Wednesday, August 6, 2008

You want me to do WHAT?!?!

Had another appt with the personal trainer this morning.

Before I get too far into this, I need to explain that Husband has been working with Trainer guy for a few months now. He had been bugging me about making an appt to ensure that I spend time doing the things that I should be doing based on personal strengths/weaknesses, rather than just doing things because they sound good. Case in point, the push-up challenge.

Last week, Trainer guy focussed on my upper body and gave me four specific exercises to do. Today we were planning to focus on lower body. Before we started, he asked if I had any questions about the upper body stuff from last week.

Well, actually, yes, there was one exercise that I couldn't quite remember how to do and btw they don't have that machine at the gym that I usually go to and maybe he could recommend an alternative.

He casually answered,
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"Sure. Why dont' you do push-ups instead."

You have got to be kidding me. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. When I came up for air, I explained that my abs are horrible and I stink at push-ups and I know this because of the push-up challenge.



That's all it took for him to ditch the lower body plan for today and go straight to core. As such, I have four new short term (I think we're talkng a couple months) goals:

Goal #1 - 3x90secs of plank. Keep the glutes and abs flexed while doing it. This is difficult for me. I can maybe do them correctly for 20 secs at a time right now.

Goal #2 - 3x90secs of "V-ups". This is some sort of evil Pilates thing. I'm not convinced that mere mortals can actually accomplish this. I'm starting in a modified position with legs bent and my hands on the floor. Eventually want to have the legs straight and arms off the floor. Yeah, right.

Goal #3 - 3x15 Seated rocking with medicine ball. Basically V-ups with motion and tight abs the whole time.

Goal #4 - 3x(20 pushups in 60 secs). The kicker - he tells me to start push-ups from the floor. Get everything tight (just like plank) and then do push-up #1 by actually pushing up (novel concept, huh?). He really wants me to focus on good form to make each one count.

It went something like this today:

"One! Looking strong.
Two! Good form, keep it up.
*collapse*
Okay...well....that's a start."

Bottom line - this personal trainer stuff seems to be worthwhile. I'm glad Husband pushed me into it. I've got another appt next week. I'll let you know how it goes.

21 comments:

  1. Ooh, just what I needed, some core exercise goals. Thanks! LOL

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  2. You will have great abs!

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  3. Too funny. Core exercises are tough!

    Em

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  4. Man...core is rough! I'm no where near where I should be with my core. I do maybe a set of abs here and there. ekkk.

    Too funny about the push ups coming full circle to haunt you.

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  5. Good stuff. Abs are sexy! And they make you climb faster! :-) I tested it with my new toy: Climbing with no core muscles engaged = 250 Watt power output. Climbing with core muscles engaged = 350 Watts power output. Not bad hey?

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  6. Core is hard! I recently started to work with a trainer and its been wonderful, really really worth it. He keeps me progressing so much more than I could push myself.
    I like your goals :-) V-ups are pure evil! (says she hoping she won't have to do them as some universe vindiction, lol)

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  7. I'm going to start core work. Not looking forward to it, but it sounds pretty necessary. GOod luck.

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  8. OMG Lisa it would be MUCH MUCH MUCH worse for me if I had to do that. YOU GO!!! You'll be pumping out those push ups in NO time!

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  9. Sounds like a great plan. Did you ask him if he had been reading your blog? LOL

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  10. Having someone there to kick your butt is a good thing :-) You'll be buff before you know it ;-)

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  11. All this core work will really pay off...way to go :)

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  12. Sounds like an awesome session!! I do the plank for 60 seconds & it about kills me! 3x90 is kick ass! It'll be nice to see you work your way there.

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  13. I haven't made it to serious core exercises yet ... but considering my balance is legendary at the gym (I've fallen over doing lunges, squats, bicep curls ... it would be funny if it weren't so sad), maybe I should start. Good luck with your goals! Maybe I'll make some of my own ....

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  14. I don't even know what core is??

    Help?

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  15. It's all about the "CORE" when doing anything.. That's the theory anyways..

    That stuff can be rough sometimes..

    Keep at it.

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  16. They sound fun, in a very evil way. You'll love being strong though!

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  17. Glad the trainer is "working out" for you. (Aren't I funny today? NOT.)

    Very cool post. Sounds like you have a plan, are super motivated, dedicated and having fun too. Keep up the great work.

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  18. If you don't end up hating your PT in the middle of the work out, he (she) is not doing their job.

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  19. Sounds like a really good session and it definitely sounds like the trainer is giving you good stuff to work on!

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  20. I can do 4 pushups now...but that plank thing, 60 seconds is my limit. Once. Holy cow it's hard. And I think I'm doing a modified one (on my forearms and toes?)

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