Les Mills Super Q in San Jose, the weekend and my weekly workouts
Hi, friends! Happy May! I hope your weekend was great. Mine was pretty full. Weekend stories and my weekly workouts coming right up.
Not much to report about Friday. In the afternoon, I taught my usual Bootybarre class, and then picked up Dave from the BART station shortly thereafter. We made grass-fed burgers and butternut squash fries at home and watched TV, because we were each preparing for an early wake-up call the next day. (And P.S. is anyone watching “The Voice“? This is my first season watching it, and I totally love it! So much talent!)
Les Mills Super “Q” Quarterly in San Jose
On Saturday morning, I was up before 6 a.m. to pack up and make the just-under-an-hour trip down south to San Jose for the Les Mills Super Quarterly event. I’ve been to two quarterlies before, once in Orlando and once two years ago in Livermore, which you can read all about here: an amazing day of group fitness at the Les Mills Super Q. And these events bring together Les Mills instructors and fans to take masterclasses from super-talented presenters from all over the nation. You also get to experience the latest releases together, before the programs hit the gyms. It’s a good time!
I didn’t actually make plans to go to the Super Q until the very last minute, as I wasn’t sure if I would be up for the many hours of group fitness in my current state. But as expected, I’m glad I decided to go. It was not without its ups and downs though. On Friday afternoon, I got my first headache of my pregnancy, and it lingered throughout the entire weekend.
On Saturday morning, I was a little upset to see it had stuck with me overnight and then it basically hurt the entire time I was at the Super Q. Loud music + tough workouts, does not equal a great environment for a pounding head. But that is neither here nor there, because I hydrated, applied some peppermint oil to my temples and attempted to cope. Because I seriously love group fitness events with tons of uber-excited Les Mills people running around ready to go hard.
First up at the Super Q was BODYPUMP 102, which is great release. There are some old-school BODYPUMP moves included, like the Arnold press, and some chances to work your arms one at a time in the biceps and shoulder tracks, which is a nice change of pace. I was very proud to see my fellow Walnut Creek instructor, Will, (who I always team teach launches with), making his debut on the stage at this event during BODYPUMP. He did great! Another stand-out from the day was seeing Adam Snow Bramski present BODYPUMP. I’d never seen him in person before, and he has an incredible presence and style. Two thumbs up for him! Funny story: I was actually in the bathroom when BODYPUMP 102 started somehow. I thought we had a lot of time left before they began, but apparently not. I came back to the packed basketball court to find we were about halfway through the warm-up. Whoops!
Next up, I took about 25 minutes of BODYSTEP 108 with Amanda Scales, who has led both my AIM 2 for BODYPUMP and AIM 1 for BODYATTACK years ago. I really enjoy BODYSTEP and wish it was offered in the Bay Area. It is definitely not a cheesy step class of years past and is very athletic now, including weights and conditioning. And it’s fun. It’s a program I would want to train on in the future, and Amanda (and her team) delivered it flawlessly.
From there, I got my first chance at trying out the SH’BAM 28 dance workout. It’s only 45 minutes long and is a little bit more laid-back and relaxed than the more difficult BODYJAM, which I’ve taken a few times. I had a great time trying out this class. It was fun, easy to catch on, yet not at all too easy. It’s all about feeling like a star in your own dance session, which is such a cool concept. I only did about half of this class as well, because my head was pounding though. So sad!
My last bit of working out for the day came in the form of the first few tracks of BODYATTACK 97. I haven’t been teaching BODYATTACK in the last few months, so I knew I needed to take it easy. In addition to the headache and the pregnancy, I had a lot going against me in this class, as it came just before lunch-time. Nonetheless, I stuck around and watched the whole workout after I bowed out, and it seems that BODYATTACK is getting more and more challenging! Like push-ups in the second peak of track nine, nearly at the end of class. What?
(And for another snafu from the day, the lunch I made ahead of time on Friday night was left on the counter and not refrigerated, so I had to toss it. That meant, in the morning, I made a PBJ on sprouted bread in a pinch, and it wasn’t what I planned to eat, but was quite satisfying.)
In between workouts and classes, I chatted with my fellow instructors, ate all of the snacks that I packed and soaked up the Les Mills scene. I also stayed for a portion of the education session, which was all about improving “layer 2” coaching when you teach. In Les Mills terms, layer 2 is when you give follow-up cues after the initial set-up to get people improving their form or manipulating the intensity of moves. While it sounds easy, layer 2 is one place where many instructors need a little help, so it was a good refresh.
And that was the day for me. There were a couple more workouts left, but I was totally spent, so I headed out around 2:30 p.m., having arrived at 7:30 a.m. And even though I didn’t get to go all-out in all of the classes, like I would have wanted, I still burned a few calories …
Dave had been gone all day as well at a golf tournament and made it home just before me. That afternoon and evening, my headache was pretty bad, so after a long hot shower, I tried cold compresses and heat to soothe the pain, and nothing was very helpful. We ended up ordering take-out from a Thai place and laying low on the couch. I was exhausted, but ultimately glad I made the trip down to hang out with my Les Mills tribe. If you want to attend a future event, check out the Les Mills schedule here.
Sunny Sunday lunching in Walnut Creek
We’ll keep it short about Sunday. We did stuff around the house, ran some errands and ended up going out to lunch. While I was all set to head to Lettuce, our usual spot for a huge salad, Dave thought we should branch, so instead we went to Tender Greens. I opted for a falafel salad, and it was decent, but not as amazing as some of the other things I’ve ordered there.
After lunch, we finally went to the San Francisco Creamery in downtown Walnut Creek on Locust Street, just a few doors down from Tender Greens. This place is actually pretty noteworthy because it’s been featured on “Man V. Food,” and we’ve been meaning to go for a long time. Because we were still a little full from lunch, we each just got a junior scoop after sampling a few options. I selected pumpkin pie, while Dave went for some chocolatey peanut butter goodness. So delicious! And creamy! We will be back!
By the way, this place has a huge sundae called the “Kitchen Sink,” which has three bananas and more than eight scoops of ice cream and is a challenge for six people to eat. If you do it alone, you get your picture on the wall. Sounds fun, but maybe not something I will ever take part in. But never say never to trying it with a group!
From there, we stopped by the grocery store to get fixings for tacos for dinner. And the afternoon included a nap, some work and some more time on the couch.
Perhaps one of the other highlights of the weekend was that I finally ordered and wore an actual maternity outfit. These leggings will be the only pants I put on my body outside of workout pants and pajamas for a while, I can tell you that for sure, because they are unbelievably comfy. And this top is cute, light and provides perfect coverage. This is my new happy outfit. Thank goodness, because my regular pants were getting TIGHT! And I woke up on Sunday with an ever-growing bump, so it was time for some new duds.
(Leggings, top, sunglasses, shoes and purse)
My weekly workout recap
Here are all the ways I’ve been moving over the last week …
Weekly workouts
At 15 weeks pregnant …
- Monday: Took a one-hour BODYPUMP class, 10 a.m.
- Tuesday: Did 25 minutes of power walking on the treadmill, 10:30 a.m.
- Wednesday: Did 25 minutes of power walking on the treadmill, 11 a.m.
- Thursday: Taught a one-hour BODYPUMP class, 8:30 a.m. and taught a one-hour Bootybarre class, 5:30 p.m.
- Friday: Taught a one-hour Bootybarre class, 4 p.m.
- Saturday: Did about 2.5 hours of group fitness classes at the Super Q
- Sunday: Rest day
Overview of the week of workouts
This past week of workouts was especially full, due to the multiple hours of group fitness I did on Saturday at the event. The good news is that I lifted weights three times, all of which were BODYPUMP. The other good news is that I did plenty of other moving around with power walking, barre and the addition of portions of BODYSTEP, BODYATTACK and SH’BAM at the event. Overall, I felt great most of the days and enjoyed a nice full rest day on Sunday.
Hope you have an amazing start to your week and month, my friends! Be well!
#LesMills Super Q fitness event, food and workouts by @apstyle ... Click To TweetP.S. Thanks to Meghan for today’s “Week in Review” link-up.
Questions of the day
How was your weekend?
When is the last time you tried a new restaurant?
How you (especially being preggars) could even move after Super Q is amazing! You probably could have afforded to have taken on the Kitchen Sink after all of that! I can’t imagine what it would do to your stomach, though… makes mine hurt just thinking about it!
Have a fabulous week, Ashley!
Hi Susie! ahahah! I bet it would case a big ice cream headache hahah! But totally — I would be willing to try an ice cream challenge one day. Hope your weekend was great, Susie! 🙂
Such a fun event! You’re a serious champ for making it through all those workouts! Glad you felt well enough to go. I’m sure you would have been bummed not to go. Super cute outfit, too.
Thanks, Heather! And a major reason I went was so that I didn’t have FOMO if I was sitting at home looking at the pictures of the people there hehehhe! You know how that one goes! It was all worth it! Hope your weekend was great! 🙂
What a fun saturday of learning and workouts, you’re def a champ for making it through all of that! And we LOVE trying new restaurants, I have an ongoing list in my phone of places to try. When I was home in Cleveland we went to a Ukrainian restaurant which was something different and it was delicious!
Ukrainian? Now that’s a type of food I have not tried. We like to try new things too, but then start going back to the same places. And I had a notes column in my phone with places to go when we lived in downtown SF, but now we are much more routine with our choices heheh! And you definitely need to go to a Les Mills event when one comes near you!! 🙂 Also, make sure you go to an AIM for BODYPUMP after a few months of teaching — SOO valuable!
My boyfriend and I had friends in town recently and when they asked where we should go to eat, we realized we’ve had the same three restaurants on rotation for, like, months…probably time to try something new! Sorry about your headache – hope you have a great week!
Hi Nicole! Totally! Don’t we all get stuck in a routine? Especially when you know a place is good and worth going to. But it’s also fun to try new places. Hope your weekend was great, lady! 🙂
Super busy workout Saturday!! Good for you!! Sounds like a lovely Sunday too– it was the perfect day for a creamy, cool treat with the sunny weather. Dane and I had a picnic at Fort Mason and I got SERIOUS burns on my shoulders it was so warm and sunny!
I saw your Fort Mason pic! I know I say it every time you go, but I MISSSSSS park days there. There’s no better park than Fort Mason, hands down! I’ve had SO many good days there! And a burn from SF sun? That’s serious hahahha! Happy Monday, gal!
What a jam packed weekend! I love BodyStep, I find it incredibly challenging and it’s always a killer workout, I actually love old school step so it’s fun when they keep the base moves but then add in some major HITT!
I would SOOO be down for that Sundae challenge, me and Ice cream are soul mates.
I don’t know if you’re big into medication during pregnancy but I took tylenol and was totally fine ( just a heads up, no reason to fight through a headache if you don’t have to 🙂 )
Also love the maternity outfit, so funny how we suffer in our regular outfits for so long, like why? at 12 weeks I was like byeeeeee …like we aren’t getting fat for no reason, what’s the point of hiding it! lol …it’s only going to get bigger!!!
Glad you had a great weekend!
Hi Fiona! I know, I wish we had BODYSTEP here, but I doubt we will get it. And thank GOOOOOODNESS I have a few maternity pieces now, it was time for sure heheheh. As far as Tylenol — YES, I caved and took some. I did a bunch of research on my phone and realized I couldn’t go on much longer. But the Tylenol didn’t help much, sadly. Thank you for that though, because I like to be confirmed that it is okay to do hhehe, even though my doc said it was fine, I was still not wanting to do it! Hope your weekend was great, lady! 🙂
What a weekend of workouts! I soooo remember those awful pregnancy headaches. I’m so glad those are behind me now!
Random question – what color nail polish are you wearing in the ice cream pictures? It’s SO pretty!
Hi Brittany! Did you have headaches often during your pregnancy? I hope they don’t become a regular thing for me. 🙁 And the polish is from Whole Foods actually, it’s a mineral polish in the pink fire color. Here: https://www.mineralfusion.com/collections/nail-care/products/pink-fire-iridescent-opal-vegan-sheer-nail-polish
Yay Super Q! You’re a rock star making it through all of that. I’m glad you finally got to do Sh’Bam! I SO miss teaching/taking it regularly, but at least I get a regular dosage of Jam now.
SH’BAM is SOOO fun! It’s actually better for me than BODYJAM, because it’s a little easier. I wish I had more dance in my life!! I’d love to take YOUR class!! 🙂
I find that Sh’Bam every once in awhile is easier than Jam every once in awhile. But when you do BOTH regularly, Jam is actually easier. It’s super repetitive (in a good way), so it’s easier to catch on after you’ve done a release a few times. With so many little dances in Sh’Bam, there’s a lot more choreo rolling around in your head to retain even though it’s easier steps overall.
Interesting! I can see that! There are a LOT of dances in SH’BAM! 🙂 Both are fun!
The Les Mills event sounds like a lot of fun. I’m glad you were able to make it too, although it’s a bummer about the headache. I hope it’s gone now though.
I used to run a rubber band through the buttonhole to the button on my pants. It gave me a few extra weeks. 🙂
A rubber band for your pants? Now that’s resourceful heheh! And YES, the headache is gone. Thanks, Meghan! 🙂
Pregnancy headaches are the worst! I got them all the time with my oldest. The only thing that I found that took them away was a bit of caffeine – don’t know if you tried that at all. I didn’t drink coffee at the time so I’d drink a soda. I know, I know……not a great choice…..but it was the only thing that worked so I went with it. Luckily 1/2 a soda to 1 was all i needed. “Back in my day” (sounds so long ago but my oldest is only 6) essential oils weren’t a thing yet so I never did try that. Does it help? You’re a champ to have a headache and get though all of those classes!
Hi Deanna! I drink one mug of caffeinated green tea in the morning, but no coffee. I don’t ever drink soda, but I can see that a little dose of caffeine would help with the head. I may need to try having some extra tea if the headaches return, but boy I hope they don’t hahaha. And the essential oils didn’t provide any relief. But at least I felt like I was making an effort hahahha! Thank you for sharing your experience! Always helps to hear from those who came before me heheh! 🙂
That’s great you were able to try the oil – at least it’s one more thing to try. I hope yours go away for good soon! Green tea is a much better choice than soda. ? I wasn’t nearly as healthy then as I am now ?
Hehehe! You live and you learn! I used to have diet soda with lunch every day a few years ago. Oh, how we learn! 🙂
i’m gonna need a bite of that falafel! haha!
Don’t you just LOVE falafel? I LOVE the crunch!! hehehe!! Hope your weekend was great, Christina! 🙂
Wow that Super Q was super busy; that is a lot of working out; I would have been hangry! I’m glad you brought some good snacks with you.
Hi Emily! Totally! I did a lot of eating in between the workouts, that’s for sure. Snacks are a MUST! Hope your weekend was great, lady! 🙂
I’m amazed you got in all of that activity being pregnant! I was dead and nauseous for 16 weeks–you’re a trooper!!
Looking good in that bump picture!! Long live comfy leggings and loose shirts!
Hi Heather! Thank you!! I have tried to keep up my workouts in spite of how I’m feeling hahahah! But who knows how long I will be able to keep that up. And YESSSS to all the comfy leggings. I will be wearing NOTHING but these comfy pants from here on out heheh! Hope you had a nice weekend, gal!
Looks like so much fun! I’m bummed I missed the Super Q in NYC, but hoping to catch one this summer!
You definitely need to go to a Les Mills event. Have you considered AIM 1 for BODYPUMP yet? I would go after teaching a few months, because it’s VERY valuable! I wish I had gone sooner! I waited a few years to go!
hi ashley..
it’s amazed me knowing you have 16 weeks pregnancy and still had multiple body pump classes in a week. WOW. super salute to you, mama.
me. my self now struggling to improve my technique for body pump, I’ve trained for body pump 101, and be like so connected with 101 release. it has the hardest squat track ever, with tons of bottom halves pulses. And it became my allocated track when I was took the IMT. I deeply in love with bodypump. my weekly workout consist of consecutive 3 days of bodypump, sometimes even more. I know it’s not good, i know that i have to hold back. but I’m catching up to improve my technique since my post training will be placing on 21 may. it’s nice reading your blog, so inspiring, really hoping someday i can be an inspiring body pump instructor like you.
Hi Thea! Thanks for reading! And that’s awesome you are becoming a BODYPUMP instructor! It’s so rewarding. But yes, it’s tough. I would say that doing BODYPUMP three times a week is perfect, as long as you have a day off in between. Are you taking other instructor’s classes to see what they do and watch your form in the mirror? Also, if you have time to do any heavier weightlifting outside of the group fitness room, you may find that that helps you to be a better BODYPUMPer. It will take a LONG time to feel comfortable and get good, and you just have to keep working at it! Good luck!!