About Nothing

The theme of life lately seems to be nothing.

I felt nothing, there was nothing....

Today this is a post about nothing.

The highlights of my life this week:

• Mowing the lawn
• 2 great workouts
• Starting a company sponsored walking program
• Draining the hot tub (it's just too hot)
• Fresh sweet corn
• Softball playoffs
• Ordering my very first bed.

In my adult life I have never bought a bed. Not even with MX. We just always seemed to collect someone elses unwanted beds and those were sufficient. But when I left I only took one bed. A full.

Now it's time to have a big girl bed.

On B's birthday my Sealy King Plush Pillowtop will be delivered.

In the spirit of the money spent on the new bed and the subsequent decorating expenses I listed 4 dresses and 3 pairs of jeans. These may or may not have been on my to do list for the last 6 months...

Don't judge.

Let the master & guest bedroom decorating begin.

If you have seen any phenomenal bedroom designs lately that can easily incorporate all white bedding - please let me know!

Day 28: Workout Binder

When you eat like this:

You have to workout. I do not have healthy eating habits. My favorite foods are rich, creamy and fried. So I workout a lot to try and combat the effect that food has on my waistline. I am quasi effective.

In order to keep from getting bored I keep a workout binder on hand to change things up a bit. I read a lot of fitness and health magazines and when I see a workout I think would be fun/challenging/effective/hard/beneficial I rip it out. I had a fabulous binder about 2 years ago but lost it and have been slowly working on rebuilding. It has become my new Monday ritual.

So what do you need to get started?

A selection of magazines. While I use Shape, Women's Health and Health the most I pull workouts from anywhere. I have been known to use star workouts from US Weekly and routines/tips found in Glamour, InStyle and Real Simple.

Some friends to keep you company. 

Start tearing out the workouts you find interesting. 

Place the workouts in sheet protectors. 

And place in your pretty binder. 



I keep the various workouts organized inside the binder by utilizing tabs that keep them divided by body part. The tabs I use include:

• Abs
• Butt
• Arms
• Legs
• Full Body
• Bikini Body
• Running/Tri Plans
• Yoga

The binder goes with me to the gym and when I travel. Many of the workouts are designed to workout at home or with little to no equipment which makes them ideal for on the road.

Reader Notes:

Yes, the significance of the Surf Ballroom is that it is the place "Where Music Died." Great job. Gary Allan was my third concert at this historic location. If you like music history at all I recommend Killing Yourself to Live by Chuck Klosterman. Great book.

Bud Light is a fabulous beer.

A Workout

So remember when I was deciding between doing a double or just doing yoga?

Yeah, I went with the double.

I may very well be certifiable at this point.

So last night I went to the gym for 2 hours. 2 hours. Do you know why I can go to the gym for that amount of time?

A. I have no life.
B. I am single.
C. I don't have small human children (only small furry kids).

The double workout was tough.

I did a full weights workout which begins on the machines. I start with 2 moves back to back beginning with 2 sets of leg reps and then 2 arm reps. After that you circle back to do your heaviest weight set on your legs and then arms.

This is the workout I do 2 -3x per week. Typically Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Leg Press - 10 reps at 120 lbs, 10 reps at 140 lbs
Lat Pull - 10 reps at 55 lbs, 10 reps at 70 lbs
Leg Press - 10 reps at 165 lbs
Lat Pull - 10 reps at 85 lbs
Leg Extension - 10 reps at 45 lbs, 10 reps at 55 lbs
Overhead Press - 10 reps at 30 lbs, 10 reps at 35 lbs
Leg Extension - 10 reps at 60 lbs
Overhead Press - 10 reps at 40 lbs
Leg Curl - 10 reps at 45 lbs, 10 reps at 55 lbs
Vertical Row - 10 reps at 50 lbs, 10 reps at 60 lbs
Leg Curl - 10 reps at 60 lbs
Vertical Row - 10 reps at 70 lbs
Abducter/Adducter
   Abducter - 10 reps at 65 lbs, 10 reps at 70 lbs
   Adducter -  10 reps at 75 lbs, 10 reps at 80 lbs
Chest Press - 10 reps at 40 lbs, 10 reps at 45 lbs
Abducter/Adducter
   Abducter - 10 reps at 90 lbs
   Adducter - 10 reps at 90 lbs
Chest Press - 10 reps at 50 lbs

Tired yet? Because we aren't done!
 
Once I am done with machines I move into the free weight portion of my workout. The free weight portion of my workout changes each week. The focus shifts between arms, chest/back and legs/glutes. Right now I am focused on legs/glutes.
 
On the ball I did:

• 3 sets of 10 bicep curls using 12 lb dumb bells.
• 3 sets of 10 overhead triceps moves using 10 lb dumb bells
• 3 sets of 10 glute flexes using weighted ankle weights (10 lbs per foot)

I then do 3 sets of 20 (10/per leg) traveling lunges with ankle weights on and 12 lb dumb bells in each hand.

I also do a 3 sets of 10 Pilate's kicks. There are 3 moves per leg a total of 90 reps when finished.

Finally to round it out I finish with weighted crunches. I put about 25 lbs on my chest and then do ab work from there.

So you would think when I was done with all of this I would go home and relax. Instead I went to an hour long yoga class.

And it was heaven.

I reached nirvana when I got home and soaked in the hot tub before a quick shower and cuddling on the couch with my furry kids. 

I am taking today off from working out and giving my body a rest. Well, except for the dressage lesson this evening. Tomorrow I will do a 4 mile run and the above weight workout.

Fun, Fun!