It's NOT Fitness ADD ... I LIKE to mix things up!

[LisaS]

are you doing the clean and press 1 arm at a time - and if so - 50 each arm? Are you doing a strict mil press for the press like the oldtime clean & press - or more a push press?

[UConnJulie]

Thanks guys! I agree Roland, the clean and press was hard, especially because I am used to doing them with a BB or KB, not DBs!!

Originally Posted by LisaS

are you doing the clean and press 1 arm at a time - and if so - 50 each arm? Are you doing a strict mil press for the press like the oldtime clean & press - or more a push press?

Lisa, both arms at the same time ... 20# each arm (which isn't bad if you are doing 12 or so, but 50 is killer!!) ... mine were probably more like a push-press especially more toward the end! My heart rate was up near 95% of my max

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by UConnJulie

Today's workout ...

Foam Rolling and Mobility work (mostly for hips)

Warm Up:
Walking Lunge x 10
*done circuit style
Y-Squat 2x10
Incline Push Up 2x10
Prisoner Split Squat 2x10
Spiderman Climb 2x10

"The Kendra"

25 pull-ups (with band assistance - I have a fat band from Perform Better): 10, 7, 4, 4
50 deadlifts @ 70#: 12, 12, 13, 13
50 push-ups: 10, 10, 10, 10, 10 (on knees)
50 12" box jumps: 13, 13, 12, 12
50 sit ups: 13, 13, 12, 12
50 DB Clean & Press @ (2) 20# DBs: 10, 10, 10, 10, 10
25 pull-ups: 10, 5, 4, 3, 3
41:17
*heart rate got up near 95% of my age-predicted max during both the box jumps and the clean & press!

Fun stuff ...

HOLY CRAP, Julie...way to go!!!

[UConnJulie]

Still feeling a bit drained from yesterday ... went to bed super-early (didn't sleep great but not miserable either) ... slept in a bit ... will workout this afternoon ... I'll post the specifics after I do it. It's mostly lower body which is good because I'm a little sore peri-scapularly (is that a word?) from the pushups and pull ups!!

AF is due sometime later this week and this is probably the worst PMS I've had in a while (I know it seems that I say that every month, but it just seems to keep getting worse). I'm so crabby I can barely stand to be around myself ... and it is taking all of my self-control to avoid screaming at my kids. I did really well on Monday avoiding bad foods, but not so good yesterday ... sigh ... oh well ... also had my yearly GYN exam yesterday and talked to my doc about the doc I am seeing at the end of the month. Turns out she knows her very well and thinks that she may be able to help me. So that makes me feel good. Only 19 more days until I go ... it would be nice if we could clear up this miserable PMS ... I can't sleep, I'm a complete bitch, my back hurts, the cravings, the night sweats ... UGH!!!

OK, enough complaining ... off to organize my morning so I can workout this afternoon ...

[Victoria]

Awwww...sorry you're pms'ing. Nothin' worse! Have you ever tried valerian? I take it now and then to help me sleep or if I'm unually anxious about something. But, it works wonders on pms. I usually only get it mildly but not at all after a couple valerians.

Just a thought......hope you feel better!

[sona]

talked to my doc about the doc I am seeing at the end of the month. Turns out she knows her very well and thinks that she may be able to help me. So that makes me feel good.

It should! This is great news. I'm excited for you~ The end of the month will be here VERY soon!

[LisaS]

Originally Posted by UConnJulie

AF is due sometime later this week and this is probably the worst PMS I've had in a while (I know it seems that I say that every month, but it just seems to keep getting worse). I'm so crabby I can barely stand to be around myself

I hate that. Most of my physical PMS symptoms stopped after I went controlled-carb last year, but the emotional ones - hate 'em. For me, it isn't the crabbiness so much I can just avoid people or not let it out - but I get hyperemotional/teary over almost anything - good, bad, angry, strong opinion = teary. hate it. it can even intrude into work if I have strong opinions to express in a meeting or something - hate it.

[UConnJulie]

Well, never got my workout in yesterday ... it was probably a good thing as I was pretty sore by yesterday afternoon ... just in and around my scapulae and a bit in my neck (straining a bit on those last few pull-ups I suspect!) Also proves that I NEED to get my workouts done first thing in the morning or they just don't get done.

So today I did yesterday's weight routine and skipped the bodyweight circuit and instead did today's interval B workout. Here's what it looked like ...

Foam Rolling, Mobility Work, and Activation (mostly hips)

Warm Up:
Walking Lunges x 10 (1 set)
(done as a circuit with no rest, twice through)
Y-Squat x 10
Incline Push-Ups x 10
Bulgarian Split Squat x 10 each leg
Spiderman Climb x 10 each leg

*minimal rest taken between exercises
*rest between supersets taken only to switch plates and stuff around

1A Wide Squat: 95# 3x8
1B Stability Ball Crunches: 3x8

2A Front Squat: 75# 3x8
2B Romanian Deadlift: 75# 3x8

Rested until heart rate down under 110 bpm.

Interval Workout B: on bike
Warm Up x 3 minutes
Sprint x 60 seconds (target HR 164-173)
Recover x 90 seconds (target HR 132 or less)
x 6
Cool Down x 3 minutes


Pretty difficult on the bike after the squats and stuff!! Legs are feeling HUGE right now!! Felt great though ...

*LOVE* my new heart rate monitor ... I got a Polar S210 which they don't make any more but someone was selling one on Amazon and I got a good deal on it. You can set interval zones (both for time and target heart rate!!) and 5 different workout sets (ie for 60:90, 30:30, 20:10, etc). It's WAY COOL!!! Plus it calculates calories burned ... not sure how accurate it is, but whatever ... it's fun!!

Food has been out of compliance for a day and a half ... PMS is hitting hard and the cravings are nearly intolerable as are the mood swings (literally crying and sad one minute, elated the next, and ready to kill someone a few minutes later ... it's sooooo bizarre!!). Sigh ... a few more days and AF will be here and that will be over ... and only 18 days until I see the doctor and get the results of my hormone tests ...

[Victoria]

I've been wanting to get a HRM. But, I think I need the strapless kind. Isn't the sensor in the center of the strap? My ribs stick out slightly and my sternum caves in a bit. I think it's called pectus excavatum. Might not make good enough contact with my chest. Anyway, do you know of any good strapless ones? I like all the bells and whistles and it would be nice if it would automatically take the readings rather than me having to push a button every minute or so.

Nice workouts!!!

[L'ilJ]

Hi Julie...I love to wear a HRM too. I have no idea how accurate the calorie burn is, but I use it to compare workouts.

Your workouts look excellent by the way.

[mom2w]

How is the HRM helpful for strength training? At my club they're mostly advertised for effective cardio work so I'm just not familiar with the weight training approach to wearing one.

Victoria: What about the ones that are designed with a sports bra? I haven't seen them in real life, but have seen them advertised.

[UConnJulie]

Victoria, they're pretty flexible ... you can try my old one if you want to get an idea to see if it's worth investing in one ... it still works fine, it's just baseline with no bells and whistles.

Jill, yes, it's great to compare workouts and to know that you can push it harder in some areas ... I was surprised at how low my heartrate was during some exercises, and how high it was during others!

Brenda, I guess it's more of a curiosity factor during weight routines ... but if you are doing something like NROL or TT where there is a lot of metabolic disturbance, it is neat to see your heart rate skyrocket ... helps to know that you are creating that "afterburn" because you are working so much at and above the anaerobic threshold ... for intervals it is invaluable ...

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by mom2w

What about the ones that are designed with a sports bra? I haven't seen them in real life, but have seen them advertised.

Well, I still think there'd be poor contact issues. There is a gap between my bra and my chest, probably the size of a golf ball. So, if that's where the sensor is....SOL! But, worth looking into.

Julie, I may take you up on your offer. I suppose it'd be worth trying one out before I jump to this conclusion.

[UConnJulie]

Originally Posted by Victoria

Well, I still think there'd be poor contact issues. There is a gap between my bra and my chest, probably the size of a golf ball. So, if that's where the sensor is....SOL! But, worth looking into.

Julie, I may take you up on your offer. I suppose it'd be worth trying one out before I jump to this conclusion.

The sensors are more out to the sides with the transmitter in the middle ... in other words, the part that is important to be in contact with your skin is out about 3-4 inches to either side of midline ...

[Victoria]

Hmmmm....maybe it would work, then. Question is...are they comfortable?

[UConnJulie]

Originally Posted by Victoria

Hmmmm....maybe it would work, then. Question is...are they comfortable?

Define "comfortable" ... like soft fuzzy jammies? No. But not uncomfortable or painful ... more like when you first start wearing a ring or watch ... you are just aware of it all the time. But the back part is elastic so it stretches when you breathe and bend and all that ...

****************************** ***********************

Did lots of foam rolling this morning (about 40 minutes worth!) hitting all those spots that I've been avoiding ... feeling much "free-er" and less stiff. I'm working today so I am swapping Sunday's day off to today and pushing today's workout to tomorrow and Saturday's optional interval B workout to Sunday. I wanted to make sure I have enough time to prep all my meals (I do homecare and work out of my car ...) as I'll be working all day. Food yesterday was off ... AF still isn't here ... sometime by Sunday I think ... working all weekend (surprise! They couldn't find anyone else to work and asked me if I could see one client ... now I am booked all weekend ... how does that happen?! ) but it won't cut into family time as Matt has school vacation all week. Of course he still has softball every day, but at least he'll be home in the mornings.

OK, off to meal prep ...