House Arrest

Sicilian truck/transportation drivers have been on strike since Monday. Because of this, no gasoline, food, mail, and many other goods can come onto the island. As of early Wednesday morning, all gas stations ran out of fuel. Right now, there is no end to the strike in sight so my husband and I have decided I will not drive the vehicle until gasoline returns to the island. This means... NO GYM. I was crushed this morning, but didn't let it stop me from getting in a decent workout. I hit my chest, shoulders, triceps and abs with only a stability ball and 15lb kettlebell. Yep, that's all. I decided to take a little video for you all so you can see that not having a gym membership is no excuse. This video is only a little excerpt.
The full workout was as follows; Circuit Set 1: Stability Ball Seated Shoulder Press (10 reps), Stability Ball Incline Chest Press (10), Stability Ball Chest Press (10), Kettlebell Windmills (10), Kettlbell Push Ups (10). Perform all exercise with left are first, then with right arm. That's one set. Perform set 4 times through. Circuit Set 2: Elevated Push Ups on Stability Ball (10), Single Arm Shoulder Lateral Raise (10 each arm), Overhead One Arm Tricep Extension (10 each arm), Stability Ball Crunch (20). Complete giant set 3 times through. Last and Final Circuit Set: Stability Ball Seated double arm front kettlebell raise (15), Standing Overhead double arm tricep extension balanced on one leg (20), Bicycle Crunch (20 total), Side Plank (30 seconds each side). Do this last set 3 times through.

The Afterglow

Monday was the GH Children's Christmas party at Midtown Theatres. I made a plan to hit the gym immediately after it was finished. It's was easy and made since considering the fact the gym is located in the same building. As I walk up to the front desk I noticed a couple of the other wives from GH were talking. One turned to me and asked, "are you seriously going to work out right now?" I turned to her, perplexed by the question, "yes, why wouldn't I?" I then went to my locker and changed into my gym clothes, put my ear buds in, and turned the exercise tunes up loudly. Never less, that question kept popping up. I couldn't understand why I shouldn't be working out today. I love exercising, it feels so good. I'm addicted to being fit. So what would keep me from wanting that? I did my warm up and then hit shoulders as hard as possible. Why? Because I know what happens when I exercise and most importantly after. So next time you're trying to talk yourself out of working out, try thinking of how your body will look and feel after. Shoulders: standing barbell behind the neck press, 12, 10, 8, 5, 10. Seated hammer strength unilateral shoulder press, 3 sets 10 reps each arm. Standing upright row, 3 sets 10 reps. Bench dips supersetted with front plate raises, 3 sets 12 reps each exercise. Seated lateral shoulder raise, 3 sets 15 reps. One set standing lateral shoulder raise "run the rack".

No rest for the weary...

As I said in my previous post I was sick. Well... It got worse. I left for Germany Early Thursday morning at 4am from my house, traveled all morning, and didn't actually get into my hotel room till 9ish. Friday we shopped literally all day and we didn't get back to the room till 10pm. All this time I'm still fighting a cold (runny nose, sore throat, congestion). I wake up Saturday really feeling horrible, like now I'm going to vomit. And what do you know I do! And I vomit all day! Sad thing was I thought I could fight this flu so I ventured out to Heidelburg to see the castle and shop the markets. It was absolutely horrible. Sunday I felt better, but weak. We spent the afternoon and evening traveling. Didn't land back home till 11 and I hit the sack at midnight. Mike says that I did too much and that's why a two day cold turned into a week long cold and stomach flu ordeal. I guess my immune system is down because no one else caught my bug. Sad thing though is when a mommy takes off on a four day vacation she comes home to a bucketload of work. I had so much laundry that I took it all to the laundromat (about 8 loads on the big washers). And of course there were no groceries nor was the house clean. So I didn't get to even "rest" on Monday. Tuesday I had much more energy so I wanted to hit the gym. Just one hour I know would lift my spirits and refuel my inner sense of calm. Sound weird? I use exercise as "me" time. I release stress, I reenergize, and most of the time its my break from being a mommy and wife. Everyone needs a break once in awhile. Mine is that one hour I get in the gym usually 3-4 times a week. Yesterday I did shoulders and triceps and today I hit back. Here's the workouts. Yesterday: standing barbell shoulder press. 1 warm up set of 16. 3 sets 6. Seated hammer strength shoulder press, 3 sets 8 reps. Seated Arnold press superset with standing lateral side raises, 3 sets 10 reps each exercise. Cable press down superset with reverse grip cable press down, first exercise 12 reps then second performed till failure. Modified skull crushers to keep constant tension on the triceps, 3 sets 12 reps. Lying lateral raises on bench with constant tension on the medial delt, no rest in between sets, 15 reps each arm. And as for today: pull ups, 5 sets 10 reps. Seated row superset with lat pull down, 4 sets 15 reps each exercise, no rest in between sets. Standing t-bar row, 10, 8, 6. Seated hammer strength alternating lat pull down with stretch, 3 sets 10 reps each arm. Bent over rear delt fly, 3 sets 12 reps. No rest for the weary. ;)