Weekly: train with weights 3x (Happiness Manifesto Declaration #1)

MON 2007-08-06 was the last date on which I recorded results regarding this Thing. Over the past 11 days, I’ve felt my body-my arms, in particular-lose its tone.

This morning, though, my muscles wanted to work out. They wanted to stretch and press against resistance.

I resumed with eight repetitions. I plan to add one each day over the course of next week.

Dropping out – travelling around a lot and not able to access a gym right now….

I didn’t think that 5 minutes of push-ups would be that big of a deal, but three weeks of this regimen and the pushup day is still the most excruciating. I feel like such a weakling (please don’t kick sand in my face-a reference for all you 70s comic book readers) because I have yet to do this for 5 minutes “girly-style.” Today, however, I was able to do 3 full sets of 12 reps, up from 3 sets of 10. These sets take me about 4 minutes, so I’m almost there. Thank goodness for baby steps.

This goal is soooo much easier to handle now that I roped my friend and roomate sara into getting up with me at 6:15 to do a dvd in the lounge. Partners are such a huge help for me. What I wouldn’t always do for myself (get out of bed on time) I would always do for a partner.

(I envision my subscribers raising their eyebrows skeptically….)

I’ve recommitted to this goal, after 14 days away…the jellification process must be reversed! Completed 1 set of 5 reps, just to get the kinks out of my muscles as I head into the week….

I remember coming across this advice on a website about writing, and how to overcome procrastination (I get the feeling that writing is one of the easiest pursuits to procrastinate about): use writing to procrastinate about something else. I don’t see why this couldn’t work with weight lifting; it might go something like:

“Oh, maaaaaaan, I gotta take the trash out again? Didn’t I just do that last week? Hey, wait a minute, I could go lift weights instead! That sounds like a plan!” &c.

Worth a shot!

I did the usual upper body routine, and found myself quite energized and motivated afterwards. Afterwards; what a devious irony that one is not motivated before, when one could really use it.

Ever since I took to heart Aatmiya’s notion that Even 20 Minutes Counts (E20C), I’ve found it difficult to avoid working out.

Case in point: I was running late this morning, and was tempted to skip my weight training. But I knew that my training plan includes a modified routine when only 15 or 20 minutes are available. So I completed it, and I feel better about myself, and prepared to start my day.

I think those Yoginis are on to something.

This morning, I returned to weight training after a 10-day break. I completed 5 reps of each exercise in order to establish a baseline and “reboot” my routine. My goal is to add 1 rep per session over the coming weeks.

Then, again, many of you have read this before. I’ll appreciate your tips and support.

but I would call it a beginning. I did the circuit version of iClimb (#4) tonight and it involved very light weight work. But I did it. I have had great success working with weights in the past but it’s been a few years and I am much closer to 50 now than I was then. But I will do it.