Post-Workout GLORY

Happy Friday, all!!!

So I've been diligent this week with all my PiYo workouts and marathon training. I usually split them up during the day, so I'll usually do one of them in the morning and the other at night. Running usually gets shuffled to the evening, which makes for interesting moments when I'm running on gravel ...

Anyhow, today was a day that I couldn't split them up. My schedule won't allow for it. However, that didn't mean I was going to skip one of them. Instead, I did them back-to-back, which is pretty difficult.  This is not the first time I've done it, so I knew what I was getting myself into. But that doesn't mean the effects are any less ... devastating on my body.

Five mile run versus PiYo Full Body Blast with strength slides. My legs felt the BURN!!!! They are like jello now. Glad I have the tools to help with a good recovery. Not to mention that my body is stronger and can deal with it way better than before I started PiYo.

Do you have workouts where your face ends up looking like death??? I can't be the only one. :-)

Tomorrow I am doing another PiYo workout. Sunday is my long run (13.1 miles this week). I'm sticking to my goals, even on the weekend ... and even after a tough day of working out!!! 

What are you doing to stay on track this weekend?

Have a great one!!!

PiYo Certified!

My PiYo Certification is in the books!!!

On Sept. 27, I spent the entire day doing, training, teaching, and loving PiYo! It took place in Bloomington, IN at IU and was taught by my coach and PiYo Master Trainer Julie Voris. The day was hard ... we were moving the entire day. I thought for sure my body would rebel at some point.  But it didn't and left feeling refreshed and uplifted in the PiYo glow. 

The day was spent breaking up the different sections of a PiYo live class. Julie also led us through an entire live class. We broke up into small groups and taught the "flow" section to each other. We ended the day with more working out, discussing teaching and formats, and then we were all certified! 

I am so excited to finally be able to bring this in a live format. The first group of people getting this experience from me will be my music students! They will thank me later :-)

I thought for sure the next day I would be completely sore head to foot. I also had to run 10 miles the following day for my marathon training. I was so scared. SCURRRRED. 

BUT my body was only sore a bit in my shoulders and upper biceps (probably from all the planks and down dogs we did). My hamstrings were only slightly sore, too. Other than that I felt great the next day ... and I ran the BEST 10 MILES EVER!!!

Thanks to doing the PiYo program the last 3+ months, my body was much stronger than I expected and barely blinked an eye by doing it all day. I'm so thankful for the program and that it has not only helped me lose weight and gain strength, but it has also helped me become a better runner. PiYo really is for everyone. 

If you're interested in it, let's connect and start livin' it up!!!

Motivation Monday!

Hey all! Hope you had a great weekend!

This weekend I got the first taste of using the PiYo Slides in doing the PiYo Strength workouts.  I did Full Body Blast ... let me just say I almost died during the mountain climbers section.  Ahhhh!!!

The slides add a lot of resistance. It's like adding a resistance band around your legs. I used mine on carpet. The exercises used with the slides were backward lunges, side lunges (bowlers), mountain climbers to name a few. I also felt my form wasn't as good as it normally is, although it wasn't terrible either. It just takes some getting used to. My cat, however, was thoroughly confused with what was going on. :-)

So excited to be using these and taking the next step in my PiYo journey!!!

I also did a 9-mile long run yesterday in preparation for my marathon.  It went great, but I'm feeling it today! Nothing a little PiYo and pigeon pose couldn't fix :-)

This week is also a busy week in my world. Lots of things going on with my music teaching and I am also FINALLY getting certified to teach PiYo on Sunday!!! So excited for this.

I saw this when I woke up this morning and it was the perfect affirmation I needed to hear!

What exciting things did you do this weekend? Do you have big plans for the week? Make sure to do it with LOVE.

You're Beautiful! You can do anything!

Love doing the PiYo Pike!!!

Thank you, Chalene Johnson! :-)

Podcast Love

Hi All!!!

Welcome to your Tuesday for the week!

I like to post about music I play doing workouts, but today I am all about podcasts!!!

Since I am upping my mileage for my marathon training, I recently started listening to podcasts on the my longer runs. I gravitate toward uplifting (duh!) and informational podcasts.  I've become so addicted to them lately, I even listen to them in the car rather than the radio now!!!

I've found some great ones along the way and want to share my Top 5 go-to podcasts!

The School of Greatness by Lewis Howes

I'm listening to this podcast right now as I write this post. Lewis Howes is an author, entrepreneur, former pro athlete, and world record holder in football. The goal of the School of Greatness is to share inspiring stories from the most brilliant business minds, world class athletes and influential celebrities on the planet; to help you find out what makes great people great.

Guests in this podcast include Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson, TED talker Simon Sinek, and social media expert Branden Hampton, to name a few.

EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey

This podcast is full to the brim with leadership and personal development speakers you probably know very well ... Steven Covey (7 Habits is my guide to life. I read it once every year.), Seth Godin, Jim Collins, and Ken Blanchard.  There's even one with Tony Dungy, former Colts Head Coach (I live in Indy so you must love the Colts).  You probably know Dave Ramsey from his financial growth/leadership books, but these speak more to me than the financial information. Love all the topics covered in this podcast!

Ben Greenfield Fitness Podcast

I heard good things about this podcast, but was skeptical that it would just purely be about intense marathon and Ironman training. It was a nice surprise to learn that this podcast is about SO MANY different things. One of the best episodes I've listened to is called Deep Nutrition, interviewing a doctor about a book she wrote with the same title. I learned SO MUCH about how the body reacts to nutrients. But this podcast also gives lots of personal development material as well.

OH, and I must credit this podcast for teaching me how to run with my mouth closed and just breathing through the nose!!! Totally changed my running and workouts!

The Charged Life with Brendon Burchard

#1 New York Times bestselling author Brendon Burchard shares insights on motivation, success, high performance, and living a fully charged life. These episodes are 10 -15 minutes at the most, so a HIGH DOSE of great information in a short period of time.  Mr. Burchard is very articulate and motivating in these podcasts and leave you with an empowered sense of being!

The Chalene Show

I MUST include Chalene Johnson's podcast, The Chalene Show.  She has another one that I listen to called Build Your Tribe that is highly informative as well, but more toward the business side of things.  I will listen to The Chalene Show on runs more than Build Your Tribe. 

What can I say about Chalene? She is AWESOME! She talks about fitness and nutrition, but also the personal development to help you tap into yourself and grow.  She has a ton of energy and enthusiasm, which is why I love her so much.

What podcasts do you listen to?  I have a few others not on this list, but I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

Happy Tuesday!

Motivation Monday

How have you been doing? I have been extremely busy these past couple weeks, so I apologize for being out of it for a while. This blog is new to me and I am trying to find the right rhythm for it!

I have been in the midst of training for a marathon (in addition to doing PiYo).  I am by no means a fast runner.  Especially this time around for my marathon training, I feel really slow since I am training with a heart rate monitor (via The Maffetone Method).  My running has to be below my set HR, which for me is 150.  That can make for slower than normal running.

Fitness is tough. Running is tough. Eating clean is tough. It’s a sacrifice you have to be willing to make. It’s easier to watch TV or sleep in than to get up and do your workout.

Why do we do it?

Why do we choose the road less taken rather than the popular easy path?

One word: GOALS

You have a goal.

I have a goal.

We work to ACHIEVE.

Some days it might be easier to get up and workout. Other days it will be a struggle.  Last week was a struggle for me.  I’ll admit that sometimes I achieved my goals, other days I did not.  BUT THAT’S OKAY!

No matter how slow I go or how much I have to modify my form, PROGRESS IS STILL PROGRESS.

As long as you’re facing the direction of your goals, you are going down the right road. Be patient.  Be persistent. Never forget why you started.

Keep going.

Keep moving.

You are making progress!

My PiYo Strength Journey - Day 1

Hope you all had a great Labor Day!!!

Let's get back at this!
I've been doing my marathon training during the past week ... 15 weeks to go!
Yesterday was Day 1 of doing the PiYo Strength Series.  I'm part of a challenge group and my coach assigned us Upper Body and Lower Body.  I like the combination of the two ... it's like a full-body workout!


Here's one of my favorite moves:  PiYo Pike!

This is from Upper Body.

Start in side plank, lift hips up, engage core, and move free hand up and under.  Lower back down to side plank. It's a total core challenge!!!

I also had my Accountability Kitty watching my every move.  He even attempted to join me during one move ... he thought otherwise once he got in the middle of it. 

He mainly stayed on the bed and watched me do the workout.  But I swear he must love Chalene's voice because he could be in a deep sleep in another room and once PiYo starts, he's walking into the workout and getting involved.  :-)

Do you have a way to keep yourself accountable? If not, join my PiYo Challenge Group!  It starts NEXT WEEK!!!! So excited to share this workout with the WORLD! :-)