Today I started the upper body training - let’s face it, this is the bit that people really care about. Up at 5.50am for a 6.30 start and all was looking good (despite only getting to sleep at 11.30pm and having a late night the night before).
Upper body workouts are totally different to standard cardio workouts or leg workouts. I did loads of sets on upper body and core strength this morning and hardly broke a sweat. Totally different to the leg training last week which was a complete cardio workout at the same time.
My plank time is now 1 minute (if you don’t know what the plank is: it involves propping yourself up on your elbows and keeping you body totally straight for as long as possible). The aim is to get this to 2 minutes. It really helps strengthen all the core muscles. Try this link - http://exercise.about.com/od/abs/ss/abexercises_10.htm
Stuart is promising to lay weights on my back during this which should be interesting!
So this was my first weekend on the full training plan. I was meant to do a full set of core exercises on Saturday but only remembered around 4.30pm - just before we were going out. So I had to do it on Sunday morning but it worked out fine. Had full motivation to do it, even though we were rushing about trying to get out for the day.
Had a glass of wine and a couple of small whiskys on Friday night and two pints on Saturday night. I think I can live with that! My biggest issue was that I was up until 2am on Saturday night and I felt starving. It is the first time since starting the diet that I have been tempted by food outside of the normal routine. Alcohol - even in small amounts - definitely affects this too. Over the next 3 months I am going to have to really watch myself when having a drink…
Looking forward to starting my upper body training in the morning.
I’m now on day 5 - didn’t blog yesterday as time just ran away with me.
Yesterday (Thursday) my legs were still really heavy and tight from Monday. I learnt a new phrase for this pain - DOMS or Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness - Check it out on wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_onset_muscle_soreness).
I went for a good walk with th dog last night (25 minutes of fast walking) and my legs really eased off. I was still a bit heavy getting up at 5.50am today and wasn’t sure how my leg training was going to go today. But once I started it all went pretty well - I felt full of energy. The only exercise that was a bit too tender was single leg lunges (with 1 foot on a step and another foot well stretched out in front of you, doing 8 lunges on each leg holding a set of dumbells).
I’ve also been given a whole set of ab/core exercises for Saturday (as I shouldn’t be running the day after leg training).
All in all I’m feeling really happy and well motivated. Even managed to side step a pizza night out tomorrow (I’m going to the pub after the pizza - but I am driving so won’t be getting too pissed up).
Cheers, Mark
I hate the word boxercise - it sounds a bit wussy, a bit like aquarobics etc.
Well I can tell you now that this morning’s session was anything but wussy. Quick 1 mile run to start - gets my legs warmed up (which were still tight and sore from Monday’s workout).
I was nervous that there was going to be a lot of leg work as part of the ‘ducking and diving’ but it wasn’t too bad. Total focus on shoulders and core. It was great - took out all my frustrations on the punch pads. There were 12 sets of workouts to do in around 40 minutes, eg, 1 minute of straight punches, 30 seconds of press ups, 30 seconds of crunches = 1 set.
During the workout I didn’t feel my legs hurting at all - because my shoulders were now bloody killing me. It is amazing how your body can only focus on one area of pain at a time. However, now (mid afternoon) the pain has moved back from my shoulders into my legs again.
I am feeling really good right now - despite the pain - I can honestly feel the benefit. It is hard to put my finger on exactly what it is but I just feel better in my skin. I think the diet has a big part to play - maybe the lack of caffeine and chocolate.
Looking forward to Friday’s workout - back to the legs again. Hopefully I’ll be able to bend down and tie my shoelaces by then (because I can’t at the moment!).
Cheers, M
Day 2:
- 6.20am - woke up to take the dog out for an hour.
- 6.22am - went back to bed as it was pissing it down and blowing a gale. I’ll do it tonight instead.
- 7.00am - got up - just - my legs are as stiff as anything. Not agony, just really stiff and heavy from yesterday’s leg workout.
Sticking just fine to my diet of porridge/banana/smoothie for breakfast, chicken salad for lunch, natural yoghurt and nuts mid afternoon and fish/chicken with vegetables at night. I feel totally full and don’t feel like munching chocolate. Let’s see how long that lasts 
I’m not going to start on the chocolate but I am expecting to have cravings for it soon.
Another workout at 6.30am tomorrow - let’s hope my legs can keep me upright!