Today turned out better than Wednesday. I had more energy and was able to increase some of my weights.
Since two guys were already in the small weightlifting area of the gym, I started off with the intervals. Maybe not the optimal configuration, but it didn't seem to have negative effects.
I did the intervals on the upright stationary bike.
Then I proceeded to Stage 3A4 of New Rules.
1 arm db snatch: 2x30#ea then 1x35# each. (powerful! I had to retry one of them because the weight didn't get all the way up.... that really emphasized how this is primarily a lower body exercise, not an arm exercise!)
db single leg rdl: 3x35# ea (not bad, keeping my balance better... maybe could increase weights if my grip would hold out that long!)
bb bentover row: 1x80#,1x85#,1x4@90#,2@85# (nice strong feeling with this one, a little grunting and fighting an urge to cheat!)
db single arm overhead squat: 3x15#/30# (partial squat due to knee, so increased the weight)
db incline bench press: 3x30#ea (30# over my head is scary, it'll be a while before I trust myself with 35#)
planks: 3x90sec (I made it all the way from 100 to 1 then back up to 10 on the last set... remember to breathe!!)
rev woodchop: 3x41# (will I ever be able to increase these??)
The physical therapist again wore me out. When I got home, I was beat and my knee was sore. I think I'll try to do those same exercises tomorrow.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Just ok
Today (Wednesday) was 3B3. it was just ok. I didn't increase weights. I didn't feel very strong. I did intervals on the stationary bike. The cool thing about that is that I could read.
That's all.
That's all.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
continued... almost chin-up and balance trainer bike
While we were on our walk last night, we stopped by the playground. While we were there, my husband grabbed a bar and did a chin-up. He challenged me to try, so I did. First, I tried a pull-up (hands facing out) but only got half-way up. Then, I tried a chin-up with a little bit of jump and did it! I'm sure with some work in stage 6 of New Rules, I will be able to do a straight-arm chin-up. I was worried I wouldn't be able to, but now I have hope. Maybe I should set my sights on pull-ups! Today, I actually feel it in my shoulders. I can't think of anything I did at PT to make my shoulders sore, so it must have been the chin-ups. I did a couple of them with the initial momentum addition. The jump wasn't a whole lot of help, it's not like I jumped to the top. The bar was well over my head. Standing flat footed, my arms were almost straight reaching it.
Since I mentioned my daughter riding her balance trainer bike (aka foot-to-floor or pedal free bike) I thought I would put a plug in for it. I strongly feel this is the best way for kids to learn how to ride a bike. Both of my kids have learned on this bike, starting at about 2 years 4 months. Basically, as soon as they were big enough to touch the ground with the seat all the way down they were on it. Both had a good grasp on balance after only about 3 walks. After a month or so, they are flying down the sidewalk, gliding with each step. It is really a sight to behold. It is actually a bit easier for them going up a slight hill than going down, since slowing down is harder. They have limited the turning range of the handlebars so that the child cannot turn too fast and jackknife. Sure, we have a few accidents, but the accidents with these things are MUCH milder than with bikes with training wheels. With my son, after a summer on this, the next summer, he was riding a bike with pedals. He was 3 1/2 years old.
Below is the type of bike we have for the kids, although we didn't have a piece of padding on the handle bar. We paid something like $70 for the thing, which I felt was a lot, but it has now taught three kids how to ride. I definitely think it is worth the money. Ours was imported from Germany, but slowly I'm starting to see similar bikes available locally. I have no idea why it took so long to catch on here. With my son, I don't know how many comments we got from people who saw him. Everyone was in awe.
12inch Kettler balance trainer bike
Since I mentioned my daughter riding her balance trainer bike (aka foot-to-floor or pedal free bike) I thought I would put a plug in for it. I strongly feel this is the best way for kids to learn how to ride a bike. Both of my kids have learned on this bike, starting at about 2 years 4 months. Basically, as soon as they were big enough to touch the ground with the seat all the way down they were on it. Both had a good grasp on balance after only about 3 walks. After a month or so, they are flying down the sidewalk, gliding with each step. It is really a sight to behold. It is actually a bit easier for them going up a slight hill than going down, since slowing down is harder. They have limited the turning range of the handlebars so that the child cannot turn too fast and jackknife. Sure, we have a few accidents, but the accidents with these things are MUCH milder than with bikes with training wheels. With my son, after a summer on this, the next summer, he was riding a bike with pedals. He was 3 1/2 years old.
Below is the type of bike we have for the kids, although we didn't have a piece of padding on the handle bar. We paid something like $70 for the thing, which I felt was a lot, but it has now taught three kids how to ride. I definitely think it is worth the money. Ours was imported from Germany, but slowly I'm starting to see similar bikes available locally. I have no idea why it took so long to catch on here. With my son, I don't know how many comments we got from people who saw him. Everyone was in awe.
12inch Kettler balance trainer bike
PT and a bit of running
Boy, I taunted my physical therapist yesterday by telling him to put more weight on the partial leg press. Then he proceeded to kill me! Haa. Like holding a sitting position with my back on the wall for two minutes and lots of exercises in a squatting position.
Then, after dinner we went for a walk as a family. Well, my son and his friend rode their bikes and my daughter rode her pedal-free bike. Before she never rode very fast. Well, with the boys up ahead, she was motivated and rode like crazy. So, we actually had to jog along with her. I was still wearing my workout clothes from therapy, so that was good. I probably ran about a mile in total.
Then, after dinner we went for a walk as a family. Well, my son and his friend rode their bikes and my daughter rode her pedal-free bike. Before she never rode very fast. Well, with the boys up ahead, she was motivated and rode like crazy. So, we actually had to jog along with her. I was still wearing my workout clothes from therapy, so that was good. I probably ran about a mile in total.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Biking, but not going anywhere
Not much to say about today's workout. Per the PT's suggestion, I rode the stationary bike today for 30 minutes. Not my favorite thing in the world, but I had too much pizza last night! And some of a berry milkshake. I told myself then that I would have to work out this morning, so I fought against talking myself out of it this morning and I actually won!
I would rather ride my own bike. But, I'm not sure about riding on the streets when it's still dark out and the people on the road are still half asleep and more concerned about downing their coffee. Also, the area around here isn't very challenging for bikes. Riding around the neighborhood sounds pretty boring. Maybe I'll try it some time for kicks. At least then I could use the GPS on my Garmin!
I set the bike to a "cross-country" course. There were some VERY steep hills. I definitely was sweating a lot. The nice thing is I could read a book. I actually was reading a book on speech writing. Not a bad book, but probably not what most people read while on the stationary bike! Ha!
I wore my padded bike shorts today. Probably a good choice. I don't like the seat on the bike, though. It's a big seat, like those you see on "comfort bikes." I'd prefer a normal narrower seat, not the super narrow kind some of the really serious bikers use, but a run-of-the-mill regular seat.
I would rather ride my own bike. But, I'm not sure about riding on the streets when it's still dark out and the people on the road are still half asleep and more concerned about downing their coffee. Also, the area around here isn't very challenging for bikes. Riding around the neighborhood sounds pretty boring. Maybe I'll try it some time for kicks. At least then I could use the GPS on my Garmin!
I set the bike to a "cross-country" course. There were some VERY steep hills. I definitely was sweating a lot. The nice thing is I could read a book. I actually was reading a book on speech writing. Not a bad book, but probably not what most people read while on the stationary bike! Ha!
I wore my padded bike shorts today. Probably a good choice. I don't like the seat on the bike, though. It's a big seat, like those you see on "comfort bikes." I'd prefer a normal narrower seat, not the super narrow kind some of the really serious bikers use, but a run-of-the-mill regular seat.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)