Am I the only one who loves strength training? I keep hearing complaints about it.
I’m enjoying all the lifting I’ve been doing, however any cardio that isn’t running just doesn’t do it for me. I’m never too excited to jump on the elliptical or arc trainer, but show me some dumbbells and I’m jumping for joy! (Maybe not jumping for joy, but…you know). Yesterday I completed the following workout:
Yes, I forgot the exact weight I did for the cable rows. I suck.
I forgot to double the weight listed for all of the dumbbell exercises – for example, for bicep curls, I used two 15-pound dumbbells…not 15 pounds total. Sorry about that!
The exercises in the same colors should be completed together as “super sets” (alternate between each, and then move on to the next group of exercises).
*For the chest press “tic-tac-toe”, make sure to alternate the first arm up.
I’m definitely feeling it today.
I’m still on my “running every few days” rehab regimen. I’m upping my runs by a few minutes at a time and so far, they’ve been fairly wonderful pain free minutes! Apparently the temperature today will reach 57 degrees so of course I will be heading outside for today’s run. My last run was 11 minutes so I’m going to try 15 this time. As long as nothing is hurting, I think I’m good to continue increasing my time – hopefully soon I can switch from “rehab mode” to “running mode” and then to “training mode”…but I know I need to take my time.
In the meantime, I’m hoping to hear back from a chiropractor Abby recommended, and would love to try ART as well. I have to worry about that whole “balancing your budget” thing though. Lame.
I will leave you with this quote that I love:
There have definitely been times that I “shrunk” because I didn’t want others to feel insecure. I’ve said: “yeah, I’ve run a couple marathons, but I’m pretty slow so…whatever. Anyone can do it”.
My first marathon in San Diego. Not easy!
Why would I downplay myself and act like it’s no big thing? Running (two marathons or not) is a huge accomplishment! Why not “shine” and use our successes to liberate others to reach their goals?
Alternately, the champagne celebration was not hard.
Which reminds me, I love what Megan said in her blog, WatchMEGORun, referring to people who say running is “too hard”:
“I’ll let you in on a secret – running is always going to be hard, to some extent. Same with every fitness regime. That’s what keeps your body in shape, by constantly challenging it. When it gets too easy, that’s when you know you have to add something else in. If it were easy, everyone would be in shape and would work out like fiends. There are days that one mile feels like a challenge (read: yesterday, for me). And some days when 10 miles feels awesome (read: two days ago). It’s that challenge that keeps me guessing and keeps me coming back for me, but it does get easier which is different than easy. Easier means you can run a mile without collapsing. Trust me, I didn’t start off running and feeling good about it. It felt hard, just like it does for everyone…”
Do you love/hate strength training? Cardio-lover? Do you downplay your accomplishments to make others feel better, or is that a foreign concept to you?
I’m not really a big fan of strength training. A few free weights. I guess I have fun with kettlebells. Yeah…. it’s hard to brag on yourself!!! I feel dumb telling people about running accomplishments – especially if they’re not runners. And if they are runners who are slower, then I feel bad too. Haha. It’s a weird thing. I mostly compete against myself so I brag to myself. And to my husband. But he has to live with me. Lol.
Kettlebells are fun but I’m intimidated by them! I need to research the correct form and such.
And I’m definitely way slower than you but dont worry about that, I’m just in awe/inspired/motivated by you
I wish I loved strength training! I do it 2x/week, but only b/c I feel I need it.
On the downplaying part–it’s funny. I live in an area where seriously, everyone and their brother has done a marathon or an Ironman. So I never feel like I’m accomplishing all that much. But maybe an attitude adjustment is in order!
Wow maybe I should move there; sounds like an environment that breeds success! It sure is hard to remember your accomplishments when people around you have “done more” so to speak, but I try to remind myself to take it in stride – everyone is different and your accomplishments are your own, be proud