Lisa: Back in the Game and still Growing

[Sunnyday]

Congrats! That is great news, Lisa!

[LisaRD23]

Thanks Sunny! I don't expect to suddenly start getting a shit-load of clients but it's a start! Just happy to be getting my name out there.

Tuesday
Chest/Shoulders/ Cardio

Flat BB Press: 85x12x12, 95x12x12
Incline BB Press: 70x12x12, 70x10

45 angled 1-arm BB Press: +10 x10, +15x10x10
DB Press: 30s x10x10, 35sx10
Smith Upright row: +20 x12, +30x12, +40x12
Reverse MC Flys: 25x12, 30x12, 35x12
MC Lateral Raise: FST-7 20x10x10x10x10x10x10x10

Cardio: 25m elliptical, interval setting

[LisaRD23]

Wednesday 2/11

Cardio: 30min on stepper/ interval setting

Abs: Ball crunches 4x20
Lying hip Raises 4x20
Flutter kicks 30s x3
Planks 60s x3

Finished up with a good 15-20m stretching while waiting for hubby to finish up.

So are weekend plans are slightly altered due to some unexpected extra expenses...story of my life...anyway...instead of going up to the Casino in PA we are going to be staying closer to home. Got a good deal on a room, hotel still has nice pool & gym, we bought tickets to a dinner & comedy show for Friday night and made reservation at a place we've been wanting to try for Saturday night. We'll be staying until Sunday afternoon and picking up the kids that night. I'm off from work on Monday for Presidents day & kids have no school so we'll have some nice family time after mommy & daddy have our own alone time really looking forward to some relaxation.

Next week I'm planning 1-week off from training then will start into a lean up phase after that.

[PFEPerformance]

ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND GIRL!!! Sounds AWESOME and a much needed re-charge!!!!

[LisaRD23]

Thursday 2/12
Ham-glute/ Back/ Calves

Walking lunges- 10s x20x20x20x20
Split squats on smith- +40 x12x12x12 (per leg)
Sumo Squats- 110lbs x10x10x10 (used fixed weight bar- wow talk about getting low!)
Pull ups- wide BW x6x5x5, neutral x8
Close grip Pull down w/ v-bar- 75x10x10x10
Bent over CB rows- 45x10, 50x10x10
Wide grip Pull down- 55 x15x15x15
Horizontal Calves/ done randomly in between sets- 90x15, 100x12, 110x10, 120x8

Cardio: 20min incline walk on treadmill.
Wasn't planning for cardio but didn't feel like training abs again and I had to kill time waiting for hubby to finish up. Either I was going through my workout super fast, or he was moving super slow.

[LisaRD23]

Ok wow...so it's been 1 month since I last updated in here. I'm back to training after taking a week off, trying to start a "get shredded for summer" plan but as always life has been a roller coaster.

College visits and pressure for decision deadlines have been the theme in my house. We took our daughter to Long Island to visit Stony Brook University last weekend, going to Connecticut to see Quinnipiac University next week, and still waiting on decisions from three major schools-- Chicago University, Boston University and Northeastern University. ( I have no idea how any of this will be paid for...I'm still paying my own student loans)

My little guy is doing well, but trying to maintain a balance with his school, therapies, and medical appointments all while hubby and I both working full time, high pressure jobs have been a challenge. So last week I basically told my boss that I needed the flexibility to work 1-day a week from home with the understanding that there will be morning when my availability (phone/e-mail) will be limited or I was going to look for another job that would give me a flexible schedule. We have a lunch meeting scheduled for tomorrow to discuss further. (I didn't get fired on the spot so fingers crossed!)

To add the icing to the cake...I'm also dealing with some health issues. I'm scheduled for a series of blood tests and have some specialist consultations. After a long appointment with my primary I'm either dealing with something as simple as hormonal imbalances, negative reactions to copper (I have a copper IUD), or on the more serious spectrum I am showing some symptoms of Lupus . (And to think I live this lifestyle to be healthy...)

So while dealing with all of this I am doing my best to maintain my training, diet, and sanity.

[sassy69]

^^ Way to lay it down for the boss! Fingers crossed for you - YOU ARE KEY TO YOUR BOSS'S TEAM AND EXCELLENCE! Balance is so much more attainable if you have just a little more flexibility to deal. (Not to mention the cost of finding a quality replacement w/ your experience & work ethic!)

RE: the rest of it, also many wishes for very simple, easy, non-invasive resolution to your issue. Use the training as your outlet, the diet as the structure in your day and the rest falls into place!

Big and happy thoughts for you today mama!

[LisaRD23]

Thanks Sassy. Ironic thing about work is that I am the Head of Human Resources, so I am the one who is always advocating for employees...then I end up having no one to advocate for me! Weird I am the one on the other side of the table so to speak.

I was able to negotiate 1 day of working remotely from home. I'll be home Thursday morning and will only be available until 1pm unless there is an emergency. I had to compromise a few things but in the end both my boss & I are happy with the proposed arrangement.

Training & diet unfortunately has been a challenge until I get some answers with what's wrong with me. My joints are constantly inflamed & achy (even with taking joint supplement), and I'm fatigued even after resting. So my workouts haven't been great, I'm getting it done but really just going through the motions at this point. I'm good with the structure of a diet, but because of the fatigue I'm hesitant on dropping calories just yet, I've actually increased calories above maintenance- - but with not being 100% on training I'm hoping the BF stays under control (yes mind games I know) . I need all the energy I can get. I thought after taking a full 7 days off from the gym would help but I'm still struggling. I see my doctor again on the 31st.

I spent a good hour with my Chiropractor on Saturday and got a good deep tissue massage, stretching and various manipulations. I was sore as shit all day Sunday but feel a bit better today. He's also going to send me for some new images (MRI & X-Ray) while I'm waiting for my "traditional" doctor to get back to me. I've been with this Chiropractor for so long he's become a family friend so he won't be charging me anything out-of-pocket after insurance covers their % (thank god!) .

[LisaRD23]

3/18/2015

So I've had 3 solid gym days this week so far.

Monday- legs, I kept all weight pretty light and up the number of reps & sets. Hubby was with me so he was keeping an eye that I didn't push to hard. Left enough time to get a good stretching session in afterwards.

Tuesday- Lt chest, shoulders & 30m cardio, followed same approach. Kept weight light, challenged myself with increased rep range of 12-15.

Wednesday- 30m cardio, abs, & stretching- knees and elbows were not too happy this morning. Took a while to get warmed up and start a good pace on the elliptical. Feeling pretty warn out today, so I am hoping to get to bed as soon as my son goes down for the night and I eat my last meal. Hubby and daughter will be taking care of their own dinner. I'm hoping to sneak out for a long lunch today to make up to my chiropractor...of course his office is closed on Thursdays!

[Sunnyday]

Yeah for the 3 solid gym days!

Being a medical question mark is never easy. Will be keeping you in my prayers for that dr visit on the 31st.

Hope you can get to the chiro today.

[Ibarramedia]

Thanks Sassy. Ironic thing about work is that I am the Head of Human Resources, so I am the one who is always advocating for employees...then I end up having no one to advocate for me! Weird I am the one on the other side of the table so to speak.

I was able to negotiate 1 day of working remotely from home. I'll be home Thursday morning and will only be available until 1pm unless there is an emergency. I had to compromise a few things but in the end both my boss & I are happy with the proposed arrangement.

Training & diet unfortunately has been a challenge until I get some answers with what's wrong with me. My joints are constantly inflamed & achy (even with taking joint supplement), and I'm fatigued even after resting. So my workouts haven't been great, I'm getting it done but really just going through the motions at this point. I'm good with the structure of a diet, but because of the fatigue I'm hesitant on dropping calories just yet, I've actually increased calories above maintenance- - but with not being 100% on training I'm hoping the BF stays under control (yes mind games I know) . I need all the energy I can get. I thought after taking a full 7 days off from the gym would help but I'm still struggling. I see my doctor again on the 31st.

I spent a good hour with my Chiropractor on Saturday and got a good deep tissue massage, stretching and various manipulations. I was sore as shit all day Sunday but feel a bit better today. He's also going to send me for some new images (MRI & X-Ray) while I'm waiting for my "traditional" doctor to get back to me. I've been with this Chiropractor for so long he's become a family friend so he won't be charging me anything out-of-pocket after insurance covers their % (thank god!) .

Do you have finger joint pain or stiffness?

[LisaRD23]

Do you have finger joint pain or stiffness?

No, no issues there.

[LisaRD23]

Surprisingly enough I got a solid week of training in this week!!

Going to be skipping MMA class tomorrow and probably won't go back until I see doc again. My bruising has been out of control. Plus my husband is pretty great about letting me do my own thing, but he pretty much put is foot down on this one...no contact sports until we know what's going on... how dare he...I know he's right but still.

Thursday
Walking DB lunges 4x20
Smith Spit squats 3x12 (per leg)
BB Hip Thrusts 3x12
Sumo squats- 3x12

BW Pull Ups- x8x6x6
Wide pull downs- 3x12
T-Bar Rows-3x12
Low CB Pull-3x15

Cardio: 15min incline walk

Friday
EZ Bar OH Ext- 4x12
Close grip BB Press- 3x10
V-Bar Push Downs-3x10
BW Dips- x15x15

BB Curls- 21's x4
DB Preacher curls- 3x12
Alt DB Curls- 2x15 (drop sets)

Cardio: 25min on stepper

Feeling tiered, but not terrible. I was able to take care of a lot of thing yesterday working from home so this weekend should be nice and easy. Just some minor food prep for the week. Tomorrow is our "alone night" so we'll be dropping kids off at g-ma's after lunch and will probably have an early dinner then straight to the couch to cozy up for the rest of the evening.

[Sunnyday]

Awesome job, Lisa!

Have a great weekend!

[sassy69]

Dang, I'm not going to be Dr. Google, but my first thought if you are tired all the time, is thyroid. The bruising adds a dimension that I don't recall being a thyroid issue, but I hope you get a thorough run thru and evaluation of the blood work. Hoping for something wonderfully simple and easy to fix!