velvetlabrat

On Fitness: March 2009

So, February didnt turn out to be the awesome progress fest I was hoping for. Between getting laid off, being in New Jersey and Toronto Id say progress was completely hijacked for most of it. I made it to the gym exactly enough to keep from going backwards. The last couple weeks have been great though. Threshold great.

Im happy with the way my body is progressing, ultimately. Im not at my goals, or even that near them I feel. However I can see the changes, and the speed at which they are taking place and I know that I will get there. Sort of. I changed gears a bit and switched from a full body muscle building workout to focus more fat burn. This was because while my muscles are building nicely, I feel like Im still too thick through the middle. Im still around 14% body fat and while that isnt a lot, its the weak link in the chain for the body shape Im chasing. I think something around 9-10% is where I want to be.

So this means Im back on calorie-count.about.com and very carefully monitoring what Im eating, how much and when. Its a bit stressful if Im honest because its exactly like when I started trying to lose weight in earnest around this time in 2007. It was the most difficult experience of my life and the details of why are all coming back to me. Its much easier this time of course because I dont have anywhere near the amount of weight to lose or the habits to break. Im already finding satisfaction in the process.

I also have a new motivation. I want to be in top shape when I land in Toronto. For those of you I havent run into recently, Im moving, for good. The call of the greatest place in the world (so far) has gotten too loud to ignore any longer. Since getting laid off I decided that instead of feeling like a victim and restoring the life I had before that Im going to take advantage of my Halifax umbilical being cut. See you real soon Toronto!

So to accomplish my new goals my trainer has put me on a meal plan and a new exercise routine. This new routine is supersets, and theyre kicking my ass. On the first run I thought I was going to puke half way through. Theyre getting easier but the 2nd set is still hell. I do 15-30 reps of everything with no rest between sets in the group. Weights are one-handed.



#1 Ball Balance Superset

Chest fly @ 20lbs
Bent Over Row @ 45lbs
Lunges @ 30lbs
Plank
Step up


#2

Push ups
Ball squat with bicep curl @ 25lbs
Plank with lower ab leg stuff
Bench hop


#3 Bosu Balance Superset

Shoulder Press @ 25lbs
Squats @ 25lbs
Bicep Curl @ 25lbs
Oblique Crunch
Step up @ 25lbs


#4

Bench Tricep lift
Squat with lateral Leg Raise
Lat/Front Raise @ 12lbs
V-sit/side/snap @ xxlbs
Side squat & punch @ 5lbs


#5 Machine Superset

Leg Extension @ 90lbs
Leg Curl @ 95lbs
Ab Crunch Machine 40lbs* (max weight)
Lower Ab with Medicine Ball
Oblique with Medicine Ball
Back Extension @ 30lbs

Cardio machine until Im exhausted, around 30-40 minutes currently.

Also if things work out with timing of my move, sale of my car and availability of my photographer friend youll see a Suicide Boys set from me in the near future. And most of all I really want to thank Mneylu and Corryn for being such wonderful support for me over the past few weeks. Dealing with me as absolutely every aspect of my life got turned upside down couldnt have been easy and my appreciation for everything youve done is immense.