Friday, 6/15: 15 minutes running on treadmill between 6-7 mph. Upper body lifting routine + dumbbell squats. 10 minutes sprint intervals on elliptical. Got too hungry to continue.
Saturday, 6/16: 2.75 mile mountain run with boyfriend. Did not properly fuel myself and felt weak the entire time.
Sunday, 6/17: Quick 20 minute sprint intervals on elliptical at gym. Level 7/10. Left me sweaty and wobbly - success!
45 minute spin class, in new-to-me Pearl Izumi spin shoes that may be one size too small, because my right big toe was killing me through much of the class.
15 minutes Pilates routine, blessedly shoe-less
Early this morning, during my breakfast and my stint at the gym, we had stark gray weather with thunderstorms and hard, drilling rain -- the kind of weather that takes the summer away temporarily. But now the sun is out and I think it will be sultry and humid.
I turned a huge industrial-strength standing fan directly on myself this morning at the gym & that helped during the cardio.
15 minutes Stairmaster stepper, aerobic intervals, resistance at eight, yes, hands-free
60 minutes chest, shoulders and triceps, with lots of bench pressing, such that my arms now feel tired and twitchy
45 minutes back on the stepper, same settings, powering through without grabbing the rails or dropping the resistance. I attribute this mostly to the fun blowing over me.
I feel wiped out this morning. I gave all that I could give.
45 minute spin class, pushing myself, in my comfortable old beat-up cycling shoes
15 minutes Pilates routine, with me feeling a little bored. I need to look up new Pilates movements.
June 18: 30 minutes Body Pump, 30 minutes Strength Training
Totals:
13 days
1130 minutes
On Tuesday, I have been going to a U-Jam dance class, but I had a pot-luck to go to that interfered. I had planned ahead of time to bring fruit, and to leave early to be able to go to evening Bikram. I did that, but got home and got unmotivated. I never go to evening Bikram and the anxious part of me started thinking-- I won't know the instructor-- I won't recognize anyone in class. But I dragged myself there anyway and I'm so glad I did! I went to my usual front row spot and there were several brand new students. I always feel like I have to try extra hard if there are new students because I know they look to the front row to figure things out, form, etc. I didn't know the instructor but she made quite a few complimentary comments to me during the practice and afterwards she asked my name and said "Amazing practice!". I was stoked and glad I went!
Wed, 6/20:
-20 min intervals at level 8/10 on arc trainer. Aggravated lower back pain and was SO HOT that I was literally gasping and trying not to vomit/pass out during recovery intervals.
On Tuesday, I have been going to a U-Jam dance class, but I had a pot-luck to go to that interfered. I had planned ahead of time to bring fruit, and to leave early to be able to go to evening Bikram. I did that, but got home and got unmotivated. I never go to evening Bikram and the anxious part of me started thinking-- I won't know the instructor-- I won't recognize anyone in class. But I dragged myself there anyway and I'm so glad I did! I went to my usual front row spot and there were several brand new students. I always feel like I have to try extra hard if there are new students because I know they look to the front row to figure things out, form, etc. I didn't know the instructor but she made quite a few complimentary comments to me during the practice and afterwards she asked my name and said "Amazing practice!". I was stoked and glad I went!
June 19: 90 minutes Bikram Yoga
Totals:
14 days
1220 minutes
June 20: 30 minutes kickboxing class, 25 minutes weights/abs class.
Regular instructor wasn't there so different instructor came in and started class late and with a different format. Oh well. I had kind of decided I was already going back for another class and that experience cemented it.
15 minutes on Stairmaster stepper, resistance at eight, aerobic intervals
60 minutes back and biceps routine, with 75 pounds now feeling too low for lat pulldowns, so I'm vowing that I'm going to bump up to 80 next time
45 minutes back on stepper, same setting, and yeah, I grabbed the railings for the last 12 minutes, pouring sweat. Not having that big industrial-strength fan from the Tractor Supply Store trained directly on me definitely made a difference.
Krampus, I belong to two gyms.
One is a no-frills place right nearby in our village with lots of free weights and a smaller, rather beat-up cardio area in an overhead loft. I go there because it's so cheap and for my weight training days. I keep waiting for this gym to go bankrupt and for me to show up & find its front door chained. Once the new YMCA is built outside of town, it's going to bite the dust. I can tell by the busted equipment that they drag aside without bothering to repair: Not much is getting reinvested in the infrastructure. This gym is mostly frequented by an unusual mix: guys who work at the local Budweiser plant & senior citizens in the many local retirement communities who also see the physical therapists that keep an office right off the free-weight area. This gym is very poorly air-conditioned, has no water fountain or cooler (!) and the high overhead loft traps heat. The Budweiser guys actually seem to take pride in these adverse conditions.
My other gym is about 12 minutes away, a longer drive in winter (though winter was mild, as you know). It's part of a burgeoning small chain around here, is financially thriving, and has rows of gleaming new cardio machines, lots of classes, including spin class, and tanning beds. There are lots of women here -- including a whole gaggle of female teachers when I head there around 5:30 AM on spin class days. This place, I avoid right after work, as it then becomes a place to meet potential dates and that's not my age demographic anymore. This place is so well-airconditioned that the desk attendant often has a fleece blanket covering her lower body.
June 20: 30 minutes kickboxing class, 25 minutes weights/abs class.
Regular instructor wasn't there so different instructor came in and started class late and with a different format. Oh well. I had kind of decided I was already going back for another class and that experience cemented it.
One is a no-frills place right nearby in our village with lots of free weights and a smaller, rather beat-up cardio area in an overhead loft. I go there because it's so cheap and for my weight training days. I keep waiting for this gym to go bankrupt and for me to show up & find its front door chained. Once the new YMCA is built outside of town, it's going to bite the dust. I can tell by the busted equipment that they drag aside without bothering to repair: Not much is getting reinvested in the infrastructure. This gym is mostly frequented by an unusual mix: guys who work at the local Budweiser plant & senior citizens in the many local retirement communities who also see the physical therapists that keep an office right off the free-weight area. This gym is very poorly air-conditioned, has no water fountain or cooler (!) and the high overhead loft traps heat. The Budweiser guys actually seem to take pride in these adverse conditions.
My other gym is about 12 minutes away, a longer drive in winter (though winter was mild, as you know). It's part of a burgeoning small chain around here, is financially thriving, and has rows of gleaming new cardio machines, lots of classes, including spin class, and tanning beds. There are lots of women here -- including a whole gaggle of female teachers when I head there around 5:30 AM on spin class days. This place, I avoid right after work, as it then becomes a place to meet potential dates and that's not my age demographic anymore. This place is so well-airconditioned that the desk attendant often has a fleece blanket covering her lower body.
Potential dates? Yeeeeeccccchhhhhh, I don't know that I would like that, but the air conditioning sounds great. My gym sounds like your first gym - big guys in sweatsuits sprinting on treadmills, tossing barbells around, and a strong presence of rusty/creaky equipment.
Thursday, June 21: REST DAY. Was my usual lifting day and as a result I feel like all my muscles have turned to Nickelodeon Gak today.
