Pump up the jams!
This morning at the gym I added two new ab moves to my routine:
Weighted Side Bend
Works the obliques (aka Love Handles). The muscles run in a diagonal direction from the side of your waist down towards the center of your pelvis. Strong oblique muscles are crucial for back support and they can even help to improve your posture.
Flat Bench Leg Raise
Lay flat on the a weight bench. Hold the bench and lift your legs.
I have to say that the Flat Bench leg raise is HARD. I only did about 15 before I called it quits.
The thing I like most about working out on Saturdays is that I can spend some more time at the gym. I’m not rushed to fit everything in and I have time to try new things. After I spent about 50 minutes doing the weight lifting, I worked on my core. I also grabbed a heavier medicine ball for my Russian Twist exercises. It was heavier than what I normally use and I felt it!
I also did the Plank three times. The first two times I was able to hold them for 15 seconds at a time. The last time I did it for 20 (shaking) seconds. I also did a few sets on the row machine, then my hip strengthening exercises and then back to the core work.
The weights, core, and strengthening exercises took 1:15 minutes and I burned 580 calories.
Week 2 of the Return to Running Plan
After working out, I found an empty treadmill to start Week 2 of the plan! This week, I will do this plan:
Walk 1 minute
Jog 1 minute
Walk 1 minute
Increased from 1 mile total to 1.5 miles. The jogging speed was 4.4.
I queued up my Netflix app on the treadmill and watched some more of the Spirit of the Marathon. Is it weird that I’m watching a movie about running while running on a treadmill? Overkill? 😉 It was a nice distraction. I had ZERO pain or discomfort in my leg or IT Band. I did, however, have some cramping in my side. Ah, the good ol’ side cramp while running. Wish I could say I’ve missed you since I haven’t been running…but no, not so much.
Total time walk/jogging: 24:04 minutes.
Distance: 1.5 miles!
Yippee!
I have an important note to make to my readers: there’s no reason you have to work out in the gym for almost 2 hours. Normally I don’t. My Saturday workouts are longer than normal, but my workout time includes the strengthening exercises and lots of stretching!
Gym Stats:
Time: 1:47
Calories Burned: 816
When I got home I tried a new recovery drink I got the Vitamin Shoppe.
It’s supposed to heal muscles and speed recovery. It’s sugar free, only 20 calories, and it didn’t taste too bad.
QUESTION: What do you ingest for recovery after a hard workout? Food? Supplements? Chocolate milk?
Lori (Finding Radiance)
Great job on the run progression! I am like that on Fridays, where I can spend longer at the gym because I don’t have to start work until later.
I have a protein drink or sometimes a bar before my morning workouts, and then the recovery is breakfast! Usually oats in some form. I live 2 miles from my gym, so I get home in plenty of time to take advantage of the recovery window.
Lisa Eirene
That’s good. I live close enough to the gym that I can get home in the window too.
Lindsay
I just saw you on yahoo! How exciting. Woot Woot!
Lisa Eirene
Really?? Where??
April
I don’t eat anything artificial or with preservatives. So a nice after workout recovery drink it coconut water, it is supposed to nature’s Gatorade! I also like to have fruits or nuts or milk.