The View from the Classroom

Those few of you that have been keeping up with me know that this past week was my first week of school with students.  You also know that I haven’t been on here AT ALL….a testament to how darn busy I have been.  Busy isn’t bad.  Just different when you’re used to no structure whatsoever in your day.  Anyway, thought I’d write and let y’all know how it went…

First, I’m not used to the "1st week" of school being a full week.  In all my 5 years of teaching, students have never started on a Monday.  In my pre-teaching days, I thought that was just plain stupid, but shortly after my very first "week" of school, I changed my thinking on that.  The first days of school are a big adjustment for teachers and students.  Routines (including ones for sleep) must be established and the teacher’s body must adjust to being on the feet constantly while talking much more than usual.  Additionally, for us bodybuilding, diet-conscious teachers, diet and workout routines must be adjusted to fit the working life that we so quickly erased from our memories upon hitting the first day of summer break.

So….my first week…workouts were mostly great…I made both of my 5:30am cardio sessions though I was questionning my sanity all the way to the gym both times…afterwards, I felt great, so I was glad I made it, especially on Thursday…I was one of the few teachers NOT looking like I’d been beaten up and battered just wanting to crawl into a hole for the rest of the year…

Weights were lifted in the evenings and there was only one day where I was really feeling weak…Wednesday…chest and tri’s…started off great…8 reps at 95lbs on the bench press…I know you’re thinking 95lbs? that’s all?  For me that is an awesome feat…most I’ve lifted in a way long time…and to do it for 8 reps (ok, maybe it was 6 with a little help from hubby on the last 2), I was proud of myself…I think that zapped me though…let’s just say I finished the workout, went home, ate, fixed my meals for Thursday and hit the sack…I slept wonderfully well.  (Remember, I had to get up the next morning for my 5:30am cardio!)  Felt MUCH stronger Thursday evening and had a pretty good leg workout…still taking it a little easy, but have managed to add squats, leg press and extensions to my workouts…feeling REALLY good about that!

Diet…mostly clean, which since I’m bulking, that’s what it’s about, right?  Staying MOSTLY clean?  Days were easy…I had my meals prepared and didn’t touch the crap in the lounge…donuts, mainly…I was literally STARVING in the evenings the first couple of days…wanted to eat everything in sight, but did ok (not great, just ok)…adjusted the amounts of food I took to school with me toward the end of the week and wasn’t quite so hungry those evenings. 

My trainer and I decided that Friday evening would be my official cheat evening (I’ve NEVER really had an official cheat anything!).  I looked forward to it all week…hubby and I decided on a restaurant only to find a cardboard "closed" sign on the door.  So, we tried a mediterranean grill place that we hadn’t been to…it was good, but really not cheat worthy…the entrees were pretty clean…I felt a little cheated on my cheat meal….not to worry…being the ice cream junkie that I’ve become, I opted for the double dip hot fudge sundae with reeses peanut butter cups sprinkled on top later that evening…now that’s what I’m talking about!!  YUM-O :) 

So now it’s the weekend…I’m catching up on my sleep…slept til 6:30 yesterday and 7:15 today and I get to sleep in tomorrow too…woohooo!!!!….gonna do some shopping with my daughter (unless her other plans pan out…teenagers…that’s ok, it will be her loss)…catch up on my magazine reading…do a little bit of work…teachers ALWAYS take work home…and just plain relax a little…

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 2nd, 2007 at 6:33 am and is filed under Just Thoughts on Stuff. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.