I’ve been swimming my whole life so that doesn’t scare me at all.  I’ve also been snorkling and swimming around the coral reefs in the Keys.  I wouldn’t like being in a pool of sharks and sting rays though.  I’ve seen them in the wild and keep my distance.  It seems silly for a Floridian to go on a cruise to the Bahamas.  It will probably look just like home but I’m sure it will be fun.

I nearly drowned as a 12 year old when a wave went over my head and pulled me out a bit into the ocean. I kept touching bottom and pushing up to yell “help” (and breathe) when I broke out of the water. I didn’t know how to swim at all at that point. I’ve never quite gotten over that memory even though I do have some swimming skills now.

We were on a guided snorkeling trip when I swam with the nurse sharks and the sting ray. They would swim right up to the guide. He held both and we petted them. I held one of the sharks but then declined with the sting ray. I was getting tired and was afraid that I’d startle the creature.

I’m sure you’ll have a great time on the cruise no matter how much like Florida it might be.

Sting rays I won’t be too worried about, and sharks don’t bother humans unless they think you’re something else, but still, the thought! (eek!)

Hot workout!

Carrie for the win!

I’m glad the workout made you feel better.

Nothing like a good sweat to help you de-stress. Good job, girl.

Just popping by to say hi! Going to the Bahamas, cool it’s like Florida but you can see through the water! I agree with Catherine, you should try some intervals, there easy, fast and effective. 30 minutes and the Cardio is done!

Hey, thanks everyone.  I’ll check into doing intervals.  Right now I’m making some other changes in my workout schedule

Sorry I’ve been away.  I had an extremely busy time at work this past week and by Friday I didn’t want to see a computer or hear a phone ring.  So I turned them both off for the entire holiday weekend and relaxed.  I did lots of chores around the house and cleaned out closets.  It felt good to get things done and to be technology free.

My trainer and I have decided to change things up with my workout schedule.  Instead of strength training twice a week I’m going to go for three times a week concentrating on two muscle groups at a time for my hour.  We met tonight and worked out the plan.  Mon - chest & triceps, Wed - legs & biceps, Fri or Sat - shoulders & back.

Today:

incline press - 95, 95, 115, 115, 125, 125 lbs
flat dumbbell presses:  30, 35, 35, 40 lb wts
flat flies: 4 sets w/ 25 lb wts
incline flies: 4 sets w/ 25 lb wts
cable flies & crossovers super sets:  15 reps each on flies & 12 reps each on crossovers - 20, 30, 30 lbs each side
superset seated overhead extensions 35 lbs each & close grip push downs 30, 40, 50, 50 lbs
wide grip push downs: 40, 50, 60, 60 lbs

Hope you enjoy the new routine and that it gets you the results you want. This weekend I made myself take a day or two with no chores. It’s hard.

I’m going to have to get a workout partner if I want to lift like you!!  I have been doing flat dumbell presses with 30 lbs wts (being very careful not to drop them on myself) and I have almost matched your fly wt.  (my max so far is 22.5 lb wts), but 30 lbs is the max availabe in the Women’s area where I like to stay.... so I’m also going to have to get brave enough to hit the co-ed gyms.  I’m still in awe of your leg strength though - I can’t match you there!!

Keep up the good work.

Joan, I think I’m really going to like the new routine.  I get to focus more on each muscle group now.  I went for legs and biceps tonight.  I haven’t had time for biceps in over a month now.  It felt great to get to them tonight.  It was painful but in a good way.

Catherine, Workout partner is a great idea.  Having someone there to push you harder than you would normally go is helpful.  I’ve been in a rut for a while now, staying at the same weights for way too long.  I even did a back slide when I hurt my back.  I’m hoping that my new routine will allow me to push to the next level and up my weights.  Don’t worry about not getting to the same weights that I do.  I’ve been at this for a couple years now.  I started out not being able to squat down and stand back up without pulling myself up, that was with no weight or bar at all.  I was so out of shape and weak I couldn’t even lift my own body weight.  So to be able to squat 245 lbs is amazing to me.  I can’t believe I can do this.  You’ll get there with lots of hard work.  Just keep doing it.

Workout:

Squats: 135, 135, 185, 185, 225, 225 lbs (still watching out for my back)
leg presses: 20 reps @ 135, 2 sets of 15 reps @ 245, 2 sets of 12 reps @ 335
superset: hamstring curls & leg extensions alternating 4 sets of each - 30, 30, 40, 40 lbs
bicep curl w/ EZ bar - 5 sets of wide grip w/ 10, 10, 20, 30, 30 lbs
3 sets of close grip - 20, 30, 30 lbs then without stopping drop set to 20 lbs for 9 more reps (OUCH!)

Saturday workout: Back and shoulders

pull downs: 40, 40, 50, 60, 70 lbs
reverse grip pull downs: 60, 60, 70, 70 lbs
dumbbell rows: 4 sets each side with 25 lb wt
seated row: 30, 40, 50, 50 lbs
cable shrugs: 20, 30, 30, 40 lbs
shoulder press:  40, 50, 60, 80, 100 lbs
superset:  cable side raises 20, 10, 10, 10 lbs each side
and cable front raises - 20, 30, 30, 30 lbs
Ended with stretching.

Incredible workouts as usual. . . . How’s your attempt to do some pure cardio going?

Kicking major butt, Carrie! How’s the school schedule craziness going?

Bree

Thanks Joan!  This is the week I start the cardio.  Last week I was just starting three days of weight training instead of two so I wanted to see how I handled it.  I was tired but it felt good.  My lifting days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday (or Sat if I’m busy that night).  Then I plan to throw in cardio on the off days for at least two days a week.  I figure it will take a few weeks to get my stamina up.

Hey Bree.  It’s really busy.  My son is in the marching band in High School so he practices two nights a week then plays at the football game on Friday.  I work at the ball field for the home games as the bouncer for the VIP section.  Then he has all of his Scout functions and campouts.  He’s always on the go.  My daughter isn’t quite as active but she is at karate every afternoon after school, is on the safety patrol and joined the chorus so I’m sure she is on her way to being just as busy.  It’s fun but hectic. 

Workout:  chest and triceps

incline press: 95, 95, 115, 115, 135, 135 lbs
flat press: 30, 35, 35, 40 lb wts
flat flies: 4 sets w/ 25 lb wts
incline flies: 4 sets w/ 25 lb wts
cable flies (15 reps) and cross overs (12 reps)supersets:  20, 30, 30 lbs each side
scull crushers w/ EZ curl bar: 10, 20, 20, 30 lbs
superset push downs close and wide grip:  40, 50, 60, 70 lbs each

Hey, Carrie. I’ve been thinking of you at the gym. I’ve started to increase a few weights. . . . nothing like yours . . . but an increase for me. Today I worked on more reps in preparation for more weight at a later date.

That’s great Joan.  Increase gradually and don’t be afraid to push yourself a little.  Have fun with it.

Workout: legs and biceps

squats:  135, 135, 185, 185, 225, 225, 245 lbs
leg presses: 20 reps @ 135, 15 reps @ 245, 2 sets of 15 reps @ 335, 2 sets of 12 reps @ 385 lbs
hamstring curls: 20, 30, 40, 50 lbs
leg extensions: 20, 30, 40, 50 lbs

incline dumbbell curls:  4 sets w/ 15 lbs wts
seated dumbbell curls:
1st set: 15 lb wts
2nd set: 15 lbs alternating raises
3rd set: 20 lb wts 5 reps both arms together then 4 reps alternating arms
4th set: 20 lb wts 5 reps alternating then 4 reps raised together

Terrific Work Carrie!!

Great work as usual, Carrie. I just realized that although I can’t even begin to do what you’re doing with your legs, I can make catching you with the arms a goal of mine. I’m not as far behind you there as I thought I was. . . . I do still have a ways to go but I can at least see you at the other end of the stadium!

Thanks Catherine and Joan!

Keep working at it Joan.  The stadium isn’t that big.

Workout:  Back and Shoulders

pull downs wide grip: 40, 40, 50, 60, 70 lbs
pull downs reverse grip: 60, 60, 70, 70 lbs
dumb bell rows: 20, 20, 25, 25 lbs
seated cable rows:  30, 40, 50, 50 lbs
shrugs:  20, 30, 40, 50 lbs

Shoulder presses: 40, 60, 60, 70, 90 lbs
side cable raises:  10, 20, 20, 20 lbs
front cable raises:  20, 30, 30, 30 lbs