Might be odd but… shoulders are my favorite body part

Today was a late day for me but I finally got my bum to the gym.  I focused on a mix of shoulder exercises supersetted with cardiovascular and abdominal exercises.

  • Shoulder press machine (used outside handles then SUPERSETTED with inside handles)  -> 3 sets, 12&12/10&10/8&8/6&6 repetitions – weight was the same for the 1st two sets then went up the last 2 sets
  • Decline abdominal crunches with front plate raises -> 2 sets, 25 repetitions (made the motions of a front raise on the 1st set and on the 2nd used a 10# plate)
  • Side dumbbell lateral raises and front raises (ie. front/side/front) -> 4 sets, 12 repetitions SUPERSETTED with jump rope for 45 seconds (fast) -> 4 sets
  • Shoulder shrugs with dumbbells -> 3 sets, 20 repetitions (heavy weight)
  • Fit Ball Abdominal Roll Crunches -> 3 sets, 15 repetitions SUPERSETTED with jump rope for 30 seconds (fast) -> 3 sets

This workout was fast-paced and completed in 30-minutes.  I kept the rest period minimal and the weights of the exercises were challenging.  In overall, it was a great workout and I got home with time to spare to complete the rest of the items on my “To-Do” list.

Skillet Barbecued Winter Vegetable Medley

This is a great addition to the dinner plate if you want to revamp your dinner sides.  I always try to make my plate at dinner 50-75% vegetables with the rest being a high quality biological protein source.  In other words, I eat much like a caveman (…in this case cavewoman).  I am a huge fan of the caramelized taste of vegetables when they are browned!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 c zucchini, finely sliced
  • 1/2 c green pepper, finely sliced
  • 1/2 c red pepper, finely sliced
  • 1/2 c yellow onions, finely sliced
  • 1 tbsp parsley, fresh
  • 1 tsp black pepper, ground
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • OPTIONAL: Salt & additional black pepper as desired

Methodology

  1. Prepare and portion out ingredients.
  2. Heat up a medium frying pan and add in the portioned olive oil.
  3. Toss in all vegetables and mix them up in the pan.
  4. Sprinkle the pepper and parsley atop the vegetables then allow for browning (3-5 minutes).  When browning is noticed flip over the vegetables to allow for the other side to caramelize (3-5 minutes).
  5. OPTIONAL:  Add salt and extra ground black pepper to the product.
  6. Set the finished vegetables aside and serve with a main entrée.
  7. Mangia!

***Do not overcook because then the beneficial nutrients (naturally occurring vitamins and minerals which are a source of antioxidants) are removed from the vegetable when dried out.

Nutrient content per serving (1 c): 82.25 calories; 5.12 grams carbohydrate; 0.99 grams protein; 3.5 grams fat; 55.25 milligrams vitamin-C; 216.50 milligrams vitamin-A; 0 milligrams cholesterol; 13.75 milligrams calcium; & 1.17 grams fiber

Work that Chest!

Today I focused on chest exercises supersetted with abdominal moves.  I kept the rest time minimal – leaving too much rest in between allows for your metabolism to slow down and fat is burned at a slower rate.  By speeding up the workout, fat is burned faster (research supports the evidence behind the notion that more fat tends to be burned when the rest period is shortened), and you are making efficient use of your time!  Enjoy.

  • Pec Fly Machine (3 sets, 12/15/12 reps; increasing the weight each time) supersetted with FitBall Abdominal Roll-outs (3 sets, 15 reps)
  • Chest Press Machine (3 sets, 15 reps; increasing the weight each time) supersetted with Floor Bodyweight Pushups (3 sets, 10 reps)
  • Incline Dumbbell Bench Chest Press (3 sets, 15 reps; increasing the weight each time) supersetted with glute bridge dumbbell chest press (3 sets, 20 reps; keep the weight the same)
  • Stair Master – 10 minutes (same program throughout; 5 minutes facing the right side then 5 minutes facing the left side
  • Stationary Bike – 10 minutes (at least beyond level 5 -> FAST)
  • Treadmill – Incline walking (start at 4.0 incline and steadily increase to 10.0 with the speed increasing as well up to 4.0-4.2 mph)

Bon voyage for now… Time for the jacuzzi!  Be sure to check out the link posted below regarding how-to do windshield wipers which is my favorite gym move these days!

Fabulous Legs

As always I’m on the go… Yesterday’s workout was quick but fabulous.

  • Hack squat machine – wide stance; 3 sets, 10 reps each (increasing the weight each time) supersetted with bodyweight squats; 3 sets, 15 reps each
  • Lying leg curl machine; 3 sets, 10 reps each (increasing the weight each time)
  • Narrow stance dumbbell squats; 3 sets, 10 reps
  • Walking dumbbell lunges; 3 sets, 10 reps supersetted with lying windshield wipers; 3 sets, 20 reps
  • Butt blaster machine/glute press; 3 sets, 12 reps (increasing the weight each time)
  • Calf Raises with dumbbells; 3 sets, 20 reps
  • Stair master -> 20 minutes (increasing the level every 5 minutes)

…And that was the end to my Monday.  Happy Tuesday ya’all!  My new favorite exercise these days are windshield wipers – LOVE THEM 🙂

PS – Check out the following link if you are interested in the set-up associated with the windshield wiper exercisehttp://www.best-abs-exercises.com/exercises-waist.html

Eat Smart with Fish

Health Benefits

  • Provides the body with high quality biological protein along with necessary vitamins and minerals
  • Fatty fish such as herring, sardines, albacore tuna, salmon, and mackerel are excellent sources of omega-3 fats (specifically eicosapenaenoic acid; EPA and docosahexaenoic acid; DHA)
  • The fatty acids help maintain cardiovascular health
  • High consumption of fatty fish are associated with a decreased prevalence of coronary heart disease (CAD), potential role in prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and treatment for those with mild depression
  • Unlike most biological available meat protein sources, fish is low in saturated fat, especially the white-flesh colored fish – AIM FOR: Cod, halibut, pollack, and bass
Recommended Intake
  • The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends consumption of a variety of fish at least twice a week
  • Fish serving size should be approximately 4 ounces for the average man and woman
  • NOT CONSUMING ENOUGH FISH???  The AHA recommends that those with heart disease or risk of heart disease consume a fish oil supplement (1 gram per day dosage) that contains a combination of EPA and DHA.  I do not agree with supplementation in most cases, however if one is unable to consume fish, this may be a good approach; this prevents one from being deficient in fish oil and allows for a higher chance of reaping its associated benefits than not at all.
 
Cooking Method
  • Fish cooks very quickly
  • Try new methods of cooking such as poaching or broiling to preserve the texture and juiciness of the fish
  • Overcooking will result in a dry, less desirable, and less nutritious product
 
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Tuna Fish Salad
 
 
Ingredients
  • 1 can tuna fish packed in water (I prefer chunk light)
  • 1/4 c tomatoes, diced
  • 1/4 c cucumbers, diced
  • 1/4 c red pepper, minced
  • TO TASTE/OPTIONAL: Lime juice (1 tsp)
Supplies
  • Cutting board
  • French Knife
  • Serving bowl/plate
  • Mixing spoon
  • Fork
  • Measuring cups and spoons
Methodology
  1. Combine all ingredients sans lime juice together in a serving bowl post preparation of portions (ie. chopped tomatoes).
  2. Mix ingredients together well.
  3. Add lime juice to the mixed product.
  4. Enjoy this dish as an addition to a sandwich, as a side, or by itself!
 
 

Step Lovin’

I’m starting off my week properly with a morning workout.  I only had an hour available but did some damage and am feeling energized!

  • Stairmaster; 20 minutes – switching every five minutes from level 7 to 11
  • 2 mile run (6.0 – 7.0 mph at a 2.0 incline)
  • 6 sets of 100 jump rope revolutions with a 45 second rest in between
  • 6 sets of 10 burpees with a 15 second rest between sets

…And off to work!  Happy Monday!

Starting the Day off Right… Hearty Spinach Egg Scramble

Sundays…  Love this day.  I know later I’ll be watching the Giants game and playing with my new puppy so it doesn’t get too much better.  I made this delicious egg scramble to start the day.  I believe that rather than adding tons of cheese – load up on the lean meat additions and/or VEGETABLES!  I love my vegetables – threw in 3 of my favorites: red onion, spinach, and tomato.  Try this tomorrow morning – the prep work is a piece of cake!

Ingredients

  • 3 eggs: 1 whole, 2 whites
  • 1 turkey sausage link, pre-cooked and chopped
  • 1/2 c raw spinach greens, minced
  • 1/2 c tomato, diced
  • 1/4 c red onion, minced
  • Olive oil spray (to coat the frying pan)
  • TO TASTE / OPTIONAL: crushed black pepper, paprika, and sea salt

Supplies

  • Cutting board
  • French knife
  • Measuring cups (1/2 and 1/4 size)
  • Frying pan
  • Spatula

Methodology

  1. Allow for the frying pan to heat up then coat with olive oil spray and add in the raw ingredients (red onion, tomato, and spinach).  Allow for browning while moving the items around the pan.
  2. Add in the turkey sausage link – mix well.  Allow for the meat and vegetables to sit for a bit to allow for crispness to occur.
  3. Whip the eggs before adding them to the pan.  Combine the eggs with the meat/vegetable mixture.  Mix items well in the pan.
  4. Remove from heat after 2-3 minutes to prevent over drying the product (I like my eggs to be a bit moist).
  5. Now go and feast!

NUTRIENT CONTENT:  212 kilocalories; 6 g carbohydrate; 21 g protein; 4.5 g fat (.5 g saturated); 232 mg cholesterol

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Now I can enjoy my Sunday properly with Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt!

Bringing back that sexy back!

Today’s workout was the first upper body session since my shoulder surgery.  I tried to take it easy but I got bored…  Remember each workout can be scaled to your abilitites which is why the exact weights used are not listed – do what you can!  Rock on.

  • Wide grip lat pull downs -> 4 sets, 12/15/12/15 reps SUPERSETTED with pull-ups -> 4 sets, AMRP (as many reps possible)
  • Narrow grip barbell rows -> 4 sets, 12 reps SUPERSET-CYCLED with wide grip barbell rows -> 4 sets, 12 reps & incline dumbbell one-armed rows -> 4 sets, 10 reps
  • Rope Pull downs -> 4 sets, 12 reps SUPERSETTED with decline bench abdominal twists (non-weighted) -> 4 sets, 25 reps
  • Cable grip one-armed rows -> 2 sets, 12 reps SUPERSETTED with hanging abdominal leg raises
  • One-armed planks -> 2 sets, 60 seconds (each arm)
  • Two-armed plank -> 1 set, 60 seconds
  • TREADMILL: 1 mile run moderate speed (I bounced between 6.0-7.0 mph)
  • STAIRMASTER: 30 minutes, levels 8-10
  • TREADMILL: 1/2 mile run fast (7.1 mph with a flat incline) followed by 1/2 mile incline walk (3.8 mph with an 8.0 incline)

**I focused on not doing too much pulling from high above due to my stitches though  it probably wasn’t too smart to do those pull-ups or lat pull downs…

Butt Blaster Workout

Today I had 2 1/2 hours between my shift…  So I decided to get my sweat on rather than lounge around.  I usually do a leg day on Mondays with a focus on my butt.  Here’s the modified workout:

  • 20 minutes on the stairmaster (level 13)
  • Butt blaster machine -> 4 sets, 12 reps each leg
  • Close narrow leg squats with dumbbells -> 3 sets, 12 reps supersetted with an abdominal crunch machine (pyramiding up with the reps: 15/20/25)
  • Two-legged hamstring curl -> 4 sets, 15 reps supersetted with fit-ball abdominal straight leg crunches (4 sets, 12 reps) and standing calf raises (3 sets, 20 reps)
  • Wide leg air squats -> 3 sets, 15 reps
  • Abdominal Leg Raises -> 6 sets, pyramiding down with each set (12/10/8/6/4)
  • Burpees -> 2 sets, 15 reps (FAST)

…aaaand that was it!  All done in less than an hour!  If you’ve got the time, make it work, don’t sit around.  Think:  New Year, New Rules.

Running to Change

Running has never been my strong suit…  I’ve always been a die-hard swimmer.  Since my shoulder injury swimming has taken the back burner for the past 5 years now.  Weight training has become a new passion of mine, and I love it, but while my shoulder is recovering from my recent surgery it is time for cardio/cardio/cardio!  This past September I tried by first 5K with my friend Sarah – I loved it.  Since then I’ve done 3, the grand total thus far stands at 4, and each time kicks my butt.  Now I’m preparing for some runs this upcoming Spring/Summer 2012 along with a Tough Mudder.  To do so I’ve started running indoors (especially now since it has started snowing outside).

Today’s Running Workout

  • 10 minutes moderate speed walking at a 3.5 – 4.0 speed on a flat plane
  • 20 minutes running at 5.8 – 7.5 speed with a 1.5 incline (pacing myself out)
  • 20 minutes running at 5.8 – 6.5 speed with a 3.0 incline
  • 10 minutes speed walking at a 3.7 – 4.5 speed with an incline of 12.0

***As always after any workout – consume a protein laden beverage upon completion but do not neglect your complex carbohydrates.

Today I opted for a shake with 1-scoop chocolate protein powder, 1 tbsp dry oats, and 1 tsp cinnamon – yum!