Fun fitness Ideas

As a busy grad student, I don't always have the chance to go to the gym, especially here at UCLA where, now that the academic quarter has started, it is very busy and crowded.

When I'm done working a 12 hr day where I have just been running around all day, the last thing on my mind sometimes is working out (although I do feel guilty and wish I would just go to the gym), but dinner and sleep sound more appealing since I have to be up and about early the next day to continue my experiments. 

How to fit in working out?

Here is what I do (and I wear cute gym clothes to help me feel fabulous and stylish while working out, I have posted about these before):

I try to work out on the weekends. Since I hope that I wont be in lab on the weekend (unless needed), I tend to go to a fitness class on Saturday Mornings or, if I would like to sleep in (as is the case now), I will go for a run around the UCLA campus or go lift some weights (some type of upper body combination, either biceps and back, or shoulders and abs, or triceps and chest; I pick a combination that I feel like working out and go with it! I add about 20-30 min of cardio at the end.

On Sundays, I tend to work on legs (my fav day of workout), where I go in the early afternoon where it isn't as busy, and I can easily find a squat rack. I do weighted squats, wide squats, lunges, deadlifts, hamstring curls, and other various leg exercises. And then I get on the stairmaster and do that for 15 minutes. Man, is it a workout, you are sweating within 10 minutes and already feeling sore! 

If I decide I want to be outside, the boyfriend and I have recently started biking to Santa Monica by the beach - we rented bikes last week and it was so fun, that we decided we were going to buy our own bikes! I ended up buying a bike on Saturday and I am in love! Went and took it for a test drive yesterday, rode a total of 20 miles round trip from my apartment down to Santa Monica by the beach down to Manhattan beach and back to my apartment in West LA. It was awesome, fun, and I was able to be out in the sun. And its a hidden workout, since it works your legs and gives you a serious calorie burn!!! I am so sore this morning! 

Going gaga!!

OMG best long weekend ever. and by long weekend I mean I still went in to work on Monday, even though here in the US it is considered a holiday. On Saturday I spent it with the boy, going for a swim in the pool and hot tub, and then heading to the beach in Santa Monica (see sunset below!). Sunday I went for a hike near Malibu, check out my cool "quad stretch" pic at the top of the overlook! It was an amazing view, after a 7 mile hike! We went to the Los Leones trail!

Great weekend!

Ok so this weekend was rather fun! First of all, I felt really accomplished because I am getting closer and closer to my weight loss goal! I'm not keeping track of my weight but instead going by how I look, as the scale lies. Muscle weighs more than fat so I have been gaining rather than losing, but I look much more fit (at least, I think so!). Take a look at my before and after pics. They aren't that good quality and I am still working on it, but I have trimmed down my pooch belly quite a bit. Still have to do more work but getting there! The pictures on the left are from March, right from Friday.

Another day.. Almost the weekend!

So glad it's Thursday. I feel like this week has gone on too long. I think its cuz I worked all last weekend. I'm ready for a weekend to relax. Here's what I'm wearing today: white tank top with a floral shirt from forever 21 over, a cute pink and white bow ring from forever 21, dark jeggings from American Eagle and low heeled booties from New Look. My hair looks blah but whatever... I'm going to be working out later.