Sun’s Out, Guns Out Arm Burner
Hi! How’s your day going? Excited for the weekend?
Last night, I had a fun blog friend date. A lovely lady by the name of Rachel G., who has been leaving awesome comments on the blog for years, told me she was going to be in San Diego. So I did what anyone would do: picked her up and took her to my new Zumba class 😉
(Please excuse my creeper eyes. I never know where to look for selfies haha)
Zumba was AMAZING; probably the best first class scenario I could have had. Usually when I sub, or pick up a new class, I don’t expect any participants. Word gets around that the usual instructor won’t be teaching, or people aren’t yet aware of the new class/time. Also, many don’t want to risk valuable workout time with new instructor that they may not like. (I totally get it; if I knew my favorite instructor wasn’t teaching, I would likely find another option, too.) So Rachel and I showed up at the gym, I saw a handful of ladies in the basketball court and figured that would be it. Nope! I had 16 ladies and one guy! Even though it’s definitely quality over quantity for any fitness classes, I thrive off group energy, so the more the merrier 🙂 I’m teaching on a basketball court with no mirrors, which is eerily reminiscent of my Valdosta Zumba days. Back in the day, I taught in a racquetball court and packed over 50 ladies in there like shimmying sardines. Here, I’ve definitely found my new Zumba home.
Hanging out with Rachel was a blast. It’s always fun to meet someone you feel like you’ve known for years and put a face to name. We had an awesome vegan feast at Native Foods after class.
(That dessert case, though.)
I had the Bangkok Curry with tempeh instead of tofu + a side salad + a glass of red blend
(+ some of Rachel’s sweet potato fries)
It was a wonderful blog friend date 🙂
This week I got a request for a new arm burner, and while I didn’t get a chance to film a video with this week’s vacay, I put together a quick easy-to-follow circuit. Here’s the kicker: the moves are standard strength training moves, but this circuit includes tempo variations and static holds to fully fatigue the muscles. I promise it’s a toasty one 🙂 As always, modify as needed and check with a doc before making any fitness changes.
Let me know how you like it!
Combine into a full workout with:
-The above arm burner
Have you ever had a blind friend date? What about a blind date date?? I love hearing these stories 😉
See ya in the morning!
xoxo
Gina
New post on the Family page with some of the latest Livi-isms
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You guys are so cute! Looks like a really fun night! And congrats on the new class!! I need to make my way back to a dance cardio class! I miss it! Lately I’ve been doing my own thing and I should just get back to the studio and do it! It’s so much fun. For a while I was doing hip-hop cardio and also cheerobix–which is amaze! It’s basically hip-hop/ cheer routines–like what cheerleaders do at halftime games set to the latest pop/hip-hop music. We do it with pom-poms and it’s so much fun!
And yes–I have been on several blind dates. I’ve done a lot of online dating–still searching for my man–lol–and let’s just say they DID NOT meet my expectations–lol 🙂 I guess it’s very hit/miss–especially with online dating.
And just so you know–that Acai bowl with PB you just posted on IG has me seriously craving peanut-butter–like big time–ugghh 🙂
that acai bowl was probably the best i’ve every had!
and i’ve totally heard the same thing re: online dating.
This sounds like so much fun! I am totally drooling over your lunch – I’d take tempeh instead of tofu too! Since I started blogging 4 years ago, I’ve gone on several ‘blind friend dates’ and while I think I’d have found it a little weird before, I’m totally cool with it now! Excited to try this workout!
Where are you teaching? I live in PB-area and would love to attend a class!
send me an email and i’d love to send the details to you!
So fun!! Gahh every restaurant that you post abot in San Diego looks amazing!! Need to get to Cali ASAP!
so much good food here!
Hi! Thanks for the arm burner. I’ve been meaning to focus on upper body lately. With the long days and nice weather, I’ve been doing mostly running but need to get some strength in too. Also, where’d you get your Kale shirt? I love it! Did you cut the arms off or did it come that way? Thanks!
thank you! i got it at barre3 in tucson; the sleeves were already like that 🙂
This workout looks so awesome!!
I am a blind date success story as I met my husband on a blind date!!! We were introduced via an email from a friend of his who knew a friend of mine. We went snowshoeing (I live in Canada) and have been together ever since. We’re celebrating our one year wedding anniversary next month by running a race. 🙂
For the record, this was the third blind date after two disastrous ones. I guess ‘third time’s a charm’ is for real.
NO WAY! that is so cool
Thanks for the arm burner Gina! It’s fabulous and I can’t wait to take it on vacation with me! I have a great blind date story! I met a guy’s dad at the hair salon and he said I should date his son. I figured why not? His son went to the Naval Academy and the next weekend I drove down there to hang out with him and his fellow Mids. It was a blast! We went out and we ended up dating for 6 months after that. It was definitely an interesting 6 months with all of the new military things I learned and had to become accustomed to. Even though it didn’t work out, it taught me to trust in blind dates.
that is an amazing story!!!
OMG I would die to be your blog friend date! Ha! I tell people we would be destined to be best friends if we ever met. Creepy, maybe? True, yes. 🙂
no its okay me too Heather haha
we will hang out one of these days! (finally)
from your comments, i know we would be great friends 🙂
I have met other blogger friends before. It always feels a bit awkward at first because you feel like you know the person, but it’s your first time meeting them in real life. Once you get over that hurdle, it’s fun.
OMG…I cannot believe that part about you subbing. If people knew it was the Fitnessista, they would be there. I had someone stop me at a race recently & they totally recognized me but by my blog name. Give yourself credit lady!
hahah! thank you. i usually don’t tell anyone about my blog and was so shocked when my boss at the barre studio knew about it
That arm burner looks like a beast. Once my muscles heal from barre today I will have to give it a try. I have never been on a blind date but think blog dates sound like a blast!!
Awesome! I had the opportunity to meet one of my facebook followers. It feels good when you know you are causing a change in someone’s life. Your lunch looked good. Sweet potato fries yum and healthy 🙂
ugh, I want to lift heavy things so badly. saving these workouts!!
you’re almost there!!
I met my fiancé on a blind date! While I was getting ready for the date I definitely didn’t expect that to happen 🙂
I met my husband on my first (and last) blind date. I didn’t think I would be interested so I didn’t get dolled up as I should have, and when I walked in and chatted him my heart melted. We’ve been together 7 years! My philosophy is say yes to being set up, blind dates, and second dates bc the first date can be awkward.
I’ve never tried Zumba, but I really want to. I’ve actually been on a blind date before and it was horrid! I will never do it again. Worst of all my sister set me up on it.
I had a blind blogger vacation actually, Laura from Atlanta came to visit me in Switzerland and even stayed at my place – we only knew our blogs and emailed! It was perfect.
And yes, blind blind date too. Nice affair. That’s it 🙂
Do online dates count as blind dates? Since roughly 75 percent of the guys don’t look like their profile photo when you actually meet in real life…
that is so true!!!!
LOVE the circuit… I was just thinking I need to work on the guns tonight 🙂
Will try going up to slightly heavier weights… challenge time!
let me know how it goes!
Can you help me understand this workout? Do I do each move each time through the circuit? In other words, do I do 10 up right rows, pulses, and then hold or 10 curls, 10 right 10, 10 left 3 times?
gina — can i say how much you rock. your workouts are pretty awesome and helps me stay on track with all the various workout routines that you create! i hope that one day I do get to meet you just to give you a hug and workout with you one day!
i’m so happy to hear that! thank you so much and thank you for reading 🙂
I met my husband via online dating. I almost cancelled because I’d had some disastrous dates previously. But we had been emailing for a few weeks. My daughter and I had gone on a 35 mile bike ride that day and I figured, why not? I didn’t really care if he liked me at that point. So, we met at Starbucks a few hours after finishing our long bike ride, and we’ve been together ever since. We celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary last weekend!
Hi Gina! I love your blog and I had a question about how often to exercise: I’ve been a hard core, don’t miss a workout girl for a long time. Lately though I’ve felt pretty depleted, have had trouble sleeping, have put on a few pounds and get sick often. I looked it up and it looks like I’m exercising too often. I took a week off from weights but I’m not sure how to put together a better plan for myself. I love exercise and being active and feel better when I do but I seem to not be able to gauge how much is too much. Before I took a week off I was teaching two classes for seniors a week and then doing P90x3. P90x3 workouts are only 30 minutes so I thought that would be better for me but I didn’t feel well. I would really appreciate your thoughts on this! Is it possible that I should only do exercises like yoga and hiking? How can I tell what is good for me and what isn’t? Apparently my gauge is broken.
Thanks!
how often were you doing p90x3??
P90x3 is 30 minutes everyday. I usually had one day of active rest (walking).
I’m a certified yoga instructor and have been living regularly since 2008. I have a long history f being over taxes by my exercise whether it’s p90x or my own weights and cardio.
i would definitely take at least one day OFF entirely (no long walks or yoga)
maybe trying 3 days of p90x3 max or 3 days of lifting on non-consecutive days. for cardio, try short walks 5x a week.
it definitely sounds like your body is telling you need it needs the rest. since you’ve taken a week off, i would take one more week off and start again next week with very low key cardio and p90x3 or lifting max 3 times a week. see how you feel. if you’re still depleted and not feeling like yourself, talk with a doctor
Thank you!
Yay for you! Glad you found your Zumba home 🙂
Excited to try the workout. I was needing something new to do tomorrow morning. Thanks!
TGIF!!
Excited for a new arm burner!
I met my best friend on a “blind friend date” back in college. Her friend from high school and my sister were friends and set us up. I still remember walking across campus to meet up at the dining hall. Now it’s been 10 years…crazy!
I love new upper body workouts. I just tried a POPSUGAR one but I’m looking for a GREAT one to put in my weekly rotation. I’ll text this baby out next week!
let me know how it goes!
No blind friend dates, but I met my husband on a blind “date” date. (17 years and counting! 4 kids and no more counting…we are a full house!) Love the arm burner, will send pics of my quivering upper limbs…
Yeah I need something for my arms. I am really trying to incorporate weights consistently into my routine. I have always been a cardio queen and lift for a couple days here and there. I know I need to lift weights to get to where I want to be but it’s hard to change my mindset of needing 60 mins of cardio most days of the week.
Love the arm burners! I like doing them while I’m on the treadmill so I can kill two birds with one stone…well, obviously not push ups! Haha! 🙂
Oh, and I’m soooooo disappointed in the casting for Fifty Shades. I thought Christian was supposed to be blonde/blue eyes. I’ll still see it but I don’t think that guy is very hot.
he’s not as hot as i was anticipating, but still very nice 🙂
Yeah, I’m sure I’ll warm up to him 😉 just not what I was expecting. And I realized I posted that comment on the wrong post! LOL!
Ahhhh so jealous! Rachel is my best grad school friend and when she told me she hit you up I was dying.