...In both good and bad ways. I'm going to make it more of a list than an essay.
As for the good:
1) I am seeing and feeling DRAMATIC strength increase. Each and every weighted exercise has been increased in weight this week - except for the Leg press. I attribute this to the fact that I really did start off too heavy. I could barely walk down stairs or get out of bed for the first week and a half after pressing 220lb leg press reps.
2) Theres this defined line in both my shoulders that wasn't there before! When I raise my arms or move them in any way those lines show up. Something going on with my deltoids that I am in love with.
3) I actually look forward to going to the gym and kicking my own ass. I can't imagine NOT going. It is now that time of day that makes me feel the most human (besides, of course, cuddling with my kid and the dogs after work). Please dear gods don't ever let me fall out of this momentum I have created for myself.
4) Girl stuff for 4 and 5 here. Men, if you are reading this and you don't like the vag talk... move on :0) Okay, so I LOVE that all of this working out is making me not have a period. No, I'm not pregnant, LOL. I've heard that this is possible - hardcore working can = skipped periods, but YEEEHAWWW!!! I am living the dream, baby!
5) Girl stuff that's actually serious: Ever since I got pregnant with my daughter I have had this crazy discharge that NOOOOOO... is not at all related to any kind of disease other than endometriosis. I have had all sorts of surgical procedures to get rid of all the symptoms associated with this but they inevitably come back - severe cramps, prolonged and super heavy periods, uterine swelling and pain, pain with intercourse (at one time I did have a boyfriend believe it or not), and this weird discharge that made me feel really insecure about myself, especially when it came to intimacy, Everyday for the past (almost)13 years I have had to deal with this discharge. Here's the amazing part: No doctor ever said "hey, go workout like an insane person and it will all go away." They should have said that because, guess what... it has!!! No pain, no cramps, no heavy, prolonged period (none at all for that matter), and the discharge is about 95% gone, I'd say. There is some scant amount here and there but... yea.. my whole life is changing .. my insecurities, the things that make me feel worthless and gross are going bye-bye. All because I thought it would be a good idea to try a BFL 12-week challenge.
I guess you could say I am literally in tears - all happy tears!
Now for the bad stuff:
1) The support system I thought I had is pretty much 1 person strong now, being my daughter. According to everyone else I am a typical, gym-obsessed douchebag now. Why? Because I go to the gym on my lunch break and on Sundays instead of sitting around getting fatter and then being an asshole to everyone else for it because I am unhealthy and hate myself? Well then great, I'm a douchebag. My sister actually freaked out on me today because I was taking a picture of my calves. I guess I am super lame and everyone is sooo embarrassed for me because I'm a female meathead now. Whatever, when I am done with this challenge you'll be hating me even worse!
2) That's actually the only bad part. But it makes me sad ...
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
Addendum to the post below......
Ok I am not really sure how I am supposed to document actual weights when I am using 2 weights at a time. For example.. the lunges, I start off with 8# weights, but I am holding 2 weights, 8# each.. so really, that's 16#.. do I document as 8# or 16# ?
Furthermore, I stated that I had a not so proud moment yesterday, but then i read through my description of my not so proud moment and realized I SHOULD be proud. I took a truck load of lemons and made the best damn lemonade possible. So there.
Furthermore, I stated that I had a not so proud moment yesterday, but then i read through my description of my not so proud moment and realized I SHOULD be proud. I took a truck load of lemons and made the best damn lemonade possible. So there.
Wk 2 - I wish my physique would hurry up and catch up with my increase in strength !!!
Week 2, Days 1 - 4
I was able to increase ALL of the weights for both UBWO and LBWO this week which is insanely awesome I think, considering I could barely push out the max load on 6 reps for any of the sets of both WOs.
I re-lost the 3lbs I gained that I had originally lost - if that makes sense. So that makes me happy, but not really budging on the measurements right now. I know it's only towards the end of week 2, but when I see others post about all these inches they've shed in 3 weeks it makes me a tad envious. I know that every body is different so I just have to go with the flow of my own.
So below I am documenting the weights for UB and LB WOs that I am presently doing. In 2 more weeks I will be re-posting the weights - hopefully with even more increase in strength!
UBWO :
Rope Pulldown 50# x 12, 55x10, 60x8, 65x6, 60x12
Lying Dumbbell Extensions 15# x 12
Seated Chest Press 55# x 12, 60x10, 65x8, 70x6, 65x12
Row 105# x 12
Lat Pulldown 65# x 12, 70x10, 75x8, 80x6, 75x12
One Arm Row 25# x 12
Seated Dumbell Press 10# x 12, 12x10, 15x8, 17.5 or 20 x 6, 15x12
Lat Raise 15# x 12
Dumbbell Curls 10# x 12, 12x10, 15x8, 17.5 or 20 x 6, 15x12
Overhand EZ Curl 20# x 12
LBWO :
Lunges 8# x 12, 10x10, 15x8, 17.5 or 20 x 6, 15x12
Leg Curl 60# x 12
Leg Press 140# x 12, 190x10, 210x8, 220x6, 210x12
Leg Extension 75# x 12
Standing Calf Raises 110# x 12, 130x10, 160x8, 190x6, 160x12
Sitting Calf Flexions 120# x 12
OKAY! So there ya have it. By the end of week 4 I would like to raise or have raised each weight by 10. I know that my genetics are such that strength gain in a short period of time is relatively easy compared to others. VIKING POWER! WOOHOOOOO!!!
Now for a not so proud moment - yesterday was REALLY hard for me in regards to diet and motivation towards the gym. I felt super hormonal, was in a bad mood, and wanted to eat everything my eyes glanced at. I did give into craving and ended up chalking it off as an early free/cheat day - which means Saturday is going to SUCK for me. Oh welllll... I DID end up going to the gym though and punished myself for being a glutton by doing (1 ) 20 mins of HIIT on the treadmill (highest incline the whole time with speed-walking intervals, which I have now found to really hit those problem spots like the butt and hamstrings much more so than running - and it's easier on my bum left knee!!!); and (2) 20 mins of HIIT on the stairclimber. I kicked my own ass and by the time I was done it literally looked like someone had dumped a bucket of water over me.
REVELATION : I take punishment like a pro. I have found that place inside me that gives my bad days the middle finger and the push to make the day my bitch.
I was able to increase ALL of the weights for both UBWO and LBWO this week which is insanely awesome I think, considering I could barely push out the max load on 6 reps for any of the sets of both WOs.
I re-lost the 3lbs I gained that I had originally lost - if that makes sense. So that makes me happy, but not really budging on the measurements right now. I know it's only towards the end of week 2, but when I see others post about all these inches they've shed in 3 weeks it makes me a tad envious. I know that every body is different so I just have to go with the flow of my own.
So below I am documenting the weights for UB and LB WOs that I am presently doing. In 2 more weeks I will be re-posting the weights - hopefully with even more increase in strength!
UBWO :
Rope Pulldown 50# x 12, 55x10, 60x8, 65x6, 60x12
Lying Dumbbell Extensions 15# x 12
Seated Chest Press 55# x 12, 60x10, 65x8, 70x6, 65x12
Row 105# x 12
Lat Pulldown 65# x 12, 70x10, 75x8, 80x6, 75x12
One Arm Row 25# x 12
Seated Dumbell Press 10# x 12, 12x10, 15x8, 17.5 or 20 x 6, 15x12
Lat Raise 15# x 12
Dumbbell Curls 10# x 12, 12x10, 15x8, 17.5 or 20 x 6, 15x12
Overhand EZ Curl 20# x 12
LBWO :
Lunges 8# x 12, 10x10, 15x8, 17.5 or 20 x 6, 15x12
Leg Curl 60# x 12
Leg Press 140# x 12, 190x10, 210x8, 220x6, 210x12
Leg Extension 75# x 12
Standing Calf Raises 110# x 12, 130x10, 160x8, 190x6, 160x12
Sitting Calf Flexions 120# x 12
OKAY! So there ya have it. By the end of week 4 I would like to raise or have raised each weight by 10. I know that my genetics are such that strength gain in a short period of time is relatively easy compared to others. VIKING POWER! WOOHOOOOO!!!
Now for a not so proud moment - yesterday was REALLY hard for me in regards to diet and motivation towards the gym. I felt super hormonal, was in a bad mood, and wanted to eat everything my eyes glanced at. I did give into craving and ended up chalking it off as an early free/cheat day - which means Saturday is going to SUCK for me. Oh welllll... I DID end up going to the gym though and punished myself for being a glutton by doing (1 ) 20 mins of HIIT on the treadmill (highest incline the whole time with speed-walking intervals, which I have now found to really hit those problem spots like the butt and hamstrings much more so than running - and it's easier on my bum left knee!!!); and (2) 20 mins of HIIT on the stairclimber. I kicked my own ass and by the time I was done it literally looked like someone had dumped a bucket of water over me.
REVELATION : I take punishment like a pro. I have found that place inside me that gives my bad days the middle finger and the push to make the day my bitch.
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