Surprise! I Actually Like the Peloton (and its app!)

Right now, the Peloton app is free to try for 2 months — no bike necessary. If you need convincing, read more. If you've been wanting to try it, click here now.

I do not like biking.

Biking difficult terrain is stressful; biking easy terrain is boring. Even if the views are beautiful, I'd much rather run any given route. And don't get me started on attempting to bike in the street with traffic. That level of risk is not for me.

Source

As for spinning...well. I took one spin class in college and swore I'd never put my butt or thighs through that again.

So of course, I didn't buy into the hype of the Peloton when I began to see it all over Instagram. After last year's disastrous commercial I was a skeptic, but runners I follow seemed all-in, so when Scott and Robby told me they'd ordered one, I was intrigued and open to trying it.

Their bike finally arrived in late November; after two rides, I was hooked. Unlike the experience I had back at Stetson in 2004, completing a ride on the Peloton was unexpectedly fun. Despite wanting to die halfway through, I finished each ride with an excellent adrenaline rush and the feeling that I'd completed a hard, worthy workout.

There are a few major reasons I like the Peloton, and most of them have nothing to do with the bike itself.

The Instructors

I like the tone of the instructors, who are encouraging, empathetic, funny, and distracting, not to mention diverse and inclusive in pretty much every way imaginable. They pump you up without taking the "tough love" approach I hate so much. I wasn't expecting the instructors to play such a huge role in my love of the Peloton, but they definitely are the reason to get this app over any other spin app.

You can read about the various instructors to find someone whose fitness philosophy and style meshes with yours. 

If I'm feeling the need for emotional motivation and fulfillment, I tune in for a ride with Robin Arzón or Hannah Frankson. If I want something that will distract me from my pain, Cody Rigsby is my man.

The instructors lead rides and other workouts, so even without the bike you're getting the benefit of their energy and enthusiasm.

Also, the playlists are great — I've been living for the 90s and early 2000s rock and pop lately. I like being able to choose a ride based on its difficulty level (on a scale to 10) and adjust my cadence and resistance to what will work for me.

The App

Because I don't have a Peloton of my own, I use the app more than I ride. It's filled with full-body home workouts that are updated daily. I've found the arm and core workouts to be really excellent. I haven't tried the running workouts yet, but I'm planning to give them a try soon.

There are workouts that focus on specific areas; there's even meditation and yoga.

The app includes individual classes, programs (from a marathon training program to a meditation program designed to help you sleep better), challenges, and collections (workouts grouped by category, like "no equipment necessary" or "Beyoncé"). Seriously, there is so much there, I haven't even scratched the surface.

I wouldn't bother writing this post if not for this: right now, you can get the Peloton app for free for two months and cancel anytime if you're not impressed. After the trial ends, the app costs $12.99 a month, which is cheaper than most gym memberships — and with the current COVID situation I wouldn't step into a gym anytime soon anyway.

Peloton Bike "Hack"

If you want the full spinning experience but don't want to shell out $2000 for a bike, there's a less expensive option. You can buy a less expensive spin bike and the monthly Peloton app membership to get basically the same experience. If you have an iPad already (or know how to cast your phone app to your TV), you'll even have a nice big screen like on the Peloton bikes.

You'll be missing some data but it may be worth the price difference to ride by feel rather than numbers. For more details on this hack, click here.

Honestly, I can't speak highly enough about this weird, motivational cult Peloton has managed to suck me into. It's kind of annoying, really. But honestly, with two months free, it's worth testing out for yourself. What do you have to lose?

ABK

Chloe Ting 2 Week Challenge - Week 2 (Results)

I started week two feeling a little discouraged. Despite feeling stronger and generally in better health since starting, I guess I was secretly hoping to see some ab lines by Day 8. Instead I looked the same and my left wrist is killing me.

Day 8: I had to adjust some of the planks so I could do them on my elbows to save my wrist, which was really hurting when I had to twist it or adjust balance (like during Corkscrews). Still, I got through all three videos today without stopping, sweat a ton, and felt wobbly afterward, so I know I still got a quality workout in.

Day 9: This was the last active rest day of the program, and I needed it! My wrist was glad for a break. Matt and I went for a short run that ended up not exactly being restful. The humidity was super high and there was no breeze. Of course, the minute we finished it started to rain.

Day 10: My wrist felt marginally better but I was feeling pretty exhausted from the previous night's run. I almost flip-flopped this day with Day 11 to make it easier, but ended up finding the energy to get all four videos done. I changed some of the exercises to take it easy on my wrist. All those Army Planks, though!

Day 11: I was relieved to only have two videos today. We've had workers on the roof, which means my sleep has been badly interrupted and I've been waking up with headaches. These two videos felt easy to pound out after Day 10's four. Results-wise, I feel stronger and tighter everyday, but visually there's not much change.

Day 12: This was the first day I didn't want to do the videos. I overslept and wanted to eat right away, so then I had to wait until I digested to workout. I did them around 4pm and felt...bored. The workouts were getting redundant. I turned on Dexter to watch while I worked out, and that helped a bit! 

Day 13: Watching TV really provided the perfect distraction for finishing this challenge, which I was beginning to find dull. I was still working up a major sweat during the workouts, but was not really feeling the same kind of muscular impact (read: soreness) I was during the first week. At this point, I was looking forward to being done so I could change things up.

This came across my Instagram feed this week and kind of reset my thinking, too. My hope in undertaking this challenge was to have fun and get motivated, not physical results. By Day 13, I was over it, and perspective is important. I will always come back to working out for mental and physical health, not looks.

Day 14: After taking my "after" pics, I just couldn't be bothered to do this workout. I was so burned out from this challenge! But today wasn't a failure, nor is it quitting. This routine has given me a sense of accomplishment, but I am ready to return to running as my primary workout.

It's funny to me that I can run the exact same route dozens of times in a row and not get sick of it, but 14 days of these videos - in various orders, all of which incorporate 19+ different exercises - just got boring for me! This is why running has always been my preferred workout and the only one I stick with longterm: it's the only thing that doesn't lose its edge.

As for physical results, I don't see much difference. I didn't lose any weight or notice a change in my muscle definition. When I flex really hard I can maybe see a few more lines in my abs. I intend to do the lower body workout once or twice a week to continue building strength for running.

Anyway, here are my before/after pics. I think the change is most noticeable in the side-view, both in my stomach and my thighs.

So, not bad for 14-days' worth of work, but like I expected all along - no miracles here. I will say I definitely feel stronger and my posture feels a bit taller these days. I'll incorporate some of these videos into my weekly routine, but at this point...I'm really ready to run again. It may not give me abs of steel, but it makes my heart and head happy, and that's worth more to me.

ABK

Chloe Ting 2 Week Challenge - Week One

Summer weather and Covid spikes in Florida have kept me inside for a week straight. I decided it was time to commit to some at-home workouts. I found Chloe Ting's 2 Week Challenge via a Try Guy's video where they tried a few different YouTube workouts and decided to give it a...try.

I started on a Wednesday rather than wait for a new week to start. I had Matt take some "before" photos, but I won't be posting those until after the full 14 days, if at all. At this point I'm halfway through. I wish I had remembered to take my measurements before I started.

My issue with programs like this is that they can create a false hope for getting a perfectly sculpted body in a really short time, which is unrealistic. Chloe talks about that in other videos and on her website, and she's super encouraging to everyone, no matter their results at the end. Because I lost weight last summer and kept it off, I think my body could potentially reflect some change in a short time, but I don't expect miracles.

I haven't been purposefully changing my diet while doing this challenge, but as always happens when I'm consistently working out, my appetite has changed naturally, so I'm snacking less, eating more fruit, and drinking more water. I am still doing intermittent fasting, so I complete the daily workout before I eat, first thing after I wake up.

I did not do the optional video on Day 2.

Day 1: My body didn't know what hit it. Not only have I not been running much, but I'm also barely moving, seeing as it's officially summer break. My heart-rate skyrocketed during these first two videos and I really had to take a lot of breaks. It was discouraging. I am always kind of amazed that I can go for a two-mile run in 80% humidity and my heart-rate stays pretty tame, but five minutes of planks has me shaking.

Day 2: Despite being a little sore, Day 2 was much easier. I think my mind and body were just already in a better place with more realistic expectations about the workout. I enjoyed the workout.

Day 3: OW. My hip flexors were super sore upon waking, and they stayed sore and weak through most of the day's four videos. Exercises like In-and-Outs and leg raises seem to work my groin more than my abs, and I'm just not very strong there. I felt super accomplished for completing all four videos.

Day 4: I nearly skipped a video today, but since tomorrow is a rest day, I dug deep and got it done. I noticed upon waking that my stomach already seemed tighter than it has been. Not super muscular/defined, but just a little flatter. My wrists hurt pretty badly from all the plank work, which is unusual for me. Perhaps it's because I'm doing these workouts on carpet. I'll try setting my yoga mat up on tile for Day 6!

I actually felt physically very strong on this run! I don't have any visible muscle definition yet but I definitely feel stronger.

Day 5: Active rest day. Matt and I found a nearby neighborhood that's still in the process of being built. It's much quieter and less populated than our current place, so I felt much more comfortable running there. I ran two very slow miles; I was surprised by how good I felt on the run despite being so sore! My hips and hip flexors felt great, but I'm definitely not acclimated to summer weather and humidity right now.

Day 6: Despite running in the evening and working out the following morning, I still felt really fresh and capable for Day 6. I moved my yoga mat to a tiled part of the condo and it did make a difference on my wrists and ankles. The workouts seem easier (I know what to anticipate, I'm taking shorter breaks, and completing more sets in the time limit), but I'm still working up a major sweat and struggling in certain areas.

Day 7: I felt more tired at the start today, but was able to complete all the videos with minimal rest. I feel like a noodle! While I haven't seen any obvious improvements aesthetically yet, I definitely feel stronger and generally just "better" than I have in awhile!

At this point, I am thinking a lot about how I wish the program used the lower body and core/arm workouts more frequently, but I like that there are only a few videos that you cycle through. It's just predictable enough without getting boring.

I'm ready to tackle the second week!

ABK

This Circuit! Oy!

This week I did one workout (besides A1A, which will get its own post) because I was busy and not feeling very well, so I've decided to walk you all through to circuit Elizabeth and I did last Wednesday (on our birthday).

Can you believe we're in our 30s?! I can't.

Complete each exercise for 30-40 seconds and immediately switch to the next until the full set is completed. Rest 60 seconds between sets. Repeat 3-5 times. (We did this one four times and the next day I was so achy I thought my congestion/cold had turned into the flu!)

1. Deadlift - Squat - Lift
This is really exactly what it sounds like. I use two 8-pound dumbbells for this move. Lift the dumbbells in a deadlift motion; bring them to shoulder height and squat; then rise to standing while pressing the dumbbells straight upward. Repeat by lowering the dumbbells in a controlled motion and returning to deadlift position.

Below is what the squat-to-press motion looks like.
2. Plank - Pushup - Cougar - Row
Start in a plank position balanced on weights. Complete a pushup, then jump out into a cougar position. Draw each arm back into a row, then jump back out into the plank position.

Below is the plank-pushup-cougar combo:
And here is the row:

I don't know how she does this move with 35lb weights! To get the full effect of this move in your quads, you need to do the rows while in the cougar position. I skip the pushup part of this combo, but Elizabeth does the entire thing because she is a beast!

3. Ceiling Circles
Lying flat on your back, straighten your legs and point your toes at the ceiling. Keeping your feet together, draw a circle on the ceiling with your toes. I like to go clockwise for half the time and then switch to counter-clockwise circles. You can play around with how tight or wide you want to make your circles.

4. Leg Lifts
This one is self-explanatory! I bend my knees a little for this because I'm not flexible enough to keep them straight!
5. Opposite Plank Lifts
In a plank position, alternate lifting your arms and legs. Lift your right arm, pointing it straight ahead of you, and left leg, pointing it straight back. Hold for 1-2 seconds and focus on keeping your core tight as you balance. Bring your arm and leg back down and repeat with the opposite sides. Continue alternating until time is up.

6. Alternating Bicep Curls
Again, this one is fairly self-explanatory. Alternate bicep curls, keeping your elbows in and tucked slightly back. Your weights should pass each other around your bellybutton.

Workout gifs credited to: Elise's Body Shop (YouTube and Instagram) and Blogilates.

What kinds of exercises do you like to do at home?
Which Instagram fitness trainers do you most like to follow?

ABK

Weekly Workouts 8/22-8/28

Monday: Elizabeth and I christened my "gym" with a nice pilates workout. After our 8-miler the night before, deep stretching and strengthening was just what we needed.

Tuesday: We did a bridge workout that felt particularly hard, maybe because the heat index was 102. I don't have much to say on this one except that it was tough and I was glad when it was over!

Even the sunset and sky look hot!

Wednesday: We tried a new workout video that I ended up really liking! This cardio boxing video kept our heart rates up and really felt like good work. We were both surprised by how much we liked this video, and I was totally satisfied at the end!

Thursday: The weather gave us a little break for our first easy run of the week. We tried a couple new paths on the golf course and kept a nice, steady pace in the mid-9s. It was overcast and very windy - there's a hurricane of some kind brewing out in the ocean and we're starting to see some effects of it already - so I think that helped.

Average pace: 9:37.

I'm always secretly worried we'll get in trouble for running on the course, but Thursday we finally seemed to get the "okay" from one of the groundskeepers. We had paused briefly for water at the driving range when he drove by and offered us cups (every evening they take away the paper cups at the drinking stations). He was super friendly and didn't tell us not to use the course or its amenities, so I feel like now we have tacit approval.

Friday: Unplanned rest due to storms.

Saturday: Rest

Sunday: I had a headache all afternoon, so I wasn't feeling up for a run or anything really bouncy. I did some easy, low-impact exercises - squats, pushups, tricep dips, lunges - and called it a day.

I'm unhappy with how this week ended. My runs were good but I only got two in. But I'm trying to remember that it's all about consistency over time, and one mediocre week isn't going to kill me!

ABK

My New Gym

One of my goals this summer was to clean out one of our guest rooms and turn it into a little at-home "gym."

I came home from work on Tuesday weirdly motivated to finally roll up my sleeves and get to work. I wish I'd taken a before picture, but all you get is this after shot:

I'm not sure if I'll keep the rug in there; it may slip around during certain exercises. We'll see how it goes!

My running quote-a-day calendar is right in front of the TV, so I can stay focused and motivated while also being entertained. I've also decorated the room with the sign my mom made me for my first marathon, a 26.2 magnet my sister got me, and the motivational quote block Megan got me when we met in December!

I also put a pile of fitness magazines in there. I've been planning to go through them and tear out the workouts that look interesting and make a binder of them, so that's my next project.

We originally had two beds in this room; one was an inflatable. I deflated it and was momentarily sidetracked when I discovered a dead snake under it! You know, finding lizard mummies in the house isn't unusual, and they don't gross me out much, and I like live snakes quite a bit, but this little guy freaked me out! He was just unexpected.

I wasn't sure how to get rid of it, so I took a break and watched some Real Housewives until Matt suggested I sweep it up with the broom. He's so smart.

Here's some of the equipment I have at my disposal:

1: Yoga ball. 2: Resistance band loop. 3: Various resistance bands with handles. 4: Weighted medicine ball. 5: Various recovery items. 6: Kettlebells and weights. Not pictured: the pull up bar in the doorway.

The next additions on my list are a yoga mat (I've been storing mine in Elizabeth's classroom and want a second for home) and a workout bench. There are so many ways to use them, and I know we can find a good one without spending too much.

A video posted by Anna Victoria (@annavictoria) on Jul 17, 2016 at 3:48pm PDT

I do most of my non-running workouts at school, but there are days I can't, and that's when my nice little workout room will come in handy! Just having it in the house is motivating me to use it!

Now the question is...once I get the bench, can I convince Matt that we need a treadmill, too?

Do you have a designated workout spot at home?
What equipment would you put in your dream at-home-gym?

ABK

Winter Break Workouts & Stuff

It never fails that once I finally get into relaxation mode (meaning, the school-related dreams have ended and traveling for the holidays is mostly over), my immune system takes a break and I get sick. It's nothing major, but I've had headaches from the minute I wake up that last all day, I've been really lethargic, and my throat has been hurting.

I haven't been running because my energy level is just shot. But I have been doing some other workouts that I thought would be easier - meaning, no bouncing that will hurt my head. Not easy, because they definitely aren't!

The first is this workout from Blogilates that Helly linked on her blog a couple weeks ago. I thought this looked "easy" and about two minutes into it was like OMG NO. I didn't feel sore immediately after (I did during), but DOMS set in the next day and I'm still walking like a robot.

I also got myself Alexa Jean's workout "books" when they were on mega sale around Thanksgiving. (I don't usually pay for workouts but they were so cheap, I couldn't say no.)

My original plan was to do the 30 day challenge after the marathon (and put running on the back burner for awhile), so I've been doing these fairly diligently. I like that they're quick and seem easy, but then you really start to feel them after a couple days. And honestly, I do think I'm seeing results pretty quickly, too.

On the relaxation front, I decided to undertake the task of watching all six Star Wars movies before we went to see The Force Awakens. I've never seen them before! We watched all six over break and I wrote reviews/reactions on Facebook, which ended up being pretty fun.

I liked being able to discuss such culturally significant movies with my friends who are big fans; it was funny to see how many people told me to "just enjoy them." Like, the entire point of my watching them was to analyze, react, and review!

#EnglishMajorProblems, right? I keep trying to tell people that analyzing movies is how I enjoy them!

I have a ton of work-related stuff I need to get done before school starts again Monday. Midterms are the week we get back, so I need to get mine printed and copied. I have a PD I need to write and prepare for that week, too, and I still have tons of grading to finish. But I'm glad I took the first week of break to just relax and enjoy time with family and friends.

Sometimes we all need that mental break in order to come back sharp and be able to continue doing our jobs to the best of our ability. Teachers especially, since we work with kids and need to be compassionate and patient at work, need this time to just veg out.

Have you seen the Star Wars movies?
When you take a break from running, what kinds of workouts do you do?
Have you ever tried Blogilates?

ABK

Dynamic Planks & Volleyball

As runners, we know that core strength is essential to avoiding injury. "Core" doesn't just refer to abs; it includes our glutes, hips, and back muscles as well. If you find yourself slouching forward during runs, especially during long runs, your core may be in need of strengthening.

I am definitely one of those slumpy runners.

Photo evidence: totally slumped over during the last mile at Spacecoast.

Many of us turn to planks as an easy go-to strengthening exercise, but planks are fairly static. Even as we increase our time (I'm always blown away by people who can hold a plank for over three minutes!), we're still just holding there.

Definitely check out the full routine here.

I found this set of dynamic planks a little while ago and finally began doing them recently. My first impression was that they were incredibly more difficult than I expected! I was dripping sweat and panting as I went through the moves.

I completed 5 of each plank (per side in the case of the side planks) and did the entire routine twice. I think I'll build up to completing it three times.

As with any body-weight exercise, purposeful movement is key. It's important not to rush so that you're truly targeting and engaging your muscles.

My form needs tons of work, but I know it will improve as I get stronger!

I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the results of adding these planks a couple times a week to my usual workouts.

The rest of my weekend can be seen in the background: papers I graded and laundry I folded. I was very productive!

In other weekend workout news, we had our faculty volleyball tournament this weekend! Despite only practicing three times before the big day, our team held its own...

We didn't exactly win, or even place, but it was a ton of fun and we raised $1000 to send to a sister school of ours in Haiti.

I really want our team to keep meeting after school because I miss playing volleyball so much, but maybe I'll look for a Meet Up group to join if it doesn't interfere with weekend long runs.

(I took last week off from running because of all the travel/jury duty/classroom catch up/rest from Gasparilla weekend...but this week it's back to training as usual for my next half on March 15.)

 On a random note...I know quite a few of you liked Serial. Are you watching The Jinx on HBO? It's like Serial but about Robert Durst. I actually know one of the actresses who plays Kathie Durst in the reenactments (she's my best friend's sister), which is why I started watching, and now I'm hooked.

I had seen the movie All the Good Things about Robert Durst a couple years ago and find him really intriguing. This documentary is super creepy, and Durst himself sat for interviews throughout the series. He's a truly unsettling character.

How's this for a totally random post?

Do you do planks?

What is your favorite sport to play besides running? (Can you "play" running?)

Do you like the true-crime genre?

ABK

Pilates for Dummies

In the summer of 2007, I returned from studying in Scotland having gained a once-in-a-lifetime experience and fifteen pounds. I immediately started going to my parents' gym to lose the weight, but I wasn't yet a runner, so on days when the drive to the gym seemed too onerous, I needed an at-home workout to turn to.

Enter Pilates for Dummies, a borderline corny DVD I got from the sale rack at Barnes & Noble. I think it cost me a whopping $8. 

I always suspected Tracey Thompson is also a body-builder...check out those guns!

I did this DVD about five days a week, along with lifting weights and doing the elliptical at the gym, until school started again in August, and I was in the best shape of my life. This summer, I was trying to branch out with my cross-training and active rest days, and thought...why not try it again?

Luckily, Elizabeth was willing to join me for some laughs. She rode her bike over, we pushed aside some furniture, and we got to work!

"Body rockers" before the song was annoying/cool/existed.

Preparing to do some releves - I swear, Pilates is yoga + ballet, and T25 is Pilates + agility training.

The first half of the DVD is warmup and standing pilates, and then it moves into floor positions. The best part about this video is that it's just corny enough to make you feel silly, but it's not all-out 80s corny.

"Dead bugs".

 Matt took some video of us "rolling like a ball", but unfortunately it's not long enough to actually post. We were cracking up at the tips to avoid getting stuck in that particular position.

 

The next day, I had some minimal soreness in my quads from all the squat-type exercises in the video; then I ran four miles over the bridge, to make sure the soreness really set in.

I had forgotten how much I love this video, and how easy it is to fit into my schedule. I'm thinking I'm going to explore B&N for some more sales this summer!

Don't forget, if you want to enter to win a Bondi Band (like the one I'm wearing in these pictures), the giveaway ends tonight at midnight!

Do you use workout videos at home?

What is your favorite corny workout video?   

ABK