October Workout Playlist

1.  23 - Mike Will Made It ft. Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa, Juicy J (4:12)

2.  Thinking About You - Calvin Harris ft. Ayah Marar (4:08)

3.  Pour It Up - Rihanna (2:41)

4.  Calling Me - The Cataracs (5:16)

5.  Molly - Radio Edit - Cedric Gervais (3:31)

6.  Give It 2 U - Robin Thicke ft. Kendrick Lama (3:50)

7.  212 - Azealia Banks ft. Lazy Jay (3:24)

8.  I Get Crazy - Nicki Manaj ft. Lil Wayne (3:10)

9.  Right Now - Dyro Radio Edit - Rihanna & David Guetta (3:06)

What's looping of your pod-pod lately?  I'm always looking for new tunes to work out to so please feel free to share!

August Workout Playlist

Haha! I love this.  ANYWHO, this is what's currently playing on my pod-pod...

1.   Animal - Conor Maynard (3:17)
2.   As Your Friend - Afrojack ft. Chris Brown (4:00)
3.   Crazy Kids - Ke$ha ft. will.i.am (3:49)
4.   Winner - Jamie Foxx ft. Justin Timberlake & T.I (4:04)
5.   Killa - Cherish ft. Yung Joc (3:55)
6.   Tornado - Tiesto & Steve Aoki (6:09)
7.   Love U Better - Neon Hitch (3:21)
8.   Out Tonight, Club Radio Edit - Phil Wilde ft. Geraldina Sky (3:53)
9.   Chead - Hyper Crush (3:31)
10. #STUPiDFACEDD - Wallerpaper (3:04)

July Updates + Playlist

I've been having a really tough time staying in shape these last couple of months - I really need to get my act together. I've been letting myself go, and it's definitely showing. Rest assured, I'll be eating clean & exercising religiously these next couple of months.  It's time for me to take control.  No more excuses. 

Photo from Pinterest

Anywho, here's what's been looping on my pod-pod this month:
1.  Thank You - Master Shortie ft. The Cataracs & Leaf (3:45)
2.  Awooga - Calvin Harris (3:52)
3.  Tung! - Deniz Koyu (6:06)
4.  Rolling Stones T-Shirt - Dada Life (3:23)
5.  Toyfriend - David Guetta ft. Wynter (3:17)
6.  Up N' Down - Britney Spears (3:43)
7.  Hands High, Afrojack Edit - Kirsty (3:32)
8.  Treasure - Bruno Mars (2:59)
9.  Just Bleep Me (Satisfaction) - Dada Life (5:55)

August is a new month!  Let's start fresh, errbody...

May Workout Playlist

Photo from Pinterest

1.   Back It Up and Dump It - Cali Swag District (4:00)
2.   Desires - Ethernity (4:00)
3.   What Goes Up - Hyper Crush (3:41)
4.   Wax On Wax Off - Kovas (2:48)
5.   Kyoto - Skrillex (3:21)
6.   Spectrum (Calvin Harris Remix) - Florence + The Machine (3:38)
7.   Sensual Seduction - Snoop Dogg (4:06)
8.   Lose Control - Missy Elliott (3:47)
9.   Swagger Jagger - Cher Lloyd (3:12)
10. I Like That - Richard Vission ft. Luciana (2:15)
11. Sugar - Flo Rida ft. Wynter (4:13)

What songs have been looping on your i-pods?

"Guiltless" Frozen Favorites

When I was living in NYC, I hit up Pinkberry ALL the time.  In fact, I was so hooked on froyo that I frequented the joint several times a week.  Good thing it was a healthy snack/dessert option!  Unfortunately, there aren't any amazing froyo places where I live in Baltimore so I decided to explore other options.  Here are a few of my favorite low-calorie frozen treats:

1.  Turkey Hill Mint Cookies 'n Cream Frozen Yogurt

Mint chocolate chip is one of my favorite flavors, so I'm really glad I found a "healthy" choice.  This froyo tastes just like ice cream because of its creamy consistency.  Plus it only has 220 calories & 3 grams of fat per cup.  I especially love the cookie chunks - they taste like Oreos!

2.  Skinny Cow Low-fat Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich

I've always been a big fan of ice cream sandwiches.  During the summer, my mom always buys these in bulk at Costco.  Each sandwich has 2 grams of fat & 150 calories.

3.  Breyers Smooth & Dreamy French Chocolate Ice Cream

This may actually be my FAVORITE "guiltless" frozen treat listed.  Although it's super decadent, it's fat-free and only has 180 calories per cup.  It seriously tastes like the real thing. I still can't wrap my mind around it.

4.  Edy's Slow Churned Yogurt Blends Caramel Praline Crunch

Caramel Praline Crunch can do no wrong.  Although this product has more fat than I'd ideally want in a "guiltless" dessert (240 calories & 8 grams of fat per cup), it compensates with its richness. The embedded caramel drizzles are absolutely sublime.

Have you guys tried any of these?  Do you have any recommendations?

*These images are not mine*

April Playlist + Updates

Hey guys, 

I'm really sorry I've been MIA. I should've updated sooner, but I was totally overwhelmed with school & work. Classes are almost over though!  I'll try to post more diligently over break...

On another note, I finished Insanity a couple of weeks ago!  YAY!

It was an extremely tough program, so I'm really proud of myself for sticking with it and powering through.  I may not have had time to update the fitness segment of SS, but I made sure to keep up with my workouts.  

Anyways, I haven't started a new exercise program yet, but I definitely will in the near future.  I'm probably going to tackle Insanity: The Asylum next.  We'll see.  For the time being, I'm just gonna hit the gym for good old-fashioned cardio & weight-training.  Here's what's been looping on my pod-pod this month:

1.   Body Shots - Kaci Battaglia (4:04)

2.   T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever) - will.i.am ft. Mick Jagger & Jennifer Lopez (4:48)

3.   King Of Hearts - Cassie (3:37)

4.   Drop It Low - Kat Deluna (3:47)

5.   Loca - Shakira ft. Dizzee Rascal (3:13)

6.   Synthesizer - The Cataracs (3:42)

7.   I Don't Need A Man - The Pussycat Dolls (3:41)

8.   Deja Vu - Beyonce ft. Jay-Z (4:01)

9.   Cantaloupe - The Cataracs (3:44)

10. Arrow Through My Heart - Eddie Amador ft. Kimberly Cole & Garza (3:28)

11. Scandalous - Mis-Teeq (3:59)

12. Hello (Bassjackers Remix) - Martin Solveig & Dragonette (5:04)

Insanity - Week 6

 Sunday Weigh-in: 111.8 lbs

Sorry this is so belated guys.  I meant to update sooner, but things have been cray cray. Anyways, I have a confession to make.  I was home all last week for Spring break and as a result, I didn't really eat as clean as I should have.  I'm assuming that's why my weight stayed the same.    It's all good though.  A few unhealthy meals won't kill me.  I've been extra good these last couple of days, so we'll see what happens.

Photo from Pinterest

On another note, I completed week 6 of Insanity on Saturday.  The first few days were really tough, but I'm getting used to it now.  Ha. Yeah right, I wish.  It's still freakin' hard.  It's max interval training so you're supposed to push yourself as hard as possible.

Photo from Pinterest

It never gets easier.  You just get stronger.  Let's make sure to power through the rest of the week! *pumps fist* 

Insanity Updates + Fit Test #3

Sunday Weigh-in:  111.8 lbs

I started month 2 of Insanity on Monday.  I'm in so much pain right now.  Everything hurts like a [insert expletive].  My friends really weren't exaggerating.  Month 2 sucks!  Each session that I've done so far is about an hour long, and the exercises are REALLY freakin' challenging.  I guess that's why recovery week was so chill.  I was cruising along just fine; in fact, I even did extra cardio on the side!  Well, I definitely won't need to hit the gym for additional workouts anytime soon. 

I wanted to update you guys on my 3rd fit test.  Here are my newest numbers, complete with extra repetitions in parentheses:

1.  Switch Kicks:  111 (7)

2.  Power Jacks:  58 (5)

3.  Power Knees:  115 (5)

4.  Power Jumps:  49 (7)

5.  Globe Jumps:  13 (1)

6.  Suicide Jumps:  26 (3)

7.  Push-up Jacks:  32 (4)

8.  Low Plank Obliques:  72 (12)

I've been beating my numbers and cranking out more reps each time, so yeah, I feel like a boss!  I'm looking forward to completing Insanity.  The next couple of weeks are going to be tough, but I'm gonna destroy this program.  

What program should I tackle next?  How are your workouts going? I'd love to hear about your progress!

March Playlist + Updates

Sunday Weigh-in:  113.4 lbs.

Photo from Pinterest

YES.  I officially finished month 1 of Insanity. I'm excited but nervous to start month 2.  I hear it gets significantly harder.  Actually, scratch that, I hear it gets freakin' ridiculous. Whatevs. I'm not worried.  I'm ready to rise up to the challenge.  

Photo from Pinterest

Remember guys, it's mind over matter!  Your body is capable of so much more than you think - don't be afraid to really push your limits! For those of you who need some extra motivation, here's a baller playlist to help you power through...

1.   Move Ya Body - Nina Sky ft. Jabba (3:52)
2.   Beam Me Up (Kill Mode) (Radio Edit) - CAZZETTE (3:24)
3.   The New Workout Plan - Kanye West (5:23)
4.   Like Me - Girlicious (2:54)
5.   Dance Floor - The Pack (3:38)
6.   Push It - Jessie and The Toy Boys ft. Yelawolf (3:27)
7.   Shake - Ying Yang Twins ft. Pitbull (4:02)
8.   Party Up - DMX (4:34)
9.   All Star - TYDOLLA$IGN ft. Swedish House Mafia & Joe Moses (3:47)
10. I Don't Like You - Eva Simons (4:12)
11. Turnt 4 Da Weekend Remix - Dj Lil A (4:09)
12. I Don't Care - New Boyz ft. Big Sean (3:55)

5 Healthy Dessert Options

Photo from Pinterest

1.  Pop Chips - I discovered this treat when I did "Ripped in 30".  Jillian Michaels highly recommended these chips as a healthy snack in her meal plan.  I was skeptical at first, but I was immediately won over by the taste.  Now, I always make sure to buy at least 2 bags from Costco.  There are only 120 calories and 4 grams of fat in 23 chips (!!!!!!).  

Photo from Pinterest

2.  Banana "Ice Cream" - I love how easy this is.  You just slice up a few bananas, blend them until you get a nice consistency, and stick the mixture in the freezer overnight.  It's definitely not the real deal, but it successfully curbs my cravings.  Try adding a bit of peanut butter for extra flavor!

Photo from Pinterest

3.  Dried Mangoes - I LOVE snacking on dried fruit.  When I go to Costco, I always grab a big bag of dried mangoes.  I especially love freezing them.  I think they taste better when they're cold and chewy!

Photo from Pinterest

4.  "Baked" Apple - So, this is pretty much self-explanatory, haha.  So delicious yet so easy.  That's what I'm talking about! =)

Photo from Pinterest

5.  Frozen Yogurt Dots -  When I was a kid, I was a huge fan of Dippin' Dots, so I was thrilled when I came across this recipe on Pinterest.  Make sure to try this out with your favorite yogurt!  The dots take less than an hour to freeze, and they taste like candy.  YUM!

Insanity - Week 3

Sunday Weigh-in: 113.8 lbs

Photo from Pinterest

Lately, I've been feeling a bit down about my progress.  Why does it take a week to gain 5 lbs and a month to shed the excess weight?  My metabolism is not as fast as it used to be so it's taking that much more effort and time to get my summer beach-body back.

On another note, I've been having a tough time balancing all my activities.  There's so much I want to do, but there just aren't enough hours in a day to fit everything in.   

Photo from Pinterest

Finding time to exercise has been a challenge for me as of late.  I like working out in the early morn, but I can't afford to do that anymore.  There's so much running and jumping in Insanity that I'd get evicted if I did that 6:30AM.  Hence, I've been squeezing in workouts between classes.  I end up looking disheveled because my hair gets all crazy and whatnot, but hey, who really cares?  My body will be smokin' :P

Photo from Pinterest

I may not have the figure of my dreams yet, but I'm still really proud of myself for persevering.  Sure, I can (and I did) sit here and whine, but I know complaining won't burn any extra calories.

Photo from Pinterest

Keep at it, guys.  Each workout brings you one step closer to your goal. Let's get jacked together!

Insanity Week 2 - Summary

Weigh-in for 2/24:  114.2 lbs

Yay, I'm halfway through month 1 of Insanity.  I definitely feel like I've improved over the last few weeks.  I've been pushing myself hard, so I'm not surprised that I did better on fit test #2.  FYI: The number in parentheses indicates extra reps completed to record improvement.

1.  Switch Kicks: 104 - (39)

2.  Power Jacks: 53 - (8)

3.  Power Knees: 110 - (17)

4.  Power Jumps: 42 - (15)

5.  Globe Jumps: 12 - (2)

6.  Suicide Jumps: 23 - (4)

7.  Push-up Jacks: 28 - (9)

8.  Low Plank Obliques: 60 - (16)

I started off doing pretty well, but I was gasping for air towards the end! I still have a long way to go, but I'm perfectly content with my steady progress.

Photo from Pinterest

On another note, I had my first Pure Cardio + Cardio Abs session last Thursday.  I wanted to freakin' die. Pure Cardio is hard enough as is, adding Cardio Abs pretty much killed me.  

Photo from Pinterest

One of my goals for 2013 is to get a six-pack, so hopefully this very, very cruel circuit will get me one step closer. I really need to step up my game because my core is really weak. Anyways, that's all for now.  Remember to eat clean & train dirty, everyone =P

February Playlist

Photo from Pinterest

As you guys know, I've been out of commission the last couple of days due to illness, but yesterday I started exercising again. Let me tell you, jumping right back into Week 2 of Insanity was NOT easy, but hey, "no pain,no gain" right?  

Photo from Pinterest

Anyways, I'll make sure to update you guys with my progress soon!  For now, here's my February playlist:

1.  Push - Enrique Iglesias ft. Lil Wayne (3:52)
2.  Hello Good Morning - Diddy ft. Dirty Money & T.I. (4:29)
3.  Beat Down - Steve Aoki ft. Angger Dimas & Iggy Azalea (4:05)
4.  The Boys - Nicki Minaj ft. Cassie (4:09)
5.  Ray Ban Vision - A-Trak (3:36)
6.  Still My Baby - Wolfgang Gartner ft. Omarion (3:38)
7.  I Can't Dance - Dirt Nasty ft. LMFAO (4:55)
8.  Maldito Alcohol - Pitbull ft. Afrojack (3:22)
9.  Beat It - Michael Jackson (4:18)
10. Strange Clouds - B.o.B. ft. Lil Wayne (3:47)
11. 2 Is Better - Far East Movement ft. Ya Boy & Lil' Eddie (3:23)
12. Don't You Worry Child - Swedish House Mafia ft. John Martin (3:33)

Week 2 Update

So this week has been a bummer.  I got through the first three days  of week 2 but had to stop due to illness.  I felt sick earlier during the week, but pushed through my workouts anyway. By Thursday, I was totally out of commission.  I didn't want to skip classes or cancel teaching sessions though, so I forced myself to get out of bed each morning. I was so wiped, I went to sleep at 7 PM every night. Anyways, I finally feel a little better today. Although I'm disappointed that I had to put my exercise regimen on hold, it was for the best!  

Since I didn't get to finish week 2 of Insanity, I'm just going to repeat it starting tomorrow! I may have had to put my fitness plans on hold temporarily, but I'm ready to get back into the game.  

Insanity - Week 1

Weekly Weigh-in: 114.8 lbs

YAY! I'm done with week 1 of Insanity.  I definitely felt sore after the first few workouts, but I'm really glad I powered through the sessions.  I think my favorite circuit was "Pure Cardio", but I felt the most pain after "Cardio Power and Resistance". Insanity actually comes with an eating plan, but I'm not following the guidelines.  I'm eating clean though (on my terms)!  Since I've been really good this entire week, I rewarded myself with a splurge meal! I had Taquitos and Manicotti for lunch.  I know it's kind of a weird combination, but whatevs,  it was delicious. 

Anyways, I'm excited for week 2! I know I'm going to kill it =)

Insanity Stats

Hey guys, 

I've been meaning to update the fitness segment of Sensible Stylista for a while now, but I never got a chance to.  School has been crazy as of late.  There just aren't enough hours in a day.  I wish I could function on less sleep.  

Anyways, I started Insanity on Monday - I'm currently on Day 4.  My body is ridiculously sore, and my calves are in excruciating pain.   It seriously takes me about 5 minutes to walk up 3 flights of stairs.  Whatever.  I don't care.  Bring the pain!

From: Pinterest

For those of you who are interested, I'll be posting weekly progress reports on Sundays (my off-days).  For today's post, I'm recording stats from Day 1.  The program measures physical/athletic improvement every two weeks by administering a fit test (there are five in total).  Basically, you have a minute to do as many reps as you can for each exercise.  Man, I forgot how brutal some of these exercises were.  The power jumps, switch kicks, and push-up jacks KILL me.  Here are my results:

1.  Switch Kicks: 65

2.  Power Jacks: 45

3.  Power Knees: 93

4.  Power Jumps: 27

5.  Globe Jumps: 10

6.  Suicide Jumps: 19

7.  Push-up Jacks: 19

8.  Low Plank Obliques: 44

I'm excited to push myself.  I know I'll beat these numbers next time!  Oh, I forgot to mention that in addition to my weekly updates, I'll be recording my weight as well.  When I started this program, my weight was 115 lbs.  

Have an awesome week guys!  Thanks for reading!

Week 4 = Complete

Photo source:  Pinterest

I'm officially done with my first fitness challenge. "Ripped in 30" was a success!  I'm so proud of myself for sticking with it.  These last few weeks have been tough, but my body's finally getting used to the exercise.  My current weight is 114.2 lbs.  I lost a total of 2 lbs during this challenge.

Now it's time for round 2.  I'm going to start Insanity next Monday. I'm actually really nervous about it.  I've done some of the workouts before, and they are BRUTAL.  It's two months of high-intensity interval training.  I don't know how my body's going to deal with that kind of cardio in the early morn.  I'm going to try and prep the next few days in the hopes of lessoning the excruciating amount of pain to come.  I think I'll do Tae-bo for the next week!  I'll update you guys soon =)  

PS. In case you guys want some new song recommendations, here's my January playlist. These songs have been looping on my i-pod this month:

1.  Pon De Floor - Major Lazer (3:34)

2.  She Wants To Move - N.E.R.D (3:34)

3.  One (Your Name) - Swedish House Mafia ft. Pharrell (2:43)

4.  Can't Get You Out Of My Head - Kylie Minogue (3:51)

5.  Clap Your Hands - 2NE1 (3:43)

6.  Lights (Bassnectar remix) - Ellie Goulding (4:37)

7.  Breathe - Dev (3:41)

8.  Girls On the Dance Floor - Far East Movement (3:57)

9.  Destination Calabria (Original Radio Edit) - Alex Gaudino (3:43)

10. She Wolf (Falling to Pieces) - David Guetta ft. Sia (3:43)

11. Waiting For Tonight - Jennifer Lopez (4:07)

12. Bon, Bon - Pitbull (3:36)

Week 3 = Complete

YAY! I finally finished week 3 of "Ripped in 30".  I'm so close to finishing the program -  SUCCESS!  I haven't weighed myself in a while, but that's fine.  I don't really care about the number.  I just want to get jacked!  I definitely feel stronger, PLUS when I tried on my skinny jeans earlier today, they fit wayyy better.  Anyways, week 3 was much more difficult to execute.  The bear crawls, duck walks, and squat jacks KILLED my quads.  I felt like my muscles were on fire.  That's ok though because ::drum rolls:: "sore is the new sexy" =P...

Photo from Pinterest

I've been supplementing my "Ripped in 30" sessions with additional lifting exercises.  There are so many cool workouts available on Pinterest.  I've been obsessed with pinning as of late.  I'm sure you all can tell by my fitspo memes =P  Anyways, I've always wanted more upper body definition, so I decided to try this out...

Photo from Pinterest

I do each exercise 20 times (3 circuits) with 5-lb weights in each hand. However, instead of doing regular push-ups, I modify them and rep them out on my knees.  It takes me about 13 minutes to complete the entire workout.  You guys should try it! =)  

Week 2 = Complete

Man, these last few days have been rough.  I've been waking up super early to squeeze my workouts in.  I really like exercising at night, but when's school's in session, I end up making way too many excuses for myself.  "I'm too tired", "I still have so much homework to do", "practicing piano takes priority", "blah blah blah".  I wanted to make sure I had NO excuse.  I mean I'd get evicted if I started practicing at 6:30 in the morning, so I might as well work out =P  It's going to be tough for a while, but I know my body will get used to it soon enough!

Image jacked from Pinterest...

Today I finished week 2 of "Ripped in 30".  Some of the exercises are just brutal  - she offers modifications most of the time though.  I found the pendulum lunges with serving biceps and stork stances with upright rows to be the most challenging.  Anyways, I'm excited to see what week 3 has in store!  

OH, and I forgot to mention that I started using 5-lb weights!  I was proud of myself for upgrading.  I know it's only 2-lbs heavier than before, but hey, it's still improvement!  I'm willing to celebrate small victories! =)

Have any of you tried Jillian's yoga DVDs?  If so, would you recommend them?

Week 1 = Complete

So I finished week 1 of Jillian Michaels' "Ripped in 30" last night, and I actually really like the program thus far.  The DVD comes with a strict dietary plan, but to be honest, I haven't been following her rules.  I've been eating a lot of junk; the holidays always kill me.  I've consumed so much garbage during break (take-out, sweets, etc.).  I'll have to make sure I watch what I eat from now on, or else working out will be pointless.  Poop.

Source:  Pinterest

"Ripped in 30" contains four different workouts that last for about 20 minutes.  I really appreciate how compact the sessions are.  Who doesn't have time to fit in a 20 minute workout?  Yeah, that's what I thought... =P Anyways, each session features the "3-2-1 system":  three minutes of strength, two minutes of cardio, and one minute of abs.  There are three circuits in total, and you repeat each circuit twice.  

My favorite part is definitely the strength training.  In my opinion, there's not enough emphasis on cardio in this DVD, so I'm going to have to supplement my regimen with extra on the side.  I'll keep you guys updated.  

Thanks for reading guys! <3

-Kim