Snowy St. Patrick's Day

Mother Nature sent us hopefully one last snow for the winter. We got 1, maybe 2 inches. And I'm totally fine with that. Temperatures in the next few days are supposed to get into the 50s, so we'll get to see the grass again soon. It's a little cold out there now, temps in the low 30s, so no outside running for me. All the roads are clear, but I'm not taking chances on hitting some black ice. 

I'm hoping the snow keeps away the drunks this afternoon. I work next to an Irish/Scottish bar, so work might be a little nutty today for me. And there's not enough parking there. They have a valet service to try to accommodate drivers. So people are always trying to illegally park in our lot. We barely have any parking spots to begin with. It's just a pain in the ass. Then there's the littering, vomitting irate drunks complaining about cigarette prices, the normal St. Patty's Day antics. Yeah, I'm not looking forward to work.

Oh stress relief! Running, hitting the heavybag, all that fun stuff. Here's my workouts for yesterday and today:

Sunday: After that quick pace on my Saturday run, I wanted to take it easy, so I went for a walk. I walked around the main drag on my town which is full of little stores, coffee shops, the old movie theater (the theater was in the original Blob movie), and restaurants. It wasn't the warmest out, but it was pretty nice in the sun. I walked around town for a little over a half hour, then met up with my buddy Lou for some decaf coffee and an apple scone at my favorite coffee joint, Artisan's Cafe. It was a pretty enjoyable Sunday workout.

Monday: Upper body inside workout. More of the same.

5 minute warm-up

Lawnmowers

In & out biceps

Medicine ball tricep press

Push-ups

Shoulder press

In & out hammers

Tricep kickback 

Push-ups

Back fly

Curl/hammers

Dips (20,10)

Push-ups

Upright row

Static arm curl

Standing Tricep band row

Push-ups

REPEAT

Finish with 1 round shadow boxing, 1 round heavybag, 1 minute running in place.

Weights: 15lb, medicine ball 9lb. Reps: 10, 8. Push-ups: 2,1.

Playlist: Falcon, Coke Bust, The Everymen

Have a beer for me today for St. Patty's Day!

Quick Saturday Rundown

I decided to post a quick update while sitting on the couch watching "Friday Night Tykes" on TV with Zim. Yup, livin' it up on a Saturday night! We did go earlier to the season home opener Philadelphia Union match. They won 1-0, and we got to talk to some old faces which was real nice. Anyways, here was my last two workouts:

Thursday: Total body

1/4 mile jog warm-up/stretch

Seated lat pull-down (50,50)

Seated shoulder press (30,30)

REPEAT

Weighted calf raise (120,140,160)

Seated chest press (35,30)

Standing tricep pull-down

REPEAT

Leg flexion machine (80,90)

Upright row (15,15)

Curl/hammer (15,15)

Body squats 

Elbow to knee

REPEAT

1/2 mile on the elliptical 

Stretch

Playlist: Everymen

Saturday: Outdoor run/jog

Beautiful out today! Sunny, temps in the 60s, but a bit windy. The trails around me are finally snow and ice free. So I put on the good running sneakers and hit the paved trail around 11am. The trail was a little busy with bikers, dog walkers, and other runners, so you had to be on your toes. It was nice to run on a clear, dry, and level trail. I ran 2 and 1/2 miles in around 26 minutes. I was kinda surprised at my time, 10:25 average a mile. At times picked up the pace to pass some walkers and dog walkers, but I never felt I was pushing it. A little over a mile in, I got a slight side cramp for a minute or two and I slowed down quite a bit, and felt better. I also felt like I had to pee, but that's pretty normal these days. Overall, very happy with my time and run. It was the first time I saw my time and thought it was a little too fast. Kinda weird. But I'm feeling good and the little one is kicking away. 

Cheers!

Finally A Warm-Up, Well...

...with except of Wednesday. The temp is supposed to drop and get below freezing. And there's a chance of freezing rain or light snow. The rest of the week 40s and 50s. Winter is just grasping on by the nails. I'll take it though!

I have a bunch of stuff to get done this month, so I'm whittling away at the list slowly but surely. Car inspection, taking kitty to the vet, finding a pediatrician, getting my glasses fixed, furniture....the list goes on. I also got some bad news about an old friend of mine that lives in Montana. While cleaning his gun he accidently shot and killed himself. 37 years old. Such a shame. My best girlfriend had a baby with him and he's been more or less estranged from his daughter in the past 17 years. It's a long story, but I feel awful for his daughter. At least she got to know him a little and spoke to him for a while, just never face to face since she was a baby. Wish things could have worked out differently.

So workout time feels even better. It gets my mind off things and has been a great stress reliever. I like having "me" time, then again who doesn't! Here goes:

5 minute warm-up

Upright rows

Concentration curls

Overhead medicine ball press (9lbs)

Push-ups

Seated back fly

Curl/hammers

Dips (20,10)

Push-ups

Shoulder press

In & out hammers

Tricep kickback 

Push-ups

Lawnmowers

Static arm curls

Standing tricep band press

Push-ups

Plank

REPEAT

Finish with a mile run. (Right at 11 minutes) Stretch.

Weights: 15lbs Reps: 10,8  Push-ups: 2,1 Plank: 30 secs, 20 secs.

Tuesday: Legs

5 minute warm-up

Side lunges

Regular lunges

Power knee 

Body squats

Calf raises

Side Kicks

Step back lunges

Elbow to knee

Calf squats

Tip toe lunges

Front kicks

Back kicks

1 minute run in place.

REPEAT

1 round shadow boxing. 1 round on the heavybag.

Stretch.

DONE.

Weekend Almost Over

Tonight I'm going sleep pretty well after losing an hour and only taking a half hour nap. Be nice to have that extra daylight though! The weekend was quite nice here. Yesterday it was around 55, and today it was around 40 degrees. Not too shabby. I did manage to get outside for a run today, which felt great! Here's the last 3 workouts:

Thursday: gym day before the doctor's appointment.

1/4 mile jog warm-up

Lat pull-down (50,50)

Seated chest press (30,30)

REPEAT

Calf raise (120,140,160)

Seated overhead press (30,30)

Tricep pull-down (30,30)

REPEAT

Leg Flexion machine (80,90)

Bench lawnmowers (15,15)

Curl/hammers (15,15)

REPEAT

Body squats (10,8)

Elbow to knee (10,8)

REPEAT

1 mile on the elliptical 

DONE

Saturday: 35 minutes on the elliptical

Sunday: Outside run on the trail (paved)! The trail was still ice covered in spots, but I turned around before it got too dicey. Not worth it. I started off with a 2 minute walk, then went into a jog. I did 2.3 miles in a little over 25 minutes, and cooled down with a 2 minute walk to my car. Really felt good. My runkeeper app on my phone have me at a 10:54 mile. Pretty happy about that! It's my first mile plus run in months. 

Still feeling pretty well with good energy levels. The doctor's appointment went well. Apparently I put on 7 pounds last month, so the doc told me to slow the eating down. "Who you callin' fat, lady?" I thought in my head. I've gained already 22 pounds. I was a little surprised coz I really haven't been eating awful or totally chowing down. And I'm still working out 5 days a week. I guess I'll have to pick up more apples instead of that Easter candy. I know they're just looking out for my health.

I did get to go to a concert on Thursday in Philly to see the band Lawrence Arms. They're a punk band that's been around since the late '90s from Chicago. I drug Zim out with me on a weeknight which is pretty rare. We had a bunch of fun, and I'm happy I got to see them live. They put on a good show. This will probably be one of my last shows for a little while. There's a possibility I might see a friend of Zim's play a local venue on Tuesday. We'll see.

Cheers!

Taco Tuesday

I really did have tacos today. They were pretty damn delicious. Well received after a Babies R Us trip with my mom and sister. My sister is throwing me a shower in May, so it was time to get the ball rolling. It was a bit overwhelming but my sister was a big help. I'm sure everything will go fine. Zim and I just have to get our butts in gear in getting the room ready. But we have time. Famous last words right? Haha.

I got my workouts in today and yesterday. Such a great stress reliever for today. Here goes:

Monday: upper body

5 minute warm-up

Lawnmowers

In & out biceps

Overhead medicine ball (9lbs)

Push-ups

Seated shoulder fly

Curl/hammers

Dips (20,10)

Push-ups

Shoulder press

In & out hammers

Tricep kickbacks 

Push-ups

Upright row

Concentration curls

Band tricep row

Push-ups

REPEAT

1 round shadow boxing, 1 round heavy bag.

Weights: 15lbs Reps: 10, 8 Push-ups: 2,1

DONE

Tuesday: Legs

5 minute warm-up

Calf squat

Lunges

Power knee 

Calf raises (20lbs)

Body squats

Step back lunges

Elbow to knee

Side lunges

Front Kicks

Tip toe lunges

Side kicks 

Back kicks

REPEAT

Finish with a 1 mile outside run. 

DONE! 

Playlist: Lawrence Arms 

Oscar Night

To start off, I got in two trips to the gym this weekend, both over a half hour on the elliptical. I averaged 3 plus miles both days. Today the gym was pretty busy. People all trying to get their workouts in before the impending snow storm arrives. Yes, more snow. It never ends!!

Now to my Oscar picks:

Best Picture: "Gravity", though I wouldn't be surprised at "12 Years a Slave" won it as well. My personal pick is "American Hustle". I've seen all the movies except for Gravity, Captain Phillips, Philomena, and Wolf of Wall Street. 5 outta 9 isn't too bad though.

Best Actor: Pretty tough. Matthew McConaughey, I presume. He was excellent. My personal pick is Christian Bale this year.

Best Actress: I'm lost here. I only saw one of the movies in this category. I think it's going to be Cate Blanchett though.

Best Supporting Actor: Hands down, Jared Leto.

Best Supporting Actress: Another tough one. Lupita Nyong'o, I think will get it. My fave, June Squibb. I have no idea how Jennifer Lawrence got nominated. She was good in American Hustle, but she was barely in it. 

Best Director: So many good films this year! It will go to Alfonso Cuarón or Steve McQueen. I honestly don't know, but I'm personally leaning my pick towards David O. Russell.

Friday Night Rundown

This week flew by! Not a bad thing. I got two workouts in and made it to the movie "Her" which I enjoyed. Interesting movie and beautifully shot. Gave you a bit to think about after the movie was done.  The Oscars are going to be interesting this year. I've seen most of the movies with the exception of "Gravity", "Wolf of Wall Street", and "Captain Phillips". I was quite surprised that the Coen's "Inside Llywen Davis" got snubbed. It was probably my favorite movie this year. It's not for everyone, not the quickest paced either, but there was something so intriguing about it. I couldn't stop trying to figure out the underlying meaning of it. I've read a couple theories on the film, and one is really interesting and cool if it was shot that way. Lots of really good films in general this year though. It's so hard to pick the best.

Workouts! Here's my Tuesday and Thursday breakdowns:

Tuesday: Legs inside at the gym

1/4 mile warm-up jog/ stretch

Leg extension (70, 80, 95)

Leg flexion (70, 80, 95)

Calf raise (120, 140, 160)

Hip Abductor (120, 130, 140)

Hip adductor (115, 125, 135)

Body squats 

Lunges

Elbow to knee

1/2 mile on the elliptical 

Reps: 10, 8, 5.

Thursday: Total body at the gym

1/4 mile warm-up jog/ stretch

Lat pull-down (50)

Seated chest press (40)

REPEAT

Calf raise (120,140,160) 

Seated chest press (30)

Tricep pull-down (30)

REPEAT

Leg flexion (70, 80)

Lawnmowers (dumbells - 15lb)

Curl/hammers (dumbell- 15lb)

REPEAT

Body squats (10 reps, 8)

Elbow to knee (10, 8)

1/2 mile on the elliptical 

DONE!

Still feeling good and have decent energy. I'm getting more women saying hello and smiling at me at the gym since I'm showing pretty well. Can't believe Sunday will make 6 months!