Thursday, April 21, 2011

Getting in Shape for Summer

Nick and I are one GIANT step closer to having our workout room complete and ready for our powerful summer workouts. We recently purchased this elliptical from a friend who had decided he did not want it anymore. It was used maybe twenty times. We definitely got a deal! The only bad thing was we had to take it apart before we could get it into the house (our older house is filled with smaller doorways). Once it was in the house Nick amazingly put it back together.



The great thing about this elliptical, compared to our old piece of junk, is that we have control over the resistance (as all ellipticals should allow). It's nice to be able to push myself by increasing the resistance and the incline/decline.


You may also notice that we purchased rubber flooring. I knew we'd be lifting weights in this room and I really wanted to have protection for our nice wooden floors. Also I hate getting sweat on the wooden floors. So far these rubber floors have been perfect. They only cost about $100 (check them out!).

Now all we need is a television so I can do my yoga via Exercise TV. Right now the only television with Exercise TV is in the basement, where there is no sun. It's really hard to get motivated to go down there because it's so depressing, dark and dry.


Source: iStock Photo

When the room is one-hundred percent complete I will share a full picture. I think I may want to paint it. What are some good colors for workout rooms? Any ideas?


I also bought a much needed pair of tennis shoes for summer walks, bike rides, basketball (in our backyard), and obviously indoor workouts. I'm into New Balance. I have crazy feet and these shoes always provide great support and comfort. I bought these off of HollabirdSports.com.


And even though Nick and I are not engaged, we've started planning our wedding. So this is yet another reason why I need to work on keeping my body in good shape. I think we're going to do a cruise wedding with all of our closest friends....I'm very excited! I will keep you updated :)



Stay tuned for a post about the importance of protein. I'll still never support the recreational use of protein powders, or diets that are extremely high in protein, but my next post will discuss the fact that we do probably need more than the RDA, and that some sources of protein are clearly better than others.

QUESTION: Do you have a workout room in your home, or do you prefer going to a gym, or always working out outdoors?

By the way, I received a comment on my asparagus guacamole post yesterday morning from someone who was asking me why I felt it was any healthier than avocado guacamole, which is full of healthy fats. I just want to tell that person to go back and read my post again. Not once did I say it was healthier. The asparagus guacamole contains less calories, more vitamin C and folate, but less of those healthy monounsaturated fats, and possibly less vitamin E. For those who are trying to lose weight the decrease in calories may be beneficial, but for those with heart conditions the monounsaturated fats are a nice benefit. The last section of the post explained how it would be a good idea to use half avocado and half asparagus. Why not have the best of both worlds?!

20 comments :

  1. congrats on setting up your workout room! It looks neat! I'd add some bright color to it to make it more energetic! Personally I like fuchsia or pink but maybe that's too girly for Nick! ;) Can't wait to see the pic of the completed project.

    start planning your wedding already? wooo! I need to do tons of stuffs for mine for july this year! Oh... mine... I'm so behind.

    and about what comment! you did it exactly what you should! some people don't read the post and just comment... so irresponsible!

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  2. Congrats on the elliptical! I'm VERY impressed with Nick for taking it apart and putting it back together!!!

    I would love to have an exercise room as I'm now doing most of my workouts at home (in what used to be the teenager's room but is now again somewhat our family room...).

    A cruise wedding sounds like a lot of fun! Have fun planning!

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  3. Lol, I will never understand negative blog comment people- especially those who do not read the post :)

    Anyway, I love your work out room and the elliptical looks awesome! Getting stuff from others who don't want it is probably the best way to make a gym! Eric got an awesome weight machine from a friend with rubber mats as well. It doesn't fit in the gym room so it's in the basement, but works down there.

    Also, you can sometimes get exercise tv yoga on your computer so if you bring your laptop up there you should be able to do that. Just google it. I do it occasionally when I want to watch a show and do an exercise tv workout at the same time haha.

    A cruise wedding sounds AWESOME. Please do it!

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  4. The room is looking awesome, I think it's so smart and convenient to set up a good workout room in your house! And good luck on the wedding planning:)

    Btw I would love to hear a bit more about your strength training routine if you cared to share!

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  5. yay on the workout room! Looking good and what a steal for the elliptical. My parents bought one from the store for like 200 bucks. Thing was such a piece of junk. I'm petite and I felt like the thing was going to fall apart when I was on it!

    Also my fiance and I are doing a destination wedding, which is kinda like you guys!!! It's very exciting!!

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  6. My yoga room is a bluish grey with orange accents.
    I don't have a TV in it but I bring my laptop in there and use it to play DVDs and podcasts

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  7. I wish I had the space (and equipment!) for a workout room!

    What are your favorite Excercise TV workouts?

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  8. Wow I am so jealous!!!! I would kill to have my own workout room. Whenever I get a house, I am def going to have one =) ((fingers crossed)))

    I love that you call sneaker "tennis shoes"

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  9. I'm very jelous of your workout room. I would love to have one in my home - actually I would love to have more space in my home for lots of things :)

    I'm looking forward to your post on protein because it's something I have trouble getting enough of.

    Hope you are doing well!

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  10. Looking forward to that protein post!

    I have my own little setup at home for days I don't go to the gym. I have dumbbells (3,5, & 10's), yoga mat, exercise ball, pushup things (haha), pullup bar..foam roller, and some bands. LOL!

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  11. LOVE your gym and like you we have an old house with smaller doorways too. we had to buy a whole new refrigerator when we moved in because we could not get the old one in :(
    i have what i call my yoga room and bill has his man cave in the one stall garage. BTW i cannpt wait to make your guacomole! on my list for next week food :)

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  12. you're SO lucky to have a workout room!!!!!! i would love to have one in my house, although i would probably still have a gym membership too. i think i'd really love to have a spin bike!

    WHEN ARE YOU GETTING ENGAGED!??! I BETTER BE THE FIRST TO KNOW!

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  13. Great response to the reader with the question.

    The elliptical looks wonderful! The rubber mats are so nice to have! We have 2 but I think one came with each the elliptical and the treadmill. I had no idea they were so much!!! Our workout room is a sky blue, but I think a light yellow would be nice, personally :)

    Can't wait to hear about wedding details!!!

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  14. Nice job on bringing your workout room that much closer to completion! Your elliptical looks snazzy, and it soudns like you got a great deal on it! Having several option for cardio, as well as the ability to change resistance, is invaluable for quality workouts! I love the idea of incorporating yoga in your workout room, too - we have one machine (bike) to exercise on in out basement and it's a bit depressing down there (but it's the only area it would fit!). I was going to say paint the room some red color to power up your workouts, but then again, if you're doing yoga in there too, maybe a nice neutral blue? Can't wait to see the completed room!

    I'm also excited to hear you and Nick are planning for the wedding! A cruise wedding sounds perfect! :)

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  15. Interesting way to go about wedding planning. It is nice to know you have the commitment and are getting married, and it is nice you can follow your own rules and not the conventional tone set by the customs, and really girliness all over. I suspect he will propose at some point? I think it is best to talk about all those things first and know that when the time comes and he asks, you are on the same page and you say yes. No one wants to ask and be told no. I love the idea of a cruise wedding.

    The home gym looks great and I thing the flooring is a superb idea.

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  16. I currently go to the gym, but I'm ending that in a couple weeks...so I need to pull out all my home gym stuff and get organized! I can't wait...I want to get a little creative, and stop doing mindless gym stuff.

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  17. Wow! So much exciting new stuff! I much prefer being outside, which probably explains my running addiction. (I love biking, but those darn bikes cost too much.) When I do weights, though, it's off to the gym. I feel like I can't quit early if people are watching.

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  18. The workout room looks great! I always wanted to turn one of our guest bedrooms into a workout room but we are already members of a gym and spend so much time outside walking with the pup.

    I would go with a nice light neutral color like light blue or light green to give you energy when you work out.

    So exciting that you are looking at wedding planning. It's never too early since there is so much to do!

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  19. Your exercise room looks like it's off to a great start! So awesome that you got a discounted elliptical, too.

    I have a super small apartment gym that has a couple ellipticals and treadmills, so I usually do xtraining there. I also have some hand weights and an exercise ball.

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  20. Loving your work out room! I wish I had one in my house (maybe in the future ;). Thats so cool you and your boyfriend are planning your wedding. I cant wait to plan mine as well!!! :D

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