2 Kettlebell Exercises Worth Trying

After a long weekend of not hitting the gym and binge eating junk over Memorial Day I HAD to go to the gym yesterday. I needed to get back into my workout schedule for the week!!! I recently discovered a website that has incredible workouts and tutorials called PopSugar. I have been looking for some new weight training exercises and Kettlebell has looked pretty appealing...so yesterday I looked up some exercises and gave them a go.

There are two exercises for legs/butt that I tried yesterday:

1. Kettlebell - Squat and Swing

(image is courtesy of www.fitsugar.com)

Here's a step-by-step link if you need it:

http://www.fitsugar.com/How-Strengthen-Legs-Kettlebell-4799539

 

2. Kettlebell squat

 

 

(image courtesy of www.shape.com)

Here's a step-by-step link if you need it:

http://exercise.about.com/od/exerciseworkouts/ss/kettlebellexercises_6.htm

 

 

These are both great workouts and make squats much more challenging and beneficial! I usually do 50-60 squats on "leg day" and only did a handful of these but really did feel it. I hope you get a chance to try them out. I will be looking into some more exercises using the Kettlebell later today and will be sure to post about them if they seem worthwhile.

 

 

 



-Comparison-

This quote is something I think every woman needs to hear. Sometimes I think we subliminally feel like we are in a competition with others. Each season of our lives yields yet a different type of goal that we feel we need to meet before everyone else. (or at least I feel this has been true for me especially in certain seasons of my life) 

Let's look back to what we were (maybe) comparing ourselves with others to in high school....maybe it was grades, what colleges we were getting into, if we were dating, who we were dating, ect.

 

Then there was college. I went to a Christian college, so my experience may be very different than yours, but- around my junior year it became engagement. Who was getting engaged first, when you were getting married, who had a bigger diamond, who is going the have a fancier wedding, the list goes on...

 

Now there is today. The after-marriage life. The same struggles exist that always did for myself as a women. (wanting a better body, better clothes, nicer things) but there are a new list of things that come with this era of your life. HOUSES, CARS, BABIES, and the list goes on. There are so many things that can steal your joy IF you let comparison rule your life. You may have found yourself looking at your life compared to the girls around you and saying"why isn't that me!!!???" BUT this isn't how we are called to live. We must remember that we should be content with what God HAS done in our lives and try to appreciate where we are at in life.  

Philippians 4: 11-12

Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

If you would like to read more verses about contentment click here

By content I do not mean accept things that you can change. I am saying do the best with the cards you have been dealt and thank God for what he HAS blessed you with.

 

Okay, now as for your hopes for the future....realize that there is a time as a place for everything. Check out Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 for more about that. I can already hear some of you ladies saying "what about babies, and the house I want and, and, and" and I can say that I can relate to some of those cries. I can also say that God has a plan. There is a right timing for these things. Wait on Him and let's work on being content and enjoying the life that we are living today. Comparison will only steal your joy, don't let it! You have a life to enjoy today.

 

 



 

 

 

 

Trends Worth Trying

If I had to describe my style, I would definitely say that I lean more towards the "trendy" side. This hasn't always been true for me. Personal style is something that I think is always evolving and I know mine has. As I got older, I learned more about myself and my style began to make more sense and compliment me better. (Not to say I always get it right though ;)) One thing that I have learned over time is that you should try to balance classic looks with trends-if trendy is the route you are going. If you can manage to do this your "look" will be on-point annnddd you wont have to start from scratch each season!

Top 3 Looks Worth Trying:

1. Chevron

(photo is from www.shoptherage.com and the photo credit goes to them)

When I first saw this pattern I thought it was decent but not something that I was absolutely crazy about-but it must have grown on me because I decided to try on a black and white Chevron top at TJMAXX and I LOVED it. Something about it seemed so sophisticated and still really fun. I probably wouldn't have spent a ton on this look, but for $12 I don't see how it could really be a mistake-

 

 

 

2. Neon

(I do not have a photo credit for this one, it was on Pinterest without one)

 

When you saw the word neon you might have thought "too young for me" - and I would agree that an outfit entirely neon colored would be young and probably tacky...BUT neon with black is still sophisticated and fun. I love the combo and this look is perfect for summer :) Forever 21 has some cute, bright tops. Here is a link to one I found:

 

 http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=top&ProductID=2048062910&VariantID=

 

 

3. Arm Candy

 

 

 



(http://southernpiphi.tumblr.com/)

 

 

This look seems costly-but can really be done with jewelry you already have. I recently attempted this look with a few bangles and bracelets I already have and a cute watch I got from DryGoods for only $16. Here is the link to the watch that I have :) http://www.drygoodsusa.com/Product.aspx?ID=36567&Sale=n&pg=2

 

 

My Attempt at this Look:

 

 

 

These three looks are enough to spice up anyone's wardrobe for the Spring/Summer! Try them out and let me know what you think!

 

 

 

 

**On another note**

I haven't posted anything about fitness in awhile-but I am currently taking part in a 30 Day Squat Challenge. It is whopping my butt-literally.

I thought I would share the schedule with you guys.

http://lindahaukaas.blogg.no/trening.html