12/19/2014 - Day 3 - Legs & Calves

I went back through this blog and was really proud of where I was this time last year. I was in shape, working toward health and pushing forward with great drive. I lost that, somehow. I'm not proud or happy about that. But when I saw this I realized I was in the same place when I started the last time:

This absolutely is recoverable. I can get back in shape. I can lose weight. I can reclaim that body, that feeling of power and pride. This has pushed me, I want, no I need, to succeed and keep this up. I may be married, I may be jobless and I may be a mere student, but I am ready to take responsibility for my body, my health and my life. 

Here goes day three.

Workout, Day 3

Modified Leg Press - Weighted Squat

  Sets: 3

  Reps: 12

  Weight: 20lb

  Rest: 1:00 min

Leg Extension

  Sets: 3

  Reps: 12

  Weight: 25lb

  Rest: 1:00 min

Wide Stance Weighted Squat

  Sets: 3

  Reps: 12

  Weight: 20lb

  Rest: 1:00 min

Seated Leg Curl

  Sets: 3

  Reps: 12

  Weight: 40lb

  Rest: 1:00 min

Standing Calf Raises

  Sets: 3

  Reps: 12

  Weight: 

  Rest: 1:00 min

Seated Calf Raises

  Sets: 3

  Reps: 12

  Weight: 20lb

  Rest: 1:00 min

Cardio

  Treadmill

  Distance: 1.01mi

  Duration: 12:25

8/1/2013 -- It's August! -- Legs & Cardio

I kicked my own butt this morning, no joke. I got up earlier than normal, powered through my weight sets (skipping one of the exercises because I don't have the room/ability to do it at my gym) and then jumped on the elliptical machine for an additional twenty minutes. AND THEN I got home, cooked and packed us lunch (just wait until you see what it is), had a shower and came to work.

Fitbit says I hit 5,000 steps before I even sat down at my desk at 9:00am. That is how I want to start every day because I feel like a million bucks.

Looking forward to our last day of weights for the week tomorrow and carrying this momentum through to the weekend. Happy Thursday!

Thursday weights:

3 set/10 rep Leg extensions @ 40 lbs
3 set/10 rep Wide stance barbell squat @ 20 lbs + bar
3 set/10 rep Single-leg barbell deadlift @ 10 lbs
3 set/10 rep Lying leg curls @ 50 lbs
3 set/10 rep Seated calf raise @ 25 lbs
3 set/10 rep Standing calf raises @ 50 lbs + bar
Skipped: Walking barbell lunch

Cardio:

20 minutes on the elliptical

Total burn: 277

And I was a hot, sweaty mess. :)

7/29/2013 -- Legs

I was writing the title of this entry and it says simply, "Legs". As if it were a simple morning. Not. I had absolutely zero desire to get out of bed. Jason's alarm went off at 5:15. Mine went off at 5:45. I still couldn't seem to find the energy to make it happen. Well, almost couldn't, because somehow, from the pit of my being I drew on some elusive energy reserve and made it happen.

Ugh. My face was all red, my hair was flying away, my eyes were sagging with sleepiness. Yet somehow I powered through.

Monday Weights: 

Standing calf raises @ 50 lbs

Seated calf raises @ 25 lbs

Leg extension @ 40 lbs

Leg press @ 50 lbs

Wide stance barbell squat @ 50 lbs

Lying leg curls @ 40 lbs

Cardio:

10 minutes on elliptical @ avg. 7.5 mph

Unlike most days I was feeling tired afterward. I don't feel energized and I kind of wish I had just stayed in bed. It could be because I'm on my lady time, I dunno, but this was probably the least enjoyable or motivating. I'm looking forward to tomorrow and hoping that it will be a little better, so we'll see. Tomorrow is another day and I'm good with that.

7/25/2013 -- Legs & Calves

Thursday weights:

3 set/12 rep Leg Press @ 50 lbs
3 set/12 rep Leg Extension @ 40 lbs
3 set/12 rep Wide Stance Barbell Squat @ 50 lbs
3 set/12 rep Standing Calf Raises @ 50 lbs
3 set/12 rep sitting Calf Raises @ 25 lbs
3 set/12 rep Seated Leg Curl @ 70 lbs

Okay, I'm just going to come out and say it: The squats kicked my ass. It floors me because I used to be able to squat over 150 pounds. I used to be able to load up the leg press like it was nothing. Now I'm hardly able to push around fifty pounds on any of them. I guess that's kind of what I get for taking a decade long hiatus, but man. It sucks.

Even so, we were out the door by 5:55am and I got through all six of the exercises on today's work out so at the very least I know I'm on the right path. Even if I'm sore all over and just want to go back to bed.

I'm not entirely sure where that big bruise on my thigh came from, but I am pretty clumsy. I didn't even notice it until I was taking this photo, haha. Klutzy Nicole is in the house!