Arrgghhh! The work Docker pants that were finally starting to feel comfortable were tight yesterday. (They’re actually Lee pants, not Levi, but you get my meaning.) I’m sure that I was just retaining some water but it still made it a bit disheartening. I read about all the buff ladies who are down at sizes 1, 2, and 4, and I wonder if my size 12’s are ever going to start feeling loose on me! I know they will as long as I keep doing what I should, but it’s such a long process. As a boost to my ego today, though, they weren't quite as tight, so I know it was just water.

I haven’t been able to get to the gym for quite a few days so I have been working out at home using adjustable dumbbells (the spinlock type), my Bowflex, and my own bodyweight (push-ups and lunges and squats). I don’t think it’s been a hindrance, though, because I’m still able to work hard and lift heavy. I had thought that I might get back to the gym during lunch hour today although I’ll have to say that I’m leaning toward just working out at home instead because now I have a new reason coming......a new Bowflex!!

Bowflex has sent me an offer to upgrade to their top of the line Ultimate2. You can see it here. It's actually a great deal. I bought my Bowflex PowerPro 7 or 8 years ago for around $1200 with lat and leg attchments. While it works pretty well, there are some design opportunities that it looks like have been addressed with the Ultimate2. There's also an integrated squat station...something my old Bowflex didn't have. Bowflex is basically buying back my old machine for $1000 and paying for shipping it back if I buy the Ultimate2. Oh, yeah! I jumped on that offer and added a set of their adjustable dumbbells with chrome stand! I've been looking at these kind of adjustable dumbbells for a while now as I've been trying to figure out a way to add to my dumbbell collection at home. You just dial in your desired weight from 2.5 pounds up to 52.5 pounds per dumbbell! They adjust in 2.5lb increments up to 25lb and then in 5lb increments thereafter. I'm getting free shipping on these puppies, too! Anyway, I'm quite excited to be doing this upgrade as for some reason, I've really taken to working out at home vs. going to the gym.

I really like the Bowflex layout because with Kelly and Kasie around, I don't have to worry with fingers getting pinched in plates or weights getting dropped on toes. I have a dedicated workout area but it's not a room with a door. It's in an open layout so if Kasie crawls up to me while I'm in the middle of a lift, I can left it go without fear of injury to her because there are no plates to worry about. The rods simply go back to relaxed state. The adjustable dumbbells can essentially be locked down too by dialing in different weights at each end. If there are different weight settings on each end, the dumbbell won't release from the stand. Nice peace of mind for me. Plus, Kelly gets a kick out of "lifting" and doing her exercises on the Bowflex. I can set it up on the 5 pound rod and she gets a lift or 2 in and "exercises like Mama does". Hopefully a good motivation for my girls.

Well, onto my workout from last night.

Weights
BACK
Wide Grip Pulldowns Bowflex
12x60#
10x70#
8x90# (meant to do 80# here but wasn't paying attention. In any case, looks like I need to go up on weight...WooHoo!)

Reverse Grip Pulldowns Bowflex
12x70#
10x80#
8x90# (looks like time to up this weight as well)

Seated Lat Rows Bowflex
12x40#
10x50#
8x60# (yeah...let's go up here!)

TRICEPS
Pushdown with Bar Bowflex
12x30#
6x40# (getting hard...)
3x40# (very hard...feel the burn)

Dumbbell Kickback
12x5#
10x7.5#
arms just shot here...

I'm definitely feeling it today in my back and tri's. It's not real sore as I always seem to have trouble getting a lot of DOMS in my back but it's definitely more than what I've had in quite some time! Very happy today!!

No weights today...just cardio.