Walk Like An Octogenarian.

Yup, that's me today. You know when you think 'Oh what do those PT/Coach types really know??!'. Well, I can tell you that they know how to make you ache in pretty much every muscles you have. I mean, I think I'm pretty fit. I lift weights. I can easily pull off a 25k run. Did someone mention 2h spiningclasses?! Yup, I can do that too. But make me do a 60 minute boot camp session, using only your body weight, and I walk like an arthritic ridden octogenarian.

Considering my current state it was a good thing that I got up at the crack of dawn and did a body pump class before I'd realized how sore I was, and that I'd already planned to run home from work.... Now I'm planted in the sofa, wrapped up in my electrical blanket, drinking Yogi Choco Tea. Let's not get into how I got a massive bump on the top of my head while practising back stroke yesterday - I've already been ridiculed enough at work!

Pick Yourself Up!

This morning I dragged myself to the gym for my Thursday morning body pump session, after a lousy 4.5 hours sleep and being knackered from yesterday's 14 hour shift (oh the joys of working in operating theatres..), very reluctantly. It was cold, it was raining and I had to make myself a massive cup of to-go-coffee to bring on the tube as I was just too tired even to cycle! As I stumbled into the gym I wished I had stayed in bed and maybe that'd been for the best, but after having had a rest da yesterday I was roaring to get going again, and the morning was the only time I had to exercise. Now, it wasn't a catastrophically bad session, it just wasn't very good one. On the plus side was an added 2.5 kg on both the squat and the lunge track, on the minus side was a badly executed chest track and very tired shoulders during the shoulder track. Oh well, there's now only one thing to do - in the words of famous Swedish cross-country skiier Per Elofsson: Det är bara att bryta ihop, och komma igen! (translation: there's nothing to do but have a big meltdown and then bounce back)

Up Your Game!

I'm not a 'real' weightlifter. I enjoy lifting weights, but not as much as I enjoy running or cycling. When I do weights it's at the moment mainly when I do Body Pump, as it's pretty time effective. I try to load up as much weight as I safely can and still focus on my technique. This morning I decided to try and increase my squat weight, as I've been stuck on 35kg for quite some time now. It's mainly my upper body strength that restricts my leg weight, as I have to clean and press the bar up on my shoulders....and I don't have much upper body strength. Today I added on an extra 2.5kg and actually did manage to clean and press the bar up! 37.5 kg is now my new squat weight and it felt good. Now I only have a 100 squats to do later tonight as a part of my February challenge....