Catherine, it sounds like you’re really being consistent. That’s great. Just make sure not to push your knee too far. It could be that as the muscles around it strengthen, the knee will be able to withstand more exercise.

I can’t answer your question about the HR monitor in the pool. Unfortunately I can’t swim well enough to propel myself much so it’s just frustrating and not something I’d do as a work out.

Day 37 - Long Slow Weight Workout.

Today I had my front body weight routine scheduled. I was looking forward to it and had a good workout. Again, I added an extra set to my supersets so I did 4 sets of each. I felt like I was taking too much rest time between exercises, but it is the end of the week and I had no time constraints so I took the time to stretch, however my HR kept dropping quit low (below 100). So even if my intensity wasn’t there it was a long through session. I am feeling very tired tonight. I’m going to bed early even though tomorrow is Saturday and I don’t have to be up early. I plan to use my new gym membership (did I mention I signed up on Wednesday???) to do a LSB cardio tomorrow morning, but if I’m still feeling beat maybe it should be a rest day. Birthday party plans for a few friends in the evening.

37 days ... that’s well over a month of straight exercise.  Good job.  I am just starting as you have seen.  Day 37 is still in the distant future for me.

Nicely done!!!

Thanks Derek!

Day 39 - got to the gym and intended to just do my cardio, but I noticed the group class schedule on my way in and I was early enough to try a bodyflow class. Did 20 min on the elliptical (10min short of the 30 required by my trainer), then did the hour class. It was a cross between yoga, ty-chi (SP?), with some pilates ab work too. Some of the poses were a bit much for me (lack of low back/spine flexibility), so I don’t think I’ll do it every week, but it will be interesting to see if I can do more of it in another month or so. Not a tough workout today, but then I haven’t had any rest days recently so not planning on doing any more today.

Rest days are important. It doesn’t sound like today was a rest day, however.

Good stuff Cathrine enjoy your rest day!

Actyally don’t have one scheduled for tomorrow either - but we’ll see how we feel in the morning - tomorrow is supposed to be back body weight routine and cardio - have to make up for the 10 min I skipped out on today....Currently have a rest day schuled for Tuesday...but it’s flexible

Thats the best way for to be!

Catherine,
You are doing great but make sure you get in those rest days. They are good for body and mind.

Thanks for showing concern Joan, Shawn and Eileen!! I am listening to my body today and it is tired, so I am taking today off. I didn’t go to the gym and do my weight workout as originally planned. I will likely go out for an easy walk after dinner and do some stretching tonight, but nothing strenuous. I have already re-planned my workouts this week since I changed things today! Even if I don’t have back flexibility… I can be flexible in other ways!!

Hope you are all doing well.

Good stuff Cathrine don’t over work yourself, it can be one of the greatest de-motivators!

That’s such a great attitude Catherine!

the best thing about being fit, is the ability to be flexible!

I agree with the flexibility.  Being flexible also helps with the all or none thinking that sometimes rears its ugly head.

Thanks guys!!

Day 40 - Today I did what I had planned for yesterday - Back body weight routine and 1/2 hr cardio (elliptical - Ave HR 156). The day off yesterday did me some good. I really noticed a difference from the last time I did that weight routine on Friday - I was able to get through it much quicker (moved between excises faster with little resting) and some of the weights I struggled with on Friday were more manageable today!!

Tomorrow was to be my rest day - but I’ll do my front body routine in the morning. I’m having dinner at a buffet type restaurant tomorrow night with the Swim Team, so maybe I’ll try to get some cardio when I get home… test out the knees on the treadmill (LSB - no incline!!).

P.S. didn’t go out for that walk or stretching last night - felt a bit tight today. Spent the time trying to scan some anatomy/muscle charts from my university texts for my trainer so he can “decorate” his gym in his basement.

Good stuff Cathrine, if you got through quicker that means it’s time to up those weights!

I was just tired on Friday and took too long between exercises.  This is the last week on this program and my trainer will give me a new one this weekend - supposedly much more aerobic - high reps - so I doubt I’ll be upping the weights then!  I was looking back at where I started in January and noted that I have almost doubled the weight of many of the exercises I do!!  (eg - started chest press at 40 lbs - now do 70 to 75 lbs)

Yesterday - Day 41 - Front body weight routine - I did up the weight on my chest press Shawn and acutlly added 2x5lb plates to the bar I do squats with!! To think I couldn’t even do regular body weight squats when I started in January! Limited time so I had to skip my last superset of bicepts and tricepts and shoulder raises and didn’t get to do cardio after dinner out with the swim team. I started early to get my workout in and it was a very long day at work so I was beat when I got home - didn’t even have the energy to post!!

Today - day 42 - went to the gym after track team practice and did a quick 35min on the elliptical and then tried an “Awesome Abs” class. I didn’t think too much of the instructor. He was big and muscular on top with very skinny stick legs - very disproportionate!! He didn’t give much instruction - just went to town and did a lot of grunting himself while he worked. While the first part was a tough floor ab workout that I had to modify a bit to my ability, the second half was standing work, which I have never tried before - it seemed to work the abs a bit but I don’t think it was that effective for strengthening the abs - more like cardio work and in a 15 min class it was out of place (I think). He encouraged a lot of yelling and then started pounding his abs with his fists to prove they were “hard” I guess. He insisted we join in too… most everyone stood there and looked at him do it. I thought he was a bit off his rocker. If I was the type to be intimidated I think he world have really put me off. This guy may attract some more guys to his class, but I’ll avoid his classes from now on… just have to try a different instructor!!

Off to bed - need my rest!!

Sounds like a well deserved rest too!

Tarzan teaches fitness classes??? Good job Cathrine!

Hilarious Shawn… but a perfect description… now every time I see him that is all I’ll be able to think of… maybe I’ll be able to get the nick name to stick at the gym! Instructor Tarzan!!

Day 43 -Today I had a hard time getting myself out the door to get to the school early to get a morning workout in. Stayed up too late, was woken up too early and just didn’t have a clear head. But once I got in there I hit it hard and got done what I needed to in the hour I had. (was planning on a bit longer). Did my last session of weight training for my program 2 (back body)!!

I had planned to do a full body w/t workout tomorrow, but my plans for the weekend have changed and I am meeting my trainer to go over my new program (instead of Sunday). I haven’t seen it yet but he has hinted that the reps are going way up and it is much more aerobic! I’m looking forward to it!
This weekend I am accompanying the Girls Soccer team to a tournament in Kingston. Since the Teacher/Coach of the Soccer Team is the sister of my trainer he is changing his schedule and other clients around to accommodate me. He said he’d have to kick his sister’s butt later with a killer leg workout!! She knew she’d be in for it!!