crlgrl’s BodyBlog

Took me awhile to get motivated enough to go to the gym today but thanks to some fellow bodyspace members, fitnblnde5 and romantic1983, I finally went in. I did chest/tri/abs today. I do back to back exercises. Started of with push ups (I don’t have to do girl push ups anymore!!! (:), 2 hand DB over head press and planks for 4 sets. Next group wasIncline DB flies, decline 2-handed tricep kick backs and more planks for 4 sets. And lastly I did incline DB presses with a twist at the top, dips and decline sit ups for 4 sets!!

I haven’t blogged any of my work outs this week so…..Friday I was off because I worked a 12 hour shift. Thursday was back and biceps. Wednesday was legs and abs. My gym doesn’t open on Sunday but I may do shoulders at home tomorrow!!

Thanks again for getting my butt to the gym today!!!

Christmas is finally over and I am craving some real food!! Every year after eating junk for several days I just start to crave salad and veggies. I got smart this year and bought some bagged salads and spinach. Today is back to good eating and the GYM! I haven’t been in a week. This time of year is also the time of year when the population at the gym really picks up….for awhile. During the last 10 years of being in a gym regular I’ve seen the NY resolution people come and go, usually within a months time the gym is back to normal. And I must admit that every year I think "Hurry and give up so I can have my machines back." But this year I’ve had a little change of heart and I think it is because of this site. I’ve read many peoples blogs and progress charts who are really struggling daily to lose weight, eat better, stay motivated, make it to the gym, compete, relieve depression and many other healthy goals. Meeting people here has made people at the gym real to me. I don’t really socialize at the gym, I may chat quickly with my little circle of friends but other than that my Ipod is blasting and I’m in and out in less than an hour. It’s kind of my time. Being a nurse, I spend 12 hours a day caring and giving to other people and when I get home..it’s more of the same. For some reason my 2 teenage sons have no problem with asking me what’s for dinner after those 12 hours. So the gym is ALL ME!!!! But this year if I see someone who looks lost looking at the hip abbductor or alone, I’m going to think about this site and the people I know here and maybe give a little of my ME time. To all my bodyspace friends have a GR8 ‘08!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just read an article last night about tanorexia. I’m not sure I really believe that someone could be physically addicted to tanning beds but I know people use them when it’s not really a good decision. I used to have a friend who had these brown, raised mole like things on her legs that tanning made get bigger. She got to the point of having to go to her dermatologist to have them burnt off. You would think that would deter her from using tanning beds but it didn’t. She would tan and get those things burnt off. I suggested trying one of the spray tan places but she said it made her smell bad. Then I suggested some of the self tanning lotion which is what I use but it was too much trouble she said. Go figure!! She wasn’t the brightest crayon in the box!! I know it feels good to tan, so warm and relaxing but I just don’t see people having tanning DT’s. Apparently, nowadays people can become addict to just about anything.

I did back today starting with the assisted pull up contraption. After about 30 of those I did incline DB press for chest with 25# DB’s for 20 reps 4 sets. I also did some push ups while working on the pull ups. Those are 2 exercises I rarely see any one at my gym doing?? Then I did seated machine rows for the lats and seated machine chest press. I did BB bent over rows with 55# for 4 sets and cable flyes with 40# a piece. I finished up back with some cable press downs for 4 sets with 70#. I also did some stability ball crunches with a 15# DB and some V-ups with a 5# DB between my feet.

Well, I guess I don’t have to tell you but I’ve been a pretty good girl this year. After looking through the bodyspaces here I’m ready to make my list of the things I want for Christmas.

1. I want legs like FrogPrincess

2. I want arms like MsFitness

3. I want a back like Ava Cowan

4. I want a butt like DMBsAmricanBaby

5. I want boobs like Kag

6. I want writing ability like BodyAuditor

7. I want endurance like FrogPrincess

8. I want calves like nursenic

9. I want determination like DawnMelanie

10. I want abs like Katnap

11. I want lots of supplements in my stocking.

P.S. I leave you some muscle milk and cookies!!!!

Today was back day and I worked on my pull ups, as I always do on back day since that is my goal, to get 5 unassisted pull ups. I started my work out with 30 assisted pull ups and 10 under hand pull ups. I did V-ups with a 5# DB betwixt ( theres a word you don’t see often) all my pull up sets. Next I moved on to T-bar row using the inside grip for 4 sets and did crunches on the ball with a 15# DB. Then I went to lat pull downs with the D-ring wide grip for 4 sets and continued with the crunches. I finished up with kneeling cable pull downs with the D-ring handles back to back with seated cable rows. I don’t know the name of the handle I used on the rows, sorry. I feel like my back work outs are working. I have no idea of how to pose but I think I see some baby lats sprouting???

Monday was leg day for me again. I started off again with walking lunges with 25# DB’s for 100 lunges. Next was good mornings, I haven’t done them in awhile, so I threw them in. GR8 for the glutes and lower back but one that you can really hurt yourself on if you don’t go light enough to keep proper form. Next was the leg press for 6 sets. 2 at the top of the platform with wide stance, 2 in the middle with shoulder width stance and the last 2 feet together at the bottom of the platform. The last position really hits that little muscle right above the knee and to the inside. Next was BB squats for 5 sets and finished up with leg extensions. My legs have that wobbly feeling inside so I know it was a good leg work out!! I remember several years ago when I was doing super heavy weight esp. for legs, were talking 10- 45# plates for reps!!!!! And not really seeing much significant change. I realized I was lifting like a power lifter and I was looking like a power lifter. Then I started going lighter, more reps and quicker tempo, in the begining, to lose weight and figured out that the pump is where it’s at! My body, esp. my legs, really started to show change. They became more muscular, more taut and more like the shape I was after. So now, even though I can lift heavy, I stick with a weight that I can use to pump blood to the muscle I’m working. Much better results!!!

I’ve been working on my pull-ups the last few weeks; my goal is to do 5 un-assisted pull-ups. I always start my work out with them and do about 30 before moving on to my other exercises. Today, just for kicks, I decided to try some under hand grip pull-ups and was totally suprised when I did 7 un-assisted ones!! That tells me that I must be getting stronger somewhere. Anyway, after pull-ups I did 6 sets of seated over head lat rows and then 5 sets of cable rows for the middle back and finished up with cable press down which have the same movement as a DB pull over but I seem to get a better burn using the cables and they don’t seem to hurt my elbow either. I’m just glad I forced myself into the gym today…I was SO not motivated in the begining!!!!

So I did shoulders at home yesterday and I did shoulder presses on my stability ball with 20# DB’s. My middle back is SO sore I guess just from having to hold myself differently. I also did up-right rows with DB’s and lateral raises with a resistance band. I’m glad I don’t have to work out at home every day or my motivation would really wane!!!!!!

In to the gym today to do arms. I started off with spider curls back to back with close grip bench press, 4 sets of each. Next was hammer curls with seated 2-handed DB over head press (that’s a mouthfull) 4 sets of each. I finished up with bicep cable curls with the D-handle and D-handle one arm press downs for triceps. I’m just trying to maintain on arms right now but still like to work them out hard and this work out really got them pumped!!!

Yesterday was leg day at the gym. I love leg day!!!! I started of with lunges back in the aerobics room which is about 30 steps long, 4 sets carrying 20# DB’s. Next was leg extensions for 5 sets 60, 70, 70, 80, 80 drop set. OUCH! Feel the burn! Then I moved on to my favorite……deadlifts. 85# for 4 sets. Then front squats, I started using these pretty regular in my leg routine about 6 months and really like the way they feel on my quads. I finished up with cable kick backs; I haven’t done these in forever!!!! I am SO sore today and I’m supposed to run bleachers with a friend this afternoon. (: I don’t see too many people working out legs at my gym; it’s predominately male, and even less people doing walking lunges and even less doing them correctly! For me, they are so important. They always give me a good work out and I know they are the cause of my butt being sore, which is a good thing. Squats are another biggie, but again your form needs to be correct esp. when going heavy. And your stance needs to be changed up some, if you do wide feet everytime you are limited. I see SO many people at my gym who never seem to change but then again their routine never changes, they do the same thing over and over and wonder why they never see any diference. Change for me is a constant, otherwise I’d die of boredom!!!!