Nutrition Nut on the Run

Jingle {kettle}bell Rock Workout

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Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock…

You’re probably wondering what the heck I’m doing posting a workout on a Thursday since Workout Wednesday was yesterday… just roll with it. I didn’t want to stomp on the National Cookie Day parade after all.

Jingle

{pin me}

What You’ll Need

  • 1 kettlebell, weight of choice
  • interval timer – I use Seconds interval timer on my iPhone (it’s awesome!)

Exercises

Notes

  • Deadlifts >> do right leg deadlifts for a full 45-second interval and then switch to the left leg for the second interval; repeat.
  • If you have it, you may choose to use a lighter kettlebell for the lunge press.
  • Training Tip >> aim to reach the same amount of reps during each 45 second interval.

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Do you like interval training?

What kind of timer do you use?

Friday Feature | Pumps & Iron

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Woo hoo! It’s Friday! Today I’ve got the second edition of Friday Feature. The first post debuted in April when Miss Lee and I did a post exchange. It was a lot of fun interviewing one another and sharing that with our readers. Today, the lovely Nicole and I did a post exchange for Friday Feature numero dos.

Now that I’m without a gym membership and aiming to maintain my fitness sans the WREC or CrossFit, I’ve been loving Nicole’s at-home workouts. She’s quite the master at designing easy-to-follow, Pin-friendly workouts that will make you a hot sweaty mess with minimal equipment. Not to mention, she’s always dressed in fashionable fitness attire that’s sure to inspire.

pumpsandiron

nicole

Q & A with Nicole Perry | Pumps & Iron

1. What inspires you to make a conscious effort to focus on your health?

Having gone through a brief period of being extremely unhealthy, I now know that there’s no better feeling than having your physical, emotional and spiritual health intact. Maintaining that feeling of overall health and happiness has now become a way of life for me.

2. If we were to open your fridge right now, what would we find?
 
An awkwardly large amount of kale. I’m talking two drawers full. I’m constantly using it in smoothies and acai bowls, so I tend to go a little overboard at Whole Foods. I’ll be out of toothpaste, paper towels and light bulbs, but there will always be kale in my apartment. Other than that, lots of fruits and veggies; five different bottles of hot sauce (I’m obsessed); almond milk; and two bottles of twist-off wine and a six-pack of Bud Light tall boys because I like to keep it classy.
 

pumps and iron smoothie

 
3. What does a typical week of exercise look like for you? Are you a cardio queen or strength training machine?
 
I like to mix it up with my workouts and try to balance the cardio with different types of strength training. I also like to break up my workouts throughout the day—for example, I’ll wake up early and go for a run, then later in the day I’ll do a quick 20-minute kettlebell workout.
 
In a typical week, I’ll do five cardio workouts. I love running, but recently have become slightly addicted to spinning classes as well—if the music is right, nothing pumps me up like a spin class. In the next month or so, there’s a spin studio opening up in Boston’s Back Bay called Vélo-City that I’m especially excited for!
 
I incorporate strength training workouts 4-5 times a week. These include all of the ones I post on my blog, and I also love taking Lagree-method Pilates classes from time to time at this studio in Boston called btone.
  
russian twist
 

4. What dish would you bring to a summer potluck?

It’s gotten to the point where I’m pretty sure my friends only hang out with me for my sweet potato hummus, so I think I’d have to bring a batch of that with some pita chips and sliced veggies to even be invited to a potluck in the first place! But, if I had some say in the matter, I’d also bring melon mint salad with cucumber. It’s super easy to make and a perfect summer side dish to whatever is being tossed on the grill.

5. What are your five summer must-haves?

1. An aloe plant. Not only is aloe a miracle worker for soothing sunburns or bug bites, but it’s also great for digestion! Rub the gel inside the leaf on your skin, or break off a bit of the plant and toss it in smoothies or eat it plain. Because it’s gelatinous, it can act as a great detoxifier and it’s also my go-to for soothing an upset stomach. You can buy an aloe plant from your local nursery or Whole Foods.

2. The Beauty Detox Solution by Kimberly Snyder (or any good book!). Everyone needs a good book to read on the beach or by the pool. I’m currently reading Kimberly Snyder’s books and loving them. They’re packed with so much information on different foods and how our body utilizes and digests them. Granted, I’m a little nutrition-obsessed, but I’d still recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

3. Colorful mirror-lens sunglasses. This is easily my favorite summer style trend. I love these blue-green mirrored Ray-Ban aviators, but I’ve seen more affordable renditions in stores everywhere.

4. Popsicle molds. Popsicles are the quintessential summer treat, and they’re so much fun to make at home! You can experiment with different juices and pureed fruit (I love these strawberry kiwi lemonade puree pops), and a basic plastic mold will only cost you a few dollars.

5. A JammyPack. Ok, this one is a little out of left field—but a fanny pack that is also a set of iPhone speakers could not be more perfect for the beach. And it’s literally impossible to not make new friends when you’re blasting music out of a fanny pack…
 
6. How do you stay active on vacation? Do you have favorite traveling workouts and/or tips?
 
While I admittedly don’t workout as much on vacation as I do during a regular week, I like to squeeze in a few quick, 20-to-30-minute bodyweight workouts throughout the trip. I recently did a roundup of workouts from my blog that can be done while on vacation—no matter how small your hotel room is!
 
My number one tip is to get your workout in as soon as you wake up. Let’s be real—on vacation, the chance that you’ll actually pull out those sneakers and workout diminishes exponentially with each passing minute of the day. Get it out of the way first thing so that your whole day is open.
 

10 workouts you can do on vacation

7. What do you enjoy most about writing Pumps & Iron? What (positive) changes has it made to your life? Anything unexpected?
 
Pumps & Iron is a marriage of so many of my favorite things—writing, fitness, nutrition, fashion—I don’t think I could pinpoint one standout because this whole blogging process in general is so much fun for me! It’s definitely made it crystal clear that healthy living is my passion in life, and not to sound overly dramatic here, but in many ways this blog saved me from going down a career path that would have ultimately made me unhappy.
 
And the following that has grown around my blog has been so unexpected—but amazing! I’ve had the fortune of meeting great people and working with some awesome companies because of Pumps & Iron—one of my favorite perks of blogging!
 
8. Pumps & Iron is a mix of fashion and fitness. Where does your heart lie between your two passions?
 
It’s funny because when I first started Pumps & Iron last year, my intent was for it to be primarily a fashion blog. But as the site evolved and I continued to post, it became very clear that my real passion was healthy living. I do, however, still think the two can be closely tied. For me, fashion is a huge motivator to workout. Of course, my overall wellbeing is number one, but I also can’t deny that crop tops, form-fitting jumpsuits, and all the latest trends are a great reason to work up a sweat!
 

Pumps & Iron: Facebook //  Instagram // Pinterest // Twitter

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Check out P&I to read up about what’s in my fridge, my favorite workout wear brands, and my current go-to summertime dishes — enjoy and have a wonderful July weekend, ya’ll!!

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