Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Wednesday Workout Update!

Well, I have to say that stretching really does help when a workout is particularly, hmmm...what's the word? Painful? That doesn't sound right. How about difficult? That's better. Yesterday in the gym I was doing what Brad likes to call "Crazy Quads" and "Crazy Hammies" - basically, four sets of 21 extensions where the first 14 are done normally and the last 7 are done with Brad providing resistance. I have to say that I DREAD these, because I know I will be sore afterwards - heck, I was sore during them! It can be a real mental challenge for me when I start certain exercises, knowing that I will be extremely sore afterward. I tend to not put my all into them because I try to "save" myself so I won't hurt so much later. But that's kind of hard to do when your trainer is standing right there AND providing the resistance...plus duh, Shelley, you're doing this to get stronger, firmer and more toned, so why would you NOT do everything you are supposed to? (Why yes, I do have conversations with myself!)

Anyway, back to the stretching. Halfway through the crazy quads I took a minute or so break to stretch my legs, and did some more stretching when I was done with the set. Did the same thing with the hamstrings, and remembered to stretch once I got home. And again later that evening - of course, it helped that I was watching The Biggest Loser and seeing everyone working out reminded me. Upside of this? Today when I got out of bed I wasn't crippled like I normally am after that workout. Oh, I still felt my quads and hamstrings, but not nearly to the extent that I used to. This makes me very happy because I know that next time we have a difficult workout, I won't hold myself back. So let's hear it for stretching!

One of the things I really like about my workout place is that Brad and Linda try to make it fun for us with little games and team workouts. Before I did the crazy stuff in the gym, Brad had a card game in the cardio room, where each suit equaled an exercise - say diamonds were push ups, spades were jump squats, hearts were duck walks and clubs were burpees. So if a 3 of spades was drawn, we all did three quick jump squats. Face cards had additional exercises. We did the entire deck of cards twice in less than 30 minutes - it was fast-paced and intense! I think we all felt a little silly doing the duck walk (only a few "quacks" were uttered), but as the workout progressed we just concentrated on getting through it. Since I have a burpee exemption for the month of January due to this, I got to do high knees and jumping jacks instead...and I was very happy about that! I had actually forgotten about everything we did in this workout until later on in the evening, when I reached for my water bottle and wondered why my arms were so sore - and then all of the push ups came back to me. Funny how you don't realize just how hard you've worked when it's more of a game than a workout!

I have to also report that I am very proud of my group today - we did cardio last - four sets of fast/slow minutes on the machines for five minutes. The group before us had done some ab work but we didn't get to it since we spent all of our time on the machines. So there we were, sweaty, panting, drinking our water, DONE...and Linda offered to run us through the ab workout if we wanted. First Nancy got on a mat, then I did, and then Kathleen and Jeri followed suit and we did another four minute set of ab work. Woo hoo, extra credit!

If you haven't already entered, don't forget to post a comment on my Progresso Soup Giveaway - it ends tomorrow (Thursday) night at 10:00 pm CST.

20 comments:

  1. Wow...way to rock the workout! I'm sore on your behalf just having read about it.

    Congrats!

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  2. Wow, Shelley. I think your workouts are a lot harder than mine. I am like you in the whole 'saving myself thing' too. And it drives me crazy that I won't stretch more. I know its good for me, and I am always telling other people to do it!

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  3. I love that the trainers do really fun stuff with y'all. Like when you dressed up for Christmas. LOL Those are great. You're having fun AND working yourself out.

    I did my first day of Couch 2 5k. yeah! It wasn't quite as tough as I thought it would be. I figure, if everything goes right, that I'll be on week 7 by the time of the race. I probably won't be able to keep up with you but at least I should be able to finish without calling 911. A policeman offered me a ride during my last (and only) 5k. ha!

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  4. I'm tryin to get back to the point where I have to exercise. It makes me feel better and it helps with weight loss. Good for you. Keep it up.

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  5. Dang! You rock those workouts! You almost make them sound like fun. And then you mention the pain.

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  6. I think that card idea is super awesome for workouts!

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  7. Like everyone else, I'm in pain just reading. I don't think I can come here anymore.
    waaaah

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  8. Oh Shelley - your workouts sound like boot camp at Parris Island! The stretching is such a good idea - I wish I could remember to do the same. But then again, I'm not bench-pressing Toyotas like you yet.

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  9. Your workouts sound exhausting. I'm impressed.

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  10. Your workouts, you, still continue to amaze me almost daily. Thank you!!!

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  11. I love the way you (and your trainer) make hard work feel fun!

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  12. Great job on your workout! I think strecthing really does help with the soreness relief.

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  13. Damn girl you do some hard workouts. It always mystifies me when people say they don't stretch after a workout. Stretching after is WAY more important than before, especially as you get older. In the past year or so I've incorporated a stretchy yoga dvd and I am always amazed at how tight I am.

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  14. Wow! Cheers to stretching! Your workouts sound awesome and killer! Group workouts can be more fun. Our current gym does not offer them, but we moving in the Spring and I hope the new place is close to a gym with classes!
    Trish

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  15. I love your descriptions of your workouts - they sound so challenging but also fun. I wish I could find something like that around here, but I don't think any of the gyms offer group workouts with trainers.

    Definitely think you're on to something with the stretching!

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  16. LOL at your comment on my post. Hope it wasn't too daring. ;-)

    Hope you have a great workout today. Today I have the day off from the C25K program but still need to go walking or something to get my cardio in. Also did strength trainging on my core. Ouch!

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  17. Shelly - your workouts would put me on the floor! I'm so impressed with all that you do.

    Amazing!

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  18. I really love Brad and Linda even though I've never met them. Working out with them makes it fun to go every week. Great job on your workout Shelley (as always!)

    I always stretch after workouts, the minute I forget I'm sore the next day.

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  19. Shelley - I just started doing more stretching since most of my DVD's end with it, and can totally tell the difference!

    Hooray for no burpees! The last Jillian DVD had them in there and I had forgotten! :(

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