A Peek into the Mind of GeminiJedi

500 more weighted crunchies last night, as well as adding another component to my isometrec reverse crunch thingies: raise your heels to the ceiling, lifting your pelvis to incorporate all lower abs.  Did three sets of 20 (yes I only made it through 2 of the not-three-part ones last time ).  Did about 45 minutes of cardio after that.  Chest and back days went well this week too.  Yesterday I was finally not sore from leg day.

This morning was arms day.  Hoorah for failure sets. . . . I didn’t make it all the way through my last set of hammer curls, and it actually really ticked me off, so I grabbed the next lighter dumbell and took that until I was finished.  I made up for it pumping out some extra reps on tricept push-downs, though, and that felt really good.  It’s funny how upset I was for not being able to finish.  That’s the entire point, I know, but it still irked me.  Greatly.  Tomorrow is a day off, then leg day, then to the fitness centre at my appartment complex for shoulders since our gym isn’t open early enough on weekends yet.  Nor are they open late enough to go after work on the weekends that I do work.  At least the fitness centre is 24 hour access, so when gym fails I can go there.

Finished the first week of the new workout routine today.  Today was supposed to be the off day,  but yesterday ended up being off because of work and short hours at the new gym until they get fully set-up…..It’s been very intense and concentrated and I really like it, well, not while I’m doing the bajillion reps (ok, so it’s only like 12-20 depending on the exercise, but it seems like a bajillion) but I’m very much liking the newly found definition.  Hopefully by June and full-on Water World weather I’ll be nice and toned!

It’s really funny that in the last three months I’ve really changed my thinking about health and fitness.  It really is a lifestyle change, but it’s amazing how much better I feel physically and how much better I feel about myself.  Having a supportive partner makes it so much easier, too.  Seeing the mutual pride in our gains perpetuates the cycle: results makes me want to work harder, which produces more results, which makes me want more, etc.  It really is a beautiful thing.

I have found an amazing lower ab workout that I feel the need to share with the world.  It all started last night when I was debating doing isometric leg raises or reverse crunchies.  I mentioned this dilemma to the boyfriend/trainer and he suggested combining the two.  So it goes like this: Raise your legs like you would for a reverse crunch, then lower halfway and hold for 3 seconds, lower the rest of the way and repeat.  A set of 20 reps will get the 1 minute hold for isometrics.  It’s a beautiful, burning thing.  And I did regular, weighted crunchies to failure.  I’ve never done an ab set to failure before….it was quite an interesting feeling.  I can’t wait to do it all again.

I found a couple gift cards that I had forgotten about, so I decided to go shopping today.  Bought a skirt and a pair of capris, both in size 3   I’d still like to get rid of the fat in that area and replace with muscle, and all will come in time.  I’m sooooo thrilled, though!!!

First day at new gym, and let me tell you the excitement for next routine starting shortly: more cardio on skatey machine!!!!  Being a hockey player, the excitement is nearly orgasmic.  I can skate (motion, anyways) year-round!!!  Liked the rest of it too, although the Smith machine needs a good lube job…All will come with time.

Pull ups (warm up, on assisted machine) 1×25
Wide Grip Lat Pull Downs (3×10): 90, 80, 70
Bent Over Lat Flies (2×12): 6
High Pulley Curls (3×8): 30, 30, 25 [increased]
Straight Arm Lat Pulldowns (3×8): 65, 60, 55
1 Arm Preacher Curls (3×8): 17.5, 15, 12.5
Bent Rows (supinated grip) (2×10): 55+, 65 [increased]
Barbell Shrugs (Smith Machine) (2×15): 60
Torso Rotator (2×15): 40
Incline Bench Verticle Hip Raise (3×20): bw
Good Mornings (3×10): 20
Adductor (3×15): 70, 60, 60 [increased]
Prone Leg Curls (3×8): 80, 70, 60
Seeing good increases in strength which is very exciting, especially since I’ve never had a lot of upper body strength.  Now I’d love to get more definition in my arms, which I know will come with time and work.

Did one leg press as eccentric leg presses today.  It burns.  Horribly.  But in a good way; although a 10 hour shift at work on my feet is not going to be fun.

I love it when I can do a set all by myself that I needed a spotter for the last time I did it.  It’s such a great feeling of accomplishment.  I’m so happy that I’m seeing upper body strength gains!

Today I took just about everything to failure and it actually felt really good.  I feel like I’m really starting to train hard, and I’m feeling self-motivated to do it.  I’m sure it has something to do with my training partner being so wonderful, and I know it has a lot to do with seeing lots of strength increases.  I’m also adding in a cardio day on Saturdays to get that started, and in anticipation of the next routine which will include 3 days of cardio and 4 of lifting.

My right delt has been twitching all day, since I woke up, and I think it’s because I fell asleep on it last night and it’s upset with me today.  After failure sets my hams, adductors and lats felt the need to join it a bit.  While it was slightly amusing at first, 5 hours later it’s rather annoying.

It’s a good feeling to have gotten to the gym all on my own today, sans workout partner.  Just for a bit of cardio, but I’m proud of myself for going when I felt the motivation instead of putting it off and letting the motivation pass like I used to.  Hooray for me!