Back in Full Swing

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Hullo my luvs! I'm back on track. I took a week off to recover from a heavy period. I'm feeling a lot better now, although it still took a lot to get my butt in gear and workout tonight. Thankfully I met up with a friend tonight and we had a venting session. Sometimes that's all a girl needs is a good vent to release some of the stress from daily life.

I started the KISS Total Body - a workout from Becoming a Beautiful Badass. I enjoy the total body workouts instead of focusing on upper/lower. I'm used to the previous program I was following so this will take some getting used to. Here is tonight's workout and then I'll explain more:

Barbell Squat:

2 sets of 65 lbs x 5 reps

2 sets of 45 lbs x 10 reps

NOTE: It's a bit of an adjustment doing all heavy sets to splitting it with heavy and light sets. I almost feel like it's too easy. I'm sure if you ask me tomorrow I'll tell you I can really feel it.

Standing Overhead Press:

2 sets of 55 lbs x 5 reps

2 sets of 45 lbs x 10 reps

Pull-ups: 

2 sets x 5 reps

2 sets x 10 reps

NOTE: I'm still working on getting new equipment and I'm still not strong enough to lift my body weight. My solution is to stand on a box, grab a beam, pull with my arms (as much as I can) and lift with my knees. So far it seems to work well - I feel quite weak by the 10th rep. 

For the most part I'm on track, I still have my moments or bad days. The last time I weighed myself I was at 228.6 lbs! I can't tell you how great it feels to be under 230 (and not by just 0.02 lbs). I've asked my husband to hide the scale for 2 weeks. I'll weigh next on August 8th but progress pics I'll wait for a full 4weeks and post around August 22nd.

My goal is to weight train 3 times every week and to add 1 or 2 days of hill sprints. I'm reluctant to do hill sprints because I'm afraid to look foolish. When I weight lift I'm at home in my basement...hill sprints means the public...it's silly I know. I have to get over myself and just do it. Funny how that one sentence holds so much truth for my life. I really need to take my own advice and put it into practice in many areas of my life, but that in itself is a whole other post. 

A Little Easier

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Happy Canada Day Weekend! It was such a beautiful day today that I put off working out, but I managed to get it done this evening. Of course, I feel fantabulous now!!! It's so encouraging that I can feel the body weight exercises getting easier! I've never stuck with anything long enough for it to get easier!!

Tonight's workout:

Barbell Squat: 5 sets of 60 lbs x 6 reps

NOTE: I think next week I might try 70 lbs as 60 almost seemed easy.

Parallel Dip: 5 sets of 6 reps

NOTE: I'm still doing the weighted bench dips, but it was a lot easier to do this week! Don't get me wrong, they are still quite challenging, but it's awesome to see the difference.

Bent-Over Barbell Dip: 5 sets of 60 lbs x 6 reps

NOTE: I think I'll increase by 10 lbs for next week too, as these seemed almost easy.

All in all I had an amazing workout and I'm proud of myself for finishing week 2 so strongly. I'm looking forward to Tuesday!

Progress!!!!

Well it's workout #5/12 and I'm still feeling really good. I'm not sure if I mentioned the beginner program is only 4 weeks long (12 workouts). I'll decide in week 3 which Beautiful Badass program I'll move on to next.

Before I continue I just want to send a shout out to my lil sis from another momma. Today is her 25th birthday! Sending her lots of love - MUAH! 

  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DRE!!!!!!

After my workout, I decided to get my husband to take a progress pic since it's been a while. Since August 2010 I've lost 18 lbs. I've probably lost 100 lbs by now but it's the same 5-10 lbs I kept gaining and re-losing. I've had quite a few people tell me I look like I've lost weight, but I honestly didn't believe them - until now. Even I can see a difference now after looking at my progress pics (below). I look forward to posting even more dramatic progress pics. I'll post my next progress pic in week 4. 

Today's workout:


Reverse Barbell Lunge: 1 set of 60 lbs x 6 reps and 4 sets of 45 lbs x 6 reps
NOTE: So, I confused myself, forgot what I was doing and added the heavier weights to the barbell. I was halfway through the first set on my second leg when I realized I was supposed to be lifting 45 lbs. I switched back to 45 lbs but I felt empowered to know I could lift 60 lbs at least for 1 set.


Push-up: 5 sets of 6 reps (knee push-ups)

Inverted Row: 5 sets of 6
NOTE: I took a pic of how I'm able to do the inverted row. I lean my back on the end of the bench, prop my feet on the table and lift myself up about an inch off the bench.


Side Plank: 3 x 15 seconds per side
NOTE: I was able to increase my time by 5 seconds.


I just want to take a moment to talk about something that's been bothering me. People assume I'm lazy or that I'm not trying very hard because I can only plank for 15 seconds, do girlie push-ups or come up with some odd way to be able to do the inverted row. It's taken me years to finally accept the fact that it's not because I'm lazy or not trying, it's because I'm lifting my body weight. MY body weight is a lot heavier than those people who've made comments. I'm lifting 230 lbs which is a lot harder to lift up off the ground or suspend in the air than someone who weighs 160 lbs. The important thing is I'm trying! I'm finding ways to do the exercises required, instead of giving up and saying I can't do them at all. When I get better equipment I'll be using resistance bands to make it easier until I'm able to hold up my own body weight. I may only be able to hold myself up for 15-20 seconds or lift myself an inch off the bench, but dammit I'm DOING it. Can others say the same?


Okay, I'm done, for now. =) Have a great night! I'll be back on Saturday.