Instead of music, try books!

Ok. Sooo I have become obsessed with this app called Audible? I don't know, maybe you've heard of it? I joined last year using someone's link on YouTube to get a free book. The book I got? Fifty Shades Freed. I never finished it. As soon as I heard that I'd have to pay for a membership, I cancelled it ASAP. However, something in me wanted to try again. So I did. I got another free credit. This time I downloaded a chicklit book called Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren. It's a twilight-based-fan-fiction-turned-novel except much better. I freaking loved it. Once I got hooked on that book and realized I was almost done, I upgraded my membership (before the trial was over, mind you) and downloaded The Fault in Our Stars. I wanted to "read" the book before I saw the movie. Still haven't seen it, but I finished the audio book in like, two days. lol

Anyway, last week at the gym I had the genius idea of listening to audible on my phone while I pedal away on the stationary bikes. It  keeps my mind off of what I'm doing, so I go further for longer. If you can believe it. I absolutely love doing this. It's such a great way to sneak in some "reading" time and expose myself to new books without really having to take extra time out of the day to do so. That sounds bad, but I'm sure you know what I mean. I can listen at the gym, in the car, in the shower (via a bluetooth speaker), during chores, etc. Super duper nice! I would highly recommend doing something like this.

Oh! and if you don't want to pay for books, I would check to see if your local public library has an online media mall. Mine does and there's an app I can download to use for both reading and listening to books. Since I finished both FIOS and Beautiful Bastard (and I have just under a month until my new credits come in), I decided to start listening to The Maze Runner. Hooked! (I'm even listening to it right now as I type up this post).

I would definitely recommend this if you're a bookworm like me, but don't really have the time to sit down and pick up a book during the day. It really does make the time fly at the gym!

Updated Workout Playlist

I know, I know it's Wednesday and I'm not posting a workout. Since it's been a while  since I posted anything, I figured I'd just share my workout playlist quick with you guys. So the other day I went on a music binge and bought a bunch of songs to update my workout playlist. I've become like, super obsessed with Magic! and rediscovered Italobrothers (remember that song colors of the rainbow?). This playlist has a mix of a little bit of everything. I've got some old school Blink 182, FOB, Sweet, and the Italobrothers just to name a few.

Anywho, I compiled everything onto a spotify playlist. I did the 8tracks thing, and while it's nice, it's a pain to find the actual songs on the site (for me, anyway). So I was extremely happy to find that spotify now has an embed option. Yay!

Without further ado, here's the playlist. Enjoy!

My when-I-need-to-shower-at-the-gym Workout

Warmup - 30 secs ea.

Arm Circles

Upper Body Twist

Skipping on the Spot

Seal Jacks

Strength

Dumbbell Floor Press - 3 sets x 12 @ 15lbs

Cable Seated Row - 3 sets x 12 @ 15lbs

Dumbbell One-Arm Shoulder Press - 3 sets x 12 @ 15lbs

Abs 3 circuits @ 30 secs ea.

Oblique Crunch x 10 ea. side

Twist Crunch x 10 ea. side

Crunch x 22

Tuck Crunch x 22

Cardio

Stationary Bike x 12 mins @ level 10.

Cooldown - 30 secs ea.

Pec Stretch

Upward Dog

Shoulder Stretch

Triceps Stretch

Bicep Stretch

Workout Wednesday - Current Full Body Workout for the Gym

Full Body

Warmup - 60 mins

Lateral Squat - 30 seconds

Forward Leg Swing - 30 seconds

Vertical Arm Swings - 30 seconds

Upper Body Twist - 30 seconds

Walking Quadriceps Stretch - 30 seconds

Yoga Plex - 30 seconds

Seal Jacks - 30 seconds

Strength

Dumbbell Squat - 3 sets x 12 @ 20lbs

Dumbell Bench Press - 3 sets x 12 @ 20lbs

Cable Seated Row (Palms Up) - 3 sets x 12 @ 20lbs

Dumbbell One-Arm Shoulder Press - 3 sets x 12 @ 20lbs

Dumbbell Bulgarian Split Squat - 3 sets x 12 @ 20lbs

One-Arm Dumbbell Swing - 2 sets x 12 @ 20lbs

Cardio

Treadmill - 26 mins - 3.2mph @ 5% incline

Cooldown

Lying Quad Stretch - 30 seconds

Shoulder Stretch - 30 seconds

Pec Stretch - 30 seconds

Lying Glute Stretch - 30 seconds

Glute Stretch - 30 seconds

Quadriceps Stretch - 30 seconds

Workout Wednesday - Current Abs Workout for the Gym

Abs - 40 mins

Warmup

Overhead Walking Lunge - 30 seconds

Upper Body Twist - 30 seconds

Butt Kicks - 30 seconds

Arm Circles - 30 seconds

Spiderman Lunge - 30 seconds

Seal Jacks - 30 seconds

Abs

Circuit 1 x 3

Janda Sit-Up - 30 seconds

Alternating Heel Touchers - 30 seconds

Plank with Arm Lift - 30 seconds

Cross-Body Crunch - 30 seconds

Circuit 2 x 2

Plank with Leg Lift - 30 seconds

Russian Twist - 30 seconds

Oblique Crunch - 30 seconds

Single Leg Glute Bridge - 30 seconds

Cardio

Treadmill - 16 mins @ 3.2mph, 5% incline

Cooldown

Child's Pose - 30 seconds

Upward Dog - 30 seconds

Workout Wednesday - Current Lower Body Workout for the Gym

Lower Body - 62 minutes

Warmup - 30 secs ea.

Leg Swings (15 secs per leg)

Butt Kicks
Horizontal Arm Swings

Lateral Squat

Wall Ankle Mobilization
Seal Jacks

Strength

Dumbbell Squat - 3 sets x 12 @ 20lbs
Dumbbell Squat to Bench - 3 sets x 12 @ 20lbs

One-Arm Dumbbell Swing - 2 sets x 15 @ 20lbs
Dumbbell Goblet Squat - 2 sets x 15 @ 20lbs

Cable Pull Through - 2 sets x 15  @ 35lbs
Glute Bridge - 2 sets x 16

Conditioning - 3 circuits x 30 secs ea.

Push-Up to Plank

Dumbbell Alternating Bench Press @ 15lbs

Jump Squat

Prisoner Squat

Cardio

Stationary Bike - 19 mins w/ 2 min cool down @ level 10

Cool Down - 30 secs ea.

Lying Quad Stretch
Hip Flexor Stretch
Abductor Stretch
Hamstring Stretch
Glute Stretch
Soleus Stretch
Quadriceps Stretch
Lying Glute Stretch

Workout Wednesday - Current Upper Body Workout for the Gym

I normally like do this workout on Tuesdays when I hit the gym. It sounds like a shorter one, but man oh man do you feel the burn! I usually burn about 600 calories when doing this one. It's a good one. I definitely recommend it.

Upper Body - 61 minutes

Warmup

Wall Ankle Mobilization - 30 secs
Upper Body Twist - 30 secs
Vertical Arm Swings - 30 secs
Horizontal Arm Swings - 30 Secs
Arm Circles - 30 Secs
Seal Jacks - 30 secs

Strength

Dumbbell Bench Press - 3 sets x 12 @ 15lb
Dumbbell Incline Chest Press - 3 sets x 12 @ 15lbs
Cable Seated Row (Palms Up) - 3 sets x 12 @ 55lbs
Cable Seated Row - 2 sets x 15 @ 55lbs
Dumbbell Floor Press - 2 sets x 15 @ 10lbs
Dumbbell One-Arm Upright Row - 2 sets x 15 @ 10lbs

Conditioning

Push-Up to Plank - 3 circuits x 30 secs

One-Arm Dumbbell Swing - 3 circuits x 30 secs
Prisoner Squat - 3 circuits x 30 secs

Cardio

Stationary Bike - 21 mins @ level 10

Cooldown

Forearm Stretch - 30 secs

Triceps Stretch - 30 secs

Bicep Stretch - 30 secs

Pec Stretch - 30 secs

Shoulder Stretch - 30 secs