I took the day off from the gym yesterday so that I could catch up on some of my errands and hopefully ease some of the stress that I've been feeling and finally get a good night's sleep. Totally wishful thinking on my part. I'm just glad that I have the next 6 days off of work. Hopefully I can get some rest -- the insomnia is now starting to hurt. Right now I'm existing on 2-3 hours of sleep per night for the past week and the occasional 10-15 minute power nap. I'm definitely hurting!
Still, life doesn't stop nor do the workouts!
NROL4W - Workout B2 today.
It went quite well. I really, really enjoy lifting weights, and I do like seeing myself get stronger each day. Since this program is only 3 sets of 6 reps I feel like I can push myself a bit more in terms of trying a heavier weight though I am being careful - don't want to risk injury.
I didn't post my numbers last week, so here's my chart so far:
| | Feb. 14, ‘12 | Feb. 21, ‘12 |
| Dead row/squat | 25 kg | 35 kg |
| Single leg squat | 5 | 9 |
| Wide grip lat pull | 41 | 48 |
| YTWL dumbbell | 5 | 4 |
| Swiss ball crunch | 100 | 100 |
| Prone jackknife | 20 | 30 |
| Lateral flexion | 24 | 30 |
| Prone cobra | 18 | 30 |
| Interval training (15 min) | 1.65 km | 1.68 km |
Part of Workout B includes HIIT after the weights workout. I've been doing ok, but I don't know if I'm pushing myself as much as I could ... again, finding that balance between challenging yourself and doing too much is tough when you're working out on your own. Still, today I pushed it a little more. I guess the trick is to just keep upping the intensity whenever I can and take it from there. Last week I did 4 1-minute jogs/sprints at 8.5 km/hr. This week I did 2 @ 8.5 and 2 @ 9.
On the note of running and challenging yourself ... there's a 10K coming up in a few days that one of my friend's is running. Actually, what he and 5 others are doing is much more amazing than the 10 km run -- they're actually running 240 km (from the north of Kuwait to the south -- that's just under 150 miles)!! It's estimated to take approximately 50 hours - can you imagine?
You can read a bit more about the run here.
Well, on the 25th there's a 10K support run that I'd love to be a part of. This is exactly the kind of thing that I want to do ... eventually. Well, actually I want to do it NOW, but I don't think I can. I've been going back and forth between challenging myself to do it or just waiting for another time when I'm better prepared. The 10K is not the problem - it's the running that's the problem. If you've been following my blog, you know that I'm not a runner. At the moment I can't even run 1 km! I don't know what's holding me back from pushing myself to run more ... I mean, I am trying little by little, but maybe I need to take it to another level. If it's something I really want to do, then don't I have to try harder? The thought of "I can't" is constantly lingering in the back of my mind ... I need to get rid of that thought, but it's so much easier said than done! In any case, I feel really disappointed in myself for not being in the shape I need to be to run a 10K. I workout for hours ... but running, aargh! Anyway. The only thing holding me back is me ... so I just need to push forward and challenge myself.
Anyway.
So, this morning - weights, a bit of cardio, physio for my knee, a good cool down session and then off to work ... then went back to the gym this evening for 3 km on the treadmill to warm-up before Zumba. Don't know how I'm pushing through without much sleep ... I'm definitely knackered now ... perhaps I'm exhausted enough for some sleep tonight?!
Running can take a lot longer than most people think. When I started, I would run for less than a block, then walk for five minutes. When I did my first half marathon, I walked way more than half of it. But you're trying! And you're getting better. :)
ReplyDeleteEven if you wound up walking part of the 10K, I know you could do it!
Your weightlifting stats are going up. You're lifting heavier than when you started. Very very good. You're going to love what it does for the firmness of your body. :D
ReplyDeleteI'm not a runner. Although I have many running friends, I don't personally think it's a good thing for my knee joints. I would not think any less of you for not running. And you don't have to run long distances to be a "runner." I would personally consider people who run a mile to be a "runner." So it's not an all or nothing.
:-) Marion