Sneaky Sadist

I have a very sneaky Sadist and sometimes I forget that. No worries though he reminded me today.  During my twice-weekly torture session he had me do a routine known as Add-Ons.  For those who are not familiar with Add-Ons, it is an easy concept.  You start with one exercise for a number reps and then repeat that exercise and add another exercise. You then repeat exercise 1, then 2 and add exercise 3. You continue this way until you have a total of 5 exercises (or at least that is how many we do).  You then repeat that entire routine but each time increasing the number of reps per exercise.  I went through this routine 3 times with 10, 15 and 20 reps respectively.  By the time I left the gym I was exhausted but I couldn't figure out why since that was all we did.  Well, after some rest I figured it out. Once you look at what I did by the numbers, I did a lot more than I thought. Here are the total number of reps I completed for each exercise today:

 

Bicep Curls - 225 reps
Squats with 20lb weight - 180 reps
Shoulder Presses - 135 reps
Calf raises - 90 reps
Reverse Flys - 45 reps



By breaking it down as we did, it didn't seem as if I did so much. At least now I realize why I was struggling with the bicep curls during my 3rd go around.  I have a suspicion that I'm going to be feeling this work out over the next couple of days.  

Just when I think I'm getting better, he throws something in like this that pushes me without me even realizing it.  I'm sure I'll thank him later, but right now I'm just annoyed that he snuck that many reps in.  The last time I did that many squats I was barely walking for 3 days.  Hopefully that isn't the case this time.  All I know I is, pay backs can be a bitch.  I don't feel so bad now about my whining during the last round.  No wonder my arms and legs were complaining.  They had a good reason for it.  

I am back to wondering about my sanity in doing this torture.  I know in the long run it is good for me, but when I'm in the middle of doing it nothing looks good.  I guess this means the Sadist is doing his job and I should be happy about that but why does it have to be so hard all the time.  At least I can hope the aches won't be too bad this week.

Progress Report @ 9 months

I can't believe it has been nine months since I started working out with the Sadist. Some days it seems as if I just started yesterday and others it seems like a lifetime.  Regardless of how long it feels, there has definitely been some progress.  It's amazing how much can change in such a short period of time.  This is not to say I don't still hangout in my corner of the couch, because I do. I love the corner of my couch and enjoy every second I can sitting there, but I have found some other more active things I enjoy doing as well.  I'm not sure I'm ready to include running 5ks in that category quite yet.  

June 2012

The last time I did a progress report, I had been working with the Sadist for 2.5, months. At that time there had definitely been a change in how I looked and how I felt. 

So to recap, let's look at where I started.  I wasn't too pleased with how I looked and I definitely didn't feel all that great either. The picture to the right shows me in June.  Yuck!  Not my best.

 

September 2012

In September when I did my first update, Hannah took the picture on the left. There were definitely changes to be seen and I was feeling much better about myself.  I started carrying myself with more confidence and became more comfortable in my own skin.

I had lost about 10lbs, not as much as I wanted, but I had lost inches and the fat was transforming into muscle.  My clothes were fitting much better and  I wasn't shying quite as much away from the mirror.  It still wasn't my friend, but it wasn't my enemy either. Time sure does fly and I'm not sure I was having all that much fun.

April 2013

We are now 9 months out and I have lost 15 lbs, but more importantly I'm looking and feeling better.  Who would have thunk it.  It sure as heck wasn't me.  I don't think I would have even thought it was possible.  Heck I have even managed to run not one, but two 5ks.  This time last year, the running was the furthest thing from my mind.   

Just think, if this is how far I've gotten in 3/4 of a year, I can hardly wait to see when it has been a whole year.  My next step is to work on my eating habits.  I keep saying that and one of these days, I might actually do something about it.   In the meantime it is time to get ready to walk for the MS Society.  Maybe, just maybe, in the near future this disease will be a distant memory.  The best part about the walk, is I get to just walk, no running required.