If you are in the mood to A) sweat B) get your heart rate pumpin’ and C) work those buns…then I have the Circuit Workout for you! The sister called me the other day and gave me this awesome series of exercises she came up with. Considering I am doing the 20 Day Holiday Workout Challenge, I decided to give it a try.

Lower Body Circuit Workout

1. 10 burpees

2. 30 frog squats

3. 15 squats + 10 lb medicine ball

4. 15 lunges (on each leg) + arm exercise (bicep curls, hammer curls, lunch trays, triceps)

5. 60-seconds jump rope

6. 50 abs

7. 15 leg raises (on each leg) with 8 lb. weight

8. 10 pushups

*rest 30 seconds*

DO IT AGAIN! DO IT AGAIN! DO IT AGAIN! (x4 in total)

So, before I did this circuit workout, I warmed up with 10 minutes on the stair-stepper. I turned it to the “Fat Burner” setting, which is really just set to intervals. I try and do anywhere between 10-20 minutes of cardio before any sort of strength workout to get my heart rate up there a little bit and to loosen up my muscles. 

About this circuit…I was feeling good through the 1st and 2nd time through and then I really started to feel it in my gluts and butt by the 3rd and 4th sets. Burpees kill me and frog squats make me want to cry. BUT, I can definitely feel it the next day…which = a successful workout in my mind. It took me a little over 30 minutes to complete. What I like about this is that you do not stop. It’s BOOM BOOM BOOM. I also like the variation. It gives me something to look forward too (as opposed to running 4 miles on a treadmill, that gets kind of boring).

I need to start incorporating more of these into my weekly workouts. What are your thoughts on circuit workouts?

Anyways, I wanted to show you guys what I made my friends this year for Christmukkah. I am a sucker for homemade gifts, so this year that is just what I did! One of my goals is obviously to spread the love of oatmeal, so I present you with….Overnight Oats in a Mason Jar

Overnight Oats in a Mason Jar 

What’s in the jar?

-1/2C Quick Cooking Oatmeal

-1/2T chia seeds

-1/2t cinnamon

-1T chopped walnuts

-2T raisins/craisins

What to do with the jar?

1. Add 1 Cup of water or milk, then stir.

2. Place in the refrigerator over night.

3. In the AM you can either eat it as is, or pop it in the microwave for a minute or so.

*Serve with sliced banana and nut butter.

This really is the perfect Lee gift, no?

It was inexpensive, delicious, and YOU GET TO KEEP THE MASON JAR

I don’t know about you, but I would be ecstatic if I recieved a gift like this one. Even though this wasn’t the most expensive gift idea, it was from the heart and that’s all that matters.

I am off to Milwaukee in the AM!. Catcha in Packer-ville.
-L

What are your thoughts on Circuit Workouts?


What is the best homemade gift you ever received/made? 

It’s Friday It’s Friday! Yippie Yahoooo! Can you tell I’m slowly but surely coming down with a mad case of Senioritis? Wait…I’m not a senior yet. Well I sure feel like one! I scheduled classes yesterday Mmmmm, love the fact that I get priority over all of the under classmen!

As of right now I am registered for a few too many classes, but I can’t decide on which ones I want to take! I’d take them all if I was a superstar. Here’s are my options so far….

Environmental Health

Issues in Environmental and Occupational Health

Issues in Hispanic Cultures

Intro-Human Centered Design

Holistic Health and Healing

Mindfulness Stress Reduction

Vines and Wines [yes this is a class about vino!]

Help me choose! Which ones would you take if you were me?!

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I am also lovin’ the breakfast I just ate…I call this Garbage Pile Overnight Oats

Is there really oatmeal underneath all that stuff? yesssss!! I was obviously just feeling the toppings this morning

I used my normal overnight oat recipe: 1/5C rolled oats, 1/5C oat bran, 1/2C vanilla almond milk, 1/2C water, 1T chia seeds, and cinnamon. Then, I went a little wild and crazy with the toppings

Sliced nanner, sliced strawberries, raisins, 2T quinoa spelt cereal, 2T Love Grown Foods’ Sweet Cranberry Pecan Granola, sunflower seeds…..

Think I was forgetting something?? I finished my luscious bowl of overnight oats off with nothing better than peanut flour sauce!

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On to a more…touchey subject. The birthday.

This girl will be turning 21 on Sunday!! Yahoo? Naaaahoo! I actually have a lot of anxiety about my 21st birthday. Not only am I one more year closer to 30, but being 21 comes with a lot of added pressure! First and foremost, I’m old.

Second: me no like alcohol mucho.

I’ve dealt with peer pressure about drinking since high school and I and was never really into it. I’ve had few “fun nights” during college, but drinking has never really been something I enjoying doing. I really don’t like the taste of hard alcohol and beer makes my tummy hurt. The only type of alcohol I enjoy in moderation, is a good glass of wine.

So. Now that I am 21, I feel like my excuse for being “underage” just goes out the window. Yes, I am absolutely excited to be able to socialize at the bars with my fellow “of age friends,” but I don’t know if I am ready for the amount of pressure that is going to be put on me to drink drink drink.

When I tell people I don’t drink, they become more socially awkward than me! When they ask me why… I honestly don’t have a concrete reason to tell them. Can’t I just say no?

*idea* I should just start telling people I am deathly allergic and then they’ll just stop pressuring me!

So anyways…now that we are on this birthday talk: Look at the amazing t-shirts my sissy made me for my birthday! I might have forced her give them to me early. I hate surprises.

Wheee! Love. Them. Best sister ever!!!!

Speaking of sister, she is going to be here any minute for our morning workoutski!!

Have an awesome weekend!

What did you have for breakfast on this beautiful Friday?

How do you overcome pressure to do something you don’t want to do?