Get Fit Journal - I'm tired but feeling GREAT!

January 21, 2014

Lifting day 3

Kenny, Jos and I went to the gym tonight… and oh boy, that was a mistake.  The place was packed!  Everyone that signed up for their New Years Resolution was there tonight.  It was crazy.  Jos decided that she wasn’t into it tonight so she went swimming.  Kenny and I elbowed our way through the crowd and hopped on as many machines as we could… sometimes as I was about to set down my stuff next to a machine, some idiot would hop on it and go to town.  

I can’t wait until the place calms down a bit and gets back to normal.  ugh

I don’t think I will be listing what we do every time… I think that would get boring.

I have to say that I am feeling stronger…. yes I know this sounds crazy, but I was actually lifting a bit before I started writing about it on this blog.  I just wasn’t doing it with a plan, or any real guidance.  

I’m extremely tired tonight so I’m off to relax and then go to bed :-)

Getting Fit Journal - Lifting Weights Day 2

January 19, 2014

Lifting Day 2

So, I’m not really sure what to call this… a Weight loss Journey?… a Getting Fit Series??  I don’t know??  I figure it out sometime i guess.  Something clever will come to mind eventually.  

1/18/14 was a rest day for me.  I did a bit of cardio at home (and got some house work done), and looked up some tasty healthy recipes on pintrest.  Kenny and I have been talking about doing some weekly meal prep for crock pot cooking through the week.  That way we don’t have to worry about what we’re going to have for dinner every evening.  That’s a huge issue in this house.  We never know what to have, and we get stuck in a pattern of eating the same things over and over again.  Anyways… on to what we did today.

We focused on back and chest today…

~Chest Press - 3 sets of 15.  1 set I did 35 lbs, 2 sets at 40lbs

The chest press was surprisingly easy today.  I felt really focused  and determined.  The last 4 of my last set were a struggle, but Kenny helped me push through.  I love him for it :-)

~~~ In between my sets I decided to add some squats.  So I grabbed two 10lbs dumbbells and did a total of 2 sets of 15 squats (took a break in between one set)

~Incline Chest Press - 3 sets of 15 at 20lbs

Even though this exercise didn’t look that much different than the chest press, it sure did feel different!  This one was a struggle for me on my last set.  I tried a higher weight at first but I didn’t want to push myself to hard and injure myself.

~~~In between these sets I decided to do lunges with the dumbbells.  I alternated legs and did 2 sets of 16. (again took a break between one set)

~Dumbbell Row (but on a machine) - 3 sets of 15 at 20 lbs

We ventured over to the unknown area today.  This machine was in the free weight section of the gym.  I found that I actually like these machines better than some of the others in the other section… (are you following me… lol) any who… I really liked this exercise.  I probably should have upped the poundage, but again… i’m starting small.

Wide Grip Pull Downs - 3 sets of 15 at 45 lbs

~For some reason this always kills my hands.  I think it’s because I sit at a computer all day and type.  (kinda like I’m doing now… ugh)  I feel like maybe buying some gloves might help with this issue??  I’m not sure??  I’ll try anything though. :-)

Lower Back - 3 sets of 15 at 60 lbs

~This by far is one of my favorite exercises!  Since we’ve been going to the gym, I’ve tried to hop on this machine as much as possible.  My back have been bothering me ever since I stopped dancing.  It’s gotten weak and can’t take what it used to.  I’m determined to get my lower back especially strong again.  (Plus this machine works your abs as well… bonus!!)

Dead Lifts - 3 sets of 15 just using the dumbbar w/o weights

~These are killer… but I have a weird love for them.  I secretly get excited about doing them.

Abdominal Crunch - blah….

This was a bust for me today, I only did 1 set of 40, then started my second set but ended up with a charley horse in my rib cage.  GRRRRRR…. this happens to me all the time.  Ever since I had my daughter, and in the same spot every time this happens!  I’m not sure what to do about it.  I probably should tell my doctor about it, since it’s starting to happen more often.  Its very irritating when it stops me from doing something. If you’ve ever had a charley horse you know what I mean.  It can literally take your breath away.

So… other than the last little bit, I felt gray about todays work out.  I love the fact that kenny is doing this with me.  It’s nice that we have each other to help push the other.

Until next time :-)

Getting Fit Journal - Weight Lifting Day 1

January 17, 2014

Weight Lifting Day 1

My family and I have been going to the gym now for 2.5 months.  We mostly stick to the “cardio” side to avoid the “meat heads” at the gym, who tend to grunt and scream on occasion. However, I have ventured over to the weight section before, but i never really had a plan and just went to machines that were open and looked easy to learn. I felt self conscious about the world of weights (not because i though I would get bulky, but because I have never really learned proper technique).

I have been feeling super motivated lately and ready to kill it at the gym.  I’ve been doing a bit of online research in regards to how a women should lift, and different weight training programs that the wonderful internet provides.  I found the most helpful information on www.bodybuilding.com and www.nerdfitness.com.  Being a newbie, I needed the how, the when, and the why spelled out for me and the above mentioned sights were amazing for that.  so… on to my day 1 at the gym (of strictley weight lifting I mean).  I planned out what I wanted to do and what muscles to work for my first day.  

Here’s what I came up with

(I also had a cheat sheet in my note book of what the machines looked like so I could find them easier)

I just googled the exercise and looked for the image.  Then taped them in my note book.
Super nerdy I know, but it did help a ton!

Assisted Dips - 3 sets of 10 at 85 lbs

~This was my first time EVER on this machine and I have to say that I was a bit intimidated at first.  Its actually really kinda fun to do.  

Shoulder Press - 3 sets of 10 at 20 lbs (I could’ve done more weight but I’m starting small)

~This machine wasn’t a new one for me… I have actually jumped on this one quite a few times because it’s easy to use and figure out.

Side Lateral Raise - 3 sets of 14 at 20 lbs

~Another first time machine for me.  I’ve always seen the big guys on this, grunting and squinting and quite frankly looking like they are trying to poo… but alas, I hoped on it like I knew what to do, and as it turns out I did :-).  The first 10 of every rep were good but the last 4 were a killer!  Felt GREAT!

Seated Calve Raise - 3 sets of 15 at 65 lbs

~Honestly, I didn’t like this machine.  I will probably find another way to work out my calves or look for a different machine next time.  Just didn’t do it for me.  Being an ex dancer (hip hop, jazz, tap, ballet… ect… not of the stripper type, just to clarify), my calves have always been and remand strong.

Dumbbell Lunges & Squats - 4 sets across the room carrying 12.5 lbs weights in each hand

~Call me crazy, but I LOVE lunges and squats!  I did my squats first, with bicep curls… The did lunges across the floor still carrying the weights.  When I got to the other side, I would do the squats again.  Then repeated another 3 times. 

Abs - 3 sets of 40, 1 set of 20

~Ab exercises used to be so easy for me.  When I was a dance instructor and had multiple classes in one evening, i would include crunches in every warm up.  And not just a few either.  I want my dancers to have strong cores, and frankly I wanted that as well.  That was how I had my six pack for all them years.  But now my belly is mush and flab… time to change that!!!

So all in all, it was a great day at the gym.  I know i’m going to be sore tomorrow, but I will force myself to stretch and maybe to do some yoga.  I’m planning on only doing cardio tomorrow, but then doing weights again on sunday.  

Stay motivated, Stay healthy, Stay Happy !