I forgot the marinara sauce I meant to pack to make English muffin pizzas. Sad day. 🙁 I still made sauce-less pizzas using fresh spinach and shredded cheese.
Sauceless Pizza
I was expecting to be majorly disappointed, but I actually enjoyed the combination a lot and didn’t miss the sauce too much.
On the side I had two sliced yellow squash (not squashes) topped with Italian dressing and a tumbler full of Tazo sweet cinnamon spice tea.
Lunch Overview
Squashy
Purdy darn good lunch if you ask me!
Onto some workout fun…
BodyPump: Release 77 Review
After receiving confirmation from you guys (Annette + Candice) this morning, it looks like the BodyPump release I tackled during my workout was the latest release. I figured I would go ahead and do my first-ever BodyPump release review on the ol’ blog since a bunch of you asked what I thought and are looking forward to the debut of BodyPump 77 at your gym!
Pump it Up!
- Warmup (Commander – Spacegliderz)
- Squats (It’s My life – Swade): I felt like this track went by really quickly and left me feeling like I really worked my legs without feeling like I was going to die. I liked it! I used my usual squat weight, which was perfect. No need to decrease or increase weight.
- Chest (DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love – Usher feat. Pitbull): I think I grew some pecs during this track! I liked the song and powered through the burn and was definitely fatigued by the time the track was complete. It felt slightly easier than usual, but not by much. And I may have just not noticed the difficulty because I enjoyed jammin’ to Usher. 🙂
- Back (Hold Me Tonight (Manox Remix) – Manian): This track was totally different than any other back track. Rather than the usual clean and press movement common to almost every back track, class participants push the bar overhead three times in a row before lowering it and repeating the move. I found that this track worked my shoulders more than usual, which may have contributed to the fatigue I felt during the shoulders track at the end of the workout.
- Triceps (I Like It – Tokyo Haze… I guess it wasn’t Enrique!): I liked this track a lot because we did overhead extensions at the end and bar work in the beginning. I really don’t like tricep kick-backs because I feel extremely awkward when I do them, so I was happy to see that this release omitted them from the workout.
- Biceps (Diamond Eyes (Boom-Lay Boom-Lay Boom) – Shinedown): Hard. My biceps were screaming… as was my mind since this song choice was just plain awful. Seriously awesome bicep track though! I love feelin’ the burn!
- Lunges (Only Girl In The World (E-Nergy Remix) – Nick Skitz vs DJ Lotus): If it weren’t for the inclusion of squats at the end of this track, I would give this set rave reviews. I prefer lunge tracks to include only lunges as I feel like that works my legs the best. The lunge-portion was great, but I wish we would’ve kept lunging rather than going into squats for the last minute or so.
- Shoulders (Ti Sento – Scooter): Another tough track! I think the combination of working shoulders during the back track coupled with super-fast movement made this shoulder track particularly difficult. I loved the moves and the song selection for this one!
- Abs (We No Speak Americano – Yolanda Be Cool vrs DCUP): Four words: Around-the-world planks. My abs were burning!
- Cooldown (One Last Chance – Daughtry)
It was a doozie!
P.S. The Fashion page was updated today!
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i did the new release this morning too! I liked it for the most part! my shoulders were screeeamming during the shoulder track. and I love using the step during the lunge track. yay body pump!
I love BP 77 too!! The back and triceps tracks are my faves so far. Oh, and lunges – can you say jelly legs?!?!
Sweet cinnamon spice tea? I need to try that. I’m addicted to hot tea!
oh thanks for the review!
I used to do body pump when I taught but my current gym has a pseudo body pump class – same thing they just don’t use the music so they don’t have to pay the company!
Have a great day! 🙂
Hey, PB Fingers…I am your Mississippi follower and bascially identical twin. haha. Don’t be too scared…our lives are just VERY similar. I also teach BP and just did that release. I enjoyed reading a participant’s view on the release. It’s a tough one!
Soo stoked to take this at home this weekend. Confession: I never do the lunge track. My bad knee can’t handle that many of them, so I always run to the bathroom for that part of the workout!
I so want to try BodyPump – -hopefully my gym starts offering it one of these days!
Love the english muffin pizzas!
I literally JUST got back from doing it. Holy Moly I actually DIED on the around-the-world planks!! They were INSANE!! I WILL be able to do it without collapsing soon!! 😀
DANG!! bodypump sounds even better than i thought!! ima get on that when i become a member of a gym!!!…. YAY for the sauceless pizza turning out good- it looks great!
I wish we had body pump at LA Fitness but we don’t!
My gym doesn’t offer body pump so I feel sooo in the dark with all this stuff. One of these days I need to try it out! I hate when I forget the sauce for my sandwich. hahaha
I love squash! You always have quick and easy lunches, Julie!
I really want to do body pump.. it is certainly the buzz in the blog world. i may ask my gym if they would consider adding it as a class!
I’ve never tried body pump but I’m curious! That’s great that you have time to go to the gym before going to work!
I LOVED launching this release last week because of the burnin’ feeling the members talked about after each track! My favorites are the back, shoulder, and triceps tracks in 77. Try and go heavier and squats and see what they tell ya 😉 (I did this last week and my butt&legs were sore for 2 days! score!)
p.s. I don’t love the abs song 🙁 but I LOVE the work. As a teacher I feel compelled to do it all on my toes, and I was sore for 2 days afterwards–love it!
i did a short review of it last Saturday when I launched it- if you’re interested. 😉 http://www.enjoyyourhealthylife.com/2011/04/09/bodypump-release-77/
Loved your review-it is fun to hear a member’s perspective on it all.
I’m such a sauce person that I might have cried if I realized I’d forgotten it. Glad you were able to make it through 🙂
STOP with the BodyPump – you’re making me jealous! I miss it terribly! 🙂
I have never tried bodypump! But Candice teaches it at my gym, so I probably should go.
This made me miss body pump! Sounds like a good one!
You should describe some of the things you do in body pump =D I lovd this post knowing what you did!
Like what are around the world abs?!
We have BodyPump 77 at my gym now too and I’m loving it!! Can’t wait to hit up tomorrow’s class…those around the world abs are killerrrrr, right?? 🙂
I recently tried BP but didn’t enjoy as much as you. I think it was my instructor?!?!? Your lunch still looks good to me even with no sauce!!
Thanks for the review!! I think my gym is launching either this week or next, and I CAN’T WAIT!
That english muffin pizza looks really good! I should definitely try making this for lunch one day! I always have such trouble trying to figure out what to bring with me. This would be a great lunch! 🙂
I can’t wait to try this release! My gym seems to always be a release behind though, for some reason…kind of annoying.
Totally agree about tricep kickbacks – it feels awkward for me too, and I much prefer using the bar!
I had cinnamon tea for the first time ever on Saturday and it was life-changing. I had never heard of/seen cinnamon tea before, but it is ah-mazing. I didn’t realize Tazo had some, but now I’m SUPER stoked and am most definitely going to get some as soon as possible. So good.
Your lunch looks delish (especially since all I had was a boring pb&j)! Also, I’m 99% sure I would die in that Body Pump class. haha
I was going to comment on your previous post and tell you it was the new release too, lol. ANd I was also gonna sk how you liked the crazy back track. Too funny. I have to teach it Friday, so I need to make sure I know it backward and forward. Happy pumping!
You should look into getting certified to be a body pump instructor! It’s so much fun and I promise, that 3 days certification won’t kill you…almost, but not quite to the point of death. Let me know if you’re interested on the certification process! You would be great!
i actually am really, really interested but worry about my coordination in speaking and doing the exercises simultaneously!
It becomes second nature…no big deal.
I think you’d be great! Plus, it’s the most rewarding feeling ever teaching group fitness!
did you have a gym sponsor your training?
Yes, you need a licensed Body Pump (your gym, obvi) to sponsor you in order to go through the certification. That’s not a biggie. The certification process is a 3 day training, usually on the weekend. They have the trainings all over the place and at all different times. You can check out the Les Mills website to see what’s close to you. But your gym would help you fin dall of that.
Les Mils takes their certifications very seriously, but man it’s a great experience.
http://www.lesmills.com/global/les-mills-career/become-an-instructor.aspx
Yes Julie, you would be a great instructor!! I agree on everything Heather says–totally looks into it 🙂 It has given me a confidence, glow, and of course muscles I never knew I had! Plus, you can do more with all those endorphins of teaching and being in front–so no worries about the coordination thing!
You would rock it. The cert is really hard, but being as strong and go-getter as you are, you have nothing to worry about. Talk to your gym!!
Agree 200% with both of these girls. Teaching BodyPump (and group ex classes in general) is always one of the highlights of my day. I think you’d be a fantastic instructor, Julie!
Sounds awesome! Can’t wait until my class features the latest release. Maybe tonight? Fingers crossed!
The combo of cheese and spinach is always a good one. I love spinach and cheese quesadillas.
I wish I could program my brain to make easy and simple things like this for lunch. Perhaps I should read your blog more! 🙂
Are the squash cooked?
nope! totally raw! 🙂 even easier!
I love english muffin pizzas! So easy and simple and delicious.
That looks great even without the sauce!!!
OMG I totally agree, the bicep song choice is horrendous.
ahhh I might have to use your english muffin pizza idea for some lunch inspiration this week. bagel thins possibly?! we desk goers need to get creative sometimes 😉
Okay. SO what are Around the World planks?! I so want to try them now!
Ahh–those around the world planks killed me too! My abs were feelin’ it for sure!
I just did this release yesterday and really enjoyed it. I actually uped my weight in the squat track and didn’t even notice a difference. I LOVED the new move in the back track (power press). Overall, I was a big fan but I’m not sure I was in love with the music.
This makes me REALLY really want to try out bodypump!!!! I love hearing all of the songs they use… thanks for sharing!
So you basically focus on one body group per song? Awesome! I’ll have to see if there’s a BodyPump class at the Y nearby. It is definitely not at the LA Fitness I go to!
Thanks for the preview! I’m pumped (Ha!) for the new release at tomorrow’s class!
Not so pumped about the Shinedown song. Inevitably, there’s always one sucky song…
Body Pump 77 is my favorite thing ever! I was hooked before on the class, but now I’m flat-out addicted. I tried 77 for the first time last Friday and did it again this morning. Love love love. :] /Almost/ as much as I love your blog.
hi i was just wondering what around the world planks were? if you could describe it i would love to try it:)
You go into plank/hover and then alternate between moving each foot out to the side then each hand out to the side (to press up position), keeping your hips still – don’t twist. It hurts!
I go to Les Mills here in New Zealand – the home of bodypump! I went to my first morning pump class this morning, really like the release. Shoulder track is killlllller for me!
Aaaand, Julie you have inspired me to start working out in the morning! Two days, so far so good, have way more energy at work during the day, I don’t get sleepy like I used to. I’m planning on sticking with this routine 🙂
I love 77. LOVING the power presses in the back track. I disagree about the biceps music – really enjoy the rockier songs.
I think it still is Enrique (+ Pitbull) but remixed. I like it when they use remixes and covers of songs I know.
As a personal trainer, I wish more of my clients were like you! I usually incorporate lunges into most of my workouts, somehow, someway. My clients hate them. I absolutely love lunges! Nothing works my quads, hams, and glutes like them.
That BodyPump sounds amazing. I wished my gym had those classes. I used to go to another gym here every now and then with a friend of mine (who is also a personal trainer) and she taught the classes. She killed me every time but I loved it! I can certainly see why you love BodyPump so much! It is a fantastic full body workout!
Thanks for the breakdown of this new BP release 🙂
I used to hate lunges but now that I’ve practised and worked on my form, I really enjoy them 🙂
Aw poor sauceless pizza!! I wish my gym offered body pump, it sounds like a great workout!