Kinky Cushions

OMFG! I feel like someone has done the Mexican Hat Dance on my arse! I have been training, honestly, I just have not gotten around to posting my last 4 or 5 workouts, no point in doing it now. I did a deload program last week and have started back on a 5 x 5 plan (or something along those lines). Last night was lower body, and I really didn't think I was doing that much more then I usually do, but I obviously pushed myself because I HURT! I was hurting and stiff and felt like barfing by the time I left the gym. For the rest of the night, my entire body felt like it was quivering and weak.

Workout

Glute activation and hip mobility work

Full Squats 95/105/115/125/135 lbs x 5
BB High Step Up 75 lbs x 10 x 3 (these were the buggers that fried my ass)
Pullthroughs 90lbs x 12 x 2
Standing Cable Crunch 70lbs x 10 x 3

In other news..... A couple weeks ago, I finally went and saw an orthodontist about possibly getting braces again. I say again because I had braces when I was 15. I only had them on my front 6 teeth and only for less then 4 months. Unfortunately, the wire holding everything in place broke and my dentist at the time did not feel it needed to be fixed. Fast forward 17 years and my teeth are now back to where they were. Actually, they have been this way for a while. So, I went for my consultation expecting to hear that I would be able to get Invisaline braces (clear molds that don't even look like braces) and in less then 6 months I would have a pretty smile. I was pretty disappointed when I left there with 3 treatment options, none of which was what I was hoping for. The treatement options ranged from regular braces for 9 months on top teeth only for a little over $2500 to full braces top and bottom, extraction of two top teeth and jaw surgery which would run me $15,000. The latter option would straighten my front teeth, correct my overbite and recenter my jaw (which is apparently offside). I do have ortho coverage, but not enough to cover everything aside from Option 1. Sooooo, I am going with Option 1, which will just straighten my top teeth. For as much as I am not really looking forward to looking like a 15 year hold again, I am looking forward to getting the process started and finally getting my teeth straightened.

Take Two!

Today is the start of a new challenge. This one does not have any prizes, it is mainly for motivation. I found that logging the daily details and taking measurements and pictures on a regular basis, really helped me stick with it during the last challenge. So that is why I am doing this again. This one runs from April 20 to July 19. I have a feeling this one will be a little more difficult. My current weight has been my sticking point for a few years now. I may make a brief appearance below that, but it never lasts. This time I want to break that barrier once and for all. The weight loss is only about 6-7 lbs but, knowing myself I know I need to make this goal feel achievable. I know this is likely more of a mental block then a physical one. Anyway, this time around I have some support a little closer to home; two of my friends are doing this challenge with me. They will weigh in and take progress pictures with me for the next 3 months. I am excited. Tonight I took my pictures and measurements and I am embarrassed to say that I have put on almost all the weight I had lost. HOWEVER! I know I am retaining a lot of water right now and my body fat % is still the same as it was on the last day of the previous challenge. So, I think I actually only put back on a few pounds, which I am not going to dwell on as I knew full well I was eating total crap for almost two weeks. I can feel it too. My mood has been more volatile, I am crampy and gassy and all around bloated. Yuck!

BAHHH! Take it or leave it!

I have spent WAY too much time trying to get these damn pictures up! Sorry they suck, but it is the best you're going to get!

Here I am!

I am here, really I am. Things have been pretty busy with work and life lately, and I just haven't had the time to blog. For a quick update, I finished the challenge on April 3rd and came in second place! I missed posting my last two workouts from the challenge, and then I took last week off from training to give my body a break. I also took the week off of anything healthy.... I have been eating whatever I feel like and let me tell you, I sure as hell notice a difference. I am bloated, constipated, moody.... I have never felt so yucky. You would think that would be enough to make me stop eating the junk, but I haven't. Easter was this past weekend, and I enjoyed all the chocolates and turkey dinner and I have been paying for it for the past two days. Oiy.... heartburn.... I have been trying to post my before and after pictures, but I have been having difficulties adding more then one picture at a time. I will try again tonight maybe. I am actually shocked at the differences, I cannot believe I was that, erm, 'fluffy'. A couple of my friends were so inspired by the changes I made, they have both decided to join me on the next challenge. The next challenge starts April 20 - July 20. This one doesn't have any prizes, except bragging rights, but I found the last one to be so helpful in making me stick with it. Anyway, that is all for now, I will try to get pictures posted soon!

shitcan bacon

Not much happening, so I am just going to post my last two workouts.

Monday's Workout
Glute activation and Hip mobility work

Front Squats 95/105/115/125/135lbs x 3
Back Extension 25lbs x 8 x 3
Bulgarian RDL (DB) 20lbs x 12 x 2
Cable Cross Chop 30lbs x 10 x 3

Tuesday's Workout
Lateral Flyes 12.5lbs x 12 x 2
Lying BB Scap Protractions 65lbs x 15 x 2
Seated Scap Depressions 12 x 2
Face Pulls 70lbs x 12 x 2

Push Press 45/50/55/65/70lbs x 3
Pull Ups 1 band x 6 x 3
Seated Cable Rows 90lbs x 12 x 2
Incline DB Press 30lbs x 8 x 3
Shoulder Rolls 15 x 2

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Well, it is Monday again. I had a fairly decent weekend, but it was over much too fast. Yesterday, Taylor went to a birthday party with one of our friends, so Wes and I took the opportunity to go to the gym together. This is something that rarely happens. That morning when Tay got up, she had a bit of a fever, so I gave her some Motrin and shortly after she seemed fine. However, once she got to the party her fever returned. She was lethargic and feverish and pretty much spent the entire time there, cuddled up on someones lap or sleeping in a bed made from coats. So, we ended up cutting our workout short and I didn't manage to get every thing done. Oh well. Diet was poop all weekend. No valid excuse aside from I just wanted it, so I had it! Shame on me. 5 days left in this challenge and I am feeling pretty good. While I know I may not have achieved all my goals and I didn't follow my plan to a T, I still feel that I was successful. I guess my ultimate goal was to be able to shed some pounds while maintaining a healthy diet. 'Maintaining' is the key word here. I do not believe in diets. I do not want to lose weight by eating such a restricted diet that I am unable to maintain that diet indefinitely. Because once you go back to eating 'normal' you will just put that weight back on. In hindsight, I guess my real goal was to achieve a healthy relationship with food, find a new 'normal' and I think I have and even better, I think I may have influenced a few people along the way. Once this challenge is over, I will continue to track my weight and measurements and take those dreaded progress pictures, because I have found that is what is helping me stick with this. I have my treats once in a while, but for the most part everything I eat is pretty 'clean' (for lack of a better word). I do not feel deprived at all, I feel satisfied. Yay for me!

Workout
Band pull aparts 12 x 2
Scap Push Ups 20 x 2
Behind Neck Band Pulldown 12 x 2
Skull Crusher (DB) 12.5 lbs x 12 x 2

Bench press 65/75/85/95/95 lbs x 3 - dang it, I wish I could push past this!
Bentover BB Row 85 lbs x 6 x 3
Standing DB Shoulder Press 25 x 8 (should have been 2 sets of 12, but we had to leave, so I grabbed the 25s and did what I could)

Great SMURF!

I am getting really tired of the snow. It is the end of March for crying out loud, it shouldn't STILL be snowing. I need spring to come.

I managed to do cardio at lunch yesterday, but I think all this cardio is wreaking havoc on my leg. When I went to train after work, my right hip flexor started to really bother me. By the time I was done, it was very painful to lift my leg up to take a step. That is also the same leg that I have been having issues with me knee. When I got home, I did some foam roller work and a bit of stretching. It is not as tight today, but still tender. My knee doesn't hurt as much, I just get a dull pain occationally. So, I will skip cardio at lunch today to give my leg a break.

Workout

Glute Activation and Hip Mobility work

Warm Up CDL 115/125 lbs x 5
CDL 145lbs x 5 x3
Leg Press 200 lbs x 12 x 2 - I am such a dumb ass. I finished my two sets and thought the weight felt super easy. When I looked back in my book I realized the last few times I did these, I had been using 230 lbs. So yeah, it was easy because it was 30 lbs lighter then I usually lift. d'oh!
Bulgarian Squat (BB) 70 x 8 x 3
Standing Cable Crunch 70 lbs x 10 x 3