Saturday Afternoon leg day

Week Five|Day Five

I suppose today I got lucky, because I didn’t lose any strength in these quads and hammies 🙂

Workout:

Superset:

  • Barbell front squat: 3 x 8, 100 lb
  • DB goblet squat: 3 x 10-12, 25 lb

Superset:

  • Linear leg press (hamstring foot placement): 3 x 8, 388 lb 
  • Smith machine narrow stance squats: 3 x 10-12, 75 lb

Superset:

  • Seated calf raise: 3 x 8, 100 lb
  • DB plie squat: 3 x 10-12, 25 lb

Superset:

  • Seated DB curls: 3 x 8, 50 lb
  • Weighted Dips: 3 x 8, 15 lb – this was easy 🙂

Superset:

  • Leg extension: 3 x 8, 60 lb
  • Leg curls: 3 x 8, 60 lb

Superset:

  • Lying leg raises: 3 x 20 each leg
  • EZ bar goodmorning: 3 x 10-12, 40 lb

The last set of Front Squats, I was ready to walk away because it was starting to feel heavy! >.< but I made it! 

 

Fitness WonderWoman,

Shay-lon 

 

Seasonal Affective Disorder

It is getting to be that time of year where people typically get more gloomy because of the weather, and the seasons changing. Not only do people tend to get allergies or aches/pains, their personalities or moods can change. I have to thank a friend of mine for bringing this disorder to my attention because we were talking about how the weather makes us both kind of “blah” because of the lack of sunshine and it becoming more and more cold outside. Neither one of us has been diagnosed with “Seasonal Affective Disorder” and I don’t believe I have it and neither does she, but it brought up a good point because this isn’t a disorder that I hear much about until it gets to be about this time of year – even then, I don’t think a whole lot of people think twice about it. I decided to do some research and learn something new about a disorder and hopefully share what I have learned with all of you, BUT I always appreciate it more when it comes from someone who has the experience because it is more realistic and more personal – so if you have something to add to this, please do in the comment section 🙂

 

First things first, what is seasonal affective disorder? In simple terms, it is a type of depression that comes and goes with the seasons. Most often occurs in the early fall/winter and usually ends sometime around spring/summer. Clearly not everyone loves the cold weather but it doesn’t mean you have seasonal affective disorder. With this being said, I have some fun information below:

 

Word of caution: This disorder is not considered as a separate disorder. In order for someone to be diagnosed with SAD, they have to meet the full criteria or major depression coinciding with specific seasons for ATLEAST 2 years. This means it needs to be more frequent compared to other depressions. So having said this, there are reasons for why someone would be diagnosed with this, this isn’t just somebody who doesn’t like winter or cold weather – more goes into a diagnosis. 

 

Signs/symptoms:

Winter Pattern:

 
  • Low energy 
  • hypersomnia
  • overeating
  • weight gain
  • craving for carbohydrates
  • social withdrawal 

Summer SAD:

  • poor appetite /weight loss
  • insomnia 
  • agitation
  • restlessness
  • anxiety
  • episodes of violent behavior

Then also consider some of the major depression signs/symptoms along with these. 

 

Risk Factors Associated with SAD

  • Females are diagnosed more often than men with this disorder (lucky us ladies!, lol)
  • Living further from the equator
  • Family history of depression
  • Younger age

Treatment options:

  • Medication
  • light therapy
  • psychotherapy 
  • Vitamin D

With this being said, Vitamin D supplements haven’t been 100 percent proven to treat seasonal affective disorder, but having more time in the sunlight seems to help and taking the supplements is neither here or there in research.. depending on the individual. Now there may be new treatments available or perhaps more treatments I have not listed, and so share them if you will. If you have your own way of dealing with SAD, please share it for my readers and so I can also learn something as well. Thank you for reading, please feel free to share, like, reblog, and follow!

 

Fitness WonderWoman,

Shay-lon

 
 

Week Five|Day Four = No Cardio Necessary

Opposite day! no cardio 🙂 but my legs are still sore from yesterday, so thankfully today was an upperbody day!

 

Workout:

Superset:

 
  • Barbell bench press: 3 x 8, 75 lb
  • DB front raises: 3 x 10-12, 20 lb

Superset:

  • Incline DB bench press: 3 x 8, 70 lb
  • Bentover DB flyes: 3 x 10-12, 30 lb

Superset:

  • Close grip pull up: 3 x to failure
  • DB shrugs: 3 x 10-12, 70 lb

Superset:

  • Cable low row: 3 x 8, 130 lb
  • Barbell upright row: 3 x 8, 60 lb

Superset:

  • Military press: 3 x 8, 60 lb
  • smith machine bentover row: 3 x 10-12, 75 lb
 
  • Floor crunches: 3 x 20
 

If I am going to be honest, the barbell upright rows were hell today, I mean 60 lb doesn’t sound like a lot of weight but I was feeling them. I have also noticed I am WAYY better at close grip pull ups vs wide grip, anyone else? 

 

Fitness WonderWoman,

Shay-lon

Week Five|Day Three – Nothing but CARDIO!

Today, I decided to share a cardio workout I created for myself. I don’t typically show my full blown cardio workouts, but I had someone assume that I don’t usually do more than 5 minutes worth of cardio on my lifting days, and while that is true to a certain extent, it doesn’t mean I don’t do cardio for longer than that. I kind of keep my cardio workouts a secret (besides the ones you see on this blog or social media) because I feel like they are different enough where I don’t want to give out all my secrets just yet – not to mention, there is a BIGGER purpose to everything I post and don’t post when it comes to fitness/health, so I don’t want to give everything away. This particular cardio routine is very basic & seemingly easy compared to other cardio days. I finished it, so that is what matters & my legs are sore. 

 

Workout:

 
  • Jump rope: 30/30/30 seconds
  • Jumping jacks: 30/30/30 seconds

I did jump rope for 30 then jumping jacks for 30 back and forth without stopping for 3 sets. 

 
  • Jump rope: 45/45/45 seconds
  • Jumping jacks: 45/45/45 seconds 

Again, I did jump rope for 45 seconds then jumping jacks for 3 sets without a break

 
  • High knees: 30/30/30 seconds
  • mountain climbers: 30/30/30 seconds
 
  • high knees: 45/45/45 seconds
  • mountain climbers: 45/45/45 seconds 

no breaks between the high knees and mountain climbers for 3 sets

 

Sprints (10 times)

  1. 30 seconds
  2. 45 seconds 

I did 30 second sprints the 45 second sprints with NO break between, after the 45 seconds I would take a 1 minute break and start again for a total of 10 times I did this! The sprinters for 40 yard dash 🙂 

 
  • Jump rope: 1 minute
  • Jumping jacks: 1 minute
 
  • High knees: 1 minute
  • mountain climbers: 1 minute
 
  • Stationary upright bike: 3 minutes, level 20 resistance 

Fitness WonderWoman,

Shay-lon 

Whole Foods VS Walmart

I figured this would be a fun little discussion between two grocery stores. The reason why I chose these two is because: 1) whole foods is known to be one of the better stores to have healthier options, 2.) most people know what a “Walmart” is and it is another grocery store that is popular among Americans. Both of these grocery stores have pros and cons and some of you might shop at one or the other or both depending on your needs and finances. 

 

My town does not have a Whole Foods store, but we do have a Walmart – two of them. I don’t particularly like shopping at Walmart because of it being constantly busy, sometimes the people piss me off (this is just honesty) and I live closer to a Kroger store but I will shop there for my feminine products and minor grocery depending on what it is. When I resided in Colorado Springs (I now reside in Ohio) I would go to Whole foods just for the burritos they made, so good! yum! but never actually shopped at a Whole Foods Store. The closest Whole foods to me would be about a hour or so away, so not too bad. 

 

Keep in mind this blog topic isn’t meant to make one out to be BETTER than the other – but to give perspective and start an engaging conversation as to why you shop at one or the other, or both! Maybe you don’t shop at either one of these stores, and if that is the case, share what store you prefer and why! This will be from my own perspective/data and also from research! 

 
 

Walmart:

Pros:

 
  1. They pride themselves with “Always low prices”
  2. Price matching
  3. newspaper ads, online presence
  4. During the holidays some of them offer layaway
  5. You can buy food, clothing, electronics, furniture, misc, household cleaning supplies, etc – in other words, ONE STOP SHOP! 
  6. they typically have restaurants inside them, so if you get hungry
  7. Their locations are vast
  8. huge employer
  9. most have a vision place to get exams, eyeglasses, contacts
  10. most offer a tire/lube place to have your vehicles tires replaced or oil change
  11. instore pick up or ship to home option
  12. Some might add the entertainment value (all sorts of society shop at Walmart) for a while there was a site or YouTube channel called the “people of Walmart”
  13. offers a credit card
  14. Typically attracts other businesses when a new Walmart comes to town
  15. Self check out option
  16. They accept EBT, debit/credit, checks, cash, Walmart gift cards, etc as a form of payment
  17. Typically open 24 hours
  18. Great Value brands for cheaper prices
  19. Gives towards charity
  20. They bake cakes for special occasions

Cons:

  1. Typically has one or two registers open – so either have to use the self check out or wait in long lines 
  2. Whenever I have gone to a Walmart and needed help finding a particular product, 95 percent of the time the employee didn’t even know what it was, didn’t know where it was located within the store
  3. I have found where they mark something down on a tag and it is the same price as the regular price
  4. I am not a huge fan of their produce area 
  5. I have been told the pay rate sucks as an employee there (depending on where you live)
  6. Their pricing of clothing isn’t that much cheaper than shopping someplace else with better quality (in my opinion where I reside)
  7. The cashiers always seem in a sad or bad mood whenever I’ve been there. lol I have had some rude ones too! 
  8. I don’t like their quality of beef or chicken 
  9. Sometimes the great value price is higher than the name brand
  10. People drive like maniacs through their parking lot — this is just from my own experience 
  11. It’s a huge store, many times you have to go from one end to the other to get everything you need – so if you are ever in a rush for time, this is probably not your go to

Now this whole pro and con list is again from my experience and different research I’ve done, be sure to add your own opinions to either list! 

 

Whole Foods

Pros:

  1. Good for college students who are need of a job (research says many college students work here to earn extra income)
  2. Supposedly great medical insurance 
  3. Quality products 
  4. Most if not all of them offer a salad bar, food kitchen area to have food made out for you to go or stay and eat
  5. surrounded by people who like eating healthier food options
  6. Educates people on healthy eating
  7. Variety of food products
  8. All meat sources at Whole foods is said to be raised without hormones or antibiotics 
  9. Gluten free food selection
  10. Typically more local foods found here
  11. They care about the environment
  12. By 2018 they are supposedly going to commit to GMO labeling on all their products
  13. Quality standards for both farm and wild caught seafood
  14. offers coupons
  15. online recipes on their site
  16. able to shop online
  17. offer flyers
 

Cons:

  1. Not a one stop shop
  2. tends to be more expensive
  3. Located in bigger cities vs smaller communities (typically)
  4. spending more and bringing home less groceries (a reviewer said)
  5. Some people prefer trader Joes over whole foods.
  6. Bigger stores – again can make it harder to navigate
  7. Have been reported they sometimes make it hard to tell the prices of things on their shelves

Again, Whole foods list of pros and cons came from my own experience and other reviews I had seen online. Feel free to add to either list your opinions! 

 

I hope all of you enjoyed this fun topic between the two stores! the MOST IMPORTANT PART OF CHOOSING A GROCERY STORE is choosing one that fits your needs and budget! 🙂

 

Fitness WonderWoman,

Shay-lon 

 
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