There's a special gift that God gives to people who are attentive to their weight lifting form. If you know how to lift weights, you know that you shouldn't overextend your muscles so you can prevent injuries. You don't bring your elbows past your shoulder line when doing presses, or speed through your reps. You breathe slowly as you exert yourself, and inhale as you bring the weight down to it's resting point. Count slowly in your head "PUSH 1,2,3,4" "RELAX 1,2,3,4". If you're lucky, you're granted the gifts of muscle failure in your last set, and the gift of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, otherwise known as DOMS.
When I was riding on the way home, I could already feel my abs twitching. This morning, my triceps and chest were in real pain. I could barely get out of bed this morning, and I felt really stupid because I should be used to the workout by now. I'm basically saying that today, I rested. I really wanted to exercise, but I didn't have a plan for this, so I'm just going to tell you that I didn't do anything today, accept my failure and move on. If I want to stay accountable, I have to write down the times I fall. So long as I don't dwell on them or hide them, I think it will be easier for me to get back up.
30 November, 2010
Every Day but Sunday Day 1
I announced early this morning on my Facebook group that I would be committing to exercising every day but Sunday. It's a bold statement, and one I'm not entirely confident I can keep. I've never stuck to anything for very long, but I figure with all these people watching me, and hopefully keeping me accountable, it will keep me motivated.
I got off to a slow start today. Lately, I haven't been sleeping very well at all, and spent most of my time in bed during the day trying to sleep off a headache. I had promised myself I'd go to the gym though, and finally ended up going at 9 PM. My workout was remarkable only in how well I executed most of the exercises. I still have trouble with the seated row since I have no idea what group of muscles I'm supposed to be working. Is it my trapezius? My lattimus dorsi? My triceps? I see guys do that machine all sorts of ways, and they really pull with their entire bodies. I'm not sure that's right. What if I'm supposed to keep my core tight and move only my arms up to my chest? More investigation is needed. Overall, my strength training portion goes very well.
I procrastinate for about five minutes before I spot a new treadmill. It has an iPod attachment and a cool video screen and what look like two gaming control handles. I am already in love, even though I know I should avoid the treadmill, I'm just not feeling the track tonight. I have fun moving the speed up and down while I do two minute intervals for 15 minutes. If I had a Nike+ account, it would save the workout info. When I get a job, it will be one of the first things I consider buying.
When I'm done with my workout, I go downstairs to get dressed. Wafting through the air is the smell of my kryptonite. Pizza. I know it's Pizza Hut, and I can smell it coming from the front desk. I pray that they're not offering free pizza for some credit card promotion or something equally stupid. I note to myself that I need to start a food diary as today's diet wasn't ideal either. I started out okay with a berry smoothie made with greek yogurt, orange juice, berries and a banana. Later on, the small bowl of beans was fantastic. I shouldn't have had that hot pocket though. I still eat compulsively.
I'm hoping I can get some good sleep tonight after my workout.
I got off to a slow start today. Lately, I haven't been sleeping very well at all, and spent most of my time in bed during the day trying to sleep off a headache. I had promised myself I'd go to the gym though, and finally ended up going at 9 PM. My workout was remarkable only in how well I executed most of the exercises. I still have trouble with the seated row since I have no idea what group of muscles I'm supposed to be working. Is it my trapezius? My lattimus dorsi? My triceps? I see guys do that machine all sorts of ways, and they really pull with their entire bodies. I'm not sure that's right. What if I'm supposed to keep my core tight and move only my arms up to my chest? More investigation is needed. Overall, my strength training portion goes very well.
I procrastinate for about five minutes before I spot a new treadmill. It has an iPod attachment and a cool video screen and what look like two gaming control handles. I am already in love, even though I know I should avoid the treadmill, I'm just not feeling the track tonight. I have fun moving the speed up and down while I do two minute intervals for 15 minutes. If I had a Nike+ account, it would save the workout info. When I get a job, it will be one of the first things I consider buying.
When I'm done with my workout, I go downstairs to get dressed. Wafting through the air is the smell of my kryptonite. Pizza. I know it's Pizza Hut, and I can smell it coming from the front desk. I pray that they're not offering free pizza for some credit card promotion or something equally stupid. I note to myself that I need to start a food diary as today's diet wasn't ideal either. I started out okay with a berry smoothie made with greek yogurt, orange juice, berries and a banana. Later on, the small bowl of beans was fantastic. I shouldn't have had that hot pocket though. I still eat compulsively.
I'm hoping I can get some good sleep tonight after my workout.
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