Mrs_Muscles Gets Muscles Back!

I updated my stats… there are my current stats… and I also updated what they were a month ago.  Making progress in reversing my unintentional careless "bulk" over the winter. Full details in my journal… check forum sig for url. Not having updated them was a mental thing really I didn’t want the numbers up there until I could see progress in the right direction, hence updating for two months at once. Now I can just watch the numbers continue to go the right way. Sooner or later I’ll even get some new pics posted.

I just finished up better than an hours worth of a fantastic workout. I lifted hard and heavy. Then, when I hit failure, I even did dropsets for a couple of exercises. It was past due! I really needed a good workout to just torch myself. It was upper body day, and that happens to be my favorite, so it was a good day to do it. I would have done it yesterday with lower, but I was still a tad sore from my LB workout on Tuesday (Wed is off day) and I didn’t want to push things too much. I am now waiting on lunch to fnishish cooking and then I’ll head out for some cardio. It a simply beautiful day with a bit of a breeze so I’ll take my mountain bike out for a ride.

So today was my first lower body day with the new equipment. I was really excited to get back to squatting and being able to really load on the weight. There’s only one problem… I couldn’t do that much! I am squatting just a tad more than I bench! I used to do over twice what I am squatting now!! I guess this is a product of having limited equipment. I’ve been restricted to squatting only what I could manage to lift up and over my head to get it on my shoulders.

It bugs the hell out of me. But, I know I have good muscle memory. Even after having not lifted for years, I gained strength back very quickly. So, I’ll try no to freak out for now. On the up side, I did have a good workout today… aside from being disappointed that I couldn’t squat as much as I once did. My legs and abs feel trembly now, which I love.

My dear sweet hubby came home today and asked if he could give me the Christmas present he had just bought me. I asked if it really had to be now, or if he could wait until Christmas. However, we are going out of town for Christmas, and he said he wouldn’t be able to bring it and give it to me then. I knew immediately what it was at that point. My squat rack! Sure enough, that was it. He needed me to come help unload it from the truck. It’s a nice adjustable rack with bench made under the Gold’s Gym logo. The bench also has a detachable preacher curl, and is capable of leg extension, leg curls, incline and decline. He bought an olympic bar and 300lbs of weights. That should do me good. Now to get all my 1 rep maxes figured out again!

 I actually jumped right in there to try out a couple bench presses. I put up 125 fairly easily (sure, it took some effort), so I can’t wait to see what I can do! It’s been a long time since the powerlifting days, and that was just local Army stuff. Nothing big. But it helped further my quest for strength. I’m more excited that I can now do real squats with lots of weight at home. I’ve been limited to what I could lift over my head, which doesn’t do much since obviously my legs are much stonger than my upper body.

My bb.com order arrived this afternoon. I practially sprinted when I heard the doorbell! LMAO, yeah I was a little anxious to get it. I ordred Green Magnitude to give it a try. Also got some protein, CLA and EFAs. I’m going to try out BSN’s Dessert Protein. Sounded yummy, and I needed something new. Also ordered my usual, the Myoplex Lite Chocolate Lover’s pack! Trying a new whey protein, Ultimate Nutrition in vanilla. I love getting thouse huge jugs, and this one is a 5 pounder

So, I’m not sure when I want to start. I know workouts and timing of supplements and meals could be a little tricky with the Christmas season. Especially since I’m traveling and will be spending 2 full days in the car (one there, one back). I guess I’ll have to figure those as my off days! Perhaps I’ll start the Green Mag on Monday which is what I consider the first day of my workout schedule… or perhaps I’ll wait until afte the holiday. I’m kind of torn here. I want to build up some muscle, but still have time to lean out before the weather starts getting warm. So, I’ll want to be pretty lean by the end of April roughly. I do have a lot of leaning out to do. Hmmmm. That’s something to think on. I guess I’ll just go at building some mass and strength and see where it goes from there.  

Good lower body workout today. It feels really good to be back on track. I had my oats and protein before the workout, and will follow up with a shake. My eating schedule is what I really need to get in order now. My classes fall in such a way that my only option is to eat in class, which is technically not allowed. So, that means sneaking a meal bar of some sort since chomping down a sandwich and veggies would be pretty noticable! lol Luckly the semester is almost over so I won’t have to deal with that much longer. Next semesters schedule looks better for fitting in regular meals.

It’s raining today which really make me want to go for a run. I love running in the rain. But I ran yesterday so will have to resist the urge. Maybe I’ll get out on my mountain bike to play in the mud after I get out of class.

… do not go well together! This afternoon I came home and couldn’t resist the urge to grab a few. I then headed out for my run. Nice run, but I was burping red vine the whole way and got a horrible side stitch that usually doesn’t happen. I came home to a nice steak that my lovely hubby had cooked up. Now I’m drinking some new tea that I bought, attempting to finsh some homework and study for finals, and browse the forums. lol

The tea is great though. Good Earth white and green tea blend. I really like it. Drinking tea helps keep me from munching when I’m doing homework. I didn’t lift today, I am still incredibly sore from my Saturday workout and today was also supposed to be upper body. So, I’m skipping today and will resume tomorrow with my lower body workout.

I made it out for a bit of a run today. I just needed to get out of the house and be active to kick start my day. I ran for a little better than 20 minutes. It was windy as hell though. The loop that I ran had me running into the wind for about half of the run. It felt great. My legs were certainly feeling the burn running into the wind like that. Now the challenge is to keep up with my workouts these next two weeks as I finish up the semester. Then with some time off I can spend even longer working out! Some people lose workouts during the Christmas season, I’m going to get more in. Yeah!

I did a great upper body workout today. It felt awesome. Missing the last couple of months actually hasn’t set me back in strength at all! I was thrilled to learn that. At first I started out a little lighter, but soon realized it was too light and just put up the weight I had been and I was fine. I’ll certainly have some DOMS tomorrow though. That’s good new for me, because DOMS have a way of keeping me motivated. The only downside to my time off is that I gained a few pounds. I updated my weight stats today, but hope to be able to update to a nicer number in a month or so. I’ll take all my measurements again soon too.

So, as of the other day I hadn’t logged onto this site in over 2 months. Previously, I was on here multiple times daily to get information, chat, log etc. But at the end of September I found myself back in college at long last. I took a heavy load and it quickly consumed my life. Everything came before the workout. I kept telling myself that I’d get into a routine and my schedule would calm down and I’d have time to workout… but that never really happened. I had sporadic little workouts here and there, but nothing regular. I was feeling like complete and utter crap.

Coincidentally, I was also out of all my supplements. Yesterday I placed a nice big order with bb.com to replenish my stock for 2 months and I got my ass ou of bed and worked out this morning. It felt great! Granted, I’ve lost a little strength, so I took it easy. But the good news is that I’ve only gained a couple pounds, and overall, my fitness seems to be pretty much intact just as good as it was. So, I’m back on track. Today’s workout and logging back onto this site has really got me kick-started again.

 I think by body has been trying to tell me to get my ass back to the weights for a while. I’ve started getting migraines again which I had been free from for years. Little aches and pains from old injuries started to bother me and I used that as excuses not to work out. I think they were bothering me because I haven’t been working out. I’ve lost a little deffinition, but not much so I’m very grateful for that.

As this semester winds to and end I’m going to be prepared come Spring. I am going to write workout times in my schedule just like I do my classes, appointments and my daughter’s school stuff. I will not saccrifice my workouts! No more! They are too important to me. Again, I will be able to tell people… "nope sorry, I can’t then. I’ll be in the gym" like I used to.