Making_A_Change’s BodyBlog

Fitness can indeed be a sickness. Today, my intention was to take the day off. But since the little one wanted ‘to go to the gym’ to jump, I ended up putting in about 45 minutes of back and biceps. What is it about that place that keeps me going back for more? That keeps me beating up my body day after day. One morning I woke up and said, aloud, why do I do this to myself?  My husband just turned over and said–you have free will. I don’t know if he was being a smarty pants or just saying that I could just stay in the bed–probably a bit of both.

 I am curling with 25 pound dumbells now, so that feels really good. And on a good day I cant do shoulder presses, too. My right shoulder has been a bit tight lately. I try to keep it loose with stretches. Billy was there and asked if I was trying to get in some last minute workouts before my trip. Are you kidding? My gym has a fitness center that I will be in most days–at least 4 of the 5, for sure. It’s not because working out is a chore, but becuase I need it. The last couple of mornings have been difficult and I have opted for evening workouts, but not going is not an option, anymore. Unfortunatley, my period will start while I am away. The positive, though, is that at least I won’t be bloated. I swear, as I get smaller the bloating has become more apparent and in some cases quite uncomfortable. I now hold 5-6 pounds of water versus 3-4 pounds. I could actually feel it while running. And it feels like something is ‘pushing’ against my abs.

I gave the SP250 a rest after a near vomiting episode and I am thinking about trying it, again. I had to be the amount that I drank–a full scoop. I’ll stick to the 1/2 scoop, that seemed to work well.

I am finding that as my body continues to change, moving and even some exercises feel different. For example, when doing deadlifts I feel my calves engage on the way down and up. When going up stairs I’ll feel my glutes flex. When I do my abs it is easier for me to contract them and get a ‘deep’ burn. It is so much easier to engage muscles now that they are ‘closer to the surface’. I am able to push heavier weights, now, and I think I am just experiencing a new soreness–a new sensation–that it is almost sickening. Does that make sense? I love it the cosntant state of soreness–of just knowing that those muscles are there.

This morning I did legs, but the workout wasn’t as intense as I would have liked, but for reasons that I do like. My leg presses and extensions went off without a hitch. It was my hamstrings and back that were giving me problems they were just sore. For example, on my back day Billy has added that ‘backwards’ lat pull down. Whoa, am I sore from that one. My hamstrings are sore because I like to combine them with my shoulder presses or bicep curls to keep my heartrate up. So, that really effected my ham curls and deadlifts.

I am still struggling with this ‘cold’ or whatever it is. It’s weird. I’ll feel weak and sluggish, and I’ll drag my butt to the gym and get all pumped up and have these great workouts. And once I get home I could be feeling less than stellar again. It’s weird. Maybe it’s an adjustment to the extra cardio sessions. Or maybe its signs of over-training. But I do know my appetite has increased and so has my cravings for carbs. I’ve got to keep that in check.

Mmmm, mmm, mmm. Sushi has to be the BEST food around. Seriously, as far as ‘cheats’ go it’s worth it. My daughter go to our sushi spot every other week. I was almost to our place when I realized that I didn’t have my wallet. We go back home and I decided to try a new spot just blocks from where we live–we loved it. It ’s going to be our new spot. We ate three rolls between us, all containing unagi (our favorite and some protein), avocado (our good fats there), crab (more protein) and a small soda. Will I be bloated? Probably! But it was the perfect end to a great workout. And I’ve been reading something about ‘glycogen stores’? Did I get that right. Well, those babies are filled all the way up! Although my strength is a little low (fighting a cold and my period is on its way in a few days) I had a great workout. I went as heavy as I could, did 3-4 circuits, and really worked the abs on the cables. I am meeting a church friend this evening and will just do slow cardio at a low incline. I do like the way the white sushi rice makes me look a litte fuller–buff even. Just one more week until I am basking in the Hotlanta sun! Woo!

I just ate two whole eggs with a bit of feta cheese and 1/2 a slice of whole wheat toast. I about an hour I am going to go to the gym for back/biceps and some abs. Seems like lately, the evening workouts have been the way to go. I have been doing two-a-days at least 2 times per week for the past two weeks. Maybe the change in time and frequency will shock my body into doing something. I got the best compliment from a co-worker today. She said that I walked like I worked out alot–very upright, proud, and deliberate. I appreciated that. I do feel good.

I also think I am addicted to that Scivation. I love the stuff and get bummed when I have to drink water without it.

I like crackers–I really, really do! I was at one of my favorite stores (no, not Target), the Grocery Outlet–the store where you never know what is going to be there and you can get an awesome cheese for cheap! I saw a cracker by RyKrisp that seemed like it would be good to try. There are only three ingredients–a good sign–whole rye, corn bran, salt, and caraway. And there are only 11 grams of carbs! And they are actually good. I put some cheese on them and put them in the microwave and it was really good! I am going to put all sorts of things on this cracker–peppers, mushrooms, salmon, the toppings are endless. The plan is to go back and clean them out, just like I cleaned them out of talapia and codfish. Ha! They are so much better than the rice cakes.

On the workout front, I didn’t workout this morning b/c I wasn’t feeling well. However, I felt pretty good this evening and the little one insisted that we go to the gym because she wanted to jump. So we went. She jumped and I did plymetrics and abs. I only had around 40 minutes so I kept it short and simple. Tomorrow’s workout will be one of my favorites–back and biceps. I am going to go heavy, keep reps at around 8-12, and go for 4 circuits. I have been feeling and looking a bit leaner, especially in my upper body. I am seeing more veins and my pecs are becoming more prominent.

Next Friday, I will be on a plane to Atlanta! Hopefully, my hotel’s ‘fitness center’ looks remotely like the picture. It was very basic with cardio machines and free weights. That is all I need over the course of five days.

I was feeling a bit under the weather today, but was determined to get at least a partial workout in. My motivation? I didn’t want to be thinking–I shoulda, coulda, woulda worked out all day. I figured if I got too weak, I could stop–no harm, no foul. I actually ended up having a great workout. I used 30 pound dbs on my chest press and I did 4 curcuits instead of 3. My rests were minimal which was good. At the end, I decided to go back to an old friend, the recumbant bike. It shaped my legs before, I was thinking that it may really do something now. I set it at level 11 on the random setting. I was going to cruise when the tension was lower and then really push with the tension got high. Things were going great, until I got a cramp in both of my butt cheeks. I readjusted myself and kept riding, hoping to just ride it out. My thighs and butt were on fire and i just rode. I am going alternate the bike with my incline running for variety. I wanted to work on legs, but feeling like I do I knew that I wouldn’t be successful. I am going back to the gym tonight, so Little Bit can get some play time. I probably just walk on a really high incline and squeeze my glutes then do more ab work. It should all take about 45 minutes.

I am also excited to have found a bb.com’er in my area! Woo! Hoo! She is the bomb! Check out Mikiko’s profile!

I have been fighting something all week and this morning I just felt like I needed a bit more sleep. I am going to make sure that I eat REALLY well today and drink plenty of water. And I’ll be stretching alot once I get home. Here comes the period talk. I just realized that my period is scheduled to come in about a week, which means my most recent pictures were taken with about 3-4 pounds of water retention–and I still managed to look pretty good! That is exciting. I’ll probably take another set in about 2 weeks to see the difference. In the meantime, I’ll just keep the diet extra, ultra clean so the results/changes can be visible to me.

Today, was a fairly easy day. Everything was either sore of stiff, so I worked abs for about 30 minutes. I kept the image of that two-piece in my head. It really motivated me to contract my abs and think about how I want to go about this week’s workouts and diet. I will be going to the gym twice for at least 2-3 days–probably Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (with a friend) b/c I want Lil’ Bit to have climbing and jumping time. I have to figure out how to get the diet right. Do I need an additional meal? Probably. I do plan on keeping the protein HIGH, maybe a smidge higher than usual and then I’ll take new progress pictures in a few weeks and see if there are any significant changes.

Today, was a leg day for me. I took the little one to soccer then worked out for about 30 minutes. I pciked her up from the field then took her to the jumper for more playtime and a little more workout time for me. About an hour later, I didn’t  mean to stay that long I got to pick her up. the person on duty says, "Oh, she went to the rock wall." I am so excited for her (I think I left her jacket there), I got to the wall and there is my girl scaling a wall with the whole set-up–the rope thing, the pulley thing-yes, these are climbing terms. She was so proud of herself. She told me how she climbed higher and higher each time and how brave she was. THAT is what sports, fitness, and athletics can do for our girls. So, now, Saturdays will include soccer and rock climbing–giving ME about a hour and a half of lifing and the little on more fun that she knows what to do with.

Today, was a leg day. I was just trying to go as heavy as I could without throwing up–gross, but true. This was the second leg day this week. I just have to keep going and continue to pay more attention to the legs. They should be looking really good this summer–Woo!