CardioGrl’s BodyBlog

Earlier today I finally did it.  I’ve been dreaming about this and promised myself that I will do this as soon as I reach a smallish goal of being able to work with a dumbell 20lbs in each arm when I bench press.  I know laughable weight but hey, I’m a girl stop laughing.

Starting Sunday Feb 10th through March 16th I shall be attending classes for Personal Trainer National Certification.  I’m taking the CPR class on Jan 19th!

It is a class which is co-sponsored with World Instructor Training School.  And part of the requirement is the 20 hour post course internship, with the host sites arranged by the program!

I’m a happy girl today :)

The gym was somewhat empty and it seemed to be safe to remove my ear phones.  BIG MISTAKE.  At first while doing Pliet Squats I noticed that some Geeze was standing behind me with his right hand in his pocket and a bulge directly next to it.  I dismissed the bulge to his hand being in his pocket and refused to even allow a shred of thought to anything else.  He had no shame, he just gawked until I’ve had enough.  Does he not realize that I am looking directly at him even though my back is turned to him? I’m facing a mirror for god’s sake! I turned around and made the 10 steps towards him and point blank asked:
“Do I remind you of someone?”  He lowered his head and walked away.  Man..what a loser! 

But worse was the woman with her two daughters who followed everything that I was doing and insisting that her daughters watch me for form and do the same.  She was trying to talk non stop.  Telling me about her youth and how she popped a blood vessel while lifting in college.  She told me of her first and second marriage, she told me how she got an infection in her nails, she told me about her abusive drug days… my gosh what was I thinking when I took my earphones off? 

NEVER AGAIN 

I am incredibly frustrated.  Since I began the higher protein intake and upped my workingout time and routines, I dropped approximately four pounds.  And here I am at a rot a complete standstill for over four days now.  Not budging an inch, in fact, this morning the scale read 148.4!!! WTF!!! 

I bust my ass at the gym (Glance at my journal), I’m there six days a week always starting with cardio and proceed to weights.  I eat clean and I’m stuck! 

What on earth am I doing wrong? Why is this happening? How am I supposed to reach my goals if I’m in a plateau? 

This is a rant I suppose, a rant that is a bit overdue.  Something that I noticed when I started exploring this site and noticed that some of the most worked-out physiques, those who show the most dedication get targeted by a group of  a*sholes that insist on screwing with the picture ratings.  

You know who they are;  They tend to rate pictures with a one.  And when they are feeling generous they’ll up the one to a three or maybe four even. They travel in packs (Perhaps the same person with multiple profiles?). They rate the same picture one after the other and never ever have their own photos or any information about who they are.  Where they are from, their goals, their routines, their achievements, NONE!  Most of the photos that they rate as one are outstanding photos of people in kick ass shape, with amazing definition that only a jealous loser would rate as a one.While I most certainly can understand that a 10.00 isn’t always deserved, and often even abused.  I would most certainly expect at least an explanation as to why the rater thinks that the photo that they just rated as a 1 has come that short.  A few words of critique perhaps, advice on what area/body part in the raters mind needs to be worked on. 

My thoughts: anyone who has time for such juvenile games is a loser, a lonely angry individual, perhaps even a religious zealot who knows.  My advice to them is that they seek help.  Find a way to escape such anger and bitterness.  Find a way to open that door that is keeping you trapped in such unfulfilled life.  And good luck to you pal/s, you need a lot of it!   

Today I began a two month intense training; Oxygen magazine’s Feb 08 Push Pull routine;

 Sculpt Your Dream Body Today!

>>Jolt your metabolism and drop inches with Oxygen’s new workout series.  Starting this month and continuing over the next two, we give you a new, progressive resistance program for fast results<<:

The Plan
Induction Phase week 1 and 2:
Monday: Push

Tuesday: Cardio

Wed: Pull/Abs/Cardio

Thurs: Cardio

Friday: Lower Body

Sat: Rest

Sunday: Active Rest/Abs

Same thing for week 3 & 4 more intensely higher weights.

I decided to continue doing my cardio daily regardless.  I’m hoping for some amazing results! (Pray for me

Today I drove to the East Brunswick gym.  I wasn’t supposed to work out today, in fact, I was supposed to spend the day with my girlfriend shopping.  But she bailed out last minute and I decided to hit the gym that has the Stairclimber (The real stairs coming at you like an escalator).  
I completed my Chest and Stomach workout, but I really wasn’t feeling it.  I was dragging my ass and can’t say that I really enjoyed my work out as I normally do.  I’m wondering if it has anything to do with the fact that this isn’t really my *home* gym, or the fact that I had my mind set to do other things and those things didn’t pan out. 
I wish that my * home * gym had stair climbers or stair  masters.  But they don’t, so I’m stuck on occasion driving to the other gym.
Bummer!
 

My overall goal is to tone up more, cut up, thin out, and grow stronger. 

I don’t have programs or routines.  I know that my body, every part of it, has to be worked on and pushed further every week.  Biceps, triceps, shoulders, legs, back, abs, ass, etc.  

I always start with cardio, I try to push for an hour, I really enjoy packing 6 hours of cardio per week.  But it doesn’t always workout due to time limitation.  And with the recent dramatic nutritional change I notice that cardio though necessary isn’t as important as lifting.  I’m finding that with the recent dietary change I am losing weight steadily, so lifting is absolutely paramount. 

I make sure that I do at least 3 different exercises per body part (ex: 3 for biceps, 3 for triceps, and if I have anything left I go for 4).  

I like the recent changes in my body, so I’m going to stick to my none structured workout.  It works for me.  But still I wonder, are routines and structured programs necessary in order to reach your goals?

Wow am I sore!

Initially I thought that perhaps I’m sore from working out yesterday, or perhaps that fact that I’ve worked out six days this week.  I felt my upper aching as I turned at night from side to side.  I woke up this morning wondering, is it because I pushed myself yesterday? Hmmm the sore isn’t feeling the same as always though.  And then it hit me. 

It’s leaves that I went to collect from the front lawn that did me in. For 2 hours after the gym I was raking and cleaning up the leaves that covered the lawn.  I wonder how many calories I burnt doing that.  My upper back, lats, front chest are aching.  It feels good though, I really enjoy the soreness of muscles. 

Taking today off, it’s snowing outside, we’re finishing up the holiday decorations today, the fireplace is on.  Life is good!

Happy Sunday!