The Little Me That Could...

[lavalint]

Hey Guys! I've started this journal mainly to get some feedback from you guys and so I can keep myself motivated. I started working out (AGAIN!!) a few weeks ago. And just last week I started eating healthier. I've quit so many times it's not even funny. I know everything, it's just putting it all into practice in a way that I'm not going to sabotage myself into quitting (by jumping in too fast). And so I'm determined to stick to it this time. I'm slowly working on things. Starting off easy. I'm eating fairly healthy and gymming it up everyday (except Sundays).

Weight: 160
Height: 5'8 1/2"
Age: 21
Maturity Level: non-existent

Current workout:
Squats: 15reps@20lbs, 10@30, 10@30

Crunches: 15, 15, 15

Dumbbell Bench Presses: 12@12.5, 12@15, 12@15

Wide-Grip Lat Pulldowns: 12@35, 12@50, 12@50

Incline Rear Laterals: 10@5, 10@7.5, 10@7.5

Dumbbell Presses: 10@7.5, 10@10, 10@10

Barbell Curls: 10@20, 10@30, 10@30

Lying Tricep Extension: 12@7.5, 10@10, 10@10

I'm following the Eat-Clean Diet Workout. I even have the workout journal (and I've been using it).
Next time I'll post what I eat. Although it varies a lot. Cause I'm focused on working out and getting into that habit.

So that's me...

[twinnett]

Good luck and welcome!!!

[Verti-gal]

Welcome to journaling. Glad you've got a plan in place, good luck with your goals.

[vanillabn]

Welcome!! I'll be following along as well!

You live in Kamloops?? I LOVE B.C. ... I'm totally moving there... hehe

[shock_and_awe]

Awesome, good luck with your goals!

[lavalint]

Originally Posted by vanillabn

Welcome!! I'll be following along as well!

You live in Kamloops?? I LOVE B.C. ... I'm totally moving there... hehe

I grew all over BC. But for now Kamloops is my home.

[rubes00]

Good luck!!

[lavalint]

Today's workout was pretty good, but I know I could have pushed myself way harder.

Squats: 15reps@20lbs, 10@30, 10@30

Crunches: 15, 15, 15

Dumbbell Bench Presses: 12@12.5, 12@15, 12@15

Wide-Grip Lat Pulldowns: 12@35, 12@50, 12@50

Incline Rear Laterals: 10@5, 10@7.5, 10@7.5

Dumbbell Presses: 12@7.5, 12@10, 12@10

Barbell Curls: 10@25, 8@35, 8@35

Triceps Kickback: 10@7.5, 10@ 7.5

So I was tired of doing those triceps extensions so I got rid of them. I upped the weights on my curls and dropped reps, man did they pump up. It was soooo cool. They were huge. lol. And I upped my reps on the Dumbbell Presses by accident. But I didn't really notice. So I know I can definitely work harder on Mon. (I'm doing Mon, Wed, Fri weights; Tues, Thurs, Sat cardio; Sun rest). Diet is going great today:

Breakie (at like 10 or 11): omelet /w 3 eggs and 2 egg whites, handful of spinch thrown in, salsa, and a piece of organic sprouted grain flax seed toast.

Post-Workout: smoothie from Sbux (the good kind not the Frappucino) /w an extra scoop of protein thrown in.

Dinner: going to be chicken stirfry with red, yellow, green peppers, bok choy, brocolli, carrots etc. and rice

Snack: plain nonfat yogurt with fresh blueberries and muesli

[Lisakay007]

Great workout! Welcome to journaling!

[amj0883]

Hi and welcome!!

It looks like you are off to a great start! I'll be following along...

[lavalint]

Today was a great day! Work went so smoothly it was incredible. Even with one person calling in sick, it was an easy fix. For the most part I ate on time and clean, except for the last bit where I missed my last break due to me wanting to get stuff done.

Breakie (7:30 am): 1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt, 1/2 cup blueberries and raspberries, 1/2 cup Meusli

Lunch: (9 am): whole wheat tortilla filled with roast beef, little bit of cream cheese, cucumber, spinach, mushrooms, carrots, onion

Snack (Pre-w/o): Vivanno

Post-w/o: Nature's Path Organic energy bar

Dinner: going to be Hamburger Helper (not so clean but it's BF's choice)

Snack: prolly popcorn as we're going on a date to the movies

So it probably won't be a great night for eating but I worked hard at the gym. I did 10 min on the elliptical, 10 min on the bike, 10 min on the stairmaster, and 30 min on the treadmill (walking but on an incline). I have fallen in love with the stairmaster. It's such a good workout. I'll have to make it a workout staple.

I watched the Olympics while I worked out. It's such a great motivator!

Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement!

[zigzag71]

Hello and welcome to journaling!
Good luck with your goals!

[lavalint]

I've been so tired on Sundays lately. I think it's because I've been working it hard during the week. Today is my rest day and I've been tired all day. This morning for breaki me and BF made some great oatmeal pancakes with blueberries. Lunch was McDonald's (cheat meal) but I had a grilled chicken sandwich so it wasn't too bad. And we made chicken and turkey tacos for dinner. In between I had veggies and a Vivanno for snacks. Very good day I must say. I should get my camera out and take some before piccies. But I can't be bothered atm.

[lavalint]

I just took a before picture. It doesn't look too bad. Quality is low since it's my webcam and I can't find my memory card for my camera.

[twinnett]

You look great!!! I always envy everyone's abs!

[lavalint]

You can't really tell but I definitely have a layer of fat over my abs. lol. But I'm working on it!

[amj0883]

You do look great and no worries on the layer of fat! I suffer from the same dilema...but I'm told it will take patience

So...I'm trying to breathe and hope for the best

[lavalint]

Originally Posted by amj0883

You do look great and no worries on the layer of fat! I suffer from the same dilema...but I'm told it will take patience

So...I'm trying to breathe and hope for the best

Yeah I know it takes time and patience. I've gotten to the point where I realize that it isn't going to happen overnight and the only way I'll fail is if I quit. So I'll just keep truckin and keep on keepin on. lol.

[amj0883]

I'll be trucking with you girl

[lavalint]

Originally Posted by amj0883

I'll be trucking with you girl

Sweetness.

Wow I worked hard today. I also concquered my fear of the Smith Machine. Woohoo. Although it was to do bench presses. But next work out I'm soooo doing my squats on it. Then I'll feel like I actually know what I'm doing. Let me break it down:

Squats: 3x15 (first at 20lbx then 30lbs; totally upped my reps by 5 on the last two)

Crunches: 3X15

Assisted Chins: 3X12 (first at 130; then 110)

Bench Presses: 3X12 (15lbs; forgot warm up set)

Incline Rear Laterals: 3X12 (7.5lbs; 10lbs)

Barbell Curls: 1X12, 2X10 (25lbs; 35lbs)

Dumbell Presses: 1X12, 2X10 (10lbs; 12.5lbs)

Tricep Kickback: 1X12, 2X10 (7.5lbs; 10lbs)

So on pretty much everything I either increased reps or weight and killed it. It was awesome.

Sorry if the way I write my workouts weird, I'm trying to find a way that makes sense to me. Anywho. I also did about 20 min of cardio for warmup: 15 min on the elliptical and 5 on stairmaster.

As for the nutritional side of things:

Breakie: 2 eggs and 3 egg white omelet with sliced deli chicken and spinach topped with salsa

Postworkout: Vivanno smoothie with an extra scoop of protein

Dinner will be a baked chicken and asparagus casserole (recipe I got from Clean Eating magazine)

I always leave a gap between breakie and postworkout of about 4 hours. I think I should eat sooner before my workout. Maybe just a small snack. To keep my metabolism up. I've had the day off today so my day starts later than usual. That's why the lack of meals. But I never really go hungry, so there's a plus. Tomorrow I'm up at 4:30 am so I'll be chowing down alll day probably. Anywho I have to finish making rice for le casserole!

[lavalint]

Yay for Cardio day!

15 min on elliptical

15 on bike

15 on stairmaster

I always wanna say stairmaster in this deep ominous voice. It's so apropo.

K I really have to get this out there. There's this woman I see at the gym every single day at around the same time. She is always there when I arrive and leave. All she does is abs and arms. Every single day. She does the same routine of a million ab exercises and a few arm exercises and cardio for about an hour. I have to say her arms are toned, and she doesn't have an ounce of fat on her, but her legs look like crap, I have waaaay more definition in my calves than she does. But I mean is this normal? Who does 10 different ab exercises (weighted I might add), a few arm, and like an hour of cardio every day? She's kind of bitchy too (she came into my Starbucks once or twice).

Also I'd like to vent about all the old ladies that workout (kudos to them) but do everything wrong and glare at me. Can't they focus on their own weird workouts?

Yeesh.

Nutritional side of things:

Breakie (5:30 am): nf yog, blueberries, meusli

Snack: Vivanno

Lunch: leftover chicken and turkey taco

Snack: raw veggies and assorted unsalted nuts

Workout

Lunch #2: leftover chicken asparagus casserole

And I'm still really hungry after all that cardio. I'll wait a bit and see.

Dinner will be salmon and veggies on a bed of spinach... mmmmmmm.

[lavalint]

Today was kinda crazy. I had to go to the gym before work so I didn't get to write down my workout in my journal and I was kinda rushed so my mind wasn't in it (plus the old ladies doing circuit training and taking up my machines didn't help ). Plus I think I ate too much today. I'm feeling like I could fall off the tracks at any moment. I realise that and I'm doing all I can to make sure I don't. However I've been getting major cravings for unhealthy food (thanks BF for making pizza). I just had an omelet, while not too bad, I think I over did it on the eggs. So I think I'm going to try and be a little tighter on the diet (portion control!). I think my workouts are good however I fear that I could be pushing myself harder but I don't wanna push so hard that I'm overtraining. I've just now realised what a balancing act this is. Whether it's diet or exercise. Phew good thing tomorrow is a new day!

[amj0883]

I hate when I feel rushed in the gym and I can't give it my 100%

Kudos to you for making it to the gym on a crazy day!!!

[lavalint]

Originally Posted by amj0883

I hate when I feel rushed in the gym and I can't give it my 100%

Kudos to you for making it to the gym on a crazy day!!!

I almost didn't go. I'm glad I did.

[lavalint]

Blah I don't feel my best today. I've been feeling a little dizzy and sick all day. Working out I think I couldn't have pushed a little harder. I haven't missed a workout yet and yesterday I bought myself a little mp3 player to take to the gym. I'm think of switching up my workout next week. It's been almost 4 weeks I think, so I think I'm going to start doing a split. I wanna switch things up and start varying my workouts. You could say I'm getting a little bored. Nutrition is good. Yesterday was my cheat day. I ate pretty healthy except I went to Wok Box and had some pad thai and I also had about 4 cookies and a coke zero. Everything else was really healthy.

[amj0883]

If you are getting bored - def switch it up!! What kind of split are you thinking about??

Take care of yourself girl and get to feeling better!!

[vanillabn]

Sorry you've been feeling sick... that's no fun You've been doing great!! I find buying something like an Mp3 player is always motivating!!

[lavalint]

Sorry for the lack of large posts. I've just done a long run of opening the store every day and it's definitely worn me out. I haven't really had the energy to do anything but work, go to the gym, and snuggle on the couch with the BF. I feel like I'm doing really well, but I think I need to amp it up a bit. I feel like I'm working really hard at the gym, but once I finish, I don't feel it anymore. I'm not sore or anything. So I'm wondering if I'm working hard enough. My only fear is pushing too hard. That's why I think I should try doing a split, so then I can work my muscles from all different angles and really get that buuuuurn that I'm craving. I'll look up a split routine in my Eat-Clean Diet Workout book and I'll prolly tweak it (I'm still tweaking my routine everyday!) Nutrition-wise: it's ok. I could be doing better I think. But I'm really doing my best. I had about 200 cals worth of pastries at work (could be worse) this morning. Everything else was really healthy. Bonus of eating all healthy stuff is the BF is getting into it and cooking me good food for dinner.

On the mental side of things: really feeling fat today as it's my first day of girly things. Even with the little eensy weensy bit of weight I've lost, I still feel like a beached whale. Oh well at least my boobs didn't inflate to the size of basketballs (booonus).

[lavalint]

Totally hitting a wall here. Luckily I have an ice pick and I'm chipping away at that wall. But it's slow going. I think I need a personal trainer. I just feel like I could be going harder at the gym. I need a kick in the butt.

I've switched things up and doing an upper/lower body split. The only thing is trying to find all the machines at the gym (really frustrating). I also conquered another fear of going to the co-ed section of the gym (mostly cause the circuit ladies were in today when I was there. ugghers.) I've definitely decided to stick with the ladies section (boys are scary! especially the lion man. no joke looks like a lion.) So yeah I'll tackled that another day. I don't like being stared at eep.

Lower Body:

DB Squats:
8x20
8x25
8x30
8x30

Could definitely up the weights.

Leg Extension:
12x20
10x20
10x20

Lying Leg Curl:
12x20
10x40
10x40

Leg-Press Calf Raise:
15x10
15x20
15x20

Seated Calf Raise:
Couldn't find the Seated Calf Raise machine....

Hanging Leg Raise:
3x10reps

Crunch:
3x25reps

Any suggestions or help with this is deeply appreciated.

Tomorrow I'll post my upper body workout.

[lavalint]

Okay new workout is awesome. I'm actually sore today from doing upper body. I'll post the workout later as I have to get ready to go out of town. I'm taking off to my hometown to visit the inlaws. So I'm not going to workout this weekend. I'm going to try and eat healthy. But goddammit I deserve a little bit of a break. And since I'm totally seeing results (I HAVE ABS!!!!) I know I'll be back in the gym on Tuesday.