I have on in the above picture. The sleeves protect my arms so the kettlebell doesn't hit my biceps during my clean (kettlebell move!), and make my arm red. This shirt also wicks away sweat, keeping me cool. 

I'd like to encourage everyone to try a new workout with the changing seasons. Not only will you keep your muscles guessing, but you never know, you may find a new life changing workout too. 

Have you tried a new workout lately? If so, please share in the comments below. I'd love to hear about it!

adidas Women designs innovative performance products to help women commit to their best self and conquer their fitness goals.   We inspire women to look and feel their best - be pretty, be tough & be confident.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by adidas via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of adidas.

Outdoor Workouts

A physician's assistant (and friend) once told me that the shape you're in when you're in your 30s has a direct correlation to what you'll be like 'fitness-wise' when you're in your 50s and beyond. I don't know if this a scientific fact, but it makes sense, and is why I prioritize fitness so much in my life. Not only does working out make me feel good, but I want to be able to set good examples for my children some day by living a healthy, active lifestyle. 

I travel a lot with my current job as a sales account manager, and sometimes its hard to find time to fit in a workout. Even worse, sometimes we stay in hotels that don't have gyms or if they do, it's one treadmill. So, I usually have to get scrappy when it comes to fitting work out in, because I believe in NO EXCUSES! I always pack my shoes (adidas Springblades) and a sports bra (adidas Techfit is my new fav), and now that it's getting colder out in the midwest, my new adidas Ultimate long tights and adidas Ultimate short sleeve top.

Sometimes I'll do a circuit in my hotel room, but that can get kind of cramped and limited, so I started taking my circuits outside. I'm not a huge runner (can't just lace up my sneakers and run for 5 miles). So I incorporate run/walk intervals, with other body weight moves, to get my heart racing and a good workout in. For example, here's what I did last week in Chicago:
30 second sprint/30 second walk x 30 rounds (30 minutes)
50 body weight squats (in a park)
50 knee ups on park bench
Stop in a park (or back in hotel room) and jump rope (20 seconds jump/10 second rest x 8)

Not only am I getting a massive amount of cardio in the morning, revving up my metabolism for the rest of the day, but I'm getting to see a new city first hand! 

I also do workouts like these at home. If I know I have late work night coming up, I'll usually wake up early and workout. Here's another example of an outdoor workout I'll do at home and around my city:
30 second sprint/30 second walk x 30 rounds (30 minutes)
Break in between sprinting and do 20 alternating lunges (every 10 rounds)
Run down and up hill in my backyard x 3
Jump rope on back patio (25 seconds on, 10 seconds rest x 8)

Yes, sometimes I get weird looks if I'm on a street and a car drives by, but it really doesn't bother me. There's something very rewarding to me about being awake and working out as the sun is coming up in the morning! 

Now I want to know, what are your favorite outdoor activities?  What do you do to make working out fun?

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adidas Women designs innovative performance products to help women commit to their best self and conquer their fitness goals.   We inspire women to look and feel their best - be pretty, be tough & be confident.

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Disclosure: Compensation was provided by adidas via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of adidas.

Kettlebell Love

Tomorrow is a big day. I'm taking a full day kettlebell certification class through the International Kettlebell & Fitness Federation (IKFF). It only took 28 years to find a sport I am passionate about. These iron bells have pushed me past what I thought was my limit and have made me a mentally and physically stronger woman!

Here are my essentials for a kick butt kettlebell workout:
 - A kettlebell! Start off light if you're new. I originally started with an 18lb bell, then 2 years later competed with a 12kg (26lbs) bell, and now I'm competing with a 16kg (35lb) bell. Took me 3 years to work up to the 16kg.
 - My Lululemon headband does a great job keeping my hair off of my face, especially during kettlebell swings.
 - Ellie.com is not only quality and functional workout gear, but also super cute. I just ordered the shorts below. And every time I wear my Ellie Peek a Boo top people go crazy over it!
 - Wristbands provide cushion for your wrists. Helps when you clean and jerk the bell!
 - I love my Under Armour shoes for lifting.

Once I have my certification I will be posting more kettlebell workouts here. Stay tuned and please let me know if you've ever used kettlebells before!

Kettlebell workout by lipglossbreak

Ellie Little Black Collection

You know you have it bad when you spend more money on workout clothes then every day clothes. I'm not one of those girls who gets all done up to go to the gym, but I do think that when you are comfortable in the clothes you work out in, and like the way they look on you, you'll have a better workout. Look good = Feel good. And that's why I'm totally obsessed with Ellie...

I love that Ellie gives you the option to join as a monthly subscriber or purchase items separately. The best bang for you buck is joining as a member, and you'll get 2 items each month for $49.95. You can cancel at any time. Click the banner to the right for 20% off your order!

I already did one post about my obsession with Ellie gear, but recently I got to try out a new outfit from their Little Black Collection and I'm in love all over again.

I packed my new top and pants for my trip to New Orleans a few weekends ago. The hubby and I woke up super early our first morning there and went for a jog along the Mississippi River, which is where we took these pictures.

Ellie Black Widow top.

Pictured above is the 'The Black Widow' top, named this because of the strappy back which is spider-like. But don't let this creep you out...this top is contoured, slimming and sleek. It has a built in bra (medium support) and I didn't have to wear another one for my run (but I'm also smaller on top). The back panel is mesh, and there are also breathable panels along the sides. The panels are sheer, but not too sheer that they are see through. The fabric itself is really breathable, made from EllieProText and Power Mesh. I wore this for a jog, but would also wear it to cycling and kettlebell workouts. This top retails at $44.95.

Ellie logo detail on Black Widow top

Ellie Little Black Capris

The pants I wore are the Ellie Little Black Capris. These fit like a glove. They are super comfortable. I would wear these out and about for errands as well. They are made from wicking fabric that keeps you dry, and are preshrunk so you don't have to worry about washing them. They are also water, wind and tear resistant. I wore these for my run but would also wear them to yoga, kettlebells, cycling and the gym for weightlifting. Little Black Capris retail at $44.95.

Ellie logo detail on Little Black Capris

Ellie also has two new lines out: Cosmic Love and Coral Crush. These are a few of the items that are on my wishlist:

Space Cadet top and Galaxy shorts

Dynamic Duo Top and To Dye for Capris

Have you tried Ellie gear yet? If so, did you like it? What's on your Ellie wishlist? Don't forgot to click on the banner above for 20% of your order!

Note: This review includes products that I received as samples, provided by the brand company or a PR rep, and affiliate links. Please click here for more information regarding my disclaimer.

Meet Ellie

Oh, great, now I have a new obsession...Ellie. Have you met her yet? Ellie is a new fitness line that is going to give Lululemon a run for their money.

I'm not one to spend a lot of money on workout clothes. We only sweat in them, right? But sometimes, when you know you look good, you feel good, and that can make for a better workout. Probably the same reason I put on lipgloss to go to the gym (#truth). Ellie takes fashion and fitness and feeling good all into consideration when they design their lines. Most of the pieces on the site (mostly the tops) are very unique, which I love. They are nothing like what you will find in popular workout gear lines..  All pieces are mix and match which is convenient for gym clothes. I have a hard enough time piecing together outfits for work, let alone the gym!

You can shop on Ellie.com just as you would any other site, or, you can sign up for a monthly subscription, aka the Fit Fashionista Club. It's $49.95 a month and you get two new pieces each month, your choice. Also included in a membership is free shipping, priority access to the new lines, flash sales and other exclusive events.You'll take a style quiz as soon as you sign up to choose your style preferences and size. From there, they will tailor your shopping experience to the looks they think you'll love.

I received 'My New Obsession Leggings' and 'Peek-a-Boo tank,' both pictured below. They arrived in a super bright pink bubbled envelope, wrapped in tissue. Like I mentioned earlier, the top is super unique which is why I chose it. It looks like a regular tank from the front, but has a mesh, open back. It fits loosely around the hips and kept me cool during my yoga workout. I will also wear this to circuit training, cycling and kettlebell classes.

The pants are super comfortable too. They were a little long on me so I cuffed them at the bottom and they still looked cute. I wore them for yoga but they are also perfect for an early AM run and/or a cycling class.

DDP Yoga poses (warrior and superstar) and our new 'yoga room' aka living room.

Check out Ellie's new line for March, the Little Black Collection, here. Ellie and I are also offering 20% off of your first order...click the banner to the right to redeem! I will definitely be ordering more from Ellie. I could get use to looking fashionable while at the gym!

Note: This review includes products that I received as samples, provided by the brand company or a PR rep. Please click here for more information regarding my disclaimer.

FlyWheel Indoor Cycling

My husband and I had to be in NYC a few weeks ago for work, so we flew out early to spend the weekend there. We opted into staying near our old stomping grounds, the Upper West Side. I highly recommend our hotel, you can read my review here.

I like to plan out my workout times in advance when I travel, so I can plan other stuff around it. The hotel only had a small workout room, and I couldn’t get a weekend Equinox pass, so I finally decided to splurge on a legit NYC cycling class.

My first choice was SoulCycle. I checked Friday afternoon and all of the early morning sessions for Saturday and Sunday were booked! I then checked FlyWheel, which I read about in a BlissTree article on my way to NYC. I logged onto FlyWheelSports.com and while creating my profile to sign up for a class, I realized that the first class is free = yes!

I arrived a few minutes early to the Upper West Side studio, just so I could get settled in. The check in process was easy, all I had to do was log into one of the computers and click a button. My cycling shoes were already pulled for me and put in a cubbyhole that corresponded with my bike number. Shoes, lockers, waters and towels are all included in a class price ($32/class, but again, first class is free).

A FlyWheel rep helped me adjust my bike once the studio was ready. At every bike there are weighted bars and a digital resistance/RPM reader. I’m use to just guessing what my resistance is at, but these bikes tell you your exact resistance or ‘torque.’

Instructor comes in, lights go off, and there is a dim spotlight on the instructor. She starts the music, David Guetta, and I knew I was going to like this class. The whole time I felt like I was at a club, and the instructor was the DJ. She was so energetic and into the music, I loved it.

Every couple of songs the instructor would change the screens in the front of the class to show our ‘scores.’ When signing up for the class online, you can ‘opt in’ to this feature, and see how you are doing compared to others in the class. While signing up, I thought ‘why not.’ And I’m glad I did, because it really pushes you to go farther! After class, you can check your performance online, finding how far you rode, approximate calories burned, etc.

The class was made up of sprints, hills and one song dedicated to an arm work with the weighted bars. According to my heart rate monitor, in a normal cycling class, I average 300 calories burned. After this class, I was at 480. AWESOME way to start a Sunday!

I wish I would have taken more pictures of the class, but I didn't want to be a total tourist :) When visiting a city that has FlyWheel locations, I will definitely take another class. It was an amazing workout. 45 minute and done for the day! 

Stay Motivated in the New Year

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a fun and healthy holiday.

New Year Resolutions have been set and I'm sure like previous years, one of the top trending resolutions is to get in shape. One of the main challenges with this goal is staying motivated. It's easy to buy a gym membership, but staying motivated and actually using that membership is a whole other challenge. Here are some of my tips and strategies to staying motivated and dedicated to working out....

Pump Up the Volume
Music is very important. A solid playlist and up beat music can really affect your mood and workout. I use to struggle with ear buds that fit my small ears, but finally found a set that stay in while I bounce around with my workouts (Sol Republic Amp In-Ear Headphones, below). And you don't need a fancy iPod to get you through a workout. Download the Pandora app to your phone (it's free!) to get rocking tunes to get you through a workout. This is also a great way to discover new songs.

Set Milestone Goals
Whether it's the first 5lbs lost or mastering a pull up (this is one of my goals!), set goals and 'rewards' along the way. I like to treat myself to pedicures or a massage when I meet one of my goals. It also helps to stick to these goals when you write them down. Get a cute notebook (I like the mini Moleskin, below) that you can carry with you in your purse or workout bag so you can jot down your progress.

Fit Fashionista
Treat yourself to some new workout clothes! Since this is such a popular time for people to get active, Marshall's and TJMaxx has a TON of gym gear on display. Name brand pieces at great prices. Invest in coordinating tops, bottoms, sports bras and headbands. If you feel good going to the gym, you'll have an even better workout. 

What's your New Year's Resolution? Please share how you plan on sticking to your goals!

Stay Motivated in the New Year by lipglossbreak

UnderArmour Shoes and Crop Pants / Sol Republic Amps HD In-Ear Headphones / Girls Gone Sporty "Sweat Sexy" Fitness Tank from ViewSport / Moleskin notebook