Do you even lift, bro?

Well, I don't have a race to review....yet.  Therefore, I sat here to try to figure out what to blog about.  It is merely teetering on the second week of the new year and our race calendar is already filling up.

We have opted to try to challenge ourselves more this year - harder races.  Which means, I can't just flit around.  I may have to actually train!  I don't train much.  I mean...I run a few times a week, a few miles each time.  I didn't even train for the ultra I ran last summer.  I am more of a "eh, let's give it a try" kinda girl.

This year, however, I am going to be more diligent.  Matt works 12 hour shifts and when he gets home in the mornings, we head to the gym.  We have to drive 20 minutes to get to one since we live in a small, po-dunk town.  There have been days I hadn't wanted to get up, days I just wanted to keep sleeping.  However, I am always dressed and the vehicle is warming up by the time Matt gets home.  We have to keep each other motivated.

So, what does my workout look like?  I am such a creature of habit.  I rarely change it up, which I know I need to.

We typically go Mon-Fri unless something conflicts (work, appointment, etc).  We rarely go on Saturdays, but we have before and we never go on Sundays.  I alternate arms and legs.  My legs are pretty strong , but my upper body is pathetic, so I work on my arms the most.  The following are typical work outs:

ARMS
Ellipical 1 mile warm up
**everythings is 3 sets of 15 unless otherwise noted
Bench Press @ 75 lbs (reps - 10, 10, 5)
Isolated Bicep Curls 20lbs
Tricep Extension 30lbs
Isolated Upright Rows 25lbs
Tricep Pull Downs 30lbs
Lat Pull Down 70lbs
Ab Crunch 70lbs (2 sets of 20)
Deltoids 50lbs
Tricep Press 65lbs (2 sets of 15), 70lbs (1 set of 15)
Free Hang 30-45 seconds

Sometimes I change up the type of bicep curl or upright rows I do.  My main goal is to bench press my body weight by the end of the year!

LEGS
Elliptical 1 mile warm up
**everything is 3 sets of 15 unless otherwise noted
Leg Curl 75lbs
Leg Extension 75lbs
Glutes 75lbs
Adduction  140lbs
Abductions 140lbs
Calf Raises, free standing
Linear Leg Press 283lbs
Seated Leg Press 80lbs
Free hand 30-40 seconds

The above are gym work outs.  I typically do other movements when I am at home and have to use free weights and not cable machines.

When I do cardio, I typically run.  I will run 3 miles or I will run 2 and do the 3rd mile at an incline.  Sometimes, like today, I will do 2 miles of straight incline work (gradually going from a 3%-10%).

I can definitely tell it is paying off.  When I started, I only did 3 sets of 10.  I started the bench press with just the bar (45lbs), I have went up at least 10 pounds (and more) on everything else.

I am frustrated the scale isn't reflecting my hard work as quickly as I would like.  Yes, I know it could be muscle but I hate seeing the number flashing at me.  I will get there.  Everything takes time,

I tend to post a lot of work outs and food on Instgram. Make sure to follow me!

Happy lifting!