Fitness Resolutions

Hello Everyone,

  It's almost christmas, and soon after new years. That typically means starting the news years resolutions and the ever changing new year. Well I figure its time to start things up a little early. First off, I am going to aim for more cardio, and more softball specific actions in the form of sprints, and pitching. I also am going to try to even out my arms. My workout partner makes fun of me every so often because my pitching arm can lift close to twice as much as my other.

Sure its only two, but just with those lifestyle changes, there will be quite a large amount of improvement.

 Happy End of the Year
 Happy Holidays

Laurel Lee

I notice how everytime I state that I will be more regular on this blog, is when I jump off and run away from it for weeks. SO here is the rundown, I slipped up, gained three pounds, started calorie counting again. Finally got some time to run today, and have been doing ab workouts for the past week since they only take a few minutes. Here's to losing it back before the season starts.

Nerves and More

My one year after surgery checkup for my ankle is this coming week, and needless to say I am nervous. This is my clearance checkpoint, my permission to go without the ankle brace. My freedom from restriction, and my ability to wear heels again. But this also means that if something is wrong, that I lose all the things I just recently gained back. This time last year I was on crutches, not even allowed to place any weight on my ankle, and honestly, I have come quite a long way. I went from moving on crutches to running miles, to pitching, sprinting, and twisting on my ankle which previously wasn't allowed to be even moved. Its wierd to think about how far I have come, and how far I have yet to go.

Now that emotional spiel is over, I am back to working out almost regularly, though the exact days seem to change. I make sure to elliptical at least three times a week, and do sprint work once a week in a strength and conditioning session. I work out with a friend, so we use free weights more often since we have spotters, and honestly, by the end of the winter, we are going to be beasts on the field

Pitching though, that is another story as I pitched for the first time in three weeks yesterday, and let me tell you, it was not great. Not horrible, but not great. I am hitting this saturday to my wonderful first basewoman, who happens to be one of my closest friends on campus. Scratch that, she is the closest.

Having a partner helps. They help motivate you to be better, and to work harder. They also typically know your limit, so having them helps on those days that you really just do not want to go on. They push you, in a good way, so once you find one who gets you, keep them.

Fitness Testing

Long time no blog, again. So this blog post is way overdue.

Quick Update:

• I have not lost/nor gained any weight since coming back to school
• Softball season ended for the fall season. We now have strength and conditioning once a week on monday mornings along with a coinciding strength workout two days a week
• I am adding this to my normal workout
• I biked today for the first time in a good couple of months. It felt good, but not as good as when I elliptical for the same amount of time
• We did exercise testing in strength and conditioning this morning, I was rather bad

Going off that last bullet point here is what I did for our quick testing, which is what I will work on getting better:

• Vertical Jump: 14 inches
• I hope to get at least two more inches
• but I can still easily do a box jump on the largest box, I just cannot jump straight up
• Standing Long Jump:
• 68 inches
• I am actually kind of impressed with my score, though I think getting another 2-5 inches is a good start. 
• 60 feet sprint
• 3.37 seconds fastest time
• yeah, wayyyyy tooooo slow for my sport, so I am hoping to get to a 3.15 and under by the end of the preseason
• Push Ups
• sadness
• 5 on my toes as we had to practically touch the ground
• 17 on my knees before they began hurting too badly
• Plank Hold
• 50 seconds
• I am going to aim to double that
• Side Plank
• 30 seconds both sides
• will work to double both

There is my testing and my goals for this upcoming month with that. The sprinting may not be possible, but the rest is rather attainable if I work at it.



Yours Truly
Laurel Lee

Lets get down to business

Hello Everyone,

   The good thing about the start of the semester is that I am back at school, and on a set schedule. This makes it easier to fit in my workouts, and made the end of today, feel really, really good. Needless to say, walking into the Athletic and Fitness Center felt like coming home. Okay, maybe not that good but close enough. This year, I felt like I belonged and that is what its all about. So todays routine was simple, but I do have softball starting up again soon and do not want to do too much too soon and risk hurting myself and missing another season.
   Today consisted of talking with my coach. Then speaking to my favorite Athletic Trainer about getting me onto a core/stabilization strengthening program which starts tomorrow, and then heading up to the fitness room for an hour. That hour consisted of ellipticalling(if that is a word) for half an hour, and then arm work in the manner of tricep dips, forearm extensions, bicep curls, bench press, military pull downs, lat pulldowns and then the one that I can never remember the name of(but in practice its the one where you essentially hug yourself, then hug the world with weights).
    Needless to say, I may be sore tomorrow, but it will all be worth it.

Breaking in the New Shoes,
Laurel Lee

Oops

Long time, no posting.

Since I have been gone, I have not really done anything good to help myself into an exercise routine besides choose healthier foods and quit drinking soda. Now I am freaking out because class starts again in about a week and a half, and I have lost a grand total of 6 lbs this summer. Lucky me its a noticeable 6 lbs.  Here is to posting on a weekly basis from now on. Even if its only a review of my newest exercise, or a fun recipe, or just a generalization of my week.

Here are some pictures to sow my progress and to hopefully inspire myself to work out a bit more, and help myself while being happy with myself.

So there is me at 178.5 lbs, on my way to be a happy 160ish.


Now for a happy lunch recipe.

Take a tilapia fillet and add a tablespoon of olive oil, a dash of garlic salt, pepper, and some oregano. Allow this to slowly cook in a skillet for a few minutes until the tilapia is firm yet flaky. While the tilapia is cooking, make some instant brown rice using chicken stock instead of water, and season with salt, pepper, and oregano to allow the flavors to flow. Once that is done, and the tilapia is almost done, add a handful of spinach to the fish and allow it to cook down quickly. Once its done, you are able to enjoy.

Have fun!
Laurel Lee

Update

Hello Fitness Lovelies,

  I have not been updating this as much as I should have been. Looking at my last post, I can see how far I have, well failed, here is to getting back on my fitness kick. I have lost a total of three pounds, which is not that great, but then again, I have been to a lot of grad parties all through this month, and not eating too great. Today, I decided to get back to it, and for lunch, had only 545 cal in the form of grilled tilapia, stuffed mushrooms, and a salad from my own garden. 

  Tonight I plan on having a grilled porkchop, some rice, and another salad because that lettuce, spinach and cilantro is oh so yummy.

Before I leave, here is a quick recipe for my new favorite dressing for my salads:

2 tbs of Olive Oil
2 tbs of Garlic flavored Vinegar(or white vinegar with an added garlic clove chopped up to be mixed in).
Handful of rough chopped cilantro
Salt and Pepper to taste

Mix it all together and toss in with your veggies.  This stuff is amazing, and typically does not need salt.

Yours Truly,
Laurel Lee

Journey to Being Fit

Hello Lovelies,

   I just wanted to do a quick update on my journey since today marks the loss of one pound. Sure its one out of ten-fifteen but its a start. Yes, I know the body is said to fluctuate about two pounds during the day, but seeing as I weigh myself at the same time everyday, and I try to get my base workout in at the same time everyday, it cuts down on that discrepancy.

Yours Truly,
Laurel Lee

Month 1 Exercise Plan

Hello Lovelies,

     For my first actual post, I figured I would put down what I am doing to achieve my goals. So, lets jump right in.


Days 1,3, and 5
     Bicep curls 3 sets of eight with 10lbs
     Tricep extension  3 sets of eight with 5 lbs
     Overhead Press 3 sets of eight with 10 lbs
     Shoulder Flies 3 sets of eight with 5lbs
     Bench Press 3 sets of eight with 20 lbs
     Bent Over Rows 3 sets of eight with 5 lbs
     Oblique Dips 3 sets of eight with 10 lbs
     Hopskotch 3 sets of four squares
     Ski Jumps 3 sets of four squares
     Stair Jumps 3 sets of five jumps
     Square Agility 3 sets of 4 squares worth
     Shuttles/suicides 3 sets of eight blocks.

Days 2, 4 and 6     4 Way Ankle 4 sets of 10
     Jump for Height 3 sets of 5
     3 Way Lunges 3 sets of five with 10 lbs
     Squats with 10 lbs
     Figure Eights 20 loops
     Crunches 50 front, 25 to left, 25 to right
     Reverse Crunches 25
     Oblique Twists 25
     Bridges 3 sets of 8
     Leg extension/ flexion with band 3 sets of eight
     Four Way Hip Progression 3 sets of 10
     Short Sprints 8 times

That is my current exercise plan with the addition of Yoga 3 times a week, and Softball Specific Exercise 4 times a week.

Yours Truly,
Laurel Lee

Welcome

Hello Lovelies,

    This is my third blog on this site, and this one will be primarily chronicling my journey back to the fit person I once was. I am a college student, majoring in Exercise Science, and well, instead of the freshman fifteen, it was the freshman forty that got me. You have to practice what you preach, and so this is my journey back to the 150lb girl I once was. Plus, this should help my self esteem a bit, and get me back into my softball routine.

     Background Information

•   Age: 20
• Height: 5'6"
• Weight: 185.5 lbs
• Weight at Beginning of College Career: 169, size 12 jean
• Weight at end of Freshman Year: 209, size 16 jean
• Goal Weight 155 lbs, or a size 10 jean
• Body Type: Athletic or at least it was
• College Athletics: Chatham Cougar Pitcher and 3rd Baseman
• Intramurals: Volleyball, Kickball, Flag Football, bowling...

   So, what happened to make me gain the weight you ask? Well besides the fact that the meal hall is an all you can eat buffet, I injured my ankle, and for a year(yes, its been a bit over a year thanks to some doctor screw ups, and mistakes), I ate the same without any exercise. Bad Idea. 

   Here is to weekly posts chronicling my journey.

Yours Truly,
Laurel Lee