get in shape

I only went to the gym once last week. I haven’t been at all this week. I did push ups yesterday, and pull ups tonight. Tomorrow won’t be any better. I need to get back on the wagon. I swear I can see my stomach growing.

I’ve really mixed up the routine this week. Usually I do a lot of upper body workout with dumbells, cardio, and lower body stuff.

I decided I wanted to start mixing in some of the classic strength building exercises.

Today I did squats, clean and press, deadlifts, then some of my usual stuff. I did squats earlier this week too. My legs are incredible sore as are my shoulders. I’m hurting like I never worked out before. I forgot what that pain felt like, but this has me pumped to continue with these exercises, this must mean I’m using my muscles in ways they aren’t used to. No pain, no gain…

I’ve always thought it would be fun to do some mountain climbing/cliff scaling, but never been fit enough to even get up the mechanical walls.

I’ve decided to add a few new exercises that I hope will help develop the proper hand and forearm muscles to maybe try this one out soon. My first goal will just be to get up the mechanical wall and then I’ll go from there.

The exercises I have added are towel pull-ups and planches (ouch!)

I think I’m finally getting into the “cardio zone”. I did 1/2 an hour on an Arc Trainer today; that thing is pretty amazing. In 30 minutes I was able to burn close to 350 calories.

I’ve been doing cardio steady for 2 weeks now. I’m running on a tread climber, using the arc trainer and swimming.

I went to the gym at the far side of town today and swam laps! I haven’t truly gone swimming in several years. I’m definitely not used to it anymore, but I still love swimming!

that’s right

I got on the treadmill today and ran, if you can call this pathetic display running, a mile and a half. It took me 20 minutes!!! Argghhh… I feel so ashamed; it makes me want to go eat a drumstick and go back to something I’m good at, like push ups :(

A friend of mine at the gym caught me checking out my own arms in the gym today and laughed at me, but hey wouldn’t you too if your arms looked like this? They have never looked this good in my life.

I tripped Sunday and twisted my back; it was hurting like hell for a couple of days, but seemed pretty good today so I went back to the gym. I did upper body workout and tried to mostly avoid back area, but now I feel like I’m back at day one. My back is hurting like hell. Put heat on it tonight.

It’s always frustrating when something like this happens. I get caught in this zone of not wanting to wait so long that I lose progress, but waiting long enough that I’m not just putting myself through more agony.

but I did 1/2 an hour on the elliptical today anyway. Did 100 incline pushups, some situps, and inverted rows.