Catch Up
Hey, Everyone!! I took some time to unplug this weekend after coming back from the shore. I’ve been playing catch-up on house stuff and finally got a chance to make the blog rounds. Seems like many of you are unplugged, too! Hope you all are enjoying life! 
So, I’ve been at a bit of a crossroads as to what to do about the gym. My membership expired in July and I didn’t immediately renew because I was waiting to see if I could get the same deal as before which was $99 for the year! However, that deal isn’t back and the newest offer is for $199. Overall, it’s not a bad value, but I’m thinking that I can do without the gym. When I began my weight loss journey and started exercising, I did it from home. I would walk, do DVDs or use my dingy basement equipment. It worked, so I know I can do it again.
And now, I have even more options! Heather turned me on to Exercise TV!!! The other day she tried a Bollywood Dance video and it looked like so much fun. I checked out my On Demand and it was there; free for the taking! I turned it on and got moving…
It was a blast! The moves were not complicated, so my klutzy self was able to follow along. It was only 20 minutes, but I was seriously sweaty and my arms were burning. That move pictured above is pretty much how your arms are the entire 20 minutes. Burn, baby, burn!
I flipped through the other videos offered and was surprised at the variety- dance fitness, strength training, yoga, personal trainers, timed workouts, specific area toning (butt, abs, arms). There really is something for everyone. And for FREE! I can mix and match different videos to do equal a full workout. This will give me plenty of choices on the days that I’m not running. Half marathon training starts September 1st! Wheeeeeee!
Who needs a gym?! 
After my Bollywood dancing, I dug into my breakfast of Overnight Oats…
- 1/3 cup old fashioned oats
- 2/3 cup nonfat milk
- dash cinnamon
- 1 banana
- 1 tbsp. almond butter
I don’t like overnight oats as well as cooked. The consistency is a bit chalky for me. Maybe it will grow on me like the cooked kind finally did?!
Lunch and dinner were pretty non-descript. I’ve been struggling with cooking inspiration lately…
Boring old sandwich of leftover chicken, guacamole and spinach on Ezekiel bread…
with carrots…
oh, and some lite havarti cheese was in there, too…
Snore.
Dinner was a Black Bean Chipotle Cheddar Burger on the last of Trader Joe’s Country Potatoes with Mushrooms and Haricot Verts…
Could that be a weirder combo?
I think not.
Okay, I’m off to rifle through my ginormous “Recipes To Try” file so that I can find some inspiration! Exciting times in the kitchen await
Have a great day, everyone!
Do you belong to a gym or workout at home? What’s your favorite home workout?
Questions? Email me! aloserforlife@gmail.com
18 comments
No gym for me- biggest reason is we are a one car familoy and my husband has it because of his distance to his main job and needing to be on call for his Ministry work. No gym within walking distance, I cannot guarentee that I will be able to use the membership every week , so I do things on my own. The On Demand offerings through Exercise TV are amazing, fun and have enough variety to keep everyone moving . If you have it, one thing that your daughters may LOVE doing with you is Cardioke , put out by Billy Blanks son. It is filled with a lot of current music, you dance ( and the steps are not at all complicated) and sing kareoke while exercising. Nick LOVES that one because of the music, and I bet your girls would adore doing it with you on those times that you need to corral them. We use Exercise TV, walking, Wii fit and different challenges put out on MyTrainerBob.com
Marisa Reply:
August 23rd, 2010 at 10:07 am
I tried the Cardioke this morning! It kind of reminded me of a modern Richard Simmons type video! A little gimmicky but it was fun! I didn’t feel like I was working out at all; just having a sweaty good time
I’m so glad you liked the workout. exercise TV is pretty much all I do, so I’m forever finding something new… but I do also love my 10 minute solution DVDs.
Marisa Reply:
August 23rd, 2010 at 10:07 am
I love that DVD, too. And the husband is totally hooked on it!
The only thing I do at home is hop on the treadmill and do yoga. I need to go to the gym because I get bored SO easily!
You have no ideas for food! This is tragic…:) I’m sure youwill come up with some spectacular ideas soon.
I do the gym thing but I also do home stuff, I like p90x at home. Not necessarily to do the exact program but there are 12 different workouts to choose from when I get a chance I’ll pick one to do. Pricey though, unless you can download it.
I workout in a gym primarily. Since I work from home I like to workout away from home…it’s good to get out of the home office to train. But I love having options at home, too, for days when it’s impossible to get to the gym.
I am in the gymless category. The closest one is about an hour away(yes I know I live in CA, but we live in the country, you’d never know it was CA). I do a LOT of walking, dvd’s, dumbells, and am trying the whole run/sprint thing. I am now going to have to look for the Bollywood Dance video …anything that you don’t have to have coordination for I’m in!
I belong to a local gym and love it. It’s my hour for myself almost every day. Marisa, I’m fond of overnight oats with yogurt instead of milk – and for me it’s ready faster than overnight. I got hooked after visiting a Corner Bakery Cafe and trying their Swiss Oatmeal. Yum!
Marisa Reply:
August 23rd, 2010 at 10:08 am
Thanks, Sue! I will definitely try that!
One of my dance cardio classes this summer did Ballywood style dance and I LOVED it. It was so much fun. We pay about $75 a month for our YMCA membership but I think it’s totally invaluable for me. I have to have that motivation to go and do it there and the classes make working out fun which is the best part!
My favorite home workout is probably ST with dumbbells or windsor pilates! I love that you did a bollywood video – too dang funny! I unplugged this weekend too – need to catch up on tracking and the blog – eek!
I belong to a gym and have since I was 16! My family had a great deal (compared to other gyms). That’s the only reason I still have it. I like to be able to do the gym sometimes and other things other times. I find that I wouldn’t be as motivated ALL the time without the gym. I think I would get bored! I’m more motivated with the classes at the gym when the instructor is motivating me to do it and keep it up!
Try mixing in chia seeds into your over night oats! So yummy. My over night include 1/2 oatmeal, 3/4 cup almond milk, 1 scoop protein powder (could use 1 tb cocoa), 1 small mashed banana and 2 tb chia seeds.. Fabulous! Let me know if you give it a try. I LOVE IT! I am currently out of chia seed and am very sad. Had over night oats that contained: 1/2 cup almond milk, 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 apple diced small, 1 tb sliced almond and 1 teaspoon honey.
I’m loving jillian’s 30 day shred (I find it so hard – last time I did it I couldn’t walk straight for a couple of days!). I was sick of paying for the gym and not going (no real excuses for that) so I cancelled it… I enjoy running, but I miss the pool.
Sounds like you’re doing a pretty good job with the working out at home…that exercise TV is pretty cool! I wish I had that here. Not that I’m really working out at the moment, mind you – but I’m planning on getting back into it once this baby is out of me, lol!
I will have to check out the free exercise stuff on cable, great idea. I love blogs as I get great ideas from everyone in blog land.
I don’t belong to a gym, love to work out on my own. I walk/jog outside 6 days a week. Have weights to do free weight work outs, but need to be better about making that happen. I have various work out DVD’s to choose from and an exercise ball.
lately for me if the workout is at home it is all about the nontraditional.
the running around the hulahoop the silly juggling while standing on one leg the blasting of the tunes while we shimming in the kitchen…..