You LIFT Me Up!

Well hello there!

I am in a really good mood as I am typing this. Why you ask? Well I got back from the gym and my hour session was ALL LIFTING! No cardio! What? Crazy, I know! I’ve never done this before. I always do cardio, even if it’s 20 minutes. But this time I said let me give this a go. We will get to this in detail in a bit…

But first, my morning started feeling under the weather again and extremely tired. I’m talking 3 cups of coffee before 6 am tired. I know, don’t judge.

After morning rounds I sat down in the PA office and all I wanted were those apple crunchies. I dig through my bag, dig a little bit more, then I get a glimpse in my brain of them sitting on my kitchen counter. Noooooooooooooo!

Isn’t that a bummer? I settled for my cottage cheese and had my protein shake early.

I really was having motivation issues since I was so tired. I couldn’t snap out of it! I felt like I was just dragging my feet all day long. By the time lunch rolled around I perked up a little bit.

I topped with my apple cider vinaigrette. I spilled half of it (bummer), but what was left of it was really good! I also had some fruit and this Kashi bar. Yum!

I wasn’t sure if I was going to go to my gym because I left a half hour later than normal, plus I hit traffic, and it was pretty warm out! Check it out!

But I am SO glad I did. It was just what I needed. Like I said before, all lifting, absolutely no cardio. I eyeballed the cardio machines a bit, but resisted. I felt like a beast for sure after I finished, like I could conquer the world. It definitely LIFTED me up!

Strong woman indeed! Here was my back routine:

• Wide grip 60 lb bar rows, 12 reps x 4 sets
• Narrow grip 60 lb bar rows, 12 reps x 4 sets (alternating this with the wide)
• Assisted pullups, 12 reps x 4 sets
• Bent over rear delt fly’s, 15 lb kettles, 10 reps x 4 sets
• Pushups 10 reps (on toes!)
• Lat pulldowns, 50-60 lbs, 8-10 reps x 4 sets
• Stiff leg dead lifts, 90 lb bar, 12 reps x 4 sets
• Pushups on toes with 1 leg in the air! Holy cow! 10 reps x 4 sets (2 each leg)
• Kettle bell rhomboid squeeze, (like shoulder shrugs), 20 lbs each hand, 12 reps x 4 sets

Then I decided to do some back work on the mat

• Superman’s (arms and legs up off the mat, neck aligned straight, gaze to the floor). Hold and lower x 10. I used a 10 lb plate for 2 of my sets. Pulse up for 8 x 4 sets
• Low back twists. Face down on the mat, hands under chin, rotate waist and move left elbow to left side (you are twisting). 10 reps x 2 sets each side
• Planks x 1 minute. 2 sets
• Swimming (superman but with fluttering arms and legs) 30 seconds x 2 sets

Finished up with some kettle bell work, deep squats, and some ab stuff:

• Kettlebell swings, 35 lbs, 15 reps x 4 sets
• Cable torso twists, 50 lbs, 10 reps x 2 sets each side
• Captains chair V crunches, 10 reps x 3 sets, then obliques 10 reps x 2 sets each side
• Low back extensions over the stand holding 25 lb weight, 10 reps x 3 sets, then 10 reps x 2 sets each side
• Deep squats, 12 reps x 5 sets. How low can you go?

Don’t forget to stretch… and FLEX!

At home I made chicken and asparagus. I also snacked on grapes and some granola I had. Okay a lot of granola…

I also watched one of my favorite shows, The Talk, and Sharon Osborne showed her dog Bella. HOW ADORABLE! This is how I plan on cutting Phoebe this summer. How do you think she will look?

It’s definitely a summer cut. G-Mama wants me to cut her like this now, but she just grew her pretty fluffy coat! I can’t bring myself to do it yet. Maybe June

We made it to Wednesday! Half way through. Chest and Bicep day combo coming later! If I’m not too sore… ouchies, already feeling the back soreness!

XOXO With a Cherry On Top,

-Minnie