Day 50 - Serious Stuff

Today was the first day of my “serious program” LOL - no more mucking around! I put in 110% effort today at the gym and motivated myself through the whole workout telling myself it was worth it, I can do it and getting excited about the results. Halfway through my decline press I noticed one of the gym trainers behind me spotting!! I have never had anyone spot for me before but he saw the effort I was putting in and wanted to help. It really made my morning. I did some incline flyes which I haven’t done for years - they bought back memories and felt really good. Probably the best exercise I did in the morning were the cable ab crunches. I have never done them before - but let me tell you - they work! My afternoon session was great - by the time I left the gym my triceps were in meltdown and my calves felt very heavy walking down the stairs so I know I did a good workout. Looking forward to tomorrow

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I had my assessment today and my trainer basically said that if I want to get into a comp, I will need to stop all the cardio, and start working hard on gaining some mass. It was my choice and the answer was easy - I want more muscle! Since I started, I have lost 7% body fat and 8kg in weight so I am at a good point now to build some serious muscle. That means no more running or cycle class *sobs uncontrollably*, changing all my meals (more food - yummy LOL) and training with weights twice a day, 5 days per week. The program he has written me is huge but I get 2 days off each week, which I’ll need off to cook everything anyway LOL. I will be starting my new program and eating plan on Monday. I won’t call my bodybuilding friend yet about my diet as it needs to be turned around completely anyway to build the muscle (and not to lose anything). I am really looking forward to this challenge and hopefully make some decent gains in the first month. Wish me luck

Do you look in the mirror when you train? I do. No, I don’t do it to check myself out LOL but I do use them to watch my technique. I have the tendancy to lean more to the right so I need to watch my posture when I train. I noticed today while I was doing my sumo squats that I was leaning again - not sure how to fix this. It doesn’t seem to create any problems at this stage but once I get into the heavier weights it might. The rest of my weights workout was all done straight and I got through it pretty quickly. When I went back later to do my run the gym was packed. I waited and the only treadmill I could get on is limited to 20 minutes. So I only managed to get 4kms done but I suppose it is better than nothing. Cycle class tomorrow - woo hoo!

“I want your decision by the end of the day” was what I was told by my trainer this morning. I was speaking to him about my eating plan, my goals and the possibility of entering a competition in October. He told me that I can’t wait and see what happens - I need to decide now - yes or no - so that the appropriate training plan can be put into place and the people I need to see (for poses and routines etc) can be organised. Whoa ……….. steady on now LOL. So, I told him “yes” because I can always back out if I feel the need. I would much rather train hard and if I don’t get in shape in time, I can just not do it. Don’t get me wrong, that is NOT what I want - I want to do it so I am going to keep focussed and positive about it. I have booked my assessment with my trainer for Thursday - and he is pulling the calipers out this time - to get a better body fat measurement than the dreaded scales. We will go through it all properly which will be interesting. All that aside, my weights training went really well, my leg presses are getting easier but I don’t think I am ready to increase any weight just yet. I got through the rest of the program in a good time and did a short 1km walk afterward. I went back and did a 6km run on the treadmill. I just have to remember to play the fast song on last so it doesn’t destroy my energy half way through again LOL

I wasn’t able to get to gym this morning (yeah, I know - it’s awful isn’t it *sobs*) but that was because hubby was home - so I convinced him to come on a walk with me (he wants to get fitter anyway). He was all for it until we set off as I apparently walk to fast (hey, I am on a mission here - no slacking allowed LOL). I slowed down for him and we ended up walking 3.5km at a medium pace. Well, he ended up with shin splints - poor boy. Thankfully by the time he played cricket this afternoon, they are nowhere near as bad as they were. He was going to come to cycle class with me tomorrow as well so we will wait and see how keen he is in the morning. Training is bloody hard work but it is nice to have a training buddy. My cardio was great tonight - I managed a 5km run and sped the treadmill up to 12kph through a few songs. I still need to get my shuffle sorted - it’s a PITA repeating the same song over and over LOL.

I love cardio days (just in case you didn’t already know that LOL). I managed to do a 5km run this morning (with sore legs). My intention was to do a good 45mins of fast paced walking on the treadmill but some of the music I have on my shuffle made me want to run (do you ever get that? LOL). I couldn’t help it - I just put the incline back to 0 and increased the speed to 12kph and ran. It was great :). I went back later with my sister to do our usual Wednesday night cycle class and it was so hot in there again. I was hoping that they would have finished the new cycle room over Christmas but it doesn’t look like anything has been done yet. It was great to get back on the bike though and I certainly worked up a sweat. The fans didn’t even reach where we were. It’s supposed to be 41 degrees tomorrow so I am glad the gym has air-conditioning

I think the change of program and my small holiday has helped with my muscle recovery because I was able to increase a lot of my weights today and have marked the rest to increase them again next time. My Sumo squats were easy so I increased the weight to 25kg, bent over rows were also increased to 30kg. I need to increase the weights for deadlifts but am still working out what weight to use - I get scared about hurting my back. Overall, my session at the gym today was really good. I also did a small 3km run straight after my workout today because I wasn’t able to get back for my cardio session (we were going to the cricket - and it was an awesome match LOL). Cardio day tomorrow - and cycle class!!! I can’t wait

It was so good to get back to the gym today - although the first thing my trainer called me was p**s head! Apparently I have spies out there who told him all about my 4 hour partying workout on new years eve LOL. I don’t normally drink and didn’t think having 4 drinks to celebrate the new year would cause too much on my training. Not sure about being a p**s head though - even though, it certainly did go to my head LOL. He won’t tell me who told him but I’ll find out LOL. My weights training was great - I was surprised at how easy it was to get through it considering I haven’t trained for a few days (shhh - don’t tell anyone). I’ll probably be a bit sore tomorrow. My cardio training was good - it was nice to be back on the treadmill and running without sweating so much and eating flies. I managed to do 5kms in half an hour so was pleased with that. I have only got two more weeks of training until my next assessment. Then it will be a change of everything to cut my bodyfat down - am looking forward to the change

I am starting to think that while I am here, an early start might be easier than going for a run at 8am. I don’t think it has dropped under 40 degrees during the day and it is usually around 32 while I am running now. It was really hot this morning and I am struggling with the heat. I have obviously been spoilt by going to an air-conditioned gym LOL. What amazes me is the people you see running during the day – I have no idea how they have the stamina to do it when it is that hot. Don’t get me wrong, I love the heat, but to be in the full sun during the hottest part of the day is just too much. I am thinking I could do my weights program in the morning and go for a run at night (which is what I usually do when I am at home anyway). Either that or have an early start and go for a run as soon as I get up 1st which would be around 6am. Not that it really matters much as we will be heading home soon. Although, it would be a great routine to get into, and I could continue the early run when I get home. Oh, decisions, decisions ………. Will let you know what I decide, later

I wonder if anyone else has experienced pins & needles in their stomach while running. It is the weirdest feeling and I don’t think I have ever experienced it before. It only seemed to be on one side (the right side) and almost felt numb. I will need to look into it as it was very weird. My run was good though and there were other runners and walkers about. The mornings are definitely getting hotter. It was 26 degrees when I got back from my run this morning. I have been really good with my diet too. I am so glad I made all my 1st lunches before we came – it has certainly made it easier. Most of my dinners have been cold meat or tuna with salad – although we went out for dinner last night and I had fresh king prawns. They were delicious (except when I accidentally sprayed prawn poop all over myself – that was gross LOL). My weights and abs workouts were great today – I put in a really good effort and will probably be sore tomorrow. I am missing gym though – I really enjoy going there and although my holiday program is good, the atmosphere just isn’t the same. Only one week to go and I can go back there – yay