15 minutes Stairmaster, resistance at eight, aerobic intervals, much easier after yesterday's long endurance climb
60 minutes shoulders, biceps & triceps routine
45 minutes hill intervals arc trainer, resistance at nine
In the weight area, I was finding the 12-lb weights too easy for 16 to 17 reps, and as if to admonish me to push myself, there was a guy lying on a bench to my right who was bench-pressing dumbbells, each one 110 pounds. So this guy was basically pressing 220 pounds. Only then did I realize how massive his upper body was: He was a truly triangular, wedge-shaped person, like a toy action figure. The other guys in the weight area were covertly watching him. I felt I didn't have to hide it: Me and my 12-lb dumbbells.
Being strong is good. Taking it to the cartoon character level - probably not so much.
45 minutes spin class, mostly steady state with some intervals at the end through Meatloaf's "Paradise by the Dashboard Light."
About 20 minutes Pilates routine afterward. I am remembering where my abdominal muscles are. I can feel them, even if they are in hiding under fat, retained fluid and loose skin.
Tuesday, April 17:
15 minutes Stairmaster stepper, resistance 8
60 minutes shoulders, triceps and biceps
45 minutes recumbent bike, resistance at nine, steady peddling
Forgot what the gym was like with so many young guys stopping by after dinner to use the weight section. I was the only woman in sight, a bit ashamed of my low weights, but they were polite about the benches. And this was my refuge last night, after my mother got into one of her moods and said some nasty things, one after another. I mean, what can I do to get away?
Wednesday, April 18
45 minute spin class, up out of the seat a lot
20 minutes Pilates routine afterward, making myself practice that wretched Teaser, which, as I stretched afterward, a young woman was doing repeatedly and seemingly effortlessly. Feeling old ...
15 minutes Stairmaster stepper, the usual, resistance at eight
60 minutes back and biceps, working that lat pulldown machine repeatedly and finally also a stint on the Gravitron
45 minutes Stairmaster stepper, resistance just at six, which did not challenge me enough, but I wanted to try it for a change. Next time I'll try it at seven.
After spending my Upstate exile working on my upper body, I am thinking that going sleeveless is going to be a whole new experience this summer.
April 1: zilch
April 2: 40 minute jog on bike path, 3 1/2 miles or so
April 3: hopefully some walking during lunch and after work
It's been a while, this was the past week. Can't remember beyond that I'm afraid.
April 18: approx. 1 hour hiking, ascent and descent of small local mountain
April 17: 10 min treadmill @ 7 mph, 20 min upper body lifting, 10 min elliptical resistance at 7, 5 min treadmill @ 6.5 mph (I have severe gym ADD) - total 2.5 machine miles.
April 16: nothing formal, but worked double shift w/lots and lots of scurrying
April 15: 3 1/2 mile walk with mom
April 14: 4 hour mountain hike in the Catskills
April 13: very similar to April 17. ~30 min cardio + upper body lifting + leg press and wallsit machine.
April 12: not much
April 11: 2 mile jog outside, 10 min treadmill @ 7 mph, 20 min upper body lifting.
90 minute endurance spin class, with the instructor who likes lots of standing on the bike to use the whole leg
Just stretching afterward, no Pilates movements. Okay, I did do a bunch of crunches. I can remember when I found these awful and impossible. They aren't now.
Thursday, April 19:
-1 mile on treadmill at 7 mph
-3 x 10 dumbbell rows, 25 lbs
-1 x 8 barbell curls, bar + 15 lbs (it was HEAVY)
-2 x 12 barbell curls, bar + 5 lbs
-3 x 10 lat pulldown, 50 lbs
-3 x 10 front press, 50-40 lbs (was too heavy by the end)
-front and side planks
-5 min treadmill at 6.5 mph
-5 min stairstepper at resistance 12
-10 min elliptical at resistance 13
