Posts Tagged ‘personal training’
9/5/12 – Back to the Weight Training
After taking some time off due to my gym being closed all weekend, and lets face it, my not actually wanting to go to said gym, which made the closing really convenient, it was time to get back on that wagon.
Melissa really came through, too. We talked about all of the new foot stuff, and I admitted my general laziness. So, we stuck with the new line of workout that she created after my running training. The focus is now on strengthening muscles in a functional way for running, while also actively stretching them so that my body will actually be able to reach the more natural running form, i.e., I’m working on tucking my pelvis more while running, which requires more flexibility in the hip flexors.
We got to work – side plank with hip abduction, static back lunges – I still cannot believe that I can do lunges in any form! – and an actual back lunge assisted with the stretchy bands and an opposite one arm row. Next, we hit the TRX! I love the the TRX, even though it does not always love me. She had me do assisted pushups (I rocked these guys! Also, cannot believe I can do a push up!), a really difficult side stretch and back extensions with 10 lbs! I love seeing how far I have come! This past summer has been the best and most progress in weights and overall fitness that I have ever made. I cannot wait until next summer, but I guess I should also be looking forward to the winter work, too 🙂
12/11/11 – Updates and Procrastination….
Posted by admin in Reflections, Try This! on December 11th, 2011
When I left off, I was working on the 5K. However, as I reflect on my performance in Oct and Nov of the past two years, I find that life has a way of really getting in the way during these two months. I am now recovered from a very busy and emotionally draining Oct., and November’s celebrations and holiday are done, too 🙂
Now, back to work. I realized that I have yet to get my running videos from Travis. I took him a thumb drive that was too small (I think it is about 10 years old – do any files equal less than 128MB anymore?), and that was the last time I tried to get the videos. Since I have reminded myself, I will focus on getting the videos from him this week or next week when my winter break from work starts (Hooray!).
With the videos I will begin a new regimen of running. The running is very difficult in VFFs in the winter due to the cold and wet conditions combined with the Raynaud’s Phenomenon, which causes my fingers and toes to go numb with the slightest chill. I find that running on wet pavement in the winter causes my toes to go numb really quickly, which leaves my feet feeling like big blocks of wood that are propelling me along. I will say that when I ran a 5K (more like walk/jog) on Thanksgiving day, my feet were numb within 1/4 mile, but at mile 2, the feeling began to return to my toes as my body heat increased. It was a very pleasant finding that I have been unable to compel myself to replicate :-/
I am continuing to work with Melissa, and we have had to scale back my workouts due to my lack of motivation (read: I do not go to the gym unless she is with me). I am also in the process of changing to a gym that has a TRX device. My first TRX workout was last week, and it was such an amazing change of pace. I will write more on the device later. To balance out the TRX workout with my regular workout (the only way to workout lower body large muscle groups is squats and lunges on the TRX, and my right knee is currently rebelling against those two moves), I am doing a regular non-TRX workout this week. I did go to the gym one time between my workouts with Melissa last week due to my interest in the “new” TRX workout. Yes, it was rather like a kid with a new toy. My new plan is to workout once between training sessions with Melissa followed by a yoga class the next day to help increase flexibility. If I can get back into the workout habit, then Melissa can up my routine, and I can start rebuilding strength. Yay!
Motivation is slowly coming back. The biggest factor is that I just turned 35, and my thighs look more like 35 year old thighs than 25 year old thighs, which is not how I want my thighs to look. I mean Cher looked awesome at 65, but I think I read somewhere that she spent 3 hours in the gym each day. I guess there’s something to look forward to. At least I won’t be bored in retirement, and I could wear a thong leotard and dance on a Navy ship with all of the sailors. Now, that’s a good retirement plan…..
2/8/11 – Back in Personal Training
So, I had two weeks of no Personal Training due to scheduling and conflicts, and it has been a great two weeks – NOT because I skipped the gym, but because I was able to go to the gym and focus on rehab and physical therapy moves. Due to an irritated right knee from skiing too much a few weeks ago, Melissa has taken me off lifting and added a LOT of foam rolling.
I now foam roll my: lats, upper back, IT band, quads, calf muscles, tibialis anterior (muscles on front part of lower leg) and triceps. This is my favorite part of my day. It has gone from excruciating to wonderful in about 5 days. After 10 days, it is just plain marvelous. I have tried the white foam rollers (not very dense foam, but cheapest kind you can buy), the black foam rollers (the densest foam I have found), and a blue 18 inch foam roller (almost as dense as the black). I recommend the white for your back, the black for everything else (takes some time to get used to it) and the blue for your quads specifically because it’s size really allows you to roll each leg independently much easier. The small roller works for everything except upper back (too short to comfortably go all the way across).
I also did some major stretches for the lats, the quads, the hip flexor, and the IT band. The running is on hold due to the knee, but I’m using the stationary bike for cardio. What a drag, except when you’ve got a good pal to hang out and talk to while you’re pedaling away to NOWHERE!
Ah, the two weeks has ended, and I feel better except for the knee, which still has issues 🙁 I’m making an appointment to see Travis. He always knows what to do.
Melissa reinstated the lifting – deadlifts of 75 lbs. Whew, I am a stud! There are a lot of shoulder rehab moves, which make me very happy! VERY HAPPY! As a matter of fact, my shoulder has not been in knots all week. I’ve also been wearing my night guard, though. Who knows what is working? Night guard or the rehab? Anyway, it has been a wonderful week for working out!
Can’t wait to hear what Travis has to say about the knee. It should be interesting to say the least.
10/5/10 – Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back :-(
I went to my chiropractor, Dr. Larry, and it was a needed appointment. He adjusted everything, but my shoulder! Hooray, on the shoulder at least!
My L-5 was out, my neck was all kinds of misaligned, and my hips and ankles need to be popped. He also worked on both wrists, which felt so incredible.
However, I was really looking forward to my massage b/c my left ankle has been seriously working its way into an inflamed tizzy since Sunday. But, my massage therapist had to cancel. Major bummer!!! Major, major bummer!!!! I was counting on the massage to keep the inflammation from getting worse, but here I am no massage, and an increasingly inflamed left ankle.
Now, what the hell is going on this time?! Seriously! I just got released from the physical therapist, can my body just cut me some slack and not have injuries?!!!
I feel like my ankle has a crush on Travis and cannot stand the fact that we’ve graduated and won’t be seeing him anymore.
Well, ankle, get over it. It takes a village to get through things, but isn’t all that ready to be over?
As I sit with my Anatomy Coloring Book in one hand and my fingers following the trail of pain in my left ankle/side of my calf, I am truly wondering what is wrong. I cannot tell what this is. It looks like the Flexor Digitorum Longus and the Soleus are the culprits this time, but I’m not a friggin’ doctor.
Yes, this is frustration. FRUSTRATION! and sadness.
I have worked so hard, especially this week with getting to the gym three days in a row. That is probably part of what contributed. I can so identify with folks who go to the gym and workout, only to have their bodies rebel and pay them back with days of pain. Now, granted, one cannot go from couch potato to Mr. Universe in one gym visit, but I’ve been working on this slowly. And although I identify with folks who get pain and quit, I am not going to quit. My feet will function. I did not get the awesome doctor I had at birth who put me in casts rather than cutting my tendons just so I can quit now.
Ok, so here’s the plan:
1. email Travis for his opinion.
2. massage the area – really get in there and move things around
3. ice
4. no running
5. still going to the gym, but no elliptical – a nice bike ride perhaps
6. while at the gym, taking it easy on balance and heavy lifting – meaning Physical Therapy work and some modified personal training work
7. riding my bike to work rather than walking – that worked before, maybe it will work again.
Alright – BREAK!