*blarf*

Well, it was a hard session for a few reasons I think.

We had a bit of a chat about where I'm at, what I've done and what I want out of my gym sessions and then set off into some warm ups on the TRX.  I did mention I won't usually want to use those as my gym local to work doesn't have them but this was a getting-to-know-you session so it didn't matter so much.  That wasn't so bad, and there was some nice stuff to get the core going with bodyweight exercises on the TRX straps.  Then we launched into... kettlebells!  Yay!

And, gosh, either I was really not physically up to this session (tail-end of a nasty cold, plus perhaps not well fuelled enough either) or they really are a bugger the first (few) time(s).  Each set made me feel light-headed and vomitous (no idea what my heart rate was but given the feeling I had, I'm guessing well over 180) but I pushed on through.  I think I get it a lot better now that I've had Geoff explain how to do the various swings and snatches and it's very different.  More practice required.  A few bits and bobs with some cables and we were done.

Warm up on TRX -

• incline pull ups - 2x10
• incline W pull ups - 2x10
• incline push ups - 2x10
• jackknifes - 2x10
• cycling legs - 2x2x10
• rotating jackknifes - 2x10
• pikes - 2x10

Kettlebells -

• 2 arm swings - 2x10 (16kg)
• 1 arm swings - 2x2x10 (12kg)
• 1 arm squat and snatch - 2x2x10 (12kg)
• 1 arm swing and snatch - 2x2x10 (12kg)
• Military press - 2x10 (2x8kg)

Cable machine -

• 2 arm row - 2x10 (??kg)
• 1 arm row - 2x2x10 (??kg)
• Squat with row - 2x10 (??kg)
• Incline row - 2x10 (??kg)
• 2 arm lat pull-down - 2x10 (??kg)
• 1 arm lat pull-down - 2x10 (??kg)

My HRM really isn't playing ball at all these days.  I've replaced the battery in the transmitter, washed the strap umpteen times, made sure it's really sopping wet each time I use it and there's no low battery warning on the watch itself so that's fine.  But it still craps out and registers stupid heart rates like 221 randomly and the heart symbol flashes erratically instead of with my heart beat.  Very tempted to throw in the towel and get a new watch.  It'd be a shame as I've got 176,6xx kcals of exercise on the totaliser on this watch and it'd've been nice to break 200,000 with it, but... it's just getting too frustrating now to keep plugging away with it at the moment.

Anyhoo... first proper session booked now with Geoff (silly moving work deadline permitting) and I'll have a few more goes with the kettlebells this week beforehand (if I get to go to the gym during the week this week).

Tiny bit nervous

I've not been to the gym for a week (mostly work related but slightly illness related).  I've not had a session with a personal trainer since October.  I have a session with my new trainer at 13:30 today and I'm nervous about it.

I have loads of confidence in my new trainer; I've seen him around in the local gym lots and read his bio and he gives off quite an aura of quiet competence.  Will let youse all know how it goes when I get back.  Wish me luck!

Good gym

Apart from the skinny little diva who showed up in microscopic gym shorts (Abercrombie and Fitch dontchyaknow!), a teeny vest, trainers and no bra; and proceeded to spend 10 minutes in front of the mirrors, making sure her baseball cap was on perfectly before throwing gym equipment around because it was in her way (though she could barely lift much of it, so hah!) and then struggling to do some puny hanging bent-leg raises. It was veeeeery difficult resisting laughing at her. Yeah it's good that she's actually in the gym doing some resistance training, but the -attitude-!

Me, I burned off a very respectable 499kcals in 52 minutes whilst being careful with my leg. I kept the weight lower on the lunges and leg curls and made sure to warm up gently first. For the first time, I managed 10 pressups in a row with no rests in between and I've changed my planks to be straight arm planks - mmmm, much harder! :o) Shame I ran out of time, 'cause it'd be nice to have done 3 sets of 10 pressups rather than just the one. Ohwell. Rest day tomorrow (and using the foam roller for 15 minuts at home, following Rachel Cosgrove's foam rolling exercises/stretches to get the kinks out of my legs and shoulders, might squeeze in some pressups there too) and then new trainer on Friday!

Nice eggy salad for lunch today (shown here in unmixed state - I like my eggs to sit on top so they don't go mushy during the morning):-


This is becoming one of my favourite evening meals; lightly smoked salmon fillets are so incredibly flavoursome:-



B - greek yogurt with 1 scoop vanilla, fruit compote and flaked almonds
S - banana
*gym*
S - 1 scoop chocolate in skimmed milk
L - salad - spinach, tomato, capers, walnuts, 2 boiled eggs and lemon juice
S - a pear and a mini Babybel Light
S - beef jerky
D - salmon fillet with couscous, peas and sweetcorn
S - slice of banana and raisin malt loaf

Exercise - 52 minutes gym (HRmax 184 HRavg 158)

Calories (kcal) [kcals to maintain weight (inc. exercise)	1800 2231]
Protein (g)	157.7 (36%)
Carbohydrate (g)	164.6 (35.2%)
Fat (g)	56.1 (28.8%)
Fruit & Veg	8.0

Potential new trainer

Michael is a sprinter. Michael is built like a small brick privy. Michael likes the idea that I want to lift heavy and be able to do pull ups. However, Michael seems to be a little hung up on lifting heavy will make me bulk up (which it won't unless I eat protein for England and take hormone supplements) and, as he's a runner, a little hung up on cardio too (but I've told him that I don't do treadmills as I get sea-sick afterwards). But still, he'll have a new routine for me for next Monday and we'll run through it together. He does get that I'm competitive, driven and don't really need/want someone standing over me for motivation. I think he might be a good replacement for the trainer I had before. We'll see next week.

We'll also see how I've done in the Virgin Active UK Challenge taster competition. The competition ends today, the draw for the bike happens next week and the results of who was fastest woman and fastest man will be announced. *fingers crossed* I was still in the lead on Monday this week! I don't really care about the prize, I just want to win a competition that involves physical prowess, dammit!

Today went like this...

For brekkie, I decided to try coconut and chocolate with my yogurt and blueberries:



Not as tasty as I'd hoped, so I won't be doing that again.

And for dinner, a trusty beef chilli with shaved courgette, sliced onion and some toasted pine nuts sprinkled in:


Nom, as usual!

Exercise - 50 minutes weights (HRmax 184, HRavg 161)

B - Greek yogurt with 1 scoop chocolate whey, desiccated coconut and frozen blueberries
S - Dorset Cereals, 3 Berries and Cherries bar
*gym*
S - 1 scoop whey in skimmed milk
L - salad - spinach, sweet peppers, tomatoes, spring onions, capers, prawns and lemon juice
S - tangerines
S - carrot and caramelised onion houmous
S - mini Babybel Light
D - beef chilli with courgette, onion and toasted pine nuts

Calories (kcal) [kcals to maintain weight (inc. exercise)	1644 2210]
Protein (g)	139.0 (34.2%)
Carbohydrate (g)	129.4 (29.8%)
Fat (g)	64.0 (35.4%)
Fruit & Veg	15.4