Ahhh – less humid today! Felt good to step outside this morning when I headed to the gym. This is a fountain that I pass to and from the gym. I really only get this close to it on the way home, which is a nice treat after working out.
I ran a mile on the treadmill for a warmup.
| Exercise | Set/rep/weight | Muscle worked |
| Barbell split squat | 3 sets of 10 with 55# bar | Lower body |
| Dumbbell 2-point row | 3 set of 8 with at 25# DBs (50# total) | Back |
| Lying leg press | 3 sets of 10 at 100# | Lower body |
| Barbell Chest Press | 3 sets of 8 at 55# | Chest |
| Reverse crunches | 3 sets of 15 | Abs |
| Lateral Raise | 3 sets of 10 with 8# DBs (16# total) | Shoulders |
| Good mornings | 3 sets of 10 with 35# bar | Low back and hammies |
| Overhead french press | 3 sets of 10 with 10# DBs (20# total) | Triceps |
I was going to run a little more, but then changed my mind and just biked home as my tummy was growling. My snack didn’t last very long.
I was craving nut butter today, so I made banana custard cream of wheat and topped with some cinnamon PB I made the other day and some homemade strawberry jam.
Very, very tasty.
Lifting Move of the Week: The barbell chest press! You can do this with dumbbells or a barbell. It’s actually easier to do 55# with the barbell than using two 25# DBs, at least for me. I keep my feet up on the bench as I do with most lying bench workouts because I am short. If I place my feet on the floor, then my lower back arches. If you are taller , you can put your feet on the floor. Keep your abs in and don’t lock your elbows at the top.
Note, this is one exercise where I don’t go much heavier than 65# as I don’t usually have a spotter (using 55# in the video). This is really a classic move to build the chest muscles. Ladies – building up your chest will really give you some ‘youth’, if you know what I mean. Good underlying muscular structure makes things appear higher. 
Lunch time! I made a quick lunch today. Just a standard tuna salad with lemon pepper on top.
Wheat Thins Fiber Select crackers. These are quite good!
I think I am close to going down to part time with job #1. It’s starting to wear on me a bit. I noticed I have been saying that more and more, so it is about time to let part of that safety net go.
Snack time! 
I’m not in a rut or anything, am I? 
Not as humid today, but it is still hot! I let the latte sit for a while before consuming.
Dinner time included an open face BBQ chicken sammie with laughing cow.
Standard brussels. I just shred and sautee in a tsp of coconut oil with salt and pepper. It only takes 5 or 6 minutes to cook them this way and they get some crispy brown bits on them. Mmmmm…. caramelization….
I have to say that I am doing really well on not snacking while cooking anymore. I still use the altoids, but not as often. I think I might have broken that habit. Now must keep it broken.
Took a break to water the garden and write this post, then it is back to work again.
Can’t wait for biking for bagel day tomorrow!
Good job on kicking the afternoon snacking! It’s so hard – something about those hours conjure up the munchies!
You always make brussels look so good
.-= Marisa @ Loser for Life´s last blog ..Best Vacation =-.
Thanks for the video! The barbells at my gym are HUGE so I’m totally intimidated with doing the bench press. I need to work up to it!
.-= Run Sarah´s last blog ..Boring =-.
Thanks for the video. You are in an afternoon snack rut….but since it is chocolate, I would just continue on.
.-= Kimberley´s last blog ..Dangerous Liaisons =-.
Loved the video! And sure, I’ll gladly take a little more “youth” in that department! LOL!
Mmmm, dark chocolate! I was at Whole Foods today and found some mint Attune bars; I’m looking forward to trying them. Sadly, they were out of the dark chocolate raspberry.
.-= Pubsgal´s last blog ..Weekly Update- 8-4-10 =-.
I *wondered* why you put your feet on the bench for some of your lifts. It makes so much sense.
Kudos on kicking the pre-dinner snacking! Buh-bye bad habit!
.-= Cammy@TippyToeDiet´s last blog ..113- The Power of Community =-.
Great form on that bench press. I haven’t done it that much, and when I did (when I was training with Vicky) it was hard for me to balance the bar. I think my right arm is weaker than my left arm.
And you are looking unbelievably slim these days Lori.
.-= debby´s last blog ..This ‘n That =-.
Debby – you don’t know how happy that made me to hear that. I was feeling a little … thick… so I appreciate your comment. LOL.
Regarding the balance with the arms, that is why working with free weights is so much better than a machine because you are forced to equal the balance with your muscles and not have a machine help you.
Dive in Lori, you can swim and quit job #1.
I love your form doing that workout. I usually use the chest press machine at the gym for this exercise.
I keep finding it weird, posting this it’s 3.49 am and you’re still in bed
Here it’s 9.50 am and I’m already at work for the last 2 hours.
Great workout Lori!
If the job is wearing on you, you know what to do.
.-= April´s last blog ..I’m on fire! =-.
Heat is tough. Humidity is tough. Both together are terrible. Thankfully one of the two left you alone yesterday.
I’m going to start working on that move. I could use a little “youth” in that area.
.-= MB´s last blog ..All My Challenges =-.
We are so in tune! I always put my feet on the bench too cause I am so short OR for extra credit take them off like you are doing a cruch with them bent & lower half parallel to the ground. Makes ya work harder & core too! AND, I did barbell chect presses too this week although I do prefer dumbbells for me. I did both in my chest workout this week.
Now, that cinnamon PB sounds YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I bet some people wanted to jump in that fountain during the heat!
.-= Jody – Fit at 52´s last blog ..Goal Setting =-.
Oooo – lifting the legs sounds like a killer variation on that!
We did those barbell chest presses in the gym yesterday – 50 of them. And then went on to tricep dips, indo board push ups, barbell curls…50 of each. Killed me. I think I know what I’m going to do now – thank you so much for your email response to my question.
.-= Shelley B´s last blog ..Wednesday Workout Update =-.
I’m so impressed that you’ve conquered that snacking habit. That’s hard to do! Afternoon snacking is a tough one for me as well.
Great video. I love chest presses, though I mostly do them with dumbbells these days.
.-= Desert Agave´s last blog ..First Day Back Home =-.
Open faced sammies have been my new favorite thing lately. I love the comment on your video about putting your legs on the bench because you’re short – so cute!
.-= Beth @ Beth’s Journey to Thin´s last blog ..Nats! =-.
Great video – liked the added comments and the music. I used your recipe for apple/cranberry topping on my French toast this morning. It tasted like apple pie!
.-= Tina @ Gotta Run Now´s last blog ..Zoes Treats =-.
Ugh, barbells. What a workout! I do my dumbells still. Or I cheat and just press with predominantly my right side.
Love that video! Look at you all slim, trim, and buff. Wow lady! I’m going to work up to posting my “pre” weight loss pics some day.
Ever jump in the fountain to cool off? I should have instituted biking for something…have a tri Sunday and haven’t biked since the last one