Dec. 12: 100 minutes Bikram Yoga with my FAVE instructor. I told her after that she made my week. Totally put me in a better frame of mind. She only teaches about once a week and they don't post the instructors before class so I never know when she'll be there. It's always a happy surprise!
Totals:
13 workouts
1265 minutes
That's a bummer that you never know when she'll be there, but how nice that she makes your day and you enjoy her that much
30 minutes StairMaster, aerobic intervals, resistance at nine, and I was having one of my good days, completely inexplicable
60 minutes back & biceps routine
Saturday, December 14th:
60 minute spin class with weight & resistance band intervals, lots of cancellations due to the impending snowstorm and the snow falling as class began
60 minute Pilates mat class
Strange thing happened in class today. A woman new to the gym, with the kind of slender willowy body that I envy, took her place on a mat to my left. She was shy or aloof & had little to say. As class went on, I discovered to my surprise that I was stronger and fitter than she was, though undoubtedly I am more than 20 pounds heavier than she is. That turned my head upside down as I pondered a question: If I couldn't have both, would I want to be fitter, even if it meant staying the same weight, or even gaining weight? Or would I want to look thinner and be weaker?
saef - she could be working her way back from rotator cuff tears, like me. Also, I was always hypermobile (really bendy joints) growing up. I can never lift as much weight as my ligaments are too elastic to provide the level of support needed for power presses. (Even with PT and lots of stabilization exercises) There's so many issues that go into how much weight you can lift; if you've had previous ligament tears or multiple rounds of tendonitis, you're really cautious and will always go for more reps rather than absolute weight, even though you work towards the point of fatigue. At least, I do!
35 minutes run/walk treadmill
15 minutes rowing machine
20 minutes hip work with elastic bands and pulley machine (clamshells, lifts, pulls, flexor, adduction, abduction)
25 minutes knee work, VMO strengthening (primarily wall squats, single leg squats, step exercises, side and reverse lunges)
5 minute quick work-thru of my main rot cuff exercies (internal and external rotation work)
Strange thing happened in class today. A woman new to the gym, with the kind of slender willowy body that I envy, took her place on a mat to my left. She was shy or aloof & had little to say. As class went on, I discovered to my surprise that I was stronger and fitter than she was, though undoubtedly I am more than 20 pounds heavier than she is. That turned my head upside down as I pondered a question: If I couldn't have both, would I want to be fitter, even if it meant staying the same weight, or even gaining weight? Or would I want to look thinner and be weaker?
Really, saef? If you could make that choice would you truly consider sacrificing your strength and fitness for a weak but "model-type" body? I ask with no judgment!!
45 minute spin class, with the tough instructor
60 minutes shoulders, bicep & tricep routine
Jen, that's what I'm wondering. Is this really about health and strength for me, or is it aesthetics? I think seeing this woman forced me to think about that. I believe it's both but over time, it's become more about strength than aesthetics. Maybe more like 70% about strength and 30% about aesthetics. I'd be lying if I said I did not care how I look and that it doesn't bother me that I'm a stocky pear shaped female. "Us sway-backed girls" is how the Pilates instructor described me and herself the other night, and that's been bothering me. I still look envious at the thinner women in class even if they are weaker. Maybe it's different for me, at least a little, since I exercise in a gym with lots of people around me.
Jen, that's what I'm wondering. Is this really about health and strength for me, or is it aesthetics? I think seeing this woman forced me to think about that. I believe it's both but over time, it's become more about strength than aesthetics. Maybe more like 70% about strength and 30% about aesthetics. I'd be lying if I said I did not care how I look and that it doesn't bother me that I'm a stocky pear shaped female. "Us sway-backed girls" is how the Pilates instructor described me and herself the other night, and that's been bothering me. I still look envious at the thinner women in class even if they are weaker. Maybe it's different for me, at least a little, since I exercise in a gym with lots of people around me.
Sway back? What does that even mean? I think that was rude of her to say.
Yeah, I think I would go crazy playing the comparison game if I worked out at a gym!!!
December 15: 10 miles running on treadmill - incline 2% (1:25:46)
15 minutes cool down on Elliptical - resistance of 5 ramp angel 30
30 minutes foam rolling
60 minutes on the treadmill, incline at 1.5, about 45 minutes running at 4.3, then walking for five minutes, then running for five minutes at 4.6, then walking for the rest. I wore new Asics and my gait was a little smoother.
Dec. 12: 100 minutes Bikram Yoga with my FAVE instructor. I told her after that she made my week. Totally put me in a better frame of mind. She only teaches about once a week and they don't post the instructors before class so I never know when she'll be there. It's always a happy surprise!
Dec. 16: 60 minutes Body Pump class. I haven't been in months (2?) due to my back. I could barely lift! And I'm super sore today. I have to get back to lifting regularly.
