That's Rad!

Finding balance and making time for a healthy lifestyle
My name is Jenn * I live a healthy life * I exercise every day * I work full time * I love good food that fuels my body *
I love music * I get tattooed * I am a lover not a fighter * I laugh at inappropriate times *
I love the word RAD * I blog about my life as it is. Not how I want it to be * I am my own motivation *
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Sooo... Today went by pretty quickly. ~ Lotus and Pie

New post up about why my Monday went by quickly and a quick upper body workout ;)

TGIF

Man, do I have that Friday feeling or what?!  WHAT?!!  I don’t even have plans tonight.  I am just really excited about going home.  Not drinking.  Watching some catch up TV.  Passing out early.  Man, I am getting old aren’t I?  I think it is because of the four day week after the Bank Holiday long weekend.  It always feels like it drags.

Don’t judge me too much.  Tuesday night Michelle and I went to go and see Bring Me The Horizon at Koko.  It was awesome and we had such a good night, singing along and dancing as per usual.

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Just a small crowd really.

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This is the shirt I was wearing.  I bought it from General Pants in Australia when I was there earlier this year. Pretty cool huh? Surf’s up!

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I look like I have beaver teeth in this photo, but I love it anyway!

So I wasn’t really in the mood to get up and go for a workout on Wednesday morning.  I was feeling a bit dusty and knew that I would make it up to myself on Thursday.


Thursday WOD
5mins cross trainer warm up
Back squats
Bar only (20kg) – 3 x 12 reps
Deadlifts
30kg – 3 x 12 reps
40kg – 3 x 8 reps
50kg – 3 x 5 reps
55kg – 3 reps
*Then the bar started slipping out of my hands and I gave up.
Calf press on the leg press machine
125kg – 3 x 15 reps
On legged press on leg press machine
35kg – 3 x 10 reps
Wide leg press
55kg – 10 reps
65kg – 5 reps
Pull up practise
Quite a few goes at lifting myself up with assistance, then letting myself down without assistance
Quite a few goes at pull ups with someone holding my feet for assistance
428Kcal burnt for this workout.  Those deadlifts really got my heart rate so high! But, I can feel myself getting stronger - which makes me super happy.



So, a tangent - my little brother was living in Canada the last few years, but at the moment he is in Tasmania with my Mum, before starting a snow season at Falls Creek in Victoria.  Mum and Spike are teasing me by sending through beautiful photos of the sunset view from mum’s place.

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I love a sun burnt country…

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I love MY sun burnt country.  This was the same night, I believe.  You could take 100 photos and they would all be different.  I remember nights at home, sitting on the deck drinking beer and eating great food, talking sh*t and watching the sunsets.
Am I homesick?  YES.  I 100% am right now.
Friday WOD
10mins cardio on treadmill
1min walking 6.5
1min running 9, 11, 13, 14
10 burpees
15 of each of the below exercises
DB bench press 10kgs
Alt. hammer curl 8kg
Dips
BB push press 15kgs
Repeat the above circuit.  Try not to rest in between.
Treadmill sprints x 5
10 bench jumps
Repeat the above circuit once more.
550Kcal burnt during this workout.
And that concludes my work week!  Sorry for the ultra long post. I just wanted to update as to what has been going on this week.  You know, this blog IS kinda like my diary ;)

(Source: lotusandpie.blogspot.co.uk)

Welcome Back to work!

Good morning everyone!  I am in the BEST mood today, mostly because of the wonderful weather we had over the weekend.  Janine and I went to sit in the park and enjoy the sun yesterday and it was ahhhmazing.  We both caught the sun more on our right side though, but meh, I no care! Any sun is good sun and I feel absolutely refreshed and happy. 

When I got home yesterday, I decided to make the Vegan Farro Salad again for lunches.  It is so quick and easy to make - it only took about 15mins.  Also, it made 5 portions and I managed to scrape a small bowl out of it as well for an early light dinner.

Having a salad for dinner reminds me of being back in Aus.  Especially with the perfect warm sunny weather.  I also enjoyed a “detox” juice along side the salad, while catching up on a few episodes of The Office.

When I hopped into bed, I thought it would be a great idea to paint my nails a bit more of a summery colour.  Man, I am such a girl sometimes.  I realised also, when I was at the gym today, I had black shorts on, a pink top, pinknotebook, pink finger nails, pink toe nails, pink HRM and pink lippie on.  Wowsers.  It’s like Barbie came and took a massive pink **** all over me.  I love it though and it really is not often it works out that way. Ha!
Today’s workout was shoulders day.  I really love working my shoulders and today I decided to go a little heavier on the weights to try and build some more definition for summer.
Tuesday WOD
8mins cross trainer warm up
BB Shoulder Press
15kg - 3 x 12reps
17.5kg - 3 x 8reps
20kg - 3 x 5reps
Upright BB row
20kg - 2 x 8 + 1 x 10
Side lateral raise
6kg - 3 x 10reps
Front raise with plate
10kg - 3 x 10reps
Single arm row
14kg - 2 x 10reps + 1 x 12reps
Bent over rear delt fly
7kg - 2 x 8reps + 1 x 10reps
Alternating bicep curl
10kg - 3 x 8reps
394Kcal burnt during this working today.
Tomorrow I am supposed to be working out with Gemma at 7.15am.  I hope that goes ok as I am also going to see Bring Me The Horizon tonight in Camden.  Very stoked to see them as I have been absolutely flogging their new album since it came out.  YAYYYYYY!!!

Bank Holiday Monday!

This weekend has been so relaxing.  Sunday I woke up, did some cleaning, got a pedicure, had a lovely lunch at home, had a nap and just overall lazed around, doing things at a leisurely pace.  It was amazing!

I also couldn’t resist stopping into the sweet shop on the high road for some cheap M&Ms on the way home.  Peanut Butter are my favorite and since the store is closing down, buy one get one half price worked well for me!

Lunch was another one of those Higgidy Pies that I was talking about on Saturday.  So tasty, and yes, that is more hot sauce :)

The weather has been warm, but by no means hot.  I still wore a beanie yesterday and felt only just warm enough with my shorts, t shirt and hoodie.  Come on Summer, you know you want to arrive already.

Beanie & crop top from And Clothing
iPhone case from Drop Dead

Monday WOD
Fasted jog around the park and back again.  This route is around 5.5km with a few really nice hills in there. According to the time on the clock when I got back, the run took me about 30mins.  Which is strange because that’s how long it usually takes me when I have had breakfast.  I did feel like I was lacking a little energy, but overall, it wasn’t too hard.

When am I going to have the guts to run outside wearing just my sports bra?  I mean, come onnnnnn.  Maybe when it gets a little bit warmer….. or My tummy tones up a bit more… I need to stop making excuses and just do it right?  I know no one will be looking at my tummy.  Especially when I am running past them.  I guess, its just…. I don’t know.  I WILL DO IT THOUGH!  It has been a goal of mine for years now and I know that once I start, it will be ok.
Anyways, I am off to make a banana protein smoothie (with peanut butter of course! I didn’t have breakfast you know!) and catch up with Janine to go and sit in the sun.  I am super excited!

(Source: lotusandpie.blogspot.co.uk)

Vegan Farro Salad + lower body circuit style workout today.  Click HERE to check out the recipe and let me know what you think.

Vegan Farro Salad + lower body circuit style workout today.  Click HERE to check out the recipe and let me know what you think.

Still ignoring the head cold

So, this silly cold is still hanging around.  I do however, feel much better than I did yesterday and I managed to get somewhat of a circuit workout done and dusted this morning.  I think it might have something to do with the fact that last night, I fell asleep on the couch, woke up around 9pm, stumbled into bed and continued sleeping until I woke up this morning around 4.30am…. Lolz.

That is pretty much going to be the story of my life this week though. Michelle is away and I really feel the need to catch up on my sleep and somewhat, recover, from last week’s epic catch up activities.

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 Paws thinks that is a good idea.  Do you agree?  I am trying really hard to win the love of my body back!

Tuesday WOD

20mins cardio on treadmill (with my running shoes)

Incline 2

1min walking 6.5, 1min running at 8, 10, 12 and 13

Then complete the circuit below as quickly as possible.  No rest between sets – although this was a struggle, still having a bit of a head cold.
10 burpees to start off

DB bench press 10kg

Upright BB row 15kg

DB alternating hammer bicep curl 9kg

Front and side shoulder raises 4kg

BB push press 15kg

The first round I completed 20 reps of each exercise.  The second round I completed 15 reps of each exercise.  I was feeling a bit weak and decided to keep the weight, but lower the reps.  Man, it was a bit of a struggle.

Cardio HIIT on the treadmill.  Just a couple of rounds sprinting, then I felt like I was pushing myself too hard and I backed off. 

To finish off, I decided to just try and max out on the above circuit.  Do as many reps as I could and call it a day.

592Kcal burnt during this workout.

Tonight Janine is coming over for dinner and we are going to make THISawesome salad.  I will let you know how it goes as I have never used farro before.  Very exciting!

(Source: lotusandpie.blogspot.co.uk)

Oops… I deadlifted again.  Click HERE to see my blog about it :)

Oops… I deadlifted again.  Click HERE to see my blog about it :)

Err yeah, I rock pretty nails and pink accessories at the gym!  YOLO!
Click here to see my AWESOME UPPER BODY WORKOUT.  It was a killer today!

Err yeah, I rock pretty nails and pink accessories at the gym!  YOLO!

Click here to see my AWESOME UPPER BODY WORKOUT.  It was a killer today!

Click HERE to see my workouts for the last 3 days :)

Click HERE to see my workouts for the last 3 days :)

Today I completed the upper body workout from last week again.  I upped the weights and added some burpees.  Click HERE to go through and check it out :)

Today I completed the upper body workout from last week again.  I upped the weights and added some burpees.  Click HERE to go through and check it out :)

This morning in the gym I had a workout buddy, Gemma.  It was so nice to work out with someone who was keen to push hard and also had different ideas and suggestions to help with the workout.  We are booked in for another gym date next Tuesday so I am stoked.  She didn’t mind working out with me, yay!  Massive blush and wag-wag of the tail because I see Gemma as someone who has a level of fitness I would love to be at.  She mentioned to me that she would like to get a bit stronger so hopefully with the two of us pushing hard, we can make some serious fitness improvements.
 
Click HERE or on the picture to read my full post on Lotus and Pie :) View high resolution

This morning in the gym I had a workout buddy, Gemma.  It was so nice to work out with someone who was keen to push hard and also had different ideas and suggestions to help with the workout.  We are booked in for another gym date next Tuesday so I am stoked.  She didn’t mind working out with me, yay!  Massive blush and wag-wag of the tail because I see Gemma as someone who has a level of fitness I would love to be at.  She mentioned to me that she would like to get a bit stronger so hopefully with the two of us pushing hard, we can make some serious fitness improvements.

 

Click HERE or on the picture to read my full post on Lotus and Pie :)

Post Easter Upper Body Circuit

This morning I tried a new workout to give myself a bit of a “kick up the bum” after the Easter long weekend.  I am getting a bit bored of going through the same workouts I have been for so long and was searching around on BodyBuilding.com last night for some new ideas and inspiration.

I stumbled across the Bizzy diet 21day fitness plan.  I watched the video and it looked like something that was right up my alley.  I really need to trim some fat, and this circuit style high intensity workout is just the thing I am looking for. 

This morning I completed the upper body workout:

ERGH

I feel like I am getting a cold.  I managed to avoid it while at work, during the time that everyone else was suffering… and I thought that I was invincible.  Turns out, I am not.  

Hopefully I don’t get it as bad as everyone else does.  I am trying to ignore it, but will see how well that goes!

I went to the gym this morning for a small shoulder workout (posted earlier on Fitocracy) and am going to take it easy for the rest of the day.

Breakfast: Oats with soy milk, flax seeds, protein powder, peanut butter and agave nectar.

Snack:  Almonds

Lunch:  Brown rice with fajitas spices, tuna, corn, kidney beans and a small amount of mayo.

Not sure what else there is to come today, but am thinking some kind of veggie burger with steamed veggies for dinner.  I need some green goodness to help kick this cold!