Traveling Fitness

My family decided to take a road trip to visit some family. This was supposed to be a vacation. It still has potential, but is hard to classify as such when the 12-hour journey begins with a 13-month old vomiting all over the place. But we made it, everyone slept through the night, the vomit appears to have ceased, so the vacation can officially begin!

This morning, I did a quick workout in the hotel room, with no equipment. Here's what I did...

Lunges: 2 sets of 50 on each leg

Push-ups: 3 sets of 30

Wall-squats: Hold on wall for 2 minutes. Press arms against wall, and do bicep curl with no weights...the entire time (about 150 reps)

Tricep Dips: 3 sets of 20

Plank: Hold for 90 seconds

Stretch!

Total Workout? 20 minutes! Mood? 1,000,000 times better than when I went to bed last night.

How do you fit in your workout while traveling?

Killer Leg Workout...Downhill Skiing

Before two days ago, the last time I went skiing was 5 years ago. My husband and I were just dating, in the marriage-discussion mode. We (along with my younger brother) were taking a ski class together. If ONE thing almost caused an end to our courtship, it was this ski class. You see, when I get nervous/feel insecure/wish I could crawl instead of ski down a mountain, I get a bit snippy. Don't try giving me advice. Don't tell me what I'm doing wrong. I'll bite your head off. After one particular ski class, mi esposo vowed NEVER to go skiing with me again. But he did again the next week. And I tried really hard to be nice. I guess it worked, because he still has his head, and we're married!

When my brother suggested a President's-Day-Ski-Trip, I had mixed feelings. But in the end, I agreed to go...without promising to not sit in the ski lodge all day. But I faced some fears, didn't die, only muttered a few expletives to the passing snow boarders, got a great leg workout (from snow plowing all day), and actually had fun (I only entered the lodge to use the bathroom)! And as far as I can recall, I didn't bite anyone's head off. I took "suggestions" with grace (and appreciation). I guess motherhood has humbled this proud little girl a bit. Here are some of the thoughts overheard in my brain throughout the day...

• Hmmm...the kids are with Grandma...let's go see a movie instead.


• Breathe.


• Count to 10.


• Why does everyone on the ski lift insist on leaving the bar up?


• Don't look down.


• I'm going to DIE!


• Oh crap. I thought this was a GREEN hill?!?!?! When did it turn blue?


• And why is it so dang steep?


• Maybe I should try cross-country skiing instead.


• I'm going to fall...I'm going to fall...I'm going to FAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!


• Wait for me, guys!


• I'm coming!


• No, I'm not going to go faster. I like going horizontally down the hill.


• Just go ahead...I'll catch up...eventually!


• Why does that 3-year-old look like that, and I look like this?


• Woo hoo! I made it all the way down without falling once!


• Can we go back to the bunny hill?


• I feel really cool walking like a gangsta in my ski boots!

• And why am I in charge of the camera, again? I can barely hold on to the poles...do they really expect me to be able to handle taking pictures?

And my favorite conversation of the day:

Husband (to my brother and his cute new girlfriend): Today will be a good test for your relationship. It sure was for ours!

Thanks, babe!

Do you ski? Are you as terrified of the lift as I am? What fears are you working to overcome?

How to separate the leg from the buttox

DAIRY AIR

(photo from here)

I was recently asked the following question:

How do I tone the spot where my leg meets my butt?

You all know the spot, right? The rear end may sort of continue onto this spot. If you're lucky, there is a distinct separation of leg and bottom. We've already established with our workout myth busters that you can't spot reduce, but you can definitely tone specific areas. Here are my three favorite moves for toning this lovely gray area...the one we want to be leg, but that can easily be confused as part of the derrière.

(Sorry...no pictures this time. My 2-year-old photographer just wasn't up to the task.)

MOVE #1

Double and Single Leg Bridges

Starting position: Supine on the floor (lie on back), with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor, arms at your sides.

Action: Squeeze buttox and lift hips towards the ceiling (making sure legs are bent at 90 degrees). Pause, and lower back towards the floor (without returning completely to the floor). Repeat reps.

Variation: Try this move with single legs for added difficulty. Cross right leg over left thigh, or extend right leg out straight. Complete reps, then switch sides.

MOVE #2

Squat

Starting position: Stand up straight, pull in your abs, make sure your feet are hip distance apart.

Action: Slowly lower the body, moving the hips back as if sitting in a chair. Make sure the weight of your body is in your heels (so you don't fall forward), and go as low as you can (aiming for about 90 degrees). Pause, then return to starting position. Repeat.

Variation: Try this on a single leg, add hand weights, or a dumb bell for a challenge.

MOVE #3

Lunges

This is the move I love to hate! It works! And there are soooo many variations, it never stops working!

Starting position: Standing with feet shoulder-width apart.

Action: Take a BIG step backwards (or forward). The weight of your front foot should be in the heel. The back heel is raised, so weight is in the ball of the foot. Both feet are facing forward. Lower to the floor, to about 90 degrees of flexion. Make sure your front knee never extends beyond your toes as you go down and up. Complete reps, then switch sides. See here for a picture of the lunge with my paper plate workout!

Variations: Add weight, put either back or front leg on elevated surface, do walking lunges, etc.



What are your favorite separation-of-the-leg-to-butt moves, or what areas are you looking to define?