Birthday Sweat
Hi friends! How are you? It’s almost the weekend!!
It’s also my little brother’s birthday 🙂 (<— I say “little”, but he’s 16)
One of my gifts to him:
A big ‘ol sweat spot!!!
Buahaha >:)
We went to the base gym last night, so I could walk around the track and read “Clean Eating” while he lifted weights, but when we got there he said “Do you think maybe you could train me?” I was so happy. My bro is an athlete (he plays baseball and basketball), so it was fun to push him a little 😉
Here’s what we did:
Shoulders, Chest, Triceps, Abs
1. 5 minute run to warm-up
Cardio blast: tuck jump into a burpee (For this one, you squat down, jump up and slap your knees and when you land, pop your feet back so you’re in a plank position. Do 1 push-up, bring feet back up to hands, squat down and jump again)- 20 reps
2. Circuit #1:
–Overhead press (15)
–Tricep dips (15) –bend legs 90* to make it easier, straight legs are more challening
-Repeat Circuit #1 2-3 more times
Cardio blast: 3 squat jumps (jump 3 times in a squat position) and 1 vertical jump (jump up towards the ceiling, with arms doing a mock basketball shot)- 20 reps
3. Circuit #2
–Dumbbell upright row (15)
–Push-ups (15)
–Medicine ball oblique twist (12 total) [to make it more challenging, cross your ankles and lift your feet off the ground)
-Repeat Circuit #2 2-3 more times
4. Ab Challenge
-50 sit-ups
-50 crunches
-25 reverse crunches
Stretch
*follow with cardio if you would like. We did 20 minutes of speed walking/jogging
* as always, check with a doc before making any fitness changes. If you try it, let me know what you think!
Some recent eats:
New Cocomama Quinoa Cereal
My friends at OpenSky sent this to me to try and honestly, I was a little skeeved to try it because it looks like astronaut food. The idea behind it is great, and I love quinoa for breakfast, but it was pretty nast.
Brown rice toast with mustard and tempeh bacon
(The secret to crispy tempeh bacon: using a decent amount of oil to cook it)
and today, quite possibly the queen of all b-fasts.
Egg-stada with two green corn tamales and green salsa. When my mom handed me two fresh, homemade tamales wrapped in foil the other night, my heart swooned. I <3 being in Tucson.
I washed down the tamales with one of the brownies from yesterday, just to make sure they were still good 😉
Speaking of brownies..
thank you SO much to all of you who entered my impromptu brownie giveaway <3 I loved reading your comments and it sounds like ya’ll could definitely use something sweet in your day. There was one particular comment that really stood out to me, and that many of you “voted” on, which was so cute. Here are some of the comments you left:
and the lucky winner herself:
Holy amazing, right? Way to use this deployment to accomplish so much in such a short amount of time. It’s hard enough for me, and I just have a puppy- I can’t even imagine with toddlers. Jessica, you are a rock star and I would love to send you some brownies 🙂 Shoot me an email (fitnessista at gmail dot com)
Well I’m off to get some work done <3
Have a lovely day and I’ll see ya later this afternoon!
xoxo
Gina
Something to do: OpenSky followers, check your email for today’s Himalayan Salt Lamp promo 🙂 I’ve had mine since last fall and LOVE it. It has a beautiful soft, warm glow:
Something to think:
61 Comments
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Wow, Jessica sounds like an absolutely amazing gal! Congrats to her and happy birthday to your little bro, Gina!
Congrats to Jessica, she definitely needed those brownies!
We have a salt lamp like that one & just love it. Makes for a great atmosphere in any room in the house. <3
I love everything about this post. Gina, you rock.
Happy Birthday, Fitnessista Brother!
Jessica’s story really puts the “challenges” in my life into perspective! I hope she enjoys her birthday brownies 🙂
those brownies look so good. I hope she enjoys them!
Stay strong girl!
I like the 10 steps on how to have a lovely day, its all so true and it works!
How sweet about Jessica!! I am so happy she got the brownies, she deserves them!!! S amazing!!
Happy B-day Fitnessista Brother.
LOVE the circuit! Looks very similar to how I design some of my clients circuits! Awesome!
Quinoa cereal…looks good…nast? Thanks for saving me cause I would of totes went for it!
Great pick for the giveaway winner!
Congrats to Jessica on the brownies I hope they bring a little smile to your face!! I love the 10 steps to a lovely day! Gonna start on it now by putting on some perfume.
Jessica totally deserves those brownies! Your little bro and I have the same birthday 🙂 Thanks for the workouts on the bloggy blog, it always gives me new circuits for my lifting days!
happy birthday!!!
Congrats Jessica!!
Wow! Thank you! Gina, I send you and email, but just wanted to say thank to all of you for the sweet comments. You all have put a big smile on my face today 🙂
Also, I promise I know how to speak correctly…excuse the out of control typos in my comment. In addition to brownies, it looks like I need some more sleep!!
that is quite an epic egg dish
Jessica totally deserves the brownies!
Happy Birthday to your little bro! Your workout sounds intense. Anything with cardio blasts and I’m in!
Congratulations Jessica!!!!! I think she definitely deserves it!! That is so cute that your little bro asked you to train him Gina. Sounds like you gave him a great workout!
Aww, love the last thing. I need to do 1, 4, 10 and I’ll be set!
Great circuit workout! I’ll be copying this 🙂 I’m so glad people commented on Jessica’s post – she totally deserves it!
YAY! Glad Jessica won those brownies… she def needs them!
Yay! I’m so glad Jessica is getting the brownies! <3 Jessica, if you're reading I hope the brownies/winning make you feel better. And happy late birthday!
Congrats, Jessica! Keep up the great work!
I agree, Jessica deserves the brownies! I will just have to attempt my own! And happy Birthday to your little brother!
Love your “How to have a Better Day” list! I may have to share that one!
Awww I’m so happy Jessica is getting these brownies! Jessica if you’re reading keep your chin up! Thanks to you and your husband for going through what you do for the rest of us. (I hope that makes sense!)
Congrats, Jessica. 🙂 And Happy Birthday to your broski!
Wow I’m going to be doing your Shoulders, Chest, Triceps, Abs circuit for sure Monday which is my upper body day =D thank you for posting that!!!! I wish I could get as creative with my workouts *sigh*…
Congrats to Jessica!
I’ve had a salt lamp for a long time, and I love it! Natural air purifier, and gives any room a funky Fraggle Rock vibe 🙂
I’m dying for a good strength workout – this looks killer! And that list is so true…love the “wear perfume” bit. I always feel sexier when I’m wearing a good fragrance!
what a sweet story jessica definitely deserves those amazing brownies 🙂
I’m so happy Jessica got those brownies. She really deserves them. Happy birthday to your little bro! I definitely do those things everyday, except maybe slow down. I’ll start working on that.
Gina!
Thank you soooo muxh for the weight workout. I was just thinking how I need to do more weights but I hate it! I dont want to take a class or do a dvd. I just want to do something quick at home. Im pritning this out and am going to try to do it at least 2x week! thanks again!
Great circut! Tucks into burpees…killa!
Think I’ll add that to the menu!
🙂
Aw, wow! I love that you’re sending the brownies to Jessica – you are the sweetest!! 🙂
I love the “How to Have a Lovely Day” blurb! It’s so true!
Congrats to Jessica, she really deserved those brownies!! 🙂
Ana
Happy birthday to your baby brother!! And thank you for posting that chart on how to have a great day- they’re all so true!
I ordered one of those lamps Gina! I saw it and HAD to get it. Right up my alley. 🙂 Thanks!
Congrats to Jessica! She definitely deserves them 😀
TAMALES. Oh how I LOVE tamales!
And great pick on the brownie winner! Enjoy, Jessica!!
Yes, Jessica needed those brownies. 😉
My husbands b-day is today too! Happy bday to your bro. Great wrkout indeed.
BTW, guess where I just had an amazing breakfast…URTH Cafe, I thought of you, I had the best granola and coffee and spilt a scone. 🙂
Congrats to Jessica, and yes, very deserving of them!
And happy bday to your bro! 16 wow….driving and on the roads. That’s a big milestone bday.
Glad you guys got in a great workout and thanks for your honest review of the cereal. Love that you are honest and keep it real girl 🙂
Awwww that girl Jessica deserves those brownies and a crown! She is awesome! What a amazing woman for sure!!! Happy she won!
Loving the gift to your bro for his birthday, kick your butt workout, best gift ever!
xoxo <3
Yay for Jessica…she sounded like she needed them most!
The workout sounds fierce. I’ll be copying it down for later 🙂
Hi Gina! My name is Michele and I’ve been reading your blog for about a month now and never commented before! I teach about 11 fitness classes a week ranging from weight lifting to cardio kickboxing at Oklahoma State University. I just wanted to let you know I’ve been using some of your exercises in my own classes and they have been a HUGE hit! (I recommend this website as well to alot of my participants!) I used a similar workout to your brother’s in my bootcamp class today and it was awesome! Unfortunetly I couldn’t try the brownie recipe b/c I’m a broke college student and can’t afford the ingredients…but it looks AMAZING! I love reading your blog!
p.s. Congrats to Jessica! I love success stories
-Michele
ohh that is so sweet that other bloggers voted for Jessica! The blogging community is so wonderful! 🙂
That workout looks great I can’t wait to try it after my half marathon next week! 🙂
I love the “how to have a lovely day” image….all of the ideas are so true!
Love those lovely day comments!
Lately my shoulders have been complete bricks. I don’t feel like I am working them more then usual.. actually less because I am training for a race and have cut back significantly on weight training for the last 2 weeks. When I do train.. they are tight and sore when I put up my first set! 🙁
Happy Birthday to your bro!
I did all those things and had a loverly day! Except I DIDNT wear perfume because I was auditioning for Hair~~~~ dirty hippie I was! (I like haven’t shaved all winter either! TMI? Oui!)
Do you have two bros?
four
holy begesus
Ever since reading the title of this post, I can’t stop singing ‘birthday sweat’ to the beat of jeremiah’s “birthday sex” song! haha
awww glad jessica won!! it’s nice pilot wives have you to relate to in terms of these things 🙂 and big props on those lovely day tips!! 😀
Happy birthday little brother!
I’m glad that Jessica won the brownies. You’re an inspiration, jessica!
It looks like that brownie is going to a very good place 🙂
Woah your brothers only 16!? He looks so much older 😮
Oh and guess who else get to do Operation Golden Flow…. Me haha.
Definitely need to try that tempeh bacon it looks delicious! 🙂