You Learn Something Everyday

Earlier I mentioned that I was going to have to look up what a "fire hydrant" was for the workout pick this week.  Well I looked it up and realized that I have done this move several times and I even ended up doing it boot camp this morning.  The name was never mentioned, I always knew these as side leg lifts, but from now on I will use the more appropriate and slightly funny "fire hydrant"!

Also, if they give me legs like those in the photo I will do them everyday!

Workout Pick Week 2

Here it is, week 2 workout! This week I am focusing more on toning my legs, which could always use a good toning! I actually need to do a little research to even start this workout, what in the heck is a "fire hydrant"? Maybe I'm a little behind on the workout times!

This workout is from a great Tumblr Back on Pointe and comes from a dancer.  I know that I always envy dancers' legs, no matter what type of dancer they are! This should be a great workout to sculpt muscle and I am prepared for a few days of soreness.  Whenever I am sore I get so happy because it makes me feel like my muscles are tightening right up!

I'm excited to continue this fun experiment and hopefully I can be slightly more dedicated this week as well as ramp up my healthy eating.  As always check in mid-week for an update and I will also give my results at the end of the seven days.

Have a happy healthy week!

Buddy System

This voice almost got to me tonight when I thought I couldn't finish the last 5 minute run set of the Bikini Body Max Burn Pyramid.  Fortunately for me I had my hubby as a partner for this particular workout and he pushed me to keep going! It is great to workout with a partner that knows how to push you to your limit and help get you through that last few minutes.  

I love having a workout partner but I have found it is difficult to find one when going to a big gym like 24 Hour Fitness.  I have a few people that I see regularly but I really want a buddy that will push me there every day.  

Do you workout with a buddy?  Does it push you farther or hold you back?

Importance of Nutrition

There have been several times during my weight loss journey that I have fallen off of the good nutrition wagon.  I felt that if I was exercising enough what I was eating didn't matter.  I always try to make it a point to eat fairly clean and healthy but I do have a major problem with portion control.  I have learned the hard way that what you put into your body affects the scale more than the activity you are doing in the gym.  I could go workout for 2 hours only to come home and have a protein shake, fruit, and maybe a snack with my son and gain back all of the calories I just worked so hard to burn.

I have now begun to realize that I have to track how many calories I take in each day as well as how many I burn in a workout to be successful.  I tried being more laid back because I felt slightly OCD writing down every thing I eat but this is how I can manage my weight and prevent future weight gain.  

Even though the point of my posts is to try new workouts I will also focus on nutrition and the importance of what goes into my body.  

How do you find the balance between food and exercise and how has that helped your weight loss success?

Workout Pick Week 1

Oh those girls at Tone It Up, they sure know how to make you work for it.  There are tons of Tone It Up workouts all over Pinterest and this one caught my eye because it has cardio and focuses on multiple body parts, unlike the simple but very effective Lean Legs Pyramid.

I will do this workout Monday through Friday as well as my normal workouts at the gym which usually include three days of the strength training class BodyPump and two days of solid cardio.  My cardio at the gym is a combination of the elliptical, the stair stepper, and my newest love, the row machine.  Did you watch the Olympics? Those girls on the US rowing team tore it up and they all have such amazing muscle tone.  It made me look at that row machine in an entirely new light.

I'll be checking in mid week with an update as how the workout is going, hopefully I'll be killing it every day and getting my run time down! Endurance is so hard to gain, yet so easy to lose.

Tell me, what's your favorite cardio to do at the gym?

Motivation - Everyone needs it

Getting Started

First off let me just say welcome! Thanks for stopping by, I am super excited to start this new project.  My name is Sarah and I am a 25 year old stay at home mom that is passionate about fitness (most of the time)! I realized that getting fit and staying fit are two completely different projects that require different motivation.  

I lost 100 lbs after my son was born and I have kept most of it off for 2 years now.  I like working out and I do it pretty regularly but I have found myself in a fitness rut lately and with that has come some unwanted pounds.  I have decided to take one of my biggest addictions, Pinterest, and use it to inspire my workouts to get me back on track. 

Each week I will test a new workout from Pinterest and let you all know the results.  I will blog if the workout is effective in weight loss, muscle building, as well as the ease of use. I will also be getting very personal with all of you and posting my "stats" which will include weight, body fat percentage, as well as my BMI, eek!  With all the thousands of workout pins on Pinterest each day this could shake up my fitness routine for years!

I am also open to workout suggestions so if you have a favorite workout you would like me to try or if there is a workout from Pinterest I haven't seen please let me know!