Category Archives: workout

My Weekend Recap

April 1, 2014fitness, food, fun, workout, zumba24 Hour Fitness, ceviche, Chef Banana, exercise, fitness, food, life, rich, Richmade, weekend, workouthellokittyjunkie

This weekend was filled with some quality time with friends, family and myself! I went to my regular Zumba class on Saturday and met up with friends I’ve known since the 8th grade later on that evening. I hung out at my Mom’s house on Saturday night and stayed over to do my laundry.

My Mom does not hang too many things on her refrigerator, but she does have a few magnets with positive and uplifting messages. Like this one, for example, “Rich is not how much you have, or where you are going, or what you are… Rich is who you have beside you.” So true… Isn’t it?

On Sunday, I got a good workout in at 24 Hour Fitness in Santa Clarita! This gym was the cleanest 24 I have ever been to (I currently have a sport membership). I did my cardio in the Zumba class and then went to the smith machine for a lot of weighted squats and lunges! Here is a sweaty selfie…

When I came back to my Mom’s house, my sister Chef Banana had a delicious sandwich prepared for me! Tuna with mustard, tomato and cucumber on toasted wheat bread.

Chef Banana and I went to the market and picked up some ingredients for ceviche. I saw something really strange — limes were at the store for $3.49/lb — which is pretty pricy! Apparently, my sister knew that there was a lime shortage and that’s why the prices were so high. Anyway, we grabbed what we needed and she prepared the ceviche.

All fresh ingredients: shrimp, tilapia, tomato, onion, cucumber, cilantro, jalapeño, serrano chile (only one because they are so hot), lemons, limes, salt and pepper…

After the ceviche was chilled in the fridge, it was ready to be served! We had tortilla chips with the ceviche (not pictured).

She also prepared a spring mix salad with sesame oil dressing and croutons.

And for presentation purposes, Chef Banana did practice her plating skills. I like how the ceviche is presented in both the glassware — the martini glass makes it a bit more fancy…

That was my weekend recap — I wish all weekends can be filled with loved ones + sweat + yummy food!

My Zumba + Dance Birthday Party

March 11, 2014dance, fitness, fun, workout, zumbaBoom Shaka Laka, Crank Dat Soulja Boy, dance, El Merengazo, exercise, fitness, In the Summertime, Kim, La Aguafiesta, Metela Sacala, Miss Debi, No Wiri Wiri, party, Salsa, Salsa Bali, Talk Dirty, Vivir Mi Vida, workout, Zumba, Zumba Bunnieshellokittyjunkie

For my Birthday this year, I really wanted a Zumba-themed party. I have been enjoying my Zumba classes SO much that I thought it would be nice to share my love for Zumba + dance with my friends.

I am not a great planner so organizing it stressed me out a little bit. Some stuff that caused me a bit of anxiety… Will my friends come to a Zumba party? Is everybody going to enjoy Zumba? Which instructors will be available? Should I request my favorite songs? Can I find a space? What time should I plan it? etc. etc.

After finding a studio to rent and deciding to hire my two favorite instructors (Kim and Miss Debi), the party was on! We had so much fun! My friends who have never taken a Zumba class participated and did awesome!

The party was broken down into two parts. The first hour was all Zumba taught by Kim — songs I remember dancing to were: Boom Shaka Laka, Crank Dat Soulja Boy, El Merengazo, In the Summertime, La Aguafiesta, Metela Sacala, Salsa Bali, Talk Dirty, Vivir Mi Vida (I special requested this Salsa) and No Wiri Wiri (which might be my newest fave)! Kim had all of us in a good sweat!

After our cool down, we transitioned into some sexy Burlesque style dancing — and that is what the heels were for!

Below is a group photo with Miss Debi + me + Zumba Bunnies (what we call ourselves because we hop around to several Zumba classes in different locations — and I don’t want to be a Zumba rat)!

Miss Debi made us bring our *SEXY* (sexual confidence) out that night.

Too much fun!

New Kicks and T-Shirt for the New Year

January 22, 2014activewear, footwear, workoutactivewear, Asics, dri-fit, GEL-Noosa Tri 8, Just Do It, Nike, shoes, sneakers, t-shirthellokittyjunkie

I was not expecting anything for the Holidays… But my lovely sister surprised me with a pair of Asics GEL-NOOSA TRI 8 (currently my fave shoes) and a Nike Dri-fit t-shirt!

These definitely keep me inspired and motivated to keep on going to my Zumba classes + stay in the gym longer to do some weight training. I obviously LOVE this colorway for the kicks — very bright and colorful!

The t-shirt says, “EVERY DAMN DAY” with Nike’s “Just Do It” slogan with the Nike mark. That has got to be the motto for 2014!

Tuesday Evening Workout: Griffith Park Hike with Amandabot

Richmade Tuesday Evening Hike at Griffith Park with Amandabot

10 min Booty Shaking Waist Workout- Lose inches off your waist by shaking your hips

One of my co-workers put me up on Tiffany Rothe. This looks pretty fun… Definitely in my queue!

Father’s Day Sunday Morning Workout and Post Workout Meal

June 18, 2013fitness, food, workout, zumbaabs, blueberries, chicken, exercise, fitness, fruits, glutes, grapes, gym, protein, raspberries, red potato, Richef, salad, strawberries, Zumbahellokittyjunkie

Holidays are my favorite days to work out. I feel like the gym is less crowded… Is this true? I attended my Zumba class for one hour this past Sunday and went straight into the weight room for a good hour of strength training…

I’ve been trying to focus on my glutes and abs recently — why does it take so long for progress???

Post workout meal! The chicken and red potatoes were prepared by Richef! As always, yummy! 😛

I prepped the salad and fresh fruits!

Crossover Cable Machine at the Gym

June 12, 2013fitness, workoutarms, back, biceps, equipment, exercise, fitness, gym, lats, lift, muscle, Muscle & Strength, shoulders, strength, train, training, triceps, weight, workouthellokittyjunkie

I realized when I worked out with Amandabot that I really like the crossover cable machine at the gym. There are eight stations and many many exercises one can do on the cables — with different handles to adjust what specific muscle groups you want to target.

My usual go-to workouts are the triceps and biceps cable pull downs… I also like the lat pull downs… I like seeing my muscles work in the mirror… o___O Egotistical? I hope not — I believe it motivates me to push a bit harder. 😀

I do have to switch it up so I will be researching some new exercises to try out from Muscle & Strength’s instructional video library.

Richmade Workout Session with Amandabot

Post Workout Meal: Tilapia Salad

June 5, 2013fitness, food, workoutChef Banana, dinner, Emeril, Essence, fish, food, Food Network, meal, nutrition, post workout, protein, recipe, salad, tilapia, workouthellokittyjunkie

Do you ever have one of those days when you’re tired and just don’t feel like going to workout? I don’t think I got enough sleep last night and I was feeling hungry right after work. I planned to go to the gym right after work, but I made a pit stop at home. *Bad idea* I ended up lounging around for one hour. >___<

But good news! I got my booty off the couch and went to the gym!

My workout routine for Tuesday:
12 min treadmill warmup

Abs
300 crunches on ab machine (no weights)
100 vertical knee raises (no weights)
100 ab crunch machine (50-70 lbs)

Legs (3 sets below)
20 barbell squats (40 lbs)
10 barbell lunges ea (40 lbs)
20 dead lifts (40 lbs)
20 calf raises (no weights)

I stayed in the gym for about one hour. I felt tired and not-so-energized by the end of my first set of legs… I pushed through. But to tell the truth, I had planned on doing more sets and higher reps. x___X I guess that will wait until the weekend when I have plenty of rest!

To my fave part — post workout meal! I am so lucky to have people who can cook in my life! They share their recipes and teach me how to cook. At one time, my sister — Chef Banana — did tell me I was not allowed in any kitchen without supervision…

Times have changed. Chef Banana gave me some of Emeril’s Essence for my own cooking use. *Gotta love the Food Network* I used this delicious seasoning to cook a portion of tilapia with a bit of olive oil and made myself a salad! The kitchen did not burn down. I did not overcook the fish. And it did not take a long time! 😀

Looking forward to my Zumba class tomorrow! (and continue with the ab work)…

Sunday Workout

June 2, 2013fitness, food, workoutabdominals, abs, chicken, clean eating, dead lifts, exercise, food, glutes, lets, Postworkout, potato, Richef, smith machine, squats, stairs, strength, workouthellokittyjunkie

When something in life upsets you, go work out. And eat clean food. That pretty much sums up my Sunday.

Richmade Gym Regimen 06/02/2013

I went to the gym — stayed for about one and a half hour.

Here is my gym regimen:
10 min stair warmup (my intensity level is not so high yet — work in progress)

Abs
125 ab crunch machine (50-70 lbs)
450 ab crunches

Legs (3 sets below)
10 squats on smith machine (50 lbs)
10 lunges on smith machine each side (50 lbs)
10 dead lifts with barbell (45 lbs)
40 calf raises (no weights)
10 push ups

*Bonus
7 smith machine squats (70 lbs)

As usual, the best part was the postworkout meal! Chicken with onions and peppers with roasted red potato cooked by Richef.

Richmade Postworkout Meal: Chicken and Potato by Richef