So, I am very happy to say that I have been taking myself to the gym on days when I don’t have an appointment with Melissa! I have also realized that I need a good 1.5 to 2 hours to complete each workout she has given me (this would also include 20-30 min cardio). So far, I have only managed to get up early enough to do one hour before I must leave to get ready for work. This will not do. I think I might need to go back to afternoon workouts because I am really not willing to get up at the requisite 5:00am that getting a whole workout in before work would require.
Anyway, I have been getting through 2/3 of Melissa’s workout with my new favorite exercise being the “Smith Machine Push-up”. It is really much better for me than the traditional push-up in that you are standing at the Smith Machine (the assisted squat bar) with the bar set just above your waist. You lean down to grab the bar with your body in a straight plank leaning about 45 degrees. Then, you do a push-up with the FULL range of motion. This is the part that is fantastic because you really use your pectoral muscles as well as stretch them at the same time. I am very tight in the shoulders and pectorals, and this exercise gets into the muscles and your small muscles in your back. LOVE IT! I can do three sets of 18!!! Woohoo!
Notable improvements:
I can deadlift 45 lbs. (up from 35 lbs three weeks ago).
I can do 3 sets of 18 Smith Machine Push-ups.
I increased my ability to hold the plank from 1 minute to 1.5 minutes!
I can do 3 sets of 15 prisoner lunges (so difficult for me because I am so wobbly and week in the legs).
Overall, my body feels stronger and much more agile. I do not favor certain muscles when walking or climbing stairs, which I did not realize I was doing until I wasn’t doing it anymore 🙂
My final thought – go to the gym and do something!!! You will be amazed how much better you feel.
Tags: personal trainer, workouts