I’m so excited…I finally signed up for CrossFit!  I haven’t gone to a real CrossFit box (gym) since I lived in Hawaii in 2012, I’ve just done my own thing at home.  I forgot how much I missed working out with a group of people, the camaraderie, and the encouragement you get from fellow CrossFitters.  I had my ideal day of training on Friday, I went to CrossFit and lifted heavy shit in the morning and then later in the day I was able to get in a 5 mile run.  Now if I could do that several times a week; I would be lean and mean 😉  This workout was one that I did earlier in the week when I was stuck at home with the kids.  It’s a good one!

WOD
5 rounds
20 burpees
30 squats
20 sit ups
10 kb swings
5 stair sprints w/ kb

I’m looking forward to the days where I can workout/race in less layers; where there’s less  snow and more sunshine!  For now I will just have to look at pictures.

It’s winter break here in Mass., the last thing my kids need are more days off, so it’s a week of me trying to keep my kiddos busy and the house in order.  With the kids being home it’s nearly impossible to get to the gym during the day, since they don’t have child care for the older kids, so lots of home workouts for me this week!!  I kind of like staying home, it means I can workout in my sports bra, my pajamas, and I don’t have to wear shoes.  This is a great workout for home, you will need an interval timer set to 1:00 and a jump rope.  Tip of the day, make sure you have an empty bladder 😉 haha

1 minute/movement
jump rope
mountain climbers
jump rope
low plank
jump rope
burpees
jump rope
push ups
jump rope
squat jumps
jump rope
side planks 30 sec/side
jump rope
split lunges
jump rope
wall sit
jump rope
high plank
jump rope
sumo squat
jump rope
burpees
jump rope
walking lunges
jump rope
bicycle crunch
jump rope
squats
jump rope
burpees

*pictures of some of the movements that you may not know

low plank

side plank

switch lunges, start in a lunge position, jump up switching your legs and landing with your opposite leg in front.

sumo squat

high plank

So my husband goes to a Crossfit box and always comes back with great workouts that I’ve never done before or simply forgot about.  Yesterday he did the WOD “Filthy Fifty” which happens to be one of my favorite WOD’s from Crossfit.com.  He also included what his time was so I had something/someone to compete against even though I was working out by myself…I might be slightly competitive 😉

Filthy Fifty
50 Box Jumps
50 Jumping Pull-Ups
50 Kettlebell Swings (I used 30#)
50 Walking Lunges
50 Knees to Elbows
50 Push Press (I used 45#)
50 Back Extensions (did good mornings w/ 45#)
50 Wall Balls (14# med ball)
50 Burpees
50 Double Unders

My Time: 20:43

*Modified Filthy Fifty
50 Box Jumps
50 Jumping Pull-Ups
50 Kettlebell Swings (If you don’t have a KB, use a dumbbell)
50 Walking Lunges
50 Sit-Ups
50 Push Press (can use dumbbells)
50 Back Extensions or Supermans
50 Jump Squats
50 Burpees
50 Jump Rope

Go out and do something that really challenges you, you will be surprised what your mind and body can do!

“If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.” -Fred DeVito

I’m getting really sick of snow days and delayed school!  I love my kids, don’t get me wrong, but I also like my routine and having a clean house.  Having 5 kids cooped up in the house all day because there’s a blizzard outside (they lasted a whole 20 minutes outside) will drive a momma crazy.  They are bored and hungry all day long, snow gear is hanging up all over the house to dry, Legos and toys thrown everywhere…I give props to those who home school their children, they are stronger than I.  There’s more snow expected here tomorrow and Thursday…I’m okay with it as long as my kids can go to school 😉

I constantly get asked the question “how do you find the energy or time to work out with 5 kids?”  I workout not only for my health but most importantly for my mental well-being, it’s such a great stress reliever and honestly I am a much better mommy after a good workout, just ask my kids 🙂  I often say, “I workout for my children’s safety” (haha it’s a joke, don’t worry my kids aren’t in danger). I hope you can use this workout to relieve whatever stress you have going on in your own life.

WOD
400 meter run
50 Wall balls 20/14#
40 Burpees
30 Squats 135/95#
20 Hand release push-ups
10 Chest to bar pull-ups
20 Hand release push-ups
30 Squats 135/95#
40 Burpees
50 Wall balls 20/14#
400 meter run

*remember you can modify or substitute any movement if needed

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.