It’s over!

The video shoot that we’ve been preparing for non-stop wrapped last Friday.  We had an amazing time and you can read about it and see pictures over at New School Nomads.

While I enjoy health and fitness being a part of creative projects gives me an unexplainable energy and satisfaction.

But back to health and fitness because if I don’t take care of those things then everything else suffers.

Anyway…guess what?

I didn’t work out once last week.  At least not an traditional workout but there was certainly plenty of “functional fitness” to be had.

“Pools” to be filled.

Sandbags to be heaved.

Coolers to be carried.

C-stands to be moved

Whatever this thing is called to be carried.

I did manage to get in a few…

…calf raises

…split squats

…and inverted rows.

Sort of. Those were mostly for fun.  Had I not been on my feet all day that is what I would have done.  

I’m telling ya, fitness is all about function.  Speaking of functional fitness I’m going to the Perform Better 3-Day Functional Fitness Summit next month.  I’m very very excited.  The presenter line up is PHENOMENAL. It includes John Berardi (Precise Nutrition), Mike Boyle, Gray Cook (Functional Movement Screen), Brett Jones (Master RKC), Alwyn and Rachecl Cosgrove and a whole bunch of other amazingly smart fitness professionals.  Can’t wait to come back and share with you what I learn!

So my Kick Start Kick the Sugar Challenge is going ok.  I seem to be making up for my reduced sugar intake with dried fruit. Today I made raisins in my dehydrator and ate more than I needed.  At least they were nourishing.  It could be worse and I could be back to hiding out behind my house drinking syrup straight from the bottle.  True story.

I hope you had a great weekend.  Saturday, Brent and I got up early to chase rabbits film and take pictures of the sunrise before coming home.  It was an amazing morning.  One of the best in a long time.  Why oh why don’t I get up earlier more often?  The rest of the weekend was spent sleeping and hanging out with the boys.

So this is random but do any photographers read my blog?  I’ve been enjoying taking pictures lately and want to read up on ways to improve.  Do any of you know any good blogs or sites that may help me get better???

Do you like to get up early?

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

Check out our family’s adventures at New School Nomads as we plan to take a year long road trip through the United States!

If you enjoyed this post please consider subscribing to the RSS Feed, “liking” on Facebook, or (not and!) signing up to have posts emailed to your inbox.

The post Functional Fitness Strikes Again appeared first on Girl Heroes.

I almost always exercise when I travel.  However, what I do depends on where I am, who I’m with, and what equipment (if any) is available.   On road trips I’ve been known to take my kettlebells for rest stop workouts but with the limited airline baggage allowances my kettlebells had to stay at home while I’m visiting my family in Indiana.  Lucky for me, my parents have a sweet little gym set up.  My mom even has a 15lb kettlebell which I’ve been using for high rep work and bottoms up presses.  It’s been good change of pace and a chance to practice  form.  The best exercise, though, has been the exercise I’ve been getting while having fun with my family.  Playing with my nieces and nephews, hiking with my husband to see a beaver dam, and bike riding with my brother are not only good for the body but good for the soul.

In front of the beaver dam acting like a weirdo with my beaver teeth….

…and beaver tail.

There was a really cool spot near the creek where the beavers had chewed the trees down.  The stumps were sticking out of the ground like perfectly sharpened pencils.  I noticed there were a few trees that the beavers left because they must have gotten stuck after they chewed them so I decided to help by pulling the trees out of the tangled overgrowth.  Nothing like helping beavers build their dam for functional fitness. My heart thanks me now but the beavers can thank me later.

Have I ever told you I’m afraid of snakes, spiders, sharks, blowing drying my hair without earplugs riding bikes on  roads with cars?  I am. When I was in high school the side view mirror of a car hit my left forearm when it drove up from behind me  knocking me off the side of the road.  I only got a minor cut but I’ve been scared to ride on roads with cars (which is pretty much all roads) ever since.  Thankfully there is now a bike path in my town.

I love the fields,  old barns, and grain mills of the midwest.

Before I wrap it up…

Thank you for all the kind comments regarding last Friday’s post.  I was a bit nervous posting those pictures as I didn’t want to give the wrong impression.  Your comments felt really good.  Thank you for the support.   

Don’t forget to enter the V8 V-Fushion +Tea Review and Giveaway.  BlogHer is giving away one $100 Visa card to a Girl Hero reader.  All ya gotta do is leave a comment.

Oh yeah one last thing, I wanted to let you know that the alien vegetable  that I totally spaced and forgot about until just now  in last week’s CSA box was a kohlrabi.  I know you’ve been been losing sleep over it. 

Hope you are having a great week!!!

How do you get in exercise when you travel?  Anyone else afraid of riding bikes on roads with cars?  What do you think about beavers?  I would have done just about anything to see them at work building the dam.  Anything except sit around in the cold for hours. What is the silliest title for  post you’ve ever written?

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

If you enjoyed this post please Subscribe to the RSS Feed.

or

Sign up to have posts emailed to your inbox.

The post Beaver Dam Workout appeared first on Girl Heroes.

It’s amazing how much I got done last night without the internet.  I actually unloaded the dishwasher and put the dishes away instead of just pulling them out as I need them.  And my hubby and I sat on the couch and read together.  Unbelievable usually we sit side by side after the kids go to bed our faces glues to our pixeled screens.

I also worked on my workout for the month and created one to post today.  Here it is.

Full Body

A. Push Ups – As many as you can do. (To failure)
B. Squats – 20 reps (with our without a barbell)
C. Shoulder Press – 15 reps

Repeat A-C resting only as needed.  Then rest 2 minutes and repeat.  Repeat for a total of 3 times.

A. Tricep Dips – As many as you can do.
B. 1 Leg Stiff Leg Deadlift – 15 each leg – If you are unsure of your balance try it without weights.  Remember to keep your abs pulled in.  I like to keep a little bend in my standing leg.  This is great for your core as well at your glutes and hamstrings.
C. Barbell Row – 15

Repeat A-C resting only as needed.  Then rest 2 minutes and repeat.  Repeat for a total of 3 times.

A. Plank – Hold for as long as you can.

Finish up with a 10 minutes HIIT cardio and stretching.

Remember to push yourself.  Thanks for reading.  Have a great day.

xoxo
j

The post Coffee Beans and Full Body Workout #2 appeared first on Girl Heroes.