12/10: Meals and fitness for the week + holiday workout songs
Considering how bad I felt after my last half, my legs are feeling pretty good(ish) today. We’ll talk tomorrow, though: the official test of post-race soreness.
Thank you so much for all of your awesome comments on the race. It feels good to know that I put myself out there, and while I didn’t run as well as I’d hoped, it’s NBD. There are a thousand races in the sea 😉
I’m looking forward to giving my legs a little break today and tomorrow to let them heal before teaching Zumba on Wednesday.
Here’s what the tentative fitness plan for the week looks like:
Sunday: Half marathon- done!
Monday: OFF
Tuesday: OFF
Wednesday: teach Zumba (45 min)
Thursday: Weights and HIIT (45 min total)
Friday: Easy cardio (30 min or so)
Saturday: Weights and teach Zumba (20 min weights, 45 min Zumba)
Realistically, I’ll likely end up skipping the Saturday weights and/or have extra teaching classes in there. It’s always nice to have a plan, but things usually change or get shuffled around. There’s also a Friday 5k running through the lights at Winterhaven, so depending on my teaching schedule, how my legs heal and life, I was thinking it would be fun to take Liv and push the jogging stroller.
As far as meal planning goes, I’m a day behind this week and not sure what we’re doing yet. I have a pesto pasta dish planned for tonight, but am going to hit up TJs after I figure out what to make for the rest of the week. I’m taking a meal tomorrow night to a family who just had a baby, and Wednesday night is a Christmas party girls’ night, so I’m excited to try out a few new things. Let me know if you have any ideas!
During the race yesterday, I strategically placed some holiday workout songs in the mix to give me some extra pep. It worked! When I heard Trans-Siberian orchestra at the end of my playlist, I knew I was almost there.
When I was Googling holiday workout songs, I was pretty bummed out by the tempo of the songs I’ve found. I also have to admit that I’m pretty tired of the N Sync and Jessica Simpson stuff. Please don’t be mad. I also like my workout music to be uptempo for the most part. “Silent Night” isn’t gonna push my workout buttons.
Here’s a little list of some of my favorite holiday workout faves:
“Sugarplum” Bond
“Last Christmas” Cascada
“Love Like Winter” AFI
“Christmas Tree” Lady Gaga
“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLaughlan
“Run Rudolph Run” Cee-Lo Green
“Carol of the Bells” The Festival of Rock Orchestra
“All I Want For Christmas Is You” Glee Cast
“Wizards in Winter” Trans-Siberian Orchestra
“Christmas Wrapping” The Waitresses
“My Christmas List” Simple Plan
“Jingle Bells” Brian Setzer Orchestra
“Christmas Eve / Sarajevo” Trans-Siberian Orchestra
“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” Weezer
Cool down: “Cold December Night” Michael Buble (swoonmaster extraordinaire)
Playlists like these make me REALLY miss teaching spin. Putting together themed playlists was always so much fun.
Do you like working out to holiday music? Any awesome songs that I missed?
What’s on your fitness plan for the week?
Hope you have a very happy Monday. Don’t forget to set a goal for the week and go after it!
xoxo
Gina
You might also like:
45 Comments
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Thank you for the holiday themed playlist! I’m planning to use one in my interval classes over the next few weeks, but was feeling a little bored and meh with the one I’ve used for the last couple years. This is great!
Some of my other “go to” holiday workout songs are:
– Everybody Knows the Claus or What Christmas Means to Me, Hanson (yup)
– Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire, Christina Aguilera
– Rockin’ Hanukkah, Billy Sherwood
– Run Rudolph Run, Brian Adams
– Deck the Rooftop, Glee Cast
– Better Do It Right, Smash Mouth
I saw these cookies yesterday that look so good! Flourless too 🙂 http://www.delightedmomma.com/2012/12/flourless-chocolate-chunk-pecan-cookies_10.html
Also, I think these drinks would be so fun for a girl’s night! http://www.brit.co/holiday-cocktails/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=holiday-cocktails
Love the fun playlist. I always get disappointed that I have to follow certain tracks and playlists for my spin classes cause I think it would be so fun to make up my own!
I love finding new upbeat tunes to keep me motivated and/or distracted during a workout! 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration, can’t wait to check out these songs.
Thanks for this playlist! I usually don’t listen to holiday music when I workout but the artists on your playlist sound like it would be a good one!
TOTALLLLLLY agree with you on the Jessica Simpson and Nsync overplayed-ness and getting exhausted of hearing it… thanks for posting what you like, i’ll try to download some!! I love new stuff, esp Christmas music!! Post your pasta recipe when you make it, I need a new one! 🙂
I don’t think I’ve ever worked out to Christmas music. I agree on needing something upbeat with a good tempo. Silent night seems best reserved for a yoga cool-down. 😉 Thanks for the great playlist!
Thx Gina, I was just about to look for holiday songs, that’s very helpful.
A couple other favorites:
Joy (to the World) – Avalon
O Holy Night – BarlowGirl (don’t knock this one until you hear it, they kick the tempo up quite a bit. Not traditional at all!)
Winter Wonderland – Avalon (again…don’t disregard until you hear it…they gave it a 1940’s swing vibe. So fun)
I put together a holiday playlist together oday too! Must be that season… 😉
Oh, I love love holiday music, great playlist!
Oh, I love love holiday music, great playlist!
I love Christmas music but have never worked out to it. I’ll definitely give that a try soonest!
Some of my favs:
-Merry Christmas, Baby ~ Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
-Santa Baby ~ Madonna
-Santa Claus is Bank in Town ~ Elvis
-God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen ~ Jethro Tull (really great version!)
-I’ve Got My Lover to Keep Me Warm ~ Kay Starr
-‘Zat You, Santa Claus? ~ Louis Armstrong
-Christmas in Hollis ~ Run DMC
My fitness plan for the wee is to do something…anything! I’m very good about working out but I haven’t done any exercising in about 2 weeks. I used to be one of those people who turned my nose up at people who couldn’t find time to workout. Well, no more. I understand now. Life has seriously been happening over here. Between carwrecks and funerals and a teething baby…I have had no time to workout. And the 5 minutes I do find, I just want sit and do nothing.
This week is going to better. It HAS to be!
I’m loving dine-in December. My hubby is too. I used to cook all the time and then it just kind of stopped. When I told him about this challenge he asked me if I remember where the pots and pans are. Haha What a sweet guy. I must say though, I’ve done pretty darn good so far. He’s even cooked with me!
I can so relate to this:) Thanks for the playlist Gina!!!!!!
I’ve also been jamming out to Christmas tunes at the gym the past few weeks. I highly recommend:
Elton John, “Step into Christmas”
John Mellencamp, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”
Tom Petty, “Christmas All Over Again”
Vince Vance, “All I Want for Christmas is You”
Holiday in Your Heart – Leann Rimes
It’s cold (14 degrees) and windy here but I’m hoping to get at least 1 good run in along with my usual weight training.
Great playlist! I had no idea there were so many great Christmas songs for working out to.
Oh my god Gina, you NEED to check out “PTXmas” by the Pentatonix. It is seriously the best Christmas album I’ve heard probably EVER. These five people are so insanely talented it makes me ill, but happy at the same time because I get to enjoy their music! Here’s a link to their carol of the bells:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSUFzC6_fp8
Glad to hear you’re feeling ok! That’s awesome. Fitness goals for the week are to continue my half marathon training and fuel appropriately!
You are definitely missing “Grandma got run over by a reindeer”. Up-tempo and so random that it makes me laugh everytime.
gina, i love your blog! what kind of capris are you wearing in that pic – i love that detailing,
thanks!
Hey Kim:
I asked the same question a while ago. They’re the Sugoi Jackie knicker. Got a pair and really like them.
thanks hilary! they’re in the washer and i couldn’t remember the deets to save my life 😉
glad you like them!
Thanks for sharing the info a while back – appreciated it!
You should try “River”–for a soulful stretch/ yoga session. It’s an old Jonie Mitchell song–but Sarah Mclachlan does a cover that is haunting and beautiful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2t9J4YBI_0
Cute pic of you and Livi!!
Ps. Lady Gaga has a Christmas song?!
I love the holiday themed playlist. It makes me super stoked for Christmas coming up! I’ve really been considering taking teacher training for spin, because the teacher lately hasn’t been totally doing it for me. Lots of hills everytime, as well as very mellow music. And I need some sprints and upbeat music to make the class pass by faster! Plus my Mom was a spin teacher, so I already know a lot about it.
Nice!! I love making playlists for my yoga class, but for spin you really need music that pumps you up! I mean no offense to other mothers, and say this with no expectation to those who have gone through a pregnancy…but you look amazing!! I know that the stress of pregnancy, birth, and caring for a child can take a toll on your body, but you look fabulous!
I would rather listen to holiday music while I bake or mosey around the house doing chores. I leave my workout music alone for the most part since I don’t want to OD and get burnt out on Christmas tunes. 🙂
Meals/snacks this week on our end include: roasted butternut squash soup, turkey meatballs on spaghetti squash, crab cakes, sweet potato wedges, creamy cauliflower/kale/asparagus soup, homemade pizza!
My workout schedule: Mon> 45 minute body attack & body pump class Tue> off Wed> Heavy squats & chest sesh Thur> body attack or HIIT Friday> lunges/shoulders/biceps/back Saturday> Step or Walk Sunday> TBD
Will be downloading all of those later, thanks!!
Also, just got a TJ’s near my house!!!! When I was browsing the aisles all I could think was “Gina talks about this, and this, and this!!”
I’m currently sipping on some Candy Cane Green Tea. De.Lish. Thanks for the recommendation!!
I only recently started taking spin (um, maybe one month ago?) and TOTALLY appreciate how amazing the instructor is at putting the music to what we’re doing in class – it’s seriously a fine art!!! I bet you’d be tops at putting together playlists, Gina! oh, and since I’m a little behind, congrats on the half! who cares if it was a record slow – you beat the rest of us couch potatoes by 13.1 miles! haha…
Made this for dinner last night and it was DELICIOUS
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/11/pasta-with-butternut-sauce-spicy.html#more
Super easy and healthy too!
What a contemporary Christmas playlist! I can tell you are experienced at these things!
haha thank you- i love making playlists
It’s true. Running 13.1 miles at any pace is still better (and faster) than not running any. Thanks for the playlist!
STEP INTO CHRISTMAS – ELTON JOHN.
it is SUCH A FUN SONG!!! You will want it on replay and get re-energized each time you listen!!!!!!
Justin Beiber – Little Drummer Boy and All I want for Christmas is you (SUPERFESTIVE MIX) are great songs, I always want to zumba to Little Drummer Boy 🙂
Can’t believe I misspelled his last name – the horror! Bieber!
i just call him the beebs haha 🙂
I agree! It’s shockingly hard to find upbeat Christmas songs! I had to kick a lot of people off of my playlist last year because they were crooning. Not during my workout you won’t! LOL I was on Spotify for over an hour finding some new stuff this year! Here’s part of my list
All I Need is Love – CeeLo Green f/the Muppets
All I Want for Christmas (SuperFestive!) – Justin Bieber & Mariah Carey
Dear Santa (Bring Me a Man This Christmas) – The Weather Girls (HUH-FREAKING-LARIOUS!!!!)
Drummer Boy – Biebs f/Busta Rhymes
Jingle Bells – Bublé
Jingle Bells – Natalie Cole
Joy to the World – Natalie Cole (upbeat!)
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! – Ella Fitzgerald
Merry X-mas Everybody – Steps
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Ella Fitzgerald
I love this idea of a Holiday workout playlist! Thanks for sharing! I can’t wait to check them all out! 🙂
Thanks for the cool Christmas tunes- I’ll have to update my Christmas playlist 😉 Good job on the run!
Nice, I love your playlist. Will have to follow you on Spotify. Here are some of my winter / holiday playlist additions:
“Merry Christmas” Face to Face
“I won’t be home for Christmas” Blink 182
“Christmas Wrapping” Save Ferris
(I like punk rock) 🙂
I love everything about this playlist, and the comments. I am making my Spotify playlist as we speak! 🙂