Notes by Nectar

I was tired on Sunday morning. I’d signed up for the intensive Beginners II Arabic course during Ramadan which is 4 days a week from 9-11am (what was I thinking?) and I’d slept really badly on Saturday night. By the time I got home from my Arabic class I had time for a cup of tea and then headed to the gym for my Sunday session with Randy.

Randy was running late so I started with a 10-minute warm-up on the cross-trainer instead of the usual 5 minutes. I then started the first circuit three times (with a rest between sets):

• Lateral pulldown x 20
• Step-ups on a bench x 12 on each side
• Tricep extensions x 20
• Single-leg raises (reaching up to touch your toes with the opposite arm) x 12 on each side

I did another 3 minutes on the cross-trainer and did the next circuit three times (with a rest between circuits):

• Push-ups/alternating knee-ins on a bench x 12
• Single leg extensions (machine) x 12 on each side
• Alternating static bicep curls x 15 on each side
• Leg raises (machine) x 15

I then did some stretching. I was done!

On Monday my plan was to go to the gym after my Arabic class. It all went wrong when I got home and decided to make myself a cup of tea first. I got lazy. I checked my Facebook account and my work emails and then made myself comfortable. I was trying to convince myself that I’d go the following day instead of going then but at 2pm I decided enough was enough. I got changed and went to the gym. I was on the treadmill looking out at the pool when I spotted my cousin walking around outside – he’d just arrived that morning and I hadn’t seen him for a year. I decided I’d stop at 1.5 km (13:33) and then went to see him…

On Tuesday I went to the gym after Arabic and did 3 km on the treadmill (26:18). I thought about staying on and doing 5 km but decided against it in the end!

I woke up on Wednesday feeling tired and blah. I went to Arabic but cancelled my session with Randy. I didn’t go back to the gym until Saturday, when I did another 3 km (26:31).

Low point of the week? I’ve been feeling tired – I guess I’m not used to leaving the house at 8:45 four mornings a week! I’ve also been eating really badly, including a slice of Red Velvet Cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory (1000 calories – I’m not kidding).

High point of the week? Making it to the gym four times this week – which is more than I’ve done in a while. Also, I haven’t had any Galaxy bars! I’ve been to the supermarket twice this week and was so tempted to buy some but resisted.

Weight loss? None – I’m still at 70/71 kg.

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