I worked out with Mike two nights ago and then again tonight. He's decided I'm ready to take it to the next level. You should know by now that I trust him. However, there are times when I look at him and say, "Are you sure this isn't too heavy?" "Are you sure I can do this?" "This is me we're talking about." I either get a nod with a grin, a smart aleck response, or an affirmation.
On Sunday there was this woman whom I had never met before trying to give Mike ideas. For instance, he said "Go get a drink of water. You're going to need it. We're going to do step ups." We've done these once before and they kicked my butt. I was holding weights and stepping up and down onto a workout step. WELCOME TO THE NEXT LEVEL!!! We're going to step up and down off of a bench that's like two feet off the ground. Yes, readers! Yes, indeed! The same bench I was standing on last week to do rows. So this woman says "I think it should be a little higher. Maybe you should try this benchpress one." I was in shock really. Then she said, "If you there's no pain, there's no gain." Really? The voice in my head was saying, "Woman! Take your size 6 butt and shut up!" I just smiled and stepped on the bench many times. We ended at the treadmill. My very favorite place. I admit...I was whining. This woman is at the other end on an elliptical. She says, "You want me to come and run with you? You will inspire me. I've had this sinus infection and I haven't been able to run." Totally, I blew her off. I gave Mike a look that said, "Seriously? Are you kidding me?" But my new friend came to the treadmill right beside me and as I was bargaining for less time at my speed she increased her speed to double mine and started running. She was extremely grateful for my inspiring her to run again. It's all in a workout..what can I say?
Let me interject here about my heart rate. I had my heart rate up to 174 while running. As I was cooling down at a walking space, Mike told me to focus on lowering my heart rate. This is really bizarre. I envision the number he tells me and my hear rate starts to drop to that number. In one and a half minutes I went from 174 to 140. I like that I can control it like that. Now I have to learn to control it like that while running. Betcha I will...
There were several new people I met at the gym that night. Another one was Prescilla. She's a friend of Mike's and what a sweetie! She totally encouraged me the whole night. Loved her and can't wait to get to know her better. I also met Jeremy, an aspiring model who made a comment about how hard Mike makes me work. Now here is a perfect example of the Mike mentality. He says to Jeremy..."Yeah, she's my guinea pig. I try new things out with her. I have her do things that I wouldn't even try." As I'm processing this comment I'm thinking...I might be really stupid. However, I said, "I pay you. I feel if you tell me to do something. I should do it." Many times I have to think about an exercise first or I have to have Mike show me what he wants several times to wrap my head around it, but usually I'm going to do it or at least give it my best shot. The way I see it...this is the only way to get results. I'm getting results that I have never had before. Might as well keep doing what he tells me to do. Obviously, he has it figured out.
I can't not post about Skip to my Lou's. A new exercise that Mike introduced tonight. It is literally skipping only you have to get the knees really high in the air with your hands over your head. At first I wasn't going high enough. There's a sign hanging from the ceiling. Mike says, "Next time I want you to touch this." "Ummm...you do know I'm only...?" Didn't even get to say my height before Mike said, "Yes...2ft9 I know." I kept trying and never actually touched the sign, but got pretty darn close. Skip down the gym and back drop and do five pushups. Repeat. Repeat. Did I mention I had already done 100 pushups at this point? And just when I thought we were headed to the treadmill, "There's no one in here. I want you to sprint." Sprint down and back drop for five pushups. Repeat with an added sprint. Repeat with two added sprints. I have to say I was LOVING this. Mike was down at the end giving me hand signals and yelling at me to go faster. When Mike is encouraging me like that it gives me an adrenalin rush and makes me want to go faster. I'm certain Mike would agree that I am far from a world class sprinter, but it is a rush and I look forward to doing this sort of thing again.
I must say I'm scared for tomorrow morning. My abs were already sore when I went in tonight and we added 150 crunches to the end of the workout. I'm very sore now. However, I like sore abs. Let's keep them sore all the time. There is a lot to get rid of in that area.
Until next post...
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