A beautiful Thanksgiving weekend and my weekly workout recap
The past few days spending time with my family in Florida have been just awesome. Full of food, laughter, relaxing, down-time, visits with old friends and so much more.
A few highlights …
- A beautiful Thanksgiving Day, featuring cooking, a delicious dinner, a rousing family game of Apples to Apples, and copious amounts of dessert. I helped my Mom in the kitchen by making a roasted veggie side dish, and then I set the table, but she did most of the heavy lifting and put together one perfect spread for our group of six. (Dave, me, my parents and my brother and his girlfriend.)
- A breakfast date with some of my girlfriends and their husbands at First Watch on the day after Thanksgiving. Melissa was one of my bridesmaids, and Jessica was a very close high school friend. We sat outside at the restaurant for nearly two hours and could have stayed all day. There’s nothing like catching up with old pals, especially when one of them has an adorable six-month-old baby boy.
- Several long outdoor walks with all of the dogs, including a visit to a nearby community park at dusk, in which Rudy’s coat of fur picked up every piece of grass available and brought it all back home.
- Watching old family movies filmed more than 20 years ago. The videos and memories were great, but so was the fact that all six of us adults had to watch them surrounding a single laptop, because of technical difficulties with the audio connector to the big TV. Good times.
- Quite a few stops at Starbucks for my beloved matcha green tea lattes nearly every single afternoon. I’m hooked.
- Staying off of my computer and phone all day, outside of posting a few pictures and scrolling through Instagram here-and-there.
- A family trip to the movies to see “Spectre,” which is the first time I’ve been to the movies in about two years. It was definitely a good movie, but a little too long for my liking, clocking in at more than two hours.
- Scrumptious home-cooked family dinners, drinking wine in the kitchen in my pajamas and spending a lot of time laughing at the dogs.
This Florida visit isn’t quite done yet either. Dave and I are visiting a friend in St. Pete on our way to spend the night in Orlando and enjoy our old stomping grounds. We fly back to San Francisco early tomorrow morning and will quickly be back into our regular routine of work, busy schedules and much cooler temperatures. But for one more day, it’s holiday vacation mode. Bring on the cheer.
My weekly fitness and workout recap
The past two weeks haven’t really been too focused on fitness. As someone who teaches group exercise classes, works in fitness and spends a lot of time at the gym — I’ve taken this time to step back from most workouts. And that’s totally okay to do every once in a while. But because I’m a creature of habit, I’m still sharing my recap with you.
(Photo credit to Leah Bentley Photography, 2015.)
Weekly Workouts
- Monday: Went on a 45-minute walk
- Tuesday: Went on a 30-minute walk, did a 15-minute upper-body resistance band workout
- Wednesday: Did a 30-minute CXWORX core workout at home
- Thursday: Went on a 45-minute walk
- Friday: Rest day
- Saturday: Went on a 45-minute walk, did a 15-minute lower-body resistance band workout
- Sunday: Did a 30-minute CXWORX core workout at home
What was good about my week of workouts?
This past week was incredibly light for me compared to my usual line-up of fitness, much like the week before this one. I would say the highlights of the week included three walks outdoors — some of which were done solo while listening to podcasts, some of which were done partially with my Mom and my little dog. Because of all of this time off, my body is 100 percent rested, relaxed and recovered, that’s for sure.
What could have been better about my week of workouts?
This past week didn’t have any intense workouts at all, nor did I lift any weights or do any yoga — all of which are elements of a strong week of fitness. But I’ll be back in the gym later this week and will take care of it all.
That’s it for today, my friends! Have a great day! (P.S. Thanks to Meghan for hosting today’s “Week in Review” link-up.)
Thanksgiving holiday fun and #fitness. Check this out ... #WeeklyWorkouts Click To TweetQuestions of the day
What did you do this weekend?
How was your Thanksgiving, if you celebrated?
What’s your workout plan for the week?
Sometimes it’s good to have a less intense workout week. I’m a believer that the body needs movement but it doesn’t always have to be hard core. Glad to hear you had such a relaxing time at home!
For sure, Megan! I had a great time! Hope you had a nice weekend as well! 🙂
It sounds like you had a wonderful celebration and a relaxing week at home. Safe travels back to California today – Rudy is becoming quite the expert traveler, I love it!
Hi Becky! Rudy has been to so many places in his short life! He is one lucky dog. 🙂 hehhe! Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving weekend, lady!
So happy for you that you got to spend time at home with your whole family. And what better way to bring people together than with Apples to Apples, lol? Even though “home has a heartbeat,” there really is nothing like going home to the place you come from. The way the air smells, even. It is just different. Have a great time in St. Pete!
Thank you so much, Susie! It sure is good to be home! I hope you had a good weekend as well, my friend! 🙂
Glad you had fun and a nice vacation.. I walked every day twice a day. I don’t celebrate holidays because all my family is,dead. My friends are busy with their own families.
You must get out to the movies more often!!!!
Hi Lexie! Yes, I guess I should see more movies. I’m glad you were able to do some walking over the weekend. Hope you have a great day!! 🙂
Sounds like the perfect Thanksgiving weekend and what it should be all about- being around your loved ones :)! Great going on keeping up with your workouts during the holiday weekend. I am travelling on Thursday so until then, I’m hoping to fit in 2 weight training workouts and 1-2 cardio workouts.
Hi K! Good work, lady! Safe travels to you! 🙂
Looks like you’re having a great time – time with family is always to re-energizing for me! Also, I can’t believe how big Rudy is getting!!
Hi Morgan! Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving, lady! And I think Rudy has stopped growing, but BOY he is bigger than the three pounds that we got him at. 🙂
Looks like you’re having a great time in Florida! I just love soaking up family time over the holidays. This weekend was spent with my sister-in-law and her family celebrating an early Christmas since we’re going away this year. It was the perfect amount of relaxing and family time.
My workout plan is continuing with the boot camp I am doing. With travel I had to take 2 days off so I’m looking forward to breaking a sweat after work tonight 🙂
Enjoy the rest of your vacation!!
So cool you’re keeping up with that bootcamp, Catherine! And how nice you did an early Christmas!! YAY for family time! 🙂
What a great thanksgiving!! Glad you had a great time with family & friends 😀
I sure did! I hope you did too, lady! 🙂
I love that wine red dress on you, Ashley! it’s a stunning color… perfect for Thanksgiving too!
Thank you so much, Julia! Loving the dark red this season! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! 🙂
So glad you were able to unplug and enjoy time with family and friends! There’s something so special about spending time with old friends from when you were growing up… they just get you!
Hi Anna! They SOOO do! I LOVE my friends from Florida. They are the best. Hope you had a nice weekend, lady!
Looks like Florida has been amazing for you! While I had a lot of time off for Thanksgiving this year it didn’t really seem like a vacation because I was still at home trying to get things done around the house and had school work. I did get in some good work outs and hope to keep getting my booty on that treadmill
Hi Torry! I know what you mean sometimes about time off not feeling like a break. Hopefully you’ll get some relaxation for Christmas this year at least. 🙂
So fun! I just got back from FL and am missing the time with my family already. Love the collages you put together. My weekly recap post comes this afternoon – may have to make a quick edit! Also thinking I might fiiiiinally join week in review. Does that mean I have to admit my incredibly light vacation week though, ha!
Hi Jessica! So glad you had a good time in Florida too!! And there’s nothing wrong with a lighter week in review. We all need that sometimes! 🙂 Here’s to another great week!
Sounds like your Thanksgiving was full of all the best stuff – perfect! Your Thanksgiving Day dress is adorable!!
Thanks so much, Ash! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving as well with your family of four. 🙂
Those Matcha lattes! Yes, you absolutely got me hooked on them. <3 It looks like you're having a great time in Florida! Ahhh, First Watch! I worked there as a server for 3 years while I was dancing and miss that food sooooo much. Ha. Enjoy the rest of your trip!
I ate at First Watch THREE times during this trip. It can do no wrong. And Thanksgiving was perfect! I hope yours was as well. 🙂
Loveeee being at home! Your post got me all excited for my trip home next month… except it won’t be quite as warm 😉
Soak up every minute of your time at home, lady! 🙂
It looks like you had such a lovely time at home! Have fun in O-Town and safe travels home! Also, I want to snuggle your dog. He’s way too cute <3
Hi Doc! Thank you! We had an AWESOME time, and the Orlando overnight was far too short, but good too. Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving as well. 🙂
What a great looking week! I love that deep purple dress you’re wearing, looks great, and I’m obsessed with that colour for fall! Way to go on taking a nice long vacation, I’m sure being away from your family is so tough and with your busy schedule I”m sure it’s hard to really carve out time to go home and see them , you deserve it! Rudy is such a great dog, I’m super jealous and wish we could bring Hank around with us, but he’s not so cute and little like Rudy!
Our weekend was pretty awesome, minus travelling with a baby. We drove about 5 hours to Toronto to see my sisters and my cousins who drove up from Philly. We hadn’t seen them in 2 years (since our wedding) plus they hadn’t obviously met Sully so it was a fun weekend. Busy, tiring but fun! Now we are home, and getting back to our routine, why do I never crave vegetables when we are away 😉
Glad you had a wonderful vacation and safe trip home!
Hi Fiona! I definitely need all of that time at home. And it’s awesome some of your family got to meet the little one. And most dogs are not as easy to travel with as Rudy, so we’re lucky. Have a great day, lady! 🙂
Walks are definitely a good way to at least move. I used to not give myself credit for going for a walk but it’s still something especially when it’s a busy time like the holidays. I need to bundle up and take my dogs for a walk soon. They need it too!
Hi Sheena! I know, I never used to count “walks” as workouts, but since that’s all I did the past couple of weeks, figured it was worth nothing. Get out there with your pups today!
Looks like a fantastic holiday week! Like others have said, I’m loving your wine colored dress, beautiful! Did your parents just love Rudy? How could they not ;). It was rainy and very cold here in KC the whole holiday break, but we still had a good time and went on a few short walks and did some gym workouts. I thought I never went to the movies, only going a few times a year… but jeez- 2 years!? You’re crazy!
Hi Jessie! I know … I never want to waste a weekend day or night going to the movies, so that’s why we never go. But I’ve missed some good ones because of that. And my entire family was IN LOVE with Rudy. They didn’t want to see him go! Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving, friend! 🙂
I’m so happy to hear you had a nice holiday with your family and friends! Good for you for taking a break from the computer and fitness. That’s the benefit of being in as good as shape as you are. You can take a break for a week or two, probably even a month, and it will be like nothing ever happened.
I hope you enjoy the last day of warmth in St. Pete! Be prepared to freeze your hiney off when you get home though. It has been sooooo cold. Brrr! 🙂
Hi Sarah! I’ve heard it’s been cold! I can’t wait to break out my boots and scarves. Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving as well, lady!!
This looks and sounds absolutely perfect!!! Watching old movies with family is the best. And so is taking a technology break 🙂 Glad you had a great Thanksgiving! <3
Thanks, Hayley! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving too! 🙂
Sounds like the perfect Thanksgiving!! Nothing better than drinking wine in your PJ’s with your mom! We traveled for the first time in 8 years and had Thanksgiving with my parents and sister and her family. It was awesome. We usually stay home for Thanksgiving but was really missing my family this year so we made the quick flight to NH. It was AWESOME.
Oh that’s so good to hear, Sue! I’m glad you made the trip. It’s tough to travel during the holidays, as we have to do it EVERY single one … but always worth it to spend time with family!