Chris's diary
- Thread starter ChrisJG
- Start date
Excellent cardio day today. 2hrs total which is perfectly normal for a cardio day but, part of my workout was 20 minutes on the treadmill with intervals. Now, I realise that this won't sound amazing to most of you, those who are aware of my problems with shin-splints will understand why I am so pleased!!
The main thing that was different was that I used the treadmill after the step machine. I'll be trying the same thing on Wednesday to see if that is what made the difference. I didn't even feel the beginnings of shin-splints today
The main thing that was different was that I used the treadmill after the step machine. I'll be trying the same thing on Wednesday to see if that is what made the difference. I didn't even feel the beginnings of shin-splints today
Today was probably the best workout I've had so far. I increased weights on every excercise, shorter rest periods and really pushed myself. Not only that, I felt fantastic afterwards and the 45 mins cardio felt easy!!
It gets better - for the first time in a long time, I looked in the changing room mirror and thought I actually looked pretty good!!
I really feel like I've turned a corner today....long may it continue. And to think, my creatine hasn't even arrived yet!! lol - I think I'm on psychological creatine.
It gets better - for the first time in a long time, I looked in the changing room mirror and thought I actually looked pretty good!!
I really feel like I've turned a corner today....long may it continue. And to think, my creatine hasn't even arrived yet!! lol - I think I'm on psychological creatine.
I can only imagine that my muscles haven't fully recovered from Tuesday as I struggled with some of the new weights today. I may rest Saturday & SUnday and hit them again on Monday to se what difference it makes.
Had a go at jump rope today and my co-ordination was comical to say the least! My natural technique was a can can technique which certainly got my heart rate up. Did about 20 mins or so. Will try a jogging technique tomorrow as it looks slightly easier to maintain (famous last words!!) Enjoyed the change - its nice to have a new cardio excercise to play around with.
Had a go at jump rope today and my co-ordination was comical to say the least! My natural technique was a can can technique which certainly got my heart rate up. Did about 20 mins or so. Will try a jogging technique tomorrow as it looks slightly easier to maintain (famous last words!!) Enjoyed the change - its nice to have a new cardio excercise to play around with.
Thanks Jenn
Had a practice at the 'jump' technique in my kitchen last night (only room in the house with a high enough ceiling!) and it definitly doesn't look as 'girly' as what I was doing in the gym! lol. Will take my own rope too, it has weighted handles which made the whole thing feel much easier.
Weigh in this morning
158 lbs
BF: 16.4%
Bodyfat should be lower but, I had a rubbish week last week which involved terrible food (and too much of it) and too much beer. Last weekend, I had sneaked up to over 17%!
Had a practice at the 'jump' technique in my kitchen last night (only room in the house with a high enough ceiling!) and it definitly doesn't look as 'girly' as what I was doing in the gym! lol. Will take my own rope too, it has weighted handles which made the whole thing feel much easier.
Weigh in this morning
158 lbs
BF: 16.4%
Bodyfat should be lower but, I had a rubbish week last week which involved terrible food (and too much of it) and too much beer. Last weekend, I had sneaked up to over 17%!
25 mins skipping
50 mins stepper
25 mins treadmill (4 intervals)
15 mins cross trainer
Skipping is seriously frustrating, definitly not as easy as it looks. Kept getting the damn rope wrapped round my ankles! lol
Luckily there is a guy working at the gym with a martial arts background who said he will book an hour with me and go through the basics of ropework. My calves are killing me at the moment. Luckily, I'm not due back at the gym until Monday...
50 mins stepper
25 mins treadmill (4 intervals)
15 mins cross trainer
Skipping is seriously frustrating, definitly not as easy as it looks. Kept getting the damn rope wrapped round my ankles! lol
Luckily there is a guy working at the gym with a martial arts background who said he will book an hour with me and go through the basics of ropework. My calves are killing me at the moment. Luckily, I'm not due back at the gym until Monday...
Ok so, the calf thing has turned out to be a little worse than I thought. The tightness in them meant that my knees were over-compensating and, I suspect my technique was also off so, walking is still uncomfortable around my knees.
I did struggle down to the gym last night just to do weights (no legs obviously) and tried about 20 mins on the cross trainer as I thought no impact might be okay. I have decided to skip my cardio today and let my legs rest
Add to this rather slack week of excercise the fact that I have 2 work colleagues staying in my flat and, being the only one with a company credit card, I am obliged to take them out in the evnings! So, I have been drinking and eating resteraunt food aswell!!!
Forget cheat days.....I'm having a cheat week!!
I did struggle down to the gym last night just to do weights (no legs obviously) and tried about 20 mins on the cross trainer as I thought no impact might be okay. I have decided to skip my cardio today and let my legs rest
Add to this rather slack week of excercise the fact that I have 2 work colleagues staying in my flat and, being the only one with a company credit card, I am obliged to take them out in the evnings! So, I have been drinking and eating resteraunt food aswell!!!
Forget cheat days.....I'm having a cheat week!!
Well, I rested up for a week and my knees felt fine so, I headed back down to the gym today. I thought I should probably start off nice and easy so, did an hour on the stepper. Still felt okay so, moved onto intervals on the treadmill. 5 min warmup was fine but, after the first 1 minute interval, my right knee was beginning to hurt so, I stopped.
By the time I got home, my knee had started to swel up a bit so, I'm typing this with an ice-pack on it....all this because of skipping!! Grrrr!
I'm going to do weights tomorrow but, not the legs and I shall avoid any impact cardio for a while. Rope work has officially and permanently been removed from my program.
By the time I got home, my knee had started to swel up a bit so, I'm typing this with an ice-pack on it....all this because of skipping!! Grrrr!
I'm going to do weights tomorrow but, not the legs and I shall avoid any impact cardio for a while. Rope work has officially and permanently been removed from my program.
At last!! Monday was a good day, did weights and, just about managed to maintain everything I had been lifting before I had to stop. Yesterday was average, only managing 90 mins cardio but, my knees were fine, even on the treadmill.
Hopefully now I can get back into my usual routine...
Hopefully now I can get back into my usual routine...
Again, no significanty leg issues. I'm even considering rope work again (but with tuition and for less time) Its about time I posted some weights (as of last night) - I am under no illusions that these weights are in any way heavy - Oh, and they're all in kilos I'm afraid....sorry
Leg press (130kg) 3 x 10
Leg curl (50kg) 3 x 10
Dumbell chest press (40kg total) 3 x 10
Dumbell Shoulder press (30kg total) 3 x 10
Lat pulldown (50kg) 3 x 10
Dips (bodyweight) 3 x 10
Seated rows (40kg) 3 x 10
Bench flyes (25kg total) 3 x 10
Bicep curls (preacher bench - 25kg) 3 x 10
weighted crunches (15kg) 3 x 20
weird ab machine (50kg) 2 x 20
oblique crunches 4 x 25 (2 sets each side)
plank 3 x 70 seconds
45 minutes cardio
* I have no idea what the weird ab machine is but, you hook your legs under some pads and pull down on some handles at the same time. Every time I see anyone doing it, they look weird to me...
- Oh, and they're all in kilos I'm afraid....sorryLeg press (130kg) 3 x 10
Leg curl (50kg) 3 x 10
Dumbell chest press (40kg total) 3 x 10
Dumbell Shoulder press (30kg total) 3 x 10
Lat pulldown (50kg) 3 x 10
Dips (bodyweight) 3 x 10
Seated rows (40kg) 3 x 10
Bench flyes (25kg total) 3 x 10
Bicep curls (preacher bench - 25kg) 3 x 10
weighted crunches (15kg) 3 x 20
weird ab machine (50kg) 2 x 20
oblique crunches 4 x 25 (2 sets each side)
plank 3 x 70 seconds
45 minutes cardio
* I have no idea what the weird ab machine is but, you hook your legs under some pads and pull down on some handles at the same time. Every time I see anyone doing it, they look weird to me...
My shin splints came back last night. I could feel them coming on so stopped running straight away. Strange since I had done an hour on the stepper beforehand which seemed to ahve been solving the problem. Went on to do my intervals on the cross trainer instead and actually found them harder than on the treadmill which surprised me.
90 minutes total which, with the last 30 minutes being intervals, is easily the equivalent of 2 hrs.
90 minutes total which, with the last 30 minutes being intervals, is easily the equivalent of 2 hrs.
Whoo-hoo! More progress! I have to wear a suit next week (I NEVER wear suits!) for a funeral so, I dusted off an old black suit that I haven't worn since I was about 18 - 19 years old (15 years ago). I had tried the trousers on a month or so ago and they didn't fit, I couldn't even do them up! There is no label but, I would guess that they are probably a 32" waist. Anyway, just tried them on again and, although the waist is a bit of a 'snug' fit, they seemed fine!! So, it looks like I currently have a 32" waste!! Wow!
Well, its been about a month since my last post and, until last night, it had been about a month since my last visit to the gym too (sorry to disappoint Jen )
Much as I would love to claim illness or injury or some kind of selfless charity work as my reason for such a long absence from the gym, I'm afraid I cannot. My reasons were both hedonistic and self-indulgent and thoroughly enjoyable!!
Anyways, back to the matter in hand....I foolishly attempted to maintain all of my weights from 4 weeks ago last night and, suffice to say, it was not a success!! On a couple of excercises (namely dips and shoulder press) I skipped an entire set! Only managed 15 minutes cardio afterwards before throwing in the towel and hitting the shower
Adding insult to injury, I seem to be developing a sore throat and a few aches and pains (there is a flu bug doing the rounds locally) so, I am stuffing myself full of drugs from the chemist in the hope that I will not come down with anything that will keep me out of the gym any longer!!
Just cardio tonight - 90mins is the plan....wish me luck!!
)Much as I would love to claim illness or injury or some kind of selfless charity work as my reason for such a long absence from the gym, I'm afraid I cannot. My reasons were both hedonistic and self-indulgent and thoroughly enjoyable!!
Anyways, back to the matter in hand....I foolishly attempted to maintain all of my weights from 4 weeks ago last night and, suffice to say, it was not a success!! On a couple of excercises (namely dips and shoulder press) I skipped an entire set! Only managed 15 minutes cardio afterwards before throwing in the towel and hitting the shower
Adding insult to injury, I seem to be developing a sore throat and a few aches and pains (there is a flu bug doing the rounds locally) so, I am stuffing myself full of drugs from the chemist in the hope that I will not come down with anything that will keep me out of the gym any longer!!
Just cardio tonight - 90mins is the plan....wish me luck!!