Archives for January 2013

01/31

Exercise VLOG! Push Up Edition

I promised I’d do exercise videos this year, at least one per month…

I’m barely making it under the wire here,

but it’s STILL January!

Why are pushups important?
Because they’re perfect for getting strong arms, chest, and core, especially for us chicks.

Almost every female client of mine wants to get rid of arm flab, flatten up their bellies, and get sexy shoulders. Pushups do ALL of those, you don’t need any equipment, and the more you practice them, the better you get. Unfortunately for women, we’re not blessed with natural upper body strength. The fellas got that one. We, however, have natural lower body strength, which is why most females tend to focus on that at the gym.

Here’s my first VLOG on how to progress into full push-ups,

not just the modified kind on your knees.

When you can complete the level consistently,

(10-15 reps no problem) without sagging at the hips,

then it’s time to progress to the next level!

Questions?

VLOG Help:

I used Photo Booth for the video, uploaded to Vimeo but the audio didn’t sync with the video… so had to go back to just the reg version, which I can’t seem to make bigger. #rookiemistakes who knows how to fix this ish?

posted by Ami McMullen 3 Comments
Filed Under: exercises, video, vlog

01/30

Playlist!

This is what we’re listening to in my fitness classes this week

… because my bootcampers have no other option.

That’s the cool thing about being in charge. ; )

via

My workout playlists are an hour long,

with built-in cool-down/stretching songs,

so you don’t leave that ish out

’cause I know how you are.

Jan 28, 2013 by Ami McMullen on Grooveshark

I’m LOVING Gin Wigmore these days.

Her sound is a cool mix between Amy Winehouse and Duffy.

Also, have you guys heard Bruno Mars’s new album?

I can’t get enough of “If I Knew”. I just wish it were longer!

posted by Ami McMullen 2 Comments
Filed Under: Fitness, motivation, music, playlist

01/27

I confess…

“I Confess” theme by Carissa!

I confess that I’m a hair-twirler and I can’t stop. Been doing it for years and I’m very much aware that it makes me look like a 16 year old idiot. Have you seen the movie Amelie? Know how she likes to put her hand in the barrel of beans? That’s me with the ends of my hair. Love the feel of it. Creepy. I know…

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I confess that I just found out last year that your car tells you which side the gas tank is on and you don’t have to just guess and hope you’re right (which I never am). There’s a FUCKING ARROW next to the gas icon on EVERY car out there. Were you guys aware of this?! Am I the only person that didn’t know about this? Anyway, this is extremely helpful since I’m in rental cars several times a month and I’m always wiggin’ out when trying to refill the tank in a hurry on my way to return the car at the airport. I just hate that I didn’t know it sooner. #facepalm

I skipped HBO in my hotel room last weekend and opted for Cinderella one night and The Lion King the next. Apparently I need to re-live some of my childhood movie nights. Or hang out with my nephew more.

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I confess I didn’t take Tango for a walk Friday of last week because it was 20 degrees outside. I let him play in the backyard most of the day and threw his rope in the basement a million times instead. “Hi. My name is Ami and I’m a horrible dog-owner.” “Hiiiiiii Ami” I made up for it the next day though…

I always pack last minute, but I’m SO excited about my ski trip to Mammoth Mountain in CA next week that I’ve already started laying out my clothes.

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I confess that I hate being cold so much that I basically spend winter in two pairs of pants, my down jacket, and a beanie. Even when I’m inside. #sexylady

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What do you guys confess today?

posted by Ami McMullen 5 Comments
Filed Under: I confess

01/25

What’s Been Goin’ On…

One of my #BeABeast resolutions was to do 20 pull-ups.

This is where I’m at so far:

My goal is 20 without stopping. So far I’m at 7 (even though I did 9 the other day).
Ignore those couple where I don’t go down all the way… ; )

This was me in Texas last weekend.

Outside. In a t-shirt! Enjoying 75 degrees : )

Not my best work. I know.

This was the group I trained:

This is my morning TRX bootcamp class, killing it this week.

This is my friend, Scotty D

who just said “F you” to his corporate job to go travel the world.

Yee-haw!

Check out his new blog documenting his ish.

He’s headed your way, Australia and New Zealand!

Here are a couple of the local lululemon chicas,

Caroline and Mhyria,

that take my TRX bootcamp and rock it out!

Guess who the latest Louisville Lulu Ambassador is?!

; )

And this is me being glad there’s at least sunshine.

It’s been SO cold lately. And everybody’s sick.

I’m over it.

BUT there’s sun. #GladGame

What’s been goin’ on with you guys?

posted by Ami McMullen 2 Comments
Filed Under: New Year's resolution, photos, What's Been Goin On

01/23

Book Buzz: Triple Whammy

I’ve been reading up a storm lately – being sick and bed-ridden contributed.

As well as my having to fly every week…

#mykindleismyjam

Here’s what I’ve devouring lately:

#1: No Easy Day

by Mark Owen

via

This is the story of the SEAL team that took down Osama Bin Laden. This book is SOOO good. I literally read half of it in one day. I’ve always been an admirer of SEALs purely because their physical training is so intense and impressive. Getting a glimpse into what their skill/tactical training is like is even more interesting and highly entertaining. This book highlights not only the Bin Laden mission but several others that lead up to that moment. These guys are so badass and it makes me really jealous. There are times when I think I could pull some of this ish off as well… and then I go play laser tag for my friend’s birthday a few weeks ago and am hit in literally the first 2.5 seconds we’re in the game. And then every other second after that. And then I think, “I’d be dead if this were real combat. Most likely, the first one dead.” And that would be embarrassing. So I think I’ll stick with fitness and let the badasses carry out the serious missions. : )

This book is a great/fast read and I highly recommend it.

Good for both sexes, so your bfs and huzzies will probably like it as well. Score.

Kindle for $12.99

#2: Confessions of a Public Speaker

by Scott Berkun

via

I LOVED this book. As a “work” book, I didn’t expect this one to be entertaining. At all. I knew it would help me along and maybe give me some new ideas that my friends and colleagues hadn’t told me yet… but I had no idea how much I would actually ENJOY it. Scott Berkun writes really well and in a way that feels like he’s actually speaking with you, not talking at you. Like all good speakers, he tells stories that relate to you and that’s where he hits his main points. A lot of this book was him identifying what you can do to prevent a lot of the disasters that can break you when you’re speaking in a public venue. Then he tells you what to do to fix them, because you’re most likely going to make them anyway. This book was highly entertaining – especially the section where he invited a bunch of his friends/colleagues to pen their own embarrassing speaking incidents – hilarious. If you’ve got to do any public speaking/presenting for your field, this book is a must read. High five, Scotty B. Thanks for teaching me a few things & not being boring about it. ; )

Kindle, $8! Holla

Sidenote – I’ll be presenting at my first big conference in March, 6 weeks from now. Let’s hope I can remember half of this ish and not wind up on some viral youtube video with a split in the ass of my pants or having just fallen off the fucking stage… #fingerscrossed #preptime

#3: Adrift

by Steven Callahan

via

I first heard about this story when I read this survival book a few months back. It was so intriguing but only told the highlights of his survival mentality. So I wanted to go straight to the source to find out all the details. It was really worth it. Steven Callahan was SO prepared for a million different scenarios before he took out on his own. His preparedness made the difference in life or death for himself and I found that so incredible. He had some paper and a pencil so he kept a little journal of his time out on the water.

This book was a little slower to read as it’s obviously just him and the ocean for all of it. I also just needed some breaks to mentally chill out from everything that he had to endure over those few months. It’s absolutely amazing what you can endure when you have to. It definitely makes you think twice about all the stuff you “need” every day. And I thought twice about texting a friend for dinner the other night that I was “starving”… I instead wrote, “I’m REALLY hungry. Wanna go grab some food?”

Perspective…

On Kindle for $9

What are you guys reading right now?

I’ve now read one “work” book.

So that means I can read 6 “fun” books until I should read another work one… ; )

posted by Ami McMullen 4 Comments
Filed Under: Blogger Book Club, Book Buzz, reading

01/17

Let’s Be Instagram Buds, k?

Since I’ve been lying in bed for 2 days, I’ve been ~~wasting~~ spending a lot of time on the internet and I realized that I don’t follow nearly enough people on Instagram. I love Instagram! And I love how you can so quickly cruise through and catch little glimpses of friends’ lives. Sooo send me your Instagram names, peeps!

And follow me if you want!

FitWithFlash

posted by Ami McMullen 1 Comment
Filed Under: Instagram, photos

01/15

Things That Are My Jam This Week

I’m sick. So that’s not really my jam right now… but these things are:

1. Thrift Shop.

I can’t get enough of this song. It’s

on my latest workout playlist. LOVE it.

2. NyQuil
It doesn’t cure my sickness, but it sure makes it easier to sleep.
#GladGame

via

3. Crystal!
She brought me soup on her lunch break.
Because she’s awesome like that.

4. ABC.go.com
Staying in bed all day is boring.
Catching up on weeks of Grey’s Anatomy,
Revenge, and The Bachelor is not.
#DontHaveTV

5. Standing on our heating vents.
Our house is old so the vents are huge!
SO great on freezing days : )

6. My new coldweather headgear.
Being cold is not my jam, but the Lulu Brisk Run
Headband and Toque totally are!
#IllUseThemWhenImBetter

7. Tango.
For obvious reasons

#BestSickDayPartnerEver

#KindaOverdidTheHashtagsOnThisPost
#DontCare

posted by Ami McMullen 2 Comments
Filed Under: Glad Game, Jam

01/10

Local Love: New 2 Lou and The Sport & Social Club

So my buddies Stacey and Amador, owners of New2Lou,

had their monthly social at the Sport & Social Club

in downtown Louisville last night.

As usual, we had a blast and even scored some free bowling.

Some photos

and some funny Jim Gaffigan to go with it (SO true):

Bowling by Jim Gaffigan on Grooveshark

Although we didn’t bowl so well (who does really?),
we noticed that the scorekeeper also kept track of ball speed.
So then it just became a game of Who Could ~~Hurl~~ Bowl the Ball Down the Lane the Fastest.
And because I know you’re wondering,
20.2 mph was the record, by Doug, for the record. ; )
#gamechanger #totallysafe

Left: Gettin’ my game face on

Right: Willing the ball to the left. It didn’t work.