Someone just pointed out the rather funny title i chose … oops haha!!Â
In recent months, i have become increasingly “meh” about my strength training.  It started as a way to stay pain-free, but that has gradually become an excuse to skip workouts or put in minimal effort.  However, several things have changed:  I am getting married, we are going to paradise for our honeymoon and … I am meant to practice what i preach! Ok, that last one is hardly new, but you know what i mean. It can all easily spiral downward and i don’t want that.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not chasing some silly ideal of looking perfect, but i want to put a little more effort in to look my best for my soon-to-be-husband 🙂 And there is nothing wrong with that! However, I want to stress that being “in shape” is about fulfilling my body’s intended purpose.  And, these days, I believe my body should reflect the care I have for my spirit and soul.  It’s not about being sexy or more attractive (because that is about way more than looks), it’s about honouring my maker in everything I do and in who i am.  He kindly gave me a body to live in and he led me to a path in the health fitness industry – the least i could do is make sure i am making the most of it.  Not only am I to respect my body by being fit and healthy, but I love to look my best 😀  And, as it happens, i love being physically strong. I’d just like to be a bit more consistent and focused 🙂 And i know that I can motivate others much better when I am at my best.
While I don’t believe that i only need to do this for my wedding in the vanity-sense, I quite like having a goal orientated around fitness when two fitness professionals are getting hitched. Â There’s something quite nice about chatting to Jonathan about my workouts and how we are both progressing in the lead up to our wedding. I even have him critique my form sometimes. Â It’s something we share and we both respect each other for placing a value on physical fitness. Â It’s even better that we both love each other even when we are not at our best, but that we always support one another where ever we are at.
Then, of course, there is the aesthetic element. While I know Jonathan loves me just as I am, and i am very comfortable in my body these days, i want to maintain that and not slip into my usual winter/Christmas mode of eating way too much and being lazier about my training.
It’s certainly not about one day, but it is about thinking of the bigger picture and being aware of tendencies to fall off the wagon at certain times. Â I never want to become complacent about my health or fitness, since i just love training and i love coaching others.
And there is no harm in wanting to fill out the bikini in all the right places, too 😉Â
Which reminds me: check out the Get Glutes Tank Tops –> Sweet Buns 😉
Anyone want to hazard a guess at our honeymoon destination?
This workout was awesome! I felt pretty strong for a change. Â I seriously have felt weak for months. Â That mind-set has switched and I refuse to tell myself i am anything but doing the best I can with what i have been given.
Far too often we hold ourselves back by seeing a block in the road and just turning back instead of just going around it. Â Sometimes the diversion takes us some place even better!
The Workout
1a) Sumo Deadlift: 3×5
1b) Push Up: 3×12
1c)Â KB Front Squat: 3×3-5
1d)Â BB Hip Thrust: 3×12
Hope you enjoy the workout.
Cheers,
Marianne
Hi Marianne, I have just done this workout with you, kettlebells, and good ol’ Johnny Cash. But I’m 6.5mos pg so I modified and didn’t put weights on the hip thrusters so as not to squish baby. Thanks! Baby is moving around a lot now to say thanks too, she liked it.
Ok I tired snatches with 14kg and thumb inwards and decreased the arc.
You’re a genius! It worked. No pain! Thank you SO much.
My elbow is still a little sore from straining it in the first place, so I’ll rest it for a couple of weeks.
But I at least know the changes to make once I start again.
Yippee! Tx!!!! 🙂
Oh HAPPY DAYS!! So glad you got it 😀
Tx Marianne ! I’ll see if I can get my hubby to film me over the weekend.
Yes- any videos on this that you have time for would be helpful!
I’m going to try it lighter tomorrow and with the thumb facing outward as you suggested.
I’ve been practicing pull ups and deadlifts as part of get glutes so perhaps my forearms are toast.
Tx again. I’m going to watch your latest workout video with the snatches right now. 🙂
Merry Christmas and happy new year !
Marianne! First of all congrats on your engagement. I’m so very happy for you.
You must be very excited.
Your spiritual take on things these days can be quite refreshing.
We have 3 kids Bibles in the house and I read from them to my 2 girls several nights a week.
Even my 3 yr old knows who Jesus is!
They love the stories.
I’ve always thought about how lucky so many of us are to be blessed with able bodies that should be used, not abused. Hence my love of fitness.
I’m part of your get glutes program and love it !!!
So, I have a fitness question for you.
I often use KB snatches as a cash out once a week to one of my workouts.
I’ll tinker with it- do a tabata, mix it in with swings or burpees, etc.
But lately it has been really bothering my elbow.
Just my right one. It feels like it is getting pulled out of socket. It’s sore afterwards.
Any idea why this would be happening suddenly?
I never go heavier than 16kg and have been doing them for a couple of years now.
I attempted it again last week and felt it on my first one, so just decided I’m taking a break from them, but any thoughts?
Tx!
Gina, are you doing a lot of gripping exercises? You may have strained your forearm tendons. Perhaps you aren’t “catching” the KB softly enough on the downward phase. Go a bit lighter and try to reduce the arch on the lowering phase. It may also help to change the way your hand is turned: most people do the snatch with their thumb facing inward and this can cause more pulling on the forearm tendons. I face my thumb outward so there is no tugging on my arm and my shoulder stays packed.
I could film a quick video on this and cover these things, if you’d find it helpful. Also feel free to send me a video of your KB snatch form so I can have a look. Use a 12kg and then show me a 16kg if you aren’t sore. I have been studying the kb snatch a lot lately for one of my clients and i have improved my own technique vastly.
send it to the myomytv@gmail.com 🙂
Thank you for your kind words and I am grateful you appreciate my writings.
my guess is that you will be going somewhere in the South Pacific. I am looking forward to finding out where exactly.
I have also been slacking a bit in the workout dept. Have been mostly running and getting faster but I do miss my kettlebells.
cheers
That would have been lovely, too. We are going to Mauritius 😀
Hey Marianne, Congratulations on your engagement ! I wanted to ask you if the tank tops are available to buyers from outside the states. Is there a shipping service? I live in Israel. Great workout like always. I was wondering if you follow a weekly program, or you’re doing different workouts every time u train? And by the way, what size is kellie wearing in the picture?i am not sure which one should I order, small or medium.
Hi Polina, Thank you 😀
Yes, there is international shipping, though i am not sure what its cost is – Kellie is heading up the tank top department 🙂 She’s wearing a small. And I have a medium which fits me perfectly: I measure 33 inch chest/bust and 27inch waist, if that helps. Kellie is slimmer in the back than me – since I have all the latz lol.
I follow a weekly program, which i sometimes stray from. My strength workouts are usually set and conditioning workouts will differ. If you want to have more consistent progress, then a set program,like Get Glutes is the way to go 🙂 If your goals are more specific, or you’d like more individual attention, then i offer Online Coaching 🙂
Hope this helps.
Thanks for your speedy reply. I cheked the metric conbersion tables ( we use cm and kg here ) , I think size M will fit me. I will try to contact Kellie via the GetGlutes email.
Do you do warmup before workout? If yes, what kind of warm up?
I do something similar to the warm-up in the workout section. If you go to the drop down menu, you’ll see “warm up and cool down” listed. I still do something like that 🙂 Nothing crazy. If i lifting heavy, i’ll just do a couple of lighter sets as an extra warm up.
Love the reasons you mention for wanting to stay in shape and active:)
Hmm, are you going to Hawaii for your honeymoon?
Nope 🙂 Keep guessing… though, i suspect Jonathan will be too excited to keep it a secret for long 😀
So excited for you both!!!