It’s a blistering 12 degrees here in Massachusetts and I want to go outside and run but I’m the biggest wuss when it comes to the cold.  Wouldn’t you know I would sign up for an 8-hour obstacle race that takes place in February in Vermont in the snow and freezing cold…what was I thinking.  Good news though, the race promises a buffet that includes bacon all day, so count me in 😉  I’ve said it before but I really love these chipper workouts!  This will be part of my workout today, I will probably do this to get warm (who am I kidding, I will get hot and drenched in sweat) before I head out into the cold for my run.  Have a great weekend!

WOD

100 Squats
90 Sit-ups
80 Push-ups
70 Walking lunges
60 Leg lifts
50 Box jumps
40 KB swings
30 Dips
20 Burpees
10 Burpee Box Jumps

Not good when your kettle bell and weights are covered in frost 😦

I really dislike the treadmill; as much as I’m on the thing you would think I love it but that’s just not the case.  All I have to say is, thank the good Lord for Netflix because I would die of boredom at the local YMCA.  I will say I would rather run on the treadmill than not run at all and most the time it’s my only option to get in some miles because of daycare at the gym (thank the Lord again).  I have been known to have a little ADHD while being on the treadmill, I cannot stay on the same speed for longer than 2 minutes and I get bored easily.  So here is a fun, as fun as a treadmill workout could be, for you to try to keep your workout interesting and your heart rate up.
5 minute warm-up

6-8 rounds
1/2 mile run @10k pace
10 burpees
15 push-ups
20 jump squats
25 leg lifts
30 mountain climbers

*Please don’t hold on to treadmill when you run or walk, there are no handles when you walk/run outside in the real world…BIG pet peeve of mine!

I know we all hate burpees but I honestly think it is the best body weight exercise that you can do.  This one movement works your arms, back, core, legs and butt…how amazing is that!  For this workout you just need a timer (set at 1 minute intervals) and probably a pen and paper to write the workout down so you can follow it as you go.  This is a 30 minute workout and you can do it anywhere, no gym equipment needed.  If you can’t do finish 1 or 2 minutes of a movement thats okay, jog in place to keep your heart rate up or take a rest if you need to and get back at it as soon as you can.  Yay for Burpees!

Oh my Burpee

2 min. of  jumping jacks
2 min. of burpees
2 min. of side plank (1 min/side)
1 min. of burpees
1 min. of walking lunges
1 min. of lunge pulses (30sec./leg)
1 min. of burpees
1 min. plank hold
1 min. squat jumps
2 min. burpees
1 min. walking lunges
1 min. lunge pulses (30 sec./leg)
1 min. burpees
1 min. push-ups
2 min. burpees
1 min. plank hold
1 min. 2 feet lateral hops
2 min. burpees
1 min. leg lifts
1 min. burpees
1 min. lunge pulses (30sec./leg)
1 min. bicycle abs
1 min. burpee
1 min. plank hold

Holy, I seriously feel like my life never slows down. I’m having a hard time finding a moment to sit to write a blog post but I’m going to make a goal to write 3 times a week (don’t let me slack). I have some really fun workouts and delicious recipes that I’m excited about sharing; so stay tuned.

I talked a little bit about a 21 day challenge that I participated in back in December. It was over a few days before Christmas and man did I ever indulge during the holidays but I enjoyed myself. You have to live a little and be flexible with your diet otherwise you tend to fall off the wagon when you never cheat and honestly what a miserable life to never indulge.  During the challenge there was a contest and we were asked to submit a picture of what makes us feel like a superhero and I won!! I submitted a photo of my 5 kids and I on the podium at the New Jersey Spartan Super where I placed in the elite division for the first time. It is always exciting to win something and there were so many wonderful and flattering comments that I got for being a mom of 5 and still being able to train and do well in races. Thanks to all that voted, it truly means the world to me and I appreciate it.

Anyway on to the workout, it was from yesterday and was a workout that a friend (Todd Davis) did and suggested I try, so of course I did it and in my freezing gym aka garage (ugh I hate being cold). Wow, what a workout!!! My arms were definitely shaking but thankfully I’m not feeling the extreme soreness that I felt last time I did one of his DEATH workouts 😉  Try either one depending on your fitness level and good luck!

WOD
2000 jump ropes
250 push-ups
200 v-ups
100 dips
100 Kettlebell (KB) swings
100 box jumps
100 wide push-ups
50 pull ups
50 wall balls

Time 47:02 (I had to do modified push-ups after the 2nd round)

Modified Workout
Round                 1   2   3   4
Jump Rope        50/50/50/50
Push-ups           25/25/25/25
Dips                   20/20/20/20
V ups                 25/25/25/25
Kb swings          25/25/25/25
Box Jumps         20/20/20/20
wide push ups   15/15/15/15
Burpees             10/10/10/10
Jump Squats     15/15/15/15

*this workout is to be done in 4 rounds working down the list so 50 jump ropes, 25 push ups, 25 v ups, ect. If you don’t have a jump rope you can modify doing jumping jacks, you can use one or two dumbbells if you don’t have a kettlebell, and step ups can be done instead of box jumps.

This is my loot that I won from the challenge; a 30 day complete nutrition vitamin pack and a water bottle from PurePharma.

Sorry for being absent lately, had lots going on with the holidays, family, and traveling.  It’s now the new year and time to be better than last year!  I can’t wait to see what this next year brings; I have high hopes but can’t imagine how it can top 2014.  My AMAZING husband gave me the coolest Christmas gift I’ve ever received…a season pass to Spartan Race and a trip to the SoCal Spartan Super and Sprint in January (he’s the best).  I’m going solo which kind of scares me but definitely gives me the motivation to go there and work for a spot on the podium, since there won’t be any distractions.  I’m hoping to make the podium at least one of the races.                                                                               No rest for the wicked…I started 2015 with some great workouts and I’m going to continue to work hard to make this year one to remember.  Happy New Year to you all and keep being awesome!

Workout
200 meter sprints x6 (30 second rest)
800 meter run x4 (1 minute rest)
Hill Sprints x6 (walk down hill for rest)

WOD
4 rounds
25 burpees
20 walking lunges
15 sit-ups
10 Clean & Jerk (65#)

*If you don’t know what a clean and jerk is you can google it or you don’t have weights, you can substitute it for Jump Squats.

My sister-in-law is here visiting from Switzerland and we decided to try a workout that a friend had posted on Facebook.  It was a ton of upper body exercises (pull-ups, push-ups, dips, burpees, curls, press, kettle bell swings, ext.) and a ridiculous amount of reps (100 to be exact).  So yesterday and today have been quite miserable; I enjoying be a little sore so I know that I worked hard but not like this…ugh (thanks Todd).  I don’t know when the last time my arms were this sore but its is making life difficult!  Since my arms are unable to straighten completely or I can’t lift anything heavier than my one year old, I decided I should do a workout that targets my legs and booty.   Hope everyone has an amazing holiday, Merry Christmas!!

So here’s a chipper workout, it’s called a chipper because you chip away at each exercise, it’s a goodie!!  These for sure are one of my favorite types of workouts; they usually are a little longer of a WOD but I feel like I get a whole body workout and they are always a super sweat session!  Wow I use a lot of exclamation points, I must be excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Happy hump day!

I hope everyone is getting ready for the holidays, I know I’m extremely busy getting prepared.  This is my favorite time of year though, there’s so much to do especially when you have 5 kids.  It makes Christmas time so magical with kids; Santa, elf on the shelf, decorating the tree, cookies, Christmas lights.  I seriously dread the day my kids stop believing in Santa 😥  I know with all the busyness of the holidays its easy to make excuses or get off track but try to make it a priority to exercise for at least 30 minutes 4 days a week.  Sticking with it will make all those weight loss New Year’s resolutions that much easier!  Try this workout, if you don’t have a bar bell you can always substitute the hang cleans for a bodyweight movement, such as burpees or push ups.  It definitely gets harder as the time ticks down.

Warm-up
1 mile run

Strength
2 reps every 30 seconds x15
Power Snatch 75#’s

WOD
Set timer for 16 minutes
3, 6, 9, 12, 15….
sit ups
hang cleans 75#
Walking lunges with 25# overhead

*I found this workout from LC Valley Crossfit Facebook page