seat balance

Well, I forced myself to go to the gym Friday night.  I lifted weights.  I can't really remember exactly what I did, but basically the same as the other day.

Then Saturday morning I went Spinning at 8:30 am.  I kept up with the class this time and I was finally able to keep pedaling and sit back and put my hand on my waist and not fall off!  I wasn't able to do this the first 2 classes I took, so I'm totally proud of myself!

Sunday I took off.

I'll probably go to Spinning tonight.  I the gel cover for the seat!

Yoga improved!

I haven't updated in a few days, but I have been working out!

Tuesday- I was kinda lame, but I needed rest after Spinning Monday night, so I stayed home and stretched, did some yoga and a lot of crunches.  I was still pretty rundown from Spinning.

Wednesday- I went to the gym and did 30 mins. on the bike at level 6. (Although I have a sneaking suspicion that the level adjusts based on your heart rate, because it never seems that difficult or maybe I'm just getting better).  Speaking of getting better, I did notice that I barely got winded, which is a change from when I used to ride the bike before I started Spinning class, so maybe that class is helping my endurance!  Then I lifted weights.

I did:

Leg extensions- 40 lbs., 3/15

Adductors- 40 lbs., 3/15

Overhead pulldown- 50 lbs., 3/15

Seated Twists w/ a 15 lb. bar- 3/20 or until I got bored

Bicep curls w/ a 15 lb. bar- 3/20 or more (until it burned) I usually do 10 or 12 lbs. on each arm with dumbells, but I'm trying to lower the weight and increase the reps to see if it builds more definition, less bulk.

Squats- 50 lbs., 3/15

Chest Fly- 30 lbs., 3/15

Tricep pulldowns- 20 lbs., 3/15

Seated row- 30 lbs., 3/15

Hopefully this blog will help me keep track of how much I lift and eventually I'll see an increase in weights.  I think I need to add more machines, but it just takes more time, and I don't want to be at the gym for 2 hrs.!

Thursday- I did an hour and 15 minutes of yoga.  Julie and I went to a class.  Paris is the instructor.  I used to go to Paris' yoga classes like 3 years ago, probably like 3 times a week.  I did that for about 2 months, until I moved and I stopped going.  I wish I had never stopped because I know if I had kept it up my body would be totally different right now.  Recently, I tracked Paris down (he shut his studio down a few years ago and has been teaching at various places) and went back to his class.  I like him because he works with me and doesn't expect me to be able to do everything everyone else can do.  Like, to do downward dog, I use a chair, once I get more flexible I'll use the floor like everyone else.  Once I get to that point, I'll know I've made progress!  My first class back with him was I guess 2 weeks ago, July 3.  I was so sore the days following, I'd forgotten my body could hurt in those places!  My next class was last night and today I'm not even sore (who knows what tomorrow will bring) but it's a good sign that I'm improving even a little!  Ideally, I'd do yoga everyday, but I can't afford that!  I can barely afford the one day a week, but I know it's necessary if I don't want to wake up one day unable to move. Having Cerebral Palsy makes me a lot less flexible than most and yoga really helps me.  It forces me to stretch my body, which I'm not so good about doing otherwise!  Paris stretched me at the end of the class, he does Thai Massage, which I think is just assisted or forced stretching.  And he always tells me he want to do this on me (which I'm not opposed to but 1. He charges $65 for an hour and a half and 2. he has no place to do it).  So, at the end of class last night he wrapped my legs around him somehow and stretched my adductors/abductors and it was painful!  He told me I should tell him when it hurts, but the thing is, I'm so tight that whatever he does is going to hurt!  Which is what I told him.  I wish I was rich and I could just pay him to stretch me every week!

So, today's Friday and I'm not always so great about getting to the gym on Fridays.  But, I will be going to Spinning tomorrow at 8:30 am!  Maybe I'll go lift tonight.  We'll see.

Spinning Take 2

I never made it to the gym this morning, but I did go back to spinning tonight.  It was a different instructor, she varied things more than the one on Saturday.  It was really hard and there were times when I couldn't do exactly what everyone else was doing.  But it is a serious, SERIOUS workout and I'm going to keep it up!  Once again, sweat was pouring off of me and this time my face was really red by the end of the class.  One day, it'll be easier!

First Post

I'm creating this blog to force me to keep track of my workouts, eating and progress.  I've tried to keep food and workout journals in the past, but ultimately I write in them for 3 days, then forget or better yet, lose them.  I spend a lot of time at a computer, so I thought an online journal to keep up with this info. might be useful.

I currently belong to a gym and make it there 3 times a week (sometimes more, sometimes less) but I'd like to get to a point where I'm doing cardio everyday and weight training 3 days and yoga at least once, but as I get better, more often.  I try to get up at 5 am to get to the gym by 5:30 when it opens and out by 6:30 to get home and in the shower by 6:45 and off to work by 7:30.  I do manage this some days, but it needs to be everyday M-F, with weights at night 3 times a week. My hope is that this blog keeps me accountable.

Yesterday, I went to my first spinning class.  I arrived without a towel or water, I was totally prepared!  The instructor told me to go get a drink of water before class started, which I did, then as class progressed the man next to me kept offering me his water, which I kept turning down.  I guess I looked like I was going to pass out, which I was trying not to do, so now I know I need water for a spinning class!  The class was pretty gruesome, and sometimes I stayed seated when she said to stand or I didn't increase my resistance when she said to, but I made it through the class!  Afterwards, the she came over to tell me I did a good job and to not be deterred that I would get better if I kept coming.  Today, my quads are killing me!  And my butt hurts.  But, that class makes me sweat so much it drips off my face and my hands keep slipping on the handles, so I guess it's worth it.  If I could get to that class a couple times a week, I'd be sure to lose weight!  There's one tomorrow morning, maybe I'll go to it and just leave a little early so I can get to work on time.

I was going to go swimming at the gym today, but I did some gardening and walked around the block looking for my neighbor's runaway dog, so I think that's enough exercise, plus my legs are killing me!  Plus, I went to two grocery stores today.  

That's another problem I have, my eating habits.  I try to eat healthy, but I like my crap food.  I eat at Chick fil a, probably at least once a week.  It's a problem, but I love it!  That's why I'm trying to make up for it with my workouts!  But, I guess I'll never get those six pack abs unless I get serious about my eating as well.  We'll see.

I need a nap.  But instead, I'll do laundry and clean!