Lift Weight, Lift Spirit

Happy April!

Today was bicep and tricep day. Felt strong with the weights I normally do but couldn't jump it up a notch. Next week. Strike that...I did go to a higher weight on the tricep pulldowns. Apparently I have pretty strong triceps. I mean, relative to my other muscles. Shoulders are probably my strongest. Weakest...um...of all the days I probably feel weakest...guess I'll say legs. I don't feel like my squats and leg presses are where they should be. But what does "should" mean anyway? I want to lift more on everything.

I'm 35 and never lifted regularly in my life. I played around a few times in high school but that was minimal, a handful of times at the most. I was athletic my whole life until after high school when I turned to pretty much just sitting around all the time. Never got fat because of my fortunate metabolism but couldn't say I was fit. Somewhere around my mid-20s I read that book, Body for Life, and started running a lot. That lasted maybe 6 months or so. Last January I started running regularly because I wanted to get fit for my wedding. I maintained a good routine for 6 months or so. I ran 3 or 4 times a week during that stretch. Also did lots of Wii Fit, which is no joke, so don't hate. I got down to about 150 for my June wedding and was in the best shape I'd been in since being a teenager. After the wedding my running routine fell away.

In February one of my friends, who's been lifting regularly for a while now encouraged me to join him at the gym. I went along and loved it. I joined Anytime Fitness on Valentine's Day and I've been there 5 days a week since then, except for a few slack days. I can see and feel the difference and it makes me happy. I really enjoy working out. It clears my head, strengthens my body, and makes me feel better overall. I'm happier and more energetic. I feel stronger at the end of a long shift and I sleep like a rock at night.

Life is good.

Leg Day

Just returned from Anytime Fitness. Today is leg day. Felt good. Got good and low on my squats. I focused on getting low and maintaining form and didn't worry about doing as much weight as I could. Had 25s on each side and that was just right. 3 sets of 8. I also threw in some abdominal work today. Haven't been working them at all in the 1.5 months I've been going to the gym.

My quadriceps are humming. My abs are giving me a slightly nauseated feeling. Nice.

Chugged my protein shake and now it's into the shower and off to work. Training a new server today. Been doing that a lot lately. We're really piling on the staff this year. It's going to be a busy one.

Cheers.