Lightening Online

Image via WikipediaOn Sunday night, I sat down and watched Gladiators with the rest of the family. I’ve not actually sat down and watched it before. Usually Farmboy watches it with the kids and I sneak off to do a bit on the computer (usually after a busy weekend). The kids LOVE it.

I was amazed at how fit AND strong the contestants were. Far out, what some people will do (and can do).

Despite my heading, I have no real desire to reach that level of strength and fitness. But this week in my personal training session, we worked on strength training. It’s something I have done very little of. Ever.

So I have a looonnnnggggg way to go before I’d EVER get to Gladiator level. LOL.

But hopefully one of these days I’ll be able to pass a netball a little better. Or hang clothes on the line without getting sore arms.

My progress with strength and fitness is rather slow (in my opinion) but with everything else going on right now, I’m just so relieved not to be going backwards.

And the progress is definitely there. I’m able to do things now that I’m sure I wouldn’t have been able to do a couple of months ago (like play 15 minutes of netball without feeling like I am going to die).

There was one good thing about netball training last week (after my whinge yesterday that I was hopeless). One of the things our fitness trainer emphasizes is the important of competing against yourself (rather than someone else). So the focus is often on bettering your last effort.

Last week we did an exercise where you run back and forward along 1/3 of the netball court as many times as you can in 1 minute. Last time we did this I managed 14 times the first effort and then 16 times for the second effort of the night. However, I overdid it a bit (competitive? me?) and felt pretty crook (as in, “I REALLY feel like Im gonna hurl” afterward). This time I did 16 the first time, and didn’t really feel like I pushed myself anywhere near as hard. I also managed only 16 later in the training but considering I was already out of breath when I started, I figured that was an okay effort.

All this to say, I feel like I’m making progress.

Next week is weigh and measure week. I might need to reread this after that.

One of the things I have found fascinating since starting work with a personal trainer is the number of muscle groups I never knew I had. It’s probably a bit of a stretch to actually call these “muscle groups”. They certainly aren’t “strong” muscle groups. But they’re there nonetheless.

Usually the morning after my session, I can tell which muscle groups have been targeted in the session the day before.

From that perspective, training with a trainer has been a fantastic learning curve. In the past I would have termed “fitness” as doing a bit of a run or a session on the bike. I might do a few push-ups or sit ups. But it really is SO much more than I ever understood.

I learnt something else this morning. The term “DOMS” which was mentioned in response to a Plurk I made yesterday and stands for “Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness”.

Anyway, I sure have DOMS today!!!!

My outer arms, across my back and my lower abs. Although my lower abs aren’t as sore as I thought they might be (considering I did indeed think I was a “dying cockroach” during one of the exercises ).

I’m beginning to LOVE that feeling of tiredness after a good session. Physical tiredness rather than emotional or mental. There’s a certain sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing you’ve given it your all (or maybe even a little bit more than “all”).

I did sleep well last night (and most of this morning). Although that could be in part due to taking extra sleepy medications after having a session with my counsellor that went for more than 2 hours!!!

So, yesterday was a reasonably full-on day and today I have only half a day to get done what I need to get done. The kids have a day off school today (teacher’s strike) and are off tailing lambs but I expect they’ll be home soon.

Not that anything that “needs” doing today couldn’t wait.

Would you like me to throw THIS at you????

* Image courtesy of www.a2zequipment .com

You would? Okay then!!!!

Going to they gym was probably just what I needed yesterday when I had the grumps!!!

And no, I’m pretty sure we weren’t using a 12kg medicine ball. LOL. I had trouble finding an appropriate image to steal borrow.

Although, in my searching I did stumble upon a few images showing some of the exercises we did do today. Here’s one of them.

* Image courtesy of www.health.howstuffworks.com

Yep, that’s totally me!!!! In my dreams!!!! ROFLOL. Look at that tiny waist!!!!

So we did lots with a medicine ball today. And some other arm work. Plus some cardio.

And I’m pretty sure I’m going to be able to feel my arms tomorrow.

But it was a good workout - except for the part where I drank too much water!!!! You really shouldn’t do that just before going on the cross-trainer.

So I had to take it easy because I started to feel like I was going to throw up. And I didn’t WANT to take it easy cos I really LOVE the cross-trainer. It makes me feel like I’m running on air.

Ooh, and I got to use a couple of new machines today. One was the rowing machine (well, I did have a try on it last week with my gym buddy but it was the first time “properly”) and the other was umm….. I have no idea what it’s called. Anyway, it had weights and these pulley things for working the arm muscles.

I noticed last week at netball training that I didn’t feel quite as unfit as I have been feeling, so I think progress is being made.

I’ve been feeling pretty ordinary over the past few days. School holidays and a bunch of other stuff has left my emotional energy levels hovering dangerously close to zero. This impacts on my mental clarity and also my general physical ability. Not only that but it affects my motivation. You could say that my “get up and go got up and went”.

So it took quite a lot of determination to go to my personal training session this week. I wanted to go. I just didn’t know how I would go. Thankfully, Farmboy had some jobs to do in town so he drove me in. That preserved some of my mental energy (not having to drive) for my session.

Things started off okay. I had my first experience using a treadmill (ever!!!). They take a bit of getting used to with getting started and stopping. I was worried I was going to end up falling off the end of it in some kind of “funniest home videos” type stunt. But I sort of got the hang of it (well, I didn’t fall off anyway).

So far, so good in an “I’m already stuffed” kind of way.

Then - WHAM!!!!

Yep, today we did BOXING!!!!!

* image courtesy of www.rbkdirect.co.uk/…/boxing-mitts.html

And no, I didn’t really cry. I was just being silly.

Phew!!! Talk about an intense workout. But it was pretty cool! And probably EXACTLY what my body needed today. Give it a bit of a kick-start, get rid of some aggression and stress and work up a sweat (therefore building up those endorphins).

A couple of times I actually thought I was going to throw up (which isn’t supposed to be part of the deal). But it was only a very brief feeling of nausea really.

And apparently I did such a good job that my trainer said I could have a Mars Bar.

Okay, she didn’t really say that. She said I’d worked off somewhere around the equivalent of a Mars Bar (in kj’s). Which was actually kind of depressing really cos it was HARD WORK!!!!!

Do you think perhaps it was a mistake to go up to her after Netball training last week and say “I. Am. So. Unfit”. Perhaps she thinks she should do something about that?????

What was that? Isn’t that her job? LOL. Yeah okay, you got me there.

It was a HARD session but it was good. I think there’s nothing more satisfying than knowing you’ve given it all you’ve got (and then some).

But man. I. Am. Exhausted. (I need a lying down collapsed in a heap smiley)

Can you believe I’ve actually made it through 4 sessions with my personal trainer??? Why, I’m almost an “expert” now. Okay, that might be stretching it quite a bit. LOL. Perhaps rather than “expert” I could call myself a “survivor”.

This week I was all excited to use some pretty, new colour weights. Actually they weren’t pretty at all. They were an ugly orange colour. Note to self: write to the gym management and tell them they need to buy some PINK handweights. I can see the footballers being very impressed with those!!!!

So, anyway, back to the pretty bit. They seemed “pretty” because in my mind they equalled progress. And progress is exciting.

I got so excited I braved the scales this morning. NOT a good idea!!!! I’m not so excited anymore. Yeah, I know, it’s about health and fitness and how you fit in your clothes and all that guff. Yada, yada, yada.

I even put on my form that weight loss was secondary to fitness. And it IS!!!! REALLY!!!! I just didn’t mention that it’s a very close second.

So I have like 2 weeks until I have to weigh and measure. Officially that is. Man, I really HOPE it shows some progress.

Oh, and I have a new meaning for the phrase “4 more”. It means “I’m sure I’m going to die any minute now”.

I went to my session today with mixed feelings - some excitement and some trepidation. I knew last week was kind of a “warm up” and “settle in” type sesssion. Plus I spent about 20 minutes of last weeks session doing paperwork and weigh and measure etc. This week I had to face the full HOUR.

What I learnt today:

1. A fitball is NOT just for sitting on during pregnancy because it’s the only way to sit comfortably.

2. I am THE most unco-ordinated person that ever walked into a gym.

3. Lifting weights without any weights attached to the bar (and struggling) makes one feel a little stupid.

4. I have muscles (or a lack thereof) in places I’d never even thought about.

5. I can survive a full 60 minute session (although I did get slightly nauseous at one point) AND still be smiling at the end.

In all seriousness, it was fun - even if it was HARD at the same time.

And I figure the only way from here is up. I might not be able to achieve much yet. But I WILL!!!

(And I still think my personal trainer is lovely!!!!)

Okay, that might be stretching things a little given I’m not actually FIT or anything yet. But I did venture to the local gym today for my first session with my personal trainer.

And I’m still alive.

And I didn’t throw up once.

And it was FUN!!!

Well, most of the time anyway.

Ask me again after next Monday and I might have a better idea of how hard it is. Today was just a bit of a “get to know you” type day with her assessing my current abilities (and the whole dreaded weigh and measure ).

Or ask me again in the morning and we’ll see how stiff I am.

But my trainer is lovely and positive and even gave me a massage at the end. I felt very decadent.

So far I’m feeling like this has been a very good decision. Something for ME!!!

Yah!!! I’m so excited I’m bouncing (I guess she can’t have worked me too hard if I’ve still got enough energy left to bounce )!!!