reporting in after my workout was SO GOOD to get back into it...

i did 3.1 miles total which i think is a 5K and of those miles, i ran 2 miles total in increments of half miles....run half mile, walk a minute, run half mile etc...im running at 5.0 speed which for me seems very fast because i take short steps because of my lower back problems, makes it harder to twist my hips far enough to take long strides...i'm working on it but im not sure if it's a matter of "trying harder" or if thats just the way my hips will always work

regardless, it was good to get back at it and push myself...now for a shower and some grocery shopping

Jo, how was your date night?
Krystal, I almost took a butt picture for comparison my hubby is formulating work out for me now.....he knows I am a tad bit competitive...hehe

We had a great time. Haha, now I am going to have to start working on my bum again!

worked out this morning....spent 45 minutes on the treadmill...ran a mile and a half at 5.0 even though i was so sore yesterday from running that i could barely move...im sure i'll regret this today too LOL but it doesnt hurt while i'm doing it...i ran in intervals of half miles and then walked the last 10 minutes or so at a 15% incline....im dripping sweat and soaked...hard to believe the treadmill only says i burned 290 calories and (from what i read about those counters) probably less than that...sucksss but i still like running

its sunny out and about 40 degrees....springtime!!...breaking out the grill on the deck tonight LOL yes, at 40 degrees warm!

Jo, let's do it!! We will have even hotter behind than Krystal's Little competition never hurt anyone

So, as promised, I will provide you ladies a little perspective on my weight lifting workout. Although, you have always been able to see them on MFP.

I saw this photo on Pinterest & thought, "There's a fit body! Nice glutes, not skinny, but strong!" Which happens to be the NEW skinny!!

I have never been a size 6 & there is no reason for me to think it is realistic at age 36, I will ever be there now. However, this strong/fit look is doable for me. I have a large body frame with large bones. I just didn't get the height to go along with it!

Then, I bought the NROLFW book. I've read it a couple of times already and the workouts just seem confusing for this blonde. So, I used the exercises in the book and came up with my own routine.

I have yet to be on a set routine from week to week, like most people do.
This just does not work for me with my work schedule.

On Leg days, this is what my routine looks like
Warm up on the Stair climber for 15min on an interval rotation at level 2.
Then, on to the free weights.
I have 2 different workouts
A:
Jump Rope (Skips): High Knees 50 reps
Lunge: 20lb Dumb Bells in each Hand
Angled Leg Press: Started @ 50lbs, Now 60lbs
Hack Squat: Started @ Body Weight, Now Body Weight +20lbs
Single Leg Hamstring curl: Started @ 10lbs, Now 15 lbs

B:
Jump Rope (Skips): High Knees 50 reps
Squats Using Smith Machine (Saving my back!): 50 lbs
Static Lunges: 15lb Dumb Bells in each hand (30lb total)
Step Ups on a bench: 40lb BarBell

Doesn't seem like a heavy lift, but for me--it is PLENTY! I usually cannot change plains normally for at least 2-3 days after one of these & sitting is next to impossible, esp on a toilet seat!! I do the skips to keep my heart rate up, thereby keeping me burning the cals between sets. I do 3 sets of 8 for each exercise.

I try to do one of these once a week. I try to do arms 2x a week--my batwings are worse than my glutes atm. Then, of course, the running.
It makes for a very busy week

This coming up week, I plan to add some of the more advanced moves from the book. I have been on these particular sets for about a month I guess. I'm keeping the lunges and the squats. They are VERY challenging for me!

A very small preview of before and after shots. I have SOOOO far to go, it's unreal!


April 2011 {165lbs}




December 2011 (Before Weight Lifting) {148lbs}



March 2012 (1 Month of Weight Lifting) {143lbs}

Sorry I have been somewhat quiet, I am feeling pretty miserable. Cranky, tired and very crampy this month for some reason. I am hoping today is better, but yesterday was yuck. I started TOM yesterday so hoping the cramps are going to be subsiding.

On a positive note, I ran yesterday for about 30 minutes and it felt amazing. I take back what I said about the running not building your butt. When I started out I was like wth, why is my a$$ jiggling, I don't remember feeling my a$$ jiggle before, oh no, all those hours on the couch did my a$$ in? But by the end of the run, no more jiggle. I'll see on the next run how it feels.
I have a tiny bit of all over soreness today that tells me I did something different, so that is good. I looked back on my logs, and it was exactly one month since I had run, wow! Oh, and my tailbone feels no worse for the wear, yay!

Krystal, thanks for sharing your pics, what a huge difference, very inspiring to show that you don't have to lose loads of pounds to really change your body.
I when you said NROLW was hard to follow. I thought the same thing! I have read and followed other weight lifting programs with no problem, but that one is something else to figure out! I found those excel sheets I pm'd you a while back very helpful. I am not sure I am going to go back into that program either. I may do some free form too. I have lots of favorite exercises and hate to be stuck doing the same thing for weeks on end.
I hate that feeling of not being able to sit. I actually had another member tell me I needed to rethink what I was doing if I was that sore! Hello, if you are not sore from lifting weights, why do it? You need to be sore to build and strengthen muscle. And I am just prone to hamstring and buttock soreness, must be my weak areas. If someone tells me that again, I am going to show them your butt shot. See, sore muscles = muscle growth.
Your abs are looking superb also, wtg, I am impressed!

Sum, what's your plan for today? I am just going for as long as possible. I "finished" eating at around 4:30 yesterday, but not because I met my calories, but because I was crampy and miserable and just didn't feel like stuffing anything else in just to get in the calories. So I was low cal yesterday and not sure how that will make me feel today.

Jo: I am pre-TOM with you and as a gift, yet another 5lb water balloon for my belly! UGH!
I'm cranky. I feel bad, & I can't force myself out of bed!
Luckily for me, I do my routines at night. I have plenty of time to medicate today before I go strengthen the batwings!

I was glad to read you status about running yesterday. I didn't think it had been a month already. WoW! Where does the time go??

I know, time flies when your being lazy like me

I am worried about Sum, she usually checks in by now. I am hoping she is just busy and not succumbing to TOMs evil cravings!!!!!!

Funny you say this...My cravings are SEVERE about 5-7 days before TOM. But the closer it gets, the more they taper. I was STARVING last Thursday-Saturday....today I am not so hungry, but I have to eat something because I am crampy/achy, and I need a Goody's Cool Orange!


I wasn't feeling IT for breakfast, so I waited for lunch. 15hr fast for me today.
Totally unplanned! I'll take it

I am hiding from life and TOM. I busied myself with bfast for kids and laundry at first. Then I I waked 122 minutes. Now I am window shopping.

I wanna gorge. But I won't give in. I am day dreaming of boiled eggs and avocado. Hehe.

Krystal.....that was me at 165!!!! Except my belly button frowned more. I kinda regret that I have no pictures. I think it is still not too late to get honest ones. You look great at 148....I still have so much goo.... I look pretty nice with clothes on, without.....not so much.

glad you are doing okay and checked in, I was getting just a smidge worried that you did a face plant into a heap of nachos or something Okay, maybe that is my daydream that I am projecting onto you. . .

What??? You are shopping without me???

Kidding. Good for you for finding a great distraction!

Hehe Jo. -- I actually had a few nachos this afternoon -- I did not log my eating today, but it was very low. I was hungry earlier on and now I have no appetite. I fasted 24 h; I have a very tight feeling on my chest and I napped from 3:30-7 pm, I think I am getting sick

I have not stepped on scale; the willpower

We have a large outlet mall called Great Lakes Crossings 5 minutes from my house. I popped in to see spring/summer clothing. I love all the colors this year!! We would have fun shopping; we would do some power walking and some retail therapy!