Week 3, day 1 Chest and Back

This was my first workout under the new system. It went really well. I am more focus on my workout and was really able to bring it. I think I am going to enjoy my new schedule.

Week 3: Redux

March 10, 2009

OK, so I have needed to make some adjustments to my schedule to be more time efficient. The goal: Good workouts where I bring it, be clear and focused at work, spend time with William while he is awake, and spend time with the lovely Sara. That is a pretty tall order with only 24 hrs in a day! I was doing my workouts in the morning before I left for work, but that wasn’t working too well. I was preoccupied with the coming day and was not as focused as I needed to be during my workouts. So I wasn’t giving my all, and what is the point of waking up early and doing something suboptimal? It was to the point where I was ready to give up on the program, which would be stupid since I can feel the changes to my body after 2.5 weeks. What will it be like after 13 weeks? This weekend, I went to my parents and had a great visit. It helped clear my head of some of the garbage and I was able to re-focus on what I want from life. So, I have decided to start week 3 over with the following changes. I am working out in the evenings after William goes to bed. That means I will stay up later, which works out with Sara being a night owl. Then I will wake up in the morning with enough time to get ready and have a relaxing breakfast and a little bit of time with William. Tuesday was the first day back, and it went smashingly. Wednesday morning was nice. I think this will work.

Day 13 and 14: Rest

After Legs and back, I was completely wiped out! I made the executive decision to take a break and skip Kempo. Sunday night, now I feel ready for tomorrow.

Day 12: Legs & Back/Ab Ripper X

This was the key workout for me this week. I really push it on this one. I was sweating buckets by the time I was over. It felt good. Since most of the exercises isolate each leg, I can really tell a difference between my right and left leg. I am MUCH weaker in my right leg. When I was doing the skaters, I was able to have good form and balance in my left leg, but was all over the place with my right. Plus, I could only do about half as many lunges with my right leg than with my left leg.

Breakfast: Shake
Lunch: Chef salad
Dinner: Taco soup
Snack: Shake

Day 11: Yoga

Was NOT in the mindset for Yoga. Looking back, I should have traded out legs for yoga today. Like I said, yesterday was really bad at work, so I needed to sling some weights, not try and balance on one leg. My form suffered for it too. I was a little sloppy in my stances, and wasn't motivated to try and push myself. Tip for anyone that doesn't feel like Yoga that day. Trade it out. You will still get the workout you need, but on a different day. Will woke up early again today and wanted to watch Wow Wow, so I killed the DVD with 10 minutes left. That is why I recommend doing another workout if you are not in the mood. You have to be motivated to do something for 1.5 hrs.

Breakfast: Coffee, Protein shake
Lunch: N/A -
Dinner: ?? Orange chicken with rice I think.
Snacks: Protein bar and cottage cheese.

I really need to get to eating better again.

Day 10: Arms and Back

This was a good workout. I am going to sound like a broken record, but my band work is getting better, my form is getting better and I am working my muscles to exhaustion by the end of the workout. I feel that that is a good thing. William woke up a little early today and was watching me workout. He even joined in by grabbing his own band and mimicked my movements. That was pretty funny and cute! I find that even though my muscles are working pretty hard, I am not getting as much lactic burn afterward. Don't get me wrong, I am sore, but I don't feel like I am the Tin Man walking around, like I was last week. Today was a really bad day at work, so I didn't eat during the day, which is bad. I had a protein shake for brekkie, one for afterwork snack, and Island Pork tenderloin with asparagus for dinner. Dinner was really good. The only thing in the nutrition plan that I havent liked has been the shimp stirfry, but I would make any of the others for anyone. Good workout, felt good afterward. This is starting to feel real good:)

Day 9: Plyometrics

Well, I completed goal number 3 for this week! Today was much more difficult that last week. I think there were a couple of reasons for this. First, I worked on getting lower into my stance. I could really feel it in my quads. I also worked on exploding out of my stance and landing on the balls of my feet. This really worked out my calves. I had issue with the lunges, both with balance and with form, so I wasn't able to keep up with the tape. The other area I had trouble with was the 180 ski hop. I think this started pushing me into the red zone. I had to take a little break because I was getting a little light headed. I let them finish it off, then I jumped back and finished up strong. BRING IT!

It was a good workout that really kicked my butt, but in a good way. I was exhausted and sweating by the end. I now know exactly what made my legs so sore last week. I hope my body has gotten use to it this week, but if I am sore that just means I am making progress.

My chest, shoulders and lats are pretty sore today. Yesterdays workout really hit the target areas.

Breakfast: Turkey bacon, scrambled egg whites
Lunch: Chefs salad or something akin at Central Market
Dinner: Pancakes (off diet, but it is Shrove Tuesday.)
Snack:?? I left my homemade protein bars at home today, so I will need to pick something up at Lunch today.