lilian's blog

15th December 2006

Sun, 17 Dec 2006 14:42:55 +0000

Although I haven't been keeping this up to date, I have been busy training! I have progressed to standing on dome shaped wobbly things, looking for all the world like a seal waiting to be thrown fish, I have moved up the weights to 5 kgs and have been forced onto that damn treadmill! I continue to make steady progress and have even managed to lose some weight - in spite of everything. Only a couple of little relapses, only one of which was bad enough to keep me from the gym. I've finished work and am off on holiday, so no more gym till 2007. All things considered, it has been a good experience, even though I have been a bit weary and reluctant at times.

10th November 2006

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 10:27:41 +0000

2 more weeks of exercises and 2 more lectures on the merits of losing weight! I have put it on my to do list and probably will get round to it eventually; I have been threatened with treadmills if I don't at least try. On the plus side, I can now put socks on without sitting down, which is great - I even only wobble a little bit on my bad leg, so I'm well chuffed - and I've stopped taking the diclofenac without any bad effects. I still need the tramadol though, but am hoping to cut it down eventually - on bad days I have to take 300mgs but mostly I can get by with just 100mgs in the morning.

24th October 2006

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 19:17:48 +0000

Much better today. I have got my BMI into the next level down - drop dead in 2 weeks rather than tomorrow - and knocked 5 seconds off my personal best on the rowing machine. I didn't do so well on the treadmill test and received a lecture on walking between gym appearances - I am still feeling chuffed that I can walk at all, and am unperturbed that I have slipped back a bit. I'm not sure that Ryan agrees though! The new exercises went much better than last time - I had developed very wobbly legs, and discovered muscles I didn't know were there, after my efforts at 'fit ball squats' last Friday.

20th October 2006

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 19:01:54 +0000

Went to the gym but struggled. Week 1 on a new cycle with new exercises added in and extra weights - not Russian lady weightlifter level but it did make a difference. I'm still feeling the effects of the flare up earlier in the week, but last time it happened I couldn't walk properly for 2 weeks, this time it was only 4 days. I have definitely gained benefits from all the efforts but sometimes it's difficult to rustle up the enthusiasm. Ryan, as ever, remains positive.

18th October 2006

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 18:51:48 +0000

Not a good day. I have been struggling with walking since Sunday and couldn't face exercising today. I did go to the gym and had a long chat about diet and exercise to help with the current problem though.

13th October 2006

Sat, 14 Oct 2006 08:17:01 +0000

The last session of this cycle - I can't quite believe that I've done 12 weeks now. Looking back, I've made quite a lot of progress and do feel better than I have done in a very long time. I'm still languishing down in the lower levels of fitness but given that I started out at such a low level, I'm quite happy with it. Sometimes I do wonder if Ryan would rather be training someone capable of faster progress, but as ever, he remains positive and encouraging. He tells terrible jokes though!

11th October 2006

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 23:53:17 +0000

Have actually managed to lose a (miniscule) amount of weight which prompted a discussion on my somewhat chaotic diet. Have promised faithfully to do something about it, again! Today was the start of week 4 of the plan so another raise in repetitions and effort. The time on the rower seems to go by a lot quicker now, and so does the time spent on the exercises but I still cannot get off the bike without very wobbly legs. I discovered that Ryan has been putting the levels up, so it's no wonder that it always seems quite an effort. This is apparently a good thing and necessary to move the training forwards.

5th October 2006

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 22:10:10 +0000

A much better session, with a new personal best on the rowing machine - I'm not sure what all of the numbers mean so I'm not sure if I should be impressed, but Ryan was pleased.

3rd October 2006

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 20:54:09 +0000

A good/less good sort of day. Forgot what I was supposed to do for homework and discovered that I hadn't been doing the correct exercise - this is a great shame as I had been doing my version diligently! Small wonder that these muscles that I am supposed to have in the back of my thighs still don't seem to work. However I had slept through the night - for the second night running - and managed to take my skirt off without undoing the zip. Come time to go to the gym I didn't feel terribly enthusiastic but turned out anyway. Even though I did try, I certainly didn't achieve. Whilst pedalling madly on the exercise bike - and not going anywhere - it occured to me that I'd forgotten to take my usual dose of assorted pills.

29th September 2006

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 20:37:19 +0000

New personal best on the rowing machine - I'll be able to row the Atlantic at this rate! Managed not to fall off the fit ball in the new exercise, so felt very pleased with myself. I even managed to weigh less than last time, in spite of a girl's night out during the week. I don't always feel like going to the gym, especially after a long week at work, but having a personal trainer means that you have to. I have definitely made progress and have benefitted from the process. Ryan seems to be surviving too.

26th September 2006

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 20:28:30 +0000

Tried the new exercise today which involves balancing with your head on the floor and your heels on a fit ball, and then digging your heels in and rolling the ball backwards and forwards. Fell off numerous times! I still can't feel those wretched muscles either.

21st September 2006

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 20:22:47 +0000

Everything going well - I am still getting told that I look better and have confessed to going to the gym. Most people are a bit surprised but very encouraging. I still can't get hold of my foot to do the leg stretching exercise, so Ryan is going to sort out a new exercise to help to develop the muscles in the back of my thighs.

18th September 2006

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 20:15:58 +0000

New stats session, still improving. I seem have a training zone, which has just been recalculated and have a new 4 week schedule. I beat my personal best on the rowing machine too. I can feel the occasional muscle but not the ones I'm supposed to. Ryan is unperturbed and says that they will eventually switch back on, after their years of neglect!

13th September 2006

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 20:08:34 +0000

Still feeling a bit grim but nonetheless have achieved a personal best on the rowing machine - how cool is that! I now actually complete each set of exercises without knocking off for a rest in the middle. I feel like I have a bit more energy generally and probably manage to sleep through the night about once a week too. Small improvements, but very welcome. I have also cut down on the wine too, but this weekend I have to be the corporate wife and attend functions so no chance of being good!

11th September 2006

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 19:59:46 +0000

One of the joys of working with children is that you pick up all of their germs. I have had a whole weekend of feeling ill and swigging Lemsips, and it's no better today. The last thing I felt like was going to the gym but I went and survived. I'm sure that if I didn't have Ryan to help me, I'd have gone home and added whiskey to the Lemsips!