BelleoftheBall’s BodyBlog

I hate to take time off for rest!  Yesterday, I was told by an occupational therapist friend of mine that I need to rest my right arm for 7-14 days. (Bad case of tennis elbow radiating down to the forearm and wrist.) Truthfully, I hurt all over most of the time from being so sore, so I’m thinking my vacation at the end of next week might be a good opportunity to take a week off and rest it all.  The most I plan to do is jump waves with my son and take long walks on the beach with my sweetheart!  I guess a little rest never hurt anyone.

Although, I’m not doing the Body for Life Challenge at the moment, I still use those basic principles in my workouts.  I do a warm up set at lightest weight for 12 reps, then increase and do 10, then increase and 8,  then my heaviest possible (while keeping good form) for 6.

April 2008 - leg press max weight for 6 was 200 lbs

                 dumbell squat 50 lbs

                 dumbell straight leg deadlift 50 lbs

                 inner thigh adduction 100 lbs

                dumbell bicep curl,  and tricep extensions 10 lbs

                dumbell chest press  10 lbs

                lat pulldown  40 lbs

July 2008        leg press  280

                     dumbell squat and straight leg deadlifts  90

                     inner thigh machine  135 (all the weight on the machine)

                    bicep curl 20 lb dumbell

                    tricep extensions 15 lb dumbell

                    chest press  35 each hand

Feels GREAT to be stronger!!!!

I seem to have broken through a strength plateau and am now the strongest I’ve ever been in my life. Hurray! I’ve gone up 10 lbs past my max for all upper body exercises and 20 lbs for legs.  Being physically strong has never been a goal of mine. I’ve always just focused on being leaner, so I was surprised at how pleased it made me feel to move those weights up a notch! 

One week back on here, and the workouts have been great. I finally broke down and joined a gym, and I’m glad that I did. My biggest problem right now is that I’m STARVING all of the time.  I’ve eaten so much this past week that I’ve gained a little weight and my pants are tight in the waist.  I know that I can’t continue eating this much, but I swear the harder I work out, the hungrier I get! I’m sure my body is realizing that it’s burning more calories, so it’s triggering me to take in more.  Today has been better - snapping the photos this morning gave me an incentive to resist  - at least for now. 

After completing my Body for Life challenge last fall, I’ve been coasting and maintaining rather than pushing forward.  I only have a few weeks until my birthday, so I won’t achieve my goal of 15% bodyfat by then, but I’m determined to reach this goal and maintain it, so that when I turn 40 next year, I will be in terrific shape!  Thanks to all of the fit women on this site who inspire us all!

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