Lift Like a Man, Look Like a Goddess

A girl in my Exercise group has a book called Lift Like a Man, Look Like a Goddess. It has a full weight loss plan with 6 weeks of work outs and diet plans, and it gives all the medical reasoning for the information there. Very cool. We have been switching off 2 of the workouts every other time we go, which is exactly what the book suggests. I like the workouts so much I wanted to post them here so I could do them on the days we do something else at the group, like this morning when we did a Jillian Michaels circuit training routine.

Workout A
There is supposed to be a 60 second break between each set, but that takes a long time, so we shorten it to 30 seconds unless we really need the rest.

Dead Lifts
2 sets of 15
2 sets of 12
3 sets of 10
3 sets of 8

Alternating Shoulder Press and Seated Rows
2 sets of 15
2 sets of 12
3 sets of 10
3 sets of 8

The seated rows is a machine workout, so we mimic it as best we can without the machine.

Alternating Lunges and Abdominal Workouts
2 sets of 15 lunges per leg and 8 Abs
2 sets of 12 lunges per leg and 10 Abs
3 sets of 10 lunges per leg and 12 Abs
3 sets of 8 lunges per leg and 15 Abs

We usually start with harder ab workouts on this one since there are fewer reps. We like to switch it up each time. There is a specific workout the books says to do, but we don't have the equipment for it, so we modifiy it for our needs.


Workout B
There is supposed to be a 60 second break between each set, but that takes a long time, so we shorten it to 30 seconds unless we really need the rest.

Squats- I like to do them with a hammer curl
2 sets of 15
2 sets of 12
3 sets of 10
3 sets of 8

Alternating Pushups and Seated Rows
2 sets of 15
2 sets of 12
3 sets of 10
3 sets of 8

I could only do the first set of 15 as regular pushups when I started. This last time I did all of them regular up until the last 2 sets of 8. I am getting stronger!

Alternating Step-Ups and Abdominals
2 sets of 15 step ups and 8 Abs
2 sets of 12 step ups and 10 Abs
3 sets of 10 step ups and 12 Abs
3 sets of 8 step upse and 15 Abs

We usually start with harder ab workouts on this one since there are fewer reps. We like to switch it up each time. There is a specific workout the books says to do, but we don't have the equipment for it, so we modifiy it for our needs.

I'm Still Going

I have been working out like crazy, I just haven't been posting about it. I stopped the Hip Hop Abs these last couple of weeks because I just haven't had the time. I plan to start again on Monday and hopefully Ross will do it with me again.

I go to exercise group M W and F every week. I didn't go last week because of Emma's surgery, but other than that, I have been faithful. They work it hard! I love it!

I walk Sara to preschool on T and TH which is a mile. I walk Emma to and from school every day which is 3 miles (.75 from my house to the school.) I walk to and from church (which is .25 miles from my house) for Relief Society and church meetings. I walk to any other meetings or groups that I might have be it for my callings, Book Club, Bunco, Choir or anything else. Basically, I walk AT LEAST 3 miles a day, usually much more than that.

I do stretching at home every day to help my shoulder and my legs. A while back I slept funny and ended up with a terribly painful right shoulder. It hasn't felt right since. The days I stretch seem to make it better, so hopefully it will feel normal agan soon.

I won a Biggest Loser DVD at Bunco last month, and I plan to use that more often since it is full of 10 minute work outs. I tend to brush off the Hip Hop Abs workouts because they take 30 minutes and I don't always have the time. I KNOW I don't have to do the whole thing, but that is what I tell myself. 10 minutes, however, is totally doable!

Anyway- the point of this post is to say that I have been working out. I feel healther now than I have in a long time. I am eating better, drinking more water, and even on the days I don't do a formal workout, I am walking a 5K just with my normal mommy duties.

I haven't stepped on the scale in a while, so I don't know where I'm at there. Ross actually hid it from me because I was getting so upset with my lack of progress. It helped. He is a smart cookie, that guy!

August 8th - 14th

Monday
I did awesome today. I went to my RS exercise group, which was crazy hard today. I walked to the church and back to enter the VT report. I ran to the ward garden and back, pushing Emma on her little bike on the dirt road parts. We even went the long way home so that was about 4 miles. THEN, Ross and I started the Hip Hop Abs program by doing the first cardio workout. I am tired, but proud of myself.

Tuesday
The kids and I walked to my visiting teaching houses, and I had to carry Jack with me. Ross and I also did Day 2 of the Hip Hop Abs program. Good day! We ate healthy as well except for a few E.L. Fudge cookies that might have snuck in there.

Wednesday
I went to my RS exercise group, and it really pushed me again today. They are doing a weight training program which is something I haven't ever done before, so it is all new to me. I love it. They are so supportive and funny, and they all bring their kids so it keeps my kids entertained for the most part. I worked in the garden for a bit, but we drove over since I HAD to get home for SYTYCD.... Ross and I did Day 3 of the Hip Hop Abs program, and we had a healthy dinner. I slacked by taking the kids to McDonald's today for lunch, but Emma had a not fun Dr.'s appointment and she wanted a Happy Meal afterward. I couldn't resist her sweet, sad face. I feel good though.

AWESOME WEEK- With Hopefully Another to Come

So, I didn't lose any weight this last week- still at a solid 140. I might just toss the stupid scale. I hates it. BUT, I worked out every day this last week. Hard! I feel great, and my favorite jeans are fitting loser, and I am using a tighter notch on my belt. WOOT!

Monday, I did my weighted ball workout and went on a long walk with my girls.

Tuesday I ran to the ward garden and back (3.5 miles), walked to Book Club and back (.5 miles).

Wednesday I went to my RS exercise group and did the weighted ball workout and walked all over the dang place with my kiddos.

Thursday I ran to the garden and back, and even did a super long detour on the way home. I haven't clocked it, but I think it was almost 5 miles.

Friday I got my new Hip Hop Abs DVD in the mail. Yes, the one from the TV infomercial.... Ross and I did one of the cardio workouts and it was AWESOME!

Saturday we did another of the Hip Hop Abs cardio workouts. We mainly wanted to see what was in it. We also cleaned the house, did some yard work, and went coupon shopping. THEN we hosted a little dinner party at our house. We were DEAD tired when we went to bed that night.

Sunday we walked to church and back and I walked to choir and back.
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NEXT WEEK we hope to start the Hip Hop Abs system in earnest. Did you notice the plural usage there? Ross said he will try and do it with me. I am excited. It is super fun!

I also plan to join the exercise group every time they meet this next week, which will be MWF for a couple hours each.

Ross and I are the ward garden specialists so we will be out there watering and weeding at least 3 times. I plan to run there EVERY time. I might let Emma ride her bike and run next to her or let her run one way with me.

Since my scale hates me, I am working more towards losing inches. I have to do pictures and measurements to start the Hip Hop Abs program the way they suggest, so I think I will follow that more than the stupid scale that might just be broken and stuck on 140 forevermore.

I am also hoping to have more energy now that I am no longer nursing Jack. He is fully weaned now which means I have my body back! I usually drop a few pounds when I wean, so maybe that will take me below my 1freaking40 and kick start another losing streak. We'll see. Either way, I have a renewed sense of motivation and enthusiasm for working out and I plan to use that to my advantage while it lasts.

Summer Fun

I haven't posted, but I have been working out. A lot. I have been running to the ward garden and back about twice a week, which is about 5K- but not quite. I say I make up for it with all the work I do at the garden. I have also been walking all over the place when I get the chance. Twice now I have gone running while Emma is at her piano lessons when Ross has been home to watch the others. There have also been some weather and sprinkler related problems that necessitated some heavy lifting of wet carpet, boxes, furniture, and buckets of water. Ross bought a new bike, so we have tested that out. Emma and I ran a 4K at our ward activity, and she did awesome.

All in all it has been a very active few weeks which has shown not in a loss of weight as I am still stuck at 140 (although at a few points last week it dipped to 138 when I was sick) but in some rather loose pants, and in personal strength. I can run faster and longer without being weary- which, when I am not being all catty and materialistic, is really what this is all about. :)

Tonight we have a ward ativity at the ward garden, so I will be running there and back again. Maybe I will get Emma to try and run one of the legs with me....

Running and Gardening

We worked in the garden on Monday, and Tuesday. I ran 4 miles at the park on Monday to the ward garden on Tuesday before Bunco so that is a little more than a mile. I also laughed until my sides hurt at Bunco, so that probably counts for something.

It Has Been a While...

I have been exercizing, but not as much or as hard. We had things like birthdays and vacations and recovering from vacations that got in the way. I am back though, and ready to continue losing this chub. I weighed in and found that through all the laziness, I ended up back at my good friend 140. Blegh. I stayed there for WEEKS last time. I have got to get back to the 130s this week! So, here we go again!

Monday, June 14
I ran 4 miles at the track near our house. Emma and Sara both ran 2 laps with me, and Emma rode her bike for 2 laps with me. It slowed me down to have them with me, but it was fun and I didn't mind. Ross got out there for a mile as well, and while I was running, he got a good workout playing basketball. Hopefully this will become a regular thing.

We ran again on Tuesday, worked in the garden on Wednesday and Friday, and I ran at the park on Saturday while Emma was at her piano lesson.