Holy Toledo Batman!

Well, my back is toast! I totally had a major flare up tonight, brought on by some stressful news. See, I aggravated my back by doing the Hyper-extension bench...which I thought would strengthen it...and under normal conditions, with a normal back, it would. But mine, I suffer from chronic back pain caused by a snowmobile accident 14 years ago...so mine is different. I should have left well enough alone...but Nooooo, I had to go and do that exercise, repeatedly. Well, tonight, I had such an attack, it affected my stomach, my digestive system, as well as the back. I had to go lay down. When it gets that bad, I can't tell if it's my stomach or my back until I lay still...and eventually, I feel it. I am so out of it, so ill, that I couldn't do my treadmill tonight. In fact, I struggled big time to get 20 minutes of X Stretch in...but I did it. I cannot break my streak. Just moving makes me want to be sick, and starts things rolling and just feel like a bag of crap. I'm a major hurtin unit tonight. Someone shoot me and put me out of my misery!

Losing To Win...First Weigh In

Okay, well, here goes! I fully expect to see this number drastically reduced by the end of this competition. I'm going for....hmmm....lets say 175! Watch me shrink!

Please Give Me The Strength To Do Strength!

I am tired. I could have just went to bed as soon as the kids were in bed, alas, I still had to work out. See, today, all day I thought I was supposed to be doing my couch 2 5k training. But it didn't dawn on me until after dinner that it was actually strength training. So, after the kids were in bed, I ventured downstairs for my strength workout. It's funny...after my first set of 10 reps @ 40 lbs, I said to my husband "I feel tired tonight" meaning, I didn't have much strength. He goes "that's because you ARE tired" lol.
My back is not being friendly to me today/tonight. I should have known not to try the hyper-extension bench...I should have known it was going to flare everything up...but I did it anyway. Sometimes it takes getting hit over the head with a hammer to figure things out, I'm 'strong-willed' like that. Ha! So, wisely I opted out of both the Hyper-extension bench, AND the Ab RipperX. It's going to take a while to calm the old back back down....

Warm-Up:
Swimmers, Arm Circles, Bicep/Tricep Stretch, Chest/Back/Shoulder Stretch

Bench Press:
10 reps @ 40 lbs/10 reps @ 50 lbs/10 reps @ 60 lbs/4.5 reps @ 70 lbs/5 reps @ 60 lbs

Over Head Extension:
3 sets of 15 reps @ 15 lbs

Lying Down Flys:
3 sets of 15 reps @ 12 lbs

Back/Bicep Stretch

30 minutes.

Sunday night X-Stretch

I did 30 minutes of X Stretch. I figured just because I'm not currently doing P90X, it doesn't mean I should give up some things that are essential...and after doing the strength training I'm doing, as well as the couch 2 5K thing, this was just what I needed. Funny how tight your muscles get without you even knowing it.

Day 2 of Couch 2 5k

Well, I adhered to the program. I did it the exact way I was supposed to. I even upped the brisk walk...but I also upped the speed of which I jogged as well. I jogged at 5.0. Maybe I should go slower a bit...like 4.7 or so. I could feel my shins, likely from the whole entire 5K from the last program day. I'll do some of the toe flexor stretches to ward off shin splints. I'm opting out of Ab Ripper X. Gotta let that settle for a bit.


25 minute workout.

Powering Through

I warmed up with some of the exercises from P90X, then I hit the Hyper-Extension Bench. As I'm doing it, I realized that yep, this is really disturbing my back. I asked my hubby how he felt when he did this one...and it differs from how I feel...almost spasmy, and burning pain. So I decided that I'm going to alternate Hyper-extension bench and Ab Ripper X days. I cannot do both on the same day, but I can power through one or the other. I can't overdo it all at once, or else I will be junk, in agony, and unable to do anything.
I've upped my reps for the bench press, and my weight for the overhead extension...I love pushing myself and feeling strong. When I start my second round of P90X, I'm going to be ready.

Warm Up: swimmers, arm circles x4, chest & tri stretch.

Hyper-Extension Bench: 3 sets of 15
Bench Press: 15 reps @ 40lbs/15 reps @ 50 lbs/ 12 reps @ 60 lbs/ 15 reps @ 50 lbs
Overhead Extensions: 4 sets of 15 reps @ 15 lbs

42 minutes

Biggest Loser Competition Final Weigh In

SW: 259

LW: 236

FW: 229

Loss: -30

This is my final weigh in for the Biggest Loser Competition. It's frustrating because I am up 3.5 pounds from yesterday. That's due to the fact that I did a 5K last night finishing at 11pm, then had my recovery drink and something to eat....I was hungry. The 3.5 pounds will be gone later today, early tomorrow. It is what it is, and I don't care either. Ha! It's not actual weight. But for this competition, I'm not worried about it either. I worked my tushy off, and I feel better than I ever have. I'll take it.