Will Run For Ice Cream

Back in the fall, I got a pull-up bar from Target. I've wanted to do a pull-up forever, and I was a little intimidated trying at the gym. So, one day when Lil Man and I were out shopping, I decided to pick one up so I could start working on pull-ups at home. I had NOOOOOOOO idea they would be so hard to do ha. So I put the bar up, got a stool for support and tried to do one. Not only could I not even pull myself up, I couldn't even hold myself up. I mean... not even for a second. So I started out with my foot on the top of the stool/chair and used it for support. Then I started working on doing a hang where basically you start at the top and try to hold yourself. Like I said, when I stared I couldn't even hold myself. This was me in September after a couple of weeks of working on just holding myself up.

For awhile now, I've been working on strength training. And I feel that I've reached a point, that I'd like to work with a trainer.... to work on form... to show me some new things that I haven't been doing.. to help me stay accountable... and to push me harder than I would normally push myself. Why is it that when I workout by myself, I stop when it gets 'tough', but a trainer can say just 3 more, and I'll give it all I have to get those 3 more reps?

You can simply do a google search and find a ton of free workouts. But I came across a site bodybuilding.com (Iphone app Bodyspace) where there is a collection of FREE workout plans - not just workouts but PLANS . Like do this on day one; this on day two etc. One of my favorites is the Jamie Eason Live Fit . There are instructional videos along with the plan. I'm currently using Jim Stoppani 12-week shortcut to siz e just to mix it up a bit. I'm not even sure how I cameacross this site - but it has been very beneficial and I thought I'd share the info with you. There are tons of plans to choose from depending on your goals. Happy lifting :) If you like my blog, or this post, PLEASE take a moment to share it with friends.  Share this on Facebook? Tweet Please Note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive a commission if you make a purchase using the affiliate link.

Ok, let me start off by saying, in the past I've stuck to the cardio machines. Oh, you know the one who knows every piece of cardio equipment at the gym. ( Slowly raises hand ). But, this past year I've been working on strength training. Yep, that means moving out of my cardio comfort zone and branching out to other parts of the gym. And I get the looks sometimes that I'm in 'their way'. Ahem, my weights might only be 10-20lbs instead of your 50lb+ but it's my workout! (says my inner bad self although at times I find myself slinking over to give them more room. ) But I have to say that hogging a machine isn't cool. Have you ever run into a situation where someone will use 3 or more machines at once?

Getting up early lately - the struggle is real. Twice this week I've turned off the alarm. The first time, well I'm Embarrassed By My Lack Of Control . The second time, I just didn't want to get up and run 6 miles. I woke up on time. But my body was tired. My mind was tired, and I stayed in bed. I knew I could get in a short workout once the family woke up.

*hanging my head in shame here* . Really, I'm truly embarrassed. So this is what happened. I'm struggling with doing my strength training. I was doing great as long as I was working with a trainer. But the funds for that ran out, and I'm left to my own devices to stay motivated and push myself to get the job done. Well.... I haven't. I had my last session with my trainer last Monday and didn't really pick up a weight since.... not one bicep curl was performed, or chest press, or lunge.. you get the picture. So last night I was determined that was going to change. I looked up the gym schedule and decided on the insane 5:15am class. I went to bed early. Fell asleep fairly quick ( which isn't normal for me ), and then Hubby came to bed late. He woke me up and I couldn't fall back to sleep. As in it was 2am and I'm fuming - absolutely fuming because I have laid awake all night with the goal of getting up at 4:30am to go workout. Around 2:30ish or so, I t...

Full Disclosure: I received products free of charge for the purpose of providing a review. This post contains affiliate links.  My opinions are completely my own based on my experience.  I'm always on the lookout for new exercise equipment. I have found that variety keeps me from getting bored, and different equipment utilizes muscles in different ways. So when I heard about the Iron Chest Master   I was more than willing to give it a try. I'm only 4'10" and I have a hard time doing the chest fly machine at the gym. No matter what I do to the equipment I can't seem to get the machine set up to fit me. I do use weights to do the chest fly, but I know that I often lose form. Well check this out.

Do you ever have one of those days that you just needed to get above the clouds? This week, I definitely had several of those days. On Friday it was was super foggy. I almost didn't go out. But at the very last minute, I decided to see what it was like up on the Appalachian Trail. I knew I wouldn't have long to run, but I really just wanted to explore. I'm so glad that I did. Check out these views.

I have been compensated in the form of a gift card/money/coupon and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free. All opinions expressed are mine and honest in nature. Truth time - it took me awhile to get on board with the nutrition piece - go figure. I know - shocker right?!? But I have to say the Lorna Jane Fit Challenge (#LJFitChallenge) is what really lit a fire under my rear to get strong and fit ( notice I didn't say skinn y). Sure, I want to lose some weight. I am carrying around some unwanted pounds that I've gained over this past year. But when I started doing the #LJFitChallenge, I felt myself getting stronger. And it sparked a desire for me to start strength training, which I have done. In addition to becoming stronger, I'm changing the way that I see myself and my reason for working out. In the past, it's been a lot about calorie burn. Now, it's about getting healthy and getting stronger, and not focused on calories burned ...

Well, the hammy is still not 100% well, but it's improving. In fact, I was able to do a little speed work this past week. I do have the need for speed. I'd rather do speed work and mile repeats any day over any type of run. I love the challenge, and I love the rush especially if I hit my pace. I had planned on doing 3 (1) mile repeats, but decided to just do 2 to test how the hammy handled it. I was a little sore, but no pain. I'm considering that success.  But, I'm finding that I'm dealing with muscle imbalance like I did at the end of 2013 when I had my calf tear ( Injury Update - MRI results ). And the more I heal, the more muscle I'm rebuilding, but I know I'm overcompensating on my form due to the imbalance. So I reached out to

Today's #TuesdayTidbit is about how sometimes doing what you don't want to do is exactly what you need to do. For example: You could do cardio all day long but hate doing strength training. Or you could do strength training all day long but you hate doing cardio. You prefer speed work over long slow runs so you stick with speed work but lack endurance. Or you prefer long slow runs and skip speed work. You've never uttered Namaste, but you can bench press your weight - you just aren't flexible enough to touch your toes. I think you get my point.

After getting my Thigh Compression Sleeve ( Feeling The Squeeze - Compression Sleeves ),  I ordered me a pair of   Zensah High Compression Shorts  since some of my pain is also in the buttock area. Well, I love them. They seem to really make a difference. The only problem is that I'm need more than one pair!  So this weekend, I put them to the test and took to the streets. I'd been running on the treadmill, then I ventured out for a 1.5 to 2 mile run. And this weekend I went out for a little over 3.   Today I went out for a 4 mile run - my longest with this injury. And I added in a few inclines. 

I'm like - really?!? I mean enough is enough. Do you know that for the last.. oh... at least 3 years this time of the year I have been injured with something. First it was the stress fractures from My First Half - Hershey Half Marathon  . And I have to say that the 3 stress fractures hurt less than the torn calf that I dealt with at the beginning of this year ( Injury Update - MRI results ) And now, well it's the hamstring. I haven't been to the dr ( yet ). But I don't really see the need at this point because really whatever it is it's going to be rest. I'm better than yesterday. So I'm planning on sticking with the plan of total rest (other than upper body) until next weekend. I did come across this article How To Maintain Fitness by Jenny Hadfield , and I plan to use this as a guide when I easy back into cardio again. But I do feel that I probably need to have total rest (no bike, leg weights, no anything) for at least a week to give it some time to ...

Being injured is lonely. First of all, no one but you know exactly how it feels. You are the only one that's literally feeling the pain and the emotional anguish. Other people may identify ( if they've been there before ), but at that moment, you are the one 'dealing' with it.  And then, if most of your friends are 'runners' or active people, and if the only time you really saw those people was during running or activities, then it's especially lonely when you are the one not participating anymore. People move on, find other running partners and friends, and you aren't necessarily 'forgotten' but you are no longer a part. And mentally, that can be tough.   And this week has been an especially trying week. In addition to my own physical and mental pain, Lil Man is sick... bad sick. I've never heard his cough be this deep and rough before. After puking up green mucus today, we took him to the DR. We were told it's viral, and I...

Yesterday, I went outside in the cold weather for my first outside run post-marathon. It went fairly uneventful. It felt great to be out there running again. I had decent splits. My knee felt ok. Overall it was a good run.  This is me today...  After my run yesterday, my calf felt pretty sore and tight. I stretched as best as I could. I walked on it all day with the family. Then last night, I rolled, and rolled, and rolled some more.  It was tender to walk on it in the middle of the night. Lil Man got into our bed again ( sigh ) at 2:30am. So I took some motrin (in case of inflammation). This morning I stretched. It felt ok when walking. So I did my 1 mile #RunningStreak. It felt fine during the run. I was getting breakfast when Lil Man spilled his entire cup of milk on the carpet. I turned to go down to the basement, as I was running down the steps, by about the 3rd step or so.. I felt it... a pull, a nice sharp pain, and my calf muscle immediately ...

It's been about a week since I decided that I needed a little break ( That Marathon Really Took A Toll On Me Emotionally ). And focusing on strength training (as crazy as it sounds) I think was exactly what I needed. Well, that and the running streak  When I wanted to cut my reps short during strength training, I reminded myself that I wasn't a quitter, that to get results I needed to push through my comfort zone and finish the set. And so far that's what I've done. (even on the triceps push-ups which I am terrible at!)  I'm starting week 2 of strength training. My plan is to do it faithfully for a month and hope that it becomes a habit. I'm also hoping that in some ways I will notice a little difference in muscle tone. I know that it probably won't be drastic , but I'm hoping for at least a little change to encourage me to continue on with strength training.  And doing the running streak has kept me running without feeling that I needed to ...

I've never been one to enjoy strength training. In fact, unless I'm with a group of people, or taking a class, I find it really hard to make myself do it. But years ago, Hubby decided to get a bowflex. I had my doubts then if we'd ever use it. The answer is.. no we did not. It's used more to 'dry clothes' than build or tone muscles. In fact, I'm in the process of selling it. When I do any strength training at home, I use my free weights. But a couple of weeks ago, I decided to do a few reps and Lil Man was amazed by it all. Today, as I was working on the computer, I heard a noise. I looked over to see what he was into, and this is what I found. He was 'working out'. It was beyond cute, but it was also an "aha" moment. Sometimes we can find inspiration when we least expect it. And our children are always watching, even when we think they aren't. So, what did I do? I stopped what I was doing, and went and 'worked' ou...