Last week I talked about changing up my routine. I could feel myself getting a bit addicted to CrossFit again, meaning I was continually increasing my weights and I wasn’t physically feeling my best. I explained this last week and had so many people support and understand what I was going through. Many women have experienced the same thing but don’t always want to talk about it. I also had some who didn’t understand. I just want to quickly mention something. Feeling my best both physically and mentally is incredibly important to me. Not everyone cares about that, but I do. For a long time, I have loved who I am on the inside, but it’s taken longer to become comfortable with the physical piece. Because of that, I’m continuously finding new ways to become more comfortable in my skin. And I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. I want to know that I’m earning loving myself. I want to know that I’m working my ass off to become a better person, both inside and outside.
I’ve had people tell me that it’s what on the inside that counts. But that person inside is an incredibly hardworking, positive, happy, thriving human being because of the work I do on the outside. Because of working out, I work harder at my job here for you guys. Because of working out, I’m happier in my relationship. Because of working out, I drink less, eat better, sleep better, and have more energy. Because of working out, the person inside better matches the person outside. I’m not striving for perfection, I’m just striving for the best Juli.
And right now, that means trying different kinds of workouts to see how my body responds and changes. I’ve done CrossFit 5-6 days per week for over 6 years now and it’s changed so many things in my life and my body. But I don’t really care about getting better at it now. Sure, I’m always happy for my form to get better, but I’m not interested in PR’s or increasing my weights. So I’m now looking for things to get better at that will also make me happier in my skin at the same time. That means I’m doing CrossFit a couple times per week, I’m wake surfing because there is LOTS of room for improvement there, I’m doing Fit classes for a longer amount of time working out with lighter weights, then I’m also doing Barre because it’s a total different kind of challenge compared to CrossFit.
I’ve been doing this for over a week now and I already can see some changes, especially in my legs. I’m LOVING barre because it’s a big time mental challenge during some of the workouts. When your legs are shaking uncontrollably, telling your body to give up, it’s your brain that has to take over and push through. I’m getting pretty sore from the workouts, especially my calves and my upper butt where the back meets my butt. I never get sore there from CrossFit, so it’s cool to know I’m working something different. And because I’m mixing up all my workouts, I’m seeing the difference physically. I’ll continue to change it up every week, sometimes doing more CrossFit and sometimes not. Because I think that’s good for my body. I want my muscles to work hard in different ways, but I also want them to be able to recover and that’s sometimes hard with CrossFit workouts.
Anywho, that’s my experience so far. I live in an incredibly active place with so many options and I’m trying to take full advantage of all of them. So far, I’m really happy with that decision. If you have any questions regarding any of the workouts I’ve been doing, feel free to leave them in the comments. I’m faster at responding to those than I am at emails! I’m excited to share this new journey with you guys and different experiences I have over the next fews months! For now, let’s talk about last week!
Sunday – Wake surfing
Monday – Fit Class – video here
*Warm Up before and quick core workout after*
Workout: Three 10 minute AMRAPs (no rest between the three, go right into the next)
#1 – 10-8-6-4-2: Dumbbell thrusters then 200m run between sets
#2 – 40-20-10 calorie row and 80-40-20 air squats (butt to wall ball)
#3 – 20-14-8 front rack lunges, lunges and 300m run between sets
Tuesday – Barre Forte Lohi Class
Wednesday – CrossFit Broadway Class
Every 30 sec for 15 mins – Alternating.
On the :00 – Strict HSPU
On the :30 – Strict Pull Ups
* Choose a number of reps to perform for each movement between 2 & 6. Keep that number the entire workout. This is 15 sets of each so choose wisely! – I did 4 reps every set
Then 2 Rounds For Time: (15 min time cap)
500m Row
20 Toes To Bar
400m Run
20 Box Jump Overs (24/20)
I finished in 12:59 rx
Thursday – Rest day
Friday – CrossFit Broadway Class – video here
Back Squats: 5 x 3. All sets at 88% (18 mins) – I used 155#
10 min AMRAP Of:
10 Double KB Russian Swings (2 x 55/2 x 35)
10 Double KB Front Rack Lunges (2 x 55/2 x 35)
5 Muscle Ups / 7 Burpee Pull Ups
I got 4 + 23 using 35# and doing burpee pull ups
Saturday – Fit Class
*Warm up then core workout*
With a partner:
Buy in: 800 single unders (between 2 people) – Partner 1: jump rope while Partner 2: 26 lunges
200 ab mat sit ups (between 2 people) – 1 person works while partner holds boat pose
150 air squats (between 2 people) – 1 person work while partner holds air squat
100 push ups (between 2 people) – 1 person works while partner holds TRX row
50 pull ups (between 2 people) – 1 person works while partner hangs from pull up bar
Buy out: 50 burpees (between 2 people) – Partner 1: burpees while Partner 2: 25 jumping jacks
Then sprint: 3x stairs, 30 box jumps, 3x stairs, 30 donkey kicks, 3x stairs, 30 jumping lunges
__________________
At Home/Travel Workout:
20-15-10 dumbbell bicep curls (weight increasing each set)
20-15-10 weighted step ups (per leg – weight increasing each set)
400m sprint
20-15-10 tricep kickbacks (weight increasing each set)
20-15-10 weighted lunges (weight increasing each set)
400m sprint
20-15-10 shoulder press (weight increasing each set)
20-15-10 sumo squats (weight increasing each set)
400m sprint
*try to not rest much between any of the sets of reps
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I have been wanting to try Barre for awhile now. I hear good things about it, I am just so used to CF and high intensity workouts I feel like it would definitely need to grow on me. What are the some of the changes you have seen so far? Are your legs leaning out a little and becoming more toned?
legs definitely leaned out a bit since i’ve done less crossfit/less weights. i could never stop doing crossfit because i need and crave that high intensity, cardiovascular workout, but it’s nice to feel the burn in a different way with barre!
BRAVO! I can relate to EVERY word you wrote…..you do you, girl!
Yo. Yo… It’s Kim from the gym… so if you have some keys to unlocking the more feminine, shapely, lean and lovely self I’m all ears … if it’s all nutrition based I can face it, but let me know your thoughts…. I don’t mind being big if I look like Katrín Tanja Davíðsdóttir, but I mostly look like shrek….
Kiiiiiiim! everyone’s shape is different obviously, but nutrition is first and foremost the most important key to becoming leaner and more sculpted. if you aren’t eating the right foods and the right amount, you won’t see the results that you are hoping for. Katrín obviously has her diet locked in and has kept up with that strict regimen for quite sometime (along with multiple workouts per day). so if you’re looking for a leaner physique, you to that diet and see what could be changed. that’s a great starting point! and you don’t look like shrek, ya dumb dumb!!
I’m curious to know what signs your body was giving you to make you realize you needed to switch things up. I’ve been participating in a Strength and Conditioning gym (similar to crossfit) for 6 years. At times my joints hurt so much that I wake up from the pain. I am not sure if it is because I didn’t stretch enough or because I just need to give my body a break. Thoughts??
Ps. Love your blog, books, and views on life. Thank you for being you!
i can usually tell when i’m not recovering well because i just feel exhausted in the morning, and super achy. but i also can tell because the shape of my legs usually changes. it’s a bit hard to explain and probably harder to understand, but my legs just look a bit inflamed and larger than they should. as soon as i cut back, they change shape. i think if you’re in pain, that’s a big sign that your body needs a break, but that’s just my opinion!
I can relate too! And my calves are currently so so sore from barre yesterday!
I love your honesty and willingness to share things. I’m curious about all the attention you get over the way your body looks. I’ve been following for years, so I’ve seen your journey.
Would you consider writing about how your posts and advertisements and approach towards blogging have changed with the focus that’s placed on your physique?
Or put another way, I think it’s easy to see that you’ve achieved what so many consider the ideal body, and people comment on it allllll the time. People are so focused on how you look and how your body looks! How does that affect you? (I can imagine a number of ways, but I’m curious to hear what you have to say about it)
hmmmm that’s hard to say. i started doing fashion posts because finding outfits for my body type was the first thing that really helped me feel more confident as i transitioned out of competing in crossfit. and the more I shared those posts, the more popular they became over my food posts, so i kept them up. people talk poorly about how i look and they also talk highly of it. sometimes the negativity gets to me, but i’m pretty comfortable in my skin and confident with how i look and feel in whatever outfit i sport. i want to show people that eating my recipes (eating clean), limiting alcohol and sugar, staying happy and positive, and working out really do work, which is why i often share workout outfits. i want to show that i live by what i preach and working hard, all the time, really does work. so i think my approach has changed over time because i’ve become more in tune with what makes me tick and how they may help others. i’m not sure if that totally answers your question, so feel free to ask anymore. hope that all makes sense!
Thank you for sharing your fitness and health journey with us! It took me a long time to become comfortable with the person I am on the outside and can continue to be a struggle at times. Crossfit was a big part of me for loving my body for what it can do. However, I have recently added in yoga, pilates, and swimming. I have found it to improve my mental health (making me less obsessed with my numbers in Crossfit). I haven’t tried barre yet, but would love if you shared more about the classes on here.
Thank you again for not only sharing delicious recipes with us, but also serving as a mentor for mental and physical health!
It’s a bit hard to explain so i just took an explanation off my studio’s website: “Our signature barre workout is designed to trim, tighten and tone your entire body with an emphasis on defining your glutes and legs. By using small, controlled movements, isometric holds and high repetition, you can develop a dancer’s physique much faster than you can imagine! the barre forte workout is also great for toning the very upper portion of your triceps as well. Bye, bye chicken wings!” Every barre studio is a little bit different so this is just what their gym is about!
Hi! Love your blog Juli! I own a barre studio and love teaching barre & pilates, but also love still getting in my own workouts (yoga, hiking, mountain biking, etc). Do you have any tips on recovering quickly muscle wise to be able to do multiple workouts sometimes in a day? I’ve been trying to add more protein in to my diet but would love any thoughts from you as well. Thanks for the great content!
the best thing for recovery is keeping the meals clean and making sure to get some sort of protein and carbohydrate in within 30 minutes of your workout. so a protein shake and a banana or whatever you prefer!
Juli,
Thank you for your post last week and this week. One of the things I have always appreciated about your blog is that you are balanced. Yes you eat paleo but you eat other healthy meals that may not be strict paleo. Your most recent posts have been honest and that vulnerability helps people such as myself to not feel alone and know it is okay explore different things when it comes to fitness. Eating healthy and working out should be a challenge but it should also be fun too ( atleast I think so). Also, the how you look on the outside does help you to feel better inside, especially when you’ve been married for 12 years like myself with three kids. I want to be my best for me because most of my day is spent taking care of other people. Thank you again for keeping it real.
Here are two other super fun workout options in Denver if you’re looking to diversify even further! (You probably already know about them — but, I’ve had great experiences at both!!)
http://www.awakenadultgymnastics.com and http://www.citysurffitness.com/denver-co/