9.2.10: BBQ Cupcakes

This week: My niece and I made these BBQ grill cupcakes. Banana cupcakes (her choice, and a great choice-they turned out yummmmy) with chocolate frosting, sprinkles for the "fire," Hot Tamale hotdogs, Tootsie Roll burgers & steaks, and JuJu Fruit kabobs. ( Custom cakes by Lindsey Lu. Phoenix custom cakes. Specialty Cakes Phoenix. Arizona custom specialty cakes. Specialty cupcakes phoenix. Custom cupcakes  Phoenix wedding cakes. )

She went back home yesterday so its back to work for me today-boohoo...

Here are pics of us making the cupcakes.

I worked out every day while she was here besides my normal 1 rest day per week! I didnt get 60 min in each day but we also did a lot of walking. We also did a lot of eating (see above photos). So I am up on the scale. I started the Firm 14 Day Diet again and have high hopes it will whip my butt (& the rest of my body) into shape.

Wednesday's Workout:
-Firm Total Muscle Shaping
*total w/o time 50 min + stretch

Today's Review: Firm Total Muscle Shaping
Stephanie Huckabee, 2004 ***** (4.5 of 5 stars)

This is a 50 minute strength and cardio workout-I'd say about 75% strength & 25% cardio but a lot of the strength work got my heart pumping nicely. Stephanie works out on the BSS3 set (raised platforms and white walls) with 4 background exercisers, Libby shows the beginner modifications. You will need an incline box and a variety of dumbbells for this workout.

The workout is mostly strength work with some nice cardio sets mixed in. She does a lot of the typical Firm moves like dips, lunges, leg press and combines the lower body work with some nice upper body work like clean and press, overhead tricep extension, and bicep curls. There is a nice set of lying work-mostly done on the incline including pec fly, bench press, ab work, push ups, and tricep dips. The cardio is done on the floor, on the step, and on the incline step and is your typical Firm fare.

I really enjoy this workout and Stephanie is one of my all time favorite instructors. She cues well and its a fun and challenging workout. I would rate this a solid to high intermediate if you give it your all. Stephanie includes plenty of power options for most all the moves. She also goes slow enough to really heavy up (for Firm standards).

Today's Tip: Slimming Swap #2- Instead of cheese cubes try edamame
Soybeans have one third of the calories and about a 17th the atmospheric impact of cheddar. Soy is a complete protein, which helps build muscle. Read more on Self here.


Today's LOLz: