A New Favorite: Boot Camp

I think I have a new favorite cardio workout!

Boot camp!

If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you’ve likely seen a plethora of circuit-style workouts pop up where I incorporate plyometric movements into my cardio routines. I love how they break up the monotony of a boring cardio workout.

I like doing circuits on my own, but I have the best time completing these types of workouts in a group exercise format, during a “boot camp” class!

Last Saturday I loved the Blogger Boot Camp workout and this morning, at the urging of my friend Merri, I headed to the gym for a 5:45 a.m. boot camp class.

The instructor, Allyson, first demonstrated two different exercises at five different stations.

• Station One: Push Up + Punch, Plank
• Station Two: Wall Squat, Squat Jump
• Station Three: Static Lunge, Ski Jumps
• Station Four: Side Hop with Weight, Tuck Jumps
• Station Five: Squat + Bicep Curl, Lung + Row

We did the first exercise in each station  for 30 seconds before switching to the second exercise and doing that one for 30 seconds. We did this twice before moving on to the next station. We completed the entire circuit twice.

Once the circuits were over, we picked a partner and alternated running sprints for one minute, then 45 seconds (x2!), followed by 30 seconds (x2).

I was sweaty! This entire workout took about 40 minutes to complete. After boot camp, I headed over to complete 15 minutes of light cardio on the elliptical while I waited for Ryan to finish his workout.

I think it says a lot about the quality of a group exercise class if I say I had a good time at the gym at 5:45 a.m. I will definitely be returning!

Walk + Breakfast

Ryan joined me on my morning walk with Sadie and we spent the majority of our time talking about moving out of our apartment when our lease is up at the end of March. We have a lot of different ideas and decisions to make, which should make things interesting in the upcoming month or two!

When we returned home, Ryan hopped in the shower while I made breakfast.

On the menu for today was a toasted English muffin pb and j with a cup of strawberry banana Greek yogurt.

I made the pb and j with chocolate PB2, a powdered version of peanut butter that I purchased a long time ago from Netrition.com.

I really like PB2, but I wouldn’t say it’s a replacement for real peanut butter. It tastes good for what it is (a powdered peanut butter to which you add water) and I really enjoy it in sandwiches or smoothies. I know a lot of people like it stirred into yogurt, but I just can’t get behind that little concoction.

Peanut butter and jelly is such a classic. It just makes me happy.

I hope you’re feelin’ extra happy because it’s FRIDAY!!! 🙂

And, if you’re not, than I hope your “serious face” is half as cute as this.

(P.S. Yes, that is two shameless puppy pictures in one post. It’s gonna be a good day, Tater!)