Weight lifting!

The scale hasn't been very nice to me lately, despite me eating *completely* clean and within budget... and exercising like a queen... I lose like 1/2lb here and there. So I had to get my measuring tape out and see what's really going on.. .. and things are happening!

• Stomach jan 3rd: 110cm / 43.3 inches
• Stomach now: 105cm / 41.3 inches
• Hips jan 3rd: 136cm / 53.5 inches
• Hips now: 130cm / 51.2 inches
• Thighs jan 3rd: 81cm / 31.8 inches
• Thighs now: 77cm / 30.3 inches
• Chest jan 3rd: 102cm / 40.1 inches
• Chest now: 98cm / 38.5 inches

That's a total loss of 19cm /  7.5 inches since January 3rd! I'm very happy with that!

At the gym .... ;)

And as the post title says : weight lifting is in the air these days! I've started a brand new program, in fact, I've turned to a brand new page in my book entirely. I've started lifting free weights, and I am loving it. It's the most fun I've had in training since this weight loss journey started back in 2011! Surprisingly I've found that I do actually have some muscles, and I managed to do some PRs today! First, let me share my routine with you (parenthesis is optional and based on the day to day energy levels really):

1. Barbell squats
2. Barbell bench press
3. Barbell dead lift
4. Lat cable pulldown
5. (Seated cable row)
6. Standing military press (OHP)
7. (Dumbell lunges)
8. (Back extensions)
9. (Plank)

Lifting!

Ready!

That's basically it! And I feel like I've started really well. It's hard to say what my max lifting weight is, as I'm still working mostly on technique, but I'm off to a decent start I think. This was today's workout: (copied from the BRILLIANT Fitocracy.com /app - which I absolutely love)

• Barbell Squat:
  • 20 kg x 8 reps (+52 pts)
  • 40 kg x 8 reps (+71 pts)
  • 50 kg x 8 reps (+82 pts)
  • 52.5 kg x 6 reps (+80 pts)
  • 55 kg x 5 reps (+78 pts)
  • 60 kg x 3 reps (+67 pts)  132lb
• Barbell Bench Press:
  • 20 kg x 12 reps (+56 pts)
  • 30 kg x 8 reps (+61 pts)
  • 35 kg x 6 reps (+61 pts) 77lb
  • 35 kg x 4 reps (+53 pts)
  • 30 kg x 6 reps (+57 pts)
  • 30 kg x 4 reps (+49 pts)
• Barbell Deadlift:
  • 40 kg x 8 reps (+71 pts)
  • 40 kg x 8 reps (+71 pts)
  • 60 kg x 6 reps (+89 pts)
  • 60 kg x 6 reps (+89 pts)
  • 60 kg x 6 reps (+89 pts)
  • 70 kg x 3 reps (+78 pts) 155lb
  • 70 kg x 2 reps (+66 pts)
• Lat Pulldown:
  • 34 kg x 12 reps (+26 pts)
  • 43 kg x 10 reps (+28 pts)
  • 52 kg x 8 reps (+31 pts)
  • 61 kg x 6 reps (+34 pts) 134lb
  • 52 kg x 8 reps (+31 pts)
• Seated Cable Row:
  • 20 kg x 10 reps (+29 pts)
  • 27 kg x 8 reps (+31 pts)
  • 34 kg x 6 reps (+32 pts)
  • Bad elbow
• Standing Military Press:
  • 7.5 kg x 12 reps (+70 pts)
  • 17.5 kg x 10 reps (+79 pts)
  • 27.5 kg x 5 reps (+78 pts) 60lb

The points are just a part of the Fitocracy point system, you basically level up by working out. It's really cute. :) The green+bold parts are my new PRs from today! I've added the lbs to those for my American friends!

And now, let me finish off with my recent eats!

Omelet with bacon!

Scrambled eggs, melon, ham and bacon!

Chicken, some pasta and vegetables!

Chicken BLT!

Any other bloggers lifting weights I'd love to come check you out!

My new life

Sorry again for the long pause.. With everything that has been doing on in my life I haven't had time, or desire, to come here and write. I now live alone, and things are going well so far. We're still friends, and will remain friends I hope!

Just a brief sign of life today, I'll come back properly soon. This is, however, how April has started:

Hope you are ALL well!!

Bergen, Norway is waiting for your visit!

Firstly, let me say this ....I've said it before, but I really have to say it again.. the level of support I get from you guys is humbling. I write this blog for me, but having people out there that genuinely care about how I'm doing .. that gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. This is hands down the hardest thing I've ever gone through, but I've received so much support and love from both expected and unexpected places. It means the world.

I'm happy that I haven't let my exercise and eating habits go during this .. that says a lot. In the past I would have run for the fridge.. I would find comfort in an ice cream bucket and with burgers&fries. Now, I've found it in the gym, the woods and in the mountains. How amazing is that? However, I battle a lot of fears.. Stupid thoughts like, will I ever really be okay? Is there true love for me out there? Getting divorced is a massive blow to my self-esteem, and I don't know how to rebuild it. I honestly don't know. I know I will get through this, but I also know that there will be scars from it all .. just not sure how big they will be yet. Time will tell though, and like I've said so many times .... I just go one day at a time.

Yesterday I explored my home town with my friend Vibeche. I can't believe I was going to leave this place. :) Seeing that spring is coming makes me feel better about the battles that are to come. I'll make it. :) I love this city so much, and I would really encourage every single one of you to come check it out!

How to heal (a broken heart)

I guess the title of this post suggests that I have all the answers in this area, and I most certainly do not.. For some reason or another, I am continuing to make progress. I feel better every day, I have hope that I will get back to my old self again .. I know that this experience will make me stronger, ..as much as that's a cliche it's actually true. I was completely broken and I expected it to take months, or even years, to puzzle myself back toegether.. but it's slowly happening!

Exercise helped me a lot, and not shutting myself in. I spent time with friends, although I suspect I was terrible company. I allowed myself to feel all the hurt, and even to wallow in it. I ignored my schoolwork, and just focused on the things I could deal with. Eating, sleeping and exercising.

Me!

Hydrangea for my living room!

Hiking yesterday!

At the top!

My friends and I! ♥

Not windy at all :D

Hope you are all doing well!

Looking forward

I'm still not in a great place emotionally, but I'm healing slowly. I'm making plans for my future, figuring out practical and financial stuff .. and it feels OK. Sort of good, even. I feel like I'm on top of this now, and that I can pull through. Know that I can is a great feeling.

I miss this little fella....

Bergen city by night!

Bergen !

My lovely friend Anette!

Beautiful sunsets all around!

Spring is coming!

Spring is definitely in the air!

I can tell how much spring helps my mood. Somehow the birds chirping and the air getting warmer is a great kick of energy.. It's getting sunnier... I will make this spring the spring of my life, a new life. I will get  through all this. I really will.

A slightly better place

Surprisingly, I'm doing better. Honestly, I am. I feel like I can handle this now.... there will he horrible lows to come still, but I'm doing ok. I feel better. Stronger! I'm starting to make new plans for my future, and some of them are really exciting (such as going for a master's degree, rather than stopping at a bachelor's degree!)..

Last night I even went out with some of my friends, got drunk (not too drunk, just proper drunk), and had a really great time. I was actually laughing wholeheartedly. How about that!

Here are some pictures from my stay up north I really wanted to show you:

It was really good for me going up there, emotionally at least. Weightwise, not so much. ;)

Pictures from up north

This is what I have been doing/enjoying the past few days:

Winter sunsets..

Football in -11C / 12F.....

Long hikes

With great company

Puppy love

Great winter weather

All in all, I'm having a good time! There hasn't been to much of that lately, so it's a very welcome relief!