Happy Friday! I hope your first week of the new year has been a good one! I was in a bit of a slump at the beginning of the week, but things have greatly improved. The weather is still cold and dreary, but we may get a bit of sunshine today. I've been eating healthier and have cut out alcohol the last four days. This has resulted in better sleep and improved gut issues.
Weekends are always my biggest challenge, though, so we'll see how I do this weekend. If I just keep reminding myself how much better I feel when I avoid the junk food and stick to only 1-2 alcoholic drinks per weekend, I think I'll do okay.
My other motivation for sticking to a healthy eating plan is my new lifting workout program. I completed week 1 today and I'm really excited about building more muscle and getting stronger! The 8-week program consists of daily workouts that last around 40 minutes, five days a week. The weekends are rest days, which are greatly needed!
I started tracking my workouts every day, which I think will be extremely helpful because I can see how I progress from week to week. So without further ado, here are photos of my tracking sheets for the week:
Day 1: Chest and Triceps. After lifting, there was a HIIT component, along with core. Triceps push-ups have always been, and always will be, my most challenging move. I still have to do them on my knees and I can't do a lot, but I'm determined to get to 10 by the end of the eight weeks!
Day 2: Legs. This workout was strictly strength-training, with a core component at the end. The Bulgarian split squats were killer! I've felt the aftermath of those for the rest of the week!
Day 3: Back and Biceps. I can remember when I first started strength-training using 2's and 5's for most of the upper extremity exercises. I've improved a lot. However, I feel like I've plateaued for a while, so I'm hoping with better nutrition that I can break the plateau and bring out the bigger weights for these moves.
Day 4: Legs (yes, another one.) I'll admit that when I saw another leg day on the schedule, I was dreading it, especially when I saw that it was going to include HIIT. But leg days are my strongest days of the week. I'm so pleased with how far I've come in weights. HIIT, though? Not so much. Triple bears are the worst! It was such a great feeling, though, when I completed this workout!
Day 5: Shoulders. This was all lifting, with a core component at the end. The trainer picks moves that you have no choice but to choose lighter weights. My shoulders were burning at the end, even using my baby 2-lb weights!
There is an optional workout on the schedule for Saturday, but I'm choosing to have two rest days. My muscles are sore, and my husband and I are planning on painting this weekend, so I think it's wise to rest from working out.
Next week will bring five new workouts. Although we'll be doing similar exercises, I like that each workout is different, so it doesn't get boring.
Wish me luck with sticking to my nutrition this weekend! I know I can do it, though!
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