A Lady Goes West

A healthy lifestyle blog by Ashley Pitt

  • Home
    • Popular Posts
  • About
  • Fitness
    • Les Mills Group Fitness
    • Workouts
    • Fitness Tips
    • Class Reviews
  • Food
    • What I Ate Wednesday
    • Recipes
  • Clean Beauty
  • Mom Life
    • Fit & Fertile Book
    • Baby
    • Pregnancy
    • Postpartum
  • Press
  • Contact
    • Privacy Policy

Finding balance in my weekly workouts

October 13, 2014 By Ashley 14 Comments

It’s Monday again! I hope you had a lovely weekend. Mine was good, especially with a lovely day outside enjoying San Francisco Fleet Week yesterday. And even though I love the time I get to spend playing with Dave on Saturdays and Sundays (especially since the basketball season is quickly approaching and our time together will be much less), I also like the restart that Monday brings. I tend to indulge in a little dessert and wine on Sunday and Saturday, and so it feels nice to wake up Monday back on the clean-eating train for the week. But that’s the 80/20 life, my friends.

Trying some new workouts at home

Last week, a gal from Crunch gym reached out to introduce me to the gym chain’s subscription online database of popular workout classes called Crunch Live. I’ve been to one Crunch gym before and know that people are pretty enthused about the classes on the schedule there. (For my take on Crunch, see this post: “Could Crunch gym be your third place?) Always up for learning about new workouts, I decided to take the Crunch folks up on their kind offer to let me use the service for a couple weeks. And it came at a perfect time, because I really needed some yoga and stretching in the comfort of my own home.  

I browsed the database, and it looks like there are just over 40 workouts, ranging from dance to Pilates to yoga to workouts targeting individual body parts. You can search by workout duration or format, and there are even workouts shorter than 15 minutes in case you’re in a time crunch (pun very much intended). Because I get plenty of cardio and plyometrics workouts in the classes that I teach on a weekly basis, I chose to try out the less intense options and dabbled in “Yoga Body Sculpt” and “Bendable Body.” Both of which were absolutely perfect for doing at home in a small city apartment.

Crunch Live workoutsAll you need is bare feet, a mat and an internet connection for Crunch Live at home.

Apparently Crunch Live is only $9.99 a month, so it’s definitely an affordable option for someone looking for workouts at home (and rumor has it you can try it for free for three days if you want to look into it). Not to mention, you can access the workouts on your phone too, so it would be good for travel. I’m hoping to try out a few of the abs classes this week, so I’ll let you know what else I discover about the service.

And now, let’s look at how I got moving last week …

Weekly Workouts from A Lady Goes West

Weekly Workouts

  • Monday – Taught one-hour BODYATTACK class, foam rolling
  • Tuesday – Dynamic warm-up, 30 minutes of upper-body weight training, did 30 minutes of flow yoga at home via Crunch Live
  • Wednesday – Taught one-hour BODYATTACK and one-hour BODYPUMP classes, foam rolling
  • Thursday – Attended 45-minute Orangetheory Fitness class, did 30 minutes of stretching at home via Crunch Live
  • Friday – Taught one-hour BODYPUMP class, foam rolling
  • Saturday – Taught one-hour BODYATTACK class, foam rolling
  • Sunday – Rest day

What was good about my week of workouts?

Believe it or not, this was a lighter week for me. Outside of teaching a double-header of BODYATTACK and BODYPUMP on Wednesday night, which I will be doing from here on out, every other day included only one workout and some stretching. I’ve been known to fit in more than one, so this was my version of taking it easy. Thanks to Crunch Live, I did a lot of stretching at home on a yoga mat in my kitchen/living room straight from my laptop, which was great. With four sessions of cardio, four sessions of resistance training, some leisure lengthening and a full rest day, I’d say this was a good week for me. I found balance, and I felt good.

What could have been better in my week of workouts?

I’ve definitely been slacking in the heavy weight-training department lately, and that trend continued this week. I love the post-weight-training feeling, so I haven’t given up totally on getting back to it. But for now, most of the resistance work I’ve been doing is with lighter weights for muscle endurance, such as in the one-hour BODYPUMP classes that I teach. No week is perfect, and this one could have used some extra lbs. on the barbell for sure, but then again, an extra session would have messed up the balance — so oh well.

Last day to enter to win an Athleta gift card

Ladies and gentlemen, you guys are excited about the chance to win some spending-money at Athleta. This giveaway is by far the most popular I’ve ever hosted. And there’s still time to win. So head on over to the fitmob post to enter the giveaway. I’d love it if you could share this one with your friends who may also be interested. Spread good karma and maybe it will come back to ya!

Questions of the day

How was your weekend? Have you tried any new workouts lately? How do you feel about Mondays?

Ashley signature

Filed Under: BODYATTACK, BODYPUMP, Group Fitness, Healthy living, Weekly Workouts Tagged With: Crunch Live, fitness, weekly workouts

SIGN UP FOR A FREE GIFT

Get a free "How to have a great week of workouts" checklist and action plan when you sign up for the list. And you'll get new posts by email.

About Ashley

I'm a mom and fitness instructor in Charlotte, North Carolina. And A Lady Goes West is where I share fitness, wellness and clean beauty tips, as well as stories from my life.
 
Stay in touch ...
Bloglovin', Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Facebook.

Comments

  1. Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment says

    October 13, 2014 at 7:44 am

    I like Mondays as a fresh start to the week! It’s a good time for a new to-do list.

    A puppy followed me home on Friday afternooon when I was out for a walk. We took him in so that made for a very busy weekend!
    Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment recently posted…Puppy LoveMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      October 13, 2014 at 8:34 am

      Oh my goodness, a puppy? Yay! Are you keeping it?

      Reply
  2. Christa @ Living Unbalanced says

    October 13, 2014 at 8:09 am

    I NEED to get on your level with the foam rolling! That is my goal for the week! I am literally afraid of it because of how much pain it brings me.
    Christa @ Living Unbalanced recently posted…GRIZ IS BACK! + Weekly WorkoutsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      October 13, 2014 at 8:34 am

      Do you have one at home? You really should get one! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Katie @ Daily Cup of Kate says

    October 13, 2014 at 8:17 am

    I have a love hate relationship with Mondays, haha. I think it depends if I had a relaxing weekend or a go-go-go weekend. Today, I’m feeling great! 🙂
    Katie @ Daily Cup of Kate recently posted…Wedding Recap: Getting ReadyMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      October 13, 2014 at 8:33 am

      Hi Katie! That’s probably true. Glad you’re feeling good on this one:)

      Reply
  4. Angie Wilson says

    October 13, 2014 at 10:06 am

    I will be in San Francisco all week. Any gluten free joints you would recommend? xo

    http://www.thefashionfuse.com
    Angie Wilson recently posted…Leather for all SeasonsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      October 13, 2014 at 1:38 pm

      Hi Angie! Thanks for stopping by. There are so many gluten-free options in SF, so you’ll have a field day. Project Juice is a good spot for snacks and juices. I love Blue Barn for salads and healthy items. It depends on which neighborhood you’ll be in. Needs ideas on what to do for sightseeing? Try this list: https://aladygoeswest.com/2014/07/24/top-10-things-to-do-in-san-francisco/ Have a great visit!

      Reply
  5. Debbie Rodrigues says

    October 13, 2014 at 10:06 am

    I slept last weekend. I needed that! I was away the gym for 2 weeks because of workload but still, I was exhausted.
    Since yesterday, I am back and it feels great. For the first time, I am working on high volume and low reps and it has been tempting to shorten my pauses, but I am making it so far.
    Debbie Rodrigues recently posted…Socia Media Sunday: What If Time Is Not On Your Side?My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      October 13, 2014 at 1:33 pm

      Hi Debbie. Glad you’re back in the gym. High volume/low reps is always a good way to switch things up and make some gains. Happy lifting! 🙂
      Ashley recently posted…Finding balance in my weekly workoutsMy Profile

      Reply
  6. Heather @ Run Eat Play says

    October 13, 2014 at 11:11 am

    The weekends are always so busy that I love getting back to the gym on Mondays!
    Heather @ Run Eat Play recently posted…Shoulder Workout and Pumpkin FarmMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      October 13, 2014 at 1:36 pm

      Hi Heather! Thanks for stopping by. I agree, my Monday workout always feels fabulous:)

      Reply
  7. Kelly - A Side of Sweet says

    October 13, 2014 at 11:40 am

    Your busy and varied workout schedule is so impressive! I’m going to a ClassPass event next week and I’m hoping to get inspired to up group fitness, especially now that half marathon training is winding down. Did you get any invite? If not, let me know and I’ll send them your name!
    Kelly – A Side of Sweet recently posted…San Francisco Fashion Week, Part IIMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      October 13, 2014 at 1:27 pm

      Thanks, Kelly. I’ll be there next Tuesday! And you should come to my classes one day to get a little dose of group fitness:)
      Ashley recently posted…Finding balance in my weekly workoutsMy Profile

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

ashley bio pic

Hi, I'm Ashley. I'm a mom and fitness instructor living in Charlotte, North Carolina. I love to help you live a balanced life with no extremes, making sure you never skip a rest day. A Lady Goes West is where I share my workouts, simple meals, clean beauty tips and wellness insight with you. Find out more about me and stay awhile!

Connect with me

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Search This Blog

Follow

Get my ebook

Fit & Fertile ebook: How I found my body's fitness from the inside out by overcoming hypothalamic amenorrhea.

Recent Posts

  • Ask-me-anything A Lady Goes West Advice Corner: first edition
  • Current faves: Our new house, new sneakers and workouts
  • Current faves: Moving day, easy breakfasts, TV and workouts
  • Five new things I’ve added to my life in the last year that I love
  • Current faves: The latest on life, a new phone, snow and workouts

SIGN UP FOR A FREE GIFT

Get a free "How to have a great week of workouts" checklist and action plan when you sign up for the list. Your email address will automatically be added and stored to receive new posts by email and more. See the Privacy Policy for details.

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

The latest on Instagram

I've got to be honest, I'm much more of a writer t I've got to be honest, I'm much more of a writer than an Instagrammer and many times I feel like what I want to share doesn't fit well into a grid. But I'm able to bring much more long-form content to my blog each week. Speaking of that, this week, I debuted a new series called "A Lady Goes West Advice Corner" which has been something I've wanted to put together for a while. In this series, I'm taking totally anonymous questions from YOU and giving you some neutral third-party advice on it all. Here are the questions I addressed in the first advice corner edition:
.
-“I became a first-time mom last spring and am currently dealing with all things motherhood. How do I deal with my expectations vs. reality of being a mom?" (such a good one, and I've been there)
-“How do you deal with days when you don't love your body? I think we can all relate to looking in the mirror and being disappointed with what we see?" (this happens to us all)
-“How do you deal with comparing yourself to others on social media and not feeling like everyone is doing things better than you?" (spoiler alert: everyone has their issues that you don't see)
.
The answers are long, they come from my heart, and I hope they can provide some value to you! If this is something you're interested in, head over to A Lady Goes West today to check it out, and you can submit a question for the next edition.
.
Here's the direct link: https://aladygoeswest.com/ask-me-anything-a-lady-goes-west-advice-corner-first-edition/
.
Have a great night, friends! And when in doubt, talk it out.
G.I.V.E.A.W.A.Y!🎉 Who doesn't love a collagen g G.I.V.E.A.W.A.Y!🎉 Who doesn't love a collagen giveaway? As a little thank-you for following, I wanted to do a giveaway of one of my favorite products. I've been using Vital Proteins collagen in my morning tea latte for years, and not only does the collagen creamer add a great taste, but it also supports healthy hair, skin, nails and joints too. Today, I'm giving away not only one canister of collagen creamer, but also a canister of collagen peptides to one lucky winner.
.
Here's how to enter:
(1) Like this post.
(2) Follow @aladygoeswest and @vitalproteins.
(3) Leave a comment on this post tagging a friend who wants healthy skin and joints.
.
You can leave as many comments as you want, and each one serves as an entry. You can earn an additional entry by sharing this post to your stories and tagging me. This giveaway closes on Saturday, February 27. The winner must live in the U.S. And this giveaway is not associated with Instagram. Good luck, and thanks for being here! 🙂 xoxo
HOME! We closed on and moved into our home in Char HOME! We closed on and moved into our home in Charlotte over the weekend, and we're so excited to get settled in our new neighborhood, city and state after many weeks of transition. In honor of this momentous occasion, I thought it would be fun to look back at the places Dave and I have lived together over the last 12 years. Here's what it has looked like -- and each place has been special for different reasons:
.
-2009-2012 in a high-rise condo in downtown Orlando, where we lived when we got married.
-2012-2013 in a one-bedroom apartment in South of Market in San Francisco, which was always freezing no matter the time of day or year.
-2013-2014 in a tiny studio apartment in Nob Hill in San Francisco, which was only 550-square-feet, but we could hear the cable cars out of our always-open windows, so that was cool.
-2014-2017 in a two-bedroom townhouse in Walnut Creek, where we brought home both Rudy and Brady and had many sleepless nights.
-2017-2021 in a house that we owned in Pleasant Hill outside of San Francisco, which was across the street from a Starbucks so we went there way too often.
.
And now we're here in Charlotte. It's good to be home! I'd love to know: Where do you call home?
Soulmates. ❤️ Whether you’re loving on other Soulmates. ❤️ Whether you’re loving on others or just yourself today, my little crew is wishing you a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
Good additions! Even though I'm all about simplify Good additions! Even though I'm all about simplifying life, I also like adding more good, if there's room for it. And the last year has given me ample opportunity to make some changes and add a lot of good. Here's my super-random list of things I've added to my life in the last year that I now love:
.
-Using oat milk as my milk of choice (it's literally the creamiest, and I can’t go back to others now)
-Choosing to be outside as much as possible (can't believe I stayed indoors so much before, never exploring the beautiful Bay Area and now Charlotte until the last year)
-Teaching and taking virtual fitness classes (I was a gym rat for years, and now I actually love to work out at home with my virtual fitness friends)
-Wearing my Apple watch for notifications so I don't always need to be on my phone and tracking some beneficial metrics (I've only had my watch for about 9 months, and I love to check my heart-rate and close my rings)
-Appreciating the ability to work for myself and giving myself friendlier deadlines (I've been my own boss for several years and used to be so strict with my deadlines, until I realized it was stressing me more than it needed to, so now I say no to a lot of things and only do what works well in my life, without adding too much unnecessary stress)
-Shorter workouts (full-hour workouts are a thing of the past for me)
-Wearing more colors (no more black uniforms every day)
-And more!
.
I wrote a whole post about this topic on A Lady Goes West this week if this is of interest to you, and you can head on over and check it out. I'd love to know: What's something (random or not) that you've added to your life in the last year that you now love?
Over the weekend, I stepped foot into a big-box gy Over the weekend, I stepped foot into a big-box gym for the first time in more than 11 months. How did I feel about it? Mixed ... When we left California, gyms were still closed, and once we got to North Carolina, I was so used to not going to the gym, I didn't even think about going. After being here a month, I finally decided to get a guest pass at a gym near me, and I went twice. Here are my thoughts on the experience: 
.
At first, I felt so excited to drive up and go in and work out in a big space with a lot of equipment and not be at home. But then reality sank in: Even though masks were required and there were signs everywhere reminding people, about half the folks in the gym had their masks off or had them down around their chin. Ummm, not cool. I get it, working out with a mask on sucks, but rules are rules, folks. I also didn't like that it was busier than I expected, and quite a bit of the equipment I wanted to use was occupied. That never happens at home.
.
Overall, I'm glad that those who need to get to the gym are getting the opportunity, but right now, I think I'll go back to sweating safely at home for a little while longer. But at least I got my first locker-room selfie in almost a year. I'd love to know. Have you been back to the gym yet?
Load More... Follow on Instagram

As seen on

A Lady Goes West is a personal blog meant for entertainment purposes only and does not serve as a substitute for professional advice from your own doctor, trainer or nutritionist. While I'm a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, the workouts, food and plans I post are what works for me and may not work for you. Please enjoy these stories and tips from my life, but proceed with caution. Also, know that affiliate links and sponsored posts appear from time-to-time, and I appreciate your support. For more information about how your data is stored, visit my Privacy Policy. Thanks for reading!

Copyright © 2021 Ashley Pitt (A Lady Goes West) · Design by MakeMe{dia}Over