Level 1/Day 2

Day 2,

Woke up this morning, always a good sign :)

Although I was dead tired from lack of sleep, I don’t think I slept last night due to the nap I took the evening prior. Got myself together and out of bed, drank a glass of water.
My living room was un-usually freezing so I turned up my heat to 65/70 degrees (which not thinking about the fact I was about to work out, I turned my living room into a mini-sauna).

My overall upper arms were pretty sore this morning upon waking up, especially the little flabby skin/tendon that is between your front shoulder/arm pit and “side boob” Haha I apologize if that is not politically correct. But the rest of my body felt good.

So I did Shred Level 1, Day 2.

The exercise was still difficult, I need to hydrate more and build up my endurance. My arms were also very fatigued the whole time.

When I got to work this morning for breakfast I ate a nectarine and munched on some dry granola honey oat cereal around 2/3 of a cup. Also, I put the juice from one lemon in a water bottle to drink throughout the morning.

Today my dilemma was if I should tough it out with the 5 pound weights (safely of course, I do not want to chance injuring myself) But realistically, it is only 5 pounds; accumulatively holding 10 pounds for less than 20 minutes.

So I did a little research “how do you know if your weights are really too heavy for you?”
Working out with lighter weights and higher reps is a bad rumor. The reason is when you weight train your break your muscles slightly and them rebuilding is muscle growth (hence why you get “tone”). Heavy weights obviously stresses them more and will amount to more muscles being torn and rebuilt. Heavy weights will also speed up your metabolism which in turn will burn more fat thus helping you tone your arms. Your weights should cause a slight discomfort but not an “unbearable” pain. In Lamens Terms - use common sense, push yourself but don’t hurt yourself. No pain, no gain :) haha!
So the verdict says... I will tough it out with my 5 pound weights.

For lunch I had left over Thai chicken in peanut sauce with rice noodles. Which might I add it was even more delicious then the night before! Also, a small slice of watermelon.

After working out this morning I felt very refreshed and revitalized especially for having no sleep, and my energy level was high throughout the day.

My arms and thighs are pretty sore, my overall body feels like it had a good workout today.

For dinner tonight I am having skinless chicken strips in buffalo, garlic and herb seasoning (baked), celery and blue cheese.

I may have a glass of Lambrusco after my long day of work (I think I deserve it!), but for the most part my main priority is trying to drink as much water as possible.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) will be my biggest struggle with the program, due to the fact I will have to wake up extra early to get my workout in before work. Tuesdays are the longest day of the week since I have night class directly after work and will be at class until 9:30-10 pm. And by the time I get home and unwound I would not be able to do the workout until late at night.

So my goal is tomorrow morning!

Overall I think the challenge is fun (so far). I have good support system. I am getting people I work with involved and interested in taking on the challenge also. The more the merrier!

Well I am off, good night! :)