nic's workout log

[nicolakgreen]

12-12-11 Workout A1

Squats 5x20, 5x25, 5x30, 5x33, 5x33, 5x33, 5x33, 5x33

Bench Press 5x20, 5x25, 5x25, 5x25, 5x25, 5x25

RDL 5x15, 8x25, 8x25, 8x25

Inverted Row - x5, x8, x8, x8

Tricep extension 10x7.5, 10x7.5, 10x7.5

[cacodaemonia]

Should have christmas shopped before the gym

Haha, how come? Were your muscles really tired after all that?

[nicolakgreen]

@ cacodaemonia - yeah, I was shattered! I have trouble shopping at the best of times - being really tired doesn't help. Christmas has kind of snuck up on me - I left it all too late to shop online as is my preference.

[nicolakgreen]

14-12-11 Workout B1

Deadlift 8x20, 8x30, 8x30, 8x30

Dumbbell chest press 8x5, 8x10, 8x10, 8x10

Bentover row 8x15, 8x25, 8x25, 8x25

Overhead press 8x10, 8x10, 8x10

Squats 8x20, 8x30, 8x30, 8x30

I don't know whether it was because I did them last or what, but my squats were horrible. I couldn't stop my knees from dropping in and my back wouldn't stay straight. terrible form.

[cacodaemonia]

Yeah, I hate shopping as well. But I don't really do the whole Christmas thing so at least I don't have to deal with that yearly misery.

That's odd about your squats, since it looks like you were mostly doing upper body stuff before that. Maybe you were just a little short on protein or something?

[nicolakgreen]

@ Cacodaemia - so jealous - I would ignore Christmas if I could but my family insist.

Possibly. My diet doesn't vary much though - I tend to eat the same things over and over. I am due on any day now, so maybe that's it? It's usually quieter in the gym on saturdays so I'll try and do my squats first, see how I get on.

Edit: Thinking about it I haven't been sleeping well this week because of the crazy windy weather we've been having, that can't have helped. I think we're past the worst of it so I'll try for an early night tonight, try and catch up.

[nicolakgreen]

I was feeling knackered today, really wasn't looking forward to self defence tonight at all. Until we got started - ten minutes in and I was having so much fun. I am home now and fed, and am going to hurt tomorrow but I feel so good.

[nicolakgreen]

I was feeling horrible, all bloated and lethargic, but I went in and had an excellent time in the gym. Felt amazing when I came out, and met up with some people I haven't seen for ages in the pub. A good evening, even if they did encourage me to make a knitting needle case for my sister rather than buy one. Sewing day today then.

17-12-11 Workout A2

Squats 5x20, 5x30, 5x32.5, 5x35, 5x37.5, 5x40, 5x42.5

Bench Press 5x20, 5x22.5, 5x25, 5x27.5, 5x30

RDL 8x25, 8x25, 8x25

Inverted Row - 3x8

Tricep extension 10x7.5, 10x7.5, 6x7.5, 5x7.5

[nicolakgreen]

19-12-11 Workout B2

Squats 8x10, 8x25, 8x30, 8x30, 8x30

Deadlift 5x20, 5x30, 5x35, 5x40, 5x45

Dumbbell chest press 8x10, 8x10, 8x10

Bentover row 8x25, 8x25, 8x25

Overhead press 8x15, 71/2x15, 5x15, 5x15

Makes a crappy day so much better.

[Leimanu]

so loving that you're in England and you say "knackered." England's slang and swearing is eons beyond America

[cacodaemonia]

Edit: Thinking about it I haven't been sleeping well this week because of the crazy windy weather we've been having, that can't have helped. I think we're past the worst of it so I'll try for an early night tonight, try and catch up.

Yuck, yeah. not sleeping well - especially for several nights in a row - can really affect your workouts. I hope you've been sleeping better!

I know what you mean about working out making you feel so much better afterward. And I hope you post photos of the knitting needle case you're planning on making.

[nicolakgreen]

21-12-11 Workout A1

Squats 5x7.5, 5x27.5, 5x37.5, 5x37.5, 5x37.5, 5x37.5, 5x37.5

Bench Press 5x20, 5x30, 5x30, 5x30, 5x30, 5x30

RDL 8x30, 8x35, 8x35, 8x35

Inverted Row - 3x8

Tricep extension 10x7.5, 10x7.5, 10x7.5

Wednesdays are always so busy. I had to wait ages for the squat cage - started my squats in the smith machine and it was horrible. Not doing that again. Worth the wait for the cage. Next year when I start freelancing and cutting down my hours at work (once I have made £100 working in the evenings I'll cut down the hours I work at my day job by a day) I am going to make sure Wednesday is the first day I take off work so I can go during the day.

@ cacodaemonia - I have been sleeping great since the weather calmed down - feel so much better. I will post pics as soon as it's done. Hopefully this afternoon so I can get my wrapping done today too. Tomorrow is a busy day then we're heading off early Saturday so it needs to get done now.

@ Leimanu - Happy to be foreign and exotic. Honestly I swear too much irl so I make an effort to use the fun English words online rather than offend people!

[nicolakgreen]

Not a workout, but an achievement all the same.

IMAG0056 by nicolakgreen, on Flickr

One for my mum, one for my sister.

[cacodaemonia]

Those cases are adorable! I love them.

Nice workout! What's RDL? And what do you do for freelancing?

[nicolakgreen]

@ cacodaemonia Thank you, I hope they do too.

Romanian Dead Lift. I'm going to start with proofreading - I used to do it at work until it was outsourced a year ago and I really miss it. I'd like to get into copy editing too. As soon as I get xmas over with! Roll on the new year.

Just me at self defence again tonight; I had lots of fun but am feeling very battered now. With less people there it's a much more intense session and hurts more!

[nicolakgreen]

Back in the gym yesterday after missing two days over xmas.

28-12-11 Workout B1

Squats 8x20, 8x3, 8x40, 8x40, 8x40

Deadlift 5x40, 5x40, 5x40, 5x40, 5x40

Dumbbell chest press 8x10, 8x10, 7x10, 4x10

Bentover row 8x25, 8x25, 8x25

Overhead press 8x15, 8x15, 5x15, 7x15

Mostly women in the gym today for a change - meant the weights area was nice and quiet.

Going to see about my 1RMs on Saturday for the Midwinter Muscle Madness: Virtual Powerlifting Meet

http://nerdfitness.com/community/showthread.php?6272-Midwinter-Muscle-Madness-Virtual-Powerlifting-Meet

[ETFnerd]

My gym is getting really crowded with the new years resolution transients getting an early start on 2012. Can't even find parking. Figure it will be like this from now until February. Next week will be crazy....

[nicolakgreen]

Been fixing the fence today with my dad. We originally built it 20 years ago and a couple of the posts have gone. The first time we built it was just before the big storm, so when we put it back together after that we gave it seriously deep foundations - digging out all that concrete is more time consuming than anticipated.

I skipped breakfast to get on, which was a mistake - by 1 I was feeling lightheaded and shaky. And while we were eating lunch the heavens opened and never let up, so we have called it for the day and will start again tomorrow. I will have breakfast first. Odds of us getting finished before my parents go away for the new year is pretty low though.

[nicolakgreen]

@ ETFnerd From the chatter in the changing rooms it seemed like they all use the gym normally but have been too busy with christmas to make it in for a while. I'm expecting the real new years lot next week. Normally I am the only woman there, maybe there's one other - yesterday there were easily a dozen of us and very few blokes. Felt bizarre!

[nicolakgreen]

Self defence hurt tonight. Had fun, but ow.

[nicolakgreen]

My bruises from self defence are pretty spectacular this week - my left knee from where I hit the ground and my right forearm from blocking are turning some amazing colours.

I went and found my 1 rep maxs yesterday as the gym was quiet. Pretty pathetic compared to the other guys on the spreadsheet, but I was pleased with my results - not bad for only being able to move the bar six weeks ago.

Squat - 55kg

Bench Press - 37.5kg

Deadlift - 60kg

I only have two sessions left on the plan I have been following, so I am going to spend a couple of hours today figuring out what to do next.