Apocalyptic Desert

I am hesitant to get excited. The days are getting longer, the mornings are brighter and warmer and it smelled like rain this morning. But it is only the beginning of March, as any Albertan will tell you, you cannot put away the parka until June 1st. But the past couple mornings I have really enjoyed the little walks from the car to the bus, the bus to work. I can't wait to be able to get up early and sit outside and have a coffee. Putts around in my garden, pick a few weeds and enjoy the silence. Back in the day when I used to run, my favorite thing to do was to get up early and go for a long run, then come home and go back to sleep for a couple hours. Maybe someday I can do that again.

This weekend, Wes and I and a bunch of our friends are going to Fernie. My BFF has rented a gorgeous log house for all of us. The place sleeps 17, and I think there will be 11 in the house and 4 staying in town. This weekend, we will bring Ryan up the mountain one last time. Fernie is where Wes and Ryan and the rest of the boys, first fell in love with snowboarding. As such, all of the snowboarding boys and a few others will be in Fernie this weekend for one last run with Ryan. I am really excited about this, especially since I have a new snowboard and all new gear and I have friends that will ride with me, not to mention the gorgeous house we will be staying in. It has a hot tub, games room, 6 master bedrooms.... Insane! On the other hand, I suspect it will also be a bit of an emotional weekend for everyone as well. We are leaving Friday around noon, and coming home Monday evening. That means 4 days and no training and likely eating crap. I will do my bi-weekly measurements on Friday instead of my usual Sunday since I won't be able to while we are away. I doubt there will be a scale there and I don't really feel like packing mine in my suitcase. I am planning on bringing some oatmeal pancakes at the very least, but I am not going to stress about it. Plus, snowboarding is quite a leg workout! I went to the gym Monday and will not be able to go again until Friday. I get off work at 10 AM, then I will go to the gym, then come home and we will head out around noon. I had wanted to do at least 4 cardio sessions this week, to make up for the lack of workouts, but I am already behind on that. I went on Monday, but ended up having to work through my lunch yesterday, so I couldn't make it. I am hoping to get there today and do some HIIT.

Workout for Monday

Glute activation and Hip Mobility stuff

Warm up CDL 95/105lbs x 5
CDL 135lbs x 5 x 3 (I think I am actually ready to bump this up! YAY!!)
Leg Press 230lbs x 12 x 2
Bulgarian Squats (DB) 35lbs x 8 x 3
Saxon Side Bends (DB) 15lbs x 10 x 3

Discussion Circuses

Had a pretty good weekend. I have decided that my favorite day of the week is Sunday. I always go to the gym on Sunday and because I usually don't have to rush home, I can take my time there. I go to a different location on Sundays because it is closer to home then the gym I go to after work, so the people there are different and it is not overly busy. I just like it. Had a pretty darn good workout too.

Workout
Lateral Raises 10lbs x 12 x 2
Lying BB Protraction 45lbs x 12 x 2
Seated Scap Depressions BW x 10 x 2
Face Pulls 70lbs x 12 x 2

Push Press 45/55/60/65/65lbs x 3
Pull Up 1 band x 6 x 3
Seated Cable Row 75lbs x 12 x 2
Incline DB Press 30lbs x 8 x 3
Poor Boy shoulder Horn 10lbs x 15 x 2

Bulging Banger

I went to the gym last night, and I saw a woman deadlifting 155 lbs. I have never seen a woman deadlift more then 95 lbs; I have made it to 135 lbs. I know of women who can lift a whole lot more, but I have never seen it at any gym I have been to, until now. I usually prefer not to talk to anyone when I train. I avoid making eye contact so as to not give the impression that it is ok to approach me. It disrupts my zen. So, it was a pretty big deal for me to go up and compliment this woman on her deadlifts. The real kicker here is to look at her you would never have guessed she could lift that much. She was an asian lady in her early 40's, about 5'3'", trim, but nothing really special. She looked like a soccer mom. I thought she was cool. Unless she drives a mini van.

Anyway, I had a great workout. AND... can you believe I went and did cardio TWICE during my lunch this week, and it wasn't even all that bad.

Workout for Thursday

Glute activation and Hip mobility stuff

Front Squats 95/105/115/125/125 lbs x 3
Back Extensions 25lbs x 8 x 3 - finally figured out a way to rig this thing up to fit my miniturness
Leg Press 230 lbs x 12 x 2
Standing Cable Crunch 60lbs x 15 x 2

Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

I know all of my dedicated followers, all 2 of you (lol), have been anxiously waiting for my next post. Well wait no more! Yeah, I'm a geek. It has been a pretty busy week actually. On Wednesday, Wes and I took Tay swimming after I got off work. We have set up a chore chart and she works towards her prize. She determines what the prize is, so this time it was swimming. Anyway, Wednesday also happens to be a training day for me as well, so I decided to go to the gym at the rec center after we were done swimming. Wow. What can I say? I really don't think I will ever train there again, and it was a great reminder why I quit going there years ago. The place was PACKED! A bunch of 18 - 19 years old guys struttin around, checking themselves out in the mirror, flexing, oogling the skinny-fat chick with head to toe lulu lemon and full make up.... I had the crappiest workout, I just wanted to get it done and get the hell out. Sure makes me appreciate the gym I go to now. Anyway, I digress....

Workout for Wednesday
Band Pullaparts 15 x 2
Scap Push Up 20 x 2
Behind Neck Band Pulldowns 15 x 2
Skull Crushers (DB) 12.5 lbs x 12 x 2

Bench Press 65/75/85/95/95 lbs x 3
Bent over BB Row 85/95/105lbs x 6
Standing DB Shoulder Press 15lbs x 12 x 2
Supinated Grip Lat Pulldowns 42.5kg x 8 x 3
Lateral Raise 10lbs x 10 x 3

I gots more to say, but will have to come back!

It is just a stupid number!

Welcome to Monday! I had a decent weekend, quiet but nice. Friday, Wes and I had the evening to ourselves as a friend asked if Tay could sleep over. We went to a sports bar for dinner and shared a jug of beer, then came home and hung out. It was nice. Sunday, I went to the gym then decided to look for a pair of jeans since I was told that the one and only pair I have is not overly flattering. I was pretty happy to find some good sales on and I ended up getting 2 pairs of cords and one pair of jeans. Well, actually I bought 2 pairs of jeans, but I am going to return one, because I am not totally happy with the fit. The one thing that kinda disturbed me a little was the size; size 7/8 and a 9? I know it is just a stupid number and that it really doesn't mean squat because they vary so much from store to store, but still! I am fairly happy with what I see in the mirror, but the fact that the tag on my jeans says size 9 instead of size 3 or 5, like it used to, seems to overshadow what I am looking at. Not to mention, when I see pictures of myself, I see someone so much bigger then I thought I was. It is starting to make me wonder how people see me and whether or not I really am that big after all? (Dare I say "huge" ) I keep trying to remind myself that while I may be larger in size, my shape is better, I am healthier and stronger. Grrr, I guess it still all comes down to being more consistent with my diet and putting on my big girl pants and doing cardio. Since the beginning of this journey I have lost 5.5 lbs and a total of 12 inches, so I suppose I cannot complain too much.


Workout for Friday

Lateral Raise 10lbs x 12 x 2
Lying BB Protraction 30lbs x 12 x 2
Shoulder Roll 12 x 2
Face Pulls 70lbs x 12 x 2

Push Press 45/55/60/65/65lbs x 3
Pull Ups 1 band x 5 x 3
Seated Cable Row 60lbs x 12 x 2
Incline DB Press 30lbs x 8 x 3
Poorboy Shoulder Horn 10lbs x 10 x 3


Workout for Sunday

Glute activation and Hip mobility stuff

Warm Up CDL 95/105lbs x 5
CDL 12lbs x 5 x 3
Leg Press 230lbs x 12 x 2
Bulgarian Squats (db) 35lbs x 8 x 3
Cable Twist 40 lbs x 10 x 3

Take Two!

Last night, my two BFs and I went to our first Chix on Stix snowboarding lessons. It was a lot of fun. I used to ride years ago, had my own gear and all, but I sucked. I only went a couple times a year, which was not enough to make any progress. Wes went with his friends fairly often and continued to get better and better, so even when we did go together, we would never ride together. I also did not have any friends who were interested in it either. Once Tay was born, I decided to just sell all my stuff. This past fall my friend approached me about joining Chix on Stix with her, I hesitated, but decided to go for it. What was $25 anyway? Then, I was suprised to find out another friend of mine was interested in learning to snowboard as well. So, the three of us all decided to learn together. It was a lot of fun and both my friends seemed to enjoy it, even though it was their first time with a board on their feet. We also met a couple other girls and will hopefully meet up with them on the hill sometime. So, here is take two of my attempt at snowboarding.

Back in the Saddle

So after 4 days of being pretty much completely off my diet, I am back on track. My headcold is pretty much gone, just a little congestion lingering and my energy is back up. Plus, I had a great workout yesterday and I did cardio! As long as I can stay consistent with my diet, and get a couple more cardio sessions in, I know I will start seeing a lot more results. I am already noticing more definition in my arms and butt and my abs are starting to look better, although they still require more work (diet will help that). I am feeling leaner too, not sure what the measurements are saying and maybe I don't want to know. I guess I will find out this weekend when I do my bi-weekly measurements/weigh in. Not much else to report .....

Workout

Glute Activation and Hip Mobility Work

Front Squat 85/95/10/115/115 lbs x 3
Back Extension 10 lbs x 8 x 3
Bulgarian RDL (DB) 15 x 12 x 2
Standing Cable Crunch 60lbs x 15 x 3