Looking for “What to do This Summer?” That was last week’s article, and can be found here.
Now that you’ve found something for the kids to do this summer, you regain a little time for yourself. Like getting back to your workouts. That gap between school ending and camps starting might have made you itching to get back to it, or itching to try something new. Or if you’re like me, you’ve realized you’re dreading putting on the summer clothes that are mandatory in this kind of heat. Maybe you’re one of my recent maternity/newborn clients and you’re looking to get back to your pre-baby shape. I don’t know about you, but I get bored easily, and need to change up the workouts so I don’t get burned out. I’ve gathered together a list of workouts I’ll be trying this summer.
I usually hate workout videos. HATE them. They’re not motivating, they usually require more space than I have in my living room, and I can never follow along with the footwork the first, second, or even third time through, so I quit. If I can’t follow all the movements, and I have to keep grabbing the remote and rewinding, I’m not getting a workout. But I LOVE the
30-Day Shred! It’s an intense workout that gets your heart rate up from the very beginning and keeps it up by combining strength moves and cardio at the same time. This one is by Jillian Michaels, of The Biggest Loser, so be ready for her no-excuses attitude. But she’s good. She knows right when you’re feeling like quitting, and she makes you keep going. It’s only 30 minutes, and really, it’s over in no time. Toward the end, you feel stronger and while doing the last cardio bit, you feel lighter because she worked your muscles so hard that these last moves feel like a vacation. I don’t really get sore from this workout, but I can feel my muscles all day. I’m thinking that means I’m burning more calories the rest of the day than I would have otherwise. I could be wrong, but thats’s how it feels. I also feel like doing the workout again later in the day because it’s amazing how strong and pumped (physically and emotionally) I feel after doing it in the morning. I’m only on workout 1. There are two more workouts on this DVD, and I honestly can’t wait to advance! And best of all, if you have room for jumping jacks, you have enough room to do this workout.
As much as I need the cardio/strength training, I also need to work on my core strength. Pilates is great for this. At
Marbles Yoga in Lafayette Square, the Pilates classes by Kasia are wonderful. A physical therapist by training, Kasia knows how to explain the proper form to prevent injury, and can help you modify moves if you have physical issues preventing you from doing the traditional moves. The studio is a beautiful room with old wood floors, art adorns the walls (they have gallery openings too), and Marbles also offers yoga…of course! They even have yoga for runners!
Okay, I have not tried this yet. My goal is to start this one by August, after I shed a few pounds. But I have friends who have done this workout and swear by it. It’s supposed to get you really ripped in 90 days, by using what they call Muscle Confusion™. Can’t wait to try it! Kathleen Miller is in the middle of this program and is kind enough to share her story:
“My name is Kathleen and I am married with two children. I am a stay at home mom also. I have struggled with my weight since I got married. I have always worked out but sometimes it was off and on but I knew how to do it, it was just putting it in motion. For quite some time, probably the last couple of years I kept seeing this P90X infomercial at night. I would watch it over and over. Well this year I lost 25lbs. I didn’t think I had 25lbs, but in the end thats what the final number was. I got in shape and did boot camp and kick boxing and was ready for the final phase of my health and fitness. Getting ripped P90X style. I was ready. I started 11 weeks ago and have committed to this for 90 days. Somedays I add extra cardio because I love working out with friends. This brought me to where I am now, which you can see at www.teambeachbody.com/coachkathleen. I believed in their products so I became a coach. Please check out my website and see my progress. At the 90 day mark I will post again. If their is anything I can do for you let me know. My hope is that I have inspired someone to take the next step in their lives.”
She has certainly inspired me! I wonder if I can get abs like that!
I’ve only tried this once so far. It’s fun, like they say it is, and an hour goes by so quickly! It truly does not feel like a workout. I’m not the most coordinated person in the world, but I don’t think it’ll take too long to catch on. If you’re bored with your workouts, then try Zumba.
Martha at Fitness Connection for Women in Webster Groves teaches a beginner class. Try it!
I’m looking for some of you to share your stories….whether it’s sharing about a camp your child has participated in, an outing you took them on, or some other summer experience, like a vacation or activities right in your own home. Or if you have recipes to share, want to talk about some great restaurant you love, any other great finds… whatever kind of article you think other moms will be interested in, please submit them to lauribakerphoto@gmail.com using “Monday Moms” in the subject line. Photos* are welcomed and encouraged. All entries will receive a $75 coupon good toward a print purchase from a summer or fall 2010 session. The first article I choose to publish will receive an 8×11 signed, numbered, matted print of my most-loved dogwood image, “Love Undimished by Adversity”. (A $75 value.) Prizes for publishing of subsequent articles will be announced later.
*by submitting photos and articles, you certify that you are the owner of the copyright, and grant Lauri Baker Photography the right to publish the submissions, and acknowledge that there may be slight editing made to optimize them for publishing.
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