Hello 2012!!

Sorry I haven't written recently!  Hope everybody has had a great start to the new year!  I just got engaged the day after Christmas and I've been super busy planning our wedding!!!  Don't think I've forgotten about my weight loss goal, though, as now I have a deadline to meet, so I'm more dedicated than ever.  Our date is set for October 6, 2012, so I have until then to lose 30 more pounds.  However, I'd like to do it by May so that we can get some engagement photos done with my improved body!  I have been trying to get to gym 3 times per week.  Day 1 is Cardio and Arms, Day 2 is Cardio and Core, and Day 3 is Cardio and Legs.  I also try and do an at-home workout 1-2 times per week in addition to that.  This week was kind of crazy.  I got my arms and core workouts in, but when I went to do the legs workout tonight, I got to the gym at like 7:30 and saw that it closed at 8.  So that was no good.  But I am dedicated and motivated, so I went over to the Wal-Mart right next door and picked up a couple of 8 pound weights and then found an at-home leg workout to do on Pinterest, which I tweaked to my liking.  Let me tell you, it might be even more difficult than my leg workout at the gym!!  So if you are looking for a really good leg workout, here it is:

75 Jumping Jacks (only do the first time to warm up all your muscles and get your heart pumping)

*Squats- 12 reps
*Stiff-Legged Deadlifts- 12 reps
*Walking Lunges- 12 each leg
Spartan Bow- 12 each leg
*Plie Squats- 12 reps
Step-Ups- 12 each leg
Scissor Lunges- 10 reps

First time through do all exercises with bodyweight only.  Repeat 3 additional times with dumbbells for the starred exercises. 

Squats are done with legs just a little wider than shoulder width.  Make sure knees don't go over your toes!

Plie squats are with your toes pointed outward and your legs much wider apart, works your inner thighs really well. 

Scissor lunges are my own term for doing a forward lunge with one leg and then jumping to switch legs and continue lunging. 

For step-ups you will need some sort of bench, I used a step ladder, and I stepped directly onto the top step, which is about 2 feet high. 

You can probably get on youtube to get a good video for most of these if you don't know what they are, especially the Spartan Bow, as they are really hard to explain. 

Hope you find this helpful!  It's one heck of a workout!  My legs feel like jello right now!