Legs & Glutes Workout

Well, hello there! Sorry it's been a few weeks since I've blogged here. I think the summer does that to you. Today though, it was back to school for my 3rd grader and this was the day I've been waiting all summer for because I can finally get back in the gym now and have a regular schedule. Farrah is old enough for the childcare there now and since it's right across the street from my son's school, it makes it perfect to head there right after I drop him off in the morning. I am ready to kiss the last of this pregnancy weight goodbye. As of today, I've got 21 lbs to go. I have been pretty good about the clean eating and meal prep though. I did slack on it a little for some social things, but now that I'm back in the gym with a regular schedule, I will be a lot better about sticking to it.

I thought it would be good for me to share my gym routines here periodically with you, in case you should be interested in trying the same, or modifying it to fit your lever {whether that be more novice or more advanced}.

Today, since it was my first day back in the gym in a while, I chose to work my favorite muscle groups - Legs & Glutes. Some people hate "leg day", but it's my favorite. I think it's because on my body, that is the area I feel needs the most work all the time...so I feel super-accomplished when I get through a killer workout on them.

When I've gone to the gym lately, I've been trying some interval training for my cardio rather than my usual 30-min elliptical workout. I'm going to switch it up, but it definitely works up a good sweat. I'll warm up jog on the treadmill for 4-5 min and then sprint at about 85-90% exertion for 1 min and then speed walk/jog for 2 min and repeat that 4-5 times.

The rest of my workout today was as follows:

SUPERSET - each exercise is a total of 3 sets of 15 {doing one set of each exercise and then repeating for 3x}
Step Ups w/Medicine Ball Raise {6-8 lbs} and Back Leg Lift {with non-working leg}
Stationary DB Lunges {5-10 lbs each hand}

Plie Squats w/KB or weight plate {25 lbs} - 3 sets of 15

SUPERSET - first exercise is a total of 3 sets of 15 and second is 3 sets of 25 {doing one set of each exercise and then repeating for 3x}
Stability Ball Leg Curls
Bridges w/Weight Plate {10 lbs}

SUPERSET - each exercise is a total of 3 sets of 25 {doing one set of each exercise and then repeating for 3x}
Hip Adductor
Hip Abductor

Butt Blaster Machine - 3 sets of 15

Leg Press - 3 sets of 12

Stiff Legged Dead Lifts - 3 sets of 12

Hope y'all have a great week...now that summer is over, I think many bloggers will be back on a regular posting schedule, and I plan to be too...I think there were some tumbleweeds rollin' there for a while. Do remember, my main blog is at California to Carolina, if you want to keep up with me there too!

Clean Eating Check-In & Leg/Glute Workout

So today is Friday and it is my 5th day of my strict clean eating plan. I am actually pretty dang proud of myself because I've kept with it. Day 1 was great...I felt great, it wasn't hard at all to keep to my plan. Admittedly though, Days 2 and 3 are when the cravings started to hit...mostly for red wine - ha! But I fought through and came out on top. And as of this morning, I'm down FIVE POUNDS since Monday! I can hardly believe it. I will note that since I'm carrying postpartum weight, it is natural for my body to lose faster right now than if I were at my normal weight, but it still feels good.

I made another round of veggies last night. This time I mixed asparagus, zucchini and yellow squash.

Instead of using the oven {I was out of tin foil}, I steamed them on the stove top. I put a few tablespoons of olive oil in the pan, threw in the veggies and added about a 1/2 tsp each of sea salt and black pepper. I simmered them for 20-30 min over medium-low heat.

Today, I plan on getting some more chicken grilled and baking more sweet potatoes.

I do have a concert to go to tonight with my husband...so I'm strongly debating letting myself have a glass of red wine...I haven't decided yet if I'm going to allow myself. On one hand, I've been so good and I deserve it, and it's not like I'm yet training hardcore for the bikini competition, but on the other hand, do I want to derail myself? Would it derail me? I don't know...let me know your thoughts and help me decide!

I did my leg day at the gym on Wednesday. It was a great workout and I'm surely feeling it today. Here it is if you want to try it for yourself or tweak it to your liking.

Interval Cardio on Treadmill
3-5 min warmup jog
1 min sprint at about 80% exertion
2 min fast walk/jog
Repeat 4-5 times

Superset
Back Extensions/Leg Lifts on Roman Chair
3 sets of 15 reps for each exercise, rest 30 seconds between sets. Be sure to go right from back extension to leg lift to make it a superset. I also cradled a 10 lb plate on the back extensions. You can do none, same or more as your level allows.

Superset
Step Ups/Dumbbell Squats
3 sets of 15 reps for each exercise, rest 30 seconds between sets. Be sure to go right from step ups to dumbbell squats to make it a superset. I used 2-10 lb dumbbells for the squats.

Superset
Stability Ball Leg Curls/Bridges
3 sets of 15 for the leg curls and 3 sets 25 for the bridges, rest 30 seconds between sets. Be sure to go right from leg curls to bridges to make it a superset.

Leg Press
3 sets of 12 reps at a weight that makes it impossible to do more than 12 reps. Rest 30 seconds between sets.

Have a great weekend!

Gym Session: June 3

One of the things I wanted to accomplish with this blog was sharing what I do at the gym with you. For some of you, this may be advanced. For others, not advanced enough. For some, maybe just right. I want to give you an idea of what I do to make sure I work my entire body each week, plus, this serves me as an exercise journal as well. Feel free to use this as your workout today, or tweak it a little bit to fit your needs. I welcome questions and comments!

Monday, June 3rd, 2013 ::: Glutes/Legs/Abs

Cardio: Elliptical :: 30 Min
Step Ups w/Back Leg Extension :: 3 sets/15 reps
Deadlifts :: 3 sets/15 reps :: Bar Weight at 65-80 lbs
Leg Press :: 3 sets/15 reps :: Weight Set at 130-150 lbs
Stability Ball Leg Curls :: 3 sets/15 reps
Super Set
Hip Adductor :: 3 sets/15 reps :: Weight Set at 130-150 lbs
Hip Abductor :: 3 sets/15 reps :: Weight Set at 130-150 lbs 
{Super Sets are two different exercises performed back to back, with little or no rest in between, for opposing muscle groups.}
Calf Raises :: 3 sets/25 reps
Kettlebell Swings :: 3 sets/15 reps :: 15 lb KB {This is a full-body exercise, but really hones in on the leg muscles due to the squatting action.}
Medicine Ball Oblique Twists :: 3 sets/20 reps {each side} 
Stability Ball Crunches :: 3 sets/15 reps {Obliques and Center} 
Bicycle Crunches :: 3 sets/50 reps {left leg then right leg = 1 rep} 
Straight Leg Crunches :: 3 sets/25 reps
And as always - a good stretch session to finish.

What's your workout today?

I'd also like to walk my pup later, but it's a rainy couple of days here in Charleston, so it's doubtful.