Not only is it a Sunday, it's Labor Day weekend! You're probably sleeping in, relaxing, or going to the beach.
The last thing on your mind is working out. But it's Day two of the Ab Challenge ...so what do you do?
Play calming music.
Find a spot on your floor, and lay down. Stretch your arms above your head. Stretch and hold. Breath in, breath out. Slowly. Inhale. Exhale. Then put your hands behind your neck. Put your feet on the floor, your knees will be bent.
Slowly - SIT UP! Do this 15 times for three different sets!
When your done, lay there still and inhale...exhale. Close your eyes. Inhale. Exhale.
And then, PLANK!
When your done...go out and enjoy your day!
Other ways to have fun with doing sit-ups, challenge your friends. If you're at a party, this could be a cool drinking game. Play a song, do some sit-ups and the one that does the least has to drink!
If your watching sports of any kind (football, baseball, racing, golf, etc) see how many sit-ups you can do during commercial breaks.
HAVE FUN and BE SAFE this weekend!
Showing posts with label #SweatPink. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #SweatPink. Show all posts
Sunday, September 02, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
A runners journey!
On Tuesday, I attempted to face my biggest workout obstacle: running hills. I have to say that I hate running hills.
Actually, I've always hated to run anywhere for that matter. Of all my years of exercising, I would do any other kind of athletic activity that did not involve running. I tried to play softball when I was a teen, and I even played the 'catchers' position to avoid running. But, I hated running so much, I had to quit softball. I just did not like having to run from one base to another; especially when the batter hit a homerun and I was on first base. That was a hell of a run for me.
So how did I go from hating to run, to loving it and not being able to go a day without a short run?
Four scores and seven years ago..JUST KIDDING! I had to throw in some joke in there.
Living in Boston, you are surrounded by runners. Especially marathon runners, naturally I met a few people that inspired me to run. Still hesitant and reluctant to run, I just did what I could do on the treadmill. One Boston Marathon Monday I went to watch some of the race. I stood at the 25 mile mark and I was so inspired, I had tears in my eyes. What a feat to accomplish. Yet, it wasn't enough to get me running. No matter how proud I was at my friends for accomplishing a 26 mile run, or a half marathon, a 10K or a 5K...I was not going to join them.
In March of 2008, my niece died. The only time I felt peace was when I exercised. I would walk around Lake Quannapowit almost every day. I even brought my bicycle out for a few rides. Sometimes I would Rollerblade around the lake, but I never ran. I might have tried to sprint or jog from time to time but I never got myself to actually run.
That summer I moved out of Massachusetts to live with a man in a small, unknown town in Upstate, New York. The closest well known city was Albany. I felt lost, lonely and miserable and I wasn't sure how to fix my mistake (the mistake was my moving out there). I didn't want to be there, that and the pain of my nieces death was still fresh- as was the pain of losing my favorite job. I joined the YMCA and it was the only place I felt sane, complete, content, peaceful. I would lift weights, take cardio-kickboxing classes, swim and then...I tried to run around the indoor track they had. It was the only thing I could do to keep myself focused on my life. I needed to find a way to enjoy my relationship with my then boyfriend, and I needed to find a way to be happy to live in a small town.
For anyone who has ever lived in the city and moved to small town knows that the difference is big. It was a hard transition for me. I was used to public transportation- I was used to walking everywhere I went. That was impossible to do in 'small town Upstate, NY.' I had to drive everywhere and it sucked. So ...taking up running a few times around an indoor track is what I did. I started to love running...and when I moved out of town, I didn't quit running. I kept running and running.
In October 2010, I ran my first 5K and loved it! I've been living in a small town that could possibly be considered a small city...and there are so many sidewalks and places to run. Training here is easy and I love it, especially since I run along side a lake sometimes. Other times I run in a beautiful neighborhood with gorgeous mansions.
In October 2011, I ran the same 5K in Charlotte and I ran slower than the first time. I was disappointed. So I set a goal to run the 2012 5K in less than 30 minutes. Now...I want to finish it in less than 25. I'm pretty ambitious. When I set my mind to something, I go for it. I know there are some facts I need to face about running this 5K in less than 25...but I feel like I can do it. The course is a bit different this time, and it's a bit flatter then the last two years...so that makes me feel more confident.
I am not the fastest, or the best runner. I feel like I have bad run times often but I don't care I'm running and I feel good when I'm done. I love how good I feel, how energized I get when I'm done with a run. I love how running is me time...and it's also fun time. I'm hoping to run a 10K in the next year or two and I hope to run a half-marathon in the next four years...just the fact that I believe I can do it is an accomplishment.
Now ... bring it!
Actually, I've always hated to run anywhere for that matter. Of all my years of exercising, I would do any other kind of athletic activity that did not involve running. I tried to play softball when I was a teen, and I even played the 'catchers' position to avoid running. But, I hated running so much, I had to quit softball. I just did not like having to run from one base to another; especially when the batter hit a homerun and I was on first base. That was a hell of a run for me.
So how did I go from hating to run, to loving it and not being able to go a day without a short run?
Four scores and seven years ago..JUST KIDDING! I had to throw in some joke in there.
Living in Boston, you are surrounded by runners. Especially marathon runners, naturally I met a few people that inspired me to run. Still hesitant and reluctant to run, I just did what I could do on the treadmill. One Boston Marathon Monday I went to watch some of the race. I stood at the 25 mile mark and I was so inspired, I had tears in my eyes. What a feat to accomplish. Yet, it wasn't enough to get me running. No matter how proud I was at my friends for accomplishing a 26 mile run, or a half marathon, a 10K or a 5K...I was not going to join them.
 |
| Best running shoes! |
That summer I moved out of Massachusetts to live with a man in a small, unknown town in Upstate, New York. The closest well known city was Albany. I felt lost, lonely and miserable and I wasn't sure how to fix my mistake (the mistake was my moving out there). I didn't want to be there, that and the pain of my nieces death was still fresh- as was the pain of losing my favorite job. I joined the YMCA and it was the only place I felt sane, complete, content, peaceful. I would lift weights, take cardio-kickboxing classes, swim and then...I tried to run around the indoor track they had. It was the only thing I could do to keep myself focused on my life. I needed to find a way to enjoy my relationship with my then boyfriend, and I needed to find a way to be happy to live in a small town.
For anyone who has ever lived in the city and moved to small town knows that the difference is big. It was a hard transition for me. I was used to public transportation- I was used to walking everywhere I went. That was impossible to do in 'small town Upstate, NY.' I had to drive everywhere and it sucked. So ...taking up running a few times around an indoor track is what I did. I started to love running...and when I moved out of town, I didn't quit running. I kept running and running.
In October 2010, I ran my first 5K and loved it! I've been living in a small town that could possibly be considered a small city...and there are so many sidewalks and places to run. Training here is easy and I love it, especially since I run along side a lake sometimes. Other times I run in a beautiful neighborhood with gorgeous mansions.
In October 2011, I ran the same 5K in Charlotte and I ran slower than the first time. I was disappointed. So I set a goal to run the 2012 5K in less than 30 minutes. Now...I want to finish it in less than 25. I'm pretty ambitious. When I set my mind to something, I go for it. I know there are some facts I need to face about running this 5K in less than 25...but I feel like I can do it. The course is a bit different this time, and it's a bit flatter then the last two years...so that makes me feel more confident.
I am not the fastest, or the best runner. I feel like I have bad run times often but I don't care I'm running and I feel good when I'm done. I love how good I feel, how energized I get when I'm done with a run. I love how running is me time...and it's also fun time. I'm hoping to run a 10K in the next year or two and I hope to run a half-marathon in the next four years...just the fact that I believe I can do it is an accomplishment.
Now ... bring it!
Monday, August 27, 2012
30 Day Ab Challenge
I will be hosting a 30 Day Ab Challenge starting September 1st, 2012 for anyone (guys and gals) wanting to participate.
To participate you must follow these simple rules.
1. Have fun!
2. Be nice to yourself and remember this is for you- this is your time!
3. Do not compare yourself to other guys and gals, not now, not ever! You will torture yourself if you do this and that's not okay. Respect yourself.
4. Every body type is different and will respond differently to an exercise. Make it work for you.
5. Please be pro-active and respond to me. Let me know how you're doing and if you're enjoying yourself.
You can participate for the full 30 days or you can participate when you can, however, remember you get what you put out.
Regardless of what your goals are, and what your body type is like, you'll never have flat abs if you only do sit-ups. It's important to do a variety of exercises that you enjoy doing.
Do cardio at least 3 times a week. Cardio includes:
a. Zumba and Dancing
b. Cardio kickboxing
c. step aerobics
d. running - walking
e. vigorous and speed swimming
f. cycling
Other forms of exercise:
g. Yoga
h. Pilates
i. weight lifting
j. sports games like baseball, football, etc.
The challenge will work like this:
Please let me know if you're also training for a special event, what ever that may be. I am training for my third 5K race that's going on this October 14th. If you're in Charlotte, I'm encouraging you to join me! It's with Kasey Kahne and the Kasey Kahne Foundation for the third annual "Kahne 5." Please check out the website for detailed information and registration.
I will post a video of me doing an ab exercise, and each day you try to do that one for 3 sets of 15! Remember, this is a challenge. To make it harder, your second set of ab exercise will be the one you did the day before. So at the end of this challenge, you should be able to do 30 different types of ab exercises!
Other ways to succeed at reaching your ab goals is to eat healthy every day. It takes 30 days to create a good habit, so let this be your first 30 days to living a healthier lifestyle! Drink a lot of water, eat tons of veggies and eat fruit. You should also include a protein and unsaturated carbohydrates in 3 of your meals a day.
Please leave a comment if you want to do this and I will keep in touch with you. Fun ways to stay in touch is on twitter. You can follow me at @C_Genevieve. Starting now, you can use hashtag #30daysofabs!
Also let me know if you're a Sweat Pink, Fit Approach ambassador!
 |
| Day 1 |
1. Have fun!
2. Be nice to yourself and remember this is for you- this is your time!
3. Do not compare yourself to other guys and gals, not now, not ever! You will torture yourself if you do this and that's not okay. Respect yourself.
4. Every body type is different and will respond differently to an exercise. Make it work for you.
5. Please be pro-active and respond to me. Let me know how you're doing and if you're enjoying yourself.
You can participate for the full 30 days or you can participate when you can, however, remember you get what you put out.
Regardless of what your goals are, and what your body type is like, you'll never have flat abs if you only do sit-ups. It's important to do a variety of exercises that you enjoy doing.
Do cardio at least 3 times a week. Cardio includes:
a. Zumba and Dancing
b. Cardio kickboxing
c. step aerobics
d. running - walking
e. vigorous and speed swimming
f. cycling
Other forms of exercise:
g. Yoga
h. Pilates
i. weight lifting
j. sports games like baseball, football, etc.
The challenge will work like this:
Please let me know if you're also training for a special event, what ever that may be. I am training for my third 5K race that's going on this October 14th. If you're in Charlotte, I'm encouraging you to join me! It's with Kasey Kahne and the Kasey Kahne Foundation for the third annual "Kahne 5." Please check out the website for detailed information and registration.
I will post a video of me doing an ab exercise, and each day you try to do that one for 3 sets of 15! Remember, this is a challenge. To make it harder, your second set of ab exercise will be the one you did the day before. So at the end of this challenge, you should be able to do 30 different types of ab exercises!
Other ways to succeed at reaching your ab goals is to eat healthy every day. It takes 30 days to create a good habit, so let this be your first 30 days to living a healthier lifestyle! Drink a lot of water, eat tons of veggies and eat fruit. You should also include a protein and unsaturated carbohydrates in 3 of your meals a day.
Please leave a comment if you want to do this and I will keep in touch with you. Fun ways to stay in touch is on twitter. You can follow me at @C_Genevieve. Starting now, you can use hashtag #30daysofabs!
Also let me know if you're a Sweat Pink, Fit Approach ambassador!
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