Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day

Strength training. We’re bombarded by countless studies, workout tips and tricks, pictures, and success stories, so why is it so darn hard to stick with it? Maybe it’s a testament to my personality, but ever since I’ve had to exercise on my own, I’ve always started out with the best of intentions when beginning a new training regimen, only to allow life to get in the way and fall off the wagon.

In high school, I was a three sport varsity athlete, and never had to think twice about working out. The coaches would run us into the ground at practice and then throw twice weekly conditioning sessions on top. I also supplemented this with CATZ, so I know precisely which exercises work, when they should be done, and how often. But still, I’ve managed to drop the ball. While reading Tina’s book last night, I decided right then and there to suck it up and make time for strength training 3 times a week no matter what. As someone who thrives on lists and planning, I immediately jotted down my first morning’s workout in my handy dandy…NOTEBOOK! (Cue Blue’s Clue’s music)

serious obsession with Moleskin notebooks

This morning, I took a page from the ever-eloquent Soulja Boy’s book and hopped up out my bed (at 6:00AM), turned my swag on, took a look in the mirror and said what’s up…then did:

chest fly (12 reps, 2 sets, 8 lbs)

single arm dumbbell rows (12 reps, 2 sets, 8 lbs)

dumbbell shoulder press (12 reps, 2 sets, 8 lbs)

seated dumbbell biceps curl (12 reps, 2 sets, 8 lbs)

overhead triceps (12 reps, 2 sets, 8 lbs)

lunges (12 reps, 2 sets, 16 lbs)

calf raises (12 reps, 2 sets)

plank (2 sets, 30 seconds)

I had to seriously change my mindset for this exercise. Despite not lifting on a consistent basis for a while now, I still feel as though I should be able to do more. I felt like SUCH a sissy doing this exercise, but reminded myself that I need to build back up. I love cheesy idioms…seriously love love love. For the journey ahead of me, I just have to keep reminding myself to take things one day at a time, and that Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Stay tuned for weekly plans once I have time to sit down and plug everything into a neat little spreadsheet

Breakfast this morning WOULD have been posted here, but since I had to salvage what was left of it and it looked less than desirable, I figured I would spare you all the gory, eggy mess. I needed something quick and easy this morning, and since your girl over here is more of a savory breakfast person than a sweet one, I decided to roll with Hungry Girl’s Egg Mug Classic recipe. 1 egg, 1 egg white, big handfull of spinach, and tossed that bad boy in the microwave for 2 minutes. I walked out of the kitchen for a minute and heard a gigantic “POP!”, and returned to find my poor little egg poof sitting on the bottom of the microwave.

Oh, and since you all know I botched my egg, here’s one more confession. I’ve been having a serious love affair with Republic of Tea’s line of Be Well Red Teas. Is it incredibly lame to daydream of an entire cabinet full of these gorgeous, colorful, and out-of-this-world tasty teas?! Just looking at them makes me happy! Mason the Jar hopped in the picture too…such an attention hog.

Q: What was your A-HA! fitness moment?

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