Notes by Nectar

I was tired on Sunday and decided to skip the gym. I also had several deadlines for Monday so thought it would be best if I spent the day working.

I had a session with Pete on Monday morning. I overslept and didn’t even have a cup of tea before my session. As the building gym was closed for renovation, we had our session outside by the pool. He brought kettlebells and the TRX cable and I took my mat (but didn’t use it).

It was the first session I’d had with Pete where I just couldn’t be bothered to do anything. I don’t know whether I was tired or whether being outside felt weird, but I just wasn’t in the mood to do any of it. But I still did it. I started with a warmup:

• Light jog x 2 lengths of the pool
• Sideways jog x 2 lengths of the pool
• High knees x 2 lengths of the pool (the second length was backwards)
• Butt kickers x 2 lengths of the pool (the second length was backwards)
• Running x 2 lengths of the pool

I did some stretches after that and then did the first set of exercises:

• Kettlebell swings x 15 (8-kg weight)
• Sumo squats x 15 (with kettlebell)
• Combined knee-up/twist x 10 on each side
• Shuttle runs x 2 lengths of the pool
• Rest x 20 s
• Shuttle runs x 2 lengths of the pool
• Rest

I did that two more times and had a longer rest while Pete set up the TRX cable.

I did three sets of the following exercises:

• TRX pullups x 14
• TRX curtsy lunges x 7 on each side (alternating)
• TRX pushups x 14
• High knees x 20 s
• Rest x 10 s
• Side to side jumping x 20 s
• Rest x 10 s
• Butt kickers x 20 s
• Rest x 10 s
• Jumping jacks x 20 s
• Rest

Being outside with the TRX reminded me of Randy – gosh, that feels like a very long time ago but it’s only been 2 years.

I then did two sets of the following exercises using the Kettlebell:

• Overhead tricep extensions x 10
• Upright row x 10
• Rest

I did some stretches after that and was done – yay!

I had my usual yoga class on Tuesday morning. My cousin and I have been thinking about not continuing with this class next year. I think that’s mainly driven by me though – as I feel that every class is the same and I can’t even tell if I’ve made any progress in the last few months. I think I’ll decide once I’m back from my trip to Bali in December.

It had been very overcast on Tuesday and it even rained for a while. When I woke up on Wednesday it was still grey, but not wet, so Pete and I carried on outside.

There was a lovely breeze and I wondered whether I’d been so miserable on Monday because I was out in the sun and was feeling too hot. The other good thing about Wednesday’s session was that Pete told me there would be no shuttle runs. Hurrah! I rolled out my mat and began with the 1-to-5 warmup:

• 1 squat, 1 pushup, 1 situp
• 2 squats, 2 pushups, 2 situps
• 3 squats, 3 pushups, 3 situps
• 4 squats, 4 pushups, 4 situps
• 5 squats, 5 pushups, 5 situps
• 4 squats, 4 pushups, 4 situps
• 3 squats, 3 pushups, 3 situps
• 2 squats, 2 pushups, 2 situps
• 1 squat, 1 pushup, 1 situp

I was quite warm after that! I did a few stretches and then did three sets of the following:

• Walking lunges with kettlebell x 20 (8-kg weight)
• Rest

While I was lunging forward I would have to pass the kettlebell to my other hand through my legs. It took some coordination and balance, but I got there eventually! During the third set it started to drizzle. I didn’t even notice it at first, but we carried on anyway. It wasn’t heavy enough to stop our session and I found it quite refreshing.

Pete set up the TRX cable. I did the following circuit three times:

• Combined squats/high knee x 7 on each side (alternating)
• Upright row x 14
• Bicep curls x 12
• Rest

It was tough. And the second set of exercises wasn’t any easier. I did three sets of this circuit:

• Combined lunge/high knee x 7 on each side
• Pushups x 14
• Overhead tricep extensions x 8
• Rest

That was even harder! I could really feel it in my triceps during that circuit.

Then came the next circuit, with a Kettlebell for some of it:

• Kettlebell swings x 15 (8-kg weight)
• Kettlebell side bends x 10 on each side
• Mountain climbers x 30 s
• Rest x 30 s
• Repeat

I did some stretches after that and went home.

The next morning my glutes and my triceps were sore. I went to the gym at the Shangri-La and did 3 km on the treadmill (28:35). I alternated the speed between 6 km/h and 6.6 km/h. I then did Week 2 Day 2 of the Great Butt app:

• Reverse leg lifts x 6 on each side
• Rest x 30 s
• Reverse leg lifts x 6 on each side
• Rest x 30 s
• Reverse leg lifts x 6 on each side
• Rest x 30 s
• Reverse kicks x 6 on each side
• Rest x 30 s
• Reverse kicks x 6 on each side
• Rest x 30 s
• Butt raises x 7
• Rest x 30 s
• Butt raises x 6
• Rest

Then I did the Week 2 Day 2 of the Great Abs app:

• Crunches x 6
• Rest x 30 s
• Crunches x 5
• Rest x 30 s
• Crunches x 5
• Rest x 30 s
• Side obliques x 6 on each side
• Rest x 30 s
• Side obliques x 6 on each side
• Rest x 30 s
• Reverse crunches x 5
• Rest x 30 s
• Reverse crunches x 5
• Rest

I did a few stretches after that and went home.

I went back to the gym on Friday morning. I did 3 km on the treadmill, alternating between 6 km/h and 8 km/h. I did the 3 km in 26:51. I then did Week 2 Day 3 of the Great Butt app:

• Reverse leg lifts x 7 on each side
• Rest x 30 s
• Reverse leg lifts x 6 on each side
• Rest x 30 s
• Reverse leg lifts x 6 on each side
• Rest x 30 s
• Reverse kicks x 6 on each side
• Rest x 30 s
• Reverse kicks x 6 on each side
• Rest x 30 s
• Butt raises x 7
• Rest x 30 s
• Butt raises x 6
• Rest

I then did Week 2 Day 3 of the Great Abs app:

• Crunches x 6
• Rest x 30 s
• Crunches x 7
• Rest x 30 s
• Crunches x 5
• Rest x 30 s
• Side obliques x 7 on each side
• Rest x 30 s
• Side obliques x 7 on each side
• Rest x 30 s
• Reverse crunches x 5
• Rest x 30 s
• Reverse crunches x 5
• Rest

I did some stretches after that and went home.

Low point of the week? I can’t think of anything!

High point of the week? Five workouts done this week!

Weight loss? Still going up and down, but I think I’m starting to see a downward trend (I hope!).

Read more updates here.