OK ... cheesy title taken care of ... people really do call me Flash, by the way, but that handle was taken ... doggone consarnit!
I'm new to the board but jumping in with both feet. First confession: it has been Wednesday since my last visit to the gym, but I did play hockey Thursday night and that takes a wicked toll on the legs. Plus, I have this beast that requires long walks in the park.
This is us at the Okotoks Erratic, backdropped by the majestic Rockies. His name is Shep.
I've been weight training for almost 10 years and tried to do as much reading about it as I can.
Last spring, I was almost to goal weight and doing really well on my strength gains. Alack and alas, I broke my hand (Bennett's joint fracture), requiring surgery and an extensive amount of time off.
I got back into the gym in late September and it was hard to rediscover the joy and focus I had prior to injury.
I'm starting to get there and the gains are starting to show again. I'm back up to a 190-lb, three-rep squat and the jeans are starting to fit a little looser.
I like to keep things fairly simple in the gym but my trainer likes to throw new stuff at me ... I'm his guinea pig and he works hard to keep me challenged.
I do this because I'm still living the dream. I'm in my mid-30s but I still play a lot of sports, even if they are at the recreational (but competitive!) level now. I still want to be the best skater, the best hitter I can be.
My motivation comes from the little steps along the way ... seeing my cheekbones again, having my cropped pants almost drop off my hips this morning.
Those are the vain ones.
I got a real sense of satisfaction last spring, though, when my bone density was tested during a fiber study at the local university. My T-score -- for which a healthy baseline is considered above minus-one, the normal scale for a healthy 18-year-old woman -- was plus-1.5.
My highest scores were on my leg and pelvic bones.
This was particularly satisfying as there is a risk of osteoporosis on my mother's side of the family. Despite living to the ripe old age of 95, my grandma started breaking bones around 82 or 83.
I don't want that concern in my life. So I lift and I play and I lift and I play ...
Oh yeah, I'm also one of those Type A personalities that people tend to just fall in love with ... So, I figure if it wasn't for the gym, I'd be in jail for aggravated assault or something equally as stress-reducing.
Oh my! He's a chunky monkey, isn't he?!?!? Lots of blond on him, too. I like the blond, although the Pyrs and maremmas that show are supposed to be pristine white. Sheppers has a couple of patches, especially on one of his ears, and I think it gives him character.
Shep got up to 130 lb. last spring but a friend who is a vet assistant took him in for tests and discovered he was thyrridic. Now that he's on his meds regularly -- and, sigh, for the rest of his life -- he's back down to a healthy 97 and full of life.
There was a maremma in Italy that lived to 22! I would love to keep my boo for that long.
Argh, I hate it when life gets in the way. I'm almost halfway through moving into a new apartment and it seriously takes away from my gym time. I might get there tomorrow night. Might.
Oh my! He's a chunky monkey, isn't he?!?!? Lots of blond on him, too. I like the blond, although the Pyrs and maremmas that show are supposed to be pristine white. Sheppers has a couple of patches, especially on one of his ears, and I think it gives him character.
Shep got up to 130 lb. last spring but a friend who is a vet assistant took him in for tests and discovered he was thyrridic. Now that he's on his meds regularly -- and, sigh, for the rest of his life -- he's back down to a healthy 97 and full of life.
There was a maremma in Italy that lived to 22! I would love to keep my boo for that long.
yea, all of the dogs that we have have some sort of markings on them. Of the 6 that we've ever had, only 1 was almost all white, but still had a mark on her lower back.
I love my dogs.
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Weehoo ... finally got moved into the new place and got everything set up. Yesterday, played hockey and cracked my head (helmeted but still ...) head off the ice and had to take it easy.
Was feeling better today so headed for the gym ... and what a great day it was there. Something to do while we buckle under for a visit from severe winter conditions here.
Four cycles in the mode of Cosgrove's Afterburn to start
Ok pal, if your dog is fat, you're not getting enough exercise. You've heard that one, right? So get that dog out and about and start tossin' the stick, Mofo.
I'm walking 60 miles for a breast cancer cure, September 11-13, 2009! Please support my walk and help me raise funds for cancer research by donating to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/...nal&fr_id=1300
Good looking workout Flash. Hey, I'm an honorary Canadian. My Mom is from Calgary. I love it there! I grew up ice skating too. I competitively skated for about 10 years when I was a kiddo.
Good looking workout Flash. Hey, I'm an honorary Canadian. My Mom is from Calgary. I love it there! I grew up ice skating too. I competitively skated for about 10 years when I was a kiddo.
Well, if you're ever back in the area, we'll get coffee.
I know ... I ended up having some late nights at the office and then dealing with friends' relationship issues.
It disappoints me when life gets in the way. But I did just walk in the door from the gym ... yay! I always feel so much better afterwards.
A short full-body workout today ... heading in for a big one, either tomorrow or Monday.
3 rounds of Afterburn ... really want to start hitting this more regularly and build up to five rounds
SS, 3 sets, 15 reps each, balance board squats with 10-lb. medicine ball and balance board pushups
SS, 3 sets, 20 reps each, medicine ball thrusters (squat then double-hand shot put ball up the wall) and medicine ball crunches on the fit ball
Then I walked the dog for an hour. Now I'm pooped.
About 25 minutes of yoga ... because that's all I'm allowed to do for another week of so. Unfortunately, the sun salutation series got my heart pounding (shataranga especially) and now I'm a wee bit woozy.
Why on the smith machine? You mentioned your hand recovering from surgery, but does a smith make that much difference?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flashy
I never asked my trainer the logic behind the Smith. I just do what he says.
hi Flash,
sorry I gotta jump on this one. The smith machine is probably one of the big baddies in the weight room. Limits range of motion, because it "safe" (which it is not) it may encourage people to lift more than they should. I would be very concerned about doing anything on the smith machine (except reverse push ups, chin ups, and hanging a towel on).
I cannot imagine ANY benefit to doing rows on a smith machine. Ask your trainer why he is having you use the smith machine, and see if he comes up with anything that makes sense. Post a question in the training forum and you will get an avalanche of people warning you against it.
So to continue beating the horse....
Anyway, good work, look for some more regular posts.：）
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So, I figure if it wasn't for the gym, I'd be in jail for aggravated assault or something equally as stress-reducing.
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