Happy Saturday, everyone.

So, we’ve got a brand new hard drive and my trusty desk top is back and functional once again. Still working on re-installing a bunch of software, so the next few posts may be a bit skimpy on the photos. But, I promise to do my best.

In my last post I referenced a new purchase:

I’ve been an avid runner for a few years, but have always felt like my strenth training has been pretty spotty and half-hearted at best. What I’ve really been missing is a straight forward plan that doesn’t feel too time-consuming. I’ve also need more information as most of my knowledge around lifting has been anecdotal or come from articles in women’s magazines.

“New Rules” contains a lot of information, but the basic premise is that weight lifting for women is not all the different from weight lifting for men – what’s good for the goose is good for the gander, and those pastel pink 2-pound weights aren’t going to get you anywhere. It covers a lot of basic information around strenth-training and nutrition, has photos and descriptions of every strength training move it recommends, and includes 6 months worth of training plans, right down to the move, number of reps, sets and the sequence of moves.

I’m finding the workout outlines to be really helpful. And, surprisingly, the first couple workouts have taken me under 45 minutes at the gym, as they only include about 5 different exercises.

One thing in “New Rules” that I’m not really down with is the suggestion to use protein shakes after each workout. This goes against the idea of incorporating mainly whole foods into one’s diet, which is the nutrition advice that rings most true with me. Protein shakes seem unnatural – why can’t I just make sure to eat some peanut butter or scrambled eggs after I lift? But, I’m admittedly new to lifting, so if anyone has a different view point on this, I’d love to hear it.

Today was my second workout. It took me about 40 minutes and, even though it included zero cardio, I was sweating buckets by the time I left the gym. I think because I was really challenging myself. There’s a huge difference between using dumbells and barbells (I’d never used one before and felt like a totall badass!) instead of the sit-down nautilus machines. You really need to work your core to maintain balance and proper form, which only adds to the work out.

Tomorrow is a long run for me. The idea of 13-14 miles is made slightly more appetizing with a 2nd recent purchase – new running shoes!

I’ve actually had these exact shoes- Asics GT 2140- before, so they’re not new to me – just a new pair, as my current pair (Sauconys) were a bit worn down and my joints were starting to ache more than usual.  Every runner should be properly fitted for running shoes, but if you’re curious here’s a review of these particular shoes.

I’m off to freshen up and head out to a dinner party. Have a great night, everyone.

-Phoebe

Filed under: Running, exercise