8 Week Challenge - Day 34

Today was cardio day for me. I jumped on the cross trainer before my RPM class. The RPM class was hard. Our regular instructor got replaced by a bloke who has a bit of a mean streak. I’ve had him once before so I knew I was in for a hard session. After song 5 I threw up in my mouth. But that’s just what the instructor wants. He told us to get used to feeling sick. I’ve nick named him meanie. After the RPM class I did a half hour cool down on the treadmill.

Cardio

• 15 min. Cross trainer - level 5 - 13/14 km/h
• 10 min. Bike riding - level 1 - 90 rpm
• 45 min. RPM (spin) class
• 30 min. Treadmill - 5.6 km/h

8 Week Challenge - Day 32 & Day 33

Day 32 of the 8 Week Challenge was a quiet one; I took the day off. The next day I had an assessment and got a new weight/resistance program. The assessment was positive; my blood pressure has gone down, I’ve lost a nice amount of centimeters, lost 2.8 kg in 4 weeks and I am getting stronger by the day.

After the assessment I had a PT session and I talked to my PT about what the dietitian had said to me about working out too intense. My PT had never heard about it and after talking to him, we agreed to ignore the advice of the dietitian. Personally I find it a waste of my training to ‘take it easy’ two weeks of the month. I don’t see how I will improve when I do that.

Cardio

• 10 min. Cross trainer - level 5/6 - 14/15 km/h
• 8 min. Bike riding - level 7 - 95/125 rpm
• 30 min. Treadmill - 5.6 km/h

Weight/Resistance

• 2x 15 reps Leg press - 170 kg
• 3x 10 reps Leg press - feet together - 70 kg
• 2x 15 reps Hip Abduction - 40 kg
• 3x 10 reps Squat with ball
• 2x 15 reps Chest press - 27,5 kg
• 3x 10 reps Push ups
• 2x 15 reps Seated row - 30 kg
• 2x 15 reps Bicep curls - 5 kg
• 2x 15 reps Triceps kickbacks - 4 kg

8 Week Challenge - Day 31

Okay, I am confused. I decided to weigh myself this morning and guess what? I lost weight again! Monday I weighed myself and the scale said I was 81 kilo, but this morning I weighed in at 80 kilo. I am happy with it, but confused that it can fluctuate that much in such a short time.

Today I took it a bit easy. The acupuncturist thought that I had a tear in one of my muscles. I don’t know if that is the case, but I decided to listen to my body and just take it easy.

Cardio

• 5 min. Cross trainer - level 5 - 14/15 km/h
• 60 min. Body Combat

Weights/Resistance

• 3x 12 reps Chest press 25 kg
• 3x 10 reps Leg press - feet together - 70 kg
• 3x 12 reps Hip abduction - 40 kg
• 1x 20 reps Seated row - 15 kg
• 2x 10 reps Push ups

8 Week Challenge - Day 30

Today I had another appointment with the dietitian. I was not looking forward to going because I had gained weight and I could not explain why. I had been strict with my meal plan, I had worked hard in the gym, so why did I gain weight? According to the dietitian the weight should be stripped off me easily with the exercise I am doing and the meal plan I am on.

So the dietitian had a look at my eat diary - and was very satisfied - and explained to me that I probably had worked out TOO INTENSE. Of course my response was: ?????? So he sat down and explained how your monthly cycle can impact how your body works and what happens if you exercise too intense during the (approximately) two last weeks of your monthly cycle; your body stores fat! I wish I was a man so I didn’t had that problem!Anyway, he told me to keep going with my meal plan, but to adjust the intensity of my exercise during certain times of the month.

Cardio

• 30 min. Cross trainer - level 5 - 14 km/h
• 30 min. Bike riding - level 7 - interval program - 85/95 rpm
• 30 min. Treadmill - 5.6 km/h

8 Week Challenge - Day 28 & 29

Day 28 of the 8 week challenge was a quiet one; I had the day off. The next day however I had another appointment with James my personal trainer. I have to say I keep amazing myself - I actually done 150 kg with my leg press. I am proud of that because it is the most I’ve ever done. I also done drop sets with the lat pull down, chest press and triceps. The last three exercises didn’t go as I hoped. At one point my arms decided to give up. I hate it when the body doesn’t do what the minds wants. According to James that sometimes happens and I shouldn’t beat myself up over it. He was still satisfied because I had gone up in weights with everything.

Cardio

• 25 min. Cross trainer - level 5 - 14 km/h

Weights

• Drop sets Leg press
• Drop sets Lat pull down
• Drop sets Bench press
• Drop sets Triceps