I got to the gym about ten this morning, and wasn't particularly motivated to workout, so I chatted a bit with a couple of friends while I went through the motions of stretching out. The grand plan was to work legs today--or to be more specific, quads and calves. (Note: I started splitting my leg workout up since I wasn't really getting the results I was wanting, and also since legs are about 40% of your muscle mass, it seems silly to work them only once a week, so I now do a four day split--Quads and calves, Chest and triceps, Back and hamstrings, Shoulders and biceps.)

I did a couple of warmup sets on the leg extensions, and then went to the squat rack. I've been trying to squat pretty heavy lately since my goal right now is to put as much muscle on as I can, so that when I diet down for the contest next year (yes, I do intend to try again!), I won't look so "stringy". And, since I don't have the genetics to build Big Muscle (nor do I do steroids) I have zero fear of "bulking up." Therefore, Heavy Weights. (Really, too many women avoid weight training in the irrational fear that lifting weights will make them get big muscles. If they only knew how HARD it is to get Big Muscles! If you don't want 'em, chances are you won't get 'em!)

I put a 45lb plate on each side of the olympic bar (most olympic bars are 45lbs, however we have two bars in the gym that are 50lbs, and this happened to be one of them) for a total of 140. Did a warmup set of about ten of those, racked it, asked Robert (bodybuilder/personal trainer/med student who was also working out) if he would give me a spot, and then added a 25lb plate to either side. Total of 190lbs. (Note: my previous best was 205.) My plan was to do 6-8, but somehow Robert goaded me into doing about 12 reps at that weight. Robert's a very good spotter (and squats are especially difficult to spot--you have to know what you're doing!), so I felt comfortable putting another 5lbs on either side. Total 200lbs. I figured I'd do 4-6, but when I hit number 5, Robert said, "Okay, 4 more!" Akkkk... But I did it.

I figured the next set was going to be my last set, so, I pulled the 25 and 5 off, and replaced them with a 35lb plate. (Yeah, I could have just added another 5, but it's a mind game!) Total 210, which would beat my personal best.

And here's where I made my big mistake. As I was settling the bar on my shoulders and getting ready to lift off and step back, I commented to Robert that my goal was to have two 45lb plates on either side by the end of the year. To which he replied, "If you get four with this, we're going to put 2 45s on and see what you do."

I ended up doing 5 with the 210. Off came the 35s and on went another 45.

Total: 230. Managed 3 reps by myself and one with a bit of assistance from Robert. Not too shabby considering that I really wasn't motivated to work out!

I'm going to hurt like blazes tomorrow (it is presently 9pm, and I'm already starting to ache!)

Kelly and I realized a while back that bodybuilders (or weight trainers in general) are kinda sick. Most people, when they do something that causes them to hurt and to be in pain, they say, "I shall not do that [activity] again, because it caused me pain." Bodybuilders, if it makes them hurt, they say, "Cool! I'll do more of those next time!"

Next goal: Bench press 135 (which is the regular olympic bar with 45lbs on each side.) Right now I'm at 105 (4 sets of 4-6.)

I'm supposed to go running in the morning. This may kill me yet!