Hmmm. So I guess there is where I record my initial plan or goals.
Wish there was an emoticon for headscratching, although I suppose this could do:
This entry will be sparse, and possibly revised, perhaps even before the midnight hour strikes.
What do I wish to have accomplished between now and January 1, 2010?
1) To have consistently held to a weight training/strength/ and power lifting regime. Specifically, I want to be training my upper and lower body three times a week. Beginning tonight, Sept 8.
2) Significantly strengthened my back, buttock, and stomach muscles. I believe it is weakness in these muscles that have caused me problems with my left knee and right hamstring, which is chronically sore. And even if they haven't, they feel like putty when I touch them and that's not right.
3) Mastery of certain jump roping skills, specifically: pass the rope twice under my feet on one jump (for 5 minutes) ; run in place (20); just wield the damm thing for at least a half hour without tripping. Longest I've gone so far without getting the rope caught at my feet is about 5, or one Abba song.
4) Reduced my weight from 115 to 107, waist size from 28 to 24, and my hips from 34 to 28. I have pulled these numbers out of a hat or, more precisely, a dim recollection that this was my weight and pants measurements when I was a teenager.
5) Haven't got a clue as to what reasonably thin thighs would measure at. Guess I just want them to look more slender in the January photo.
6) Balance. Get some. When I close my eyes and try to balance on one leg I topple over in about 6 seconds which, according to one expert, means I have the balance of a 60 year old. It was great I've put in all those years running and sweating up a storm on the ellipitical, but it's made me pretty f****g functionally useless, in some ways.
7) Flexibility. Increase it. Specifically, get that right leg with the annoyed and annoying hamstring to bend back toward my head, when lying on my back.
8) Perform 3 unassisted chin ups. Right now I can't do one. Have no idea if this is too modest a goal or not but thought I'd toss it out there.
My immediate goals:
1) March into Ballys free weight area as if I, if not actually own the place, at least have the right to be here. Ignore the fact that I'm probably the only woman I will see there the entire time I am there, and certainly the only woman who is not an apparent twentysomething hardbody. Also ignore the fact that I am very tentative about what to do with much of this stuff, that looks as if were from some science fiction version of a medieval torture dungeon, and just focus on one stupid but useful piece of metal at a time (can you tell I'm getting ready for tonights' session.) And deflect as if my consciousness were sorrounded by a teflon shield the attention from all the Big brawny guys who either a) stare at me b) avert their eyes. Get over it. Yes, I have more Y than X chromosomes; aside from that we are all featherless bipeds and citizens of the mammalian universe.
2) Do a deadlift. Or three. Watched tons of videos and read lots of instructions so at some point just gotta take the plunge (so to speak, and not really--LOL). Seriously, I've been very anxious about this particular movement for a long time. . .
That's it for right now. Probably the factor that makes me feel most lost with all this is I can't find any weight training protocols for post menopausal women with no prior history of such. Even all the bodybuilders/fitness models seem to have begun their gym lives no later than the early 40s. If anyone has any tips,links, suggestions about any of this I would be most grateful.
Good luck to us all. I'm getting ready to be my neighboring Ballys next Pink Elephant.
NearlyFifty4Fitness
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