Today is JAM-PACKED with festivities so I had to set my alarm clock (on a Saturday?!) to get a jump on the day bright and early. I ate a banana on the way to the gym, excited and nervous for my first weight lifting session in a couple of months!

Since swimming seemed to go okay, I decided to test my exercising limits and see how some strength training would go (hoping that it didn’t cause any swelling). I got to the Rec Center Gym at 8:30am, disappointed find that it didn’t open for another half hour… Impromptu walk time! I made a couple laps around upper campus, returning at 9 to a DEAD gym:

Why so empty? 9am is a lonely time to workout in college.

The 30 minute walk had me nice and warmed up so I hit the weight racks and proceeded to pick out my wimpy dumbbells.

Macho Macho!

The last time I had any sort of strength training workout was early July, before New York. My dad calls me “olive oil” for my not-so-muscular upper body, and I was afraid I’d lost any progress I’d made in the gym for the last 2 years! So I opted for a light set of weights, primary 5 lbs but I did use these hefty 3-pounders for shoulder raises ;) It took me all of about 20 seconds of lifting to remember why I love working out so much. Even though I wasn’t sweating or struggling, it’s SO motivating to get in some quality exercise at the start of your day, making progress and challenging yourself.  I wanted to wake my whole body back up today so I didn’t stick to one muscle group like usual; instead I alternated between upper body and lower body:  (3 sets of 12 reps each)

• Alternating between: Bicep Curls / Overhead Tricep dips
• 12 Forward lunges
• 12 Backward lunges
• Alternating between: Lateral Arm Raises / Shoulder Press
• 12 Forward Lunges
• 12 Backward Lunges
• Alternating between: Shoulder Raises / Single-Arm Standing Row
• 12 Forward Lunges
• 12 Backward Lunges
• Alternating between: Torso twist w/ weights / chest press
• 12 regular squats / 30 calf raises / 12 regular squats / 30 calf raises
• 3 x 12 glute lifts
• End with 15 minutes stretching

The reason I alternate between two exercises is so I don’t have to waste time “resting” in between sets. I can work my biceps, let them rest while I work my triceps and so on. I’m constantly working, constantly using some muscle group but giving the individual muscle its rest. It works out well and combines strength with endurance! I was able to complete the whole thing in 35 minutes and get back to my room for the busy busy day ahead!