Fit with Ruthie

Our internet will go down this afternoon and it will probably be a week without service! AHH! I will be at the Library friday so I will def. post then.. I am off now to complete my workout chest 3 sets of 15 shoulders 3 sets of 15 tris. same :) just consider it done .. if I dont complete it I will come back and modify this post :) happy workout! Blessings R UPDATE: WORKOUT COMPLETE! Chest: Push ups Mens.. 3 sets of 10 Shoulders: over the head press 3 sets of 15 Tris: Tri Extensions 3 sets of 15 Feels great to have it done! --heres the photos : I realized yesterday that I have pictures that are a year apart.. The black and whites are from my first attempt in jan of 06 to start and finish a challenge (I failed) the colored shots are from this week. What a difference a year makes!

Woke up Made breakfast for the fam got on the treadmill. 30 minutes 2.23 miles sore from workout yesterday stretched abs later library, grocery store and school for now. How bout you? blessings ruthie

I have really been struggling. I have been just trying to figure out why. So.. while I was lifting weights tonight I was thinking. What am I doing differently NOW that I did or didnt do when I was so motivated. Heres what I figured out: #1 Motivator: PICTURES Yes. Pictures are my NUMBER ONE motivator. More importantly.. the Motivation that comes when those pictures will be seen by others. Its positive pressure and it works for ME. I took off my pictures when I started this challenge.. I had decided that I was focusing too much on the past. I was focusing on where I had come from more than where I was going. Now that I havent looked at my pictures in a month (seriously) my motivation had left me. I think the reason for this is I could no longer see reality.. or the past. I need to see both to focus on the future. So .. with that said.. I have put my progress pictures back on the side bar and I will start taking progress pictures every two weeks. It might be embarasing, or even seem immo...

2.25ish miles around campus with puppy again this morning. Was a great run a bit of a cold wind but nothing two layers of clothes, a cap, and a hood couldnt handle. :)---I feel like I am back in the grove.. three days in a row of great workouts and two of those in the AM! My goal next week.. get all my workouts completed before school starts. I am REALLY sore from yesterdays workout! My back from push ups i guess... and my legs.. ugh.. deadlifts got me.. I guess the three sets of 15 ARE working. It does feel good to be so sore though.. like I really worked hard :) Today I plan to do a bit of cleaning and spend the majority of the day working on art projects .. that need to be finished yesterday. Free day today on eats. :) We might get olive garden carryout.. we'll see :) blessings r

YIPEE! feels so good.. got up made breakfast for DH and DC (dear children) drank a glass of water brought in three sets of weights did my workout in the living room feels GREAT! Heres what I did legs: squats three sets of 15 legs: deadlifts three sets of 15 back: bent over rows (double arm) three sets of 15 back/arms/chest: "boys" pushups two sets of 15 (with about a 10 sec break in between) biceps: hammer curls three sets of 15. now I am off to get ready for the day.. I have thirty minutes before school starts :) {its spose to be in the 60s here today so I might just have to go for a long walk with puppy this afternoon.. we'll see) See Post below.. if you havent already. cute puppy down there :) "You would fain be victor at the Olympic games, you say. Yes, but weigh the conditions, weigh the consequences; then and then only, lay to your hand-if it be for your profit. You must live by rule, submit to diet, abstain from dainty meats, exercise your body perforce at sta...

So if you have issues with not wanting to run.. with not wanting to push yourself on your run.. or to just get out of the door to exercise.. get yourself a puppy. A puppy that LOVES to run that is! (picture with pink hat.. me without makeup and just after our run together) I didnt get my run in until 5 today but it was GREAT! Beautiful outside and NO wind! perfect. I ran the majority of the 2.25 miles around campus.. with the help of Sulin pushing me along. She was a great partner.. everytime I would stop and walk she would look up and say.. "hey.. come on .. this is fun.. lets run some more!".. it was GREAT I really need to get this done in the AM.. .. will do that on Saturday. better go.. DH wants to watch a movie.. blessings r

Yep.. I did it.. just finished.. 9:19pm.. but it was done. heres what I did.. Since I missed a upper-body earlier I decided to just do upper body today and the three Bs friday.. so.. Chests: Bench Press on the smith- three sets of 15 at 65lbs Shoulders: Press (above the head two arms) three sets of 15 8lbs Tris: Tri pulldowns on the smith.. three sets of 15 20lbs. The weights dont sound like much but I did it slow and stedy.. with shorter breaks in between.. My muscles where burning before I finished my second set. I know Josha has asked about the thinking behind the three sets of 15 with a bit lighter weight.. I asked the DH about it tonight and he said that is what body builders did after they added all the muscle they wanted they would do the three sets of 15 ... said it helps them get "cut".. I guess it uses the muscles differently or something.. duno.. will have to research it. :) I was going to post a pic but my camera batteries went out.. maybe tomorrow.. DH is wanting...

OK.. well two days off in the row is all I am allowed.. no passing go.. no collecting 200.00 if I dont workout today :) So I will do the 3 Bs today.. at 4. will post afterward. Mulling over a Valentines Mini Challenge.. will post that later too.. More after 4 Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breath more; talk less, say more, and all good things will be yours.-Swedish proverb

What did I do today you ask? ironed clothes folded clothes homeschooled the kids (see the HS blog for that list) went to the library went to the grocery store cleaned out the linen closet cleaned up dog poop off the carpet and deep cleaned the carpet cleaned out the cats litter box cooked -fixed 5 meals washed clothes cleaned the kitchen three times washed the sheets and put them back on took the dog outside to potty played with the dog while cleaning listened to a sermon by rick atchley while doing dishes put chicken in the crock pot to cook read out of my well trained mind book clipped coupons checked the mail and email posted on my hs blog took out the trash talked on the phone signed some paperwork gathered extra beads for DD to use hugged my kids, DH, the dog and the cat :) What I didnt do today: work out. WHY? .. no good reason.. What am I going to do about it? after my run in the AM I will do ab work.. then tomorrow afternoon I will do lifting.. Feels good to have the linen clos...

Just finished a walk-jog around campus with Cat and the Pup. We had a great time.. it was a bit chilly and I was a bit underdressed.. but once I was running I was fine.. I ran the Admin stairs in honor of Josha and Sarah! Went up and down 6 times.. running up and walking down.. then afterward I did a shadow dance to Superchick who where playing in my ear. Cat... who was at the top of the stairs with the pup thought is was funny and started doing the "walk like the egyptian" dance.. goodness she is so fun. :) I must say for all the trouble the pup is .. she is a great runnig partner.. I cant wait until this summer.. I can see going twice a day when it warms up! I think superchick is going to be my newest favorite. I LOVE the song.. "its on"! Esp.. this part: And the view will never change Unless you decide to change it Don't feel like it today Just show up anyway And though life will take you down It only matters if you let it Get up, go through, press on Today...

Second Try to post.. wish me luck :) Ok..just finished the three Bxs:} Back- Lat pull downs three sets of 15 Bis- curls with preacher bench three sets of 15 Booty (and legs) .. quads: leg extension on the LEM (Leg extension machine) three sets of 15 Hamstrings: leg Curls on the LEM. threes set.. (of you guest it).. 15 and just for FUN.. FROG JUMPS.. 15. I am so glad I did this in the AM before breakfast but it sure was cold in the gym this morning! But by the time I got warmed up it felt like it was atleast 50 degrees in there! :) A wanted to post a bit about my eats for this past week. I did pretty well. But I do want to get back to tracking my eats better. The only "bad" things I had this week were on Thur and Fri.. (Thursday some cheery sours-8of them) and (Friday.. a hand full of dark chocolate chips). I am proud of the fact that I have had not been tempted by cokes, chips, or other junk .. I think I am back to rea...

Well I planned to be working out at 4 today.. but the kids and I have been having a cleaning party. They cleaned my room (under my bed and in my closet) and I am cleaning theirs (still).. I decided to do something I have been "threatening" to do for a long time.. I bagged up alllll the toys except for Legos, Lincoln logs, marble works, a few "weapons" and Tinker Toys. Everything else I put in plastic boxes to put in the garage.. OR threw away.. It feels good but at this point still a bit overwhelming.. I must trudge on .. I see the light at the end.. So.. all that to say that I will workout as soon as I am done with the room and or after I eat.. it might not be until 8 or 9 tonight but I will get it in.. I plan on doing the following: Squats and frog jumps bicep curls and lat pull downs more later r

(I wrote this last night.. update is below :) OK.. so I didnt run yesterday and I didnt lift weights today! Its not going to kill me I know but it sure doesnt feel right. With my new schedule the last two weeks .. it just hasnt been "easy" getting it all in. So starting tomorrow.. I will be on the treadmill no later than 715am. then dressed and ready for the day by 8am. I am tired of stressing over.. trying to carve out time for, and constantly thinking of when I will workout. The cold weather is driving me NUTS>. Its so fridged out side and the roads so bad that we have only been out of the house?backyard ONCE in almost a week.. and another cold front is coming! snow and ice Thur and Fri and not over freezing until like monday! Uhg.. if I wanted this kind of weather I would move to Colorado! :) People here have no idea how to handle this weather.. thats why I stay home and off the roads! :) OK.. so I am done with complaining.. heres the plan 1. got to bed before 1030 toni...

Just completed the Three Bs. Bottom, Back, and Biceps. Squats, lat pull downs and curls. My arms are trembling and my legs are like jello so I think I did pretty well. I did take it easy on my back but completed 12.10.8.6 ... I still dont feel 100% with my back so I want to work back into it easy so I dont hurt myself. :) It was pretty cold in the "gym" today but it wasn't too bad with four layers on :) Plus nothing gets you warmed up like squats! My eats were good today.. I had to alter it a bit from the menu because I used some things this weekend I needed to save for today..(because of the weather I didnt want to get out to the store).. Heres my eats for today: Meal 1--oreo protein shake meal 2--meat/speg sauce/bread with garlic meal 3-- peanut butter on toast with tea meal 4--oven baked chicken, green beans, sweet tato, tea meal 5--banana shake (before bed) DH his still going strong! lifted weights with me tonight.. and if he hadnt been working out I dont think I wou...

Yes.. it was summer when I ran today.. actually it was about 630 in the morning.. about 80 degrees outside and beautiful! The jog around campus was amazing! ... OF course this is all in my mind! I just got off the treadmill and I feel GREAT! I did 5 HIITS all at 10mph .. the best was in the middle.. lasting 28 secs! I will break thirty seconds before long :) .. It is absolutely amazing to me how much better I feel after a run. I feel awake! I feel full of energy! I feel like I could run another 5 miles! AHHH running is just the best! Today was a bit of a lazy day here ... I worked on my art most of the day and watched the icy form outside! .. it feels so good right now to be drenched in sweat since I have been cold ALLL day long! My free meals are over as of right now.. I will have taco stew with tea tonight and a banana shake before bed. Tomorrow its back to the menu! I feel like I am making some progress.. putting on some muscle... I hope to keep adding to it so I can be a lean mom t...

Well.. I missed my weights workout yesterday. No excuses here.. I just didnt do it. My DH got up this morning and did cardio.. ME? well I didnt feel like it.. so I sat and watched tv and the ice forming on the ground and trees outside :) The rest of the day was filled with free meals.. Fried Chicken (homemade) with gravy and mashed potatoes... Chex mix (too much) and Lucky Charms (ugh).. and then for supper tonight.. Bacon Eggs and Pancakes! with a few cokes thrown in between it was a day filled with low nutrient foods.. and I know I will have two prices to pay.. 1 a tummy ache that is probably going to hit me at 2 am and 2. ZERO energy level allllll day. I actually took a nap! (WHAT!?).. .. But dont think I have given up... I waited about an hour after pancakes and did my weight lifting I missed yesterday. I believe that a missed cardio workout is better than a missed weight lifting workout. I just finished.. Heres what I did: Chest> Bench press on the free bar bell ..not the smit...

I actually slept for 6 hours straight last night! woke up at 730 felling GREAT! I bundled up and got the puppy and went for a 2 mile walk.. but mostly jog and run around campus .. its about 2.25 miles i figure.. The pup did GREAT she is going to be such a great running partner! she actually pushed me this morning to run faster on the home stretch! She wanted to see the kids I think! After the run I did ab work... crunches were you bring your knees to your chest .. did 2 sets of 25 .. then 10 hip-ups.. then 1 set of 25 reg crunches.. then a few more hip-ups.. till I was burnin! I felt so great after my run outside.. I miss the runs around campus.. cant wait for spring! I also feel great that I have my run, breakfast, bath and the dog exercised before 10 am.. I dont have to think "I have to do this or that so i can run this afternoon.." .. its just done! .. Well.. My time is up.. the kids are almost finished with their math book pages and I need to go do flash card drills with ...

Well. its 1024 and I am just now having time to post. With my new schooling schedule plus house work, plus working out things just go by so quickly in the day. I DID do my workout.. at 4:15 today but it was cut a little short by a phone call from my mom. Heres what I did Squats: 15.12.10.8 (I took it easy on the weight cause of my back problems from last week.. I didnt want to risk hurting, pulling anything out of whack with improper form) Frog Jumps (in Joshas honor).. I did 2 sets of 15.. I usually do leg extensions and leg curls but I decided not to.. since I missed my leg workout last week on friday and its been quite a while since I had a really hard leg workout.. ... PLUS .. I DO want to at-least be able to walk tomorrow.. and with those frog jumps.. who knows!) Back: I did bent over flies .. 2 of 12 sets with 10lbs each hand and then I did lat pull downs.. 2 sets of 12 with 20lbs on the smith.. This was a LOT lower weight than I am use too but I REALLY dont want to have my bac...

well had to get up every 2 hours last night with the puppy.. she had a tummy ache.. took her to the vet today and he thinks she just ate some people food that really upset her tummy.(I think she got something saturday night).. gave me two meds and bland food to give her.. I tell you this is like having a baby again! MS (middle son) woke me up at 420 this morning saying he was cold.. I dont understand why he wont wear pajamas! tonight he has NO choice! all this to say I am completely exhausted and have not done cardio yet. I woke up to DH running on the treadmill this morning and I started school/vet and never got it done.... I plan on taking the pup for a walk in about an hour ( after supper in my tummy settles.. yes after dark) and will count that as my cardio.. if she feels like running then i will run.. if not I will just walk. Trying to remember its about habit! not perfection here! I am pretty happy with myself the last two days.. I have eaten completely on program and have been...

got my workout complete (IF YOU HAVENT READ MY SCHEDULING POST PLEASE DO AFTER THIS ONE) :) chest I did press and was surprised i went up to 30lbs in each hand on my set of six.. but instead of doing six i could actually do 10! woo hoo.. those two weeks off seems to have helped my strength level! I also did shoulders and tris.. My arms are jello again! not sure what flavor though :) ok.. thats it for now.. I am off to do the grocery shopping i didnt do yesterday and run to the library.. more tomorrow! OH.. eats are still on track.. so far to day I have been perfect! yipee!

ok.. I just had to post and let you know that I have made progress in another area this week. Last week it was all about making a scheduled eating menu.. this week it was all about home-schooling. Last semester has been a bit of a hap hazard home-schooling semester.. Never getting in to a good routine.. although I tried several times it never stuck. So this morning I sat with the kids and we came up with our schedule. Today it worked out great! We did have to adjust it a bit because we had friends come over to play but I am so looking forward to tomorrow! I decided I should share my planned schedule so you can see: Wake up 7:30 make beds get dressed eat breakfast brush teeth walk su feed su --------9:00 Start school------- 9.00 Bible reading, scripture memory and prayers (kids will take turns praying.. I will also alternate who reads from the Bible to us as a group) 9:45 Math (working in book individually and then flash cards/games) 10:45 Memory work (states and capitols song, nations ...

Well.. yesterday 3pm to today noon was my free day time.. but i actually floated a little bit and just had my last free meal of the week a few minutes ago. I will post my eats on the side bar in a few minutes. My back seems better today.. and is even staying ok after I wore my TALL boots to church this morning :) .. I was getting a bit tight after sitting for a while working on my art . .. I took the dog for a "walk" but we ended up running the majority of it! It was fun running with her.. and I am so ready for warmer weather so we can go early in the morning without having to be all bundled up! I am looking forward to next week.. .. hoping my back stays good and I can stay clean on eats. My goal for next week is to not miss a workout.. (since i had a miss this week) and to eat clean and make good choices.. plus waterwater water. I am ready to feel like I am making some progress instead of feeling like I am making up for lost time.. my goal is by the end of the month to be b...

oh my back was hurting this morning when i got up and i thought OH NO! .. should have gone to the dr. but I got up and stretched, took some advil and actually got a workout in on the mill.. I feel much better! On the treadmill I walked and warmed up then just did jogging with speeds between 6.0 and 8.0 with on Hiit at 10.0 .. after my 20 min I stretched and did abs.. I did 25 knee to elbow crunches and then straight into 10 hip ups.. then repeated it.. I think some of my back issues might be helped if i started up my ab work again! .. so far so good today is FREE day.. looking forward to it.. I have been happy with this past week.. with the one missed workout because of my back and my eats staying very close to on track.. I am looking forward to next week. :) blessings i am off to get ready for a party :) r

Well.. I remember a few months ago reading Angell blog about her shoulder problem she had.. I remember feeling so sad for her.. and of course worried ... I knew I could never feel her pain for her though.. until yesterday.. WEll .. not exactly shoulder pain but close. I was going along my day fine.. completely fine when... while working on a large canvas.. I was kneeling down and just ... I guess.. turned the WRONG way. Sharp shooting pain on the left side of my middle back .. I couldnt move! .. fast forward to this morning.. I sit down with phone and phone book in hand to call my dr.. as I had had a HORRIBLE painful night.. when POP POP POP .. all of the sudden my middle back popped! .. Amazingly I felt much better .. although still have tightness in my back.. so I decided not to call the dr. I am not back to normal.. so I will NOT workout today.. .. ;( So.. in a strange way.. I thought of Angells pain.. all those months ago.. and I was encouraged by her to know that even if I had to...

I started the week having sore legs.. I guess I will end the week being sore from head to toe! I was so stiff and tight this morning that I sure didnt think i would do very well on the treadmill .. but after I got warmed up and stretched a bit I started feeling great. I did 6 hiits.. the first being only a 8.9mph the middle ones were 10mph and the last.. well I decided to see if I could handle all the treadmill could dish out.. so.. 10mph at the highest incline (15%).. of course I only lasted 20 secs.. but that was longer than I expected! hehe.. After the cardio the kids and took the puppy for about a mile walk .. she really is gong to have be walked atleast twice a day for her to be happy.. so I will go again tonight.. about 8:30 and take her again. OK.. thats all for now . I have housework galore (its getting to be overwhelming again.. but what can i do but keep trying), then schoolwork.. etc.. hope my BFL sisters are still staying strong! blessings! r

I just completed my upper body workout, by that I mean chest, shoulders and tris. Heres the specifics: Chest: Flies 12-10lbs, 10-15lbs, 8-20lbs, 6-25lbs, burnouts press 24-20lbs Shoulders: straight arm seated flies 12.10.8. all with 10lbs 6-15lbs burnouts over the head press 24-20lbs Tris: laying extensions 12.10lbs 10-15lbs, 8-20lbs 6-25lbs burnouts 24 over the head extensions 24-20lbs MY ARMS ARE JELLO! Eats have gone good today.. check out the "menu and actual menu" for my "actual eats post" in a few minutes. OK.. so now for my goals for this challenge: 1. To not be satisfied unless I make progress. PROGRESS. By progress I mean in all areas of my life, in the challenge, to make sure I am making progress every week in my physique, eats, and habits. I life in general, to make sure I am making progress in my art, housework, and homeschooling. Sort word for this goal-PROGRESS 2. To have a specific amount of inches come off my body as listed below. By the end of my ch...

Well.. as most of you would have figured out.. 6am came and went with us still asleep. We failed to get to bed at a decent hour... BUT.. cardio was finished before 930 this morning! heres what I did: Treadmill 1.50 miles 5 HIITS the first at 8.9, the middle three at 10mph and the last at 8.9mph but with a large uphill incline. The run felt so good. The best workout I have had in weeks! My eats so far today are good.. I have had only water today.. and at a meal of eggs, toast, and a small orange with water. Its a bit off from my menu but I only had enough oatmeal for my DH. I just got home from the grocery store and it feels so good to have the shopping for the week finished. I did change a few things... like getting part chicken thighs and part chicken breasts... to cut down on cost... I also got some fish (talapia-sp?) for DH and myself and will cook some frozen fish I have from last week for the kids.... I plan on cooking chicken today in the oven and crock pot to have it cooked fo...

Here is the menu I worked so hard on.. one thing about having a new puppy.. they get into things just like 18 month old babies do.. so.. as you can see Sue took a real bite out of my menu!.. (I will post a "blog" typed copy on the side bar later) The treadmill on the left is the new addition.. The old treadmill.. that we have had for years.. is going to be brought INSIDE today! .. YIPEE! This is the 10.00 weight bench we got at a garage sale .. I LOVE it! My Theme for this challenge: "PROGRESS" Theme song: "ITS ON" is a new favorite song from Superchick: . "It all comes down to this You take your best shot, might miss You take it anyway You're gonna make your move today Got the will, you'll find the way To change the world some day Grab this moment before it's gone Today's your day It's on and on Today's your day So c'mon bring it on And the view will never change Unless you decide to change it Don't feel like it today...