Fitness Update

I haven’t really talked much about where I’m at in regards to my fitness. Mostly because there’s not much to talk about. I took a little emotional/physical break from my marathon and I ran a couple miles here and there, ran some stairs but nothing settled into a routine for the next month (there was also the fact that my husband tried to turn himself into a pirate).

Then, April came around and when I finally began to feel motivated again – I fake fractured my foot (here & here). While I haven’t been on crutches or wearing a boot for the past 3 weeks, my foot has still felt twingey. The doctor told me it could be up to two months before it felt normal again. Well, I decided it felt normal enough this week and jumped back into working out on Wednesday with Moj.

Within the first 30 seconds I could tell a drastic difference in my level of fitness prior to the marathon and after. It hurt. What’s it? EVERYTHING IS IT. Everything still hurts, two days later.

I knew after my marathon that I planned on scaling back with my running, as in nothing further than a 5k, because I wanted to get stronger. I wanted to start weight training. I was really excited to brave my fear of the free weight section in the gym and to attempt some definition in my arms (at the very least!)

While I go to the gym with Moj (who has been lifting weights for 20 years or so), I go on her terms, they’re her workouts and I’m just along for the ride. She’ll admit she loves to make me curse though (it’s really not that hard, all she has to do is say BURPEE!) But during the summer, she’s not on campus as much. That leaves me fending for myself.

It’s scary enough to get past the initial gym demons you have when you think everyone is looking at you (they’re not) and you’re just going to the cardio equipment. But when you have to go to the free weight section with tons of bulky guys grunting in mirrors and lifting weights larger than your 3 year old – it can be a little intimidating.

So, I hit up Google. I wanted some kind of plan that specified exactly what I need to do that didn’t make me feel like a complete dumbass. And it’d be nice if it were cheap.

I lucked out. Because I found something amazing and free.

www.bodybuilding.com

You can find free plans to follow based on your level and interest. There’s also a free app for your phone called BodySpace.

The plan I found is Jamie Eason’s LiveFit 12-Week Trainer (there’s a ton to choose from though!)

It breaks it down week by week, day by day, exercise by exercise for you. It also links to videos to show you HOW to do the moves or use the equipment – this is all accessible on your phone with the app. Which really has helped me the past two days move past my free weight fears and work it out.

Example: Yesterday (my first day) was triceps/chest workout. I got to the gym, clicked on the app, started the workout and 30 minutes later I was walking away feeling a little stronger and definitely smelling a little fouler. It’s at your own pace, so if you need to move to another piece of equipment you just tap the app, it stops (or starts) and you’re good to go while you get settled. You can also print off the information from the website if you don’t have a smart phone.

Today was biceps. So, I thought I’d give y’all a little preview of how muscular I currently am. *cough* not much *cough*.

I’m feeling really good about it. And excited. And just really ready to see where I’ll be at the end of 12 weeks. Or maybe 13. We are planning on going on vacation at some point :)

There’s a nutrition plan with this one as well – and I’m taking a few things from it to apply to myself – so this is basically my public announcement to hold myself accountable and for you to say, “But Tam, you already look like a badass!”

I mean, only if you want to say that.