Wednesday...

Alright, so just a quick little blurb about my day while I'm waiting for Jason to get home from class...


I did my legs workout this morning and here's the scoop:
"LEGS"
2 sets of 12 reps

Step-ups with three lifts added - 20lbs/20lbs/25lbs
Barbell Lunges - 12/15/15
Split Squats - 12/15/15
Sumo Squats - 25/30/35
Exercise Ball Hamstring Curls - 12 reps/12 reps/24 reps

I also did a "Bonus 1 Rep Max" of pullups as suggested by Michael's FitQuest for Legs from last week:

***BONUS 1 REP MAX***



Perform pullups to find your 1 rep max. Choose a resistance (use dip belt or hold dumbbells between your ankles) or assistance so that you perform, to fatigue, 12 or less reps. If you use assistance, remember that the weight you are using on the machine is being subtracted from your body weight. This is the weight you should be using (body weight - assistance weight), not just the assistance weight. Use this link to calculate your one rep max.
 
I did two reps with 30 pounds of assistance weight which puts my 1 Rep Max for pull-ups at 132.5 lbs.
 
No cardio today as I ran 4 miles yesterday and am running 4.5 tomorrow morning. Funny thing is, my arms were just as fatigued - if not more than my legs - when I got done. My forearms kept cramping up on me because of the weight I was holding. Looks like I'm going to have to venture into the meathead room soon and use the barbell to do my step-ups and lunges. Oh boy. Look out gents!


Another thing I want to mention is that I read TWO very good books this week. If you're looking for a good read I reccommend them:

A Marked Man by Stella Cameron (very, very good - I started this on Monday evening and couldn't put it down)

The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz - another very good read


The last thing that's been on my mind today is the whole "veganism" thing. I've done some research today on the benefits of going vegan. While I'm not sure if I can go totally vegan - which would mean giving up wool and honey and silk, I definitely know I can do vegetarian. I'm highly considering eliminating dairy and eggs as well.

I'm abolutely heart-broken at the conditions the poor animals are forced to endure while they are being raised for our consumption. Its horrible. Being an animal lover, I hate to think that I am contributing to the cruelty. The problem with consuming dairy is that they have to breed the cows to get them to make milk - well where do the babies go? They take them from their mothers at just a few hours old and either put them in uber-confined conditions and slaughter them early on for the veal lovers out there or they discard them like trash. How is this fair? What about the momma? What about the baby? The poor little calf is scared to death and the momma is fretting about her baby they just took away. How is that humane?

Sorry, I digress. I just keep seeing all those sad eyes on all those poor animals being mistreated by the "almighty humans".

I suppose the only disclaimer I have to make is this. My father buys livestock at our county fair each year, usually from somebody who is a friend of the family. As a result, we get our portion of the beef and pork FREE from him every year. While I am going to DRASTICALLY reduce and hopefully eliminate my intake of meat - particularly eliminating purchasing any meat/poultry/etc. from the stores - I personally know that these animals were raised on farms in clean and humane conditions.

I feel I would be biting the hand that feeds me if I told my father that I'm going vegetarian after he has willingly given us such a generous gift each year. Also, I'm not making Jason go vegetarian and that boy loves his burgers and steaks. So its not like they'll go to waste, it will just last us longer.

Also, there is a local farmer who sometimes gives us eggs from their chickens that they cannot sell. This particular farmer does not have an "animal factory" with thousands and thousands of chickens that they mistreat. They maybe have 30 and they are not forced to lay eggs unnaturally or live in deplorable conditions. From now on, I think I'll only be comfortable cooking and eating eggs if they're from that particular farmer - however I WILL NOT be buying eggs at the store.

I'm going to be getting some books at the library to read up on switching to a vegan lifestyle. I'm going to make the transition gradually so that we can adapt to the dietary changes. I have some sort of meat with every one of our dinners and I don't want Jason to go into withdrawl on me - I also don't want to force a lifestyle on him that he may not be interested in persuing.

All in all, I'm doing this research and making these decisions based on my goal to eat healthier and less processed foods this year. I've decided that I'm pretty much open to anything. I really don't think its going to be an issue reducing my intake of meats - I've just always included them in our meals because I thought that's what I was "supposed" to do - not because I can't live with out them.

I'll let you know where my research gets me. I'm planning a trip to the library for this friday.

Until then,

Happy and healthy wishes!
-Lacey