And picks it up to pump iron!
BodyPump recreation:
The class was an ‘express class’ so it was 45 minutes instead of an hour. That worked great for my weight lifting ADD ; ) And this time, the MUSIC was GOOD!! [Read about my first experience with BodyPump here.] “Whatcha Say” was one of the tracks this time! The class wasn’t hard, but it wasn’t easy either. I hate how much time is wasted between tracks. I just stand there for two – sometimes three entire minutes. I should be bold and do some jump roping or jacks, but I’d be the only one and I’m not confident enough to look that silly!
After class I did 26 minutes on the Stairmaster. When 20 is too few and 30 seems impossible, settle for 26 minutes – it really is the perfect number 
The Stairmaster was H.A.R.D.!!!!
We’ve got such a gray day here today. I had to drive to the gym, which I rarely do.
But at least the Xmas tree makes it super cozy inside!
Lunch was great!!
Leftover lentil salad from yesteryear
Plus a side of fruit (apple + plum(b)) and toast with some Naturally Nutty.
I’ve had this jar of Pepita Sun Butter for AGES! I have to say I’m not the biggest fan of pepitas. But I finally opened it, and must to my surprise, it’s really good. Just like the Cinnamon Vanilla Sunflower Butter but with a slight earthiness from the pepitas.
The toast was smashing!
Going to brew up a cuppa tea (I DO enjoy tea a lot in the afternoons!) and work on my comp a bit.
Emily G. says
Oh, I love that Pepita Seed nut butter. SO.GOOD.
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
The stair master kills me every time too! Glad you enjoyed Body Pump this time. I think it’s often all about the music – some just aren’t very easy to get into but I’ve done the one you’re talking about and I love it! 🙂
Alison says
I’m glad you liked today’s BodyPump class better than your first visit.
Julie @ Honey B. Nutrition says
Oh my God and sometimes they talk FOR EVER at the beginning of class! I hate that. I so wish they could keep the talking and standing around to a minimum. If you’re not a regular, you can pick it up pretty quickly. I’m a jerk. I know.
Samantha @ Bikini Birthday says
I know some people swear by it, but I’m not a huge BodyPump fan.
I hate doing a million and a half reps of one exercise. I find it kinda boring, even if the music is good.
Michele @ Healthy Cultivations says
Oh, the lentil salad with sweet potato in it looks really tasty. In fact, I might be inspired to make something similar. Hmm… thought wheels turning.
emily says
Sorry to go off topic, but did you take down your FAQ page? I can’t seem to find it. I just bought a bag of chia seeds (finally!) and thought I remembered you posting advice about using them.
Kath says
I did take it down. I thought I had some other chia info though…let me see.
Found this from an old OpenSky post:
Chia
Chia seeds are all the rage these days! I’ve heard them referred to as “the next flaxseed” because they are full of omega-3s, iron, protein and fiber. And unlike flax, they don’t have to be ground! Upon first bite, you might notice that chias have a bit of gel inside them, and the gel is definitely my favorite part. They don’t have a nutty taste like flax – they are pretty tasteless – but the gel is so fun. My favorite use for chias thus far is in smoothies. I soak them in a little milk for 5-10 minutes and they form a little gel army and then when blended in, they give a smoothie a really nice thick texture. I’ve also cooked them in oats and didn’t notice a huge difference in texture, but still really liked them. The possibilities are endless and I hope to try more soon! Beware: they do get lodged in your teeth, so bring on the floss! –Kath
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
I also hate when classes waste time – I’m only there for so long.. make me WORK!!!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
It is gross here today and I have no Christmas tree up to make it better. I am thinking it is a perfect night for a fire! I am planning on having a cup of tea in a minute too! I definitely need to warm up!
Nelle @ Living Cliche says
Be bold! Be confident! When everyone around you is just standing around, you could at least do some good yoga-type stretching. It won’t attract much attention, but you’ll be doing something good for your body. And I promise, everyone else will think it’s a good idea and do it too!
Kath says
Yoga is a good idea!!
Julie @ Peanut Butter Fingers says
Love your cartoon! 🙂
I’m sorry your BodyPump instructor seems to drag in between tracks. At my gym they honestly rush me too much in between tracks! We literally have no more than 45 seconds to change our weights before it’s onto the next song. It’s face-paced, but I like it b/c we’re constantly moving. Perhaps you’d like a different instructor’s speed?
Your lunch looks fantastic, as usual!
Kath says
This is instructor #2, but I will keep trying!
Julie @ Peanut Butter Fingers says
Ugh that is frustrating! Don’t lose hope! I’m sure the perfect instructor is out there… somewhere! 🙂
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
Ugh– I WISH our weather was just gray! We’ve had pouring down rain since 6am!!
Body pump is a favorite of mine!
faith @ gracefulfitness says
It’s so dark out! I’ve been reading and drinking tea all afternoon :).
I agree with you about BodyPump. I think the “wasted” time was what really turned me off.
Lisa (bakebikeblog) says
How strange that there is such a big gap between tracks. We usually just have time to change our weights and then it is into the next track. 30 second maybe?
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
26 min. on the stairmaster is tough stuff…that machine is crazy! I love that pepita sun butter. I found it at the Chapel Hill Great Harvest last spring. Mmmm.
Allison K says
I used to take body pump, and had the same experience as other users…barely enough time to change weights and then on to the next move. I think body pump is a great class for people who are just starting to lift weights, but now that I am more into lifting as heavy as possible, the idea of 50 billion squats makes me sort of bored.
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) says
I’ve never tried body pump… it costs money at my gym! If I’m going to take a class, I like cycling.
Kelly says
The wait between tracks does not happen for all body pump-esque classes. I have taken similar classes in the past and if I’m switching weights, I barely have enough time to get them back on my bar typically. Maybe different instructors are better at this than the one you took today?
Camille says
I get lifting ADD too. I just find it so darn boring!
Janet says
Hi Kath,
Did you mean to spell Pepita as “peptia” twice? Just curious!
Kath says
Nope. Fixing now.
Sana says
I am also going to enjoy some afternoon tea 🙂 I hope you have a lovely day!
Balanced Healthy Life says
Looks like a very dreary day! I love how Christmas lights make a home so much more cozy!
lauren says
do some jacks! if another girl was getting busy during this time you’d admire her. and most people are concerned what other’s think of themselves and less about what you’ll be doing. shake body pump up a bit!
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
i kind of wish it would be grey here…although the sun is nice for that Vitamin D 😉
Lily's Health Pad says
Your instructor must be slow because I hardly have a chance to change my weight between muscle groups!
Caitlyn (A Spoonful of Life) says
I really need to find some “interesting” nut butters! I usually just buy the plain AB, Peanut butter, or sunflower seed butter. I have tried Justin’s chocolate AB and it was divine!
Shannon @ A Better Me says
Hehe…like the little cartoon drawing at the beginning! 😀
Sarah @ goingongoals says
I love the 45 minute classes! They just seem to fly by!
[email protected] says
I have yet to order that pepita (*shudder*, I hate that word for some reason) butter, but I really want to!
Allie says
Pepita sun butter, hmm, sounds pretty good!
Alina @ Duty Free Foodie says
That’s so strange – in the classes I’ve been to, there is barely enough time to switch your weights between tracks. Glad the music worked out for you though! I know a million people will say this, but adding weight makes it harder!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
I love the sound of pepita butter! 😀
(p.s. I’m an afternoon tea drinker too! 😀 )
Clare @ Fitting It All In says
BEAUTIFUL foilage pictures! It looks absolutely beautiful where you live.
Madeleine @ Stepping to the Bright Side says
Awww, I love the weather you’re having… it’s almost 70 degrees in LA- NOT that I should be complaining but a little Christmas-spirited weather would be nice 😉
Gaby @ Embracement says
funny, i always get incredibly bored when I reach 26 minutes on the treadmill and have to try really hard to keep going! body pump is all about the instructor though, hopefully you find a good medium soon!
Jil @ Big City, Lil Kitchen says
Ohh – that nut butter sounds really good.
Christine (The Raw Project) says
Great pictures and the class sounds tough, I’d probably get impatient between activities too. Ah, aren’t leftovers wonderful for lunch? Even though my hubby does, I never get tired of them.
Melissa @ I Never Imagined says
Your lentil salad looks as delicious as it did yesterday! iwantitsobad!!!!
Amy says
Ooh I hate the stairclimber! I admire anyone who can stay on it longer than 5 minutes. I get so discombobulated and out of sorts on it!
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
Good music is essential in BodyPump. I remember one track in a release that I HATED and it made doing the sets so incredibly difficult.
Shannon says
I’m going to Body Pump tomorrow, but not at your gym. Our class has much faster transitions than what you described. That is a waste of time.
Stephanie says
This sounds crazy, but I love gray weather… as much as I love rain! I’ve lived in California all my life… with a little stint in Japan… so rain or snow {especially the snow}… I absolutely love!
Krystina says
I love the more experimental pictures you’ve been posting lately – so beautiful!
Hannah says
I loooooove pepitas, so would be all over that nut butter like a rash! But what’s that I hear? My regular refrain? Woe woe not available in Australia woe woe 😉
Cathy B. @ Bright Bakes says
cute drawing! It was a gray day here too…Honestly it seems as though it barely even gets light these days!
love,
cathy b. @ brightbakes
ging says
2-3 minutes?! What the heck are they doing back there! I know it takes time to change weights and set up technique but … one of my favourites if it’s a small class is to get everyone to set up a couple of bars with different weights, then push play and not stop until the end. Dying, I say. Insane workout – weights + sweat like a spin class! You need to get your butt over to the pacific, Kath 🙂
Lauren says
Haha, I know exactly what you mean! I hate the wasted time in between tracks. Don’t they tell you to twist? How long can I possibly twist though? If we took this class together, we would do the jacks together! Then it wouldn’t be as weird and I think we could possibly start a trend. 😉
Kath says
We could! I’d do it with a partner 🙂
Cara Craves... says
I am impressed that you can go that long on the stair master…
my legs and butt feel like they are going to die at around 12 mins or so.
Way to go!
Kath says
I used to go for 40 minutes on level 11! Could barely do 26 on 11 today. Was dying.
Dee says
That is the cutest drawing ever!
Simply Life says
wow, impressive workout!
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
Your leftovers salad looks amazing.
[email protected] says
Way to get back into it! Thanks for the workout links too 🙂
[email protected] says
Oops! Ignore my last comment. Someone has more than one tab going while reading blogs…!!
Love your lunch.
Namaste Gurl says
It’s been very chilly here as well– Still riding my bike, though. Bundeling up is the way to go 🙂
Lisa @ Fit in the Midwest says
Your drawing is cute!
My Body Pump instructors keep the class moving. Do you have Body Pump/Flow at your gym? I have only done it once, but enjoyed it. We did about a half hour of Pump and a half of flow, which was mostly yoga moves. It felt great to stretch after lifting weights!
Kath says
They don’t have Flow at my gym 🙁
Maddie (Healthy Maddie) says
I’ve never heard of pepita sun butter before. I guess you can make nut butter out of almost any seed/nut!
Brittany (Delights and Delectables) says
Your lunch makes me drool!! Where did you get that plum?? It looks delish. Our plums here in Kentucky are not looking that good.
Laura (Starloz) says
i love that your using effects for pictures now!
it’s very interesting
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
Haha I like your logic for doing 26 minutes. Some days I just can’t finish the full 30 minutes either!