Updates on my Fitness-January was much better than December

In December I wrote a list of things that I wanted to accomplish.  I wanted to spend more time in the gym working on my strength and slowly easing back into running.

Here was my list of goals- With brief updates

Bench Press 95lbs  (Earlier this week I did 85lbs for reps)

I'm still hanging out at 85lbs.  I bench press without a spotter.  I could probably go heavier but that is super dangerous without a spotter. I'm going to the gym to lift only about twice a week, However, I am doing a lot more core strength work at home at night and on the weekends.  It sounds silly but, I've been teaching myself to stand on my head.  It really is a great core workout.



Hanging Chin ups.  (I used to be able to do 3-4, but now even one is a struggle)
I can now do two reverse grip hanging chin ups.  YAY!!  In the gym, I have been focusing on lat pull downs with various grips (wide, close, overhand, underhand, etc.)

Increase groin and hip flexibility
At night when I watch TV (if I'm not studying), I will do planks, and stretch my hips, hamstrings, and groin.  Plus, I will do donkey kicks and glute bridges

Increase calf strength
I have been wearing shoes with a slight heel.  I bought a pair of ankle booties, and they have changed my life. lol.

I wear them a couple of times a week, and I forgot how much I enjoy wearing a shoe with a heel. I feel a little sassy, and I like the clicking sound they make when I walk.  They make me two and a half inches taller, and I swear my posture has improved.  And my feet and calves are getting stronger too.

Lose 7-8 lbs. 10-12  (Too much eating and drinking over the summer months ) My goal weight is 122lbs
This will make the chin up goal easier to attain.

I think I may have been lying to myself about how much holiday weight I gained.  My starting weight on Jan 2 was 134lbs. (Damn, I'm only 5 feet tall, so that's a lot for me)... But, after that hard dose of reality. I buckled down and have lost 5lbs my current weight 129lbs.  I still have another 5-7 to go.  But, slow and steady wins the race.   Earlier this month I was wearing my Garmin as an activity tracker to count my steps.  But, then my watch was acting haywire when I would use it for running.  Since the Garmin is my running watch, and I need it for running. I have since stopped using it to count my steps.

Clean up my diet.  Instead of trying to lose weight fast, I'm going to shoot for 1/2 a pound to a pound a week.

Currently, I am using an app to track all of my calories and exercise activities.  The app is called Loseit.  I have given up most junk food, and I'm eating a lot more vegetables.   The first week I lost two pounds and since then it's more like half of a pound a week.

Things are moving in the right direction, and I feel so much more positive than I did in December.  In the next post, I will update you on the running side of things.

Thanks for reading.