First Morning Cardio Session

The first day on the new regime has gone well so far.  I got up with my partner and left the house at 8 this morning.  I made her breakfast before she took off for work, but didn’t have any breakfast myself as I am supposed to work out before eating.  So the first hurdle was crossed without any trouble.  I felt tired when I woke up, and a bit stiff and tight from the workout of the day before.  I had expected it, and it wasn’t as bad as it has been in the past so the muscles must be improving.

I arrived at the gym at about 8:15 after the walk from home.  The traffic is pretty bad at that time of the morning and there isn’t much room for bikes on the road.  Because it was a nice day I decided to I jet off on foot.  After the 10 minute walk to the gym I followed instructions and got on the cross trainer for the 15 minutes.  Initially I tried to follow the advice of the trainer to get the resistance level up to 10, however it was almost impossible to move the food pedals at that level.  I eased it back and went fast instead for the 15 minutes.  I felt good at the end of it and had worked up a real sweat.  My heart rate was also at the upper end of the cardio scale, which I gather is the point so I think I did well.  Next time I will try to have the resistance level higher.

The machine wasn’t that great, and definitely wasn’t the best cross trainer I have been on.  The display (unlike all the others at the gym) required weight to be entered in pounds (which I had to calculate roughly in my head) and it was difficult to figure out how to change the level of resistance.  However, now that I have broken the ice I should be okay on the cross trainer for the rest of the time that I am using it.

Next came 25 minutes on the treadmill.  I tried to keep up with the 6-7 km/ph split, however I was finding it very difficult to walk at 7.  I have been told not to run, and with my short legs 7 is too fast.  I was keeping at it, and then my trainer came over to have a chat.  I eased back and she suggested that I try walking at 6 and going to 6.5 instead.  I did that, and it was better.  She also let me know that if I struggle with that, I should increase the incline to make it more difficult and keep pushing myself that way.  Sounded good to me, and I rounded out the session well, and ended feeling good and walking home at the same pace that I was on the treadmill.

I scoffed breakfast when I got home, and after that I was well set up for the day.  I felt good about getting the cardio done and having the rest of the day to do the things that I need to do.  Right now I am updating my blog, with a nice pot of green tea to wash it all down!  I should be well and truly ready to take on the cardio tomorrow morning, and have my session with the PT tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 p.m.  I still have to do the cardio session in the morning, and I have been told to make sure that I have my lunch by 12:00 at the latest tomorrow.  I shall keep you informed as to how I get on.  There will probably be two blog entries tomorrow, so keep coming back to see how I’m getting on.