Fitness Journal 4/18/12 - Time Out

So I know I haven't journaled about my fitness lately. Mainly because my husband has been home and there hasn't been much fitness going on. I made it to the gym twice while he was home. I ate bad foods or not at all. All and all my husband is just a bad influence when it comes to being healthy. I know its my decision and he doesn't force me to eat what I do. But I can't help myself when I see him eating sweets and things I like. I have however tried to make up for it by working out some way everyday this week. Monday I did Just Dance quite a bit at Amy's house. Tuesday Natalia joined me at the gym and we did the 30 minute express and 15 minutes on the arc trainer. I feel bad because I worked her really hard. She hasn't been to the gym with me in a while. Today I did my usual 30 minutes of arc trainer and upper body weights.

4/9 15 min arc trainer, Tricep Curl 40 pounds 20 reps 2 sets, Biceps Curl 30 15x2, Shoulder Press 20 15x2, Row/Rear Deltoid 30 15x2, Pulldown 55 15x2, Chest Press 35 15x2, Fly 50 12x2, Torso Rotation 50 20x2 each side, 15 min arc trainer

4/13 15 min arc trainer, Calf Extension 50 15x2, Seated Leg Curl 35 15x2, Leg Extension 30 15x2, Seated Leg Press 55 20x3, Hip Abduction 90 15x2, Hip Adduction 90 15x2, Abdominal Crunch 20 20x3, Torso Rotation 55 20x2 per side, 15 minute arc trainer

4/16 Just Sweat on Just Dance 2. 5 songs for a total of 1300 sweat. If any of that makes any since if you don't play Just Dance2.

4/17 30 min express with Natalia yay! Thanks for sticking in there with me girl. 15 minute arc trainer. From what I hear today she is pretty sore. I'm sorry :(

4/18 (Today) 15 min arc trainer, Tricep Curl 30 pounds 30 reps 3 sets, Biceps Curl 30 15x2, Shoulder Press 20 20x2, Row/Rear Deltoid 30 20x2, Pulldown 60 12x2, Chest Press 30 20x2, Fly 50 12x2, 15 min arc trainer

As far as meals last week you can just count it all as a bust. Michael being home I ate anything he ate or I wanted... Today:

Breakfast: Medium Smoothie King Vanilla Shredder
Lunch: Fat Pat's Lil Burger with very few sweet potato fries. I was so full from burger. Diet Dr Pepper.
Dinner: I have yet to eat dinner. My stomach is grumbling but nothing in my fridge or cabinets seem appealing. Its times like this that I just go to sleep hungry... I must force myself to eat something now.

Fitness Journal 4/5/12 - Tired...

Woke up super early today. I took the little one to daycare so mommy can get much needed alone time and Ava could get some time with other kids. Went to the gym at 8:30am. Went shopping there after. Then crafted a pillow bed for Ava. Amy did more modge podging. I think she is addicted. Now I am at home at 8pm and super duper tired. I am having a hard time functioning with my usual tasks of putting Ava to bed. Not to mention she is running around like a crazy maniac from a fun active day at daycare. I just need to crawl into bed asap.

Breakfast: Nothing... Lots of water.
Lunch: Half of a thin crust Hawaiian style pizza from Papa Johns. (Probably due to the fact I didn't eat breakfast.)
Dinner: Bean and cheese tostada. (Easy simple when your exhausted.)

Exercise: 30 minute express

1. Stepper
2. Seated Leg Press 50 pounds 25 reps
3. Stepper
4. Leg Extension 25 pounds 15 reps
5. Stepper
6. Seated Leg Curl 40 pounds 16 reps
7. Stepper
8. Chest Press 25 pounds 20 reps
9. Stepper
10. Fixed Pulldown 55 pounds 20 reps
11. Stepper
12. Seated Row 25 pounds 20 reps
13. Stepper
14. Shoulder Press 20 pounds 15 reps
15. Stepper
16. Biceps Curl 30 pounds 20 reps
17. Stepper
18. Triceps extension 30 pounds 20 reps
19. Stepper
20. Abdominal Crunch 20 pounds 20 reps 2 sets

SLEEP NOW!

Fitness Journal 4/3/12 - To Waste That is the Question?

So I'm having a bad day to start. I did right and didn't indulge to make myself feel better. But I do have a habit of eating what my child doesn't finish eating for the sake of not wasting. So my question is: Is it better to eat it or waste it?

Breakfast: Half a banana and a frozen waffle with cool whip
Lunch: 1/2 Izzo's chicken burrito with black beans, corn, onions, lettuce and a side of cilantro ranch. (I just couldn't finish it all) Less than a hand full of tortilla chips with queso.
Dinner: Ranch Chicken Snack Wrap from Mcdonald's and 4 chicken nuggets (My daughter Ava only dipped her fries and nuggets in bbq sauce and ate the sauce and none of the food >.<)
Snack: Half PB and half cake batter frozen yogurt topped with butterfinger, cheesecake bites, pineapple and whipped cream. ( I know I should of just put fruit on it...)

(A blurry photo of me at the gym. I mean come on who wants to be seen all sweaty in ugly gym clothes)

Exercise Lower Body: 15 minute Arc Trainer Program 8 Cardio
Calf Extension 30 pounds 20 reps for 2 sets.
Seated Leg Curl 30 pounds 15 reps for 2 sets.
Leg Extension 30 pounds 15 reps for 2 sets.
Seated Leg Press 50 pounds 20 reps for 3 sets.
Glute 50 pounds 20 reps for 2 sets per leg.
Hip adduction 75 pounds 15 reps for 2 sets.
Abdominal Crunch 20 pounds 20 reps for 2 sets.
Torso Rotation 50 pounds 20 reps for 2 sets on each side.
Hip Abduction 75 pounds 20 reps for 2 sets.
15 minute Arc Trainer Program 8 Cardio

Tomorrow is usually my off day from the gym because I am so sore from lifting weights for two days. I am actually not feeling too sore and hoping to go again tomorrow. Crossing my fingers I can find a sitter for about two hours. Working out always clears my head and helps me to function properly.

Fitness Journal 4/2/12 - Good Meets Bad

Woke up feeling groggy most of the day. But having a baby sure does make ya get up out of bed. Ate a good breakfast but found myself napping with Ava for 2 hours. Luckily I found a sitter so I could hit the gym. Made me feel better but once I made it home I was back to being drained...

Breakfast: Banana, one piece of honey dew, one strawberry
Lunch: Bean and cheese tostada, sour cream and salsa
Dinner: Half of the leftover container of jambalaya. Ava ate the rest.
Snack/Dessert: Banana with cool whip and chocolate syrup.

Exercise: 15 minute Arc Trainer Program 8 Cardio
Tricep Press 30 pounds 20 reps for 3 sets
Biceps Curl 30 pounds 15 reps for 2 sets
Shoulder Press 20 pounds 15 reps for 2 sets
Row/Rear Deltoid 30 pounds 15 reps for 2 sets
Pulldown 50 pounds  15 reps for 2 sets
Abdominal Crunch 20 pounds 20 reps for 3 sets
15 minute Arc Trainer Program 8 Cardio

Bad end of the day. Feeling very tempted to gorge on bad things. Resisting the urge and going to sleep instead. Yay me! Goodnight.

Fitness Journal 4/1/12 - All to Hell...

As usual on the weekends when I am working at the Jockey Lot my diet and exercise routine go out the window. Since I am so busy during the day, I pick up breakfast and don't ever have time to eat lunch. I usually get a quick dinner. Which equals fast food which is never good. So needless to say this weekend was not good for my weight loss journey. I keep preaching to myself I need to make wiser choices but sometimes you can only eat whats in front of you and isn't too expensive. Hopefully if I can find a baby sitter I will be going to the gym tomorrow and get back to feeling good about myself.

Breakfast: Saturday: Sonic chicken cheese and ham biscuit. Sunday: Nothing but coffee and five hour energy drink. (None of this was healthy)
Lunch: Saturday: Peanut butter and strawberry preserves on wheat bread. Sunday: Less than half a piece of chicken fried chicken a biscuit and two bites of macaroni and cheese. (The sandwich was okay on the healthy scale)
Dinner: Saturday: Half a turkey burger and fries from Ground Patti. (Later that night I ate bbq potato chips and the other half) Sunday: Ham and white beans and mashed potatoes.
Snacks: Saturday: Medium Choco Cherry Lovers Blizzard from Dairy Queen. Later that night ice cream with cool whip chocolate syrup and a banana. ( I was feeling ice cream...) Sunday: More ice cream and chocolate syrup and another strawberry pie from McDonald's.

(McDonald's hot fudge sundae - my demon)

Exercise: None

Writing all this down makes me realize just how much I eat in a day and how sometimes I don't eat enough. Both make me feel guilty. Which is progress to making a healthy change. So everyone please fuss me about all my bad habits and help me to better myself.

Fitness Journal Entry 3/30/12

I think I personally did well today. Although the beginning of the day I was pretty lazy. I did manage to portion control and incorporate more healthy items in my day. Hit the gym and felt great afterward so I ended up taking Ava to the park for a little extra running around.

(Ava enjoying the park)

Breakfast: One and half of frozen blueberry pancakes with cool whip. Honeydew melon.
Lunch: The other half of my 12 oz coke and a small portion of taco ring leftovers.
Snack: Orange
Dinner: Bean and cheese tostada with sour cream.

Exercise: 30 minute express. For those of you who haven't been to Planet Fitness here is the breakdown. 20 stations. Light turns green you are either stepping or using a weight machine. If done in order it takes 30 minutes.

1. Stepper 
2. Seated Leg Press     15 reps 50 pounds
3. Stepper 
4. Leg Extension      15 reps 25 pounds
5. Stepper
6. Seated Leg Curl     15 reps 25 pounds
7. Stepper 
8. Chest Press             15 reps 25 pounds
9. Stepper 
10. Fixed Pulldown       15 reps 55 pounds
11. Stepper 
12. Seated Row          15 reps 25 pounds
13. Stepper 
14. Forgot name of machine (doh)      15 reps 10 pounds
15. Stepper 
16. Biceps Curl        15 reps 30 pounds
17. Stepper 
18. Triceps Extension       15 reps 30 pounds
19. Stepper 
20. Abdominal Crunch     15 reps x 2 20 pounds

Arc Trainer for 30 mins on Program 8 Cardio.

One thing I have learned from working out and reading a lot of fitness materials is that its not how many pounds you lift or how many reps you do. Always lift weights properly. If you feel yourself using the right muscle to do the technique you will feel and eventually see the cut in the muscle. For a person like me trying to make lean muscle and not bulk up its best to lift small weights for more reps. This would be opposite for someone trying to be a pro weight lifter. 

During 30 minute express there isn't much time to do multiple reps so I do what I would normally lift in one set. On days when I work certain muscle groups I do multiple sets. An example would be 15 reps of 20 pounds wait 30 seconds then lift another 15 reps. That would be considered 2 sets. Sorry if all this jumbled mess is confusing.

Always always mix weight lifting with cardio. If you only do one or the other you won't see much difference. You need cardio to get your heart pumping and burning calories and you need muscle to continue to feed that burn.

Fitness Journal Entry 3/29/12 - Struggling...

I guess you can say today was my off day. Which I need configure my brain when I am on a off day it doesn't mean I get to eat what I want...

Breakfast: 1 kiwi, few pieces of honeydew, 2 bites of a french toast stick Ava didn't eat..
Lunch: 6" wheat chicken pizziola sandwhich and half a yogurt parfait from Subway.
Snack: Half a 12oz coke...

(Leftover Jambalaya I will probably eat for dinner tomorrow)

Dinner: About a cup and a half or two cups of jambalaya. Damn you cajun food goodness. Ava actually did help me eat most of this.
Snack/Dessert: Small vanilla shake from McDonald's and a new strawberry cream cheese pie. (I was totally only planning on the shake and then convinced myself to eat pie...)

Exercise: Off day (I am so sore from the last two days)

Fitness Journal Entry 3/29/12 - Pumped

Seeing as I am a mother it is hard to find time to go to the gym. Due to the fact that I am addicted to sweets doesn't help the fact either. I try to at least make it to the gym 1-4 times a week. But sometimes even going once seems like a big hassle. Dieting is what I find the hardest of all. I am fine eating close to nothing (which I know is not good for me) as long as I can get a daily fix of outrageous sweets. I have been trying to take a more healthy route by eating fruits. I am having a mental block on ways to prepare healthy meals that seem appealing to me and still get my fix for the sweets. Not to mention I need to just eat more but the right choices, not just junk. Now that I have found some goals it is time to get started with a plan. Please feel free to post any comments or suggestions.

Breakfast: Orange, Banana, slice and a half of turkey bacon (All food Ava wouldn't eat that I finished)
Lunch: Easy mac (I know but she wouldn't eat that either...) and a few pieces of cantaloupe
Snack: Sweet and Salty peanut granola bar
Snack: 5 waffle fries and 3? chicken nuggets from Chick fil a (Amy had me stop since we were starved before dinner)
Dinner: Large Slice of Taco roll... sour cream, queso and black beans.

Granted I know most of these were not good choices...

Exercise: 30 minute Arc Trainer
I forgot to write down my sets for my weights which I will start doing soon. But I know I did all upper body machines at least 2 sets of 15. 3 sets of 15 on ab crunch machine.