My Journey With Health And Fitness – And So Strength Training Has Begun

I have been crazy busy the past week or so. I have had multiple dogs that needed to be urgently rehomed. I have to say so many of the rehoming coordinators from other areas really stepped up and made this happen. While I loved the home I placed the Lagotto into last week, today was the best. It was a pomchi whose owner had gone into care and he apparently was nervous around new people. Not with us, he got very comfortable right away. Then when it was time to give him to his adopter he willingly went into her arms. Yet another successful transfer.

Today was my first day in my new strength training classes. It was interesting because there were women of all shapes, sizes and fitness level there. Some of them were actually taking their first ever class with the fitness centre which I thought was awesome. Again this is a 4 week program in which we will be measuring our results. I always seem to think that I can’t lift very much so I am hoping to build some confidence over the next 4 weeks.

So today was testing day and we were doing 1MR’s. Ok, I had no idea what that meant and was too embarrassed to ask. Basically you start with a lightly weighted barbell and do 10 reps. You then add weight and do 3 reps, more weight and 2 reps, more weight and 1 rep then your maximum weight for 1 rep (1MR stands for 1 maximum rep). There were only 3 exercises involved and I vowed to give it my best.

We started out with deadlifts. Now I have been doing these for 2 years so am pretty comfortable with my form in doing them. Usually if I am using dumbbells and I use 2, 20lb weights but hell, I needed to find my maximum and so by time we were done I was deadlifting a total of 105 lb! Next it was on to low bar squats. I am not going to describe these because I am still a little confused about them Bottom line is I found them to be very uncomfortable and so did not push myself ultimately only doing about 60 lbs. Finally it was on to a bench chest press. I heeded the techniques I was given last week when I could only do 3 reps at 75 lbs and this week pulled off 2 perfect reps at 70 lbs.

I get this is only session 1 and there are still 11 to go but if nothing else I walked away with confidence that I can do this. My next session is Thursday with one of my favourite instructors and I am going to get her to help push my boundaries. I so plan on building my strength over the next 4 weeks and can’t wait to see the results.