that I'm not sore. That sounds pretty weird, doesn't it?

A few weeks ago, I went to a demo of a fitness program that my employer is offering. It's a 25 minute interval workout: 5 exercises, done in a sequence, 30 seconds doing an exercise, 30 seconds rest, repeated 5 times. There was something like jumping jacks, pushups, squats, jumping rope without the rope, and planks. I managed to do the whole thing at the demo (which I was really proud of), but my legs were really, really sore for 3 days, probably from the squats. My shoulders were sore too, but not nearly as sore as my legs. I was walking bowlegged That is normally not how I would start something new these days!

I knew I wanted to do this as part of my fitness program, but I didn't want to be that sore again. So I started doing the tougher exercises, the squats, pushups and planks, as part of my workout. Maybe two sets of 10 pushups or squats and a couple of planks each night. After a couple of weeks, I did the complete set 3 times and wasn't sore. So the next time, I did 4 sets, and I wasn't sore. Yesterday, I did 5 sets, including some full pushups instead of just the kind where you push from your knees. Today I am not sore, yay!

So now I can do the full workout, which is pretty demanding, without being crippled afterwards. (But I do get a good workout from it.) This is one of the skills I have learned from doing the program - how to build up to something so it isn't too much of a shock, instead of punishing my body with some sort of drastic change.

I'm working with a trainer, and he also knows how to help someone progress without pushing them too hard. I had been sort of afraid to work with one in the past after hearing horror stories, but this guy is really good. He is working with my husband too. We work out at a cardiac rehab gym where a lot of seniors work out, so I figured this trainer would be more gentle and I was right. I've made a lot of progress without a lot of suffering.

My other joy dots: big project at work almost done, and I have spaghetti pie for my pre workout snack today. Also got two interesting books from the library, so I have good reading material. And our younger border collie was super cuddly this morning.

Allison