Welcome 2009!
I decided my old log was getting a bit stale, I had some severe lack of motivation towards the end of 2008. But it's a new year and time for a new log! And time for me to get stronger! I made a lot of progress in the first half of 2008, but then leveled off at the end. This year I'm going to work on getting stronger and more fit overall.
I'll be taking my starting pics and stats today and will post them later. (Though, my boyfriend does a more accurate job so I may have him re-do it when he's here next weekend.)
For now... time to outline some goals for this year!
1-
Must work on fixing this glute-activation issue I have. When I do squats or deads, my glutes aren't activating the way they should. I think all those years of dance have trained me to keep weight on my toes. I need to really start focusing on form and hopefully that will wake up my rear end. For all the glute stuff I've been doing, I haven't seen much of an improvement in that area and I think this is why, so that's priority number 1, especially because my knees (hips?) tend to rotate inward and it's giving me very achy knees.
2-
Deadlift 135 by the end of the year. I started 2008 off using just the bar and worked up to a high of 115 for a few reps. Then I pretty much stayed out of the gym from Thanksgiving to Christmas and when I tried deads again 3x5x95 was ROUGH! So I have some work to do to catch back up to where I was, but then I'd really like to work on getting those big girl plates on the bar!
3-
Finally get 1 chin up or pull up unassisted. I got a chin up bar for Christmas, so I will be able to work on this at home rather than the gym.
4-
Find something active outside of the gym that I enjoy.... and can afford. This one is tricky because there are SOOO many things I would love to start taking up... ballroom dancing, martial arts, tennis, etc. But they all cost money and with my LASIK surgery next week putting a bit of a strain on my budget, this could be difficult. Oh yeah, and the whole "finding the time" thing... also could be an issue. But I do not want to come home from work and be a couch potato. So I'm going to work on this.
5-
Lower my bodyfat % a bit. I'm measuring by those 1-site calipers. So it may not be 100% accurate, but it's close enough for me. I haven't checked it since November 1st or so, and with all those holiday pig-outs it could definitely have gone up since then. I think last I checked it was around 22 or so. But I'd like to get down to 20, maybe 19. I do NOT want to look emaciated, but I'd like to be leaner than I am now. I'm not bad off, but I'd like more of an athletic build. Like I've told Bri a billion times (because he yells at me when I talk about losing fat) I don't mind my size... I just mind that it jiggles. If I could build enough muscle to stay roughly this size, but lose the fat around it so I don't jiggle when I walk, I would be very happy.
Now for my non-fitness-related "resolutions":
1- Be better at staying in touch with friends. Bri and my parents are pretty much the only people I call on a regular basis. I need to be better about calling my friends just to chat and catch up.
2- Be tidier. I am never going to be "neat-freak" status... but I do need to take better care of my bedroom and do the dishes more often, lol.
Well, that's all for now... I'll be back later with pics/stats