Okay folks! Let’s talk workout regimen! I am truly humbled by the amount of positive feedback I have gotten about my body and the requests to share my workout. I wanted to select recent pics of my body as close to nude as possible so you can see my faults. These pics were taken in January on my vacation. I’ve been trying my hardest to put together an appropriate work-out post that truly gives you a great sense of what I do. I hope this write-up does it justice, since honestly the gym is a place for workout, not a catwalk for pics. It is distracting to others and makes people stare (which I hate) but for you guys, I flashed away. I decided to break up my workout regimen into parts. The first thing I’ll start with is legs, and these “gams” are what i’m working with:
Before I share, I want to caveat that every person is shaped differently, personally I have a naturally muscular build. I was looking at a few female body type charts and found one that I think comes closest to my body which is somewhat between athletic/buff!
To that end, I have almost always had very toned legs, to the point where I hated them when I was younger! I ran track and played tennis a lot and that just made them even more toned, not cute in Jr. High. Second caveat, is that just because a routine works for me does not mean it will be the best thing for your body type so feel things out but use caution.
Here goes!
I try to workout at least 4 times a week (partially because my fiancé is a gym rat and our schedules are different so sometimes that’s the only opportunity we get to spend time with each other depending on the week). I go to a Body Sculpting class on Mondays and Wednesdays and that class is DEATH! But we will talk about that in my follow-up. During my own personal workouts here is how my routine begins:
- Step 1 – Running
I have found that running is the best way for me to stay lean. I start off almost every workout by running for at least 20 minutes on the treadmill. It sets me up with the adrenaline that I need to GO HARD for the rest of my workout.
Mentally I tell myself that I have to clear at least 2 miles, which is almost always the shortest distance that I run. I used to increase my speed at 5 minute intervals, starting at a 6.5 speed and ending at a 8 or 8.5 over the 20 – 30 minutes. However, that routine can sometimes become stale, so on most days I do high interval runs on the treadmill, by running at a high speed for one minute and then walking for one minute. I increase the speed after each walk to get my heart rate pumping. I typically go to level 10 and then work my way back down from there. This workout does wonders for my legs, abs and entire body.
- Step 2 – Squats
With my adrenaline pumping I feel like I can take on anything, so I move directly to my lovely squat machine. I start off with 45 lb plates on each side of the bar and I do 10-15 reps and repeat 4x. I also include a lunge with the same weight for 2 of my 4 sets (same amount of reps). Lastly, I sometimes add an additional 10 lbs to each side bringing my weight total to 110 lbs (55 on each side) for the 4th set.
- Step 2B – Pylo-Side-Lunges and Hill Climbers
Between every set of my squats I do a set of these lunges for 1 minute non-stop at a steady pace and I also do a set of hill climbers for 1minute non-stop at a steady pace. I repeat this 4x (once after each set of squats). This might look easy but if done right is very hard, so don’t forget to take breaths in between. There is no competition, the race is with yourself.
- Step 3 – Leg Press & Circuit Time (Calf Raises, Burpee, Jumping Jacks, Dead Lifts)
As for the leg press, much like the squats I do 10 – 15 reps with at least two 45 lb. plates on each side weighing 180 lbs in total (90 on each side) and then I add a 3rd plate on to each side for my last rep totaling 135 lbs on each side. After each set of 15 reps, I complete what’s called a circuit (which is where I include other exercises into my rotation and repeat it in this case 4 times). This often changes depending on machine availability in the gym but here are pics showcasing some of the exercises in the circuit.
- ‘
- Step 4 – Stationary Bike
I finish things off on the stationary bike where I do about 3 – 5 miles because I always try to start and finish with cardio to stay lean. Lifting can certainly add bulk so constant cardio is how I try to combat that.
- Step 5 – Stretch it out!
I have to admit, I don’t think I stretch for as long as I should after my workouts but this is extremely important. I try to include at least 3 – 5 minutes of stretching to loosen up my muscles. Below are some of the poses I stick to:
There are so many exercises that aren’t listed here that I rotate in with the above but for the most part these steps are extremely consistent within my workout. I am usually in the gym for at least 2 hours. This was a really long post, and I hope it was helpful to those who requested it. Please leave a comment and let me know if it’s worth following-up with a Part II so that I can gauge interest as I know there are bloggers who are dedicated to just Health and Fitness alone.
Here’s to a lean, mean figure in 2013!
Until next time!
As always, Thanks for stopping by! Please don’t forget to follow me on:
Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @ hintofglamour, Polyvore to tap into my wish lists!
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
34 comments on “This is me! Let’s workout…”
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Thank you this is very helpful, especially for those who want to workout but don’t have knowledge on what machines or how many reps and weight to achieve personal goals. I can start here and customize to my own goals. Thank you again for sharing we need more supportive positives females.
Great to hear Dina! I am really happy that it helped, I appreciate you stopping by.
Please follow up with part2 you give really good and useful information that are real no extra. Thank you
Thanks Dina!
This was a good post. I’m just starting getting into a fitness upgrade, so I like what you are doing with toning/strengthening those legs. I have big thighs, and don’t mind so much, just want tight big thighs! Do you do anything special for abs outside of burpees?
Hi Tiffany, I most certainly do! I will do a full download on the upperbody/Ab workout in Part 2.
Awesome post!! I think that while this is a fashion and beauty blog its also a blog about you and your life so please share these kinds of posts more often!
Will do Avy! Thanks for stopping by!
I love this post! I’m on toning mission right now
Thanks Tayta! Best of luck on your mission 🙂
Great post! I’m going to use this as inspiration to increase my speed on the treadmill. Thanks for the challenge! 🙂
Awesome Chiquita! I am happy to help.
Love it!! Part II please!! I do pretty much the same thing at the gym and I now have some more ideas from your post to add to my routine! Thank you! Keep up the good work!
Thanks Taunya!
Great post! I can definitely sympathize with you regarding the muscular leg thing. I too hated my legs growing up but now I’m reaping the benefits since a muscular physique is the new skinny thanks to Serena, Kelly, and all the other women reaping toned bods… Question? How many minutes of cardio do you do in all?
High Five for the muscle team :)! I would say that in total I do between an hour and 1hr 15 minutes for cardio.
Definitely appreciate this post. I’m about to start a fitness regimen and these exercises will definitely help me. I’ve always had toned legs as well I want to tone the rest of my body and lose abdominal fat on my belly (i recently had a baby) so I’m glad that I was able to get these pointers and I’m looking forward to your follow-up.
Thanks Dee and congratulations on your new bundle of joy!
Awesome post!!! Do you have any specific diet/eating plan that you follow at all?
Thanks Jen! Yes I will be following up with eating habits/tips in my follow-up posts.
Great, look forward to that!
Very helpful! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Porsha!
Thank you. You look awesome and I will follow this plan. BTW, that “Kate Moss” pic is hilarious.
Haha Lainea, the Kate Moss pic was absolutely hysterical.
When I first saw your blog I thought, what does she do in the gym to look like that? So definitley continue to fill us in on your routines. This was a great article, and Im looking forward to part two.
Thanks Coo!
Alicia Alicia Alicia girrl thank you for this. I can’t wait for the second part of this. You are one of my inspiriations for fitness.
Aww, thanks so much Tria! I really appreciate you stopping by and for your kind words!
Alicia….thanks for posting this. It’s very inspiring dear. I’m at 145lbs now and would like to get down between 130-135lbs and tone tone and tone. I love to see sisters fit because let’s face it…..great style is all in the fit of our clothes and knowing what works best for our body types. That you know well dear. Kudos!!!
Sure thing! I’m happy you found some benefit from the post! Thanks for stopping by Natasha!
Thank you for this!!! Great article, great work. I just told someone that all I need are your legs and I’d die happy haha
Thanks Arian, you’re too sweet. Happy this helped. I am overdue for an update and an ab-workout feature.
Hi cant wait for part II. This was very helpful and you added pictures….yes Stretching is key before and after a workout. Yours abs look great I want to get your leg definition so will be printing this out…please keep us posted You look great!