Today was my first day doing my strength training routine as prescribed by my trainer. My warm up was brisk walking for 5 minutes around the track, and then I got down to business. I had been instructed to take a 1-2min break (even up to 5 min!) between sets, and this was the first time I had ever done so (usually I just hop from machine to machine and don’t break unless I have to), so I was really surprised that my body felt a little fatigued at the end of the work out. Instead of standing around for my breaks, I would brisk walk 1 or 2 laps around the track. On Friday, I’m going to count how many laps I do throughout the workout because 18 laps =1 mile.

There are a few machines that are still a challenge for me doing 8 reps at a certain weight, but there are 1 or 2 that I could easily increase my reps or weight. I just need to find out when you know to do which…? I’ll have to find out before Friday, when I have another strength training day. Tomorrow is cardio, and Thursday I get to sleep in!!!

For cool down, I walked 2 laps then I went into stretches. Practically all of them are considered yoga moves, though I haven’t learned all the names yet (I’ll have to look them up). But I know (and do) Downward Dog, Cobra greeting the sunrise, and Child, and several others.

But there’s this one where you start out lying on your back, you put your arms above your head, palms down, then you arch your back and legs off the ground where you create a whole body arch. On Sunday when I first did this with the trainer, I could not for the life of me get my head off the floor, so we said that would be one of my goals. Well this morning when I tried it – I was able to do a full arch –and hold it for 15 sec!– with my head several inches from the floor. YAY!!!