April 29th, 2008 Brunette
Training today was not as fast paced as past sessions, but still packed lots of bang.
I started with a little jump rope action to get my heart up and that, as you know, is not one of my favorites. Trust me, jumping rope is not like riding a bike. This is only my second attempt to use the jump rope and I still have not gotten into a rhythm using it.
Once my heart was up, Trainer K had me going. Today I did some back and core strengthening on a machine that I have no clue what it is called, but you bend at your hips over the padding and then come back up. I was dying on my second set!
Then, using the same machine, I did the same, but for my sides instead of centered. Oh yea, it works. Works good! My lower back is killing me, but I also don’t isolate my lower back when doing daily tasks, so it’s going to hurt. Not a bad hurt, the right kind of hurt. I also know that as my back gets stronger these will be easier to do.
Today was a new thing for me, I worked on bench pressing. No, I don’t know what I can bench press, I didn’t look. Trainer K put them on, but the first set of weights was WAY too light. After three sets, my trainer was still adding weights to see what I could handle. Eventually, I did put in some struggle, which means I found the weight she will use next time. Still don’t know what it is.
The good news though, although within two weeks my weight has not changed, I have lost 2% body fat, YEAH ME!!! Plus, my dehydration level is higher, so I am drinking more water which is great! I just need to increase and get it up about another 10%. Water log!
Today was a more calm session, but with a mix of conditioning and weights, so I was put to the test. Some things are getting easier, but I am meeting new challenges all the time.
TTFN ~
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April 25th, 2008 Brunette
Here we are again. Another day, another workout, and I have to admit today was better. Yes, still a little sore from Wednesday’s workout, but that is to be expected. Trainer K even reassured me during our session today that I would expect possibly another day of some soreness, but it will work through.
With my session today, Trainer K let me off the hook on the intensity level due to our last session, but not with the workout. We worked my core again today, but instead of the fast pace movements with the stability ball and medicine ball, she let me work on the circuit machines so I could have a bit more control.
Plus with the range of motion the machines give, I think it helped to stretch out my back a bit more. I do hate the machines for one thing - they take too much time to change them out. The flow with free weights and the individual items really helps me to move quickly to get more in with the short time frame I have.
Anyway, it was a good work out, but I will feel it tomorrow. Might as well prepare myself for it. Plus, my trainer wants me at pilates tomorrow morning, not kickboxing. Although, she is letting me decided if I want to stay for the kickboxing class. Although I have had some pilates mixed into my sessions, I have never truly had a pilates class. This should be interesting.
So, basically today was an easy day that I was very grateful for. I just know that she is going to have something in store for me tomorrow. Ut oh!
TTFN ~
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March 27th, 2008 Brunette
Trainer K showed me a new friend today. Oh how I use to hate those lunges. Now they are the love of my life compared to the *gulp* stability ball! I hate it! My abs are on fire and I really want someone to put them out for me. Please? When she said, “Ab workout.” OK. Then she said, “We will get a whole body workout from this.” Again, OK. She showed me the ball, I was ready to go. How stupid the newbie is.
I didn’t think anything of it. Never used a stability ball before. Remember, no clue about working out. I should have that made into a tattoo on my forehead. Back to the story. To me the ball was plastic filled with air; a bundle of bouncing joy to help me get into shape. Well, maybe next month it might be a happy bundle, but today, oh no, it was torture.
It was a total body workout. You literally have to use your entire core and concentration to keep yourself on the ball. I rolled a few times, not off, but around. The power needed in your legs - thighs and butt - to keep you in one location and then using your core to keep you on the ball; that alone helped me sweat enough to keep me good for exercise until next week. Unfortunately, Trainer K didn’t let me off that easy. She threw in the ab workout too!
Now, today wasn’t about reps. It was all timed. So, normally abs are say 3 sets of 25. Not today. Today, I did 3 sets, but each one minute long with a rest in between. So, instead of 75 total, it was up to around 150 or something like that. Upper abs, lower abs, obliques, oh my! And not just one form of crunch for upper abs, oh no, there were like four versions for each: upper, lower, and obliques. Oh yes, oh my.
Then of course we had to throw in some thighs and butt into just staying on the ball while trying to crunch. Boy, I can tell this is a technique I am going to have to master, and soon. Trainer K plans to make the stability ball my friend. When that happens, it means I am going to be using it almost EVERY session. Happiness is just poring out of me, can’t ya tell?
Now, I get to look forward to waking up tomorrow in pain and kickboxing on Saturday. Wish me luck!
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