product reviews...

After a weekend of slacking off (minus a 50 min of cardio on Friday night) I finally got my butt back to the gym tonight for some kick box cardio. There was a different instructor this time, and I think it was a bit easier to handle. More squats and shuffles and less jumping jacks. Regardless I still left a drippy sweaty mess, and I swear to god everyone was staring at me as I left. Are people really not used to seeing someone with a fully soaked shirt at the gym?? Perhaps it was just my imagination.

Well, I thought I'd change it up a bit and share some of my current favorite beauty products, so the hard work is already done for you and you don't have to test them out yourself! Awesome, right?

1.

 

Miracle Foot Repair Cream by Miracle of Aloe:

I LOVE this foot cream, it makes my feet baby soft after just one application. I used to steal this from my mom at home until I got my own tube. It's pretty affordable, I got it for about $6 dollars at a large chain store.

kicking my butt...

Last Wednesday I decided to go to my gym's kick box cardio class for the first time. I thought it would fun, I thought it would be sweaty but enjoyable.

I was SO wrong.

I have never done so many jumping jacks in my f'ing life! It was like some warm-ups I have done at rugby practice, you know with the jumping jacks and squats, ground touches, etc. Except this time it wasn't a warm-up, it was the whole class, which lasted for at least 45 minutes.

20 minutes in I wanted to leave, I was wiped out and my head hurt. I wasn't prepared for the intensity. But I know now after playing rugby what it is like to be uncomfortable and just to push through it. It got a little better, there was more jabbing and less jumping. Then it got more intense again but this time I was feeling more revved up, and more like I could totally do this s**t! Although at one point we did jumping jacks and I had to pause because I was feeling a bit dizzy.

I learned a valuable lesson though, do NOT underestimate the power of a tiny Japanese woman teaching a kick box cardio class. She kicked my butt. I plan on going back but a bit more prepared for the madness next time. I think this class could totally help increase my fitness level.

Visiting a close friend back east...

Recently I made my first solo flight to visit a very close and dear friend in North Carolina

Nellie moved out to there in last June for graduate school, and before this trip I had only seen her once since moving. For someone who is one of my closest friends visiting once a year is not nearly enough.

Taking a few days of much desired PTO I jetted off towards my destination! Nellie for days had mentioned how excited she was that I was coming to visit. It made the trip that much more special in a very cheesy way.

The first thing I noticed about NC is how forested the landscape is. It's basically what I expected Missouri to look like for some reason. Here is a shot from us driving from Raleigh-Durham airport. 

what i love about...

What I love about my Pilates class (I've gone about 5 times already)

1. Exercising why lying down...?
2. The prospect of rock hard abs. (Under the tummy 'cause I'll never have a six pack, I'd rather eat cookies.)
3. All the stretching and increased flexibility.
4. Focusing so hard on the different moves that all other worries melt away.
5. Breaking a sweat and feeling fantastic afterwards.

Now that I can actually do ab exercises I'm kinda obsessed with them. I swear to god, before I started playing rugby I couldn't even do a elbow to knee sit-up. No joke. Now, no problemo. If I actually keep up with these Pilate classes, and they don't help with my core strength and my scrumming, then I swear I will eat my freakin' shoe.

Next Wednesday I am looking forward to trying the gym's cardio kickboxing class.

 Not as easy as it looks, but not as hard as it used to be for this chub. :)