So this post was supposed to go up yesterday, but Zach high-jacked the internet (don’t ask) so now you get stale news 
It is Thursday Friday my friends, and that means, it is my Friday! And frankly, that’s awesome. I have some fun plans for the next three days along with the ability to be outside, which is a definite “win” in my world (says the person who works in a building with no windows).
Anyway, two topics today – as noted by the blog title.
AM Workouts:
Let it be known that I do not like working out in the AM (pre-coffee). Ideally I would wake up at 8ish, have coffee, and then workout around 9/930a. With a job that requires me to be in before 8a, that doesn’t work so well.
So this week I’ve been doing something I’ve never done before. The (dreaded) AM workout sans coffee first! I just blew your mind didn’t I? Okay I didn’t, but I blew my mind 
With our current nanny schedule, my work schedule, and Zach’s work schedule, I figure working out before I head out for the day may be ideal (in theory). So I did just that Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I’m a believer in not being too drastic (or I’d quit) so this is what my workouts were:
- Monday: Skinnygirl Yoga DVD (Part 3) and 30 minutes Elliptical that night (since Zach got home early)
- Tuesday: Skinnygirl Yoga DVD (Part 1) and 30 minute walk with the dog carrying my 17lb boy in the Bjorn after work
- Wednesday: 30 minutes cardio mix-up (elliptical, bike, treadmill) plus abs all before work! Yahoo!
- Thursday: I
havehad my personal training appointment in the late afternoon (also went on Sunday) – hello wall sits, mountain climbers, jumping jacks with weights
Baby steps, but the point is that I got up and worked out. Verdict? Not so bad! I attribute it to the fact that it is already light out before 6a – this helps immensely. Winter AM workouts will be infinitely tougher.
Oh and I may be using a motivator in the AM in the form of 1 mini Reeses PB cup before the workout (on cardio days). Hey, whatever works
Alright and moving on to a completely different topic…
50 Shades of Grey:
This trilogy is everywhere. I thought it was sci-fi at first and avoided it, but then heard, um, otherwise, and decided to give it a go. Well I’m nearly done with book 3 and cannot wait to get my life back. Somehow I got sucked into this mindless reading, and though I’m all for mindless reading at times, this was just so unrealistic.
Spoilers ahead…
I mean really, how many intelligent 22 year olds that just graduated from college are going to run off with a dominant (and abusive) billionaire? Hmm now that I wrote this, I’m thinking it may not be farfetched. But in this case, the author cannot decide whether the main character is a heroine, a damsel, a victim, or an idiot. I can’t either. All I know is that she is like no one I know. And the guy? Well sure he’s made to be unbelievably attractive and extremely rich, but he sounds like a deranged jerk with slightly pedophiliac issues.
And the words they use? Horrible. Granted I know it was written by an English woman so there is a bit of British-English – that I don’t mind. It’s the overly formal, use of insanely uncommon words, etc that just doesn’t follow.
It also drives me nuts that this girl never eats. She’s never hungry. Seriously, what girl is like that! ha!
I won’t even mention how ridiculous some of the other aspects of the book are since I cannot find a PG appropriate way of explaining it on the blog.
Would I ever read these books again? No. But I don’t regret reading them per se. I enjoyed most of the mindless drivel but how very, very unrealistic some details were drove me bonkers.
Alright, let’s discuss:
How do you get motivated to do AM workouts? Any other good DVDs I can do?
Thoughts on 50 Shades?
Well think of it this way- you’ll be used to morning workouts before the winter hits. So maybe it won’t be so bad?
Also, I agree with 50 Shades. I totally got sucked in and read them at record speed, but wouldn’t do it again. She never eats and I swear if she said “oh my…” one more time, my head would have exploded.
Or that some pain in her arm is smarting
Or you’ll want for nothing
Or Mr Grey this, Mr Grey that
GAH!
“My poor 50…”
And seriously- no one bites their lip that often.
The list continues…
Good for you for working out in the am! I have to set my coffee pot to go off the night before. I cannot do anything sans coffee!
I haven’t read 50 Shades. Everyone seemed to love it. That style of writing really annoys me, so I really appreciate your honest review.
Your life will continue without reading 50 Shades, thank goodness
Coffee is my life’s blood
I’m about 100 pages into the first 50 shades and honestly, it’s irritating me (I really dislike all the characters) and yet I keep reading because I want to know why he is so messed up!
Well you definitely will find out why he is so messed up, but it takes a lot of intolerable reading to get there..good luck
I’m struggling to get through the first book. the writing is horrific! every time she says “inner goddess” i want to chuck my book out the window! but i’m going to try to finish it because i want to know why he’s such a creep!
Oh the inner goddess thing just gets worse…wait and see.I wonder if we could make a drinking game out of the terrible repetitive phrases?
lol that would probably make the book more entertaining and less frustrating!
I love all of the “Biggest Loser”workout DVDs, especially Bootcamp. Jillian Michaels’ 6 Week 6 Pack has helped me lose some baby buldge.
I’ve heard great things about Jillian DVDs…I think I should invest!
I loved the 50 Shades books – I loved Christian Grey, and I want him to exist in real life. But to be fair, a lot of things about him reminded me of my first long relationship, and it was pretty messed up. So I may be a poor judge.
HOWEVER, I got so annoyed with the lack of vocabulary. I mean seriously, either find new ways to describe things, or stop describing them. And the word delicious – I can never use it again.
Oh the word choices…sheesh.
I hear they are making a movie out of this book — wonder who they’ll pick as Christian???
I love the Jackie Warner DVD- Total Body Circuit. You can choose from a 15 minute version or a 45 minute one and it gives you a nice toning workout.
Ooh I would like that option. Thanks!
I am currently at chapter 12 of the first book and it’s killing me. I want to punch the main character half the time. And if I read about someone’s breath “hitching” or the “tenacity” of Kate, I will yell.
Oh the hitching! And twitching for that matter
I had to stop reading because I have not read 50 shades yet..but plan to get sucked in as my mindless summer pool reading!!!! I hear the writing is atrocious though. But hey, I was a die hard Twilight fan
I read 50 Shades for my book club and it was AWFUL!!! Poorly written and totally unrealistic. I hated the main character (the girl). I felt like the author was trying to paint her as being unique and sweet and strong and I just thought she was pathetic. I also hated how she never ate – they made a big deal out of that in the book and for what reason? It had almost nothing to do with the story. Not since “Three Cups of Tea” have I hated a book so much. And I’ve even read a romance novel before and it was 100x better. Ugh!
I keep avoiding this book…. just like I avoid twilight and hunger games…. how long before I give in and pick it up? haha
Nice workouts. I was actually just wondering about the books because I have noticed they are everywhere but hadn’t looked into them. Thanks for the review-I think I’m just one of those people that can read a book after knowing the whole plot haha.
I feel the same way about the books. A fast and entertaining read. Waaaay unrealistic! By the middle of book 2 I wanted to flick the inner goddess’s half moon glasses off her head lol! I won’t be reading more books like that. I was totally sucked in by sheer curiosity to find out why Christian was so crazy and why Jack was after him.
Totally agree about 50 shades! I had to read it to see what all the fuss was about. Really is almost unintentionally funny!