Thursday's Biceps

Today was my last pre-beach workout, so I decided to hit biceps. I wanted to do a fairly quick workout since I still needed to pack and whatnot, so I focused on a pretty straight-forward muscle group.

Today's workout powered by Meanwhile Nutrition (click). Duh.

via Meanwhile Nutrition

The Fifteens are absolute killers! But oh do they work :)

 

Alrighty, off to the beach we go tomorrow! Yep, I'm taking my workouts and this blog with me :)

A

Wednesday's Legs

Today is my favorite day of the week: Leg day!
The roomie is still currently on the lower body injured reserve with an upcoming knee surgery, so leg day is usually spent lost in the most embarrassing workout playlist of all time (but I love it.)

Today's Workout:

Warmup: Lightweight squats (60lbs) 2x10

BB Deadlifts (60lbs, 80lbs, 90lbs, 95lbs) 4x12 (New PR; 95lbs x 10)

One Legged DB Deadlifts (40lbs) 4x12

Leg Curl Machine (50, 60, 70, 80, 90lbs) 5x12, 10, 8, 6, 4 (New PR; 100lbs x 7)

Leg Extension Machine (50, 60, 70, 80, 90lbs) 5x12, 10, 8, 6, 4 (New PR; 100lbs x 4)

15 minutes Arc Trainer on weight loss program level 7

Lastly, "chill out" in the sauna for 10 minutes :)

Can you guess which leg I had surgery on?

I've said it once and I'll say it again, I love living with a nutrition major! Since today was cold and rainy, she whipped up homemade chili (I opened the cans and boiled noodles), and it was absolutely delicious. For her recipe and step-by-step cooking instructions, click -->HERE<--

Tomorrow is my last day before leaving for the beach!

A

PS-- I didn't even do an ab workout today and had a carb-y dinner, but yay!

I really need to clean my mirror

Tuesday's Swim and Shoulders

It was a high of 62 today. I forgot the South got cold.

My roomie and I decided to switch things up and headed to the pool to do a swim workout. I died a thousands deaths but I got through it.

Meanwhile Nutrition's Freestyle Workout (click to see her cardio post):

Via Meanwhile Nutrition

It had been a long time (years, maybe) that I had done a swim workout. 25 meters used to be cake when I was 11... but I finished it! I stopped when I needed to, but I got every lap in. I may have not finished it in the fastest time, but I finished, and that's what's important to me.

After coming home, changing and filling up on carbs, it was back to the gym for another Meanwhile Nutrition shoulder workout.

Meanwhile Nutrition's Shoulder Workout (click to see her weights post):

Via Meanwhile Nutrition

Right

Left

Left

Right

I leave for the beach Friday afternoon! Bikini pics here I come!

A

Monday's Cardio and Abs

Someday's you just don't have it in you.

I struggled hardcore to even make it to the gym today (thank God for pre-workout), and when I was there, I had no motivation to do any type of weight exercise. I drank quite a bit this weekend and strayed a little from my diet, so I decided to do cardio to burn off some calories and abs to just make me feel better about myself.

60 minutes on the Arc Trainer weight loss program, level 7.

Today's workout brought to you by Meanwhile Nutrition (no surprise there). Click the name to see her post about this workout! (and a cute pic of our dogs playing)

Abs:
Superset:
Hanging Leg Raises 3x10
Normal Crunches 3x25

Penguins 3x25

Superset:
Toe Touches (10lbs) 3x25
Russian Twists (10lbs) 3x25

Plank with 10lbs on back 3x 1:00, :45, :30
Plank with no weight 3x :30, :45, 1:00

Excuse my dirty mirror

I'm getting closer and closer to the beach and I like what I see so far!

A

Week Two Review

I am less than a week away from my beach trip!

This week was great, even with it only being my second week I feel fitter. I had to take an off day, but that's life--it happens. This weekend was another Wolfpack home game (yay tailgating!) annnnnd we won!

This accidental photo turned into a great progress pic.
Is that leg definition I see?

Tomorrow is my FOUR YEAR anniversary with my boyfriend. Hard to believe that when we met, I was a wee college freshman (he was a sophomore). Who knew that four years later I would have a full-time job, he'd be starting physical therapy school, and we'd still be going strong! I will dominate my workout tomorrow just for him :)

I have officially fallen in love with fitness. No, that doesn't mean that I'm giving up drinking, carbs, and happiness to fit into a sparkly bikini and impress other very tan people, but it does mean that I'm not giving up, especially after my beach vacation. I want to see how far I can take this whole thing. Eating healthy, going to the gym every day, even blogging about it. Here goes nothing!

A

Friday's Get Legs

Today was rough.

Anyone who has ever met me, or even just followed me on Instagram, knows that I am an all-out animal lover; especially dogs. I have a princess (I mean black lab) named Penny and she is just about my whole entire world. She is literally the perfection in dog form.

She is a year and a half old, and on her first birthday I found out that she has a slight heart murmur. We have tried to hold off on treatment to see if it would go away on its own, but today I found out that it has gotten a little worse. My poor girl had to be sedated (she has anxiety) to get an x-ray, which revealed a slightly enlarged right-side heart. :(

I needed to pick up my sad, sedated, confused girl and took her home for some rest. I knew if I sat and watched her I would cry, so before I got her, off to the gym I went.

My personal trainer boyfriend is in town so he co-wrote this leg day.

Warmup: Decline Leg Press (90lbs) 2x10

Decline Leg Press (140lbs) 3x12 (New PR; 140lbs 3x12)

Two-Legged Barbell Deadlifts (40, 60, 90lbs) 3x12 (New PR; 90lbs x 12)

 

One-Legged DB Deadlifts (40lbs) 3x12

Calf Raises on Barbell Plate (40lbs) 2x20

Awkward right leg way bigger than the left

Since I got the call that Penny was ready to be picked up, we decided to skip cardio. No regrets.

Tomorrow is an off day, and a WOLFPACK GAME DAY! Go Pack!

A

PS: If you don't mind, please keep my puppy in your thoughts and prayers.

Thursday's Chest and Tri's

I am closing in on the final beach countdown, 8 days!

Today I switched it up and did my cardio first. 30 minutes on the Arc Trainer on the speed bump weight loss program, level 7.

This workout powered by Meanwhile Nutrition (Click)

Warmup: Wide and regular push ups 2x8

Chest:
Flat Bench DB Chest Press (15lbs) 4x12

Flat Bench Bench Press (40lbs, 50lbs) 3x12 (New PR: 50lbs x5)

Incline Chest Press (40lbs) 3x12

Decline Chest Press (40lbs) 3x12

Flat Bench DB Flyes (12.5lbs) 3x12


Triceps:
DB Kickbacks (7.5lbs) 4x12

Superset:
Skullcrushers (20lbs) 3x12
Tricep Dips 3x12

Tricep Cable Pulldowns (15, 20, 25,30lbs) 4x12,10,8,6

I listen to what my body tells me, and today it told me to crush my workout and then go to Krispy Kreme. Soooooo I did. I will never ever force myself to only eat healthy food. Everyone gets a cheat meal, right? Mine was two delicious doughnuts!

Lol at my awkward flex

Everyone's gotta start somewhere, right?

A

Wednesday's Rest Day

Wednesday was a long day for me. My regional boss came to ride along with me for the day and we spent most of the day crawling in beer coolers and hanging things from ceilings.

Needless to say, I was exhausted.

So, instead of going to the gym, my roommate made siracha tacos (Click here for the recipe!) and we had an off-day.

9 days 'til the beach, so back at it tomorrow!

Tuesday's Shoulders

10 days 'til the beach!

I learned today that I have zero shoulders. My chest goes straight into my bicep, apparently. It sucks being the one lifting with almost the lightest weight in the gym but I keep reminding myself that even the greatest, most fit people in the world had to start somewhere.

Going to the gym with my roommate is a great encourager, because, well, she's way better than me. She has been my teacher, motivator, and competitor every time we work out together. If you have someone who will work out with you, take advantage of it.

You know you've found your 'swolemate' (I'm corny, yes) when you can take each other's #gymselfies without even a second thought (and even worse, discuss lighting options).

As usual, today's workout is powered by her (Click for her post on today's workout)

Warmup:  
Alternating Front and lateral raises (7.5lbs) 3x12

Upright Row to Shoulder Press (20lbs) 4x12
One Armed Bent Over Rows (20lbs) 4x12

Superset:
Arnold Press (10lbs) 4x12
Lateral Raises (10lbs) 4x12

Rear Delt Machine (Starting at 30lbs, adding weight each set) 4x12,10,10,8

Burnout Superset:
Around-the-Head Plate Drill (25lbs) 4x10 (5 each direction)
Bus Drivers (10lbs) 4x25

Right

Left

What even are shoulders? Yay for filters.

A

Monday's Biceps

Welcome to week two! I leave for the beach in t-minus 11 days and I am determined to see a change, even if only subtle, by then. I even bought a new swim suit for motivation!

Today I was able to go to the gym with my roommate (click for her blog), you know, the one who helps me with all my workout and dieting, which is always nice because I have a motivator/complainer there with me through the sweat. As usual, today's workout is powered by her. (Click to see her post about today's workout)

Via Meanwhile Nutrition

Right

Left

Even a little definition is progress!

A

Week One Review

I feel great about myself. This is my second full week of working out out everyday (first week reporting it on this blog) and I know I've found something I can keep up with.

I celebrated the weekend and my first week of blogging by attending my first NFL game! As a Raleigh native, I made the trek out to Charlotte with my boyfriend to cheer on the Panthers.


I got tickets through my work (thanks Bud Light!) and they included free passes to the Panther Lair Bud Light Beer Garden. Free beer, free food, and a Panther's win! Weekend= Success.

Back at it tomorrow, though!
Here we go week two. Beach trip is t-minus 12 days!

A

Friday Legs & Abs

Happy Friday! Let's make your legs fall off.

This workout powered by...wait for it....me! I am only capable of writing leg workouts. It's a residual curse from my soccer days. 

-Barbell Deadlifts 50lbs 4x15

-One-Legged Dumbbell Deadlifts 40lbs total 4x15

Start with desired weight at
your side and balance on one
foot.

slowly lean forward while
straightening your back leg,
keeping the weight at the center.

-Squats 20lbs 4x12 

     Disclaimer: I have a bum knee and heavily weighted squats hurt

Superset: 

-Leg Extension 55lbs 4x12

-Leg Curl 55lbs 4x12

-Calf Raises on Seated Leg Press 90lbs 3x20

Superset:

-Decline Sit Ups 3x20

-Decline Russian Twists 3x20

-Hanging Leg Raises 3x12

No abs yet, but less flab!

I had ACL surgery FIVE years ago and my legs still aren't
back to where they were pre-surgery. Left is
surgery knee.

A

Thursday's Back, Bi's, and Door-of-hell Cardio

The date of this day alone was a motivator in itself.
Never Forget.

This morning, my personal trainer boyfriend texted me telling me he hit his personal best mile time of nine minutes. He is 250lbs of college-football-playing muscle, and nine minutes is amazing for him, and I know it's only going to get better. He challenged me to run my best mile.

So I did.

And I surprised even myself.

I haven't run that fast of a mile since HIGH SCHOOL. Go me!

Today's workout, brought to you by Meanwhile Nutrition (Click Me)

Via Meanwhile Nutrition

I ended today's workout with 30 minutes on the Arc Trainer's weight loss workout, level 7.
Then 15 minutes in the sauna <3

What. Are. Biceps? I guess we'll find out.

A

Wednesday's Tris & Chest

"On Wednesday we work chest and tri's."

This workout is brought to you by Meanwhile Nutrition by Chelsea M (<--click her name to see her blog), literally screenshot-ed from her site. 

via Meanwhile Nutrition (<--click)

Let me reiterate. I am not making up my own workouts, or stealing from someone else. I live with a NUTRITION GRADUATE. Like I've stated before, she is the brain behind almost every workout, meal, and nutrition fact that I have in my head. This blog is her workouts/lifestyle put to work on someone other than herself. It isn't really for anyone else, either. If you come across it and read it, great. But this is mostly a journal for me to track my progress and hold myself accountable.

Rant over.

My arms are dead. 

Wait, I have muscles there?

This is Not the First

Hey there.

Welcome to the one millionth time that I've tried to blog. Sometimes I just don't like the URL and title I've chosen, other times I don't like the topics I've chosen to write about and want to start fresh. Welp, here I am again. This is my second time doing a fitness blog, I ruined the first one by trying to cater too hard to what other people want to read. This time, it's one hundred percent for me.

So more or less, welcome to my fitness journal made public.

I am horrible at working out. I don't know many exercises, and I'm a noob in the kitchen. Luckily, I live with a nutrition graduate who is filling in her free time by blogging her lifestyle. This blog is really just a little sister to hers. Seeing her workouts and meals come to life on someone other than herself. To read her blog, Meanwhile Nutrition, click HEREEEEE.

Like the title of this blog states, I work for a beer company. One of the largest and most well known in the world. This is my balance of "bars", per se. The bars I work in, and the bars I pick up and put down.

Enjoy.
A