I had intended on going to the gym this morning, even set the alarm for 5:40pm. However, I woke up and my whole body was so stiff and sore so I compromised and did an hour of yoga instead.
There were quite a few poses that I struggled to keep because my arms and legs are so sore. But by the end of it I did better having stretched them out and used them in a "gentle" way.
I'm booked to see Nathan again on Thursday so I'm hoping to be able to get to the gym four times a week and do the circuit he's planned for me. I will admit I am feeling a little self conscious about going to the gym on my own and working out but I guess this is an insecurity I'll just have to face!
The sleep thing is still difficult. I went to sleep at just after 11 last night and that's been the earliest I have done in a very long time. I'm sure once I get into a routine it will become easier, I hope, coz not sure how much longer I can go on 5-6 hours sleep!
Finished work and I am a bit sore in the legs and arms but am functioning quite well so far. Hopefully these aren't famous last words!
Friday, 22 February 2013
Thursday, 21 February 2013
30 Days of Fitness: Day 4 - But I don't wanna get up!
5:15am wake up call. So glad the gym is a ten minute walk from home. Had my first proper PT session today.
Nathan wanted me to get there a bit earlier to warm up on the treadmill, cross fit and rowing machine before we met. Did all that for 15 minutes and I either went way too hard for a warm up or I'm really unfit. I want to go with the former.
So we did a circuit of shoulder presses, chest presses, back work, leg work and squats. 3 repositions of 15-20 sets of each. I started off well but just over halfway I started to feel a bit fatigued and weak - especially in the arms. We finished on the chest presses and even from our first meet up I knew they'd be my weakest. Had to stop the third set and lessen the weights by 5kg to 25kg and even then had to pause at my tenth and really force myself through the last time. Having said that, I found the squats and leg exercises still challenging but by far my easiest to accomplish.
We finished with some core exercises and by now I could barely roll myself over the mat but somehow managed to get them all done. Followed by a five minute warm down on the treadmill and I was done.
Utterly exhausted and sweaty - and feeling a bit nauseous - but I finished!!!!
I'm not sure if I should be going to the gym on an empty stomach or eating beforehand or snacking? I had water with me and finished almost the bottle by the end of the session but is that the right thing to be doing? Or is it just a temporary side effect from never having had exercise before?
Nathan wanted me to get there a bit earlier to warm up on the treadmill, cross fit and rowing machine before we met. Did all that for 15 minutes and I either went way too hard for a warm up or I'm really unfit. I want to go with the former.
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| don't get too excited. I'ts not me but this machine almost killed |
We finished with some core exercises and by now I could barely roll myself over the mat but somehow managed to get them all done. Followed by a five minute warm down on the treadmill and I was done.
Utterly exhausted and sweaty - and feeling a bit nauseous - but I finished!!!!
I'm not sure if I should be going to the gym on an empty stomach or eating beforehand or snacking? I had water with me and finished almost the bottle by the end of the session but is that the right thing to be doing? Or is it just a temporary side effect from never having had exercise before?
Wednesday, 20 February 2013
30 Days of Fitness: Day 3 - Look Ma! No Hands!
Woke up this morning with very sore right leg. Just near the inner thigh...was a little painful to walk on but nothing too major (I don't think).
Today was going to be an easy one, as was going indoor rock-climbing at Hardrock in the city. Had the safety demonstration and away we went. Was actually not that hard, granted I stayed on levels 8-11. And they go up to about 25, but perhaps something to work towards.
There were a few moments of where do I go from here, and at one point, I may have cheated and stepped on a green ledge when I was on the orange path - the scandal. There was a group of people there just climbing the wall without even looking at the colour and I just didn't get that; how are you challenging yourself if you're just climbing a wall.
Again though, it did make me realise how unfit I actually am. Even though I did power through most of the walls, my arms were killing me and I almost let go at one point because I was so weak. Really required much more upper body strength than lower, which was a good thing as I was still recovering from yesterday's spin class.
So by the end of the day, my arms are still a bit jelly-like and my legs are feeling better. My PT has since texted and wants to meet at 5:45am tomorrow. He obviously doesn't know what I am like at hat time...especially as it's now 11pm and I am just getting ready for bed....sigh....
Today was going to be an easy one, as was going indoor rock-climbing at Hardrock in the city. Had the safety demonstration and away we went. Was actually not that hard, granted I stayed on levels 8-11. And they go up to about 25, but perhaps something to work towards.
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| Finished it like a cheesecake!!!! |
There were a few moments of where do I go from here, and at one point, I may have cheated and stepped on a green ledge when I was on the orange path - the scandal. There was a group of people there just climbing the wall without even looking at the colour and I just didn't get that; how are you challenging yourself if you're just climbing a wall.
Again though, it did make me realise how unfit I actually am. Even though I did power through most of the walls, my arms were killing me and I almost let go at one point because I was so weak. Really required much more upper body strength than lower, which was a good thing as I was still recovering from yesterday's spin class.
So by the end of the day, my arms are still a bit jelly-like and my legs are feeling better. My PT has since texted and wants to meet at 5:45am tomorrow. He obviously doesn't know what I am like at hat time...especially as it's now 11pm and I am just getting ready for bed....sigh....
Tuesday, 19 February 2013
30 Days of Fitness: Day 2 - I joined a Gym
Well that's a lie. I joined a gym last week but my membership began today. Went to my local Goodlife Health Clubs. Fortunately it is only a ten minute walk from home so very convenient and hoping that when I do get to my 5:15am wake up calls, it won't be too hard. Fortunately today's start was at 8am so up at 7:30am.
Met up with my PT, Nathan, who I quite liked as he looks as exercise analysis and programming and nutrition as well as having a holistic approach to it all. We did a walk through of all the equipment an had me using some of it and assessing where I am at. Wasn't a strenuous thing, first used a few cardio equipment; treadmill, cross-fits and the rowing machines. And then went to the more strenuous stuff - working on backs, chests, arms and legs. I was quite shocked at how easily I became weakened by it and I did struggle to do a cycle of 15 on some of those. Guess I'm not as fit as I thought I was!
Had a half hour break and then jumped into a 45 minute spin class. And wow...did that feel like death! I managed to keep my RPM at an average of 79 but my resistance wasn't really set on high, my legs felt like jelly at the end and almost lost my balance when I got off. However, I did manage to keep cycling the whole time, even if I didn't reach the levels the trainer was asking us to meet but it's more about achieving a personal best and working towards that. I was quite happy with my results today and at least now I can start working on a clearer goal.
In the evening I headed off to my first Funk dance class at the Dance Factory in Richmond, and I was a bit nervous about this, especially after watching this BEGINNERS video:
Met up with my PT, Nathan, who I quite liked as he looks as exercise analysis and programming and nutrition as well as having a holistic approach to it all. We did a walk through of all the equipment an had me using some of it and assessing where I am at. Wasn't a strenuous thing, first used a few cardio equipment; treadmill, cross-fits and the rowing machines. And then went to the more strenuous stuff - working on backs, chests, arms and legs. I was quite shocked at how easily I became weakened by it and I did struggle to do a cycle of 15 on some of those. Guess I'm not as fit as I thought I was!
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| I was most certainly not smiling in my class |
In the evening I headed off to my first Funk dance class at the Dance Factory in Richmond, and I was a bit nervous about this, especially after watching this BEGINNERS video:
The class was pretty small, only four others. Didn't really have a good connection to it and the instructor just jumped right into it. lots of thrusting and jumping and fast moves, it was definitely not as easy as I thought it would be. It was pretty hard to keep up but I think I did quite well. Be interesting to see how much of I remember. Hopefully get to do a bit of pop and locking at some point!
One thing i have noticed is, that if you are focused on what you are doing, you don't even think about how uncoordinated or stupid you might look to others. The old saying that no one is even looking or noticing you is true - and if they are, it means they're simply not focused on themselves. So that makes me feel better.
Monday, 18 February 2013
30 Days of Fitness: Day 1 - Yoga in the park
One challenge done and a new one began today! This time 30 Days of Fitness. There is a number of reasons why I have chosen to have this one as my next one.
The main one is that I have a terrible self-image problem. I think I am very skinny and even though I am not unfit (or at least I don't think I am) I know there are miles to go. I'm hoping with the combination of all the varied activities I do, my fitness challenge will be more of a social thing than a chore. The last thing I want to be is one of those people who goes to the gym every day. To each his own, but that is not the person I want to be. Ideally, I would like to put on a bit of weight or muscle or whatever you want to call it but I do have a fast metabolism so not sure how that will work!
The second reason I have chosen this is to sort of continue off from my initial no meat challenge which has inadvertently become a healthy eating challenge. So what better way to support this habit but by furthering my healthy body!
So today being Day 1, I thought I would ease into it by having an outdoor yoga lesson with Activate Fitness. However, when it is still 35 degrees at 6:00pm and I have walked from Southbank to Carlton, it was the last thing I wanted to do. I thought I would be fine as I used to do regular Hatha Yoga a few years back but that was not the case. This yoga was more dynamic and energetic so it was almost like a 50 minute exercise routine. I managed to survive most of it, my flexibility in my legs is really weak and is prolonged upper body strength but I am happy with how I managed to keep up for the most of it. Fortunately it's only a class of about 6-7 people so that's quite good.
Walking down the stairs at the train station was a bit of a bother afterwards and I feel like I have gone a bit red in the face from sunburn - better not peel!
Anyway, I will mark off today as a success. 29 to go!!!
The main one is that I have a terrible self-image problem. I think I am very skinny and even though I am not unfit (or at least I don't think I am) I know there are miles to go. I'm hoping with the combination of all the varied activities I do, my fitness challenge will be more of a social thing than a chore. The last thing I want to be is one of those people who goes to the gym every day. To each his own, but that is not the person I want to be. Ideally, I would like to put on a bit of weight or muscle or whatever you want to call it but I do have a fast metabolism so not sure how that will work!
The second reason I have chosen this is to sort of continue off from my initial no meat challenge which has inadvertently become a healthy eating challenge. So what better way to support this habit but by furthering my healthy body!
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| the Happy Pigeon - hate the bird, hate the pose |
Walking down the stairs at the train station was a bit of a bother afterwards and I feel like I have gone a bit red in the face from sunburn - better not peel!
Anyway, I will mark off today as a success. 29 to go!!!
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