Jan
4th

I stopped making resolutions years ago. Why make resolutions when you can change your lifestyle and make lifelong habits instead? Today, tomorrow, everyday … for the rest of your life. Simple. Content. Easy.

Dec
22nd

cut liquid calories.

Say no to:

• Pop
• Shakes & Smoothies
• Fruity Juices
• Alcohol

Okay in moderation:

• Black Coffee
• Tea
• Red Wine

Drink LOTS of:

• Water

Dec
10th

One of my goals last summer were to perfect my double-unders. I practiced almost every gym session— sometimes for hours, screaming in anger when I couldn’t get it, broke the handles of ropes when I threw it across the studio in frustration, walked around with aching, red lacerations all over my arms, legs and face… but I went from not being able to do one to being able to link 60+ double-unders consistently in perfect form. It was so worth it.

Two weeks ago, I attempted to do one of my favorite workouts (4x: 25 DU’s + 25 Burpees + 25 Squats for time) and for some reason, I was NOT getting my DU’s. I kept on trying to incorporate them into my workouts the next couple of weeks but my arms and legs just wouldn’t work together. I seem to have forgotten how to do double-unders!

Yesterday, I was so mad at myself so I decided to practice my DU’s. The most I linked were three but I could barely get one in an entire hour! I tried different lengths of ropes, I tried pulling my hair into such a tight bun that I thought my hair was going to rip off, I tried to analyze the movement of my arms and legs, talked myself through each movement and incorporated all the lessons I learned in the last couple of months but nothing was working! I was back at square one.

I’ve never felt this much frustration at the gym since I did my first workout after coming back from a month in Asia (where I didn’t workout at all). I was in a bad mood the rest of the day because I was so mad at my own failure.

I kept on telling myself IT WAS ALL IN MY HEAD and the only reason I couldn’t do them was because I was thinking that I couldn’t do them. When you have that mindset, you are setting yourself up for failure. I finally stopped but the next day, I went back to the gym to practice some more. It was better than the previous session because I went in with a fresh mind and was able to give myself more encouraging pep-talks (yes, I talk to myself) but it still wasn’t good enough…

Suddenly, I heard the beautiful sound of a rope spinning at an amazing speed. The bootcamp next door had a DU station and someone was cranking them out beautifully, like how I use to.

I was so jealous.

I felt discouraged again so I left the gym with my head hanging.

But that sound was still in my mind and I wanted to hear it again— and coming from me.

So I’ll be back tomorrow, and the day after… to practice and I won’t stop until I perfect them again. I know I can do it.

Dec
5th

Take as long as you need.
Do as many variations as you want.
At the end, you must have done at least 400 burpees… or more.
Time yourself so you can try beat it next time!

Here are my 400 Burpees!

Dec
2nd

When I want to focus, I put on my headphones and turn the music way up, whether it’s at my desk or at the gym. When I have my headphones on at my desk, music gets me into such concentration that I don’t even think about checking my Twitter feed (which is an really good accomplishment for me!). When I’m on the bike at the gym, I’ll throw my towel over the TV monitor and turn on my iPod to prepare myself for miles and miles of biking to nowhere. Whether I’m cranking out a couple rounds of HIIT, tabata or just some longer, medium intensity sessions, time flies by and I’m suddenly drenched in sweat and my legs are burning like crazy.

Favorite Workout Jams (in no particular order):

• M-Flo – Miss You
• Tasha – Combination Platter
• Anne Savage – I Can’t Hear Ya
• Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
• Christina Aguilera – Fighter
• The Pretty Reckless – Make Me Wanna Die
• Big Bang – Last Farewell
• Ayumi Hamasaki – Evolution
• Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina – Stereo Love
• Anything by Epik High & BEP

There are times when I like to workout in silence but only when I have the entire gym/studio to myself. No awkward huffing, puffing, wheezing and panting, while the girl in the other corner is doing yoga stretches! When I do circuit and Crossfit workouts, I don’t mind no music either because even though it does get me pumped— sometimes I don’t hear it at all because I’m so focused on pushing myself.

Office Jams? That’s a little complicated. Some days, I’ll be listening to Epik High from 10-6. Other days I’ll just listen to Korean ballads. Some days “all songs” will be on shuffle. Some days it’ll be old rock ballads. Or it maybe totally mind-fuck-inducing hardhouse. All depends on my mood. Currently, I’ve been listening the 103.5QMFM because all they play is Christmas music right now… and who doesn’t love Christmas?

What are your favorite workout songs?