Wow, it's been a very long time since I posted here. So much has happened, so much blubber has been lost, so many km run, ridden, flown, driven, kayaked and walked over. I'm not even going to bother updating on all the details. If anybody reads this and is interested, you can find out the gory details on my weight watchers blog - A Noodle Do and a Noodle Don't. I moved over there for blogging because it guaranteed me some readers! But now I don't care about that, I'm not following the WW system and it's time to keep track of my new focus and new adventures.
I've been interested in weight training for ages, but kinda been too chicken to get started on it. I have eased myself into it, I suppose, as I've been receiving Personal Training over the last couple of years from trainers who follow the Crossfit philosophy. First trainer worked from her garage and it was not so scary. She wasn't gung-ho about Crossfit, just used weights and that style of exercise. Then she moved town and I was all alone again. So I faced my fear of gyms and checked out he new Crossfit gym nearby. As I was nervously talking to the owner, I said "I think I know you", and it turns out I used to teach her! Yay! Not so scary. And I've since out (from experience) that she's a better fitness trainer than she was a Child Studies student! Double yay!!
So, my strength and fitness has been improving from these weekly sessions of Crossfit Personal Training and now I'm ready for the next step. It might make sense to start doing the Crossfit WODs (workout of the day) but I just like my gym focus to be all about me. The competitive nature of Crossfit freaks me out, and I am not ready for this yet, so I've been researching and googling and came across the Stronglifts 5x5 method of training. The writing style of the guy who promotes it shits me to tears - he's such a Neanderthal - but the program just makes sense. And I found a group on My Fitness Pal that supports each other in developing strength from this program... So 4 weeks ago, I started it. Of course, being me, I can't follow it exactly. It's supposed to be 3 days a week, but I only have 2 days I can do it - there's no way I'm giving up my PT, she flogs my arse and it's fun ;). So I do SL (Stronglifts) 2 mornings a week before work. Oh, and I have already had 2 weeks off as I'm just back from a holiday on Darwin. I might post some pics of it another day, if I remember that I've come back to this blog!
I took some pics of me before I started at the new gym. It's just a daggy small, local gym, with old equipment and mostly used by class attenders. At the time of the morning I go, there are 3 people, so no meat-heads to intimidate me. And nobody to spot for me, but at this stage, there's no issues there! I aim to lift heavy, but for now, I'm lifting the bar (20kg) and a smattering of weights, but nothing substantial. But I will get there... Anyway, back to the pics. I've posted them below, and I hope to keep track of any developments or change in my strength and body composition by taking bi-monthly photos. I hope I can see change. I really want to retrain myself away from focusing on my weight on the scale (which can be so negative and fluctuates heaps depending on the weather, time of the month, water retention, how much food I've been eating- haha- and stuff) to how much I can lift. And hey, I'm 47, I want to make sure my bone density is nice and thick to keep me upright for another 40 or 50 years. Or until the zombie apocalypse when I'm sure to be infected early on. I know I'll trip over or walk bang into the open choppers of a passing zom. It's just how I roll!
