6 Favorite Non-Running Cardio workouts

July 31, 2020

You’re either a runner..or not. There’s no in between.

For me…Running is like home.

A moment in time for my feet to hit the ground, my lungs burning and space for my thoughts. And while I don’t love every run, i never regret a run. There’s something about the feeling that it gives my body….the adrenaline, the full body movement, the cleanse from within that is a breath of fresh air.

Don’t get me wrong…Strength training is a HUGE part of how I get fit & stay fit... but so is running.

Unfortunately, I’ve had injuries (and pregnancies) over the years that have sidelined me from hitting the roads. While I am a huge proponent of strength training, I feel cardio is crucial to staying fit and increasing your fitness levels.

Many people i speak to ... just hate running. Or just can’t! This coupled with the fact that I haven’t been able to run the past 3 weeks has inspired me to write about what my favorite NON running cardio activities are for those who just…don’t run! While I’m anxiously awaiting the day I can get back running, I’m trying to embrace other forms of cardio to keep me ticking over.

FASTer Way to Fat Loss 3 Week Update

June 24, 2019

FASTer Way to Fat Loss Update

Project Social T Tommie Striped Tank Top - Women's • Project Social T • $37.95
Alo Yoga High-Waist Ripped Warrior Leggings • Alo Yoga • $125
Quay Empire Sunglasses • Quay • $60

HAPPY MONDAY! Who is ready to get after it this week?!!

I’m officially 3 weeks into the FASTer Way to Fat Loss program and I wanted to share 4 things that have surprised me about the program, and what have been my hottest items at the grocery store the last month!

If you don’t have any clue what I’m talking about, check out my 4 months postpartum post where I explain a little bit about the FASTer Way to Fat Loss program!

4 things that have surprised me the most about the FASTer Way to Fat Loss Program:

How Quickly I saw results: I’ll admit I was pretty skeptical of the program going into it especially because I’m nursing. BUT I swear that I saw a difference in my body within 5-7 days. I could see changes in my body, clothes fitting better and the crazy thing was…I was eating ALL of the food! This kept me super motivated on and on track! I’m currently halfway through the program, and have lost weight & inches (technically I’m not supposed to weigh myself so shhhh….don’t tell!!But I already have lost a few lbs!)
How easy the intermittent fasting is: I was honestly really worried about skipping breakfast and not eating until noon. Going 16 hours without food seemed pretty much impossible. ha. Can you tell I love food?!! I pretty much was convinced that I might shrivel up and waste away during the 16 hours. lol.
It’s turned out that intermittent fasting is one of those things that sounds harder than what it actually is (for me anyway). Its really just getting past thinking about eating all the time! In order to make the transition easier, during “prep” week I worked my way up to the 16 hours of fasting. And this is coming from someone who LOVES breakfast. Truthfully, It makes my mornings so easy to not eat and I really feel like its working!
My milk supply has been great: Outside of the intermittent fasting, maintaining my milk supply was probably my biggest concern going into this whole thing. I’m happy to report that MY MILK SUPPLY HAS INCREASED. Guys, I have more milk now than I did before AND I’m getting leaner relatively quickly! I have no issues on low carb OR low macro days. So, this was clearly a pleasant surprise!
Prep week is overwhelming, but after a few days everything becomes second nature: During prep week, I felt a little overwhelmed with info and scared i wasn’t going to be able to manage this. Crazy as it sounds, after a few days, I was starting to take the time to plan the night before (I totally recommend this) and punch everything in to myfitness pal! Remember, knowledge is power! I can’t say enough how much you will learn about fueling your body when you join the FASTer Way to Fat Loss.

Project Social T Tommie Striped Tank Top - Women's • Project Social T • $37.95
Alo Yoga High-Waist Ripped Warrior Leggings • Alo Yoga • $125
Quay Empire Sunglasses • Quay • $60

The next round starts on July and you can register here: https://www.fasterwaycoach.com/#Alexsahlen2 . THIS IS an affiliate link, but please know I didn’t even share the link before I started because I wanted to be sure it was something I could stand behind! I truly love how I feel right now and I’m starting to feel confident that this can get me where I want to be physically WHILE I’m nursing my little guy!

I have another 3 weeks left in the program and I’m excited to see where it will take me! I’ll be sharing my results mid July on the blog including a Q & A on the program.

My current grocery store list:

As always, let me know if you guys have any questions about the program!

Alex

My Favorite Home Workout Exercises

April 6, 2019

First Saturday in April! Let’s go! So excited because this weekend the weather is actually supposed to be SPRING-like! Give us all the outdoor time!

On any given week, I try to make it to the gym 3 times a week for my workouts. If I get 4 in, thats a really good week (that has yet to happen since I had Sammy lol). The other days I either run, or work out at home. In my basement I have kettlebells and bands …which have been a lifesaver to be honest over the last year or so. Its so hard to squeeze as many workouts in as I want with work, kids, etc. The biggest challenge I think with home workouts for me (and for many people) is what exercises to do! So, I wanted to share my favorite go-to exercises that I do ALL of the time. These exercises are mostly compound (where I use my whole body) which allows for a higher energy expenditure, calorie & fat burn. When I only have 30 minutes, I want the most bang for my buck!

Squat to Push Press. This is a simple exercise where you have two kettlebells, hold by your shoulder. Squat down, squeeze the glutes as you stand, and push press the KB’s when you stand. Here is an example of the exercise. Anything with a squat is a great exercise because it tightens that booty.
Broad Jump: You need NO equipment for this. Gets the heart rate up, is an explosive movement and you only need about 6 feet of space! Example here.
Kettlebell swings. These are fantastic for not only strength, but conditioning. Sometimes I use two, sometimes just one and hold with both hands, sometimes I use a heavier weight for less reps, and other times I do high rep (like 30) for conditioning. The key is the slight bend in the knees, thrusting the hips, and squeezing the glutes during the forward motion. As seen here!
Row. A row is an easy way to incorporate some upper body work into your body. Lean on a bench or table…as seen here.
Dead Lift. This has to be one of my favorite exercises of all time. Key is slight bend in knees, feeling the pull in your hammys, and squeezing the glutes on the way up. As seen here. The footage shows a bar, but you can use KB or free weights! Such a good exercise!
Last but not least, I love lunges. Whether you do reverse, lateral, or just standard ones, these are fantastic. If you’re advanced, you can do a lunge to a step up, or a lunge to a bicep curl. Crucial in your form for the lunge is keeping your chest up, and front knee at 90 degrees. As seen here.

I noticed that there are some HUGE sales this weekend and I’m always down for some new workout clothes or athleisure. SO I rounded up a few of my faves! Keep in mind Old Navy has a huge 50% off sale right now!

Have a great weekend! xo

Alex