First thing Monday morning I was at the gym to weigh in and get measured.
The results? Continue reading
Monthly Archives: March 2016
Gym episode 20/03: Last chance workout…on my own
Damion Daniel was unavailable to train me on Sunday. Although I was accustomed to working out on my own all these years, I have come to rely on him pushing me to, as he told me, where my body has never gone before. Let’s see what I could put together for this “last chance workout,” still under his watchful eye as he was in the gym.
Gym stories 19/03: In the home stretch
I’d jumped on the scale at physio on Friday so knew that I’d lost some more. Would it be enough? Will I meet my target for the 40 days? These two final days had to count.
Not sure I was up for the hard workout today.
Gym episode 18/03: Progress
As the end of the 40 day challenge draws near, I can feel the progress I have made. And the reality is I have not had to do anything too drastic. Well except that the Christmas pudding is sitting in the freezer. Funny enough though, I haven’t craved it. THAT is certainly progress.
Exercise for today was the last of Bambi’s class at work. Like I did Monday, I carried my skipping rope and weights to continue working out after. Worked up a really great sweat.
This was lunch on Friday. The chicken was seasoned with only lemon rind, garlic and coconut oil. No salt. Yummmy!
Gym episode 17/03: Back-to-back session
It’s kinda rough having back to back sessions with the Trainer. He pushes me to go full throttle so I am spent at the end of it. But without a choice, I laced up my sneakers and headed to the gym…..and one hour earlier too! I must really like working with him. Those who know me well, know that I am not a morning person AT ALL.
This morning, I had to have steely resolve to get through the workout. Something had upset my sleep on Wednesday and I woke up twice during the night. Damion always stresses that the mind needs to drive my workouts. Mind, are you present?
Warm up went well enough.
We did squats on the stationery machine (Smith?) “But didn’t we do squats yesterday?” is my retort when I have to do them on consecutive days. His usual response is “yeah…ok let’s go.” :?:? No sympathy. But it’s good for me.
The trainer had been putting me through a more cardiovascular workout this week so everything had to be done quicker to get the heart rate up. So yes, I huffed and puffed my way through the workout.
At the end of it all, I felt exhilerated, knowing that I was rather tired. It made it all the more worthwhile when I could fit into a jacket which I had not been able to wear in months. It couldn’t even button up back then. 🙂
I mark off my workouts on a calendar at work. Entering today’s session felt particularly satisfying. I can feel my body accepting the challenges I have thrown at it.
Gym episode 16/03: Doubling up
Wednesday I was doing double duty: morning gym session with Damion Daniel and walking around the area near the office in the afternoon.
This was my warm up cardio. Burned off maybe half of my breakfast.
I can’t remember anything too memorable about this workout except that I had to do the dreaded squats. Yuck! It is helping the booty though 👍
Continue reading
Gym episode 14/03: More, more, more
Started out the day with a healthy smoothie.
Exercise today was going to be with Bambi at work. I had already decided that I was going to do more so had packed the skipping rope and my weights. Turns out that Bambi was unable to come. I was extremely grateful to two of my colleagues who decided to lead a session. I am sure I would not have exercised without that start.
After their session was done, I continued with my skipping and other exercises. I was dripping wet after, and feeling very pleased with myself for doing more.
Gym episode 13/03: I want to make magic
The heat was being turned up. We were coming into the final stretch of the 40 day weight loss challenge. One week from today, to be exact. Normally my Sunday workouts consist of calming yoga and tai chi. But when the Trainer is available for a rare Sunday session, you ditch those, but in favour of what? Continue reading
Gym episode 12/03: Early bird
Got to the gym early enough Saturday to be able to use the foam roller for a good enough period before going on the elliptical. I only did 6 minutes I think, because I had Pilates at 9 and wanted to get in a good weight session.
That I did, inspite of having a sore throat and sniffles.
The Trainer was not so concerned. I just had to get on with it.
Pilates saved me from cardio at the end. Sunday, I would pay, surely.
I stocked up on Steelcut Oats in preparation. Looking forward to a long session with Damion Daniel on Sunday since I wouldn’t have to rush off anywhere.
Gym episode 11/03: Skipping
I had kept forgetting that I had a skipping rope. So Thursday night I made sure to take it out and message Damion Daniel that I would be bringing it in Friday.
After my warm up, we did exercises inside. Can’t recall what we did (second note to self….do blog posts immediately after). He then took up a bar and told me to come outside. There is gym equipment out in the car park. No AC. Sun did hottttt. We did lat pull downs and the hated squats.
Next there were sprints, then skipping. I used to see my mother skip during training when she used to play netball internationally. Her knees went higher than mine. I also always remember my dearly departed friend Nelisa, who would always mention skipping as a good workout when she was motivating me to exercise even though I couldn’t afford to go to the gym back then. Her mom also played netball. Maybe that’s where she picked it up.
I was so engrossed in the training that it wasn’t until Damion looked at his watch and said he had to go, that I realized the time. I too had a meeting.
The time during the training sessions with Damion goes by without me realizing how long we are working out for. Well, that’s except if he is making me do the hated squats or lunges and I ask him “yuh doh have somewhere to go??”