Shape Magazine Workout Review: Beach Body Part II

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This month's issue of Shape Magazine has and interview with Brittany Spears and the second part of the three month Beach Body workout plan create by Jillian Michaels. Where the first month of the Beach Body workout dealt more with legs and core, this workouts takes it to the arms and back. The workout is quite simple, with a one minute warm-up and three circuits comprised of six one-minute exercises. ​Jillian recommends doing this workout twice a week, mixed with three days of cardio as well.

This workout does take weights. Resistance bands will not work for most of these exercises, but weights as small as three pounds will do the trick. If you do not have weights, I would suggest using a large water bottle, full, of course. Children and small animals may do the trick as well! ​​

Like the first month Beach Body plan, this plan comes with a diet program. I will not be doing the diet, but it looks pretty yummy and easy to follow. This plan does not have snacks, but keeps calories low and protein high. ​This plan was created by Jackie Newgent, a registered dietitian and author of 1,000 Low-Calorie Recipes. ​Even though I am not doing the diet plan, I may have to buy this book. The recipes look so simple and absolutely delicious!

The Workout

I have to admit, as much as I liked the ​first month of the Beach Body workout, I was not super excited to try this one. The first workout was good, but it did not push me as much as the usual Jillian Michaels workouts do. After doing this workout, I have to assume the first one was breaking us in for some massive toning in months two and three.

I mixed-up the workout and used both three pound and five pound weights, depending on the exercise. This made the workout a bit more fun and more intense for my larger muscle groups. The workout took me exactly twenty minutes and left a puddle of sweat on the floor in front of me while burning over 150 calories. I loved it. ​

Somehow, I forgot to turn on any of my usual tv or music options. Usually, the lack of a distraction makes any length of workout seem drag on for an eternity. Not so today. This workout kept things new enough that I was never bored, even in the silence.

Jillian does not usually do breaks between circuits, and this workout was no different. The lack of a break does lead to a more intense workout, but it also helps trick out brains into thinking the workout is easier than it is. This may be because we do not have a whole minute to cool down and think about how sore we are getting, or because the workout is three minutes shorter. Either way, the lack of a break is a wonderful change-up from the norm. 

If you are looking for a good arm and back workout, do this. Even typing this review is reminding me of all those little muscles I worked. This workout is great for toning and will definitely help get us closer to our Beach body goals.  ​

Next week we will have to review the Brittany Spears workout in this issue, along with a bit about her interview! What's your take on Brittany? ​

Meat Free Mondays: Easy Corn on the Cob

I found out about this delicious corn on the cob recipe about a year ago and have been dying to share/try it again! This recipe creates the most delicious, moist corn I have ever tried. It is so good, that I do not even use butter on it! What's even better is that this recipe is also the easiest recipe I have ever had for making corn of any type. ​All you need is your oven and some corn.

Ingredients

​​Serving Size: 4    Prep time: 5 minutes    Cook time: 20-25 minutes

• 4 whole corn husks. Husks should still be on
  

​Recipe

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Once heated, set corn directly on center rack in oven. Heat for 25 minutes, rotating halfway through. Remove from oven and let cool for five minutes. Once cooled, remove the husks.

To remove husks, pull the husk downward towards the stalk one layer at a time. When you get to the corn fibers, evenly hold onto the fiber ends and pull away from the corn with a twisting motion. This should remove almost all fibers at once. Having the husks pulled down makes it extra pretty and extra easy to eat. 

Women's Health Magazine Workout Review: Elsa Pataky's Butt

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The June issue of Women's Health magazine has ​a workout that was made for this blog at this time. Yes, P+K has been going a bit crazy about the legs and bum, and it is not ending. This butt workout is the workout that Elsa Palaty's trainer, Fernando Sartorius, has her do to get that world famous backside. Elsa is one of the stars in the Fast and the Furious franchise. She is also an extremely famous Spanish actress and married to Chirs Hemsworth, also known as Thor. And, just to make her a little more incredible, she had their first child about a year ago in her mid thirties. If you have seen the Women's Health cover, you will understand why this is so impressive. I must do her workout. Daily. Forever.

​This workout falls in line with what so many people are recommending right now. Working out intensely for forty-five minutes or less. Elsa's trainer recommends focusing on the body part you are trying to exercise. Focusing on that body part will increase your workout intensity and fitness results. Thank goodness, the entire workout is comprised of five exercises with about fifteen reps each and two to three sets.

​The Workout

I liked this workout. The workout took about twenty-five minutes, but definitely worked more than the bum. Although all of these exercises worked the bum to a certain degree, some worked my legs, specifically my quads, more than anything else. If you, like me, hate working your quads, I would recommend switching out the step lunge with a regular or side lunge instead. The resistance band walk has quickly become my new favorite bum workout. This exercise worked my inner thighs, outer thighs, and the bum. I will definitely be adding this exercise to some future workout routines!

Although I was not sore after this workout, it did burn about 190 calories in 25 minutes. This is a much higher calorie burn than I was expecting, especially since it is not anywhere near a cardio workout. ​I have done much more effective bum workouts than this, but this one was great to mix it up a bit.

These workouts are also great for the bum!

My Top Disney Resorts

For most of my life I never stayed at a Disney resort. We lived close enough to Disney World that most trips included heading home that night or staying off property and leaving the next morning. Although that is still something we commonly do, I must say that I enjoy staying at a Disney resort so much more than anything else. ​

One of the biggest reasons that we never stayed on property was because of the price. It is true, the Disney hotels cost more and are not as nice as the off property options in the same budget point. But, when you stay at a Disney hotel, there are extra perks that you will not get anywhere else. Free transportation to parks, extra park hours exclusive to Disney resort guests, free delivery of in-park purchases to your room, and free evening entertainment. 

These resorts are my favorites at Disney World depending on preferences and price point.

Port Orleans Riverside

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Good for families, couples, and vacations on a budget. ​

We have recently stayed and the Port Orleans Riverside and I loved it. This hotel ​is huge and has about fifty different areas and pools. The central pool area is on its own activity island while the hotel "pods" are around the main lobby. Each room has a two queen/ one king option along with a sitting area and pull down toddler bed. This resort is a bit bigger than the Port Orleans French Quarter and has more activities during the day. The staff also seem to be a bit more accommodating at this resort.

The hotel has buses going to all other parks along with a boat that takes you to Downtown Disney. There is also boat, kayak, bicycle, and suri rentals outside the lobby. Prices range from $160 to $230 per night, depending on time of year. ​

Coronado Springs Resort

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Good for couples, budgets, those looking for more food options

This resort is a similar price to the Port Orleans, but does not include the toddler bed option in king and queen rooms. The Coronado Springs Resort is quite large. Because of this, there are plenty of food options, especially when compared to most other resorts in the budget point. If you are a couple or a family with older children, this hotel is a great option. Park buses are in no short supply and there are plenty of stops outside most the hotel buildings.​ Like the Port Orleans, this hotel also has boat rentals along with plenty of activity options.

Coronado Springs has a quick shop food option along with a super nice bar and restaurant. ​There are also plenty of outdoor dining areas by there one, giant pool area. Prices range from $160 to $250 per night depending on time of year.

The Swan and Dolphin Resort

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Good for Starwood members, families, the best beds at Disney, and dining

Disclaimer, the Swan hotel is my favorite hotel in the entire Disney World Resort. This is the only non-Disney hotel on the property that has all the perks of being a Disney hotel guest. Plenty of buses, boats to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT, character dining, about twenty different restaurants, and ultra nice customer service. This hotel also has Sheraton Hotel beds and rooms. Can I say again, it is fantastic. ​

There is one large pool between the two hotels along with plenty of dining options in each. The Dolphin is more of the family based hotel while the Swan tends to be for more adult guests. Both hotels are a walk away from Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, the Boardwalk (and all the Boardwalk entertainment), and the Yacht and Beach Club. Rooms range in price from $150 to $350 depending on suite option and time of year. ​