Category Archives: exercise

July 20, 2009 · 4:00 PM

Guinea Pig on the Treadmill

Song Lyric of the Day:

Face to face, out in the heat / Hangin’ tough, stayin’ hungry / They stack the odds ’til we take to the street

Survivor / “Eye of the Tiger“

So what was the highlight of the weekend? If you ask Rich, he would say that it was when I asked him to create a workout routine for me. See, he’s been on a big fitness kick lately (which is paying off) and last month he even took a course taken by licensed personal trainers. Turns out he’s been dying for me to ask for help in the workout department. As you know, I’m an intermittent exerciser (I have a great playlist, though). Today I mailed him my fitness wish list to help him start planning my workout regimen:

  • toned arms, improved upper-body strength (think Madonna only far less frightening)
  • stronger back (see above)
  • FLAT abs, preferably a six-pack
  • strong, lean legs that will result in …
  • … a higher, firmer ass
I really want to tone everything up. I still fit in and wear my honeymoon bikini and also still fit in clothes I bought back in high school and college (quality threads, one and all), but I could certainly look –and feel — a lot better in them. Besides, I finally splurged and bought a cool new skull bikini at Target to mix things up a bit, and I want to look really good in it. Am I willing to work really hard to get in the kind of shape I hope to be? You bet your ass. Never underestimate the power of vanity.

For a starting reference point, I’ve been told (and I like to agree) that my body type is very Milla Jovovich (pre-baby, at least). We’re the same height and have the same basic shape: not a lot up top but long and lean. Of course, she’s far more toned than I am. A lot more toned than I am. Like she could kick my ass in her sleep toned. You get the idea.

So now my fitness fate, as it were, is in my spouse’s hands. It’s a good place to be, and I know he’ll come up with a great workout regimen for me. I’m fully aware that if I’m going to get back down to my birth weight, I’ve got a long, hard road ahead of me. And as long as Rich doesn’t make me swear off pasta and pizza forever, we’ll be alright.

Image courtesy of a Google search that landed me on 1416 and Counting.

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January 27, 2009 · 8:11 PM

Faves: Workout Playlist Songs

Song Lyric of the Day:

When I come through on the dance floor checkin’ out that catalog / Can’t believe my eyes, so many women without a flaw

Lady Gaga / “Just Dance“

If you follow my Twitter stream at all, you’ll know that today I had very sore arms. Why is that? Because I’m trying to get back on track with my workout regimen. So last night’s overhead tricep extensions did a number on my upper arms. My abs are also feeling a bit sore today; I’m now up to 90 crunches, working my way back up to the 150 I used to do daily.

It’s not easy going, but I’m seeing results, and the spouse is seeing results, so that’s providing some good motivation. What really helps motivate me throughout my workouts, though, is a fun, fast-paced playlist. Here are my top 10 current favorite songs to listen to while working out.

“Give It 2 Me” by Madonna
She may be looking a bit scary these days (ahem), but this song gets my vote for favorite song on her album Hard Candy.

“Strict Machine” by Goldfrapp
This is a slightly slower song — although not by much — but it’s got a smooth, ethereal beat that’s great for establishing a pace when on the treadmill.

“Chelsea Dagger” by the Fratellis
Flat-out fun, much like the whole album Costello Music, one of my all-time favorites. These Scots know how to rock.

“Feeling So Real” by Moby
This is one of my all-time Moby faves, which also has a prominent place on my techno-centric workout playlist. Among the faster tracks on my playlist, I usually listen to this when I’m at my max speed on the treadmill.

“Ready Steady Go” by Paul Oakenfold
This is the song that makes me want to fly down the highway when driving. I blame The Bourne Identity.

“Song 2” by Blur
What do you need when you’re working out? A chorus of “woohoo” urging you on.

“Cobrastyle” by Teddybears
Used in countless TV promos, this song is as catchy as they come. Even if you can’t understand a lot of the lyrics.

“Setting Sun” by the Chemical Brothers
Noel Gallagher’s vocals helped make this the Chemical Brothers’ first number one song, kicking off a productive partnership that yielded other favorites, including “Let Forever Be.”

“We Are Rockstars” by Does It Offend You, Yeah?
This reminds me a bit of Daft Punk’s “Harder Better Faster Stronger” thanks in part to the synthesized vocals. And I admit — I had to track this song down after hearing it in the trailer for the new Fast & Furious movie. (See bonus video at the end of this post if you haven’t seen it yet.)

“Great DJ” by the Ting Tings
I love how the choreography in the video is so laid-back; it’s a nice contrast to how fast-paced the song is. Which is one of many reasons I love listening to this (among other songs by the Ting Tings) when working out.

*Here’s the trailer for Fast & Furious. Paul Walker’s so pretty. That’s all. He’s pretty. Really, really pretty. Sigh.

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January 12, 2009 · 2:59 PM

This One’s Going Out to Caren in Colorado

Song Lyric of the Day:

Will you find a time / When you’re not online / Standing all alone / Where’s your real friends now? / You have let them down / You’re a download pal

Does It Offend You, Yeah? / “We Are Rockstars”

The bright, shiny new year deserves an update, don’t you think? Okay, there’s that, but really I’m tired of being harassed by my family and closest friends to update ye olde blog here. That’s right – people I talk to daily and/or on a very frequent basis. Apparently I’m most entertaining to them via the written word. Which I can live with.

So where the hell have I been? Well, I’m that rare bird who, after working online all day, gets home and doesn’t even want to look at a computer, much less get online again. Which means that since I last updated I’ve managed to hold onto my title of Queen of the Started-Yet-Unfinished Post©. Some of those posts, mostly started over the holidays, may see the light of day. Some, well, eh. We’ll see.

Auntie Pasta* With a Side of Unkie Rich*
Rich and I are enjoying the hell out of being aunt and uncle to Elliott. Little dude is now four months and one week old; he’s got two teeth and is thisclose to sitting up on his own. He’s also a hefty little dude, wearing baby clothes sized for six-month-olds. At the rate he’s growing and developing, he should be driving before his first birthday.
*The names my sister, Elliott’s mom, has christened us with.

Double the Trouble
Not only are we enjoying being aunt and uncle to Elliott, but Rich and I are also very excited and eagerly anticipating – wait for it – meeting our other new nephew in a few months. That’s right – my other sister is pregnant with a boy, Stephen (named for her late godfather). We look forward to twice the fun and years of “We didn’t do it” denials from both boys.

Getting a Wii Bit Fit
In addition to getting back into a semi-regular workout routine (Rich has done much better than I have), we’ve been enjoying the Wii Fit I gave Rich for Christmas. While not a perfect substitute for real, non-videogame-console-assisted workouts, it is still a decent workout nonetheless. My only real complaint (other than sore abs after hula-hooping) is that my Wii Fit Age was wayyy older than I actually am. Or than I thought my “fit” age would be. The good news? Based on my Wii Fit Age, my AARP membership card is probably already on its way to me.

Dining In
Rich and I have decided 2009 will be the Year of Eating In. As in we’ve drastically cut down on eating out and are brown-bagging it most of the time. We’ve done this for a couple of reasons: (1) The tendency to over eat due to restaurants’ ridiculously large portions and (2) an economy slipping into the toilet faster than Lindsay Lohan’s career. We also realized that a lot of our disposable income is spent on eating out. Oh, and the fact that we tend to choose entrees that are not always the healthiest options on the menu. Alright, I tend to choose entrees that are not always the healthiest options on the menu. (Lord knows I love me some buffalo chicken with blue cheese dressing.)

So them’s the haps these days. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to enjoy time not spent on a computer.

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