My Journey With Health And Fitness – I Did What?

Today it is smoking hot here. I did my usual Tuesday walk to the gym, strength training class and then walk home. However, by time I got home I realized there was no way I could walk to the office where I normally volunteer at and then walk home at 2pm when it was expected to be 30 degrees. So instead I grabbed a quick shower and then headed out for a 10km walk at 9am. Yes, it was still hot out just not as bad as it got this afternoon.

This week is the last week of the strength training class. Someone recently asked me if I felt like I was getting stronger and I said no, I just feel like I am gaining confidence. But I am getting stronger and today proved that.

Tuesdays have been back squat days. I truly hate these as you put a weighted bar across your back below your shoulders and you do a squat. I can honestly say the release the front of my shoulders felt every time I have completed a set of these over the past 4 weeks was huge. Still today was my last kick at the can so I wanted to get my best one rep maximum. We were supposed to start at 50% of what you originally did for your 1RM which for me was 75lb or basically doing 5 reps with just the bar bell (it alone weighs 35lb). Then you were to add more weights and do 3 reps. Finally you were to get up to your 1RM and do 1 rep. The instructor decided I couldn’t start with an empty barbell so she had me add 2 10lb weights. Hmm, it didn’t kill me. Then I added 2 more which of course put me at the original 1RM or 75lb. But then I kept going, adding more weight and doing a single rep. By time I was done my 1RM was up to 110lb!

It was quite a thrill to have added nearly 50% to my original squats. I guess I am stronger and these classes have worked. I have bench chest presses on Thursday where I hope to go from 70lb to 100lb. Last post I mentioned for the deadlifts I had gone from 105lb to 130lb so I am hoping to finish those off at 150lb.

So I did what? Well, I killed my squat strength training and it feels great.