Summer Workout Playlist

I wrote this post earlier but somehow missed the critical “press publish” step. Derp. 😉

Since I’m off work on Mondays, it always feels like a nice relaxing day, but this week is even more fun because the Pilot took some leave. He has 90-something days, and while he obviously can’t use them all -how dreamy would it be for him to take 3 months off?!- it’s nice to have have random staycation days together.

We’ve done some lingering to-dos around the house (stuff I would never choose to do on my own, like organize the pantry) and had an awesome date night together at Acacia.

Menu

This morning, he made breakfast for the fam, and I made some homemade coconut milk creamer since we were out.

Coffee  1 of 1

This means I poured some light coconut milk out of a can into a Mason jar, and added vanilla extract, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Silly easy, and I have no idea why I haven’t done it before. I love store-bought coconut milk creamer, but don’t always love all the ingredients for a daily thing.

Coffee  1 of 1 2

Lunch was an amazing turkey wrap (brown rice tortilla, horseradish sauce, pickles, spinach)

Wrap  1 of 1 2

and an entire batch of kale chips, shared with the Pilot.

Kale chips  1 of 1

We’ll probably spend the rest of the day running errands, have tortilla soup for dinner, and challenge each other with the pull-up bar because we’re lame cool like that. He still beats me but I’m determined to get close 😉

I did something out of the ordinary for me the other day: I worked out, on my own, at home. Usually I prefer to workout at a gym or do a DVD for a few reasons: I have minimal equipment (a pull-up bar and a stability ball), and the only chance I have would be naptime, which is when I work on the computer or clean up around the house. If it’s not a teaching day, I’ll work out at night, which isn’t my fave, but a time I can fit it in my schedule. It’s worth it to me to make it work, so I just get in a workout when a get the chance, even if it’s only a shortie.

But last week, Liv surprised me with a 3-hour nap, so after I finished taking care of some things, I decided to get in a little strength.

Here’s what I did:

Superset 1: Pullups and pushups

Superset 2: Lunge and squat jumps

Superset 3: Side plank with knee tuck and mountain climbers

I finished it with a 4-minute plank. I’m not sure what came over me -usually working out at home sounds like the worst thing ever- but this summer playlist may have had something to do with it.

Summer workout playlist

Do you ever work out at home? Here are some of my favorite at-home fitness options.

What’s your favorite local date night spot? I always recommend Cafe Poca Cosa for date nights– it’s the best.

Hope you have a wonderful night <3

xoxo

Gina

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37 Comments

  1. Diana on July 30, 2013 at 12:18 am

    love the playlist!

    those kale chips look delicious. i haven’t made any in a very long time, maybe it’s time to give it another go. 🙂

  2. Olivia on July 30, 2013 at 12:21 am

    Do you keep the coconut creamer in the fridge / does it harden up? I’ve always had difficulties with that and it would be awesome if you have a special trick. Looks delicious! 🙂

    • Fitnessista on July 30, 2013 at 12:23 am

      it’s in the fridge now and seems to be doing ok!

      • Fitnessista on July 30, 2013 at 12:24 am

        i just realized why. i used the light coconut milk- the full fat one is still in the pantry! works great, though 🙂

        • Kaycee St. Pierre on July 30, 2013 at 7:15 am

          I have found that even if you do use the full fat stuff, if you blend it well with something else (such as vanilla/maple/honey/dates/anything really) it doesn’t solidify in the fridge 🙂 All the extra “particles” must stop the fat from sticking together!

  3. Leslie Wingate on July 30, 2013 at 12:34 am

    Coconut is WAY better than almond in coffee. EWWW.

    • Fitnessista on July 30, 2013 at 12:43 am

      that’s why i used it 😉

  4. Hillary | Nutrition Nut on the Run on July 30, 2013 at 1:00 am

    #2 & 3 are my current fav workout jams!

  5. Christina @ The Beautiful Balance on July 30, 2013 at 1:28 am

    I am easily sold on any and all things coconut related, and that coconut creamer is no different!

  6. Ksenija @ Health Ninja on July 30, 2013 at 1:40 am

    that playlist is perfect! I always search for new workout music since I also tend to use my playlists while taking walks, so they get old pretty soon. thanks for the inspiration!

  7. Christine@ Apple of My Eye on July 30, 2013 at 1:54 am

    I love #thatpower and Clarity! They have such a great beat to them :).

    I also usually don’t prefer working out at home since I enjoy making the trip to the gym and having separate “me-time” over there!

  8. Lucie on July 30, 2013 at 3:02 am

    Love Alex Clare!! Well actually, I love the whole playlist.
    When I am in my home in Zurich (I have another one in Basel, Switzerland), I love to work out at home, as it is nicely equipped with a bench and barbell, spinning bike, dumbells, TRX and stability ball. It’s nice if I don’t feel like going to the gym!

  9. Mila on July 30, 2013 at 4:39 am

    You know how sometimes bloggers write “I put cinnamon in my coffee this morning” and inevitably some reader will comment/ask , “can I have the recipe?” Well, I’m sorry to be that person about the coconut creamer, but really – can I have the recipe? The proportions are really throwing me off! To one can of coconut milk you add… 1 TBPS cinnamon?

    **sorry! but it sounds delicious! 🙂

  10. Jodie on July 30, 2013 at 5:42 am

    I like both working out at home and at the gym. I use Rex weights DVDs balls bands jump rope I also have a reformer and exo chair etc

    Please I would love to know which brand coconut milk and brown rice tortillas you use? Thank you

    • Jodie on July 30, 2013 at 5:44 am

      Trx not Rex:)

  11. Brittany on July 30, 2013 at 6:28 am

    You should check out this recipe for coconut milk creamer! It’s pretty awesome

    http://followingmynose.com/2010/10/a-primal-non-dairy-coffee-creamer/

    • Yvonne on July 30, 2013 at 10:24 am

      Oh! Thank you for linking this! I’m going to try both. Says it stays good for a whole week! I have been using the coconut and almond milk blend but it isn’t strong enough..

  12. Rebecca P. on July 30, 2013 at 6:35 am

    Unless I am doing Group Power or Spin I always workout at home. I have a huge double rack of dumbbells, A Barbell and plates, Stability Ball, etc. I don’t have a lot of room but I have made it work and love my makeshift gym space…which happens to be my room!

  13. Kelly @ Kelly Runs for Food on July 30, 2013 at 8:15 am

    In our old house we had a spare bedroom that I turned into a home gym, complete with elliptical, mirror wall and tv. It was so nice to have a personal gym! Now that we’re in a smaller house I can’t work out at home, but I do miss it sometimes!

  14. Chelsea @ RunChelseaRun on July 30, 2013 at 8:47 am

    Ever since doing the Whole30 I came up with a different way to drink my coffee and now that I’m back to normal healthy eating without all of the restrictions I am still rocking the homemade coffee creamer. It makes the coffee more of a mocha.

    -3 teaspoons of coconut milk from the can
    -2 teaspoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
    -1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
    -spice it up with a little coconut extract, peppermint extract, cinnamon or lately I’ve been adding a pinch of pumpkin pie spice

    So yummy and so much better for you than those store bought creamers with a myriad of different ingredients that are unnecessary. One can of coconut milk lasts me an entire week and weekend so it’s perfect!

  15. Catherine on July 30, 2013 at 9:10 am

    For 10 years I strictly worked out at the gym. But, now that we have a nice spot in the basement I have cancelled my gym membership and only work out at home. I have all the basic equipment required (dumbbells, kettlebells, jump rope, etc) and love using my own workout creations, workouts from different iTune apps, DVDs and a few months ago I became a member of fitnessglo (life changing)!!

  16. Kelly on July 30, 2013 at 9:22 am

    Wow, sounds like that workout playlist is doing wonders for you, I’ll have to give it a try!

  17. FitBritt@MyOwnBalance on July 30, 2013 at 9:26 am

    Your playlist looks a lot like mine right now! I love having the opportunity to take some time off with my husband as well! He’s got a ridiculous amount of leave saved up and we are hoping we can both take some time next week. Sounds like you guys had a really nice day!

  18. Kristin on July 30, 2013 at 9:53 am

    I enjoy working out at home. I feel like I can do tough workouts and not look like an idiot like I would at the gym. When I go to the gym I either do the stairs or run. But at home I have a ton of great dvds I love. Also I like do follow along with the free you tube videos like the tone it up girls or body rock. Or else I print out workouts that you post and rotate with everything else.

    Thanks for posting the coconut milk creamer recipe. I don’t know why I never thought of using that. I just opened a can the other day & used some in a smoothie. I will totally use the rest for coffee creamer.

    By the way, I made that recipe last night for the no bake cookies you posted. AWESOME! I didn’t have any maple syrup so I used a little honey instead. I almost ate all the batter. Had to force myself to put the spoon down!

  19. Becky on July 30, 2013 at 9:54 am

    I had your serious cereal this morning for breakfast and loved it ! I added a 1/2 banana smashed up to the “dough”. yummy. How much cinnamon to your creamer? That sounds so good!

  20. queenoffitness on July 30, 2013 at 9:56 am

    I love working out at home, although I have a membership to our local YM as well. I have a spin bike, BOSU, dumb bells/kettlebells/bands, a jump rope, a reebok step bequeathed from my mom and stability ball in our basement workout area along with a tv/DVD. I enjoy going to the Y to use the treadmills & ellipticals (which are located in front of huge windows there) but honestly my house is my favorite place to exercise. Maybe because I don’t have children but I can blast my music as loud as I want without damaging my ears & have space to move around. I use a combination of body rock, zwow’s (…too bad they aren’t free anymore, sad panda face), and magazine routines from self/fitness/shape. I have a workout binder w/the magazine routines and I have them divided by body part (for instance, legs, arms, total body, etc) so I just flip to that section & pick what i’d like to do on any given day.

  21. Haley on July 30, 2013 at 10:38 am

    I haven’t made kale chips in a while! I need to bring them back! (:

  22. Emily @ The good era on July 30, 2013 at 11:02 am

    Such a great idea for coconut creamer! I never thought to do that either and LOVE the so delicious brand but agree about the ingredient list. Thanks!

  23. Julie @ Better Life with Burgers on July 30, 2013 at 11:19 am

    I love a good at-home workout, but a lot of the time I find that I work harder at a gym (probably because I’m aware that other people might be watching me–how vain I am!). But I think it’s good to mix things up so I don’t get bored with the same routine, even in terms of where we are.

  24. Sarabell on July 30, 2013 at 11:29 am

    I don’t drink coffee but I always used to like to put flavored creamers in my hot chocolate. Perhaps I’ll make a coconut milk creamer this winter!

  25. Amber on July 30, 2013 at 11:34 am

    I absolutely DESPISE working out at home. I have dumbells, a stability ball, and even wii fit, and STILL can’t get myself to do it. It just doesn’t feel right–like an ill-fitting outfit, if that makes any sense…it makes me uncomfortable and squirmy. KUDOS TO YOU!

  26. Bella on July 30, 2013 at 11:42 am

    My few attempts at kale chips NEVER turn out like yours look in that photo. LOL.
    Thanks for that great playlist – I’m going to use it for tomorrow morning’s workout.

  27. Meg @ A Dash of Meg on July 30, 2013 at 5:39 pm

    so cute that you and the Pilot have pull up comps! I LOVE THAT!

  28. char eats greens on July 31, 2013 at 8:48 am

    I think kale chips are on plate today – figuratively and literally ;). I always do at home workouts just because it’s easier than driving across town to the gym/hubby’s work. BUT, when he does offer to watch our baby while I work out, I’m all for driving there!!

  29. Liz @ LizzieFit on July 31, 2013 at 10:18 am

    Hey Gina,

    How long does your homemade coconut creamer keep in the fridge?

    Thanks 🙂

    • Fitnessista on July 31, 2013 at 11:09 am

      i looked around online and a few sources said 1 week

  30. Kathleen on August 5, 2013 at 1:19 pm

    I made some of your creamer…love it!

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