Training 2014 - Week 35

This week Sarah and I worked out Monday (Labor Day) morning and early Wednesday morning.

Monday the gym was unusually busy for a Labor Day.  There were people everywhere!  I guess that's a good thing, but we had to modify some of the machines we used because there were so many people.  Monday was a super-setting day.  It was pretty upper body heavy, too.   We also used the prowler.  Barf.  I'm not sure if I ever loved the prowler, but I definitely hate it now.  Sarah initially added 140 pounds of weights to the prowler, but that was a tad to heavy.  So, she brought it back down to 90 and that was too light.  We finally settled on 110.

Wednesday was an early workout since I was working at my least favorite location and I am trapped there until 430.  I so wanted to cancel because I had a tough time sleeping and 5 am came way too fast.  I made it to the gym and I survived the day.  Wednesday was lower body day.  We started with the step ups and those were awful.  I hate them.  I did accomplish a PR today when I did straight leg deadlifts!  I did 125 pounds, which broke my previous PR of 115.

I have to admit I've been feeling a little blah and lost lately with my workouts and diet.  It's when I do stuff like PRs that I feel good and inspired to continue on.  I have to remember to remain focused, but also remind myself that Rome wasn't built in a day.  I'll blog more about this later.  Right, now I am feeling sleepy from my lack of sleep last night.

Training 2014 - Week 31

This week, Sarah beat the crap out of me.  Seriously.

Sunday was cray-cray.  First of all, I set a straight leg deadlift PR of 115 pounds.  I did one full set of that and boy was it tough.  (The other two sets were at  85 and 95 pounds)  I  always feel fabulous when I break a personal record.  Next, she put me on the rowing machine, which I HATE!!!  And we then did lat pulldowns.  Now, I don't mind lat pulldowns at all.  My only complaint is that I need to remember to buy some gloves to wear.  We started at 85 pounds, which I have done in the past.  Unfortunately, the deadlifts and rowing made gripping really difficult.  We had to lower the weight twice on the pulldowns, which I hate to do, but there was no way I could grip heavy weights after the deadlifts.

Since Sarah took jumpboard and learned what it was all about she's kind of taken it easy on my legs on Wednesdays.  I appreciate her looking out for me, but it is really impossible to kill my legs.  Seriously,  my legs are crazy strong and can take a beating.  Jumpboard Pilates may seem like fun and games, but we're some of the toughest broads around.    I asked Sarah to NOT take it easy on me.  I can handle whatever she throws at me.

So, Wednesday we started with Icarian Super Squats, my favorite!!!!!  We did 230 pounds.  It was challenging, but I think we can bump it up a little more next time.  I gotta get that ass built up more.   We also did kettle bell deadlifts.  We did battle ropes again at the end.  I'm kind of starting to hate the battle ropes, but I prefer them to kettle bell swings and I feel like they get my heart rate up higher than kettle bell swings ever did.

I always feel good after my two workouts, but I felt really good this week and like I had accomplished a lot.

Next week, we will be training early Wednesday morning and Friday afternoon.

Training 2014 - Week 15

I worked out on Monday and Wednesday this week.  It was back to business as usual after last week's recovery week.  Actually, this week ended up being PR week.

Monday was upper body.  It was my basic, tough upper body day.  I did set a new bench pressing PR which I blogged about here.  It was quite exciting to set a new PR.

Wednesday was legs.  Wow, talk about tough.  I actually forgot to take my UCAN before the workout but I still did really well and that's not why it was tough.  It would have classified as a tough workout either way.  I set two PRs on Wednesday.  220 pounds during my squatting on the super squat machine.  I'm not sure if it was one or two sets at that weight because Sarah increased the weight after one of the sets.

I also did a PR on the prowler push with 265 pounds.  I did the higher grip on the one way and the lower grip when I returned the prowler to the starting location.  I think I was slowest on my first round of the low grip.  I had never done the low grip before and I was a little unsure of being that low and pushing.  That was my last exercise for the hour.  I'm glad I still had some wind in my sails.

I was tired when we were done.  Tired.  Tired.  Tired.  I can't wait to get back at it on Sunday!!!

Bench Press PR

Today I met with Sarah for training.  It was upper body day and she really challenged me today.

One of our exercises today was bench press.  I LOVE BENCH PRESSING!!!!

My first set was 55 pounds, which I've done before.  (that's 10 pounds of weights and the 45 pound bar).  That was fairly easy for me to do.  So, then for my next two sets, she added an extra 10 pounds, bringing the total weight up to 65.  That was a personal record for me.  It was a challenge, but not an impossible challenge.  I was definitely feeling it by the last set, but again, I LOVE BENCH PRESSING!!!  I could do it all day.  Well,  maybe not 65 pounds all day, but pressing.

I'm so geeked and proud of myself for benching 65 pounds.  It may not sound like much, but it is.  I remember when I was just benching the bar alone and it was a challenge to do that.   My goal is to be able to do one whole set at 85 pounds by the end of 2014.