Sunday: REST
Saturday morning I went to Athletic Conditioning along with about 100 other people crammed into the fitness room at our gym. It was so crowded we spent most of the class jumping to take up less space! This was an awesome workout that left me red in the face, but it was so much jumping that I could barely walk when I got out of bed this morning – my calves were SO sore! A day away from the gym was much needed. I would have loved to have gone to yoga and stretch out, but the weather was gross and I wanted to work on grocery prep, so I stayed home and rested.
Monday: Fitness Fusion
This is my new favorite class!! It’s a hybrid of cycle and athletic conditioning. Each week is different, but we spend 15 minutes warming up on the bike and then break up bike sessions with kettlebells, sprints up and down the stairs, laps on the track and abs. I left red in the face and feeling like my metabolism was revved.
I also walked to the gym and back and walked downtown and back again later that afternoon. Yay for walking!
Tuesday: Switch Up Afternoon Cardio
I normally schedule most of my appointments and meetings for the afternoon, but on Tuesday morning we toured a preschool we are considering for Mazen next fall (you gotta plan early!) at 10:30, so I got up and showered and planned to work out later in the day. I walked about a mile to Karen’s house to drop Mazen off and then back across town to the school.
Later that afternoon I made the trek to the gym again and did 26 minutes of stair climbing. Mazen and Matt met me there in the car (for complicated reasons involving a meeting and cold weather) I didn’t want to burn myself out because I had big plans for Athletic Conditioning the next morning and needed fresh legs.
After I walked back home. I love my walkable lifestyle!
Wednesday: Athletic Conditioning
No matter what my week entails, I know Wednesdays are going to be hard. It’s Athletic Conditioning day! This class is a combo of indoor track running, stair climbing, plyometrics and strength stations, and I always leave tired.
Today we started with 15 minutes of cardio as a warm up – jacks, jumping and the like – followed by 8 stations that had everything from burpees to jump rope to kettlebells to resistance bands. In between each station we had a surprise burst of something – push ups, planks and more. Despite my easy workout last night, felt rather weak and lacked my regular energy. I had to end a few of the stations early. It was a tough one!
I showered at the gym and tried out the steam shower for the first time. It was so incredibly hot and…steamy! Hard to breathe but in a good way. Can’t wait to do it again!
Lastly, I walked to the gym and back with Mazen in the stroller for an extra 30 minutes of activity!
Thursday: Walk About
We had yet another meeting this morning at a preschool, so I decided to take the day off of the gym and just walk about. My right arm is really sore from athletic conditioning too, so I felt the need to rest it. I walked a mile and back to the school and then did another 1.5 miles downtown in the afternoon.
Friday: Cycle Core…Or Not
My favorite cycle class is on Fridays! This class is 45 minutes of hard cycling followed by 15 minutes of abs at the end. Today, however, the class was postponed due to some icy weather. Bummer. Luckily I had a magazine with me, so I went upstairs to do some cardio: 15 minutes on the elliptical, 20 minutes on the Stairmaster, 20 minutes on the bike. I debated also doing some lifting, but my arm is still hurting a bit so I decided it was better to rest. We didn’t get to walk today either due to the rain/ice, so minus 2 miles on the regular Friday schedule.
Saturday: Athletic Conditioning Again!
Remember when I wrote a post about how the thought of an athletic conditioning class sounded like hell? Now they are my favorite! Well at times I feel like hell, but overall I need someone to push me into a great workout. I wonder if this is related to the end of breastfeeding. Perhaps I have just a bit more energy than I did before.
Today’s class was really hard and fun – maybe the best one I’ve done in a long time. It was a good combo of stations (4) with intervals of running the track, running the stairs and plyometrics in between. Matt did the class with me – fun times!
This week included a lot of variety: walking, cycling, indoor running, plyometrics, weight lifting, kettlebells, abs, etc. I do wish I had included some yoga in there. I’m working harder to fit in some vinyasa classes, but the mind/body schedule at our gym isn’t ideal right now.
I’m also going to be doing some heavier lifting soon because I’m pairing up with Erin Carson, a trainer at my gym, to swap services – a few personal training sessions for a blog recap of my experience. Erin offers online personal training as well as in-person training at ACAC Charlottesville, and I’m really excited to have someone push me to pick up the 25 pounder instead of the 15!
Livi says
I am so impressed with how much you workout, despite having a little one! You are a super mom!
Anna @ On Anna's Plate says
Looks like a good week of workouts– that athletic conditioning class sounds tough!! I’ve just started taking Bodypump classes after mostly running for months, and they’re killing me!
Kimberly says
Looks like some good workouts! And good thing you belong to a gym that allows photography! (Maybe it’s not common, but my gym has a no camera/photography policy).
KathEats says
Ours is no locker rooms only
Kimberly says
Oh, good! I’ve never been a member of any other gym so not sure how it usually worked. I definitely appreciate the privacy, but can see why others would want to be able to take pictures.
Ali @ Peaches and Football says
Wow that’s a jam-packed week of workouts! I’m impressed. I need to get your time mgmt and energy so I can get into the gym that much too. The Fitness Fusion class sounds AWESOME! I would love all the variety there moving from thing to thing so nothing gets boring. Plus, I think when you keep bouncing from exercise to exercise the time goes by a lot faster too!
Akaptein says
Hooray for heavy lifting! I’ve been working on that too. You lift mazen, you can def lift that 25lb dumbbell. I just progressed to the 35s for shoulder presses!
Katie @ Peace Love and Oats says
Haha that class sounds like hell to me too, but I’m sure once you go a few times and get used to the movements it becomes better!
Stephanie says
You fit lots of great activity in! Does your gym offer any parent/child activity classes? I have great memories of doing those types of classes with my children when they were toddlers. There was one we did in our YMCA gymnastics room where the kids all got to jump in the foam pit at the end of class. My daughter, who is now 11, was talking to me just the other day about she still thinks about that and how fun it was.
KathEats says
Only swim lessons but M is starting a tumbling class at the rec center this week!
Amanda says
So inspiring!!!
Lindsay McAlester says
Is there a Crossfit near you or does that not interest you? As a runner it took me a few years to wrap my brain around the lifting. I have been going for almost two months now and am hooked. I find myself very challenged and the results are absolutely noticeable. Happy fitness to you!
KathEats says
I can’t justify belonging to two gyms, so I have never given it a try
Tifany says
Some gyms have a trial period, you can always try one session just for fun 🙂
Katie says
Hi Kath! I can’t believe how much exercise you get in everyday–you are amazing and so dedicated!
I’m wondering if you could comment on how you fit in time when your schedule was more regimented, such as when you were a student or when you had your first office job. I am a teacher who often works 10-12 days, and a few times a week I’ll have extra-curricular activities, meetings, etc. that often require coming BACK to work in the evenings. It may sound silly, but one of the main issues I have even if I somehow find the time (AND energy!) is the shower issue–if I work out, I’ll need a shower, but if I’m coming back to work, that’s so much time to factor in re-doing makeup and hair! Going to the gym late at night isn’t an option as I get up between 5:00-5:30 every morning and I don’t want to cut into sleep time. Any advice or words of wisdom would be great 🙂
I apologize in advance if there is a previous post on this somewhere!
KathEats says
Hey Katie,
When I worked and when I was a student I went early morning. There was no way I would go after work either (because of the shower + need to relax) so I had to get up at 5am to go. Here’s a post I wrote with some tips for getting out of bed: https://www.katheats.com/tips-for-a-9-5-lifestyle-2
Katie says
Thank you 🙂
Kate says
It’s funny, I always wonder who these 9-5 people are. Every job I’ve ever had that worked “normal” hours, we always work 8-5! All my eight hour work days are always nine hours because of the lunch break they so graciously give us employees. For some reason, that extra morning hour seems to make all the difference!
KathEats says
I always worked 8:30 to 5:30 and thought the same thing!
Justeen says
Wow, you got a LOT of walking in, Kath! One of the things I miss about living in Cville.
These days I’ve been doing Barre3 online workouts and yoga at home with a little running or ellipticalling at the apartment gym mixed in. I’ve been loving the low impact workouts, but sometimes I miss high intensity classes – they look like fun! Do you still do Body Pump?
KathEats says
I don’t do Pump because it’s always in the 10am hour and we have to get home by then. If there were a 9:15 class I’d do it once a week!
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
I love that you live in such a walkable place! That’s definitely something I hope to have again because I miss walking to get my errands done instead of feeling like I have to drive everywhere!
Ashley @ Saving Money in your Twenties says
Awesome week of workouts! You make me feel like a slacker- I don’t even have kids and still can’t find the time to fit all those workouts in 🙂
Elizabeth says
Great week of workouts!
All of the classes you take sound like classes I would love to take! Our gym does not offer any conditioning classes but I think that would be such a great class to take.
Jenna says
Awesome post kath!! Just curious how much your gym costs per year/month. I live in NYC and a gym with such a variety of great classes would cost around $125 month, which is alot. It’s so wonderful that you have so many options! Just curious, does mazen go to the gym day care? Is that extra or included in membership? Thanks for the great post!
KathEats says
Ours is comparable and day care is a little extra per month but all inclusive
Maggie says
Great work outs. You should be quite proud of yourself.
Concerning preschools, I am sure that Charlottesville has both Montessori and Waldorf schools. Their toddler programs are based on their education philosophy. Though different in approach both philosophies have earned respect and are easily incorporated into your home environment. Do just go and check them out. I think both offer some sort of Mom and toddler once a week class.
Dana @ Conscious Kitchen Blog says
I love all the variety in your workouts! I definitely need that or I get bored too easily. I’d love to incorporate more walking into my daily routine, but unfortunately living in a suburb I’m mostly car bound. I’d love it if our community was more walker friendly.
Ali says
You got in some good workouts last week! I would love the try the hybrid athletic training/cycling class.
Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves says
You rock, Kath! Athletic conditioning class sounds like something I would love/hate as well 😉 And Fitness Fusion also sounds like a blast!
Walking can be totally underrated, but I love that you include a lot of it in your daily routine.
[email protected] says
Awesome! I’m such a class person aswell and Athletic Conditioning sounds amazing! Do you have any go to workouts or an approach when it comes to cardio on the machines yourself? I’m not a big stairmaster fan! 26 minutes on it is epic!
KathEats says
I either do the stairmaster (the stairmill is the correct term I think…the moving stairs) or a combo of elliptical, stairs and bike.
Louise says
I would love to live somewhere so walkable! You must feel so good after working out so intensely during the week.
What does your grocery prep entail? Would you consider a post about it? I’m trying to be a bit more organized.
KathEats says
I’ve been using Cook Smarts to meal plan and use their Sunday prep day instructions. Post coming soon!
simple green moms says
your workouts look like a lot of fun! variety is definitely the key =) keep it up you look awesome girl!!
Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs says
Looks like a great week in exercise! The Fitness Fusion class sounds like a lot of fun!
Jackie says
Wow great week!
Jen and Emily @ Layers of Happiness says
Yay for exercise! I made a salad today and I thought of you for some reason… I guess because I feel like you would make something like it for lunch. It had spinach, leftover grilled chicken, chopped tomatoes, cucumber slices, chopped roasted red bell pepper, a scoop of hummus, and a squeeze of lemon juice. It sure was delicious and I didn’t even need dressing!
Hope you have a great week! 🙂
Stacey says
You have so many great class options! I’m incredibly jealous. I guess that’s the difference between living in a bigger town/city than where I am in Iowa. I’m also glad to see you taking such great advantage of it — some don’t realize all the great opportunities they have at their fingertips.
Lisa @bitesforbabies says
Have you ever tried TRX? I love it!!! I’ve have never been in such good shape and I owe it all to TRX! It’s so motivating and it amazes me at how strong I’ve become…not just slender but with major muscle mass. I’m so proud to say that 2 months after having a c-section I held a 6-minute plank…and after 11 months 9 minutes!!!!
sarah says
Though I don’t know you, it really seems like you have the most balanced lifestyle. Your babe is adorable.
Carolyn says
You’re so lucky you can send Mazen to preschool at 2 years old. In my area, you have to be 3 and potty trained. Which never happened by 3 with my boys lol.
candace | yogabycandace says
That fitness fusion class sounds so fun! I wish I had something like that around here. And good for you for resting your arm and doing a walk about instead of a major workout. I have such a hard time listening to my body and I usually wind up with a little minor injury that could’ve been prevented had I simply rested.
kiki says
I’m working out with Erin on Thursday!
KathEats says
Oh fun!!
Kelly says
Funny you bring up the intensity question (and mention the previous athletic condition post). I was just telling my workout partner last night that upping my intensity of fitness scares me and it what keeps me from trying new things. I’ve been taking this strength class on Monday nights and at 1st, I liked how it made me hurt, in a good way but I still had to push myself to go. Now, I enjoy it, eventhough it is hard, I feel more confident and able. I’m still working on push ups, but can do them better than when I started. Now, I have to push through the anxiety and fear of trying classes that sound “like hell” because they will keep me pushing. Hope this make sense. I LOVE group fitness and so glad that I have a gym that I can utilize to get it in. It really pushes me to go much farther than I would if I worked out at home.
Sheila says
Great post. I’m so impressed with how active you are with a little one on the go. You inspired me to hit the gym tonight and try “body burn bootcamp”. It was lots of fun & much better than spending the evening ( or what’s left of it after dinner, dishes and kids lunches) on the couch.
Lindsay says
Go Kath! I’m getting my workouts back on as well! I have almost gone opposite of you though, where I do almost all yoga as my workout. Teaching dance I’m on my feet already 6+ hours, so the yoga time gives me that space to breath, work, and calm down. I’m going to try incorporating more lifting in though thanks to you!
ClevelandJoe @ The Frolicking Fells says
I have no idea how you get all of those workouts in while maintaining this blog, keeping up the house, chasing after your little one, and everything else that you have going on. I only got to run once this week and I have no kids and struggle to put up new content on my blog more than once or twice a week. Good for you!