A gymbunny, I will be

Monday

(more…)

Drafted out my training schedule over the weekend and it looks pretty brutal. It involves me working out x6 days a week, that's a new level of commitment. Especially for me. I cannot afford to work out every day after work, I own a very needy dog named Chutney who whinges to the high heavens if he hasn't seen me enough. Which brings me to working out before work. So out goes sleeping after 10.30pm.

Wasn't familiar with the running routes within my estate so I drove the car out to Bedok Reservoir which has a running route of 4.5KM which is just 0.5KM of my running plan. I have known for awhile that running on a threadmill and running on pavement brings out relatively different results with the latter being that much more difficult.

Set my iPhone on the C25K app and off I went. For once, my blasted Nike+ decided to work and, it tracked my distance and speed. With running, alot of it is a mental game, it is pushing yourself when you want to stop or slow down. I recall being able to run 5KM effortlessly at some point of my life, and I had nary a gadget. I determined how hard I worked out on how wet my t-shirt was and, stopped only when I had a stitch. That was caveman goal setting 101, make a goal based on lamp posts. Now, I listen to some stranger telling me how well I'm doing and I'm somewhat on the fence as to if it is indeed better.

CP made a comment about not having music while I run which apart from security reasons, had practical and psychological reasons too. I did not have to lug equipment along, I could just run and, running lets you clear your mind. The last 1.5K was done without music and it was tougher not to have something to pound the gravel to, but I see his point. It does let you unclutter your mind which is key if you've had a glimpse in mine.

Suppose it is a matter of getting used to. 1 down, 5 to go! Have a productive Monday!

On CP's advice, I decided to log my training for the tri. It makes natural sense, to track progress and the likes. So, the training plan is to do a tri activity at least twice a week on top of what I'm doing for gym which honestly sounds like more than I chew off but, I need to make a schedule to make this work.

Wednesday

200m swim – 7mins 10 seconds

I wasn't really pushing myself, my elbow hurts when I stretch and was feeling sorta of punched out.

A word for the wise from the foolish – Do NOT dream when you cycle, even if you are cycling on pavement. I swerved out of the pavement for a brief moment and hit the side of the curb to the road. Two words – FACE PLANT.

I literally FLEW and landed on my tummy, I have never been so thankful of my paunch. Seriously. What a wuss move, and I was about 2mins from our first mini stop – Changi Village. My insides feel slightly tender.

The pain is bearable, the humiliating and healing of my left elbow might be more torture really.

MEDICCCCCCCCCcccccc!

Oh, that and my cyclometer doesn't work. I'll have to suck it up and ask a boy to check it out for me. Damn it. Unofficial time: 32mins for 10k including a mother of a brutal climb for a newbie up towards Loyang Ave.

Back with my old program, I did not have much results with the change in program though it is certainly no fault of EJ. I just need to be babysat, I work out better when I do not have to think about my reps and sets. I simply just function. If I bargain with myself, I win all four sets. When I bargain with E, he lets me win the first set which lulls me into a false sense of comfort, and then proceeds to throw the whammy at me for the next three sets.

Nutritionally, I had the worst week last weekend so I honestly do not think I can eat worse. If anything, it motivates me to be better. I almost skipped gym tonight because I had the most intense craving for Japanese. I bargained with myself again "Of course, you can skip, just run tomorrow, not a problem at all" I stopped my thoughts in my tracks, packed up and rushed to gym. Worked out and honestly I have NEVER regretted a work out. It just takes abit for me to get there.

I have to stop bargaining with myself.

(more…)

^$%!^*^$#

I went back to the gym today for the first time in two months. I did 2/3 of the sets that I would usually do at lighter weights, same reps. ^$%!^*^$# ^$%!@^*^$1# *^$%!!^*^$# mother freakin’ chugger.

A1: DB Split Squat (5kg DB with 3010 count) – 10/10/10(BW)

A2: Chin Up (improvised to incline chin up) – 10/10/10

B1: BB Romanian Deadlift (35kg BB with 3010 count) – 10/10/10

B2: DB Neutral Standing Shoulder Press (5kg with 3011 count) – 10/10/10

D: Thrusters (5kg x 2) : 55

Can someone spell weaksauce?! F-A-I-L! Tomorrow C25K!

I had wanted to start this earlier in the year but, somehow could not get my will together. Christmas weekend is the realisation I needed for me to get this off the ground. Well informed of the inefficiencies of running as a method of cardio for weight loss, I still want to do this running programme because, I want to sign up, complete a 5K run before my 31st and kick ass while I am at it. Never been much of a sports person (shell shocking, I know!) Wally told me about the Couch to 5K running program which she started out with when she wanted to start training for the LA Marathon, and my aspirations are much lower. All I want to do is complete the 5K with a respectable time and without injury (which if you look at my running form, might be quite a challenge) I am a lazy runner which is compounded by the fact that I like to dream when I run and, I lose concentration of form, occasionally fall off the treadmill even or just trip on a rock.

Being the tech geek – I searched for an iPhone app which would help me with my goal. It comes with stretches to follow, you start your playlist, run the app and off you go! I brought along the Nike+ device because, I wanted to see if I can record the running information (stride, distance, speed) but of course, it didn’t work after lying dormant for abit and I was too sleepy to troubleshoot at 7.30am. Back to the C25K app, it runs for 9 weeks and by the end of 9 weeks, you should be able to run 30mins without stopping and effectively 5K. Sounds good to me!

Come Jan, I will be doing this and my regular "mad" gym with EJ. Interested in finding out the progress? Stay tuned!

W1D1 of C25K – It was easier than I had anticipated which amazes me because, I have come so far after working out for 6-7 months (I haven’t been to the gym in more than a month but I will be back in a couple days!) i remember doing a running programme similar to this, it was painful almost. At the end of 30mins with 10mins warm up/cooldown, I did 3K which is um, not great but not horrible either.

Absolutely the question of the afternoon during my virgin Via Ferrata experience. My dearest gym friend, K and I have been back and forth about all things adventure that we want to venture into and dragged the girls with us for a bout of climbing.

A spot of trivia – In 1914, the Italian troops built Via Ferrata routes throughout Northern Italty as supply lines to haul gear and artillery, and enable allied soldiers to ascend the steep mountain surface. Via Ferrata is known as Kletterstieg in German which translates to climbing stairs and, is a great explanation of what it involves. It is made up of a route of iron rungs, rails and cables.

We decided on BorderX located in Orchard Central, literally downtown right in the heart of shopping heaven. Having not been there before, K went for a site recee and gleefully informed me that it wasn’t in a spot where there would be many spectators. She totally lied to me. If you take the escalator from the side, it leads you STRAIGHT up to the wall. There are a couple of eating joints so, there will be people watching which is moot point when you are up there because, all you care about is where to put your damn foot/hand!

Placed in the safe hands of BorderX staffer, Yu Sueng, my climbing buddy, A and I were off to our starts. 5 rungs in, I felt like I wasn’t going to be able to complete it, a couple rungs later we got to the platform for our first break. It was not until the last 3 rungs had I TRULY considered giving up but, EJ would never forgive me if I gave up. With determination and torn skin, I reached for that last rung and, I was done. All the curses, all the sweat, all the uncertainty was worth it.

For most, completing a Via Ferrata course is perhaps a more active day. For a girl who has lost 30lbs in the last 8 months, this is a goal accomplished. A confirmation that she is stronger than she believes on most days. Gotta love that list!

Find me! Find me! No, really.

A victory sign never felt so apt.

Pictures courtesy of Ms K

Monday

A1: BB Heel Elevated Squat (20kg BB with 4010 count) – 12/12/12/10 (22.5kg for last set)

A2: Chest Supported Row (12kg KB with 4011 count) – 12/12/12/12

B1: Single Leg Dead Lift (16kg KB with 4011 count) -12/12/12/12

B2: Flat DB Bench Press Neutral Grip (10kg x 2 with 4012 count) – 10/8/10/10

D: Burpees: 65

Monday

A1: DB Split Squat (5kg DB with 3010 count) – 10/10/10/10

A2: Chin Up (improvised to incline chin up) – 10/10/10/10

B1: BB Romanian Deadlift (40kg BB with 3010 count) – 10/10/10/10

B2: DB Neutral Standing Shoulder Press (6kg with 3011 count) – 10/10/10/10

D: Thrusters: 81

(more…)