First Day of Spring!

Yay! Today is the first day of Spring! Even though it doesn’t look or feel like Spring, it’s gotta be right around the corner! I’m staying positive! Obviously, I’m super psyched about warm weather! I’m much more happy, active, and motivated when the sun is shining and the skies are blue. Can’t wait!

So, I nixed my workout this morning… but for a good reason. My butt is so incredibly sore from yesterday’s workout! It was almost painful getting out of bed! I decided to take the morning off and let my glutes recover. I’m thinking about doing an easy cardio workout or some yoga tonight, but we’ll see how the day goes.

I’m still surprised by how sore I am today. I don’t lift/tone my legs that often, but it’s not like I never exercise them! I guess I worked my muscles in a new way yesterday. Here’s my Butt-Kicking Glute workout. It only took about 15-20 minutes to complete, and it really kicked my, um, ass!

Butt-Kicking Glute Workout

Side Lunge (strengthens inner thighs, glutes, and quadriceps). Step sideways 2 to 3 feet into a lunge, keeping your other (outstretched) leg as straight as you can. Bend your stepping leg and sit back slightly on your hips until your knee is bent about 90 degrees, or as far as feels comfortable. Press back up with your stepping leg and return to the starting position. Complete the recommended number of repetitions, then repeat the exercise with your other leg. Advanced Option: You can perform this exercise with two dumbbells (I use 15 lb dumbbells) to make it more challenging. As you lunge on your right leg, hold the right dumbbell slightly behind you, and the left one slightly in front of you. Do the opposite as you lunge on your left leg. Do three sets of 12-15 reps per side.

Single-Leg Romanian Dead Lift (strengthens glutes, hamstrings, and lower back). Hold dumbbells in both hands and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and arms at your sides. Lift your right foot off the floor and bend at the hips, maintaining a straight line from the heel of your right foot to your shoulder as you lower your torso until it’s as close to parallel with the floor as you can get without arching your back. Pause, then return to the starting position. Do three sets of 12-15 reps per side.

Dumbbell Squats (strengths glutes, quadriceps, and hamstrings). Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart and grab a dumbbell in each hand and let them hang at your sides. Begin by squatting as though you are going to sit down in a chair. Return to the start position and repeat. Be sure to keep your back firmly upright and straight throughout this exercise (one way to help do this is to focus your eyes on a spot high on the wall in front of you throughout the entire exercise). Do three sets of 15-20 reps.

On to breakfast…

Breakfast was the last piece of Banana Baked Oatmeal with a little sugar-free maple syrup drizzled on top. The maple syrup made this recipe even more delicious than it already was!

Banana Baked Oatmeal served with cantaloupe…

I’m drinking a rice milk misto again today, so the calorie count for today is the exact same as yesterday’s… I even ate a pumpkin carob chip muffin this morning before leaving the apartment! They are so darn good!