Working it Out

Eight workouts from January 5 to January 11 and seven workouts from January 12 to January 18. I feel like I might have that part of life under control at the moment.

Nutrition? Working on that too. At the moment in preparation for the Fortitude Fitness Systems Photo Shoot on Saturday, January 25 I am adjusting my food intake to more lean protein and veggies, less sodium and fruits. I know myself well enough to know I won't feel ready for my picture to be taken next Saturday, but I would like to be at a place where the idea doesn't make me laugh nervously and want to vomit.

Let's get back to my exercise. A couple of nervous laughs are clawing their way up and I'd rather not startle the dog by letting them loose. First off, I should probably offer a disclaimer like always check with your doctor before starting on a fitness program. Maybe I should, but let's be honest here: I didn't check with my doctor...I decided on this plan on my own and I'm not sure I'd change what I'm doing even if my doctor or the fitness professionals I work with told me to cut down a little. I'm stubborn, remember?

What was my favorite fitness moment of the past week? It was during personal training and it wasn't the step lunges or spider man push ups. It was getting to face off with the prowler again. The prowler is a big sled you can put weights on and push or pull around. It's heavy and it's fun. Maybe not flipping a 475 pound tire fun, but fun.

Anyhow, Thursday might I got a new prowler exercise to try: lay on the floor on my back at the other end of the studio from the prowler. Then use the rope tied to the prowler to pull it to me. I felt every muscle in both arms pulling that prowler. I did think at one point that I probably needed to be careful so I didn't pull the prowler into my head. Sadly that thought didn't stick with me and Ben's comment about one more pull then I could push it back didn't make me think it was as close as it was. So yes, in all my grace I pulled the prowler into my head. It hurt a little bit, mostly it startled me. You don't exactly expect something like that to happen....and it wouldn't if I paid more attention.

Then I experienced "monster walks". I'll try to describe it. Put 2 bands around your legs, right above the knees, squat down as low as you can while keeping your chest up and walk. It is every bit as awkward as it looks and painful too. By the time you've gone from one end of the studio to the other muscles you don't use all that often are screaming and that second trip looks about six miles long.

In other news, it was a rough week teaching. Periodically I discover even if I'm a good teacher I can't help every child. It hurts and it makes me angry. I didn't get into teaching to ever fail any child. Suffice it to say that I have spent too much time beating myself up over an incident that I don't really believe I could have stopped or turned around. Life doesn't offer do-overs, the rewind button is broken and sometimes, despite our best efforts, what is meant to be will be.

So this week having seven workouts was a blessing. I still had plenty of time to obsess and over think, but there were periods of time I could let it all go and just work on the stronger, more confident me.

Thanks for reading...