Getting Back In it Slowly

I am having one of those days.

I can't wait to get to the gym tomorrow and get some work done. Tomorrow is a leg day, my favorite day of the week. I began to love the responsibility of taking care of my own workouts.  I get to do everything that I want to do and nothing that I don't. So, tomorrow I will lift, squat, lunge, and step-up on boxes to my heart's content. Maybe I will even row a little, you never know. I am looking forward to a nice, slow, intense session of lifting heavy things and putting them back down.  After almost a week of being out I desperately need some "bar" therapy.

I had a training session with a new trainer today and I am not sure if I can truly roll with this trainers style. It's fun, it's new, but I am use to a more methodical, scientific approach to training.  I am not saying that it is all bad, this trainer had some great moves that I will be incorporating into my routine, but today was not the day to do them. The entire workout my body was not cooperating, I could feel my elbow swelling, my lungs being full of post sickness "gunk" and my body was slow and sluggish. Most of the time I could not breath and my energy levels were in the dumps. That's what I get for being sick this long! It's okay, though, tomorrow is a new day and tomorrow I am going to be in a full -on beast mode!

In other news, I spent almost the entire weekend researching topics that I want to write my "in depth" weekly blog entries about. I am excited to say that this Saturday I will have something special up for you guys. Also, I just received the NASM book, so I am extremely excited to start reading it. Stay tuned.

FINALLY!

I can't tell you how excited I am today. I finally felt good enough to go to the gym and lift some weights! Yay!

When I got to the gym I felt like a child that was released into the candy store. I wanted to do everything all at once. The voice of reason, however, reminded me that I must not give in to my fitness ADD and just stick to the program. So, I stuck to it.

Today was my upper body day. After going through my first set of exercises  I felt a touch "fried". I think I over zealously pushed myself a little harder then I should have after a long absence. Second and third set of exercises I breezed through, which tells me that I probably need to increase the weight or the number of reps, and finally when I got around to training my biceps, I was completely bored. I need to come up with a more creative ways to train my biceps or at least get them engaged when I am doing my lower body. Finally, I trained abs today as well. Again, I need a more creative way to train abs. I am very bored with my Russian Twists and V-ups and Captain's Chair exercises...

The more I continue working out at the small, private gym that I go to, the more I realize how much I miss having  someone to spot me, talk to, and workout with. I use to dislike training with other people, now I feel like I need a pack.

I think I am going to start looking for an excepting bunch of body builders to take me under their wing. I think it is time to be part of a group.

Living Vicariously Through My Friends

I think I already said this before, but being sick or having to stay away from my normal workout routine due to an injury turns me into  an incredibly grumpy person. I am on day four of forced rest and I am itching to go back to the gym. Logically I understand that rest is required, that I will be able to come back to my routines quicker if I give myself time to rest and rejuvenate, but emotionally I am a mess. Over the last few years I have gotten use to leaving my stress at the gym, and although there were moments of self doubt about my fitness progress, I never doubted one thing -- working towards my fitness goals made me very happy.

Since I could not go to the gym this morning due to this incessant sinus infection, I decided to relive some stress by doing simple meditation. Granted, I haven't meditated in a long while, but I have to say, it has nothing on lifting heavy weights or doing 30 burpees. It just isn't the same for me. I am really looking forward to finally being able to keep my date with the Smith machine at some point this week.  

So, dear friends, since I can't be out there doing pullups, pushups, squats, and deadlifts, get off your butts and go do something active for me. A few pushups, a few bench dips, some jumping jacks, superman planks, and burpees will totally make your day! Seriously, go do it, then call me and tell me all about it. 'cause I AM DYING HERE!!!! :) 

Allergies? Cold? Weight lifting? Crossfit?

Although I am not too sure if I am having a really bad case of allergies or if I am beginning to get sick. Regardless, I pushed through my cardio today just in case it is allergies. I regret nothing! Well, maybe I regret that I only had 20 minutes... Either way, it is so unfair to feel this under the weather just days before my race. If I don't feel absolutely horrible tomorrow, I have a date with Murph and hopefully some sore back muscles afterwards. I guess when lifting doesn't get you sore, turn to crossfit! I have high hopes for you, Murph! Don't let me down!

All I Need is 20 Minutes to Feel Human Again.

In the last few days my workout times have been all over the road. I am a person of routine and consistency, I got my body use to having a natural boost of endorphins in the morning and having to work out at night have turned me into a grumpy, stressed, mean girl. I am making it an effort to get my workouts back on normal morning schedule. Even if it means getting to the gym at 5 am.  

That being said, I don’t know what I would have done to the world today if it had been for my 20 minutes of cardio this evening. I wish I had the time for a full 45, but 20 is all I had to spare. I guess you have to get it in where you can, right?

Lift Against Stress.

It has been a crazy day without anything crazy happening in it. Well, not out of the ordinary crazy anyway. Maybe it is because I was over caffeinated this morning, or because I didn't get enough sleep, but I just couldn't wait to get to the gym today. I was driving home, and going through the worst panic attack I had in weeks.When I got to the Rev, walked on the treadmill for a while and then dove straight in to my workout, it felt like a veil has lifted. With each shoulder press, bicep curl, and triceps push-down, I felt better and better. I wish this feeling would last all day!

No More Doubting!!!

Oh, I really should kick all this doubting out of my life for good. My legs are sore today! Yay! I went out to the gym and hit the treadmill for some speed work on an incline. My legs began to feel weak 15 minutes into my intervals, but I finished strong. I can’t wait to be able to run outside! All this pollen is really getting to me today.

The Trees Did It!

I most definitely miss running in the “heard”. I can’t wait for the next race (3/23/13)!!! Woohoo STAMPEDE!!!

Today was my cardio day. I planned to go out and run splits on a neighboring high school’s track, but I did not make it. Despite the fact that spring was not suppose to come early this year, the trees decided to bloom anyway.  It is a little disappointing considering that it was a beautiful, sunny day. Instead of getting my well deserved dose of vitamin D I had to go to the gym and run on the treadmill. The workout itself went well, although I think I should aim to increase my incline a little to make it more difficult. I am pretty sure that I could have given it a little more than I did. I am miserable. I think it might be time for an allergy shot already.