Entering my 27th week of pregnancy with a full body strength training session. Allow me a moment to bask in my own awesomeness....
Thank you.
This is the routine I followed. Some exercises I performed to near failure, others I took a more moderate approach. I started by warming up on the treadmill, brisk walk at 2% to 5% incline for 1/2 mile. Then:
Push Ups (modified)
"Bird Dog"
Bicep Curls (standard)
Triceps Kickbacks
Hammer Curls
Chair Dips (I hate these!!!)
Alternating Cross-Body Curls
Overhead Triceps Extensions
Standing Side Crunch (holding onto the door frame helped isolate core)
Standing Crossover Crunch
One-Armed Row
Chest Flies
Pull-over
Chest Press
Reverse Fly
Squats (standard and then wider stance)
Shoulder Press (Military Press)
Jump Squats
Lateral Raise (to front and side)
Forward Lunge
Upright Row
Plie Squat
Split Lunge
Cool down, stretch, and that's it! The strength training aspect took me about 45 minutes moving quickly from one exercise to the next. I did take a short (30-45 second) break after some of the more "energetic" moves, like those damn jump squats!
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Saturday, March 2, 2013
M. I. F.
I tried a new workout video today, thank you Netflix. Moms Into Fitness, Third Trimester. Maybe it's because I'm still in my 2nd Tri, but I had a hard time getting into M.I.F.
The instructor was OK. Too much talking, but they all tend to jabber. She kept saying "buncakes" instead of "butt", which was just puerile. Her cueing was off or absent altogether. It's pretty bad when the ladies making your video with you are getting confused. But her energy was pretty good; enthusiastic but not overly perky.
The workout itself was pretty basic. I'm sure I'm going to feel it in the morning, but it was easy. The toning/cardio section was only about 34 minutes long. There is nothing wrong with a short, intense workout, but there was no intensity, just lots of slow repetition. So it's not a huge calorie burn but a decent strength training session. She did a lot for the upper back, which is an area I tend to forget.
The 26-minute yoga session was similar; not impressive but not at all bad. My conclusion- I need to give it another try. I'm thinking this will be a good workout to do when I can't decide what I need my focus to be for that day.
The instructor was OK. Too much talking, but they all tend to jabber. She kept saying "buncakes" instead of "butt", which was just puerile. Her cueing was off or absent altogether. It's pretty bad when the ladies making your video with you are getting confused. But her energy was pretty good; enthusiastic but not overly perky.
The workout itself was pretty basic. I'm sure I'm going to feel it in the morning, but it was easy. The toning/cardio section was only about 34 minutes long. There is nothing wrong with a short, intense workout, but there was no intensity, just lots of slow repetition. So it's not a huge calorie burn but a decent strength training session. She did a lot for the upper back, which is an area I tend to forget.
The 26-minute yoga session was similar; not impressive but not at all bad. My conclusion- I need to give it another try. I'm thinking this will be a good workout to do when I can't decide what I need my focus to be for that day.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Measurements, March 2013
OK, I get it that this is really silly, but I still wanted to compare my current measurements to those I posted a year ago. Since I didn't make much progress with weight loss or toning in 2012 (long story) I'm pretty sure that these measurements are representative of my pre-tenth-pregnancy size. It's not like I'm going to use these measurements in any meaningful way; it's all in good fun. Here they are:
Weight: 193.6
neck: 13.75 (-.25)
shoulders: 43 (-.5)
bicep: 12 (both sides, no change)
chest: 39.5 (+.5)
bust: 42.25 (+2)
@ braline: 36.5 (+.75)
waist: 36 (+2.75)
@ bellybutton: 38 (+3.75)
low ab: 40.5 (+3.25)
hips: 42.5 (+1.5)
thighs: R- 21; L- 21.25 (-1 each side)
calf: R- 13; L- 13.25 (no change)
No surprise, at five months gone I've gained serious inches throughout my torso. But while I've gained 2 inches of boobs and almost 4 of belly, I've only gained an inch and a half of hips. That tells me I'm not gaining too much butt fat. Also my arms and legs have stayed roughly the same, and I've lost two inches of thigh meat.
Overall, I feel I am taking very good care of myself. Just four-ish months to go!
Weight: 193.6
neck: 13.75 (-.25)
shoulders: 43 (-.5)
bicep: 12 (both sides, no change)
chest: 39.5 (+.5)
bust: 42.25 (+2)
@ braline: 36.5 (+.75)
waist: 36 (+2.75)
@ bellybutton: 38 (+3.75)
low ab: 40.5 (+3.25)
hips: 42.5 (+1.5)
thighs: R- 21; L- 21.25 (-1 each side)
calf: R- 13; L- 13.25 (no change)
No surprise, at five months gone I've gained serious inches throughout my torso. But while I've gained 2 inches of boobs and almost 4 of belly, I've only gained an inch and a half of hips. That tells me I'm not gaining too much butt fat. Also my arms and legs have stayed roughly the same, and I've lost two inches of thigh meat.
Overall, I feel I am taking very good care of myself. Just four-ish months to go!
Monday, February 25, 2013
Like a Pug
I made it outside for a run today, and I've still got it!
By "it" I do not mean speed, or endurance, or any other markers of athleticism. I was slow, I had to walk about a fourth of each mile, my easy pace kept me in a Zone 2 to 3, and I felt the need to pee pretty much the whole time. No, "it" is something else entirely.
Almost a year ago, I rambled on about whether or not I could consider myself a "real" Runner. Is a 10- or 11-minute-mile really running, or just jogging? The famous Dr. George Sheehan (Never heard of him? Then you're just a jogger.) once said that the difference is a signature on a race application. But was he right? Am I really a runner because I've participated in a few races?
I've decided that the difference is a little more subjective than that; I believe "real" Runners are the ones that get out there and do what they do for the enjoyment of it. Not to lose weight, not to look fab at the reunion, not for any specific benefit or goal that may or may not be attained. And certainly not that every run is pleasurable, because all real Runners know that some runs are absolutely miserable and most are pretty humdrum. Maybe we can't even define what it is we actually like about running. Much like a cherished dog who is so ugly he's cute, we love it "just because" and need no further reason why.
That love, I've decided, is what makes me a Runner. That is the "it" I still have.
By "it" I do not mean speed, or endurance, or any other markers of athleticism. I was slow, I had to walk about a fourth of each mile, my easy pace kept me in a Zone 2 to 3, and I felt the need to pee pretty much the whole time. No, "it" is something else entirely.
Almost a year ago, I rambled on about whether or not I could consider myself a "real" Runner. Is a 10- or 11-minute-mile really running, or just jogging? The famous Dr. George Sheehan (Never heard of him? Then you're just a jogger.) once said that the difference is a signature on a race application. But was he right? Am I really a runner because I've participated in a few races?
I've decided that the difference is a little more subjective than that; I believe "real" Runners are the ones that get out there and do what they do for the enjoyment of it. Not to lose weight, not to look fab at the reunion, not for any specific benefit or goal that may or may not be attained. And certainly not that every run is pleasurable, because all real Runners know that some runs are absolutely miserable and most are pretty humdrum. Maybe we can't even define what it is we actually like about running. Much like a cherished dog who is so ugly he's cute, we love it "just because" and need no further reason why.
 |
| No cute, just pugly. |
That love, I've decided, is what makes me a Runner. That is the "it" I still have.
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