It’s kind of funny. I become a certified personal trainer and the first workouts I turn to this week come from someone else.

The book came in for me at the library last week and, after flipping through it, I couldn’t wait to give the circuits a go.

Making The Cut includes a lot of information about eating styles and other general fitness methodologies and how they help improve fitness. It has some useful facts in there, but the workouts mainly captured my attention. They looked INTENSE!

The workouts are broken down into a push-pull format, each with five circuits consisting of 3-4 moves each. In other words, tough stuff!

The pull circuits focus on the chest, triceps, and shoulders; the push focuses on back and biceps. Both workouts include legs and abs work. The original circuits include extra cardio, like sprints and plyometrics, but I cut those out since I had other cardio on plan. I didn’t even need the extra cardio. My heart rate soared!

Here’s a brief overview of the two circuits I did:

Making The Cut Circuit One (Push Focus)

Making The Cut Circuit Two (Pull Focus)

I highly suggest looking into this book if you want details of the different moves, the layout of the workout, and additional workouts. I can’t wait to try them all!

And I want you all to know, I only rave about these workouts because they are so challenging. I had to take numerous breaks to catch my breath and make sure my arms didn’t fall off. I found my arms shaking by the third circuit in both. Heck, Monday’s even felt intense enough to make me slightly nauseous. Not that that’s necessary to have a challenging workout.

I wanted to cut it short and call three circuits good. Then, I remembered a super inspiring quote.

Fitting that the quote comes from level three of Jillian’s 30 Day Shred workouts. I must have a girl crush.

But, seriously. How TRUE is that quote? If we want to improve in our fitness, we have to push outside the comfort zone. We have to test our limits and go a little beyond what we think we can handle. We have to get uncomfortable.

I wanted to stop, but I kept going. I left the gym shaking after both workouts, but feeling more accomplished for it. I know I improved my fitness just a smidge with those workouts. Sometimes I love a leisurely workout purely for fun. But the workouts that get uncomfortable…well, they bring a new level of fitness. Little by little. Every time.

Uncomfortable. It’s where the change happens.

• How often do you get uncomfortable with workouts?
• What celebrity do you crush on?

Good morning! First off, thanks for the many congrats yesterday. Love you all bunches for the tons of support you have given me in so many things this year. I hope I can return a little bit of that love through this here blog as well.

So yesterday I had my first parent-teacher “conference” for Makenzie. She seems so sweet and innocent…until I get called in for a conference.

Kidding! It wasn’t like that. Just a standard meeting with the teacher to go over her development in certain skills. No surprises at all. She’s bright, talkative, and “spunky”. I love that new term the teacher used to describe my sweet girl’s touchy attitude.

That’s how my day started. Now, let’s get to how it ended.

After a full day with the kids and getting things done around the house, I got myself out the door for a run in the afternoon. By the time I hit the road it was shortly after 5 pm and looked like the sky could drop open at any moment.

I didn’t care, though. I wanted the time outdoors. I did one warm-up mile, then proceeded to up the pace for the remaining five. I really want to continue with regular speed work. I find it a fun challenge. Plus, it helped me end my run quicker. A very good thing considering how dark it got so quickly.

I didn’t realize it would be almost pitch black by 6 pm. I finished just in time as it started raining shortly after I got in the car.

After my run, I stopped by the library to pick up a few new reads. Thanks for all of your recommendations! I put a few of them on hold, then found a new James Patterson to grab while there. I also got sucked into the running section. I foresee lots of reading in my future. And I love it.

By the time I got home, I didn’t really feel like cooking up a full dinner. That meant turning to a quick fix meal option.

Campbells canned soup. Plus a pepperjack grilled cheese.

I love making my own soups, either in the crockpot or a quick 20 minute recipe on the stove, but last night just called for the emergency pantry stash. I know most of you can relate. Your secret is safe with me.

Have a great day! See you in the afternoon!

• Do you ever use canned soups or similar products? I hate how “bad” the blogging community makes them seem sometimes. Who gives?!
• Does the earlier dark bother you or do you enjoy it? I actually enjoy it.