Today’s workout made me so happy. So incredibly happy.
I took a BodyPump class!!!
It had been almost an entire year since I last took BodyPump and I was beyond excited to take my all-time favorite group exercise class again today.
If you began reading PBF after Ryan and I moved to Ocala from Orlando in August of last year, then you completely missed my ongoing obsession with BodyPump. If you look at my Daily Workout Log and scroll to the months prior to August 2011, you can see that I typically took a couple of BodyPump classes every week and used it as the backbone of my strength training.
For those of you who may be unfamiliar with BodyPump, it is a 60-minute workout that challenges all your major muscle group with exercises like squats, presses, lifts and curls. It’s a fast-paced strength endurance class with upbeat music. (You may see my detailed review and outline of a typical BodyPump class in this post: So What Is BodyPump?)
Since no gyms in Ocala offer BodyPump, I sadly have not been able to take a class in the longest time, so when I knew I’d be heading to Orlando today, I checked the group exercise schedule at my old gym and sure enough a BodyPump class was on the agenda at the perfect time. Sold!
As I drove to the class today (where I saw the beautiful Holly), it felt weird to feel as excited as I was to take BodyPump again. I guess I missed it even more than I thought!
We did the latest release, number 82, and I made sure to use weights that were slightly lighter than the weights I was used to when I was taking the class all the time. Even with lighter weights, it was such an awesome workout. I had a blast and left the gym on an exercise high until I realized that it will probably be a while until I can take BodyPump again. Sad!
Orthodontist + Frozen Yogurt Date
The whole point of my trip to Orlando was because I had an appointment at my orthodontist’s office.
(If you live in the Orlando area and are searching for an awesome orthodontist, I cannot recommend Dr. Williams enough!)
I previously underwent Invisalign treatment in 2010 and when I was done, my orthodontist put a permanent retainer behind my bottom teeth that unfortunately popped out last weekend. Yes, I am 27 going on 17.
We were initially planning on fixing it, but I told Dr. Williams that I hate not being able to floss easily with the permanent retainer. Now that I’m an avid flosser thanks to Drop Dead Healthy scaring me into it, I want to be able to floss with ease, so I’m just going to wear a retainer at night. Between me with my two retainers and Ryan with his mouth guard (he grinds his teeth), the Fagans are quite the sexy duo at bedtime.
After the orthodontist, I had plans to meet up with a former coworker for a quick frozen yogurt date.
I got a cup of praline and caramel cheesecake frozen yogurt, topped with cheesecake bits, peanut M&Ms, whipped cream and peanut butter sauce. Yum!
After saying goodbye, it was time to head home!
Dinner
When I walked in the door, Ryan was already workin’ on dinner.
I filled my plate with broiled salmon, a sweet potato topped with a bit of butter and steamed cauliflower sprinkled with garlic salt.
Great meal!
Now I’m hoping to work for a little while tonight since I was away from the computer practically all day before hanging out with Ryan and Sadie.
Enjoy your evening!
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My BodyPump class is about to start… In 5 min. I’m obsessed!
I went through a body pump stage but I haven’t been in awhile! I really want to get back into it because I love how it works ALL my muscles!
Haha I still have my bottom permanent retainer, it was put In 10 years ago!!
I took Bodypump 82 last night at my gym in Annapolis I love it! Did you all do the squat then jump move? Such an awesome workout!
yes!!! i LOVED it!
Love BP!!! Plus I also love Body Combat and RPM. 🙂
As for the cauliflower…lately I have been roasted it in coconut oil…wow! Try it!
Was it hard to get started doing BodyPump? I’ve been really intrigued by it and after doing the strength workouts I’ve been doing for the last few months, it seems like it’d be a fun workout. I was thinking about taking it, because one of my favorite instructors teaches it.
Oh and dinner looks delicious!
no, not at all! it’s a relatively easy class to follow (i’d still probably go ahead and tell the instructor at the beginning that you’re new) and you can adjust the weights to a level where you’re comfortable. i really think it’s a great class for anyone at any level since it’s scalable. 🙂 i love it!
Yep! Julie’s right! As a BodyPump instructor, Nilda, I’d say just tell the teacher you’re new. She/he will help ya out & watch out for ya 🙂
Julie!! So good to meet you! Wish we had more time to talk. I loved the new release too, although I kept laughing at myself because I was losing my balance due to the belly! 🙂
Oh, and I am in L-O-V-E with your shoes, they were catching my eye during the class. SO cute!!
Julie – recently found your blog, it’s great. I’m also totally in love with Body Pump! It must be hard to be without it!! And I also wear a mouth guard at night, my husband always teases about how hot it is 🙂
Love all the mouth gear going on in your house. That’s the BEST thing ever.
Have you tried roasting cauliflower with a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper until golden brown? It’s my favorite way to eat cauliflower and super easy.
Have you checked to see if any of the gyms in your area offer BTS programs? I work at a gym that does not offer the Les Mills programs, like Body Pump and Body Flow, but we have the BTS programs that are really similar. You would be looking for Group Power or a class with “power” in the name. The gym work at is called The Rush so our class is called Rush Power.
I still wear my retainer to bed from when I was 10 hahaha every time I got to the dentist he keeps telling me to wear it.. so I’m also quite the looker at bed time 😉
Julie, you may have already answered this question, but how do you do your Kumara like that? Is it mircrowaved or boiled or roasted? I imagine roasting a whole one would take ages! Thanks 🙂
YAY!! You got to go back to BP 🙂
I loved launching 82 -2 weeks ago. And boy do my legs and chest scream at me every time I teach it. Haha.
BP + fro yo sounds like my kinda day! P.s. I wear retainers every night too. Every night. My teeth haven’t been straighter! Hah 😉
I just got froyo over the weekend and now I’m craving it again 🙂
My local place doesn’t have peanut butter syrup…feel like I might have to request that!
I also did Invisalign and really wanted the permanent retainer but my ortho didn’t do them. Remembering to put in the retainer and clean it every day can be a pain, will be curious to know if you like it better. I’ve always thought about going to a different ortho for the permanent retainer.
Oh and BTW I’m 35 going on 17 too! Haha
I just found out today that my gym is going to start offering Body-pump classes! I’m so excited to try it out!
Love me some body pump =) my gym has the whole range of les mills classes, and they are all awesome
Retainers every night here girl and I’m 33!! Had my braces at age 14! I’m anal about teeth!
I totally get being excited to go back to an old workout favorite. I feel that way whenever I go back to pilates!
I went to the eye doctor yesterday and treated myself with frozen yogurt afterward 🙂 I blame the fact that my eyes were dilated and I couldn’t drive too far.
I just had a thought….why don’t YOU get Body Pump certified? Didn’t you say not long ago that you would enjoy being a group exercise instructor some day? I think that would be the perfect fit for you!!!
What a man to have dinner cooking when you got home. Major props to your hubs on that one!!
Isn’t the new release awesome?I just went on Tuesday after not going for 4 months, and it felt so good!
I had invisalign and I still wear my last pair of retainers too. I’ve been wearing them years now and I’m so used to sleeping with them in that I barely notice them. I was too afraid to get the permanent retainers.
i did body pump today also! I love it!
I did Body Pump today also! I have been doing it every week, and I’m hooked. Isn’t release 82 awesome? Those power squats and lunges kick my bootay.
I love the flossing plug! I’m a dental student going on a year and a half with braces so I appreciate the importance and the difficulty of flossing! Thank you for publicizing to your readers how oral health is necessary for overall health! Can’t wait to get these darn things off and get some sexy retainers to match my husbands nightguard too!
I took a body pump class 2 days ago and I am still sore.. really really really sore! Ouch! But totally worth it 🙂 They are so much fun, and 60 minutes flies!
My gym just got bought out by LA fitness and is getting rid of the les mils classes 🙁 yes very sad and traumatic, so all of the instructors are doing the new releases that will be debuted in August so that we can at least experience them – needless to say, the new pump is challenging and awesome! I also love, Attack, probably my favorite, and step too, and rpm, and CX works is the BEST ab class – yes, i love my lesmills!
I found your blog a few weeks ago and am loving it! Also, BP82 is awesome and probably my favorite one since I started a year ago. The push ups with the weight under one of your hands mix it up and the squat track with Adele is so fun! Thanks for the great blog!
Yum, your dinner and frozen yogurt look great! I have some frozen yogurt in my freezer right now and you are tempting me to go get some! Glad you got to engage in your favorite workout today! 🙂
I am so intrigued by Body Pump, but they don’t offer any classes nearby. Hopefully I can check out a class someday!
I’m intrigued by Body Pump, too. Unfortunately we don’t have a real gym membership, since we can use the fitness equipment at work; and our local gym doesn’t offer a class. I hope someday I’ll have the opportunity to check it out, though–I love a good total body workout!
That frozen yogurt looks DELICIOUS.
I just joined a gym that actually has Body Pumped, and you’ve got me SO excited to give it a try!
I am a dental hygienist. You made me smile tonight after seeing about 10 non-flossers today. Love this post!
I think someone just needs to get certified to teach the pump themselves ;D
Maybe once you get your personal trainer training, YOU can start teaching Body Pump. You certainly seem enthusiastic enough to make people love it as much as you do (sounds like it’d be right up my alley, actually). 🙂
Yay for body pump. I have never taken a body pump class but I loved my Zumba class at my old gym before I moved and would jump on a chance to take a class again.
I love sweet potatoes and I have always heard to stay away from all potatoes because of the starch. With regular potatoes that is no prob but I may need to revisit the sweet potato.
If I’ve learned anything from all the dental work I’ve gone through, it’s that my kids are going to be brushing & flossing like it’s their job!!
I went to Body Pump last week for the first time, and have already been back 3 times — loved it! My post-baby body is thin but soft as jello, and I’m hoping Body Pump helps to firm and strengthen it up!
I am with you – I absolutely love a good Body Pump class! I started taking Body Pump when I begin my journey to fitness three years ago and I am convinced it was/is weights that has made all the difference. I still take the class twice a week but have since added on. I did a bunch of research/reading and actually designed a weight routine of my own that I do three to four times a week. I love feeling strong (and less jiggly)!
Your dinner looks absolutely delish! I love Salmon and Sweet Potatoes, both of which I think I could eat a few times a week and not get tired of. 🙂
Julie!
The same thing happened with my permanent retainer about two months ago. I’ve had it for almost 10 years, and the cement just wore away.
Unfortunately, my orthodontist recommended a set of retainers for the next couple months to “re-align” my bottom teeth, which is costing me a fortune ( I don’t know about everyone’s insurance, but I’m no longer covered after age 19… ugh!)
Best of luck with that!
I used to do bodypump at least 3 times a week-then I moved and had a new gym and they don’t have it so I sympathize with you! It was the only way I could get myself to lift weights, plus it was fun and kept me in shape!
They make an at-home Body Pump program now…equipment and all! I really enjoy it and it is just like the gym classes (taught by Les Mills instructors, same format, music, moves, etc.!) More info here: http://tinyurl.com/76uegfg
P.S. – I give my husband such a hard time about still wearing his retainer….27 going on 17 indeed 🙂 lol
Body pump sounds awesome!
Did you like invisalign? I had a lot of dental work done recently and my doc was recommending braces. At 25 and already having done 4 years of the metal mouth, I’m definitely doing invisalign or nothing!
Love BodyPump & I really like the new release! The lunge/squat track is really challenging but fun. I was even demonstrating jump squats for my husband at home hahaha
Oh, & I wear the same retainer I got in the 9th grade (hmmm 11 years ago?!) every night!
I cannot believe that thing popped out! I’ve had mine in for 16 years and it has not budged. I remember my orthodontist telling me it would be in until I die….that had to be uncomfortable having that little number loose in your mouth. 🙁
I still have my perm bottom retainer in too, since age 14! I wonder if it’ll ever come out. I hate going to the dentist because they always chastise me for not flossing underneath it. Wah! Such first world problems. 🙂
Happy Friday!
I do the at home Les Mills Body Pump!! It ROCKS!! Love your posts Julie! 🙂
I have the home one too! My gym has power pump which may be similar; have to check it out.