I’ve changed up the workout routine yet again and it was another kick butt, fat burning, heart pumping workout. It was fun though, knowing that I was burning fat and getting another step closer to my goal.
Today’s workout was based around the idea of high intensity and little rest. I focused on no rest between exercises and 30-40 seconds rest between sets. This type of workout keeps your heart rate up and burning fat for longer.
The workout:
Warm-up: Bridges + Clams
Set 1
Single Leg Machine Leg Press (4 sets/ 10-15 reps)
Calf Raises (3 sets – Regular/Toes In/Toes Out)
Set 2
Dumbbell Chest Press (20/15/12/10 – Increased weight on 3rd set)
Supine Lat Pulldown (4 sets/8-10 reps)
Set 3
Dumbbell Shoulder Press (Heavier weight 4 sets/8-10 reps)
Resistance Band Flyes (4 sets/20 reps)
Set 4
Machine Assisted Dips (4 sets/10-12 reps)
Stiff Legged Deadlifts (4 sets/15 reps)
Set 5
Crunches (3 sets 50 reps)
Plank (hold for 30 seconds)

I ended today’s workout with 30 minutes on the treadmill – doing an incline walk – focusing on a heel toe walk to work a bit more on the hamstrings.
I made it out of the gym, but we’ll see how I’m walking tomorrow!

While most people were celebrating the Irish or lack of Irish in them, I was at the  gym celebrating….um….well, not really celebrating, just enjoying another workout!

Today was an Upper Body day.  The last few weeks I’ve changed up my workout a bit – so I can do weights a few more times per week – by splitting upper and lower body I’m able to work my legs a little harder than I would if I was doing a full body workout – same concept goes for the upper body as well. I’m going to stick with this routine for a few more weeks and then change it up again – there are SO many

exercises to try in the gym – I can’t stick with the same ones for TOO long!!

(FYI – In case you don’t know – cuz I didn’t – the letters denote which exercises are superset – with minimal rest inbetween each set of exercises.  Its easier to write out the workout with the letters so you know which exercises go together.)

3 sets/10-12 reps

A1 Incline DB Chest Press

A2 Supine Lat Pull Down

4 sets/10 reps

B1 Barbell Skull Crushers

B2 Barbell Close Grip Chest Press

3 sets/Decline Weight 15 reps

C1 Hammer Curls w/Rope  (15/50, 15/45, 15/40)

4 Sets/10-12 reps

D1 SIngle Arm Standing Row

D2 Push-ups with Medicine Ball Roll

After this I couldn’t move my arms and my legs were still dead from last night’s lower body workout, but it was time to hit the treadmill.

I tried something new today to keep myself on the treadmill longer:

I started with 20 mins of high intensity intervals – I did 1 min walking/3 mins fast run – to challenge myself I’d play with the speed I was running (i.e. Run 1 min @ 7.0/1 min @ 7.5/1 min 8.0) or go back up and down  this kept the running interesting and kept me moving. I also did this workout while listening to some fast techno/rap/rock mix of music.

After 20 mins I changed it up – increased the incline on my treadmill to something pretty high – 7.0 to 9.0 – and lowered the speed so I was walking at a moderate pace, focusing on walking heels first (it works more of your hamstring). While doing this I listened to some podcasts I’ve downloaded the last few weeks but haven’t had time to sit and listen to them, and now I’ve found the time.

Next thing you know – its been 40 mins of cardio and I could’ve gone for more! This helped to keep it interesting and kept me buring fat longer!  So, if you need a quick change in the gym – try changing up your routine or even changing pieces of equipment!

How was your St. Patrick’s day? Hope it was a good one!!!

Saturday morning in the gym is usually one of my tougher workouts. I’m not coming from work, its not SUPER early – just wake up, eat and head to the gym. Plus, I usually don’t like to workout on Sundays, so I know I’ll have an extra day to recover.

After watching the Women’s Figure Competition from the Arnold Classic last night, I was SO motivated to KICK BUTT in the gym this morning – harder than usual.  Those women are in tip top physical shape – they have trained for months for this opportunity.  If they can do it and reach that level, I can do my workouts to reach my goal (I mentioned on Twitter last night I’m toying with the idea of doing a Figure competition – we’ll see).

So, with my new motivation I had a KILLER workout and wanted to share it with you….

1st (3 times about 1 min rest between sets)

20 Burpees

20 Jump Squats (on Machine 90lbs)

Wall Table with 15lbs hold for 1 Min

2nd (4 sets, rest about a minute between sets)

Supine Lat Pulldown (I increased my weight! WOOHOO! Went from 90lbs to 105!)

Dumbbell Shoulder Press

3rd (4 sets, resting about a minute between each set)

Dumbbell Chest Press

Sprint for 2 minutes on Treadmill after 1st and 3rd Set

4th (3 sets, resting a minute between each set)

Incline Dumbbell Row

Overhead DB Tricep Extension

5th (4 sets, dropping number of reps 20, 15, 12, 10)

Dumbbell Bicep Curl

6th (3 sets, 1 minute rest)

45lb Plate Chest Press (focus on Triceps)

Dumbbell Stiff Leg Deadlift

It was a long workout…but I kept the rest between each set minimal and that kept my heart pumping and the fat burning. I have SO much energy right now it’s awesome!

The most important thing after this type of workout is to make sure that you eat enough protein to help build your muscles. For breakfast I had a protein shake and an egg white omelet with spinach, salsa, and a little bit of cheese.

How was your workout today?

What motivates you?

I’m hungry again…only downside to having a fast metabolism!! If you have any questions about my workout – let me know!

Sometimes people bug me.

Today’s particular ‘bugging’ came this afternoon while I was at the gym.  I was doing my Supine Lat Pull-downs (FYI – My new FAVORITE exercise because it’s helping me do more pull-ups than I ever imagined possible – article coming soon I promise), and I look over at the guy next to me.

My attention was first drawn in his direction because of a slight odor that was not pleasant to my nose and of course I had to find the culprit.  He was sitting on some machine, in between sets, looking at his cellphone. [singlepic=11,275,200,,center]  Now, it bugs me when people are on their cell phone while they are walking around the floor of the gym (Come on! You can be unreachable for a 1/2 hour – you did it at some point in your life – make the commitment to your workout!)

No, this guy wasn’t talking on his phone, instead he found it of UTTER importance to look through all the pictures on his phone. Yes, he has probably never seen these pictures before, but it was at that moment, while in between sets, at the gym on a Monday afternoon, that he decided he MUST look at the pictures on his cell phone.

Okay, so I’m definitely overreacting as to how much this bugged me, but what does bother me are the people who don’t make the commitment to themselves while they are at the gym. You came to the gym to change something in yourself. To change your look, to lose weight, to build muscle, to get stronger – there was some reason WHY you decided to step foot in the gym. Whether you are walking on the treadmill for a 1/2 hour or lifting weights – there is a purpose for your trip to the gym.

If you want your goals to be successful, if you want to see weight loss results, then make sure you don’t lose your focus when you get into the gym. Don’t get distracted by your cell phone, don’t spend so much time trying to find the ‘perfect’ song on your iPod for your next set (do this before you get to the gym), don’t let everyone you know get you into a 15 minute conversation about who knows what.

Make your workouts successful and productive and you will see your weight loss goals achieved sooner than you think.