Baby, man and creature
Flowers
vino
and a pizza picnic with three valentines (a baby, a man and a creature). How lucky does a girl get? 🙂
Hope that you had a fabulous night, too!
This morning’s bfast was one of the usual suspects:
(egg puff sandwich with greens, goat cheese and hummus, with strawberries and tea)
I can’t believe I forgot to blog about this yesterday morning, but my pleasantly sore hammies just reminded me: I finally got the chance to try a Winter Shape Up workout the other night!
I always like to test out workouts before I post them, but with my pregnancy and recovery process, I’ve had to treat the things I post more like I would personal training sessions- get an idea of what I’d like to do and wing it from there. It was so much fun to try a workout that I’d already created and posted, instead of going through the process at the same time.
So Monday night, the Pilot chilled with snoozing Livi while I went to the gym for a little while. It felt so nice to clear my mind and sweat a little, even though I did hear phantom crying a couple of times 😉
Workout of choice was the Week 2 workout with a few modifications:
-jump roping instead of mountain climbers
-no pullover crunches (it’s best to avoid crunching motions after having a baby to give the abdominal muscles a chance to fully heal – TVA, aka transverse abdominis, exercises like plank pose are ok. If you crunch too soon, it could increase the chance of diastasis recti- separation of the abdominal muscles, which can sometimes require surgery)
-taking the HIIT a little easier than I normally would- it was more like traditional interval training than HIIT.
While I was working out, there was an older man in the gym busting out plyo moves the entire time. He was like a jumping bean! It made me think about when I first got into plyo and explosive cardio blasts and how apprehensive I felt about doing them in the weight room… I’d always go in the side aerobics room to do BodyRock workouts. Here’s the thing, though: at the gym, everyone is too worried about their own workouts to care about what you’re doing. Unless you’re jumping plyo man- then I just think you’re hardcore.
Are there any exercises you avoid? I used to think hip raises were slightly inappropriate, then I got over it 😉
Hope you’re having a wonderful day and I’ll see ya later with a Family post.
xoxo
Gina
Zumba song of the day: An old flamenco fave
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Ha! We frequently do hip raises with our TRX bands at the gym and every single time I feel like it’s inappropriate. But not enough so to keep me from doing them. 🙂
I love your valentines – baby, man and creature. 🙂
lol I used to feel weird doing hip raises too! I still do when I pause at the top and pulse
; )
love your Valentine’s also! Can’t wait to try this workout!
i completely agree about the hip raises!
my roommate and i decided to give bodyrock a try and ended up bursting out laughing at ourselves and each other about two minutes in. we stick to the privacy of our own rooms now. plus, i get a way better workout when i can focus on getting insanely sweaty in an insanely short time span!
Haha, I definitely used to think hip raises were inappropriate but I got over that, too 🙂 I have to admit that I’ve been considering trying out the rowing machine for quite awhile (and I semi-creepily observe people using it to figure out correct form) but I’m kind of intimidated and apprehensive to try it out in front of everyone at the gym. And the way my gym is set up, the rowing machines are right at the front of a semi-circle of cardio and weight machines.
I LOVE David Bisbal and that song reminds me of studying in Spain 8 (yikes) years ago. That dude on the far left (when the video is paused) was my professor! He danced in David’s video and taught us all the dances from different Spanish music videos. Best semester of my life.
Emily–where did you study in Spain? I just spent last semester studying in Barcelona! I am totally going through Spain withdrawls.
In response to the exercises I avoid—I can’t for the life of me do more than 2 chin-ups or pull-ups, so I only do them when there are “wimpy” guys at my University’s gym who I know won’t make fun of me 😉
I studied in Sevilla. I get very nostalgic every January and February since that was the beginning of my semester there. The withdrawls will never end–you’ll always cherish that time!
I’ve always felt odd doing hip raises in class. But you kind of get used to many odd exercises when you do yoga…especially in a crowded room, ha! Lots of body parts in your face…from all angles!
Haha hip raises…in dance we called them butt ups. I now have my trainer calling them butt ups too.
I hope your first V Day as a mom was wonderful!
I absolutely hate regular old crunches, so instead, I do planks and other non-crunch ab moves. I hear they’re more effective anyway. 😉
Aw it sounds like you had a wonderful Valentine’s day with the people you love!! And those flowers are beautiful– the Pilot did a good job! Ohh and your wine glasses are SO cute! Love the etching!
I totally avoid bridges at the gym. Even my boyfriend can’t keep a straight face when I do them, never mind the strangers at the gym who think I’m humping air!
I’m knee deep in a BodyRock challenge and I ALWAYS go to the gym when the studio is open so I’m not jumping and flailing in front of everyone. I’m trying to tell myself that it’s because there is so little free space in my gym, but really, I just don’t want all the crazy looks.
I HATE trying new exercises out at the gym without someone who knows what they are doing to correct me. I watch your video links over and over before I try and exercise because I am petrified of looking stupid at the gym. I know no one is really watching me, but I pride myself on being an athlete and never want anyone to think anything else of me. Egotistical I know, but that is one of my big gym phobias.
So, thanks for providing the tools to keep us from looking like fools! 🙂
Those winter shape up workouts are a killer! I’m going to move on to trying out the week 2 exercises sometime this week. I’m taking things slow, but I can tell my muscles are getting stronger.
Looks like a great date night! And I totally hear ya on the hip raises – I always just feel… wrong? Awkward? Not quite sure what the word is but they definitely do KILL the glutes! 🙂 Have a great afternoon Gina!
What a beautiful bouquet of roses!! Looks like you had a great V-Day 😀
I used to avoid frog stretch unless I was in the dance studio or in a hidden corner of the gym. Now I just got business end to the wall and let people be perverts in their mind if they need to be.
The other night there was an older gentleman practicing running and jumping. Carrying his cane. He looked like he was getting ready for a long jump.
Ha! I always feel that way about hip raises, but they hurt so good that I do them anyway. It’s one of my favorite moves!
I usually stick to what I know at the gym and venture outside of my comfort zone at home. I hope your family post references that wine and breastfeeding 🙂 A topic I’m dying to know more about.
I was curious too but a glass is processed by the body fairly quickly. I’ve been told a drink is ok, getting drunk is not (which would be irresponsible anyway, w a little one to take care of)
Good to know! I’ve been told by some people that no matter how much alcohol you drink, you have to “pump & dump”. I didn’t think a glass of wine was worth that. I haven’t really done too much research on this myself.
they actually have breast milk testing strips now! you can pump and then test your milk to see if its safe for baby….not to be abused and drink a whole bottle of course, but ya know, for the apprehensive Mom that isn’t sure about a glass or so.
Glad you had a nice VDay with your family.
I avoid stretching the tops of my quads. Anything that I tuck/fold my legs under me, i.e. certain “runner’s stretches” and then stretch or virasana (hero pose) in yoga…ekkk. I have the tightest quads and I know I have to stretch them but I do avoid it..working on it, though!
Man, baby & creature? That’s a complete Valentines day celebration!! 🙂
Sending loads of hugs to Livi, all the way from Florida 😀
My husband just built some pylo boxes for us to do at home and I was scared to death to try them but now I love it!! It’s such good cardio! And hip raises are awesome!! Kinda inappropriate but do wonders, my husband thinks I’m nuts when he sees me doing them : )
Aw I love hearing about older people still hopping around in the gym like a young’un! I want to be like that when I’m older!
Wine and flowers and your loved ones = sounds like a great Valentine’s!
hip raises are especially inappropriate/funny when very pregnant. Like a teen mom version of showgirls.
being that i’m a yogi and not a gym person i’ve gotten way over the “woah is this inappropriate”…somewhere around my first happy baby haha. but oh my, once you’re up at the top of the room teaching…well, that happy baby is a little bit more terrifying.
We had a Valentines Day picnic too!!! SO fun and a lot easier with a baby!! 🙂
Hahaha, I love so much that you used to avoid hip raises! You are literally the cutest person alive. I used to be SO SO SO bad at plyo jump moves, I don’t know what it is but my body just does not like to jump! I have been doing insanity though, and so I have improved! Yay.
This makes me realize that I pour way too much wine in my glass. lol
Happy Valentine’s Day! <3
I LOATHE burpees and mountain climbers, but I love how out of breath and spent I feel after!
David Bisbal… I melt. 🙂
right? que caliente 🙂
I love the Zumba songs you post, usually it’s something I haven’t heard before and I fall in love with it.
I used to avoid making loud panting noises in the gym. You know, when doing HIIT intervals in the treadmill you do huff and puff quite loudly. Then I got some sound exclusion headphones and couldn’t hear myself. So, no problem… 😉
haha if you can’t hear yourself, then it’s not really happening, right? 🙂
Haha, depending on what I decided to wear to the gym I avoid certain exercises. For example if I don’t wear biker shorts under my running shorts, that limits by ab related exercises!
Hi Gina,
I know you did a post awhile back on what books you read during pregnancy, but I can’t seem to find it. I’m nearing nine weeks, so its time to start reading! Can you link me to it? Thanks so much!
Here ya go- congratulations! http://fitnessista.com/2011/06/the-birth-team/
Beautiful flowers 😀 And good job on that workout!
So glad you had such a happy Valentine’s Day! Those roses are beautiful! <3
Funny you mentioned you’re taking it easy on intervals for now. I just read this article about HIIT: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/15/how-1-minute-intervals-can-improve-our-health/?src=me&ref=general
Sounds like you don’t have to go all-out to get the benefits (at least according to this study). Would be interested to hear if you agree or disagree!
At the gym I stick to the cardio machines. However, I enjoy doing the more unique stuff with lots of jumping and me looking crazy at home (usually following an exercise DVD). I just feel much more comfortable and free-er at home.
I avoid the Turkish Get-Up. It just attracts too much attention, and people start asking questions. I do them at home now, before I go to they gym.
that’s an awesome exercise, too!
That sounds like the perfect Valentine’s Day! Those roses are beautiful. 🙂
I avoid chin ups at the gym… but only because I can’t reach the bar haha. 😀
Your zumba jam of the day made me think of this: I finally had to give up running about 5 weeks ago so I’ve been missing getting that amazing feeling after a super intense workout….nothing else does it quite like running. I’ve been to some Zumba classes in the past, but as you’ve mentioned, the teacher totally makes or breaks it and I was never super impressed. I decided to take the 6 month baby bump to a different, highly recommended class and WOWZA. I’m in love. This teacher looked like she was straight out of a Pitbull video haha….UHmazing and so much fun (maybe its way more fun with a bump?). 🙂
What a wonderful Valentine’s Day! I love keeping it low key. 🙂
i always avoid high knees! they kill me! but im starting to make myself do them!
I too am interested in drinking wine and feeding. I’ve heard in europe they even drink 1 wine a day sometimes while pregnant. I think about this a lot as we make a huge deal about it in the u.s. but other countries dont worry about it in the same way.
Hey Gina,
I want to buy a dehydrator. What brand do you have? Do you like it or would get something else if you could?
Any information would be greatly appreciated!!! Thank you!!! 🙂
i have the excalibur 9 tray and love it!
What a sweet Valentine’s Day! I remember when I was wrong I thought the cat arch stretch thing where you stick out your butt was so–just wrong! LOL Now I love it because I feel so good from the stretch and just don’t care anymore.
Also, loving this song you attached! I attached a video in a recent post from the Fast & Furious 5 movie I think it was. Love love it! You should check it out 🙂