My cruise packing list is all set so I need to get rid of these extra pounds.
This week means it's back to Combat HIIT, per the Combat calendar, and that does not make me happy. Oh, well. I think my legs are getting more toned - at least that's what Mr. Higgins says - so I'm going to hold on to that positive thing and keep going. We leave two weeks from this Thursday. Oy.
Monday: Combat Shock Plyo HIIT 2 + Ilyse's Dance Intervals 101 + yoga
Mondays are always difficult. Ilyse made it easy to get up and going - and to get prepared for Combat HIIT. I modified most of the burpees this time around, hoping to not have lower back pain. I was able to do some other high intensity moves - and I was sweating just the same. Yoga was really nice - about 20 minutes of stretching, then 25 minutes of flowing movement. And then handstands - ack!
Tuesday: Combat Power HIIT 1 + Scott's HIIT - Sports Inspired Intervals
And today it came time to modify the crazy amount of burpees in Power HIIT. Ugh. I did about 5 slow, good-to-form burpees before I subbed them for other cardio bursts. My heart was pounding all the same so it was a good workout! I even did extra lunge jumps - willingly. Ha! Seeing a difference in my legs has inspired me! At lunch, I went to hear our resident nutritionist talk on cholesterol. Very interesting!
Wednesday: Combat 45 - Power Kata
This was my only workout today since I was meeting a friend for lunch. I gave it my all and was breathless in no time. It was good to have a break from HIIT which gets tiring - to say the least - when done consecutively.
Thursday: Combat Power HIIT 1 + Michelle's HIIT - Breathless and Energized + walk
I was not looking forward to Power HIIT but I got through it, subbing almost all the burpees for other cardio. After two weeks of no burpees (well, virtually none), my back is a lot better. Yay! I like knowing what makes me hurt....so I don't do it! Michelle's HIIT was fun since I hadn't done it in a week or two. At lunch, I walked at the rec, in lieu of weights. With two Power HIITs this week and a Cardio Strength over the weekend, I feel like I've done enough weights.
Friday: PeakFit Dynamic Flexibility + Core Dynamics + walk
I needed a rest this morning and Dynamic Flexibility was a great choice. This is so relaxing and un-stressful…..just what I needed after all my hard workouts of the week. I did about 5-10 minutes of Core afterward. Michelle's core work is so wicked hard - harder than anything in Combat. Ouch! At lunch, I walked at the rec to get away from the office for a while. Very nice!
Saturday: Combat 60 Live - Ultimate Warrior's Workout + McLean's Bodyweight Assault Challenge
After splurging on calories at dinner last night, I was ready to work this morning. I got through Combat in 50 minutes (minus floor work) and wanted more. Combat Live is fun but I felt the need to push a bit harder. Alex McLean's Challenge had been on my FitnessGlo "to-do list" so I went through about 20 minutes of that. Wow, that was tough! The HIIT circuits are pretty long - 60 seconds, then 45, then 30 - and doing one crazy move for a minute is tough. But I got what I wanted and pushed myself.
Sunday: Peak 10 Cardio Interval Burn on Glo + McLean's HIIT - Strength, Endurance, and Cardio Challenge
Time for my Peak 10 fix for the week! This CIB on Glo is not my favorite but I've finally gotten familiar with it enough to like it. Afterward, I wanted something different that used weights so I tried McLean's HIIT. It's definitely a challenge! You alternate a weighted series of moves with tabata cardio. I got through the 20 minutes of the "meat" of the workout (no warm-up or cool down) and was dripping sweat. It was actually pretty gross, wiping sweat off the floor. Thankfully, I got to stretch and do some sit-ups after that. 1.5 hours of sweat.
Calorie Counts:
Monday - 1297
Tuesday - 1293
Wednesday - 1277
Thursday - 1293
Friday - BAD
Saturday - 1278
Sunday - 1275
I was so good this week. There were Valentine's Day goodies in the break room; I resisted. There was lunch out with a friend; I got the 200 calorie chicken noodle soup. There was dinner at Panera; I stuck to about 300 calories. And then I weighed - no change. I'm still 6-7 pounds over my ideal weight. So when Friday came along and Mr. Higgins said we could do away with dinner and a movie and just see a movie, I said no. Considering that eating healthy is having no impact, why not eat unhealthy for once. The last Friday night out we had, I lost four pounds by the next Friday. And that's the only weight I've lost.
To say the least, I'm frustrated. But I'm really disheartened. I'm not giving up by any means but I'm disheartened.
And I was super good this weekend. I tried a new vegetable soup recipe - 137 calories per serving - that we ate on all Sunday long. I might just be tired of soup by the end of all this thyroid mess.
Monday, February 16, 2015
Friday, February 13, 2015
Les Mills: Combat Power HIIT 1 (Review)
Combat Power HIIT is unlike any workout I've done; it's also one of the toughest. I was a bit unprepared for it. The other workouts - besides the two HIIT routines - are kickboxing. This one is not: it's pure calorie-burning fun (er, yeah, sure, fun!).
For this HIIT, you need some weights - free weights or a barbell. I used 8 lb free weights. You start with a warm-up that gets your heart pumping in no time. Jogging, squats and squat jumps, sprints, the inch worm, and push-ups. Whew!
What follows that five minute warm-up is HIIT in the form of weights. You do rows, then rest; clean and presses, then rest; squat and presses, then rest. You do a lot of squat and presses. This goes on for about ten minutes and if you're doing the appropriate amount of weight, you will sweat and your heart rate will stay elevated. I jog or shuffle during each rest, to move and stay loose.
After this you do about five minutes of squats, sumo squats, squat jumps, and lunge jumps. Oh my goodness, your legs will burn like nothing else! I have to lessen the intensity a bit after a while with all these moves - they're just that crazy when done without any break.
The next circuit is burpees. Yes, all burpees for about five minutes. You even add a squat and then a squat jump. So much fun!
A word of caution... After doing this workout several times, I noticed that my lower back was almost constantly aching - even in bed in the middle of the night. I cut back on the burpees - cutting them completely for two weeks - and learned that these burpees were causing my new-found pain. I have good form and can still do slower burpees...but Combat HIIT requires fast crazy burpees and my form apparently disintegrates with speed. I sub other cardio for the burpees. A burpee is not the beginning and end all of cardio.
The last section is ab work in the form of planks and mountain climbers. And then a stretch.
This is a very challenging workout and seeing the muscled men in the video do it with me only makes it seem tougher. Ha! During a burpee sequence, one of them says, "We don't use machines, we build machines." Ha! I do like this one and it, combined with HIIT 2 has really toned my legs. So, take it from me - it will get you results if you can get through it!
Bottom Line: This is a very difficult workout. You will work harder than you ever have before - and you'll get results.
For this HIIT, you need some weights - free weights or a barbell. I used 8 lb free weights. You start with a warm-up that gets your heart pumping in no time. Jogging, squats and squat jumps, sprints, the inch worm, and push-ups. Whew!
What follows that five minute warm-up is HIIT in the form of weights. You do rows, then rest; clean and presses, then rest; squat and presses, then rest. You do a lot of squat and presses. This goes on for about ten minutes and if you're doing the appropriate amount of weight, you will sweat and your heart rate will stay elevated. I jog or shuffle during each rest, to move and stay loose.
After this you do about five minutes of squats, sumo squats, squat jumps, and lunge jumps. Oh my goodness, your legs will burn like nothing else! I have to lessen the intensity a bit after a while with all these moves - they're just that crazy when done without any break.
The next circuit is burpees. Yes, all burpees for about five minutes. You even add a squat and then a squat jump. So much fun!
A word of caution... After doing this workout several times, I noticed that my lower back was almost constantly aching - even in bed in the middle of the night. I cut back on the burpees - cutting them completely for two weeks - and learned that these burpees were causing my new-found pain. I have good form and can still do slower burpees...but Combat HIIT requires fast crazy burpees and my form apparently disintegrates with speed. I sub other cardio for the burpees. A burpee is not the beginning and end all of cardio.
The last section is ab work in the form of planks and mountain climbers. And then a stretch.
This is a very challenging workout and seeing the muscled men in the video do it with me only makes it seem tougher. Ha! During a burpee sequence, one of them says, "We don't use machines, we build machines." Ha! I do like this one and it, combined with HIIT 2 has really toned my legs. So, take it from me - it will get you results if you can get through it!
Bottom Line: This is a very difficult workout. You will work harder than you ever have before - and you'll get results.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Dragonfly in Amber
It took a while, but I recently finished the second novel in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, Dragonfly in Amber. I had a few books going, which is why it took a bit longer but I really enjoyed it!
My Goodreads review:
When I started this series, I had no idea how Gabaldon could make it last for so many books. I still have no idea but I'm beginning to understand just how good of a storyteller she really is. This book was better than the first, in my opinion!
The story of the Jacobite rebellions is fascinating but Gabaldon adds a new twist - telling part of that story in France. Jamie and Claire flee to France where they are recruited to help Bonnie Prince Charlie, who, incidentally, was not actually called Bonnie until he fled Britain AFTER his invasion (just a minor error there). Paris was fascinating to read about and Gabaldon does an excellent job making it real, dirty, and opulent.
Jamie and Claire's relationship matures greatly in this novel - past pure lust (though there's still lust) and into real life. I can't wait to see what will happen next. Gabaldon has made me a believer.
My Goodreads review:
When I started this series, I had no idea how Gabaldon could make it last for so many books. I still have no idea but I'm beginning to understand just how good of a storyteller she really is. This book was better than the first, in my opinion!
The story of the Jacobite rebellions is fascinating but Gabaldon adds a new twist - telling part of that story in France. Jamie and Claire flee to France where they are recruited to help Bonnie Prince Charlie, who, incidentally, was not actually called Bonnie until he fled Britain AFTER his invasion (just a minor error there). Paris was fascinating to read about and Gabaldon does an excellent job making it real, dirty, and opulent.
Jamie and Claire's relationship matures greatly in this novel - past pure lust (though there's still lust) and into real life. I can't wait to see what will happen next. Gabaldon has made me a believer.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Combat Challenge: Week 5
Has it been five weeks?! Dang!
This week, we had to eat leftovers from our Super Bowl/birthday festivities. Yay for something different; boo for the diet.
I'm happy that I get a break from Combat HIIT this week. I'm thinking that the absurd amount of burpees in those workouts is causing my newfound lower-back pain. So when I have to go back to those next week, I may sub the majority of the burpees with a different exercise. Getting hurt, permanently, does not sound at all appealing.
Monday: Peak 10 Cardio Strength Remix + Dozois' Heart-Pumping Total Sculpting
I was home with stomach issues today. Once I felt better, I decided to get in some good, quality workouts. CS Remix is fun - and super hard! I think there's only one circuit that does not have you on the floor. Wow. After that, since I had the weights out, I decided to really make my arms and legs burn with Total Sculpting. It was my first time doing this 20-minute workout on Glo and it's definitely a challenge. My arms and legs were aching afterward!
Tuesday: Combat 45 - Power Kata + walk
This morning had me doing cardio with Power Kata. The circuit with the knee strikes - holy cow! That gets me every time. At lunch, I walked at the rec. I even jogged a bit, not to be outdone by the annoying little undergrads.
Wednesday: Amy's Intervals + Michelle's Calorie Burning Cardio Blast + yoga
This week's Combat rotation called for Kick Start, but that did not seem nearly intense enough for me today....after the weekend eating. So, I did Amy's HIIT workout on Glo. That one always challenges me. I followed it up with Michelle's Cardio Blast. All in all, a good morning of HIIT! At lunch, I went to yoga which was a good mix of stretching and strength challenges.
Thursday: BodyFit 360 Vol. 3 - Athletic Conditioning + weights
I didn't really want a rest day this week, or even a light day. I settled on BodyFit 360 Vol. 3 which was a nice compromise - 30 minutes of intense cardio and then 20 minutes of stretching. I skipped the arms and abs, knowing I'd do weights at lunch. I really do hate weights at the rec....but I did them. Ugh.
Friday: Combat 45 - Power Kata
Next week, when I have to go back to Combat HIIT, I'll be very depressed. It's been a nice break this week. Kata was fun this morning as I learn new ways to make the moves more intense. I like to get the most bang for my buck! Ha!
Saturday: Combat 60 Live - Ultimate Warrior's Workout
A new workout today! Yay! I really enjoyed the Live version of Combat 60. There were some new moves and really challenging leg work which I liked. I added some additional minutes of my own cardio to make it a full hour. Then my own stretch and ab work.
Sunday: Peak 10 More Cardio Strength
Wow. This one is always a challenge. I'm usually okay until the last circuit that has a crazy tough floor sequence - donkey kicks then sit-outs to mountain climbers, sit-outs, mountain climbers, frog. Oy. I hate that one. But I enjoyed the rest of it! I added on some additional cardio and weights to get in 65 minutes. Then a nice stretch.
Calorie Counts:
Monday - BAD - Super Bowl leftovers
Tuesday - 1388
Wednesday - 1274
Thursday - 1229
Friday - 1354
Saturday - 1279
Sunday - 1274
Good news: The doctor has increased my thyroid hormone meds again, starting this Saturday. My bloodwork showed that I'm still hypo. Bad news: I've gained weight due to my weekend of excess last weekend. It was to be expected but it's never fun to see, especially so close to a cruise. At least I was able to be good this weekend. We stayed in on Friday night.
Next week it's back to Combat HIIT and to the strict diet!
This week, we had to eat leftovers from our Super Bowl/birthday festivities. Yay for something different; boo for the diet.
I'm happy that I get a break from Combat HIIT this week. I'm thinking that the absurd amount of burpees in those workouts is causing my newfound lower-back pain. So when I have to go back to those next week, I may sub the majority of the burpees with a different exercise. Getting hurt, permanently, does not sound at all appealing.
Monday: Peak 10 Cardio Strength Remix + Dozois' Heart-Pumping Total Sculpting
I was home with stomach issues today. Once I felt better, I decided to get in some good, quality workouts. CS Remix is fun - and super hard! I think there's only one circuit that does not have you on the floor. Wow. After that, since I had the weights out, I decided to really make my arms and legs burn with Total Sculpting. It was my first time doing this 20-minute workout on Glo and it's definitely a challenge. My arms and legs were aching afterward!
Tuesday: Combat 45 - Power Kata + walk
This morning had me doing cardio with Power Kata. The circuit with the knee strikes - holy cow! That gets me every time. At lunch, I walked at the rec. I even jogged a bit, not to be outdone by the annoying little undergrads.
Wednesday: Amy's Intervals + Michelle's Calorie Burning Cardio Blast + yoga
This week's Combat rotation called for Kick Start, but that did not seem nearly intense enough for me today....after the weekend eating. So, I did Amy's HIIT workout on Glo. That one always challenges me. I followed it up with Michelle's Cardio Blast. All in all, a good morning of HIIT! At lunch, I went to yoga which was a good mix of stretching and strength challenges.
Thursday: BodyFit 360 Vol. 3 - Athletic Conditioning + weights
I didn't really want a rest day this week, or even a light day. I settled on BodyFit 360 Vol. 3 which was a nice compromise - 30 minutes of intense cardio and then 20 minutes of stretching. I skipped the arms and abs, knowing I'd do weights at lunch. I really do hate weights at the rec....but I did them. Ugh.
Friday: Combat 45 - Power Kata
Next week, when I have to go back to Combat HIIT, I'll be very depressed. It's been a nice break this week. Kata was fun this morning as I learn new ways to make the moves more intense. I like to get the most bang for my buck! Ha!
Saturday: Combat 60 Live - Ultimate Warrior's Workout
A new workout today! Yay! I really enjoyed the Live version of Combat 60. There were some new moves and really challenging leg work which I liked. I added some additional minutes of my own cardio to make it a full hour. Then my own stretch and ab work.
Sunday: Peak 10 More Cardio Strength
Wow. This one is always a challenge. I'm usually okay until the last circuit that has a crazy tough floor sequence - donkey kicks then sit-outs to mountain climbers, sit-outs, mountain climbers, frog. Oy. I hate that one. But I enjoyed the rest of it! I added on some additional cardio and weights to get in 65 minutes. Then a nice stretch.
Calorie Counts:
Monday - BAD - Super Bowl leftovers
Tuesday - 1388
Wednesday - 1274
Thursday - 1229
Friday - 1354
Saturday - 1279
Sunday - 1274
Good news: The doctor has increased my thyroid hormone meds again, starting this Saturday. My bloodwork showed that I'm still hypo. Bad news: I've gained weight due to my weekend of excess last weekend. It was to be expected but it's never fun to see, especially so close to a cruise. At least I was able to be good this weekend. We stayed in on Friday night.
Next week it's back to Combat HIIT and to the strict diet!
Friday, February 6, 2015
Les Mills: Combat 45 - Power Kata (Review)
It's been fun having a new workout system to go through. Eight weeks gives me a while to do the workouts and then give you a good report on them. The 45-minute Power Kata is fun - and hard work!
Power Kata builds upon the 30-minute Kick Start workout. It's longer, more challenging, and assumes you now know what you're doing when you go through all the punches and kicks.
The trainers give you a warm up of punches and shuffles. You then get a tiny stretch (tiny!) before getting down to business. The main differences between Kick Start and Power Kata are:
-More complex choreography in Power Kata. The combinations include more moves - 4 to 5 - and combine punches and kicks. Most are pretty easy but even after doing this workout several times, a few of the combinations are still a bit tricky for me. I have to stop and make sure I'm doing them right.
-A higher level of cardiovascular intensity in Kata. There are some series in this workout that are really challenging. For example, one such series alternates knee strikes and jumping knee strikes. My heart is pounding during this.
After about 40 minutes of stand-up cardio, you move to the floor for some stretching.
All in all, this is a fun workout - more effective than Kick Start but not as long and intense as Extreme Cardio Fighter. For a preview, go here.
Bottom Line: With only moderately complex choreography, this workout is great for anyone who knows basic kickboxing. It'll make you sweat in no time!
Power Kata builds upon the 30-minute Kick Start workout. It's longer, more challenging, and assumes you now know what you're doing when you go through all the punches and kicks.
The trainers give you a warm up of punches and shuffles. You then get a tiny stretch (tiny!) before getting down to business. The main differences between Kick Start and Power Kata are:
-More complex choreography in Power Kata. The combinations include more moves - 4 to 5 - and combine punches and kicks. Most are pretty easy but even after doing this workout several times, a few of the combinations are still a bit tricky for me. I have to stop and make sure I'm doing them right.
-A higher level of cardiovascular intensity in Kata. There are some series in this workout that are really challenging. For example, one such series alternates knee strikes and jumping knee strikes. My heart is pounding during this.
After about 40 minutes of stand-up cardio, you move to the floor for some stretching.
All in all, this is a fun workout - more effective than Kick Start but not as long and intense as Extreme Cardio Fighter. For a preview, go here.
Bottom Line: With only moderately complex choreography, this workout is great for anyone who knows basic kickboxing. It'll make you sweat in no time!
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Tender White Cake (2015:1)
I rarely have the opportunity to make full-fat desserts. Correction: I rarely allow myself to make full-fat desserts. Recently, though, I had the chance to make a cake. A real cake. I was so enthralled by this foreign idea that I shirked the idea of a cake-from-a-box and went searching for recipes.
The occasion was my mom's birthday. She likes a white cake with chocolate icing. Since making icing is the singular most horrific experience in my cooking life (how much powdered sugar?!), I opted to buy that. But I wanted to make a cake from scratch!
I went searching for recipes and settled upon this Tender White Cake from King Arthur Flour. The reviews were great and the ingredients simple. Off I went to bake.
The batter came together wonderfully! The almond extract and vanilla made it smell - and taste! - amazing. I poured the batter into a (stoneware) 9x13 pan - and baked it. After the minimum amount of time, it was not done. I checked it again in 3 minutes - not done. Three minutes later, not done. WTH?!
After cooling, I iced it. Several hour later, when I cut into it, I was immediately alarmed. The edges were overdone. They were almost hard! Sigh. The flavor was great - lovely! - but the pan had ruined the cake. At least, that's my guess. I wanted the cake in a pretty pan, since it was supposedly too tender to move. Next time, I'll use an ugly metal pan and hope for better results. In the meantime, my mom and dad will eat the middle of cake.
The occasion was my mom's birthday. She likes a white cake with chocolate icing. Since making icing is the singular most horrific experience in my cooking life (how much powdered sugar?!), I opted to buy that. But I wanted to make a cake from scratch!
I went searching for recipes and settled upon this Tender White Cake from King Arthur Flour. The reviews were great and the ingredients simple. Off I went to bake.
The batter came together wonderfully! The almond extract and vanilla made it smell - and taste! - amazing. I poured the batter into a (stoneware) 9x13 pan - and baked it. After the minimum amount of time, it was not done. I checked it again in 3 minutes - not done. Three minutes later, not done. WTH?!
After cooling, I iced it. Several hour later, when I cut into it, I was immediately alarmed. The edges were overdone. They were almost hard! Sigh. The flavor was great - lovely! - but the pan had ruined the cake. At least, that's my guess. I wanted the cake in a pretty pan, since it was supposedly too tender to move. Next time, I'll use an ugly metal pan and hope for better results. In the meantime, my mom and dad will eat the middle of cake.
Monday, February 2, 2015
Combat Challenge: Week 4
Okay, now that I'm taking a higher dosage of hypothyroid meds, I'm losing weight - or at least, I'm telling myself that until I weigh on Friday. Ha! As per the norm these days, my motivation is sky high due to the addition of the hypo pounds.
On the Combat calendar, this week consists mostly of the HIIT workouts. Next week, it backs off of the HIIT. So, I'm not really looking forward to this week - ugh! Here we go.
Monday: Combat 45 - Power Kata + yoga
It was nice to not dread my morning workout - yay, no Combat HIIT! Combat 45 is a lot of fun and pretty easy to follow at 5:30 in the morning. The Combat instructors are a loud bunch but at least they keep me awake and moving. Yoga was nice today - a good combination of challenging work and relaxing stretches.
Tuesday: Michelle's HIIT - Breathless and Energized + Combat Power HIIT 1 + walk
I am getting a bit tired of the Combat HIIT workouts - most especially burpees and lunge jumps. But I'm going to try my hardest to stick with them this week to stay on target with the Combat calendar. It helps starting off with Michelle's HIIT; she always gets me in a good mood! At lunch, I walked at the rec. It was nice to have alone time, away from the office, co-workers (though I love them), and computer.
Wednesday: Michelle's Calorie Burning Cardio Blast + Combat Shock Plyo HIIT 2 + yoga
This morning, I woke up energized, which is about the only reason I got through my Combat workout. Ugh! I do not like the Shock Plyo. But lunge jumps had better be easier for me after all this. Michelle's workout is a lot of fun, especially when done before the Plyo, since there is little warm-up in that Combat video. Yoga was rough today since the instructor kept coming back, over and over, to chair pose. My legs were shaking within 10 minutes of class. This always amazes me - yoga works muscles differently than any other workout.
Thursday: Conditioning for Long Lean Muscles by Michelle Dozois + weights
Today was my Combat rest day. And I really needed it. Instead of taking it too easy, though, I did Michelle's Glo workout - basically a BodyFit 360. I was sweating and my heart was pumping while doing tons of plies, squats, and lunges between cardio bursts. These workouts seem easy....but they are not. At lunch, I went to the rec to do weights, despite my already sore arms. Sigh.
Friday: Ilyse's Dance Intervals 101 + Combat Shock Ply HIIT 2
Good news! I've lost 4 pounds in a week! The hypo meds are working! I started my workout actually happy this morning - at 5:30. Ha! Ilyse's cardio in Dance Intervals is fun but basic, allowing me to wake up slowly. Combat is definitely a shock - but at least I was feeling better about myself. I took the day off from the rec center; I knew I needed a day to rest at lunch.
Saturday: Peak 10 Cardio Interval Burn Remix + Michelle's Quick Lower Body Shape Up
Knowing my weekend would consist of bad eating, I was ready to work this morning! Michelle's CIB was calling so I did that, having fun in the process. Next up, I wanted to do some strength; her Lower Body workout, lasting 15 minutes, seemed a good choice. All in all, about 1.5 hours of working out if you count sit-ups and stretches. Oh, and have I mentioned how easy sit-ups have become?! I'm amazed!
Sunday: Combat 60 Extreme Cardio Fighter
I was eager to get my Combat on this morning! Ha! It was fun to do this workout since it's so different from Peak 10. I can't say I love it but it's a nice change. Next week, I'll get to do a new, long Combat workout. Exciting!
Calorie Counts:
Monday - 1276
Tuesday - 1246
Wednesday - 1246
Thursday - 1284
Friday - bad
Saturday - 1622
Sunday - BAD!
It was my mom's birthday and Super Bowl weekend - so the eating was awful. I tried to be good on Saturday and mostly succeeded. Little victories.
On the Combat calendar, this week consists mostly of the HIIT workouts. Next week, it backs off of the HIIT. So, I'm not really looking forward to this week - ugh! Here we go.
Monday: Combat 45 - Power Kata + yoga
It was nice to not dread my morning workout - yay, no Combat HIIT! Combat 45 is a lot of fun and pretty easy to follow at 5:30 in the morning. The Combat instructors are a loud bunch but at least they keep me awake and moving. Yoga was nice today - a good combination of challenging work and relaxing stretches.
Tuesday: Michelle's HIIT - Breathless and Energized + Combat Power HIIT 1 + walk
I am getting a bit tired of the Combat HIIT workouts - most especially burpees and lunge jumps. But I'm going to try my hardest to stick with them this week to stay on target with the Combat calendar. It helps starting off with Michelle's HIIT; she always gets me in a good mood! At lunch, I walked at the rec. It was nice to have alone time, away from the office, co-workers (though I love them), and computer.
Wednesday: Michelle's Calorie Burning Cardio Blast + Combat Shock Plyo HIIT 2 + yoga
This morning, I woke up energized, which is about the only reason I got through my Combat workout. Ugh! I do not like the Shock Plyo. But lunge jumps had better be easier for me after all this. Michelle's workout is a lot of fun, especially when done before the Plyo, since there is little warm-up in that Combat video. Yoga was rough today since the instructor kept coming back, over and over, to chair pose. My legs were shaking within 10 minutes of class. This always amazes me - yoga works muscles differently than any other workout.
Thursday: Conditioning for Long Lean Muscles by Michelle Dozois + weights
Today was my Combat rest day. And I really needed it. Instead of taking it too easy, though, I did Michelle's Glo workout - basically a BodyFit 360. I was sweating and my heart was pumping while doing tons of plies, squats, and lunges between cardio bursts. These workouts seem easy....but they are not. At lunch, I went to the rec to do weights, despite my already sore arms. Sigh.
Friday: Ilyse's Dance Intervals 101 + Combat Shock Ply HIIT 2
Good news! I've lost 4 pounds in a week! The hypo meds are working! I started my workout actually happy this morning - at 5:30. Ha! Ilyse's cardio in Dance Intervals is fun but basic, allowing me to wake up slowly. Combat is definitely a shock - but at least I was feeling better about myself. I took the day off from the rec center; I knew I needed a day to rest at lunch.
Saturday: Peak 10 Cardio Interval Burn Remix + Michelle's Quick Lower Body Shape Up
Knowing my weekend would consist of bad eating, I was ready to work this morning! Michelle's CIB was calling so I did that, having fun in the process. Next up, I wanted to do some strength; her Lower Body workout, lasting 15 minutes, seemed a good choice. All in all, about 1.5 hours of working out if you count sit-ups and stretches. Oh, and have I mentioned how easy sit-ups have become?! I'm amazed!
Sunday: Combat 60 Extreme Cardio Fighter
I was eager to get my Combat on this morning! Ha! It was fun to do this workout since it's so different from Peak 10. I can't say I love it but it's a nice change. Next week, I'll get to do a new, long Combat workout. Exciting!
Calorie Counts:
Monday - 1276
Tuesday - 1246
Wednesday - 1246
Thursday - 1284
Friday - bad
Saturday - 1622
Sunday - BAD!
It was my mom's birthday and Super Bowl weekend - so the eating was awful. I tried to be good on Saturday and mostly succeeded. Little victories.
Friday, January 30, 2015
One Mere Month
We're now less than a month away from our next cruise. Eek!
This is stressing me out like no other cruise - because of my weight gain. I know it's actually quite silly to be so perturbed over ten pounds...but I was in the best shape of my life - or in recent memory - at the beginning of November. And now I seem to have no control over my weight. It's making me despair in a very new way.
If you know me, you know I'm a control freak and a bit OCD. Even though I heard the endocrinologist say that she just had to get my thyroid dosage right, my brain still wants to do something. It wants control. And so I'm working out like crazy and when I can get to the rec center at lunch, I do - usually 3-4 times a week.
I'm seeing results - my arms and legs seem to be firming up in new ways - but not in the way I want: on the scale. So wish me luck! I have to get into a bikini in less than a month. Hopefully, without my new tummy.
This is stressing me out like no other cruise - because of my weight gain. I know it's actually quite silly to be so perturbed over ten pounds...but I was in the best shape of my life - or in recent memory - at the beginning of November. And now I seem to have no control over my weight. It's making me despair in a very new way.
If you know me, you know I'm a control freak and a bit OCD. Even though I heard the endocrinologist say that she just had to get my thyroid dosage right, my brain still wants to do something. It wants control. And so I'm working out like crazy and when I can get to the rec center at lunch, I do - usually 3-4 times a week.
I'm seeing results - my arms and legs seem to be firming up in new ways - but not in the way I want: on the scale. So wish me luck! I have to get into a bikini in less than a month. Hopefully, without my new tummy.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Michelle Dozois: BodyFit 360 Vol 2 - Dance Conditioning (Review)
I was so excited when Michelle Dozois announced two new BodyFit 360 workouts. Unlike the new Athletic Conditioning workout, I was really looking forward to the Dance Conditioning one. The original 360 is near and dear to my heart - it effortlessly combines dance, flexibility, and cardio. I just love the concept. That being said, this is not your old-school dance cardio. This is something unique and effective.
The new Dance Conditioning 360 has premixes and chapters, which is very nice when you don't have an hour for a workout.
When doing the whole thing, you start with cardio. Michelle blends dance, yoga, and even some high-impact moves to get you warm and sweating. Yes, I had sweat dripping off of me! The high impact moves - mainly some squat jumps and dance hops - can easily be made into low impact moves if you want a lighter workout. You move in every direction, standing up and on the floor.
After about 25-30 minutes of cardio, you move to the floor to work your arms. This track is really hard for me. You do push-ups, mermaids, spiders, and tricep work. Ouch!
Next up is ab work. This section is tough, though not quite as tough as the original 360. There is quite a bit of focus on your obliques and even some quad work thrown in. Wow.
After this you get to stretch and I love Michelle's stretching. Here, she incorporates some more yoga to get your warm muscles nice and stretched out.
This workout is just so nice. I love having lighter day workouts that make me sweat without killing me. About 30 minutes of cardio is great, as is the stretch. This is a great addition to the BodyFit 360 collection.
The entire workout runs for 55 minutes. For a clip, go here.
Bottom Line: While this is not a difficult workout as far as impact, some of the moves are challenging and some experience in dance or yoga will really help you get through it.
The new Dance Conditioning 360 has premixes and chapters, which is very nice when you don't have an hour for a workout.
When doing the whole thing, you start with cardio. Michelle blends dance, yoga, and even some high-impact moves to get you warm and sweating. Yes, I had sweat dripping off of me! The high impact moves - mainly some squat jumps and dance hops - can easily be made into low impact moves if you want a lighter workout. You move in every direction, standing up and on the floor.
After about 25-30 minutes of cardio, you move to the floor to work your arms. This track is really hard for me. You do push-ups, mermaids, spiders, and tricep work. Ouch!
Next up is ab work. This section is tough, though not quite as tough as the original 360. There is quite a bit of focus on your obliques and even some quad work thrown in. Wow.
After this you get to stretch and I love Michelle's stretching. Here, she incorporates some more yoga to get your warm muscles nice and stretched out.
This workout is just so nice. I love having lighter day workouts that make me sweat without killing me. About 30 minutes of cardio is great, as is the stretch. This is a great addition to the BodyFit 360 collection.
The entire workout runs for 55 minutes. For a clip, go here.
Bottom Line: While this is not a difficult workout as far as impact, some of the moves are challenging and some experience in dance or yoga will really help you get through it.
Monday, January 26, 2015
Combat Challenge: Week 3
Well, with my weight up (though I hope the endocrinologist will help with the thyroid meds later this week), I'm super motivated to work as hard as possible to get these pounds off. But let me tell you, after eating well for two weeks and doing all these crazy workouts, I better see some results. Sigh. That's what clues me into this being the thyroid - usually, my body would have kindly shown me results by now.
I'm still going strong with my Combat Challenge…
Monday: Michelle's Cardio Strength 2 + Strength Total Body + dance
I was off today for MLK and decided to double up on workouts. Yes, I'm crazy - and motivated! I started off with CS2 on Glo - ouch! This one is tough with all the floor work interspersed throughout. Then, to get in some much-needed weight training, I did Michelle's strength workout on Glo, which is a lot like her Pure Strength workouts from Peak Fit. My arms were aching by the end. For about ten minutes after this, I danced to get the kinks out of my arms and legs. Almost two hours of working out. Whew!
Tuesday: Combat 45 - Power Kata + walk
A new workout this morning! Combat 45 was a nice change from the rather basic Kick Start (Combat 30) - and longer! It was cold in the house this morning but I warmed up rather quickly with the workout! Ha! It got me working and sweating in no time with tons of punches, jabs, and kicks. I added in my own cardio at the end to get in 45 minutes before stretching for five minutes. At lunch, I walked at the rec.
Wednesday: Ilyse's Dance Intervals 101 + Combat Shock Plyo HIIT 2 + yoga
For my short cardio bursts in the morning, I'm trying to not do Michelle Dozois' workouts this week - because I like them too much. Ha! Ilyse's dance workout is fun - mainly cardio intervals - and I did it for about 15 minutes before Combat Plyo. This Combat workout is really difficult and has taught me just how much I loathe lunge jumps. Ugh!! Yoga was lovely today; not as intense as last week, it was more of a stretch.
Thursday: Jeffrey Scott's HIIT - Sports Inspired Intervals + Combat Power HIIT 1 + weights
I like Scott's HIIT because it's low pressure and different. It warmed me up before Combat. This Power HIIT - using weights for about 10 minutes - isn't as difficult as the other Plyo HIIT but has 5 minutes of burpees, which is not at all fun. At lunch, when I went to do weights at the rec, my legs were still so achy from Combat HIIT that the inner and outer thigh machines were not at all easy. Usually, I breeze right through those machine reps so it was nice to know that something is making a difference with Combat!
Friday: BodyFit 360 Vol. 2 - Dance Conditioning
Today was my "rest" day so I did Michelle's new BodyFit 360 - Dance Conditioning. It's a lot like the original 360 and I really do love it. Michelle combines high-impact moves, yoga, and dance to get you moving in every direction - and to get you sweating. It's just enough to make you feel worked out without overworking on a rest day.
Saturday: Combat 60 - Extreme Cardio Fighter
After eating badly last night - oh, it was so much fun! - I was ready to burn some calories this morning. Combat 60 definitely gets me sweating. I put all I had into every punch and it wore me out! Wow! I did some extra cardio to get in 60 full minutes and then did my own push-ups (like what they do in the video). My abs were aching from Michelle's BodyFit the previous day, so I skipped abs today.
Sunday: Combat Power HIIT 1+ Michelle's Cardio Interval Burn on Glo
A Sunday with little to do but relax meant that I could do an extra long workout. I started with my own five minute warm-up and then did Power HIIT. Good grief, those burpees! I then did three-quarters of Michelle's CIB on Glo. That totaled 70 minutes of cardio. I then did abs for five minutes followed by a nice, long 10-minute stretch. A good day!
Calorie Counts:
Monday - 1258
Tuesday - 1274
Wednesday - 1274
Thursday - 1278
Friday - BAD
Saturday - 1277
Sunday - 1288
I received good news from the endocrinologist on Thursday. When I asked her what I could do to lose the 10 pounds my thyroid has caused me to gain, she said, emphatically, nothing: she needs to get my dosage right. So, I'm on a higher dosage and she wants me to get bloodwork done in two weeks in case I need an even higher dose. That's good considering the cruise is now only a month away. Eek!
I'm still going strong with my Combat Challenge…
Monday: Michelle's Cardio Strength 2 + Strength Total Body + dance
I was off today for MLK and decided to double up on workouts. Yes, I'm crazy - and motivated! I started off with CS2 on Glo - ouch! This one is tough with all the floor work interspersed throughout. Then, to get in some much-needed weight training, I did Michelle's strength workout on Glo, which is a lot like her Pure Strength workouts from Peak Fit. My arms were aching by the end. For about ten minutes after this, I danced to get the kinks out of my arms and legs. Almost two hours of working out. Whew!
Tuesday: Combat 45 - Power Kata + walk
A new workout this morning! Combat 45 was a nice change from the rather basic Kick Start (Combat 30) - and longer! It was cold in the house this morning but I warmed up rather quickly with the workout! Ha! It got me working and sweating in no time with tons of punches, jabs, and kicks. I added in my own cardio at the end to get in 45 minutes before stretching for five minutes. At lunch, I walked at the rec.
Wednesday: Ilyse's Dance Intervals 101 + Combat Shock Plyo HIIT 2 + yoga
For my short cardio bursts in the morning, I'm trying to not do Michelle Dozois' workouts this week - because I like them too much. Ha! Ilyse's dance workout is fun - mainly cardio intervals - and I did it for about 15 minutes before Combat Plyo. This Combat workout is really difficult and has taught me just how much I loathe lunge jumps. Ugh!! Yoga was lovely today; not as intense as last week, it was more of a stretch.
Thursday: Jeffrey Scott's HIIT - Sports Inspired Intervals + Combat Power HIIT 1 + weights
I like Scott's HIIT because it's low pressure and different. It warmed me up before Combat. This Power HIIT - using weights for about 10 minutes - isn't as difficult as the other Plyo HIIT but has 5 minutes of burpees, which is not at all fun. At lunch, when I went to do weights at the rec, my legs were still so achy from Combat HIIT that the inner and outer thigh machines were not at all easy. Usually, I breeze right through those machine reps so it was nice to know that something is making a difference with Combat!
Friday: BodyFit 360 Vol. 2 - Dance Conditioning
Today was my "rest" day so I did Michelle's new BodyFit 360 - Dance Conditioning. It's a lot like the original 360 and I really do love it. Michelle combines high-impact moves, yoga, and dance to get you moving in every direction - and to get you sweating. It's just enough to make you feel worked out without overworking on a rest day.
Saturday: Combat 60 - Extreme Cardio Fighter
After eating badly last night - oh, it was so much fun! - I was ready to burn some calories this morning. Combat 60 definitely gets me sweating. I put all I had into every punch and it wore me out! Wow! I did some extra cardio to get in 60 full minutes and then did my own push-ups (like what they do in the video). My abs were aching from Michelle's BodyFit the previous day, so I skipped abs today.
Sunday: Combat Power HIIT 1+ Michelle's Cardio Interval Burn on Glo
A Sunday with little to do but relax meant that I could do an extra long workout. I started with my own five minute warm-up and then did Power HIIT. Good grief, those burpees! I then did three-quarters of Michelle's CIB on Glo. That totaled 70 minutes of cardio. I then did abs for five minutes followed by a nice, long 10-minute stretch. A good day!
Calorie Counts:
Monday - 1258
Tuesday - 1274
Wednesday - 1274
Thursday - 1278
Friday - BAD
Saturday - 1277
Sunday - 1288
I received good news from the endocrinologist on Thursday. When I asked her what I could do to lose the 10 pounds my thyroid has caused me to gain, she said, emphatically, nothing: she needs to get my dosage right. So, I'm on a higher dosage and she wants me to get bloodwork done in two weeks in case I need an even higher dose. That's good considering the cruise is now only a month away. Eek!
Friday, January 23, 2015
Wild
My book group chose a non-fiction work for the month of January and, once again, I'm amazed at how much I'm enjoying non-fiction. Sure, as a history major, I'm used to reading non-fiction....but not non-history non-fiction. Ha!
Here's the review for Cheryl Strayed's Wild that I posted to Goodreads (you may recognize the title as it's now a major motion picture starring Reese Witherspoon):
I had never heard of Cheryl Strayed's memoir until my book group recently chose to read Wild. And then I was excited by the idea of her journey (I love hiking! I love national parks! I love nature!). But when I read about Cheryl and how her story begins, I was appalled at just how selfish and idiotic she was.
The situation of leaving her husband reminds me so much of Eat, Pray, Love. And it infuriates me! "Hello, husband. I love you but I'm really so busy with my own issues right now, that I"m going to break your heart just because it's inconvenient for me to be married while I find myself." Ugh! I hope Paul is getting some of her book money.
Her journey, on the other hand, is fascinating. I loved it all! Strayed's writing is witty and personable; I didn't want to put the book down. My only disappointment was that she had to skip Yosemite; I would have loved to hear an account of that leg of the trail.
If you can suffer reading about a woman who is truly messed up (don't get me started on the drugs), this is a fun read about a journey most of us won't ever get the opportunity to make.
I can honestly say that I have no interest in seeing the movie.
Here's the review for Cheryl Strayed's Wild that I posted to Goodreads (you may recognize the title as it's now a major motion picture starring Reese Witherspoon):
I had never heard of Cheryl Strayed's memoir until my book group recently chose to read Wild. And then I was excited by the idea of her journey (I love hiking! I love national parks! I love nature!). But when I read about Cheryl and how her story begins, I was appalled at just how selfish and idiotic she was.
The situation of leaving her husband reminds me so much of Eat, Pray, Love. And it infuriates me! "Hello, husband. I love you but I'm really so busy with my own issues right now, that I"m going to break your heart just because it's inconvenient for me to be married while I find myself." Ugh! I hope Paul is getting some of her book money.
Her journey, on the other hand, is fascinating. I loved it all! Strayed's writing is witty and personable; I didn't want to put the book down. My only disappointment was that she had to skip Yosemite; I would have loved to hear an account of that leg of the trail.
If you can suffer reading about a woman who is truly messed up (don't get me started on the drugs), this is a fun read about a journey most of us won't ever get the opportunity to make.
I can honestly say that I have no interest in seeing the movie.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Les Mills: Combat 30 - Kick Start (Review)
I've now run through Combat 30 several times now. It's the first workout you're instructed to do when you begin the Combat workout calendar.
Before this video, I was not new to kickboxing but I was not an expert by any means. The terms were familiar to me - at least most of them - as was the form. This video consists of the basics - jabs, crosses, hooks, uppercuts, front kicks, back kicks, roundhouses.
Your warm-up is a series of jabs, crosses, and shuffles. You then move on to kicks. All of this is rather low-impact and doesn't really get your heart rate up. However, as you become more familiar with the video, you can definitely throw everything you have into those punches to get your heart pumping!
As the workout progresses, you learn some combinations that incorporate kicks, punches, and basic footwork - jacks and shuffles. I try to make every move possible high impact, which helps to keep my heart rate elevated. The hardest move is a jump kick - but it's fun!
At the end you're given a short cool down.
I can see why this workout appeals to both men and women. It's fun, the music is fun, and the instructors are motivating without being annoying. It's a good introduction to kickboxing and to Combat in general. If your fitness level isn't quite up there yet, or if you cannot do high-impact moves, a modification is shown.
Bottom Line: This is definitely a good intermediate workout for those starting kickboxing or Combat. Your arms will ache afterward!
Before this video, I was not new to kickboxing but I was not an expert by any means. The terms were familiar to me - at least most of them - as was the form. This video consists of the basics - jabs, crosses, hooks, uppercuts, front kicks, back kicks, roundhouses.
Your warm-up is a series of jabs, crosses, and shuffles. You then move on to kicks. All of this is rather low-impact and doesn't really get your heart rate up. However, as you become more familiar with the video, you can definitely throw everything you have into those punches to get your heart pumping!
As the workout progresses, you learn some combinations that incorporate kicks, punches, and basic footwork - jacks and shuffles. I try to make every move possible high impact, which helps to keep my heart rate elevated. The hardest move is a jump kick - but it's fun!
At the end you're given a short cool down.
I can see why this workout appeals to both men and women. It's fun, the music is fun, and the instructors are motivating without being annoying. It's a good introduction to kickboxing and to Combat in general. If your fitness level isn't quite up there yet, or if you cannot do high-impact moves, a modification is shown.
Bottom Line: This is definitely a good intermediate workout for those starting kickboxing or Combat. Your arms will ache afterward!
Monday, January 19, 2015
Combat Challenge: Week 2
My cruise/holiday weight isn't budging and I'm about to get desperate. After eating really well all last week (and weekend) and working out every day, I'm hoping to see some results this week. I just need something to know I'm making a difference.
In the past, I've been able to drop weight a bit more quickly - at least, I've been able to see a difference. I blame the thyroid. Thankfully, I go in to see the doctor in about two weeks and she can re-evaluate my hormone dosage then.
In the meantime, here's my week in workouts…
Monday: Combat 30 - Kick Start + Ilyse Baker's Dance Intervals 101 + yoga
I really tried to give 105% with Combat this morning, to keep my heart rate up. If sweating is any indication, I succeeded. To get in a full 50-minute workout, I did about 20 minutes of Ilyse's Dance Intervals, which is more athletic cardio than dance. Jogging, jogging, jogging. Yoga was back in session at the rec center and it was a lot of fun - and challenging. The teacher is too cute. "Smile," she says, "so I know you still like me." Ha!
Tuesday: Combat Power HIIT 1 + Jeffrey Scott's HIIT - Sports Inspired Intervals
I was not looking forward to this Combat workout, since the last five minutes is spent doing burpees. But I got through it. Barely. I paired it with Scott's HIIT workout, which I've done a few times. It's definitely effective. Lunch was spent at a nutrition talk, so no extra workout today.
Wednesday: Amy Dixon's Intervals + Dozois' HIIT - Breathless and Energized + yoga
On the Combat calendar, I'm supposed to do another Combat 30....but I'd rather do other cardio, thank you very much. For some reason, Amy's 30-minute Intervals Glo workout looked appealing - though it repeats the same 4 moves over and over. I made some modifications to keep myself entertained, but otherwise it was fun. And Amy wasn't quite as chatty. Dozois' HIIT is one of my faves and it rounded out my 50-minute workout. At lunch, I did yoga, which was super hard today.
Thursday: Combat Shock Plyo HIIT 2 + Dozois' Calorie Burning Cardio Blast
I woke up with crazy lower back pain, which is something entirely new to me. It must have been yoga yesterday. I got through Michelle's cardio and the Combat HIIT but all I wanted to do was round my back for relief. Sigh. I had a shock this morning: I got on the scale for the first time since December and it was not good. I'm sure my thyroid meds will have to be adjusted when I see the doctor next week.
Friday: Peak Fit Dynamic Flexibility + abs + weights
For two weeks, I've been going hard with these workouts, so I decided to give myself a treat this morning. Wow! (My "rest" day on the Combat calendar.) It felt so good to do Michelle's Dynamic Flex (especially with my low back still achy). You get warm enough to stretch out and feel invigorated for the day. I followed that 30-minute video with 10 minutes of abs from Star Trainers - Rob Glick's circuit. At lunch, I did weights (ugh) and then made two laps around the track.
Saturday: Peak 10 Cardio Interval Burn Remix
The Combat calendar called two days of Combat 60 this week, but I needed my Peak 10 fix. Michelle's CIB Remix was a nice change this morning. Because I like it so much, I always forget just how demanding this workout really is. Wow!
Sunday: Combat 60 - Extreme Cardio Fighter
While I wasn't really looking forward to this workout, I wasn't dreading it. This one has no burpees or lunge jumps, like the HIIT videos. But there are so many punches and kicks and jumps…. Whew! My FitBit goes crazy trying to count my steps! I added on some of my own cardio to give me a full 60-minute workout and then treated myself to ten minutes of stretching.
Calorie Counts:
Monday - 1275
Tuesday - 1260
Wednesday - 1284
Thursday - 1290
Friday - 1372
Saturday - 1271
Sunday - 1257
Once again, I really tried to stay on track this week and was proud of myself. However, getting on the scale on Thursday morning did nothing to help my psyche. I can't believe this weight isn't budging. I allowed myself a few extra calories on Friday night, though we didn't do our usual Friday night out. And I was good the rest of the weekend. We're already talking about going out next Friday - our one and only night out in January….and I can't wait. I can already taste the margarita!
In the past, I've been able to drop weight a bit more quickly - at least, I've been able to see a difference. I blame the thyroid. Thankfully, I go in to see the doctor in about two weeks and she can re-evaluate my hormone dosage then.
In the meantime, here's my week in workouts…
Monday: Combat 30 - Kick Start + Ilyse Baker's Dance Intervals 101 + yoga
I really tried to give 105% with Combat this morning, to keep my heart rate up. If sweating is any indication, I succeeded. To get in a full 50-minute workout, I did about 20 minutes of Ilyse's Dance Intervals, which is more athletic cardio than dance. Jogging, jogging, jogging. Yoga was back in session at the rec center and it was a lot of fun - and challenging. The teacher is too cute. "Smile," she says, "so I know you still like me." Ha!
Tuesday: Combat Power HIIT 1 + Jeffrey Scott's HIIT - Sports Inspired Intervals
I was not looking forward to this Combat workout, since the last five minutes is spent doing burpees. But I got through it. Barely. I paired it with Scott's HIIT workout, which I've done a few times. It's definitely effective. Lunch was spent at a nutrition talk, so no extra workout today.
Wednesday: Amy Dixon's Intervals + Dozois' HIIT - Breathless and Energized + yoga
On the Combat calendar, I'm supposed to do another Combat 30....but I'd rather do other cardio, thank you very much. For some reason, Amy's 30-minute Intervals Glo workout looked appealing - though it repeats the same 4 moves over and over. I made some modifications to keep myself entertained, but otherwise it was fun. And Amy wasn't quite as chatty. Dozois' HIIT is one of my faves and it rounded out my 50-minute workout. At lunch, I did yoga, which was super hard today.
Thursday: Combat Shock Plyo HIIT 2 + Dozois' Calorie Burning Cardio Blast
I woke up with crazy lower back pain, which is something entirely new to me. It must have been yoga yesterday. I got through Michelle's cardio and the Combat HIIT but all I wanted to do was round my back for relief. Sigh. I had a shock this morning: I got on the scale for the first time since December and it was not good. I'm sure my thyroid meds will have to be adjusted when I see the doctor next week.
Friday: Peak Fit Dynamic Flexibility + abs + weights
For two weeks, I've been going hard with these workouts, so I decided to give myself a treat this morning. Wow! (My "rest" day on the Combat calendar.) It felt so good to do Michelle's Dynamic Flex (especially with my low back still achy). You get warm enough to stretch out and feel invigorated for the day. I followed that 30-minute video with 10 minutes of abs from Star Trainers - Rob Glick's circuit. At lunch, I did weights (ugh) and then made two laps around the track.
Saturday: Peak 10 Cardio Interval Burn Remix
The Combat calendar called two days of Combat 60 this week, but I needed my Peak 10 fix. Michelle's CIB Remix was a nice change this morning. Because I like it so much, I always forget just how demanding this workout really is. Wow!
Sunday: Combat 60 - Extreme Cardio Fighter
While I wasn't really looking forward to this workout, I wasn't dreading it. This one has no burpees or lunge jumps, like the HIIT videos. But there are so many punches and kicks and jumps…. Whew! My FitBit goes crazy trying to count my steps! I added on some of my own cardio to give me a full 60-minute workout and then treated myself to ten minutes of stretching.
Calorie Counts:
Monday - 1275
Tuesday - 1260
Wednesday - 1284
Thursday - 1290
Friday - 1372
Saturday - 1271
Sunday - 1257
Once again, I really tried to stay on track this week and was proud of myself. However, getting on the scale on Thursday morning did nothing to help my psyche. I can't believe this weight isn't budging. I allowed myself a few extra calories on Friday night, though we didn't do our usual Friday night out. And I was good the rest of the weekend. We're already talking about going out next Friday - our one and only night out in January….and I can't wait. I can already taste the margarita!
Friday, January 16, 2015
Michelle Dozois: BodyFit 360 Vol 3 - Athletic Conditioning
A few months ago, I was able to buy Michelle Dozois' two, brand-new BodyFit 360 workouts in a pre-sale. Considering how much I loved the first volume, I couldn't wait to do these two new workouts! Since volume three had "athletic" in the title, I was a bit nervous: it appeared much more difficult - er, athletically challenging - than the first volume. But I've now done this one more than the second volume, Dance Conditioning. I'm excited to tell you about it today.
There is no equipment required for this workout, except a towel and a mat. The cardio runs 40 minutes in length. It is then followed by a 20 minute athletic stretch.
For the warm-up, you'll use the towel to help you stretch and add resistance to your movements. Michelle starts out a bit slower than usual with squats, side lunges, knee lifts, and planks.
For the next thirty minutes, you move non-stop. Unlike the Peak 10 workouts, you get no breaks; this is non-stop athletic conditioning. Ha! These are mostly high-impact moves - athletic instead of dancey - so shoes are necessary, unlike in the first BodyFit. An example of one circuit in this section is scissor legs into a touch-down lunge, courtesy lunges, ski jumps, jacks & hamstring curls, skipping, kneeling lunges, plank kicks, and high kicks. Whew! Then you repeat that on the other leg.
After all that cardio, you move to the floor for about five minutes of arm and ab work. You'll need that towel again for this section, which is not easy but at least you're done jumping around!
Michelle then leads you through a wonderful stretch - 20 minutes of stretching! (The DVD also has chapters so you can straight to this stretch if you want to add it on to a different workout. That's very nice!) Michelle incorporates a bit of yoga here, which is a great way to stretch out your hips and legs. You need this after the cardio!
I really do enjoy this workout. The cardio is different and unique so I really feel challenged when I go through it. But since it's only 30 minutes, I never feel fatigued afterward. The stretch is great - by itself or after the intense cardio of the first half of the DVD. This workout is worth every penny.
For a preview of this workout, go here.
Bottom Line: This is a great way for an advanced exerciser to be challenged in new and different ways - even with stretching.
There is no equipment required for this workout, except a towel and a mat. The cardio runs 40 minutes in length. It is then followed by a 20 minute athletic stretch.
For the warm-up, you'll use the towel to help you stretch and add resistance to your movements. Michelle starts out a bit slower than usual with squats, side lunges, knee lifts, and planks.
For the next thirty minutes, you move non-stop. Unlike the Peak 10 workouts, you get no breaks; this is non-stop athletic conditioning. Ha! These are mostly high-impact moves - athletic instead of dancey - so shoes are necessary, unlike in the first BodyFit. An example of one circuit in this section is scissor legs into a touch-down lunge, courtesy lunges, ski jumps, jacks & hamstring curls, skipping, kneeling lunges, plank kicks, and high kicks. Whew! Then you repeat that on the other leg.
After all that cardio, you move to the floor for about five minutes of arm and ab work. You'll need that towel again for this section, which is not easy but at least you're done jumping around!
Michelle then leads you through a wonderful stretch - 20 minutes of stretching! (The DVD also has chapters so you can straight to this stretch if you want to add it on to a different workout. That's very nice!) Michelle incorporates a bit of yoga here, which is a great way to stretch out your hips and legs. You need this after the cardio!
I really do enjoy this workout. The cardio is different and unique so I really feel challenged when I go through it. But since it's only 30 minutes, I never feel fatigued afterward. The stretch is great - by itself or after the intense cardio of the first half of the DVD. This workout is worth every penny.
For a preview of this workout, go here.
Bottom Line: This is a great way for an advanced exerciser to be challenged in new and different ways - even with stretching.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
The Archies: 2014
With a new year comes the wrapping up of the old one. It's that time again: time to reflect upon a year gone by and what we did during that year. It's time again for The Archies! This idea came from Donna and it's something I've really enjoyed doing. It's basically a list of my 50 favorite things from the year. Every year you compile a list, you add an additional item, so I'm now up to 55! See also 2013, 2012, and 2011. Okay, here we go....
1. a new work
best friend.
2. work
wellness program.
4. yoga at the
rec center.
5. new dishes –
our first new dishes! fiestaware.
7. TCU
football.
8. Cane Rosso.
9. EDGE OF
TOMORROW.
10. Erin Condren planners.
11. FitBit
Flex.
13. Nevis.
14. FitnessGlo.
15. Ron Jon
Surf Shop, Port Canaveral.
16. Micelle
Dozois’ Peak 10 Challenge.
17. Happy Coladas.
19. my honey cowl.
20. hard-boiled
eggs and omelets. i’m finally an
adult. ha!
21. a book
group.
22. new accent
walls in the house.
23. Taco Diner.
24. Blue Bell's Coconut Fudge - delicious.
25. CAPTAIN
AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
26. a new hair
salon/stylist.
27. new Sundance Square.
29. The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas.
30. Cleopatra: A Life.
31. Jalapeño Lime Chicken Soup - our favorite soup, ever.
32. walking and
doing weights at the rec center.
33. Iguana Joe’s,
Aruba.
34. cinnamon
margaritas.
35. new BodyFit
360 workouts (Michelle Dozois).
36. Big Brownie Cookies.
37. Taco Bell’s
Doritos Locos tacos. never thought i'd like Taco Bell.
38. “Gotham.”
39. Greek
yogurt. i’m now a fan.
40. Project Life,
Sunshine edition. i’m using it for
2015.
41. Sandbar,
Port Canaveral.
42. new
couch/chairs in the house.
43. my own
Keurig.
44. X-MEN: DAYS
OF FUTURE PAST
45. work
conferences, in interesting places like Las Vegas.
46. “SHEILD” –
it finally got good.
47. The Boys in the Boat.
49. Broccoli Salad Slaw.
50. The
Cloisters, Nassau, The Bahamas.
51. GUARDIANS
OF THE GALAXY score.
52. Nachi
Cocum, Cozumel.
53. lentils.
Wow! 2014 was quite a year! Filled with food (obviously), family, fitness, and fun! Here's hoping your 2015 is a great one!
Monday, January 12, 2015
Combat Challenge: Week 1
The week before last, after New Years in Tennessee, I got home and prepared to get back in to the routine, the workout routine, that is.
Saturday: Michelle Dozois' Rockin' Body Cardio
After going up and down stairs all day to pack up Christmas decorations, I was not physically ready to do anything more difficult than this cardio workout. I needed to ease back into working out after 10 days of lethargy with family, and this video fit the bill. I sweated and got my heart rate up without killing myself. Yay!
Sunday: Peak 10 Cardio Interval Burn Remix
I was ready to really work today. Since I meant to do this workout right before leaving for the holidays and did not, I did it today. It's still a favorite!
---------------------------------
This week, I start my first 8-week Les Mills' Combat Challenge. This program has been on my wishlist for a long time and I finally received it for Christmas this year.
Monday: Combat 30 - Kick Start + Dozois' Calorie Burning Cardio Blast + walk
My first day of Combat! I was a bit surprised at how little actual cardio there was in the Kick Start workout, which runs for 30 minutes. There were tons of punches and kicks. I sweated and my heart rate was up but I immediately began to worry about losing weight with so little cardio. To start my workout, I did Michelle's 15-minute cardio blast on Glo. That sure got me going! At lunch, I walked at the rec center.
Tuesday: Combat Shock Plyo HIIT 2 + Ilyse Baker's Dance Intervals 101 + weights
I started my workout off with 15 minutes of Ilyse's dance workout. It really gets you moving fast. Then on to my second Combat workout - Shock Plyo (30 minutes). I was a bit worried after the crazy hard warm-up..... But that ended up being shorter bursts of the same moves done later in the video. Still, this was a tough workout. At lunch, I did weights at work. My arms were achy from all the punches done the day before, but I got through my weight routine with minimal pain.
Wednesday: Combat 30 - Kick Start + Dozois' Calorie Burning Cardio Blast
The workout calendar for Combat had this workout done twice in the first week. Okay... I don't know if I'll ever do it twice in one week again but at least I had a chance to get more familiar with it. I may sub in more intense cardio next time. I started off with Michelle's cardio workout again; it's just so good. Is there anything that Michelle does badly?
Thursday: Combat Power HIIT 1 + Dozois' Quick Lower Body Shape-Up
Since the Power HIIT used weights, I decided to add in Michelle's weighted leg routine from Glo. This one always makes my legs burn. Power HIIT (again, 30 minutes) began with another crazy intense warm-up and then weights for about 10 minutes. Ouch! The cardio that then followed was 90% burpees - tons of them with various slight modifications. I don't mind burpees but is that really all they could come up with? It gets a bit redundant. In the future, I don't see myself looking forward to this particular workout.
Friday: Dozois' BodyFit 360 Vol. 3: Athletic Conditioning
What I really wanted to do, and what was on my schedule to do - since this was my "rest" day on the Combat calendar - was Dynamic Flexibility. But my holiday weight doesn't seem to be budging (I refuse to actually get on the scale for another week or so) - sigh. So I opted for Michelle's Athletic Conditioning. It contains 25 minutes of good, effective cardio, followed by arms, abs, and then stretching. Very nice!
Saturday: Combat 60 - Extreme Cardio Fighter
I had no idea what to expect from this new video. It turned out to be a lot like Combat 30 - but a bit more difficult with more cardio. There was one 6 minute segment near the end that really tested my cardio limits. Holy cow! I did some of my own cardio to stretch this into a full 60 minute workout and then I stretched. I love stretching!
Sunday: Michelle's Cardio Interval Burn on Glo
The Combat schedule called for another round to Combat 60 today, but I wanted more sustained, full-body cardio. And I missed Michelle and Peak 10. I think I'll do at least one of these a week. I miss them too much if I don't do them!
Calorie Counts:
Monday - 1263
Tuesday - 1293
Wednesday - 1288
Thursday - 1263
Friday - 1425
Saturday - 1274
Sunday - 1389
My new goal for calories is to stay under 1300. I was super happy with myself for being good on Monday through Thursday, even with one day of eating out for lunch. We stayed in on Friday, trying to save money and calories. I splurged on dessert, but was otherwise good. Saturday was easy to stay on track, for some reason, but I allowed myself a few extra calories on Sunday.
Saturday: Michelle Dozois' Rockin' Body Cardio
After going up and down stairs all day to pack up Christmas decorations, I was not physically ready to do anything more difficult than this cardio workout. I needed to ease back into working out after 10 days of lethargy with family, and this video fit the bill. I sweated and got my heart rate up without killing myself. Yay!
Sunday: Peak 10 Cardio Interval Burn Remix
I was ready to really work today. Since I meant to do this workout right before leaving for the holidays and did not, I did it today. It's still a favorite!
---------------------------------
This week, I start my first 8-week Les Mills' Combat Challenge. This program has been on my wishlist for a long time and I finally received it for Christmas this year.
Monday: Combat 30 - Kick Start + Dozois' Calorie Burning Cardio Blast + walk
My first day of Combat! I was a bit surprised at how little actual cardio there was in the Kick Start workout, which runs for 30 minutes. There were tons of punches and kicks. I sweated and my heart rate was up but I immediately began to worry about losing weight with so little cardio. To start my workout, I did Michelle's 15-minute cardio blast on Glo. That sure got me going! At lunch, I walked at the rec center.
Tuesday: Combat Shock Plyo HIIT 2 + Ilyse Baker's Dance Intervals 101 + weights
I started my workout off with 15 minutes of Ilyse's dance workout. It really gets you moving fast. Then on to my second Combat workout - Shock Plyo (30 minutes). I was a bit worried after the crazy hard warm-up..... But that ended up being shorter bursts of the same moves done later in the video. Still, this was a tough workout. At lunch, I did weights at work. My arms were achy from all the punches done the day before, but I got through my weight routine with minimal pain.
Wednesday: Combat 30 - Kick Start + Dozois' Calorie Burning Cardio Blast
The workout calendar for Combat had this workout done twice in the first week. Okay... I don't know if I'll ever do it twice in one week again but at least I had a chance to get more familiar with it. I may sub in more intense cardio next time. I started off with Michelle's cardio workout again; it's just so good. Is there anything that Michelle does badly?
Thursday: Combat Power HIIT 1 + Dozois' Quick Lower Body Shape-Up
Since the Power HIIT used weights, I decided to add in Michelle's weighted leg routine from Glo. This one always makes my legs burn. Power HIIT (again, 30 minutes) began with another crazy intense warm-up and then weights for about 10 minutes. Ouch! The cardio that then followed was 90% burpees - tons of them with various slight modifications. I don't mind burpees but is that really all they could come up with? It gets a bit redundant. In the future, I don't see myself looking forward to this particular workout.
Friday: Dozois' BodyFit 360 Vol. 3: Athletic Conditioning
What I really wanted to do, and what was on my schedule to do - since this was my "rest" day on the Combat calendar - was Dynamic Flexibility. But my holiday weight doesn't seem to be budging (I refuse to actually get on the scale for another week or so) - sigh. So I opted for Michelle's Athletic Conditioning. It contains 25 minutes of good, effective cardio, followed by arms, abs, and then stretching. Very nice!
Saturday: Combat 60 - Extreme Cardio Fighter
I had no idea what to expect from this new video. It turned out to be a lot like Combat 30 - but a bit more difficult with more cardio. There was one 6 minute segment near the end that really tested my cardio limits. Holy cow! I did some of my own cardio to stretch this into a full 60 minute workout and then I stretched. I love stretching!
Sunday: Michelle's Cardio Interval Burn on Glo
The Combat schedule called for another round to Combat 60 today, but I wanted more sustained, full-body cardio. And I missed Michelle and Peak 10. I think I'll do at least one of these a week. I miss them too much if I don't do them!
Calorie Counts:
Monday - 1263
Tuesday - 1293
Wednesday - 1288
Thursday - 1263
Friday - 1425
Saturday - 1274
Sunday - 1389
My new goal for calories is to stay under 1300. I was super happy with myself for being good on Monday through Thursday, even with one day of eating out for lunch. We stayed in on Friday, trying to save money and calories. I splurged on dessert, but was otherwise good. Saturday was easy to stay on track, for some reason, but I allowed myself a few extra calories on Sunday.
Friday, January 9, 2015
Craft Update
I'm busily trying to get some crafty projects wrapped up now that 2014 is over. Here's what is on my plate....
--Project Life. I still need to wrap up 2014 and get my title page done for 2015. My kit for 2015: Sunshine! I'm super excited to dig into that and see all the pretty new designs!
--December Daily. This year, I bought a kit from Gossamer Blue and it's just too cute. I'm about a quarter of the way done and, obviously, have a lot more to do. Hopefully, I can made some good headway this weekend.
--Knitting. It's falling by the wayside, though I did have time over Christmas break to start on my first adult sweater. Yay! I already have my first knit night scheduled for 2015 - next week! So I'll get some done then.
--Card-Making. Before too much of 2015 gets away from me, I need to make a new batch of birthday cards. There are so many birthdays coming up this winter/spring so I need to be well stocked!
--Reading isn't really a craft but at least I make progress on that front! I have two books going - one, for my book group, is non-fiction. One of my 2015 goals is to read five non-fiction works so that's good!
There's never enough time to do all the crafty things I want to do. Le sigh.
--Project Life. I still need to wrap up 2014 and get my title page done for 2015. My kit for 2015: Sunshine! I'm super excited to dig into that and see all the pretty new designs!
--December Daily. This year, I bought a kit from Gossamer Blue and it's just too cute. I'm about a quarter of the way done and, obviously, have a lot more to do. Hopefully, I can made some good headway this weekend.
--Knitting. It's falling by the wayside, though I did have time over Christmas break to start on my first adult sweater. Yay! I already have my first knit night scheduled for 2015 - next week! So I'll get some done then.
--Card-Making. Before too much of 2015 gets away from me, I need to make a new batch of birthday cards. There are so many birthdays coming up this winter/spring so I need to be well stocked!
--Reading isn't really a craft but at least I make progress on that front! I have two books going - one, for my book group, is non-fiction. One of my 2015 goals is to read five non-fiction works so that's good!
There's never enough time to do all the crafty things I want to do. Le sigh.
Monday, January 5, 2015
Pillars of the Earth
I was so close to finishing Pillars of the Earth in 2014, but alas that did not happen.
Here's the review I posted to Goodreads.
This novel has been on my "to read" list for ages. It's been recommended to me countless times by historians and history lovers alike.
About five years ago, when I first tried to read Pillars of the Earth, I didn't last long - only until Follett misstated the vows of monks. Disgusted, I set the novel aside. I picked it up again in August - and only now finished it. The main reason it took so very long was because this is not a book that can easily be carried around; it's just too big.
I both loved and hated this story. It was much darker than I expected but I love the architecture talk throughout. I hated the disgusting antagonist but loved Aliena and her story. The story is so dark that I fear anyone with no concept of history will truly think that the Middle Ages were the Dark Ages, with good reason. My inner historian shudders at the thought of this.
Follett's World Without End sits on my bookshelf, untouched. I honestly don't know if I'll ever pick it up.
About five years ago, when I first tried to read Pillars of the Earth, I didn't last long - only until Follett misstated the vows of monks. Disgusted, I set the novel aside. I picked it up again in August - and only now finished it. The main reason it took so very long was because this is not a book that can easily be carried around; it's just too big.
I both loved and hated this story. It was much darker than I expected but I love the architecture talk throughout. I hated the disgusting antagonist but loved Aliena and her story. The story is so dark that I fear anyone with no concept of history will truly think that the Middle Ages were the Dark Ages, with good reason. My inner historian shudders at the thought of this.
Follett's World Without End sits on my bookshelf, untouched. I honestly don't know if I'll ever pick it up.
Friday, January 2, 2015
Goals for 2015
Last year was the first year that I set goals for myself. These were not resolutions (I hate that term) but merely things i wanted to accomplish. I did a pretty good job at accomplishing those goals. They kept me motivated and focused during the chaos that life tends to be.
Since this was a success, I think I'll set some new goals for next year!
1. Lose my holiday and cruise weight. Along those lines, do Les Mills' Combat program, which I received as a Christmas gift, and complete at least one Peak 10 Challenge. Continue to utilize my rec center membership for weights and yoga.
2. Read 22 books this year. At least 5 of those need to be non-fiction.
3. Try 10 new recipes.....not as many as last year but there's only so many great recipes one can find, especially considering how little cooking I actually do.
4. Knit my first adult sweater.
5. The biggie: finish my novel and contact publishers.
Wish me luck!
Since this was a success, I think I'll set some new goals for next year!
1. Lose my holiday and cruise weight. Along those lines, do Les Mills' Combat program, which I received as a Christmas gift, and complete at least one Peak 10 Challenge. Continue to utilize my rec center membership for weights and yoga.
2. Read 22 books this year. At least 5 of those need to be non-fiction.
3. Try 10 new recipes.....not as many as last year but there's only so many great recipes one can find, especially considering how little cooking I actually do.
4. Knit my first adult sweater.
5. The biggie: finish my novel and contact publishers.
Wish me luck!
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Goals for 2014: Recap
Remember this post? I set goals for 2014 - not resolutions, but goals to help me accomplish things without getting bogged down in too many things.
1. Work on my genealogy stuff (as mentioned before). Specifically, I want and need to get through the stack of papers my in-laws brought in October - which I haven't touched. Done! I know have tons of family information in my Family Tree Maker.
2. Lose my cruise/holiday weight (as mentioned before)....and get stronger while improving my flexibility. Michelle Dozois, here I come! I lost my cruise weight - several times, in fact,, my holiday weight....and I got down to my lowest weight in a very long time. And then came hyperthyroidism, radiation, and hypothyroidism. Michelle Dozois' Peak 10 Challenge was great! I did it twice in 2014! I also started weight training and yoga at the campus rec. This goal was definitely accomplished!
3. Read 20 books this year. Last year I read 16 so surely this is doable. Done! I read 23 books and was so close to finishing one more. Arg!
4. Try 20 new recipes (20 seems to be my magic number). I really want to do more in the kitchen, especially more new stuff! I love the foods I make....so I want to keep making them! But I'm going to try new things!! This is partly inspired by my friend, SK, who set a great kitchen goal last year and met it! Um....I tried 42 new recipes in 2014. Wow! I'm truly amazed by that number! There's no way I can do that again but I'll try to do some....maybe the original goal of 20. Ha!
5. Knit 3 projects this year. I don't care what they are, even if they're dishcloths....I just want to do more knitting. Fail. I finished one project this year. Sigh.
6. The biggie: finish my novel. I'm so close.... Aha! I finished....with only a few holes to fill in. The novel is also edited. It just requires a bit of work to fill in some places . Still, so close!
1. Work on my genealogy stuff (as mentioned before). Specifically, I want and need to get through the stack of papers my in-laws brought in October - which I haven't touched. Done! I know have tons of family information in my Family Tree Maker.
2. Lose my cruise/holiday weight (as mentioned before)....and get stronger while improving my flexibility. Michelle Dozois, here I come! I lost my cruise weight - several times, in fact,, my holiday weight....and I got down to my lowest weight in a very long time. And then came hyperthyroidism, radiation, and hypothyroidism. Michelle Dozois' Peak 10 Challenge was great! I did it twice in 2014! I also started weight training and yoga at the campus rec. This goal was definitely accomplished!
3. Read 20 books this year. Last year I read 16 so surely this is doable. Done! I read 23 books and was so close to finishing one more. Arg!
4. Try 20 new recipes (20 seems to be my magic number). I really want to do more in the kitchen, especially more new stuff! I love the foods I make....so I want to keep making them! But I'm going to try new things!! This is partly inspired by my friend, SK, who set a great kitchen goal last year and met it! Um....I tried 42 new recipes in 2014. Wow! I'm truly amazed by that number! There's no way I can do that again but I'll try to do some....maybe the original goal of 20. Ha!
5. Knit 3 projects this year. I don't care what they are, even if they're dishcloths....I just want to do more knitting. Fail. I finished one project this year. Sigh.
6. The biggie: finish my novel. I'm so close.... Aha! I finished....with only a few holes to fill in. The novel is also edited. It just requires a bit of work to fill in some places . Still, so close!
Friday, December 26, 2014
The Best Snickerdoodles (2014:42)
My last new recipe of 2014........
While doing some holiday baking with my mom, she mentioned snickerdoodles and how she didn't remember ever making them. I couldn't believe it until I realized that I've been baking on my own for quite a while now. It's scary how long I've been baking on my own. Ha!
I loved the Skinny Snickerdoodles I made at the beginning of the year - so much so that I made them again right after Thanksgiving. They were even better than I remembered! But my parents weren't looking for skinny options so I found this recipe for The Best Snickerdoodles. Mom and I went to work in the kitchen.
Baking with my mom is so much fun and brings me great joy. It's saddened me the last few years that we didn't have time to bake together so this year was wonderful!
I laughed out loud when the recipe said to roll the dough into balls before refrigerating. Yeah, no. We refrigerated the dough, rolled it, dredged it, pressed it down a bit, and baked it. They came out wonderful. I could taste the butter that was not as present in the Skinny recipe! LOL!
These were good for the holiday....but I'll stick to the Skinny version at home. There's not a huge difference - mainly size....and butter content.
While doing some holiday baking with my mom, she mentioned snickerdoodles and how she didn't remember ever making them. I couldn't believe it until I realized that I've been baking on my own for quite a while now. It's scary how long I've been baking on my own. Ha!
I loved the Skinny Snickerdoodles I made at the beginning of the year - so much so that I made them again right after Thanksgiving. They were even better than I remembered! But my parents weren't looking for skinny options so I found this recipe for The Best Snickerdoodles. Mom and I went to work in the kitchen.
Baking with my mom is so much fun and brings me great joy. It's saddened me the last few years that we didn't have time to bake together so this year was wonderful!
I laughed out loud when the recipe said to roll the dough into balls before refrigerating. Yeah, no. We refrigerated the dough, rolled it, dredged it, pressed it down a bit, and baked it. They came out wonderful. I could taste the butter that was not as present in the Skinny recipe! LOL!
These were good for the holiday....but I'll stick to the Skinny version at home. There's not a huge difference - mainly size....and butter content.
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Candy Cane Chocolate Fudge (2014:41)
Merry Christmas Eve! I have a Christmas recipe to share with you today!
I love chocolate and mint. When I discovered peppermint bark a few Christmases ago, I was in heaven. A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon this recipe for Candy Cane Chocolate Fudge and was instantly sold.
This recipe is similar to my mom's easy fudge recipe - condensed milk, chocolate chips, vanilla...microwaved. I was determined to make this recipe in the microwave as well.
The hardest part of this new recipe turned out to be chopping up (er, hammering with a rolling pin) of the candy canes. Ugh! From my one attempt at making peppermint bark, I knew to dread this step and I hated it this time, too. But, once done, this recipe was easy. I even used low-fat condensed milk.
The only part that didn't work was the "swirl" part, which I left out of the title. A co-worker of mine hates cocoa so I had to leave the chips off of a strip for her. By the time I got them in the rest of it, the chocolate had cooled and didn't melt the chips sufficiently.
But it still tasted great! I loved it! Not everyone I know likes peppermint/chocolate, including Mr. Higgins, so not everyone loved this. But those of us who like that combination really enjoyed it!
I love chocolate and mint. When I discovered peppermint bark a few Christmases ago, I was in heaven. A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon this recipe for Candy Cane Chocolate Fudge and was instantly sold.
This recipe is similar to my mom's easy fudge recipe - condensed milk, chocolate chips, vanilla...microwaved. I was determined to make this recipe in the microwave as well.
The hardest part of this new recipe turned out to be chopping up (er, hammering with a rolling pin) of the candy canes. Ugh! From my one attempt at making peppermint bark, I knew to dread this step and I hated it this time, too. But, once done, this recipe was easy. I even used low-fat condensed milk.
The only part that didn't work was the "swirl" part, which I left out of the title. A co-worker of mine hates cocoa so I had to leave the chips off of a strip for her. By the time I got them in the rest of it, the chocolate had cooled and didn't melt the chips sufficiently.
But it still tasted great! I loved it! Not everyone I know likes peppermint/chocolate, including Mr. Higgins, so not everyone loved this. But those of us who like that combination really enjoyed it!
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