Sunday Morning in Cleveland Circle

This morning I woke up early and tried a new delicious concoction of mine for breakfast:

• Plain Chobani Yogurt
• Granola
• Sliced white peaches
• Scoop of almond butter

Mixed all together, this tastes great!

I then packed a bag and ventured toward Cleveland Circle, specifically the Chestnut Hill Reservoir.  My original intentions were to just go for a walk and then lay out a little, but I ended up doing a full blown outdoor workout.

I began with one walking loop around the reservoir (about 1.5 miles).  It was a pretty path, so I  snapped a lot of photos for you guys!

I then upped my pace and did another 1.5 mile loop, this time jogging.  No pictures from this time around.  I can’t remember the last time I went for an actual run outside, so I was proud that I could do the whole 1.5 without stopping.

Then I got all bootcampish on myself.  I did two of the superset combos I had my bootcamp class do on Thursday.  And I did some stairs in between sets.  So the workout became:

Set 1

• 60 seconds forward lunges (using the step for a little incline)
• 60 seconds jump squats
• 60 seconds stair run

Set 2

• 60 seconds plie squats
• 60 seconds jumping jacks
• 60 seconds stair run

Then I repeated sets 1 and 2 but lowered the time to 40 seconds each.  The stairs were really tough.

Set 3 concentrated on outer thigh and obliques:

• Side leg lift on right side, with oblique dip at same time.  2 sets of 8, and 8 pulses.
• 60 seconds of side to side oblique twists
• Side leg lift combo on the left side
• 60 seconds of side to side oblique twists

Set 4 finished up abs:

• Sitting, heels on ground in front.  Lower and lift for 3 sets of 8.  Then lift feet off ground and do seated rotations 3 sets of 8.
• Hold feet off ground in front, extend legs and lean back, then crunch up for 3 sets of 8.
• Finished with regular crunches with my feet in the air.

My beach towel made a nice substitute for an ab mat.  And doing ab work with the sun shining through the trees is way cooler than being at the gym.

After my workout I was hoping to jump in the Reilly swimming pool but it was closed!  I was so bummed because I really wanted some sun time this weekend.  Instead I brought my beach chair out to the field and set up there, all sweaty, and read for a bit.  After about an hour it got really cloudy, so I headed home.  Now I’m going to make the delicious shrimp salad I had for lunch on Friday, run some errands, and head to Jeff & Jill’s BBQ.

Question of the day:  What’s your favorite outdoor workout?

Hope everyone is enjoying their Labor Day weekend!

Healthy Living on the Road: Day 4

Today was Travel Day # 4.  We were in Fort Collins for most of the day for our kickoff at Poudre Valley.  After our day on site we drove to Denver to stay at the airport hotel so we could be closer for our flight home tomorrow.  I am definitely ready to be home!

Here’s how I did today:

Pre-Workout Snack:  Banana

Workout:  Colleen and I obviously researched ahead of time and found a nearby rec center.  This one was really nice!  I wish we could have stayed longer.  Today I did 30 minutes on the elliptical so I didn’t have as much time for weights after.  But I still got a lot in.

• Jumping Jacks / Squats:  2 jacks into a regular squat.  Repeat until tired.
• Plank on the Bosu:  Hold 30 seconds, then add spiderman knees for 10.
• Squat twists with medicine ball:  Squat and twist down to the left, then as you come out of the squat, lift the medicine ball overhead to the right while lifting the left leg up for glute work.  Repeat 10 times.  Then hold squat and repeat 10 regular squats, curling ball down and up with the squat.
• Tricep Extensions (I think Colleen’s favorite new move???):  Today we did single arms.  Starting on the right, extend to 4 o’clock 10 times, then 5 o’clock 10 times, then 6 o’clock 10 times, finishing with 10 pulses w/palm to ceiling.  Repeat on left at 8, 7, and 6.
• Squat twists with medicine ball to the other direction.
• Oblique ball twists:  Holding medicine ball in front of abdomen, twist side to side for one minute.
• Chest & Abs Combo:  Holding legs straight up over hips and arms straight up with weights, palms in.  Extend left leg down and right arm out to the side (reverse fly) then bring back up.  Then right leg down with left arm out to the side.  Repeat alternating sides for 10, then do 10 with both arms and legs together.
• Abs:  Legs straight out in front of you, feet flexed up.  Hands behind head, elbows in.  10 crunches.  Then 10 crunches with right leg lifted.  Then 10 crunches left leg lifted.
• Abs:  Hug knees into chest, lift head off ground.  Extend legs out in front and arms out overhead.  Repeat 10 then hold the last one ten seconds.
• Obliques:  Feet flat on ground, reaching side to side to tap each heel.
• Chest / Abs:  On the bosu, 10 spiderman pushups, then finishing holding the plank for one minute.

Proud of myself for getting 4 straight workout days in while on the road!

Breakfast:  Another oatmeal and fruit day.  And of course I had to stock up on my snacks for the rest of the day / tomorrow.

Lunch:  The hospital provided lunch from Panera.  I ate half a smoked turkey sandwich with Greek salad (no olives!) and a pickle on the side.

Afternoon Snack:  Clif bar

Dinner:   We drove to Denver after the hospital to be closer to the airport for our flight out tomorrow morning.  Pretty much the only restaurant in site is this Italian restaurant called Di Cicco’s.  It actually kind of looks like it used to be a strip club.  Right near all the airport hotels, no real windows, a stage inside.  The food (and wine!) is good though!  We ate here last time we were out in this area in April.  It’s just really funny.

Look at this awkward quote about pizza they have as part of their menu:

I ordered a shrimp salad (no disgusting club sandwich tonight) and minestrone soup.  And since it was the last night of travel, 2 glasses of red wine.

Now I’m back at my hotel and ready to go to sleep early.  Excited to be home tomorrow.  Tim and I are going to have a date night I think, then Saturday is the picnic / Tim’s after party (definitely going to be my cheat day), and Sunday day is up in the air.  Have my cousin’s goodbye party at night.

Question of the Day:  What do you find most challenging about making good choices on the road?

Have a great night!