Hello, Spring Break!
The semester is a little over halfway done, and my college is officially off for a week. Durango is starting to finally look and sound like spring: green buds, tiny crocuses, daffodil shoots, and the many songs of returning songbirds. The days are getting longer and (slightly) warmer, and I'm daydreaming badly about summer.
What I would LIKE to do on my spring break: go somewhere with a beach, dig my toes into the sand, scuba dive, drink lots of Mexican beer accompanied by tiny, delicious tacos, explore somewhere I've never been, attempt to speak any language but English, and/or at least leave Colorado.
What I WILL be doing: starting my new job, keeping up to snuff on my school work, and spending time alone thanks to my boyfriend's horrid work schedule.
At least one of our good friends is driving in from Denver for a day, and it will be beyond wonderful to see her :)
I, Amanda, pledge that these next nine days are going to be based around fitness. Or so help me.
No excuses.
No slacking.
No days off.
Better nutrition. Efficient workouts. Everyday. No ifs, ands, or buts.
MWF: Large weights and heavy lifting: bench press, squats, deadlifts, and overhead press; 10 pushups per day.
T,Th: Smaller weight work with dumbbells instead of barbells; 50 air squats per day.
This Saturday and Sunday: Walking, jogging inside or outside, combined 3 hours; 100 air squats each day; 25 pushups each day.
Next Saturday and Sunday: Hiking both days (or snowshoeing depending on weather); 110 air squats per day, 30 pushups per day.
Every day: 3 Nalgenes of water, wake-up at 5 am, 8 hours of sleep (9 pm bedtime!), 1 hour homework/school work, 1 hour pleasure reading.
Nutrition: Breakfast every day! Smoothies, egg scrambles with veggies, sweet potato hash with avocado. Snack healthfully: fruit, veggies, hummus, yogurt. Eat every dinner at home and work on reducing ingredients, amping up spices, and measuring everything. TRACK FOOD!
This is a chance to reset myself. I need to find the perseverance and dedication to do this for ME!
Friday, March 1, 2013
Saturday, February 23, 2013
February 23rd
Happy Saturday! The boyfriend and I had a lovely sleep-in until 8:30, and we're now settling into an afternoon of homework after breakfast at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants, where the owner knows your name and acts like your cool aunt who cooks really good homey Mexican food (think zucchini-corn tamale with an over-easy egg on top) with all-natural and mostly-local ingredients.
Midterm grades are due this upcoming Monday, which means *gasp* we're halfway through the semester! Starting March 4th, we have our week-long spring break, but I'll be starting my new job so I won't really feel like I have a break at all!
I've been focusing on almost 100% weights for my recent workouts, which I'm loving. I tried explaining it to my boyfriend today - how cardio would make me exhausted and bored, but with my barbell/dumbbell workouts I become sore and yet still feel energized. Instead of dreading going to sit on an elliptical for 30 minutes, I look forward to going and seeing if I can increase the weights I'm lifting or better the number of reps I can do!
I also started tracking my workouts on Fitocracy, which is fun because they assign number values to each exercise and track the "level" that you're on based on points. It also seems to have a very active online community (something that will be nice, but I won't get too involved), and sign-up is free.
My nutrition has been far from great lately, which frustrates me because I know that food and alcohol are what has been keeping me from seeing any losses on the scale. The only issue is trying to cater to my 24-year-old roommate, who I love dearly but is pretty picky when it comes to food. On top of that, he's paid me to cook for him, so I don't feel right cooking lots of quinoa, veggies, and other foods that he doesn't seem to whole-heartedly appreciate. Still searching to find a happy medium in this department.
On top of this, my boyfriend now works a whole week at a time before having a week off. Since he can't drink while on duty every night, he wants to have a beer or glass of wine pretty much every night, and he wants me to join him. I realize this is an instance of peer pressure I don't have to give in to, so I need to work on telling myself "no" almost every time that I'm faced with a yummy beer or delicious wine. And also practice moderation, as 2-3 beverages on a few nights per week is NOT okay.
Something I AM proud of is my newest plan to do 100 air squats every other day. It's going great! I've done 4 days of it and my legs feel awesome. I like the fact that I can spread the 100 squats over the course of the day and finish them at my own pace. I'm also doing great with my water consumption - 2 to 3 Nalgenes per day for the last week or so!
xo
amanda
Midterm grades are due this upcoming Monday, which means *gasp* we're halfway through the semester! Starting March 4th, we have our week-long spring break, but I'll be starting my new job so I won't really feel like I have a break at all!
I've been focusing on almost 100% weights for my recent workouts, which I'm loving. I tried explaining it to my boyfriend today - how cardio would make me exhausted and bored, but with my barbell/dumbbell workouts I become sore and yet still feel energized. Instead of dreading going to sit on an elliptical for 30 minutes, I look forward to going and seeing if I can increase the weights I'm lifting or better the number of reps I can do!
I also started tracking my workouts on Fitocracy, which is fun because they assign number values to each exercise and track the "level" that you're on based on points. It also seems to have a very active online community (something that will be nice, but I won't get too involved), and sign-up is free.
My nutrition has been far from great lately, which frustrates me because I know that food and alcohol are what has been keeping me from seeing any losses on the scale. The only issue is trying to cater to my 24-year-old roommate, who I love dearly but is pretty picky when it comes to food. On top of that, he's paid me to cook for him, so I don't feel right cooking lots of quinoa, veggies, and other foods that he doesn't seem to whole-heartedly appreciate. Still searching to find a happy medium in this department.
On top of this, my boyfriend now works a whole week at a time before having a week off. Since he can't drink while on duty every night, he wants to have a beer or glass of wine pretty much every night, and he wants me to join him. I realize this is an instance of peer pressure I don't have to give in to, so I need to work on telling myself "no" almost every time that I'm faced with a yummy beer or delicious wine. And also practice moderation, as 2-3 beverages on a few nights per week is NOT okay.
Something I AM proud of is my newest plan to do 100 air squats every other day. It's going great! I've done 4 days of it and my legs feel awesome. I like the fact that I can spread the 100 squats over the course of the day and finish them at my own pace. I'm also doing great with my water consumption - 2 to 3 Nalgenes per day for the last week or so!
amanda
Sunday, February 17, 2013
February 17th
Ugh. Somewhere very shortly after my last post, I got sucked into a school/exhaustion vortex that didn't spit me out until yesterday at approximately 11:00 am. And of course I'm headed back down the rabbit hole tomorrow, but the good news is that we have only 9 weeks of school left, and only two weeks until spring break!
The bummer news (not really bad, but not totally good either) is that I'm stuck at home for spring break, and I'll be beginning my new job at BREW Pub & Kitchen. My new co-workers and I did a team building yesterday and had an awesome time, and it is so incredibly rewarding to see this brewery be created from the ground up. On the other hand, it's a new line of work for me, and being a server is a scary prospect when your entire work experience for the past six years has revolved around medicine!
I'm DEFINITELY not doing so great food- and exercise-wise, but at least my grades are awesome! Still trying to search for that elusive balance between school, work, and health that I know has to exist somewhere.
Right now I'm enjoying toast with peanut butter, banana, and cinnamon, a cup ofdiesel fuel black coffee, and waiting for my boyfriend to drive home from his overnight shift so we can go watch skijoring in Silverton! (Here's a skijoring video for the uninitiated). It is quite possible that a few rum drinks will be had as well :)
Sunday Full-Body Weight Circuit
3x10 weighted squats (I did 30# - 15# per side)
3x10 deadlifts (20# total, 10# per side - ready to level up to 15# per side)
3x10 chest press (30# - had to split the last set into 2x5 or I wouldn't have finished!)
3x10 tricep dips (despite being body weight only, these are the best tricep exercise ever)
3x10 bicep curl/shoulder press combo (I did 12# bumbbells and I think I can level up to 12.5#)
3x1 minute planks (ouch - keep it up!)
4x25 crunches on stability ball
Full body stretch
40 minutes total with 5 min treadmill warm-up. What a great start to this beautiful Sunday!
xo
amanda
The bummer news (not really bad, but not totally good either) is that I'm stuck at home for spring break, and I'll be beginning my new job at BREW Pub & Kitchen. My new co-workers and I did a team building yesterday and had an awesome time, and it is so incredibly rewarding to see this brewery be created from the ground up. On the other hand, it's a new line of work for me, and being a server is a scary prospect when your entire work experience for the past six years has revolved around medicine!
I'm DEFINITELY not doing so great food- and exercise-wise, but at least my grades are awesome! Still trying to search for that elusive balance between school, work, and health that I know has to exist somewhere.
Right now I'm enjoying toast with peanut butter, banana, and cinnamon, a cup of
Sunday Full-Body Weight Circuit
3x10 weighted squats (I did 30# - 15# per side)
3x10 deadlifts (20# total, 10# per side - ready to level up to 15# per side)
3x10 chest press (30# - had to split the last set into 2x5 or I wouldn't have finished!)
3x10 tricep dips (despite being body weight only, these are the best tricep exercise ever)
3x10 bicep curl/shoulder press combo (I did 12# bumbbells and I think I can level up to 12.5#)
3x1 minute planks (ouch - keep it up!)
4x25 crunches on stability ball
Full body stretch
40 minutes total with 5 min treadmill warm-up. What a great start to this beautiful Sunday!
xo
amanda
Sunday, February 10, 2013
February 10th
For the first time in a long time, I am really, REALLY enjoying winter. I'm enjoying each new snowfall and cloudy day, voluntarily shoveling attempting to shovel the (very long) driveway. It probably helps that Durango is experiencing a pretty mild winter, although the mountains nearby have gotten pounded quite a few times with very substantial snowfall. Although we suffered through a frigid week that averaged lows each night of about -10 degrees Fahrenheit, the rest of the winter has seen daily temperatures reaching the 40s and 50s, with a lot of beautiful bluebird skies.
Although I have been a Coloradan for more than half my life, I am not a skiier. Or a snowboarder. On occasion, I like to snowshoe...on groomed, packed trails. Hmmm, maybe my lack of affinity for snow sports can account for why I normally hate winter? Still, I'm enjoying the simple beauty of all the white stuff we keep getting!
I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, mostly about the fact that I feel like school has led me to live a very boring, mundane life. Pre-school, the boyfriend and I took more than a few very spontaneous trips whenever we had more than two days off together. We drove to Los Angeles simply so that we could be near the ocean for about 10 hours. We embarked on a weekend camping tour of New Mexico hot springs in the winter, and had to quickly adapt when it began to snow mid-trip. And after finally making up (at 11pm) following a pretty bad fight in our first year of dating, we drove from Denver to Breckenridge, enjoyed the mountains and lakes by moonlight, and got a swanky ski lodge room for a very large discount after the hotel clerk found out we'd only be there for a few hours.
Now enter ourselves during this foray back to college. We spend our weeknights mostly doing homework, which is about how our weekends look as well, just with more beer added into the mix. Since this school year began in August, we have taken two weekend trips in-state (to, lo and behold, the same place) and went to Gunnison for five days over Christmas. We have also dreamed a lot about vacations to, among other places: Mexico, Cuba, Hawaii, and Australia.
I don't want us to think that school is some horrible life event that has sucked the very fun out of our existences, because in reality it is setting us up for much better, more comfortable lives than we were headed towards before. In that respect, I have brainstormed a list of five things we can do in the next year (meaning from today, February 10th, 2013 until February 10th, 2014) that will not only be compatible with our new school-centered lives, but will also be affordable life experiences that we will cherish for the rest of our lives. Call it a baby bucket list that's grounded in reality and affordability :)
1. Go skiing together (I might need a skiing lesson beforehand!).
2. Hike three 14ers (peaks over 14,000 feet) this summer.
3. Do a big volunteer project (i.e. Habitat for Humanity).
4. Run a race (we had fun doing the Warrior Dash a year and a half ago, but a simple 5k might be more up our alley).
5. Explore a National Park nearby that we haven't been to before: (Zion (UT), Canyonlands (UT), Dinosaur National Monument (CO), Petrified Forest (AZ), Carlsbad Caverns (NM), White Sands (NM), or Grand Teton (WY) are all ideas.
Summer Prep - Workout and Life Plan (for the foreseeable future)
No-Meat Mondays
~ 20 minutes of cardio
~ 1 hour of resistance/weight training -LEGS
~ eat vegetarian all day long!
TV-Free Tuesdays
~ Ab work for 15-30 minutes
~ 45 minutes to 1 hour of cardio
~ absolutely no TV allowed, unless its a workout DVD. Read a book for pleasure instead - at least 30 minutes.
Wheat-free Wednesday
~ 20 min cardio
~ 1 hour weight training - ARMS
~ no wheat products allowed, including grain-based liquor!
Thirsty Thursday
~ 15-30 min ab work
~ 45 min-1 hr cardio
~ make today include water! That can be lap swimming, extra water or tea intake, or even a long, leisurely walk along the river trail. Be creative! It doesn't mean you actually have to set foot IN water.
Fabulous Friday
~ 20 min cardio
~ 1 hour weight training - BACK/SHOULDERS/CHEST
~ if it's been a good week, treat yourself to some new makeup, nail polish, or anything else that makes you feel fabulous, as well as a fitness magazine.
Sexy Saturday
~ 15-30 min ab work
~ 1 hour of cardio
~ Be sexy! Have a sexy breakfast, wear some sexy underwear, get all dolled up and go out for the evening, or stay in to make yourself a cocktail and watch movies starring your favorite hunk!
Sleepy Sunday
~ Sleep in if you want!
~ Do at least an hour of the workout of your choice. It can be a fitness circuit, an outdoor hike, a long run...anything you want to do that you enjoy.
~ Make a game plan for the coming week including a menu, workouts, and goals.
~ Go to bed early to prepare for the new week ahead.
*I love loose plans like the one above, with set exercise durations/focus areas, and day-specific goals, like all-vegetarian Mondays. We'll see how this goes. I want to be ready to meet summer head-on with a fitter body and lots of energy. Winter will be over in no time!
xo
amanda
Although I have been a Coloradan for more than half my life, I am not a skiier. Or a snowboarder. On occasion, I like to snowshoe...on groomed, packed trails. Hmmm, maybe my lack of affinity for snow sports can account for why I normally hate winter? Still, I'm enjoying the simple beauty of all the white stuff we keep getting!
I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, mostly about the fact that I feel like school has led me to live a very boring, mundane life. Pre-school, the boyfriend and I took more than a few very spontaneous trips whenever we had more than two days off together. We drove to Los Angeles simply so that we could be near the ocean for about 10 hours. We embarked on a weekend camping tour of New Mexico hot springs in the winter, and had to quickly adapt when it began to snow mid-trip. And after finally making up (at 11pm) following a pretty bad fight in our first year of dating, we drove from Denver to Breckenridge, enjoyed the mountains and lakes by moonlight, and got a swanky ski lodge room for a very large discount after the hotel clerk found out we'd only be there for a few hours.
Now enter ourselves during this foray back to college. We spend our weeknights mostly doing homework, which is about how our weekends look as well, just with more beer added into the mix. Since this school year began in August, we have taken two weekend trips in-state (to, lo and behold, the same place) and went to Gunnison for five days over Christmas. We have also dreamed a lot about vacations to, among other places: Mexico, Cuba, Hawaii, and Australia.
I don't want us to think that school is some horrible life event that has sucked the very fun out of our existences, because in reality it is setting us up for much better, more comfortable lives than we were headed towards before. In that respect, I have brainstormed a list of five things we can do in the next year (meaning from today, February 10th, 2013 until February 10th, 2014) that will not only be compatible with our new school-centered lives, but will also be affordable life experiences that we will cherish for the rest of our lives. Call it a baby bucket list that's grounded in reality and affordability :)
1. Go skiing together (I might need a skiing lesson beforehand!).
2. Hike three 14ers (peaks over 14,000 feet) this summer.
3. Do a big volunteer project (i.e. Habitat for Humanity).
4. Run a race (we had fun doing the Warrior Dash a year and a half ago, but a simple 5k might be more up our alley).
5. Explore a National Park nearby that we haven't been to before: (Zion (UT), Canyonlands (UT), Dinosaur National Monument (CO), Petrified Forest (AZ), Carlsbad Caverns (NM), White Sands (NM), or Grand Teton (WY) are all ideas.
Summer Prep - Workout and Life Plan (for the foreseeable future)
No-Meat Mondays
~ 20 minutes of cardio
~ 1 hour of resistance/weight training -LEGS
~ eat vegetarian all day long!
TV-Free Tuesdays
~ Ab work for 15-30 minutes
~ 45 minutes to 1 hour of cardio
~ absolutely no TV allowed, unless its a workout DVD. Read a book for pleasure instead - at least 30 minutes.
Wheat-free Wednesday
~ 20 min cardio
~ 1 hour weight training - ARMS
~ no wheat products allowed, including grain-based liquor!
Thirsty Thursday
~ 15-30 min ab work
~ 45 min-1 hr cardio
~ make today include water! That can be lap swimming, extra water or tea intake, or even a long, leisurely walk along the river trail. Be creative! It doesn't mean you actually have to set foot IN water.
Fabulous Friday
~ 20 min cardio
~ 1 hour weight training - BACK/SHOULDERS/CHEST
~ if it's been a good week, treat yourself to some new makeup, nail polish, or anything else that makes you feel fabulous, as well as a fitness magazine.
Sexy Saturday
~ 15-30 min ab work
~ 1 hour of cardio
~ Be sexy! Have a sexy breakfast, wear some sexy underwear, get all dolled up and go out for the evening, or stay in to make yourself a cocktail and watch movies starring your favorite hunk!
Sleepy Sunday
~ Sleep in if you want!
~ Do at least an hour of the workout of your choice. It can be a fitness circuit, an outdoor hike, a long run...anything you want to do that you enjoy.
~ Make a game plan for the coming week including a menu, workouts, and goals.
~ Go to bed early to prepare for the new week ahead.
*I love loose plans like the one above, with set exercise durations/focus areas, and day-specific goals, like all-vegetarian Mondays. We'll see how this goes. I want to be ready to meet summer head-on with a fitter body and lots of energy. Winter will be over in no time!
xo
amanda
Friday, February 8, 2013
February 8th
It's FRIDAAAAAAAY!
This week has been a rough one for me. Spotty eating, one workout on Monday....yeah, it hasn't really been the best. Apparently I'm really good at forgetting this VERY true quote:
So with that, I'm going to spend the weekend re-remembering how to take care of myself, which involves planning food, figuring out a week's worth of workouts, and working on getting more sleep. Today, I'm simply going to enjoy my first day off with my boyfriend in a week and go for a couple's massage tonight to celebrate our 5th anniversary.
More tomorrow!
xo
amanda
This week has been a rough one for me. Spotty eating, one workout on Monday....yeah, it hasn't really been the best. Apparently I'm really good at forgetting this VERY true quote:
So with that, I'm going to spend the weekend re-remembering how to take care of myself, which involves planning food, figuring out a week's worth of workouts, and working on getting more sleep. Today, I'm simply going to enjoy my first day off with my boyfriend in a week and go for a couple's massage tonight to celebrate our 5th anniversary.
More tomorrow!
xo
amanda
Monday, February 4, 2013
February 4th
Every year, we get around fifty-two Mondays. Being a blank-slate lover, I probably enjoy these dreaded days of the week more than most people. Mondays mean that another week is laid out before me, one that I can make as perfect as I please. My typical perspective on a Monday morning is that the week is going to be great.
Come Wednesday or Thursday evening, I usually have to revise that thought, but the fact is that we should appreciate Mondays more! Mondays set the tone for the next five days, and the horrors of the week before have been buffered by the weekend (usually). So it stands to reason that Mondays might rightfully deserve to be our second-most favorite day of the week (after Fridays, of course). Here's how I started my Monday:
~ 5 am wake-up.
~ 5:30 gym arrival
Back To Reality/Monday Workout
- 5 min warm-up on treadmill
- 3x30 second wall sits with arm extension (6# weights)
- 3x20 weighted donkey kicks (6#)
- 4 sets of weighted squats with 30# + bar (reps: 10, 7, 5, 6)
- 3x10 tricep kick-backs (1 set with 8#, 2 sets with 7#)
- 4 sets of assisted pull-ups with 100# assist (reps: 10, 6, 5, 5)
- Pushups on knees (reps: 10, 10, 12)
- 3x10 lat pulldown (70#)
- Kneeling rows (10 with 10#, 20 with 12#)
- Plank rows (12with 12#)
- 1x10 reaching romanian deadlifts, 8# medicine ball (my legs were toast at this point and these require a lot of balance - not as many reps as I hoped! Find the diagram for this exercise here)
- 2-min moderate run on treadmill, 3 min walk
~ Breakfast: 1 Chobani banana yogurt, 1slice of whole wheat toast with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter and cinnamon, a small apple, and 16oz of coffee with 2 teaspoons of whipping cream (the best!) and 1 packet of Splenda. Oh, and I ate another 1/2 slice of toast with some p.b. pre-workout so I didn't have to exercise on an empty stomach.
~ Shower
~ 8 am Microeconomics class
Now I'm home, and after blogging I'm going to head out and buy groceries for dinner - my favorite pork and hominy stew!
Happy Monday!
xo
amanda
Come Wednesday or Thursday evening, I usually have to revise that thought, but the fact is that we should appreciate Mondays more! Mondays set the tone for the next five days, and the horrors of the week before have been buffered by the weekend (usually). So it stands to reason that Mondays might rightfully deserve to be our second-most favorite day of the week (after Fridays, of course). Here's how I started my Monday:
~ 5 am wake-up.
~ 5:30 gym arrival
Back To Reality/Monday Workout
- 5 min warm-up on treadmill
- 3x30 second wall sits with arm extension (6# weights)
- 3x20 weighted donkey kicks (6#)
- 4 sets of weighted squats with 30# + bar (reps: 10, 7, 5, 6)
- 3x10 tricep kick-backs (1 set with 8#, 2 sets with 7#)
- 4 sets of assisted pull-ups with 100# assist (reps: 10, 6, 5, 5)
- Pushups on knees (reps: 10, 10, 12)
- 3x10 lat pulldown (70#)
- Kneeling rows (10 with 10#, 20 with 12#)
- Plank rows (12with 12#)
- 1x10 reaching romanian deadlifts, 8# medicine ball (my legs were toast at this point and these require a lot of balance - not as many reps as I hoped! Find the diagram for this exercise here)
- 2-min moderate run on treadmill, 3 min walk
~ Breakfast: 1 Chobani banana yogurt, 1slice of whole wheat toast with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter and cinnamon, a small apple, and 16oz of coffee with 2 teaspoons of whipping cream (the best!) and 1 packet of Splenda. Oh, and I ate another 1/2 slice of toast with some p.b. pre-workout so I didn't have to exercise on an empty stomach.
~ Shower
~ 8 am Microeconomics class
Now I'm home, and after blogging I'm going to head out and buy groceries for dinner - my favorite pork and hominy stew!
Happy Monday!
xo
amanda
Sunday, February 3, 2013
February 3rd
Holy crap, it's February!
That is pretty much how I start off every single month, because time truly goes by so fast that a whole month passes in the blink of an eye. So what do i do at the start of each new month when trying to get healthy? Size up the month that just ended, of course.
January was not an exemplar month. My fitness was very hit-and-miss, and my nutrition had both pros and cons. On a positive note, I did actually get in actual physical activity for the month (which, sadly, can not be said for other months previous). Also, I ate about 85-90% of my meals at home. On the other hand, I was not very careful with calories, and of course home-cooked meals do NOT equal healthy meals 100% of the time. However, I did find some fabulous recipes (Philly Cheesesteak-Stuffed Peppers, anyone?) that I will certainly be making more of in the future.
I also managed to get through the first round of my class exams, with As across the board. That truly makes me happy, especially since I struggle a lot more with motivation and good study habits in this winter/spring semester than I do in the fall.
I kicked my own butt at the gym last night, amidst quite a few gym-goers who were accomplishing nothing in the hour and a half that we crossed paths. I'm sorry, but if you are just going to sit there and actually read a book for fifteen minutes between each set of 2-3 reps that you do, could you please move out of the way so I can do my walking lunges? I left knowing that I thoroughly exhausted my muscles, which made me feel accomplished, strong, and happy :)
Here are two fitness sites that have really been motivating/inspiring me lately:
~ Greatist
~ NerdFitness
And here's an awesome quote I found that certainly hit home...
That is pretty much how I start off every single month, because time truly goes by so fast that a whole month passes in the blink of an eye. So what do i do at the start of each new month when trying to get healthy? Size up the month that just ended, of course.
January was not an exemplar month. My fitness was very hit-and-miss, and my nutrition had both pros and cons. On a positive note, I did actually get in actual physical activity for the month (which, sadly, can not be said for other months previous). Also, I ate about 85-90% of my meals at home. On the other hand, I was not very careful with calories, and of course home-cooked meals do NOT equal healthy meals 100% of the time. However, I did find some fabulous recipes (Philly Cheesesteak-Stuffed Peppers, anyone?) that I will certainly be making more of in the future.
I also managed to get through the first round of my class exams, with As across the board. That truly makes me happy, especially since I struggle a lot more with motivation and good study habits in this winter/spring semester than I do in the fall.
I kicked my own butt at the gym last night, amidst quite a few gym-goers who were accomplishing nothing in the hour and a half that we crossed paths. I'm sorry, but if you are just going to sit there and actually read a book for fifteen minutes between each set of 2-3 reps that you do, could you please move out of the way so I can do my walking lunges? I left knowing that I thoroughly exhausted my muscles, which made me feel accomplished, strong, and happy :)
Here are two fitness sites that have really been motivating/inspiring me lately:
~ Greatist
~ NerdFitness
And here's an awesome quote I found that certainly hit home...
xo
amanda
Monday, January 28, 2013
January 28th
Re-Set Workout (because I didn't really behave during my weekend away :(
LEGS:
~ 3x20 air squats (holding a 10-lb medicine ball)
~ 2x20 walking lunges (holding 12-lb dumbbells)
~ 3/10 curtsy lunges (with 8-lb weights - hammer curls on curtsy)
ARMS:
~ 3x20 plank push-ups (ouch!)
~ 3x10 bicep curls on cable (20#)
~ 3x16 tricep dips
BACK & CHEST:
~ 3x10 supine chest press (at least 15#)
~ 3x10 seated shoulder press (12.5#)
~ 3x10 seated rows (55#)
CARDIO:
~ 5 minute warm-up, 15 minute treadmill jog, 10 minute cool down
STRETCHING:
~ Focus on glutes, legs, and arms. Foam roller advised :)
Above is my method of torture for tomorrow morning. Following it up with a big breakfast and a full day of school. As for now, I'm going to forget about my pitiful lack of self-control and self-discipline this weekend...
xo
amanda
LEGS:
~ 3x20 air squats (holding a 10-lb medicine ball)
~ 2x20 walking lunges (holding 12-lb dumbbells)
~ 3/10 curtsy lunges (with 8-lb weights - hammer curls on curtsy)
ARMS:
~ 3x20 plank push-ups (ouch!)
~ 3x10 bicep curls on cable (20#)
~ 3x16 tricep dips
BACK & CHEST:
~ 3x10 supine chest press (at least 15#)
~ 3x10 seated shoulder press (12.5#)
~ 3x10 seated rows (55#)
CARDIO:
~ 5 minute warm-up, 15 minute treadmill jog, 10 minute cool down
STRETCHING:
~ Focus on glutes, legs, and arms. Foam roller advised :)
Above is my method of torture for tomorrow morning. Following it up with a big breakfast and a full day of school. As for now, I'm going to forget about my pitiful lack of self-control and self-discipline this weekend...
xo
amanda
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
January 23rd
I have decided Wednesdays are my weigh-in days, so today I stepped on the scale! My weight loss goal for January was a safe 5 pounds, but of course I have been hoping for much more. On January 2nd, at the doctor's office, I weighed 201 pounds. Today, twenty-one days later, I weighed in at 195.4 pounds. This is by no means a pleasing number for me, but I recognize its value in being almost 6 pounds lighter than 21 days ago! Of course, the most frustrating part is that although I have been watching my exercise and food and feeling like a weight loss champ, today's number is a 0.4 pound increase from last week. However, I've got 8 more days left in the month, so I want to see where this can go!
Whew. Posting my weight in a public place, and being completely honest about it, is a big step for me. I'm happy because I decided today that it was time. This means that I am not only feeling better about myself and my body, but also that I am confident that I am headed in the right direction.
I haven't felt like this in a long time. Happy. Healthy. I'm even beginning to feel pretty again. It's amazing what losing a measly 5 pounds (while gaining some muscle and definition) can do to your outlook of yourself.
I know this is going to be a long, hard battle. I have the unfailing tendency to self-sabotage time and again, as well as the unfortunate history of giving up when things get too hard. My only wish is that my boyfriend would join me on this journey. He's been grudgingly going to the gym with me most mornings, but his food choices haven't gotten any better, and he just doesn't seem to think that anything needs fixing! I worry because part of the reason I gained every single pound back that I lost before was because he wasn't onboard with my healthy lifestyle. His bad eating habits and sedentary lifestyle slowly crept their way back into my lives, so quietly that I didn't even realize it for the longest time.
This confidence and strength that I'm feeling means it's time to take it up a notch. I need to extend my cardio sessions, incorporate more lower body resistance work into my strength training, and be more vigilant about my calorie intake. Much as I hate to admit, it might be time to count calories again. Ugh.
This weekend, the BF and I are going north, to Colorado wine country. He's attending a conference, but I will be hanging out with his mom and little sister. I can't take this small break as an excuse to become a slacker! As I've learned before, even just a weekend of not working out makes me more likely to stop going to the gym completely when I get home.
I also can't use it as an excuse to eat what I want. His family has a lot of self-control when it comes to food, and generally has a lot of good snacks hanging around the house that they eat sparingly. Limiting my intake of these is crucial, as well as trying to limit my wine tastings, since alcohol makes me incredibly snack-ish.
As I've found out before, having a plan helps me succeed. Guess that means I need a plan for the weekend!
Mini Weekend Away
Exercise:
~ Workout DVDs - P90X Abs, Cardio Kickboxing, and Jillian's No More Trouble Zones
~ Remember to pack workout clothes, yoga mat, water bottle, and 5-lb weights
~ Find a trail to walk/jog nearby if possible, for some fresh air!
Food:
~ Limit alcohol
~ Limit snacks. Bring lots of fresh fruit
~ Watch portions if eating out
Other:
~ Catch up on sleep
~ Stay caught up on homework - if possible, use it as an excuse to refrain from unhealthy activities!
~ When stopping at Mouse's (best chocolate in Colorado), only get one piece!
~ Make myself proud
I guess I will see how it goes...all I'm concentrating on now is getting through 8 1/2 hours of school tomorrow before we can finally leave!
xo
amanda
P.S. Daily victory - running for 8 minutes straight on the treadmill at the gym at 8:30pm. And yeah, it was only at a 4.5 speed. And yeah, it was only 8 minutes. But if anyone knew what a HUGE accomplishment that is for me, they'd also know how incredibly psyched i was afterwards. Running high!!!
Whew. Posting my weight in a public place, and being completely honest about it, is a big step for me. I'm happy because I decided today that it was time. This means that I am not only feeling better about myself and my body, but also that I am confident that I am headed in the right direction.
I haven't felt like this in a long time. Happy. Healthy. I'm even beginning to feel pretty again. It's amazing what losing a measly 5 pounds (while gaining some muscle and definition) can do to your outlook of yourself.
I know this is going to be a long, hard battle. I have the unfailing tendency to self-sabotage time and again, as well as the unfortunate history of giving up when things get too hard. My only wish is that my boyfriend would join me on this journey. He's been grudgingly going to the gym with me most mornings, but his food choices haven't gotten any better, and he just doesn't seem to think that anything needs fixing! I worry because part of the reason I gained every single pound back that I lost before was because he wasn't onboard with my healthy lifestyle. His bad eating habits and sedentary lifestyle slowly crept their way back into my lives, so quietly that I didn't even realize it for the longest time.
This confidence and strength that I'm feeling means it's time to take it up a notch. I need to extend my cardio sessions, incorporate more lower body resistance work into my strength training, and be more vigilant about my calorie intake. Much as I hate to admit, it might be time to count calories again. Ugh.
This weekend, the BF and I are going north, to Colorado wine country. He's attending a conference, but I will be hanging out with his mom and little sister. I can't take this small break as an excuse to become a slacker! As I've learned before, even just a weekend of not working out makes me more likely to stop going to the gym completely when I get home.
I also can't use it as an excuse to eat what I want. His family has a lot of self-control when it comes to food, and generally has a lot of good snacks hanging around the house that they eat sparingly. Limiting my intake of these is crucial, as well as trying to limit my wine tastings, since alcohol makes me incredibly snack-ish.
As I've found out before, having a plan helps me succeed. Guess that means I need a plan for the weekend!
Mini Weekend Away
Exercise:
~ Workout DVDs - P90X Abs, Cardio Kickboxing, and Jillian's No More Trouble Zones
~ Remember to pack workout clothes, yoga mat, water bottle, and 5-lb weights
~ Find a trail to walk/jog nearby if possible, for some fresh air!
Food:
~ Limit alcohol
~ Limit snacks. Bring lots of fresh fruit
~ Watch portions if eating out
Other:
~ Catch up on sleep
~ Stay caught up on homework - if possible, use it as an excuse to refrain from unhealthy activities!
~ When stopping at Mouse's (best chocolate in Colorado), only get one piece!
~ Make myself proud
I guess I will see how it goes...all I'm concentrating on now is getting through 8 1/2 hours of school tomorrow before we can finally leave!
xo
amanda
P.S. Daily victory - running for 8 minutes straight on the treadmill at the gym at 8:30pm. And yeah, it was only at a 4.5 speed. And yeah, it was only 8 minutes. But if anyone knew what a HUGE accomplishment that is for me, they'd also know how incredibly psyched i was afterwards. Running high!!!
Sunday, January 20, 2013
January 20th
My huge, delicious breakfast/lunch smoothie:
1/2 packet Justin's peanut butter
1/2 cup plain Kefir
1/2 Tbsp chia seeds
1 1/4 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 small banana
1/2 c frozen berries
1/2 c frozen pineapple and mango
1 handful spinach
1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder
565 calories and 22 grams of protein. And it tasted delicious! I don't normally put so much stuff in my smoothies - I'm a fan of simply fruit, almond milk, spinach, and protein powder - but I didn't have anything for breakfast but coffee, so I figured I might as well go all out. I was surprised at how un-peanut butter-y it tasted - I've never put peanut butter in my own smoothies before, so I was wrongfully worried that's what it would completely taste like!
I took my younger dog to the dog park today and ran the bejeesus out of her, with the help of our trusty Chuckit ball thrower. I got a lot of dog therapy in, as well as some Vitamin D.
Tonight, I cooked dinner for my roommate and I - chicken thighs with crispy skin, brussels sprouts with browned butter and sage, and mashed sweet potatoes. Oh, and some beer :) I'm pretty sure I still kept my calories well within the 1250-1400 range.
Tomorrow:
Week Three Day Two of the Pull-up Challenge
P90X Abs
Microeconomics
Various bits of homework
A trip to my new job to fill out paperwork
This weekend was far too short, wouldn't you agree?
xo
amanda
1/2 packet Justin's peanut butter
1/2 cup plain Kefir
1/2 Tbsp chia seeds
1 1/4 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 small banana
1/2 c frozen berries
1/2 c frozen pineapple and mango
1 handful spinach
1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder
565 calories and 22 grams of protein. And it tasted delicious! I don't normally put so much stuff in my smoothies - I'm a fan of simply fruit, almond milk, spinach, and protein powder - but I didn't have anything for breakfast but coffee, so I figured I might as well go all out. I was surprised at how un-peanut butter-y it tasted - I've never put peanut butter in my own smoothies before, so I was wrongfully worried that's what it would completely taste like!
I took my younger dog to the dog park today and ran the bejeesus out of her, with the help of our trusty Chuckit ball thrower. I got a lot of dog therapy in, as well as some Vitamin D.
Tonight, I cooked dinner for my roommate and I - chicken thighs with crispy skin, brussels sprouts with browned butter and sage, and mashed sweet potatoes. Oh, and some beer :) I'm pretty sure I still kept my calories well within the 1250-1400 range.
Tomorrow:
Week Three Day Two of the Pull-up Challenge
P90X Abs
Microeconomics
Various bits of homework
A trip to my new job to fill out paperwork
This weekend was far too short, wouldn't you agree?
xo
amanda
Friday, January 18, 2013
January 18th
Aaaaaand....I've been knocked out by yet another round of sickness. This stuff really is getting on my nerves! Especially when I'm beginning to feel so jazzed up by exercise, and healthier and stronger...being sick has knocked me out by 7pm every night and made me a pretty stagnant person overall. I haven't been able to motivate my sick butt to go to the gym, so the past few days have consisted of LOTS of sleep, lots of Tylenol, and zero workouts.
On the front of actually beginning to craft an interesting blog, instead of just a daily diary of my boring life: I'm studying some interesting things this semester at school that seem blog-able in regards to fitness, including a class with the first unit solely devoted to figuring out who we are as individuals (with regards to how we will interact and where we will do well in the business world) - what our innate temperaments are, what our strengths are. I'm compiling them into an interesting post about how that all relates to health, but for right now I'm just trying to get all my homework done on time!
What I've been most proud of since getting back on the wagon again is my newfound control when it comes to food. I found this superpower once before, three years ago when I lost a bunch of weight in a healthy, sensible way. It's amazing how I can easily say 'no' to lots of things, as well as easily adjust to smaller portions, with my stress cut in half (i.e. no job). However, I have found out that no matter how well I'm doing, if I have even a half-glass of beer in me, which means I'm not remotely buzzed, I start shoveling in the food like there's no tomorrow. Just another reason why I need to seriously decrease my alcohol consumption, no matter how low it is at the present time (2-3 beers or glasses of wine per week - I'm thinking ONE drink per week is the magic number).
Goals for this weekend and coming week:
1. Increase water intake from 64 oz daily to 80-96 oz daily.
2. Complete Week 3 of the Pull-up Challenge.
3. Start a food diary - but no calorie counting yet!
4. Do 3 days of P90X Ab Ripper X.
xo
amanda
On the front of actually beginning to craft an interesting blog, instead of just a daily diary of my boring life: I'm studying some interesting things this semester at school that seem blog-able in regards to fitness, including a class with the first unit solely devoted to figuring out who we are as individuals (with regards to how we will interact and where we will do well in the business world) - what our innate temperaments are, what our strengths are. I'm compiling them into an interesting post about how that all relates to health, but for right now I'm just trying to get all my homework done on time!
What I've been most proud of since getting back on the wagon again is my newfound control when it comes to food. I found this superpower once before, three years ago when I lost a bunch of weight in a healthy, sensible way. It's amazing how I can easily say 'no' to lots of things, as well as easily adjust to smaller portions, with my stress cut in half (i.e. no job). However, I have found out that no matter how well I'm doing, if I have even a half-glass of beer in me, which means I'm not remotely buzzed, I start shoveling in the food like there's no tomorrow. Just another reason why I need to seriously decrease my alcohol consumption, no matter how low it is at the present time (2-3 beers or glasses of wine per week - I'm thinking ONE drink per week is the magic number).
Goals for this weekend and coming week:
1. Increase water intake from 64 oz daily to 80-96 oz daily.
2. Complete Week 3 of the Pull-up Challenge.
3. Start a food diary - but no calorie counting yet!
4. Do 3 days of P90X Ab Ripper X.
xo
amanda
Monday, January 14, 2013
January 14th
As far as Mondays go, this one has been fantastic! Since my boyfriend was away at work overnight, and since my iPhone has an awesome new update that lets me pick any song I want as an alarm tone, I popped out of bed at 5 am to Don Omar's Danza Kuduro. (*if you're opposed to music videos with lots of skin, i.e. skimpy bikinis, please don't watch this link to the original music video!)
If you're a fan of The Fast and The Furious movies, you might recognize it from the latest installment, Fast Five. Since it's in Spanish and Portuguese, I have no idea what they're saying, but it's awfully catchy! It's also my pump-up song for when I really need to get jazzed, and it works like a charm!
So I woke up rarin' to go, and got to the gym in pretty good time. I changed into my new workout top (!), my new sports bra (!!), and my new Nikes(!x1000).
My workout today was short and sweet - 10 minute blast on the elliptical followed by a good old Leg Killing: weighted squats, weighted donkey kicks and side leg lifts, and sumo squats with a medicine ball, and then another 10 minute elliptical session. Ouch! I did enough reps to seriously weaken my legs...and I LOVE IT!!!!
I've gone on a total cooking/baking spree recently. Here's what I've made in the past few days:
Raspberry-Chocolate Banana Bread (sinfully delicious, but healthier than you'd expect!)
My mom's recipe for Buttermilk Bread (the best bread ever, and it turns out fantastic every time)
Mom's Beef Stew (with extra veggies)
Goodness Bars (for my long days at school)
Spicy Chicken and Avocado Enchiladas (amazing! And fairly easy to make, too!)
My second workout today was the (ever-painful) P90X Ab Ripper X. It works my quads, hip flexors, and abs better than anything else!
I am also 100% caught up on my homework, which makes me a happy girl. What a productive and awesome Monday!
xo
amanda
If you're a fan of The Fast and The Furious movies, you might recognize it from the latest installment, Fast Five. Since it's in Spanish and Portuguese, I have no idea what they're saying, but it's awfully catchy! It's also my pump-up song for when I really need to get jazzed, and it works like a charm!
So I woke up rarin' to go, and got to the gym in pretty good time. I changed into my new workout top (!), my new sports bra (!!), and my new Nikes(!x1000).
My workout today was short and sweet - 10 minute blast on the elliptical followed by a good old Leg Killing: weighted squats, weighted donkey kicks and side leg lifts, and sumo squats with a medicine ball, and then another 10 minute elliptical session. Ouch! I did enough reps to seriously weaken my legs...and I LOVE IT!!!!
I've gone on a total cooking/baking spree recently. Here's what I've made in the past few days:
Raspberry-Chocolate Banana Bread (sinfully delicious, but healthier than you'd expect!)
My mom's recipe for Buttermilk Bread (the best bread ever, and it turns out fantastic every time)
Mom's Beef Stew (with extra veggies)
Goodness Bars (for my long days at school)
Spicy Chicken and Avocado Enchiladas (amazing! And fairly easy to make, too!)
My second workout today was the (ever-painful) P90X Ab Ripper X. It works my quads, hip flexors, and abs better than anything else!
I am also 100% caught up on my homework, which makes me a happy girl. What a productive and awesome Monday!
xo
amanda
Sunday, January 13, 2013
January 13th
At the end of my day, right as I'm falling asleep, I'm usually bombarded with a whole list of things I forgot to do. Now that I am currently jobless and trying to better myself, I am working hard on making sure my days are as organized as possible. So I am beginning to compile a "To Do" list for various parts of my day, a list that I can accomplish throughout the day and that is dependent on the day as well, seeing as how I have three different types of days...
Tuesdays and Thursdays are my high stress days. I begin my first of four classes at 8 am. Each class is two hours, and there is only ten minutes separating each of them. I end at 4:30 pm.
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are my low stress days. I have one class from 8 to 9 am and then I'm done for the day. However, these are the days when I do the majority of my homework.
Saturdays and Sundays are what I consider zero stress days. Yeah, I still have to do homework, but I usually have no set wake-up time or set schedule to finish up the remaining homework from the previous week.
Because of this, my "To Do" lists vary from day to day. For Tuesday and Thursday, it's pretty simple, short and sweet (almost 100% focused on taking care of myself and getting through the day), but on the other days of the week I'm able to add more tasks outside the realm of simply taking care of myself.
Here's my T/Th To Do's:
1. Brush teeth twice today!
2. Don't forget food to eat (I am going to test a few recipes for good nutrition that can be baked in bar form rather than turn to Luna or Clif bars. I want whole, good foods, and bars are very portable)
3. Remember to bring all books, notebooks, laptop, and charger to school.
4. Stay positive!
5. In the evening, make sure things are ready for the next day - pack school bag, organize food, put together gym bag.
Obviously, my list for those days is silly and a little unnecessary for most people, but it certainly helps me! However, my lists for the other days are a little more involved...
M/W/F To Do's:
1. P90X Abs - between gym and school if time, otherwise right after class.
2. Wipe down the bathroom.
3. Vacuum bedroom.
4. Grocery shopping, if needed.
5. By 12 pm, check class and textbook websites for all classes and double-check due dates. If anything is critically due, attend to that before anything else.
6. Drink a big cup of tea and have a half hour to read a non-school book, paint nails, take a bath, etc.
7. Cook dinner. On Mondays and Wednesdays, prep food to take to school the next day that is portable and easy to eat.
I will also be starting my new job in a few weeks, and I recently agreed to start cooking food for one of my roommates, although I probably won't be charging him very much! Still, it's an added responsibility, so I have to manage my time wisely, instead of just brushing off cooking and going out for pizza with my boyfriend. Eeks! I feel like I've gained a kid.
Today's To-Do's are a little customized:
1. GO TO THE GYM WHEN DONE WITH THIS POST. NO EXCUSES!
2. Come up with a menu plan to give to above-mentioned roommate, as well as an hourly rate for cooking and a possible amount to charge him (because as much as I'd rather do it for free, the BF and I just can't afford it!).
3. Do homework due tonight and start on homework due Monday and Tuesday.
4. Take my dog out and run the crap out of her so she's not such a crazed, frenetic bundle of fur.
5. Wash the sheets and catch up on laundry
6. Bake raspberry-chocolate banana bread!
Okay, off to the gym for Pull-Up Project Week 2 Day 2! I'm trying out some caffeine before my workout to see if it really does help me bang out more reps. I'll report back tomorrow!
xo
amanda
Thursday, January 10, 2013
January 10th
The first week of the semester is almost over! Seeing as how I only have one hour-long class tomorrow with nothing due, I've practically started my weekend already. And while I've figured out that my classes will certainly not allow slacking, I am absolutely loving them, even after only two class periods per class.
Today was day 2 of 2 for my rest days. I actually only meant to have one, but due to my still-strained shoulder, as well as an alarm snafu this morning, my poor aching body got two. I can't wait to hit the gym tomorrow, work my upper body once more, and get the muscles moving. I'll be starting my second week of the pull-up challenge!
Something I seem to be having issues with in my life this week is smooth transitions. Going from the gym to home to school in the mornings seems choppy and rushed (I generally wake up at 5:15, get to the gym between 5:45-6:00 am, arrive home around 7:00, and leave for school by 7:45), as well as smaller transitions, like the ten minutes I have between my classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Ultimately, I want to increase my efficiency, especially when it comes to utilizing my time. So of course I turned to Pinterest to give me a few ideas, and I wasn't disappointed. Here's a few new foods and ideas I plan on using in my life to make things just a little bit easier :)
Cinnamon Quinoa Bake that can be cut into bars for breakfasts on-the-go.
Apple-Peanut Butter Snack Bars for the days I need a healthy and energizing bite to eat and only have five minutes to get it!
I need to sit down this weekend and work out an organizational system for all my papers. I hope it's half as pretty as this.
To-do each day for myself:
1. A big mug of tea.
2. A hot shower or an early bedtime
3. Endorphins via workouts :)
4. Lots of water for a healthy body and glowing skin
5. A few games of sudoku for a healthy brain distraction
xo
amanda
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
January 8th
I completed Week 1 Day 3 of the Pull Up Challenge today! It was pretty challenging, seeing as how my upper body has had almost no chance to recover and wasn't at a very fit baseline to begin with. I have a strained muscle near my right shoulder blade that's been giving me hell for about four days, and no amount of foam rolling or stretching or yoga will make it feel good again. My two-day break couldn't have come at a better time.
Speaking of yoga, my boyfriend and I went to our local brewery last night for their Happy Hour Yoga. It's held pretty much every Monday, and $10 gets you an hour yoga with a very enjoyable, lovely instructor, as well as a beer. Could there be a better deal in town? I think not, especially when it comes to yoga.
Day 3 Pull Up Challenge
10 minutes elliptical, manual setting, to warm up
2x10 shoulder circuits
2x10 band pull aparts (graduated to medium band today!)
2x10 wall slides
2x10 plank pushups
3x15 wide grip lat pulldown (70#)
4x11 dynamic side plank (these are rough!)
3x16 alternating dumbbell chest press (12#)
4x11 bent over dumbbell row (10#)
3x15 hanging knee raise (rough, braced arms instead, I kept slipping when hanging!)
3x15 bicep cable curl (most at 20# but I had to decrease to 10# to bust out the last 5 reps)
10 minutes elliptical, manual setting, to boost heart rate before ending!
Crappy stretching at home thanks to personal trainer and two late-starting "Resolutionists"hogging the entire stretching area.
School has started up again. Today was only my second day, and my four classes came in at two hours a pop, which meant I was at school from 8am to 2:30 pm with only 10 minutes between classes. Luckily, I started the day off right with a good workout and a healthy breakfast :)
Tomorrow I'll do a little leg work, a lot of cardio, and stay away from my upper body. It deserves a rest! Then eggs, bacon, and pumpkin bread for breakfast, one class from 8-9am, and I'm home free for the day...to do heaps of homework for my T/Th classes :(
Also, I got a job! It doesn't start for a while, but I'm pumped!!!!
xo
amanda
Saturday, January 5, 2013
January 5th
I'll admit, yesterday was a lazy day for me. My boyfriend and I did a few things around town that needed to be done, including both picking up my final check from my previous place of employment and also closing down my Wells Fargo account (spurred by ridiculous amounts of fees that I was finally just sick and tired of). Talk about feeling FREE! I feel like I've shed all the weight of stress that was built up over countless months, and even though I have the niggling worry at the back of my mind that I'm currently jobless, I do have a few job prospects that are coming along, including one I should here back from tomorrow!
In the meantime, we splurged a bit last night for our semi-annual Back to School/Last Hurrah dinner and went to our favorite sushi place (granted, we went during happy hour which saved us a good chunk of money). I filled up on WAY too much sushi and found it IS actually possible to get painfully full off of it. Who knew.
My food today was quite good...I nibbled here and there, which I tend to do when home alone. Breakfast was a piece of toast with peanut butter and a huge mug of tea after my 6am workout, and was followed by a nap. After waking up and wondering if my early morning workout was really just a dream, I went to pick up our CCSA (Cooked Community Supported Agriculture) order from our favorite local, organic food purveyor here in town. The woman is amazing. She took a typical summer occurrence (many farms in the area do summer CSA's and give you a full box of veggies every month or week) but this woman is going above and beyond to help some farms who are struggling with the winter. Our share included a dozen farm-fresh eggs, 4 types of winter greens (resulting in about a pound total), and a selection of homemade foods such as frozen soups (Chipotle Pumpkin, Cream of tomato, and Swiss Chard, Chantarelle, and Asparagus Stew), salsa, pumpkin bread, Apricot Ginger preserves, Curry Stuffed pumpkins, Chinese Stir-fry, and Tomatoes with Spinach. The food is beautiful, clean and looks amazing, and each food is 5-6 ingredients or less. I can't wait to dig in!
Workout wise, I'm still recovering from Day 1 of this workout, but it's on to Day 2 tomorrow! My upper back and shoulder muscles are so tender that I can barely take a deep breath and expand my rib cage, but it's beautiful pain that means progress, not injury!
Pull-Up Workout, Day 2*
2x10 Shoulder Circuits
2x10 Band Pull Aparts
2x10 Plank Push Ups
3x15 Assisted Pull Ups
4x11 Cable Anti-Rotation Press (2 sets per arm)
3x15 Seated Narrow Grip Row
4x11 Low Wood Chop (2 sets per arm)
4x11 Standing One-Arm Cable Chest Press (2 sets per arm)
3x15 Straight Arm Pull-down
*Once again, all information on these exercise can be found via the link to the workout.
If I'm feeling up to it, I think I'll add in some cardio, maybe the elliptical, a treadmill workout, or this machine-free method (courtesy of backonpointe.tumblr.com). It's a Sunday - i'm just gonna go with the flow!
xo
amanda
In the meantime, we splurged a bit last night for our semi-annual Back to School/Last Hurrah dinner and went to our favorite sushi place (granted, we went during happy hour which saved us a good chunk of money). I filled up on WAY too much sushi and found it IS actually possible to get painfully full off of it. Who knew.
My food today was quite good...I nibbled here and there, which I tend to do when home alone. Breakfast was a piece of toast with peanut butter and a huge mug of tea after my 6am workout, and was followed by a nap. After waking up and wondering if my early morning workout was really just a dream, I went to pick up our CCSA (Cooked Community Supported Agriculture) order from our favorite local, organic food purveyor here in town. The woman is amazing. She took a typical summer occurrence (many farms in the area do summer CSA's and give you a full box of veggies every month or week) but this woman is going above and beyond to help some farms who are struggling with the winter. Our share included a dozen farm-fresh eggs, 4 types of winter greens (resulting in about a pound total), and a selection of homemade foods such as frozen soups (Chipotle Pumpkin, Cream of tomato, and Swiss Chard, Chantarelle, and Asparagus Stew), salsa, pumpkin bread, Apricot Ginger preserves, Curry Stuffed pumpkins, Chinese Stir-fry, and Tomatoes with Spinach. The food is beautiful, clean and looks amazing, and each food is 5-6 ingredients or less. I can't wait to dig in!
Workout wise, I'm still recovering from Day 1 of this workout, but it's on to Day 2 tomorrow! My upper back and shoulder muscles are so tender that I can barely take a deep breath and expand my rib cage, but it's beautiful pain that means progress, not injury!
Pull-Up Workout, Day 2*
2x10 Shoulder Circuits
2x10 Band Pull Aparts
2x10 Plank Push Ups
3x15 Assisted Pull Ups
4x11 Cable Anti-Rotation Press (2 sets per arm)
3x15 Seated Narrow Grip Row
4x11 Low Wood Chop (2 sets per arm)
4x11 Standing One-Arm Cable Chest Press (2 sets per arm)
3x15 Straight Arm Pull-down
*Once again, all information on these exercise can be found via the link to the workout.
If I'm feeling up to it, I think I'll add in some cardio, maybe the elliptical, a treadmill workout, or this machine-free method (courtesy of backonpointe.tumblr.com). It's a Sunday - i'm just gonna go with the flow!
xo
amanda
Thursday, January 3, 2013
January 3rd
Call me crazy, but I am SUPER psyched about how sore and weak my arms feel after my work out today. I can't wait to see what they look like in three weeks on my pull-up program!
Today was a rather boring day. I am in between jobs at the moment, and instead of enjoying it, I've become incredibly paranoid. Since I'm not in school or working, I constantly feel like there is something I need to be doing that's slipped my mind.
Right now, I am in the interview process for a new brewery in town. I've never worked in the restaurant industry, so I'm sure it will be a challenge, and I know it's making the owners a little apprehensive about hiring me. I've tried to convey how badly I want to work there, as well as the fact that I have experience multi-tasking and thinking on my feet, just not in a waitress position! From the sound of it, this new brewery encompasses everything I admire - an entrepreneurial spirit, small and local roots, and the desire to do things - especially beer - the right way. I have all my fingers and toes crossed, and I hear back from them on Monday!
Tomorrow I'm focusing on cardio - see my treadmill workout here.
Dinner tonight is Tamale Pie (from the Supermarket Diet cookbook) and I'm planning on my own version of this delicious carrot cake oatmeal from Oh She Glows!
Goals for tonight are some quality reading time, a big mug of tea, and an early bedtime.
xoxo
amanda
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Happy 2013!
I am one of those obnoxious people who believes that to begin something new, it must be one of two days:
a. Monday
b. the first day of the month
It should come as a surprise, then, that I've never been one for New Years. I don't draw up a bunch of resolutions, or hit the gym on January 1st (although I was tempted to drag my boyfriend to our gym at midnight and ring in 2013 on the elliptical, if merely for mad props alone), and rarely do I even stay up until midnight.
So, naturally, tomorrow will be the first day of the year that I will actually go to the gym. I've been keeping myself plenty busy, just not by exercising!
Tomorrow I will start this plan for getting myself pull-up ready. Woot! I figure it will be a great way to get in my arm work three days a week while working towards a specific goal.
Four more days until school starts!
The Procrastinator's New Year's Day Workout
30 minutes elliptical, circuit setting
2x10 IYTWO shoulder circuits*
2x10 resistance band pull-aparts
2x10 wall arm slides
2x10 plank pushups
3x15 close grip lat pulldowns
5 minutes of rowing to get that heart rate back up!
3x15 pushups
3x1 min planks
3x15 standing wide grip cable pulls
3x15 bicep curls with shoulder press
3x15 standing push/pull on opposing cable systems
30 minutes elliptical, manual setting
*All descriptions of these exercises can be found as links themselves, through the link to the actual work out.
xo
amanda
a. Monday
b. the first day of the month
It should come as a surprise, then, that I've never been one for New Years. I don't draw up a bunch of resolutions, or hit the gym on January 1st (although I was tempted to drag my boyfriend to our gym at midnight and ring in 2013 on the elliptical, if merely for mad props alone), and rarely do I even stay up until midnight.
So, naturally, tomorrow will be the first day of the year that I will actually go to the gym. I've been keeping myself plenty busy, just not by exercising!
Tomorrow I will start this plan for getting myself pull-up ready. Woot! I figure it will be a great way to get in my arm work three days a week while working towards a specific goal.
Four more days until school starts!
The Procrastinator's New Year's Day Workout
30 minutes elliptical, circuit setting
2x10 IYTWO shoulder circuits*
2x10 resistance band pull-aparts
2x10 wall arm slides
2x10 plank pushups
3x15 close grip lat pulldowns
5 minutes of rowing to get that heart rate back up!
3x15 pushups
3x1 min planks
3x15 standing wide grip cable pulls
3x15 bicep curls with shoulder press
3x15 standing push/pull on opposing cable systems
30 minutes elliptical, manual setting
*All descriptions of these exercises can be found as links themselves, through the link to the actual work out.
xo
amanda
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