Buffy Buffington gets Buffer

Had vacation day, but went to gym as always at 6:30 a.m.  Anxious and excited for quad workout.  Decided to mix things up a bit and put walking lunges at END of workout instead of first, as usual.  Just a reminder, this week I’m high repping/lighter weights.  Next week, gonna go heavier/less reps…

Friday, 4/17:

Precor/15 min./Prog. 5/Resistance 8

Hack squats - 3 x 15

Split squat - 3 x 15

Reverse lunge - 3 x 12

Walking lunge - 3 x 12 w/ pulse

Hard, but so fun.  Worked up a great sweat and ready to take on the world!  Went home, took dog for walk…lots of energy!  The DOMS are setting in - glutes & quads.  LOVE IT!  Diet has been good, excluding the bar burger I had for lunch.  It was such a beautiful day here in Michigan!!  Gonna hit the gym on Saturday for some a.m. cardio.  Mood is GREAT!

I was back "on" today, peeps!  It was "cardio/tri/abs day".  I am not currently training pecs, but I do occasionally do a "push-up challenge" with myself to maintain.  Pecs were really "popping", and I, personally, don’t feel the need for "poppin’ pecs".

Thursday, 4/16:

Elliptical/15 min/Level 14

BB skulls - 3 x 15

Weighted bench dips (feet up) - 3 x 9,8,8

V-bar push-down - 3 x 15,12,12

Rvs grip straight bar pull-down - 3 x 15

Cap’n chair leg raise - 20, 15, 10

I really didn’t want to leave the gym, but had to go…it was one of THOSE days!  Diet has been dead on today (thank goodness), but I am HUNGRY!  Enjoying filet & sweet potato for dinner soon!  Cannot wait…  Mood has been GREAT!  Today is my "Friday" and we’re gonna do some mountain biking tomorrow, but will NOT forego the gym - it’s "quad day" tomorrow - LOVE IT!

Today was one of THOSE days at the gym.  On the way there, I am excited, anxious, feelin’ strong….hop on the recumbant bike and WHAM! I hit some sort of wall.  The entire time is difficult.  All I want is for it to be OVER, so I can get to the "meat" of my workout - LIFTING!  Cardio done and outta the way, I head to the pull-up station (today was back/bi day), hop up there to do some neutral grip chins and I’m WEAK!  So very, very weak…the rest of the workout followed suit.  Ugh!

Wednesday, 4/15:

15 minutes on recumbant/level 12/"random" setting

Unassisted chins - 3 x 8, 4, 2

Wide-grip pull-downs - 3 x 12, 10, 9

Seated cable row - 3 x 10, 10, 10

EZ Bar - 3 x 21s

Upright hammers - 3 x 12, 12, 12

Diet has been "eh" today - craving carbs, so I’m having ‘em, but I’m going to be over on my calories today, but not by a lot, so I’m not gonna stress.  Mood:  Pretty darn good, all things considered…

Tomorrow’s a new day…

Got a new workout log just for the challenge, peeps!  Can you believe some dude at the gym asked me about my log and said how it’s "old school", how it USED to be popular?  I couldn’t live without my log!

Not sure if Sunday or Monday were technically the "challenge start" days, so I started on Monday, 4/13.

I pre-workout supp w/ 2 scoops White Flood (N.O.); during workout supp w/ 1 scoop Purple Wraath (BCAA’s).  I never eat before my workouts - can’t stomach it.  I do 2 "carb-up" days a week, 1 is within calorie deficit calories, Saturday is my carb-up/refeed day - eat well OVER maintenance (or try to - don’t usually track on Saturdays).

Monday, 4/13:

15 minutes on elliptical (level 12), followed by hammies (going lighter/more reps this week):

ATG squats, 4 x 15, 12, 12, 10

SLDL, 4 x 15, 15, 15, 15

Kneeling ham curl, 4 x 15, 15, 10

Diet was perfect on Monday!  Macros 50p/25f/25f.  Mood:  FANTASTIC, excited, feelin’ great!

Tuesday, 4/14:

15 minutes on elliptical (level 13), followed by delts/abs:

Arnold press, 3 x 18, 15, 13

Iso-lat raise machine, 3 x 15, 15, 15

Upright row, 3 x 15, 15, 15

Bentover rear raise, 3 x 15, 15, 15

Decline leg raise, 3 x 20, 13, 12 (my abs fatigue VERY quickly and BURN!)

Diet almost perfect - couldn’t get enough carbs in for my "carb up", may try again tomorrow.  Cals were good.  45p/25c/30c.  Feeling VERY hungry today!  Mood:  FANTASTIC, pumped, can’t wait to workout tomorrow!

Tomorrow is a NEW day - with endless possibilities… 

So today is the start of the 40+ group’s "8-Week Transformation Challenge" and I am PUMPED UP and excited to get going and start seeing results.  This is just the kick in the ass that I need, at just the right time.  Summer’s coming and I am going to rock my ‘kini all summer long!!

I tend to not be very objective in how I view my own physique.  Seeing my "before" pics from yesterday reinforces not only how far I have come, but how far I still want to go.  I admit, I look pretty good, especially from the front.  However, you will note that I’ve included only 1 pic of my back and NONE of my glutes/hams.  They’re just not "there" yet, folks!  Nothingn to be proud of back there!  lol  Even my back pic makes me cringe.  MUCH TOO MUCH FAT!  Not so much around my lats, but my waist appears so thick…don’t even get me started on my glutes/hams.  NOT a pretty picture!!

My goals for this challenge are as follows:

1.  Uncover my lower 2-pack to complete my 6-pack; and

2.  Lose fat all over (I know you cannot spot reduce), but especially I need to SEE the leaning out in my glutes/thighs/hams/waist vicinity. 

It’s a constant struggle and a long journey for those of use females who started this body-shaping journey after allowing our bodies to go to Hell in a handbasket! LOL  That’s where we gain fat quickly, but it’s the most difficult location to lose fat from.  It’s "hanger on-er" fat and it’s a bitch, I tell ya!  During the following 8-weeks, I intend to keep my diet pristine & my workouts new and challenging.  I’m ready!

I intend to use this challenge to jump-start my leaning out process.  I am determined, I am commited, I am excited and I am motivated!  Look out, boooyyyyzzz! 

Ok, ok, before I offend the CPT’s out there, let me explain myself.  First, I WANT to become a Certified Personal Trainer, so I may be dysfunctional as well!  Or, I’m making a HUGE generalization and I request your patience and forgiveness.

What has prompted this entry, you ask?  The fact that in my small, home-town gym, there are three trainers:  1)  A female who has competed in bb comps in the past, 2) A male who has also competed, and 3) an older male who ALMOST seems completely normal.

As to our lovely CPT #1, I have trained with her on various occasions throughout my membership at this gym, but not in the last 1 1/2 years.  Why?  Because she’s so much more interested in gossip, discussing drinking plans for the weekend, who’s dating whom, than in what I am actually needing and/or wanting from my workouts.  You cannot get a word in edgewise during your entire hour together, and it’s ALWAYS about said CPT!!  She doesn’t wipe down machines after her clients vacate them, she flits about the gym during your session, flirting & chatting with anyone who lets her talk about herself, she welcomes you into HER social circle UNTIL you cease training with her, then she doesn’t even look at you at the gym anymore, just "thru" you, if you know what I mean… I’m assuming you are getting the picture?  Crystal clear, huh?

Now, macho CPT #2, is really a piece of work!  He’s charming, good-lookin’, your regular "tall, dark & handsome" dude.  I have also trained with CPT #2, which entirely pissed off CPT #1, to the point where she quit acknowledging my existence entirely, even though I spoke with her about the switch before I made it.  CPT #2 seems to go about the training process correctly, but his personal life gets in the way - waaaayyy too often.  He can’t commit to a relationship for more than a week, and, when he does get back together with his on-again/off-again girlfriend OF YEARS, there’s always drama, drama, drama, which he LOVES to share with his clients during the workout.  I’m not bashing him nearly as much as CPT #1, because I had decent results while working with him, but c’mon already!  Leave the personal stuff where it belongs!

I think I’ll not comment too much on CPT #3, as I don’t see him often anymore, but I can tell you that while he claims to be "engaged" to a fellow gym-goer, if a woman looks at him sideways, he’d take that as an invitation to hit on her…

So, back to my title:  ARE all CPT’s dysfunctional?  Does it take an arrogant, egotistical, hedonistic personality to succeed in this field?  And I do mean SUCCEED!  None of the above trainers are hurting for clients and those that are with them, have been with them for YEARS!! 

Am I just too sensitive?  Expecting more than your average "Joe/Jill Gym-Goer" from my trainer?

I DO want to be certified as a Personal Trainer, but I’m just not sure I meet the prerequisites…

I’m at that "turning point" in meeting my physique goals - I’m soooooo close!  I have a small amount of fat to lose, but I have some good definition all over my body, so I’ve decided I’m ready to "carve it up"!  lol

In keeping with this goal, I decided to split my leg workouts into one ham day, and one quad day; thus, working legs twice a week.  I was wary at first, because I’ve had significant DOMS almost EVERY time I have done a leg workout - since I started hitting the weights 3+ years ago!!  I wasn’t sure if my recovery rate would allow me to work legs twice a week.

Well, I can!  And, I have!  I’ve only been doing this for 2 weeks.  So, 2 quad workouts, 2 ham workouts, so far.  I LOVE IT!!  I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with my leg workouts.  I dread them ’cause they’re so intense, yet I love them ’cause they’re so intense!   I’m recovering well, although not quite 100%.  I would say more like 97%…

I always write out my workouts the night before, so I am really nit-picking as to whether an exercise primarily hits the ham or the quad.  It seems to be working out great and I’m excited to lose that last bit of fat on my "bits", and see that definition in my legs!  Someday, maybe I’ll even post some pics of my gams! 

I am really loving my workouts right now and feel 110% motivated.  I hope you are too!

I have seriously been considering what to write about in my blog since Friday.   A lot of ideas have come and gone now.  So here I am, just rambling.  I guess my conundrum is that there has been nothing "exciting" to write about.  My cut is going great, as I am down 3.5 pounds in just over 5 weeks, so I know I am doing it right.  I see and feel myself leaning out, and my muscles are "popping".   It really is amazing what the human body is capable of!  I am sometimes in awe at how my body changes overnight and then, bam, NOTHING for days.

I am constanting considering and reconsidering what my goal is and why.  Is it shallow, superficial and vain to say that I am working so hard, spending so much time in the gym, monitoring my diet so closely all with the goal of having people look at me and say, "Holy sh*t, that chick looks amazing!  She is obviously dedicated and has worked very hard to get that rockin’ bod!"  Boy, it’s hard to read that!  But is there more to it?  Is there something else that I am working towards?

I’ve had people at the gym ask me if I am looking to compete, some saying "you’re right there", calling me "the real deal", asking about my workouts and diet, etc.  I always answer "Nope.  I don’t think the rigors of pre-competition diet/training are for me.  Plus, I’m not really a competitive person."  You see, I understand why people decide to compete in bodybuilding, figure/fitness, I just don’t get HOW they do it.  The preparation phase just seems to anti-healthy, anti-fitness, anti-balanced diet, anti, anti, anti….I just can’t wrap my head around it.  And THEN there’s the infamous post-competition phase that I’ve read and heard can be a miserable, mentally "screwy" time due to weight gain, mood swings, loss of motivation, etc.  Why, on earth, would I desire that????  Why would anyone? 

Is it the same reason I work out and aspire to a beautiful, feminine, strong, muscular physique, as I stated above?  So that others will look at them and say, "Damn, that chick looks amazing!  She has worked so hard, her symmetry is perfection…" and then hand them a check for such a miniscule amount that you know they are not doing it for the MONEY!

I am not complaining, only sharing my innermost thoughts and trying to figure it all out.  I do know that when, and if, that morning comes when I wake up, stumble to the bathroom, turn on the light, and look at myself in the mirror and think "Oh, my God, my body is EXACTLY where I want it to be.  It is as perfect as it can ever be and I’ve achieved my wildest dream!", I will continue over to my laid-out gym clothes, sleepily pull ‘em on, and get my perfect "apple bottom" to the gym.  So I guess that’s why I do it, and what I will always do.  It’s now a part of my "everyday", it’s what I do, and it’s who I am.  My name is Brooke and I workout hard, and I am very strict with my diet, and it is worth it to me, and THAT makes ME happy.

That’s really it, isn’t it?  I do this with no absolute goal in mind, but as long as it makes ME happy, I’m gonna keep on doin’ it!

Ramble done, my friends.  Thanks for listening.  And keep doing what makes YOU happy!

It’s been one of those great weeks, my friends!  My diet has been spot on, my workouts have been strong, and my life brings me joy!  We all go through fits-n-starts, do we not?  Days and/or weeks that just SUCK, and we wonder why we even bother striving for something that sometimes either seems unattainable or not really worth the effort.  When I look at everything I do, personally, to achieve the goals I desire, I think, "GIRL, YOU’RE CRAZY!

 I used to be a "junk food junkie".  There weren’t many fast food joints I would drive past; rather I would "drive thru" and pick up a Big Smack with a side of trans fats.  How did I get from there to where I am today?  It’s not that I don’t desire or crave that fast food anymore, ’cause I do!, my mindset if just…..different.  I don’t think about the immediate "buzz" I will get from that food, instead, I think about how it will effect my body tomorrow and the next day.  Will my abs "pop", my biceps "peak", and my quads "sweep" tomorrow if I have the Big Smack today?  Is it a "sacrifice" to NOT hit that drive thru?

I no longer can answer that question "Yes!"  Is it will-power, dedication, motivation, hindsight, vision, perfectionism, confidence, or strength that allow me to drive past that "drive thru" and not feel the pang (or pain) of loss, of "missing out" somehow?

I’m not sure what it is.  I think, in general, it’s that what I’m striving for is so much bigger than the minutiae of those moments of pleasure borne by consuming that junk.  Do I still enjoy a "treat" now and again?  Yes.  Do I experience guilt for it?  No. 

This week has been an epiphany for me.  I AM motivated, and I feel strong and proud of the decisions that I have to make each and every minute of every day to achieve the results I am seeking.  When I reach those goals, what will I do?  I’m really not sure and, at times, it scares me.  But life experience tells me that I will set new goals, make new decisions and continue on this path that I have chosen….or has it chosen me?

This is who I am, what I do, these are the decisions that I gladly make, and each and every day is a new beginning.  NEVER a sacrifice.  Stay motivated, my friends!!

P.S.  I can’t promise that next week will be a "great" one, but I can promise that I will learn something about who I am and what "sacrifices" I am willing to make to reach my goals.  I continuously learn that it IS worth it and I am proud of the choices I make each day!

To be honest, I’m not really sure why I’m posting today.  So far, it’s a good week, but it’s only Monday, so who knows what the rest of the week holds?  I had a weird workout this morning.  I workout at a gym about 10 minutes from home.  My husband and I drive to the gym together, but workout separately.  See, I workout MUCH harder than my husband.  He has become complacent and believes, mistakenly, I OFTEN point out, that at 49 years young, his physique peaked back in his 30s (before I knew him, unfortunately).  Therefore, he does his thing and I do mine.  This morning, I found myself wide awake at 5 a.m. and, knowing that hubby would have to sleep til the last minute before we headed to the gym, I got up and went about my morning routine:  brush teeth, hair in pony tail, don cute gym outfit I laid out the night before, feed and water The Pug, start the coffee (it was scheduled to go off about 45 minutes later), prepare pre-workout drink (White Flood aka nitric oxide), prepare workout drink (Purple Wraath - bcaas), take The Pug outside…yada, blah, yada…I decided that today, since I usually sip my N.O. and still have some remaining by the time we arrive at the gym, I had the time and would consume the entire 16.9 oz before I even had my coffee.  To put it bluntly, I slammed that bitch!  I was thinking to myself, "This is going to be a KICK ASS workout.  I finally finished all my White Flood BEFORE my workout!"  Well, as the morning progressed, my husband awoke (after my yelling at him that he had to get up, as usual - I’m a morning person, HE’S NOT) and I moved on to my coffee.  To put it mildly, by the time we were settled in the car on our way to "my kickass workout", my stomach started to rebel and I felt the tingling and shakiness start to set in.  I was "hepped up" on N.O. + caffeine and my guts were NOT taking it well.

I pushed through the nausea, started my warmup on the elliptical and thought, "Huh, maybe I’m feeling better.  I’m all good…"  As I walked over to grab my DBs for my walking lunges, my knees felt a little wobbly, but I had scheduled a leg day, and dammitalltoheck, I was going to DO MY LEG WORKOUT!!  I huffed and puffed my DBs over to my "lunge route" between the recumbent bikes and ellipticals, and set out for my first set.  I swear to you that within about 5 reps my heartrate was up to AT LEAST 145, and by the time I finished my 24 reps (the first 12 performed with a "pulse"), was AT LEAST 160!  Now, I don’t wear a HRM, but I KNOW my heartrate - I’ve been doing this a long time.  I felt queasy, shaky and SOOOOOOO winded - it was AWFUL, I tell ya, JUST EFFIN AWFUL!  But I HAD TO CONTINUE.  THIS WAS MY KICKASS LEG WORKOUT and by goodness sake, I was going to get ‘er done!  I continued on, completing:

 Walking lunges, 4 x 24 x 50lbs

SLDL, 3 x 15 x 95lbs

Split squats, 3 x 12 x 30lbs

Ham curls on stability ball, 3 x 15

1-leg standing calf raises, 2 x 15 per leg

45 nauseating/heart-wrenching minutes later, I WAS DONE and I HAD SURVIVED, but a lot worse for the wear.  At one point during my workout, I almost gagged when I took a sip of Purple Wraath and switched to straight H2O. The thought of now ingesting protein powder and egg whites was just sheer nauseating…  As my husband and I drove home, kvetching about our respective workouts (he did legs too, but, God forbid, would never consider lunges - they’re for girls), I was simply "spent".  As the morning progressed, my queasiness subsided and became a pounding headache instead, which then subsided (after ibuprofen), and returned to nausea.  By about Noon today, I was feeling good as new and I felt the first signs of DOMs setting in in my glutes, quads and calves. 

 I HAD DONE IT!!  I had survived my "kickass leg workout" and I was going to have killer DOMs to prove it.  As I write this, it is exactly 12 hours since I was in the middle of my walking lunge sets this morning, and my glutes are "yipping" at me.

Lesson learned and a word to the wise:  N.O. IS helpful and it does energize you, but don’t "slam" it, my friends!  Sip it and enjoy it and have your own "kickass workout" tomorrow!