The Best is Yet to Come

OK, so it was yesterday, LOL. Sadly, the celebrating already started on Saturday and will continue on through Sunday.

That means Monday morning is back to the straight and narrow and really sticking to my nutrition and workout plan faithfully. It’s a new year for me, and I plan on living it well and to the fullest.

…..and dance till you feel better! Got in a great cardio workout at home tonight.

Tonight was just cardio, which was good and housework, which was not - Ugh.

My diet sucked today - oatmeal for breakfast, lunch was chicken and steak with some rice and black beans, dinner was tomato soup with some crackers. Not good

Here is my chest/arm workout at home from last night:

Bench - 3 x 10 @ 44 (2 - 22lb dumbbells)

Incline DB’s - 3 x 10 @ 30 (2 - 15 lb dbs)

DB Curls - 3 x 10 @ 15

Hammer Curls - 3 x 10 @ 15

Skullcrushers - 3 x 10 @ 30

Flyes - 3 x 10 @ 12

Close Grip - 3 x 10 @ 30

Overhead Tricep Extensions - 3 x 10 @ 15

Then some abwork, cardio and stretching.

Felt good - but I get a better workout in the gym.

…for being such a slacker on my blog. The last month has been full of quite a few ups and downs both physically, emotionally, professionally and romantically.

It’s been a bit of a ride and most of it has settled down for now. Professionally, I couldn’t be happier - my job has changed a bit for the better including a very nice increase in salary. My sister is finally moving back home from Colorado and we’re all thrilled. I’ve had a few oddities romantically, but I have a feeling it will all be good.

My diet took a nosedive when I had company visiting - but it was worth it. We had a great time and I’m finally at the point where I can allow myself to break some rules and not beat myself up over it - especially knowing that I can get right back on track. What’s the point of busting your ass in the kitchen and in the gym if you’re not allowed to give yourself permission to take a break now and then?

As for my training - they’ve been a bit spotty lately but I’m back on track - it’s been an interesting few weeks to say the least, but it’s with a smile and a spring in my step that I move forward. (just waiting for this 3 day sinus headache to go away!)

Pouring down all over me.

My car is in the shop up in Wisconsin. I’m home in Chicago. Thank goodness for the train and the fact that I only live a half mile from my train station. So, since I need to put air in my bike tires and didn’t want to ride all the way to the gym with the chance of rain, I ran instead.

And it poured. The first mile and a half were fine - but it started sprinkling on the last mile and turned into a major downpour by the time I got home. Water was dripping off the brim of my hat and my shoes were squishy.

All in all….it was a good run!

It’s deadlift day. Yay! Thank goodness my quads aren’t killing me anymore…have a nice little twinge of soreness starting in the chest and bi’s.

I’m feeling much more energized than I have in a long time, and I know that getting back into my regular workout and diet plan has a LOT to do with that. Still need to get more sleep, but I’m working on that, as well.

Heading up to Wisconsin tomorrow and will get to spend time with my friends and family, which is always a good thing. I think I’ll drag my nieces running with me - we used to go all the time before I moved down here and the weather should be decent. Might go hit the playground and be silly for a while…it’s good for the spirit.

Spring is in the air and there’s a renewed spring in my step….life is good.

Just got back from the gym - yes, I did last night’s missed bench workout and 45 minutes of HIIT on the elliptical. Yay me!

Bench day is my least favorite.

15 Minutes on the elliptical

Incline bench - 1 warmup set with the bar, 3 x 8 @ 55

Close Grip Bench - 1 warmup set @ 30, 3 x 8 @ 45

Barbell curls - 1 warmup set @ 30, 3 x 8 @ 40

Flyes - 1 warmup set with 10’s, 3 x 8 w/15’s

Overhead tricep extensions - 1 warmup set w/10’s, 3 x 8 w/15’s

Cable pushdowns - 1 warmup set @ 20, 3 x 8 @ 30

Incline dumbbell press - 1 warmup set w/10’s, 3 x 8 w/15’s

Then another 30 minutes of HIIT on the elliptical and chugged a protein shake.

Went to the store, and then came home and heated up some shrimp with a half portion of light alfredo sauce (45 calories) and a half serving of whole wheat rotini.

because I skipped my workout. Came home from work and crashed, but I needed the sleep since I didn’t get enough last night.  That and my quads are killing me from Monday yet.

Yes, Mr. Man, I will get my bench workout in tomorrow after work - nag, nag, NAG!!!! LOL - good thing they have a nice steam room and whirlpool at my gym - I have a feeling I’ll be taking full advantage of both.

If I could get a leg up
If I could get a leg over boy
You know I ain’t that pretty
But you know I ain’t shy, shy, shy

Today is leg day - and finally, I got enough sleep for a change. Last week was a bad one for slumber - kept waking up in the middle of the night for no apparent reason. Now, I still woke up again last night, but since I’d gone to bed earlier than I have been I’m still feeling much more rested this morning.

So….tonight’s workout - going straight after work:

Warmup with 15 minutes on the elliptical

Squats - 3 x 12 @ 115

Leg Press - 3 x 12 @ 180

Leg Extensions -  3 x 12 @ 60

Hamstring curls -  3 x 12 @ 60

Followed up with some ab work and 30 minutes of cardio on the elliptical

Sticking very strictly to my diet - adjusted from carb cycling to a 50/30/20 split - lots of chicken, fish and eggs.

My birthday is coming up pretty damn quick - and I refuse to start another year out of shape.

An angel’s spirit will dance in the clouds
As we sing her last lullabye

It is with a heavy heart and a teary eye that I make my way through today……and many are out of the office altogether.

The wake for Lindsey is this evening, with the funeral service tomorrow. I shall have to go purchase something yellow, as that was her favorite color and people are honoring her memory by wearing it. This is one reason to go shopping that I could have done without.

I’m so very sad right now……just got an update on my coworker’s daughter. Please, take a minute if you have one and pray for her and her family for strength and courage as this brave little girl moves on to a better place free of needles, x-rays, hospitals and pain.

It makes you wonder about life and purpose and why are we here in the first place…….so sad that such a young life is being taken, but she has made a big impact on so many in her 6 short years.

Here is the message…..so heartbreaking - Ben is her brother. He just shaved his head in a fundraiser to raise money to help fight childhood cancer a week ago.

Lindsey has had a very rough week. On Friday we scheduled an MRI for first thing this morning. It is very hard for us to tell you that her cancer has returned stronger than ever - she has multiple tumors growing throughout her brain. There is no more treatment for Lindsey, no more medicines, no more needles, no more surgeries, no more radiation. Because of the extensive tumor growth the doctors think she has very little time left with us.

Thanks for checking in on our beautiful baby girl.

4/22/08 - Update….little Lindsey has passed on to a better place where there is no more pain. May she rest in peace.