Using It - May 21 - 27

[banshee]

Well, I'm pleased that I got in 3 days of exercise last week. I was also very pleased with my Saturday upper body exercise. It was the first day since vacation where I did my formal TotalGym exercises. I pulled out my exercise notebook and used the resistance levels I had used on the last session before vacation, but I fully expected that I wouldn't be able to do all the exercises/reps. I was really surprised that I didn't have any trouble with them. In fact, there were a couple where I actually was able to do a couple more reps! :)

This surprised me, especially after Randy's comments in another thread about how quickly we lose muscle efficiency, and it's been at least a month since I did any *formal* upper body exercises. The only thing I can think is that even though I wasn't doing formal stuff, I was actually using the muscles I had strengthened in every day lifting, etc. and therefore didn't lose any efficiency.

All that being said, though, I have been experiencing quite a bit of DOM the last 2 days, more than has been usual lately. So apparently there was some backsliding, but it wasn't in strength...

I'm still keeping away from core, and I really miss it. :( But at least until my doctor appt in June, my goal is upper and lower workouts only. 1-2 of each per week, to equal 3 exercise days.

[Mitra]

I didn't manage to get started on Sunday this week, so today was my first session. Just plugging on as usual :).

[banshee]

Ah, but it's those of you that "just plug along" that keep the rest of us motivated to do the same, Mitra! :rolleyes: One of these years I really will make exercise a true habit!

[Mitra]

It might even be this year :).

One of the benefits of losing the old board is that you can't read all those posts where I did a week of exercise, then nothing for a month, then said that I didn't care about doing exercise anyway. Then started again. In the end, in desperation, I put my goal into my signature, and kept it updated with how many weeks of the year I'd met the goal. I really hated the idea that I might have to update from "11 out of 11" to "11 out of 12" :(. Stevie commented on it once, and thinking that people actually noticed made a difference to me. Then once I'd got through a decent part of the year, I wanted to be able to say that I'd done the whole year. And by the time I'd done the year, I didn't want to let all my efforts go to waste by dropping it, and so far I haven't :D. I wouldn't say I feel "safe," though - just that believing I can do it is possible now.

[SherryJ]

It might even be this year...
Uh-oh... "the Shadow knows"...

Mitra, THIS is how Shadow started nudging you along, remember? LOOK OUT, MARY!!! :D

Sherry

[banshee]

Sherry, I think I'll survive. :D

Besides, I need as much help as I can get to make this a habit! :rolleyes:

Mitra, it's funny you should mention losing those posts as being a benefit. I was thinking that all the conversation I'm posting about my difficulties might actually be helpful to someone else down the road who's going through the same thing. There something about knowing that you're not the only one having trouble that makes it easier to deal with it and stick with it, if you know what I mean! :)

I'm doing ok this week. Did a really good total body workout yesterday. I'm beginning to see a pattern. I can usually work through most of my upper body workout without taking much of a rest so that it's more aerobic, but when I alternate between upper and lower body, I consistently have to take a rest break after the lower body stuff to let my breathing and heart rate slow down from "breakneck" speed. Something about the lower body stuff really shoots my heart rate up. :(

[SherryJ]

Sherry, I think I'll survive.

NO doubt about it, Mary! ;) And, I'll be right here, cheering you on!!!

Sherry

[Ottawa]

I was really surprised that I didn't have any trouble with them. In fact, there were a couple where I actually was able to do a couple more reps! :)
This surprised me, especially after Randy's comments in another thread about how quickly we lose muscle efficiency,

To clarify, I don't think we actually lose muscle but we do lose efficiency in using that muscle when we fail to use it. I notice it most when being pushed by an instuctor if you have missed a few classes. There is no way that muscle mass went missing in a few weeks, but without pushing it, the muscle just seems to fatigue earlier.

Sunday: Day off
Monday: Holiday - 3 hours finishing the garden, weights in the evening.
Tuesday: Day off
Wednesday: 2 hours of heavy yard work
Thursday: Day off
Friday:Another day off, slipping a bit
Saturday: Long bike ride, an abs workout and I finally went running, 1 block run, 1 block brisk walk, and so on for 2 miles.

This is a poor week for me. I missed the sculpting class and change locations next Tuesday so will be unable to continue. The new location has an unused office attached to mine and I will set up weights and music in there and run in an extension to monitor any client requests.