It's Just a Ride! And it's time to hold on tight!!!!

I've been reading through a few of these here journals and found them really interesting. So I thought I'd have a bash at keeping one.

I don't really know where to start TBH! Well first off this will probably turn into a quite haphazard venture because that's me all over. I'm pants at knowing/ remembering what exercises are called so you'll have to bare with me for some of my descriptions lol. I'll explain them as best I can.

Ok a bit about me. I'm 37 and am at the fittest I've been since leaving school. I've dabbled with the gym over the years but never really enjoyed it until now. In August last year I set up a massage practice in my partners gym and started to mess around with the weights basically because I was there all day. I've now been bitten by the bug and am extremely fortunate to have someone as knowledgable as my other half showing me the ropes so to speak.

I have absolutely NO ambition whatsoever to compete. I train because I enjoy it and am getting a kick out of my body changing shape. My main passion is Win Chun Kung Fu and the weights come 2nd to this. I like to train pretty fast and love giant and supersets. I have the attention span of a pea and love varying my workout. This compliments the Win Chun perfectly as it helps train for speed and stamina as well as strength.

My week looks pretty much like this at the mo.

Mon -Chest & Arms
Tues - Abs (gonna start doing glutes here too)+90 Mins Win Chun
Wed- Back & Shoulders
Thurs -Abs (as Tues gonna hit the old botox cheeks) + 90 mins Win Chun
Fri - Legs

I aim for a min of 40 mins cardio a day.

Weekends off execpt for treatments.

Of course I will do treatments during the week too so training can vary depending on how many clients I have in and what they are having done.

I eat pretty clean most of the time and love cooking. I do have the odd bit of cr@p, especially at wkend but I don't beat myself up about it because it is not excessive.

Bits I like about me-

Arms, Shoulders, Upperback, bottom to a certain extent

Bits I don't like-

Tummy (skin that doesn't fit no matter how much I loose weight wise)
Lower back (kinda too saggy at the mo but I think this is due to a body shape change)
Legs (troubling me at the mo as have gained size on them at it's doing my head in....still got to get my head around that one) and jelly tops of thighs.

I'm 5ft 6 and weigh 62kg.

Progress desired!

Just train and see what happens. Nothing I can't live with for now so pretty happy.

Erm.... I think that's it.

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

Ok this is what I did yesterday! I'll put in the weights I can remember. Our gym has weights in lbs and kg which makes it difficult for a mathematic bird brain like me.

Chest n Arms

Smith Machine Flat Bench -
4 sets 8 - 12 reps 30kg
Inlcine Bench (other machine with 2 seperate arms holding the plates)
4 sets 8 - 12 30kg 40kg 2 x 50kg

Giant set 4X
Cable cross overs 4 plates, 2 sets normal and 2 sets single arm.
Machine Flys 4 plates x 3, 5 x 1
Lying DB Pullovers with a 12kg (should have gone heavier on this but did them nice and slow.

all 8 - 12 reps.

Arms

Giants Set x 4 each time starting and finishing with a different excercise. 8 - 12 reps

All on the cables.

Standing bi curls
Push downs with rope close grip.
Push Downs EZ bar wide grip
Standing lateral cable curls (to the back of the ear)

Then did 4 sets 8 - 12
seated overhead pulls

Finished with 4 sets 8 - 12
single arm cross chest cable curls.

25 mins cardio before and after training.

All in all an enjoyable wee workout!

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

good on ya for starting a journal mate and youve taken the first steps. does your gym have a free weight bench? rather than using the smith machine because i find it much more challenging and rewarding to use free weight bench plus it gives a freer range of movement, well goodluck mate and keep it going. Also what does the diet look like?

You are not your Job
You're not how much money you have in the Bank
You're not the car you Drive
You're not the contents of your Wallet
You're not your ****in Khakis
You are the all singing all dancing crap of the World.

We've got more benches than you can shake a stick at lol!

I've just broken myself into not using the smith machine but the lass I trained with yesterday prefers the smith machine so we used that.

Diet is pretty sound and will post sample up very soon and i'll see if i can get into the swing of posting anything food wise up on a regular basis.

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

ORIGINAL: ElfinTan

We've got more benches than you can shake a stick at lol!

I've just broken myself into not using the smith machine but the lass I trained with yesterday prefers the smith machine so we used that.

Diet is pretty sound and will post sample up very soon and i'll see if i can get into the swing of posting anything food wise up on a regular basis.

thats a good idea mate, it will keep ya honest and gives other members the opportunity to help give ya feedback

You are not your Job
You're not how much money you have in the Bank
You're not the car you Drive
You're not the contents of your Wallet
You're not your ****in Khakis
You are the all singing all dancing crap of the World.

I have to say I'm not anal about my food and I certainly don't weigh it! I KNOW what a large portion is and when it's excessive. If I was trying to bulk or do some serious cutting then obviously more accurate amounts would be important to me to acheive a certain goal. These however are not my goals. I have, in the past, lived a lifestyle that was extremely strict, dietry wise and other wise, and I have no desire for anything to become all emcompassing again. I love training and eat relatively well but sometimes daily life gets in the way, as it does with all of us.

Sample daily food intake

brekki @ 8ish oatabix & PP or banana Natty PB & milk or bagel with Natty PB or pastrami.
11's salmon & salad
2pm bing oats and casien or chicken, salad and rice/1/2baked potatoe/pasta
4pm - 5pm labrada low carb MR
7pm - steak & salad, mince n peas, turkey and pasta
10pm labrada low carb MR

Meals during the day are interchangable and time variable depending on what I have on and what time I will train, for example today I had 2 clients in at tea time and didn't finish with them until 6.15pm and I start Kung Fu for 90 mins at 7 so I had a flap jack and I didn't have my dinner until 8.45. We have a microwave and a george forman at the gym so there is somewhere to make warm food. I might have a handful of nuts too and a banana depending on how i feel. Unfortunately my days are not set in stone and I have a physical job so I need to have variation in my diet and add/ subtract things as I need to.

I know this is probably not conventional but it works for me very well. Weekends I slack off because I like to. I'm not a big eater anyway so I can't PIG out. I also enjoy a glass of wine but haven't been drunk for AGES. For me it's everything in moderation.

FFS I'm waffling again and haven't even posted training yet.....sorry lol!

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

Smeeee again lol

New bums n tums today lol

3 x 30 sit ups (incline bench)
3 x 15 kneeling cable crunches 100lb
3 x 15 hanging leg raises 9 god i hate these lol)

3 x 15 kick backs on the hip swingy machiny thingy
3 x 15 of RG's pelvic floor raises with a 15kg on me (in the quiet corner lol)
3 x 15 hypers

10 mins cardio pre workout
30 mins post

90 mins Win Chun

That was it really!

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

Pretty good day today!

Dragged myself onto the treadmill at about 9.30 with the paper and did half n hour.
Ate nice and clean every 3 hours and had we had our wednesday night treat tonight. Sticky toffee pud with ice cream....rather scrummy that was too.

Back & Shoulders

10 min warm up on treadmill.
Back
Wide Grip Lat pull downs
4 x 8 - 12 5 plates, 6 plates & 2 x 7 plates (12lb plates)
Cable rows with rope
4 x 12 1 x 5 plates, 3 x 6 (10lb plates)

Superset 4 x 12
On cables
Kneeling underhand pulldowns (close grip) 6 plates (10lb plates)
Straightarm Lat Pulldowns 4 plates (lb as above)
Alternating start excercise

Shoulders.
DB press 3 x 12 (20lb DB's)

Giant set 3 x 10
Lateral side raises
Front raises (both with 5kg plates)
Reverse peck deck 3 plates.....can't remember if the are 10 or 12lbers on this

Finished off with seated shoulder press 3 x 10 @ 40kg

10 mins cool down on the treadmill and then I was fit for nowt.

Yet again enjoyable
......but not as enjoyable as the sticky toffee pud!

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

OOOOHHHHH only just spotted this.

Just a couple of things I'd like to comment on

1)

am extremely fortunate to have someone as knowledgable as my other half showing me the ropes so to speak.

That's an understatement if ever I read one

2)

I have absolutely NO ambition whatsoever to compete

I hope to remind you of that one day when we're helping one another with dream tan backstage

I have skin that's too big for me too

and................I'm going to have 'sticky toffee pudding' added to the swear filter so I don't have to read it again

Sponsored by Muscle Finesse  

PMFSLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!

That did make me giggle!

We can play I bet my skin is bigger than yours.....bet I win. I was thinking of having it made into a wee pocket to put my purse in, at least it would be useful lol

As for dream tan backstage NOOOOOOOOOOOO WAYYYYYYYYYYYYY my buttux aint coming out for anyone. I don't even own a kibini (although this may change....stay tuned lol)

Will remember to wispa treats! They keep me sain hun and I figure if Little Legs can have them as then so can I.....that's my argument and I'm sticking to it!

Will also one day work out this multiple quote lark too!

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

Well it's lil old me again!

I have to say I didn't do that much yesterday. I think I managed 30 mins on the treadmill and had a kung fu training in the evening for 90 mins and it was a really good session!

I bought some of that nicotine gum stuff yesterday in boots. It's not too bad actually. Thiung is I don't actually smoke that much so even the lowest dosiage ones would put more nicotine in my system that when I smoke so I've gone for the lowest dose and am only chewing half at a time. Now I've got it in my head that I'm not giving up, just kinda not smoking properly. I had 2 yesterday and had one this evening. We'll see how tomorrow goes!

Legs today! Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!

I'll have to get this down while I remember it lol.

20 mins treadmill.

SLDL with DB
12 x 25lb wide stance
12 x 25lb close
12 x 35lb wide stance
12 x 35lb close
SS with
DB leg extentions off the incline bench
2 x 12 (25lb)
2 x 12 (35lb)

Vertical Leg Press (lying on ya back pushy uppy one)
3 sets 40kg
15 wide stance and 15 close

Lunges
3 x 12
SS
Seated Leg Curls
3 x 15 - 20

Finshed off with a giant set.
Seated Calf Raises
3 x 20 (6 plates if i remember rightly)
Hypers
3 x 20
Leg Extentions
3 x 12

20 mins on the treadmill to walk it off.

Well that's all for me until next week! Although I have a 90 min treatment to do in the morning but that should help me stretch my legs.......or leave me in a collapsed heap on the floor.....who knows!

TTFN

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

ORIGINAL: ElfinTan

PMFSLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!

That did make me giggle!

We can play I bet my skin is bigger than yours.....bet I win. I was thinking of having it made into a wee pocket to put my purse in, at least it would be useful lol

Well mine's a suitcase

Sponsored by Muscle Finesse  

ORIGINAL: ElfinTan

I have absolutely NO ambition whatsoever to compete.

YET!!

Keep it up girl
xxx

www.monstergym.co.uk

Journal:
http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/m_417820/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm#417820

PMSL!!!!!!

I'm telling ya's my ass is saying firmly (or not so firmly actually) in me pants!
And besides there is noooooooooooooo way I could walk in them heels without a) looking like a really bad tranny b) breaking my neck!

I was pretty lathargic when I woke up this morning and went into work later. Once I was there though I had a treatment to do pretty much straight away and that got me going. Then training I had loads of energy....even kinda enjoyed cardio.....I think I'm becoming dellusional through lack of substantial nicotine! Don't rush to congratulate me though I've still not 'given' up and have had 1 or 2 in the evenings but non during the day and I've still only had about 7 of them chewing gums since Thursday lol.

Anyway enough of that drivle...training today was the bllx and felt ace.

50 mins uphill treadmill (while waiting for TP to turn up, went for it while I was up for it)

Chest & Arms pretty much the same as last week!

Bench Press
4 sets 8 - 12 reps 10g x 1 , 15kg x 3
We didn't use the SM today and I'm just building my confidence up with the bar so hoping for improvements here!

Inlcine Bench (other machine with 2 seperate arms holding the plates)
4 sets 8 - 12 20g, 30kg, 40kg x 2

Cable cross overs 4 plates, 2 sets normal and 2 sets single arm
Supersetted with
Lying DB Pullovers with a 15kg
4 x 12 for all the above

Bi's & Tri's

Giants Set x 4 each time starting and finishing with a different excercise. 12 reps

All on the cables.

Standing bi curls 3 plates
Push downs with rope close grip. 5 plates
Push Downs EZ bar wide grip 4 plates
Standing lateral cable curls (to the back of the ear) 4 plates
All 10lb plates

Then did 4 sets 12
seated overhead pulls

Finished with 2 sets 8
single arm cross chest cable curls. 3 plates!

Then got myself back on the treadmill and did 20 uphill! ( I had Sunday treat to walk off......will tell you what it was when you've finished dieting Kitty lol)

I felt really good today for some bizarre reason. Who knows what it is.....must be Spring in the air

BTW I've never mentioned what sups I take have I? I'm soooooooooooo bad at this as tablets make me gag. Capsules are ok'ish but them big dobbing things that look like suppositories get stuck in my throat even when I half them. got one stuck about 3 weeks ago and it was seriously lodged....not going up or down. It took me about 10 mins to get it out....not very ladylike in the end and since then I've refused tablets lol.

So the answer is 'not alot at the moment' Appart from 2 Kre- Evolution (absolutely fantastic stuff) pre and post workout + Glutamine post workout.

Well I reckon I've waffled enough for one night!

BNM signing off!

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

There really must be something in this bloody chewing gum! I did an hours treadmill this morning, 45 mins of it on incline. Then I was chatting to one of the lads and just stayed on and speeded it up. Then did another 25 mins this afternoon. 15 mins on steepest incline then brought it down a gradient per minute. I forgot I used to do this...makes the time go by a bit quicker too. Our treads have 15 gradients so I start on level 1 for a min, then level 2 for a min and so on. When it gets to the top I'll stick on it for 10 - 15 mins then bring it down the same way. That's what I did this morning whilst yacking.

I did a bit of abs and butt.
Same as last week really. Then have just got back in from 90 mins wacking people in the head and getting wacked back.....was great fun! My arms got a bit tired though from training yesterday. We do this things called Chi Sau (rolling hands) and its pretty knackering on the arms and shoulders....bloody good though!

TTFN

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

Ah well it's been a couple of days since my last rambling. So here's some more. First training in very brief....honest lol.

Wed was supposed to be back and shoulders but time was short as I had a client and then had to shoot to an appointment (more of later) so I just did a few of sets on Lat Pull down for back and a quick shoulder sesh.
3x dd press (20lbs)
side laterals
Front laterals
rear delts all on the cables as a giant set. 3 sets starting with different excercise each time.
Finished off on shoulder press 40kg 3 x 10 - 12

Today was favourite legs.....I LOVE EM!!!!!!!!
It was a bit higgledy piggledy to be honest for some reason today. Am still getting used to new TP who likes lighter sets with more reps as opposed to me who prefers heavier and low reps. I'm sure we will find a middle ground.

Vertical leg Press x 6, 3 wide & 3 narrow
20kg (20 reps), 45kg(15), 70kg(15)

Calves SS x3
Standing calf raises on shrug machine. 40kg x 20
Calves on leg press 70kg 10 - 15

2 sets DB lunges 20 reps
seated leg curls (15 - 20) with standing single leg curls (10 - 12)

ermmmmmm......oh yeah!
SLDL x 4, 2 wide & 2 narrow. 30lb db, 35lb db
DB leg extention x 4, 2 x 30lb & 2x35lb These are awesome.....love em.

I finished off with 40 mins cardio.

In fact it's my cardio this week that has amazed me. I've done at least 40 mins as usual per day this week but as a change I've done most of it on a VERY steep incline. Varying the speed and gradient and it's been good fun. I've had tons of energy and the only thing I can put it down to is cutting right back on the cigs. Now I'm not what I would class as a heavy smoker by any stretch of the imagination ca 7 rollups a day max. The difference has been significant though. I'm not sure if it is down to the less smoking.....am having 1 in the evening with a coffee/cuppa/glass of wine. It could be some additive in the gum. It could be that I'm not having any coffee during the day at all (get rid of the triggers). It could be hormonal changes (period). It could be the bloody weather. All I know is that there is a bloody difference. Well lets see what happens huh!

Well that was my week. Oh yeah another Win Chun class on thursday as per. We're in the gym tomorrow as we don't have cover so we have to go in. Might do some cardio depending on whether my legs will take it lol.

Happy WKND

x

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

Well it's Monday again! And what a miserable day...weatherwise that is!
Well 'almost' not smoking is going pretty well. I've not had a any gum yet today and no cigs. I don't think I had any gum yesterday either but I did have a cig late in the evening with a coffee. It really isn't the physical addiction but the psychological one. The mind is a funny old thing. I've tried to give up once before, cold turkey so to speak, and it drove me bloody insane. ALL I could think about was cigarettes, I was counting the bloody days since I last had one and I was a bit of a miserable cow (understatement) and that was after reading The Easy Way to Give Up Smoking....easy way my bloody A***!!!!!! This time things are going much much better. I've not got it into my head that I have stopped. If I want a cig then I will have one....hey presto makes not having any easier. Anyway enough of that....

Good old Chest n Arms today. TP desterted me and gone on holiday for a week!

Chest & Arms pretty much the same as last week!

Bench Press
4 sets 8 - 12 reps 10g x 1 , 20kg x 3
Was quietly pleased with that. Felt comfy and getting used to benching.

Incline Bench (other machine with 2 seperate arms holding the plates)
4 sets 8 - 12 20g, 30kg, 40kg x 2

Decline Chest Press Machine
3 Sets 8 - 10, 1 x 3 plates 2 x 4 plates

Cable Cross Overs 4 plates
Supersetted with
Lying DB Pullovers with a 15kg
4 x 12 for all the above

Bi's & Tri's

Giants Set x 4 each time starting and finishing with a different excercise. 12 reps

All on the cables.

Standing bi curls 3 plates (dropped to 2 plates on a couple of sets to make the 12 reps)
Over Head with rope 3 plates
Push Downs EZ bar wide grip 4 plates (dropped to 3 as above)
Standing lateral cable curls (to the back of the ear) 4 plates
All 10lb plates

My forearms felt like they were going to explode hence dropping the plates for some reps on some sets. OUCH!

Tricep push down!
3 sets 1 plates
Finished with 3 sets 8
single arm cross chest cable curls. 3 plates!

10 min treadmill incline warm up.

35 min incline treadmill pw.

I didn't feel very strong today at all...that is probably because I'm not very strong lol. Looking back at the workout though and the heaviness in my arms as I type and the exploding arm feeling when training I'd say it was a pretty good workout lol.

Til Then
x

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

If you swam you would notice the cv difference even more. Keep it going and don't have a fag if you don't want one.

www.monstergym.co.uk

Journal:
http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/m_417820/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm#417820

Stick with it my friend, you've made the hardest decision and that is to quit. It's the little child in us that tells us we want something when we've decided we can't so you're doing right by 'putting off' having the next one rather than say you can't have it

Well done

Sponsored by Muscle Finesse  

Cheers ladies!

Rags I would sink just as quick hun lmfao! In fact I want to going swimming with dolphins (very corny I know but who cares) when we go to New Zealand in Nov but I'm kinda hoping just to maybe sit on the beach with them rather than actually get in the water lol! Maybe a random one will get washed up and I'll be in luck!

I've split legs this week as I've got a 4 day training course this wkend (No Hands Massage Practitioner). Its long hours and very intense and knackering. There is alos alot of 'happy clapping' and tree hugging things too....oh yippeee! I love the No Hands approach to massage but the yippy dippy doodle almost cultish stuff that gpes with it is just not my cup of tea! If I come back with yoghurt knitted socks on and flowers in my hair.... SHOOT ME!

So I digressed....for a change I decided to do Hams & Calves today and quads on Thursday so that my legs wouldn't be too battered on the course as I think I may need them lol.

10 Mins Incline Treadmill warm up.

3 sets DB Lunges 1 x 5kg 2 x 8kg. Am still crap at these....my legs are gangly and don't bend in the right places!!!

4 sets seated leg curl
4 plates (20) 5 (15) 6 (15) x 2

Single Hamstring Curls x 4 (10) 2 plates

SLDL on Smith Machine ( 10 - 12)
1 x 10kg, 1 x 20, 1 x 30, 1 x 40

Standing Calves on Shrug Machine (50kg) SS with Calves on Leg press (100kg + the bloody block of concrete that Paul has put in it to make it heavier to start with)

4 sets 10 - 15 reps Alternating start excercise.

3 sets of
Seated Calf (15) raises, 5 plates
SS Hyper Extensions with 5kg plate 20 reps
I did the 1st 10 reps full then the second 10 keeping the tension on me butt OUCH!!!!! But great.

40 mins treadmill incline to finish off.

I was supposed to go to Win Chun tonight but my tummy has been a bit crampy and I think I may have a bit of a bug so thought I'd just it a miss.

I haven't eaten much today either....in fact it's been cr@p food wise I have just realised.
A bowl of Fruit n Fibre for brekki, chicken salad and half a baked spud at about 11, a banana pre WO about 1 then PWO drink......I think I need food lol!

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

Good on you, Keep up the good work!

http://www.undergroundmuscle.co.uk/

Cheers Audio!

Not a bad day all in all....nothing special really. Just work and trained, moooched roung the Trafford Centre after work and had something to eat.

Back n Shoulders today

Lat Pull Down Wide Handle Grip
8 - 12 reps
1x 5 plates, 2 x 6, 1 x 7

T Bar Rows
8 - 12 reps
1 x 20kg, 1x25kg, 2x30kg

Standing Single Arm Rows on the cables
12 reps
1 x 5 plates, 1x6, 2x7

Rope Rows again on cables
12 reps
1x5 plates, 1x6, 1x7

Shoulders

DB Press
8 - 12 reps
1 x 20lb 2 x 25lb

Upright Rows on cables
12 reps
1 x 6 plates, 1x7, 1x8

Giant Set
Side Laterals, Front Laterals (both with 5 kg plates) and rear delts on reverse PD (3 plates)
3 sets of 10 reps each. Starting with a different excercise each set.

Finished off woth 2 sets Seated shoulder press.
10 reps 40kg.

10 mins incline cardio pre WO
30 mins post WO

Not the most exciting day but hey....not a bummer either. Building any mucle seem academic at the moment as I won't be able to train for at least 6 weeks in 3 weeks time which is going to be a bugger. I hope I don't turn into Mrs Lardy ar*e pmsl.....hide the ice-cream.

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

Have I missed something? Why the break from training that's due?

Sponsored by Muscle Finesse  

Am getting rid of my kangeroo pocket hun! Actually it's thanks to Rags that I've made the final step. I've wanted it done for years and I know NO amount of excercise/training will get rid of it. I went up to 92kg when I was pregnant....I was bloody HUGE. So on July 18th I'm booked in to be nipped n tucked! Am absolutely cacking myself to be honest and am dreading 6 weeks no training AND no Kung Fu. I don't do nothing well lol. But while I still can for these next 2 weeks am still pounding away the weights lol!

I was going to do a light quads today as I go on a 4 day course tomorrow that is going to be very intense but it didn't quite go to plan....am cr@p at doing light legs lmfao

I had a client in before I trained for an hours treatment so I figured that was a good enough warm up.

Leg Extentions
1 x 12 (4 plates)
1x12 (5)
2x10 (6)

Leg Press Close Middle
12 x 100kg
12 x 120kg
12 x 140 x 2 sets
Plus the bloody concrete block that Paul has planted on top of the press lol

Squat Machine
12x20kg
12x30kg
12 x 40kb x 2 sets

Dumbell Leg Extensions
12 x 25lb
12 x 30lb
12 x 35lb
12 x 40lb

Then finished off with 30mins incline treadmill followed by another 30 min treatment.

Well that will be me for this week. I've just about packed my bags to scoot over to the other side of the Pennines for my happy clappy course. I hope you all have a dapper weekend!

XXX

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

Well I survived my 'happy clappy' course and I have to say 'WOW' what a weekend. It was 4 days of VERY intense training to become a No Hands Massage licensed practitioner which I now am!!!!!! The 4 days were exhausting and exhilerating and I met some fantastic people and I was able to take my bodywork to a totally new level so I'm buzzing!

After such a tough few days I decided not to train in the gym today but I did do 3 treatments and 90 mins Kung Fu......so much for a rest for a day lol.

I did eat quite alot of cr@p over the weekend but we were at a hotel and food sources were limited and I figured that I'd burn off alot of it. I didn't over eat and managed not to eat just cr@p but I know I didn't drink anywhere near as much as I should have done. Never mind back on track for the next 2 weeks.

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

Have you got a date for surgery?

If so you have to get your mind into gear for clean eating as much as possible to keep your fat levels from rocketing. Get everything you may need to keep you going so that you don't need to go out and get it. Get every single piece of crap out of the house so that you don't get tempted.

If you get prepared it will be a walk in the park. I went to the gym and just hung out after the first week to keep my mind in sync.

www.monstergym.co.uk

Journal:
http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/m_417820/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm#417820

Hey there Honey!

Yeah it's on the 18th of this month....so 2 weeks from today I'll have been done! Thanks for the tips food wise. I will deffo make sure that we don't have anything in....don't that we do anyway really but I'll make doubly sure. I am such a cr@p ill person so I'm hoping not to feel as bad as I think I am but I also know I will have to take it easy so that I heal. How long was it before you were comfortably up and about? Were stairs a problem at all at any time? I'm worried that I'll be stuck upstairs for a couple of days because that's where the loo is lol. I'll have to practise going up and down them on me bum lol. I'm sooooooooo excited and soooooooooooooooo nervous all at the same time and I'm dreading not being able to train or do my Win Chun or my wonderful massages Any more tips you can give me would be greatly appreciated and a big thankyou again to you Rags because I think if I hadn't met you I wouldn't be doing this right now|So Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trained Chest and arms today.

Bench Press
3 sets 8 - 12 reps 10g x 1 , 20kg x 2

Incline Bench Machine
4 sets 8 - 12 20g, 30kg, 40kg x 2

Flys(20lb) ss with BB Pullovers(30lb)
3 sets, 12 reps each


Cable Cross Overs 4 plates
3 x 12

Bi's & Tri's

Giants Set x 4 each time starting and finishing with a different excercise. 12 reps

All on the cables.

Standing bi curls (30lb)
Push Downs Rope (50lb)
Push Downs EZ bar wide grip (40lb)
Standing lateral cable curls (40lb)

Seated overhead rope pulls
12 x 20lb
12 x 30lb
12 x 30lb

Cross Chest Single Bi Curls on Cables
12 x 30lb
12 x 30lb

40 mins Incline treadmill

It was a really good session and I'm really enjoying training with the lass that I am at the moment. We seem to work really well together and it's great for both of us to have someone there to spot and push each other. When I've had my 2 weeks off I'll be in the gym anyway as Paul has bloody jury service so I'll be there to spot for her and push her....and be really jealous lmfao!

xx

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

What mad couple of days! I've put an offer on my treatments and boy am I being taken up on it lol! I'm doing half hour NO HANDS massages for a bloody tenner and an hour for 15 quid for gym members and my Kung Fu buddies. I wanted to get as much massaging done before I have to have time off after the op to perfect the approach. And I've still beeen training as well AND doing the Kung Fu. I was shattered last night. I've got 4 1/2 hours of treatments tomorrow and my smallest client is about 16 bloody stone so it's going to be a cracking workout that's for sure!

Thursday Legs

We did a warm up on vertical leg press with 20kg.
2 sets of 40 - 20 close and 20 wide.

Tri Set
Standing Calf Raises on the Wheelbarrow 80kg
3 x 10
Calves on the leg press 130kg3 x 15
Leg Press 130kg
3 x 12 close middle
3x 12 wide
3 x 12 close top

Squat Machine
15 x 20kg warm up
12 x 40kg
12 x 80kg
12 x 100kg

I wish I could squat without the machine but my legs are a funny shape...my tibia is proportionately very long in comparison to my fib meaning that even though I have long legs (too long for my bloody body) my knees are very low down. So I can find people with much shorter legs than me but my knees will be lower than theirs. I can't free squat down without serious danger of either tipping backwards, over compensating and bending too far forwards putting way too much strain on my lower back or tippy toeing! There is no way I'm risking puttin my back out just for the sake of my ego that's for sure!

Standing Leg Curls (single)
2 x 10 1 plate
1 x 10 2 plates

Superset
SLDL with DB
12 x 30lb DB
12 x 35lb DB
12 x 40lb DB

DB Leg Extensions
12 x 30lb
12 x 35lb
12 x 40lb

40 mins incline treadmill

Fri

Back & Shoulders

Lat Pull Downs with the handle at the end bar thingy
15 x 60lbs warm up
12 x 75
12 x 80
12 x 80

Superset 3 sets
Straight Arm Lat Pulldowns
12 x 40lb
Kneeling Underhand Pulldowns
12 x 60lb

DB Press
12 x 20lb DB's
12 x 20lb DB's
10 x 25lb DB's

Triset - 3 sets starting with a different excercise each time.
Eah 10 reps
Side Laterals with 5 kg plates
Fronts with a 15kg plates
Reverse pec deck 45lb (3 plates)

45 Mins incline treadmill.

I have to apologise for the mix of 'lbs' and 'kg' but that's just the way it is at our place and I'm crap at maths. I was really chuffed with the DB shoulder press with the 25's, just a shame that I'll have to start all over again in a couple of months.....ah well the consolation is I will have a real belly button lmfao!

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

Well had a not very restful Saturday this weekend. I didn't train but I did do nearly 3.5 hours of treatments between 10.30 and 3. I was a wee bit pooped when I'd finished. They were all blokes and they went up in weight as the bloody day went on ending with a friend at 18stone

Did Chest and Arms today. Pretty much the same as last week really.

Incline on Isolateral Bench Press machine thingy
12 x 20kg
12 x 40kg
10 x 50kg
10 x 50kg

Flat Benchwarm up just with bar
12 x 10kg
12 x 15kg
12 x 20kg

Decline Chest Press
12 x 3 plates
10 x 4
10 x 4

Cables Cross Overs
12 x 4 plates
12 x 4 plates
10 x 4 plates

Did the usual superset for Bi's n Tris and we managed to do the 4 sets in juts over 15 mins.....we were bloody knackered.

Tri Push Downs on Machine
12 x 10 plates
12 x 11 plates
12 x 11

Finished of with Hammer Curls (standing)
10 x 10kg for 3 sets.

Only did 20 mins treadmill then had a 10 min break and did a back treatment for half an hour.

All in all not a bad one again.
I'm so going to miss all this as of next week. I never thought I'd say that ffs. I can't believe how much I enjoy the weights and how my strength has improved. I'm never gonna lift mega weights but it's certainly soooooooooooooooo much better than when I started. Ah well......just think of my new belly button!

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

Do I mention that I've just taken a peanut Butter Banana bread out of the oven and it smells bloody divine!

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

ORIGINAL: ElfinTan

Do I mention that I've just taken a peanut Butter Banana bread out of the oven and it smells bloody divine!

Save a piece for me please

Sounds like you're really getting into the weights now. We'll get you on that stage if it's the last thing we do

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Will do hun!

The only way I'm getting on stage is to sweep up! But you're right I'm really getting into the weights now and I'm sure gonna miss em.

Did Hams and Gluteybottoms today.
15 min warm up incline TM

Triset - all 10 - 12 reps
Seated Calve Raises, 5 plates, 6 plates, 7 plates, 8 plates (12lb plates
Hyper Extensions
5kg, 10kg, 15kg, 20kg (well actually a 45lb DB as we couldn't hold the 20kg plate lmfao)
Dead Lifts close stance
10kg, 20kg, 30kg, 40kg

SS
SLDL with DB wide stance
30lb DB's, 35lb DB's, 40lb DB'sx 2
all 12 reps

with

Hamstring Extensions
4 sets 12 reps

Alternated the starting excercise.

These Hamstring Extensions are awesome when done right. My sadistic other half introduced me to them.
Involves.

Getting a backed seat (we use the seat on the isolateral shoulder press)
You kneel on the seat and tuck you feet inbetween the back and the seat (back and seat need to be close enough to anchor you in.
Spotter stands just over your head height away from you if you were horizontal and you wedge a pole firmly into the floor and their foot 9so the pole doesn't slip.
Then you go forwards until straight (flying) keeping your shoulder height above your hip height.
Then you pull back through your hams.

I think there is a clip on youtube of Paul doing these as they are a bugger to explain.

Did 30 mins incline cardio

Am totally jiggered.....so much so that I've not gone to Kung Fu tonight!

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

Here they are!

Like I said easier to show than explain!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn2m4benIqI

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

Hey just caught up about the surgery. Good luck with that. I'm beginning to think I may need some myself

Great video

Sponsored by Muscle Finesse  

Cheers! Counting the days down now!

Vidz were done for guest spot prep and comp earlier this year! It certainly helped to keep me sain and gave us both something to do together, It made me feel really involved with Paul's training and part of his prep and it certainly had a p[ositive effect on us keeping it together during that time. You know how bad it can get and BB is such a selfish sport.....but it's what he does and he does it pretty well too

Oh Yeah

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY my avatar is here....it's only taken me 3 bloody days to work out how to put it up ffs!

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

Well training on Thurs (quick back n shoulders) and Quads on Friday went pretty well. Especially Friday's sesh. It was pretty much the same as last weeks (ish). Weight wise was the same which has given me my goal when I come back to train after my op. I have PB's now to aim for and hopefully exceed. Having the op round the corner has really pushed me to see what I can do and to stop faffing around really. I wanted to be in the best poss shape in that short space of time so that hopefully it will help me recover that wee bit quicker.

I had my pre op on Thursday and had some questions answered but my head is sooooooooooooooo up my jacksy. I am really cacking it. TBH the timing hasn't been the best and I've got 'other' stuff going on too which is not helping matters any and I'm feeling very anxious. Had too dreams about waking up from the anastaetic last night lol.
I've wanted this for so long now and now that it's nearly here I feel sick.

Enough of that bloody winging anyway lol.

Goals when able to return with vengance (whoever that is!)

Train to regain lost muscle mass.
Take a serious look at diet and tweak where needed to loose some BF.
Buy a bikini and not look a complete tw@t in it! (not had one of these since I was a teenager ffs)
Overall I am happy with my shape as it is now but I need to cut down on BF to get some more maintainable definition. Looks like me and the treadmill are gonna be great friends lmfao.

I'm gonna get Paul to take some pics.....including the jelly belly kagaroo pouch so that I can see where I am at now so that I know what I'm aiming to get back and hopefully improve on. And then we'll see what happens!

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

Ah Well.... One training session down and one more to go tomorrow.

I decided just to carry on as normal this week to keep me in some form of insanity. So it was chest and arms as per for a Monday. My training partner has fallen off the planet today so I was on my lonesome so I got Paul to spot me.

Chest

Isolateral Incline Bench
12 x 30kg
12 x 40kg
10 x 50kg

Flat Bench
12 x 10kg
12 x 15kg
8 x 20kg

Decline Chest press Machine
12 x 3 plates
10 x 4
10 x 4

Cable Cross Overs
12 x 3plates
12 x 4
10 x 4

I decided just to do 3 supersets for Bi's n Tri's

'Jesus' Bicep Curls (the ones to the back of ya ears.)
12 x 4 plates
12 x 4 plates
10 x 5 plates
10 x 5 plate

With

Skull Crusher Thingies.
12 x 25lb DB
12 x 30lb
12 x 35lb
12 x 35lb

Concetrated Curls & Kick Backs on the cables - single arm - 4 sets
Bi's 10 x 3plates
Tri's 10 x 2 plates

Tri Push Down Machine with Standing Bi Curls - 4 sets
Tri's
10 x 10 plates
Bi's
10 x 20lb DB's.

I did 40 mins incline cardio this morning at about 11 when I got to the gym & did and hour after my workout.

Well like I said one down and one to go until I get my new belly button. I spoke to my sister yesterday and she wondered if they could put it somewhere else just to be different. We decided that maybe I could have one like a 'Cindy Crawford' mole just over my lip!!!! Interesting....would certainly be a conversation starter thats for sure!

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

PMSL, try the middle of your forehead then you can walk pretending to be a cyclops or maybe swap it round with a nipple....that'll confuse Paul

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Confuse...
Or amuse lmfaooooooo!!!!

I've told him he's not allowed to make me laugh as it could get messy....not a bloody chance!

It's Just A Ride
http://www.paulgeorge.org/
http://www.youtube.com/elfintan

What a lovely cheery Journal... a pleasure to read !

Best of luck with the surgery

Training by www.fitness121.co.uk
Diet by www.healthyaction.co.uk