Welcome back Beautiful! I made it! My first week of Iron Tribe 101 is in the past and I am looking forward to next week. Okay, maybe looking forward to is a bit of a stretch after these first 3 classes but I am ready to say, bring it on!
Monday morning when I arrived at Iron Tribe I was the first one there. I met Jay, the trainer who would be working with us. A few minutes before class started the other 2 ladies who would be taking the class arrived as well. Cherie was there and she and Jay gave us a little history on themselves and asked us to do the same. Basically, why we were there and what we wanted to get out of it. After that it was onto the warm up and Jay showing us the moves we would be working on that day. Let me just say this, I DO NOT RUN! Even when I was working out 3 times a day, running was not part of my routine. Walking briskly, yes. Running, no. Well, the first thing we have to do is run 200 meters. It doesn't sound like a lot, but for a non-runner, it might as well be a mile. Not only do I have to run 200 meters, but I have to run it twice. What? Oh, no way! I think I should leave now.
So Jay goes through the three moves for the day; squats, kettlebell swings and situps. Easy enough right? Sure, if you are doing 1 of each! We are doing a run, then we do a set number of each move, followed by another lesser number of each move, followed by another round of these same moves, again in a lower number and last but not least, run again. For someone who is way overweight and hasn't done any real exercise in a very long time, this was like walking over a bed of hot coals...or swallowing them as it felt like my lungs were on fire and I couldn't breathe! I will be completely honest, I wanted to give up and go home. I will be fat for the rest of my life if it means I do not have to run ever again. Then, I thought about my daughter. I thought about how she loves to play outside. I thought about her future...without her mother. I cried. I pushed through. I clawed my way through that workout. I ran that last 200 meters, even though I thought about throwing up the whole way. I collapsed on the floor when I was done and all I wanted to do was close my eyes and cry because I hated who I have become. I hated myself in that moment for ever letting me get to this point. I cannot blame this on anyone but me and I accept that.
I realized that I needed to find something to eat before my workout that would help me make it through but not make me feel sick. I am not a morning person, so I am not getting up earlier than I have to in order to cook something. I needed to find something convenient, Paleo and fast. I left that morning knowing I did this to myself, knowing I needed to figure out how to make it easier so early in the morning and knowing that I was coming back.
Wednesday morning I was feeling much better. I had two slices of turkey bacon and some apple slices on my way in. I was so ready for this workout...until I saw the board. RUNNING again! This time I would run 200 meters three times. Are you kidding me? OK, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. After all the other 2 exercises for the day are upper body. Once again, we started with a warm up and Jay explaining the exercises we would be doing. Vertical press and push-ups. Doesn't sound so bad. Three rounds of running, 21 presses and 12 push-ups. Just shoot me now. There is no way I can do 1 push-up, never mind 36. No turning back now, just get it done and go home and cry. I made it through all three rounds...the easiest part? Running. Who knew! Thursday was not a good day. My arms were VERY sore. I just kept telling myself, it will be fine. Friday will be lower body again and your arms will have plenty of time to rest. Oh how wrong I was.
Friday morning I was still pretty sore but I was so proud of myself for making it to the end of the week without quitting. I was feeling good food-wise. Making great choices, eating good and feeling good too. As I walk through the door, I immediately look at the board to see what I would be doing that morning and I almost turned right around. Row 200 meters, 15 dead lifts and 10 squats...times 3. I am so screwed! My arms cannot take this today. Not only that, but I was dead lifting 55 pounds! This is a joke right? Nope, no joke. After a lovely stretch, which felt pretty good but just reinforced the fact that my arms hurt, we got started. The first round wasn't too bad, the second round actually felt pretty good, but by the third round my arms were done. The only thing that got me through it was knowing it was the last round. Apparently, these are muscles I have not used in quite a while. My triceps were burning. My shoulders were feeling it too. I was not going to get much done that afternoon, maybe not all weekend. I was so glad I had the next 2 days off to rest.
As I type this, it is Saturday. My arms are still hurting pretty bad. I actually feel like they need to be stretched out but all the stretching isn't helping. I really want to go ride my horse this weekend but there is no way my saddle is going to make it on my horse. I probably wouldn't even be able to brush him, never mind get on him. I really hope Monday never gets here. I really hope this is all worth it. Stay tuned to find out how I fare in week 2. And if you happen to have a spare arm or two I could borrow, I would greatly appreciate it.
♥xoxo♥
Kay
Read part 1 here.
Monday morning when I arrived at Iron Tribe I was the first one there. I met Jay, the trainer who would be working with us. A few minutes before class started the other 2 ladies who would be taking the class arrived as well. Cherie was there and she and Jay gave us a little history on themselves and asked us to do the same. Basically, why we were there and what we wanted to get out of it. After that it was onto the warm up and Jay showing us the moves we would be working on that day. Let me just say this, I DO NOT RUN! Even when I was working out 3 times a day, running was not part of my routine. Walking briskly, yes. Running, no. Well, the first thing we have to do is run 200 meters. It doesn't sound like a lot, but for a non-runner, it might as well be a mile. Not only do I have to run 200 meters, but I have to run it twice. What? Oh, no way! I think I should leave now.
So Jay goes through the three moves for the day; squats, kettlebell swings and situps. Easy enough right? Sure, if you are doing 1 of each! We are doing a run, then we do a set number of each move, followed by another lesser number of each move, followed by another round of these same moves, again in a lower number and last but not least, run again. For someone who is way overweight and hasn't done any real exercise in a very long time, this was like walking over a bed of hot coals...or swallowing them as it felt like my lungs were on fire and I couldn't breathe! I will be completely honest, I wanted to give up and go home. I will be fat for the rest of my life if it means I do not have to run ever again. Then, I thought about my daughter. I thought about how she loves to play outside. I thought about her future...without her mother. I cried. I pushed through. I clawed my way through that workout. I ran that last 200 meters, even though I thought about throwing up the whole way. I collapsed on the floor when I was done and all I wanted to do was close my eyes and cry because I hated who I have become. I hated myself in that moment for ever letting me get to this point. I cannot blame this on anyone but me and I accept that.
I realized that I needed to find something to eat before my workout that would help me make it through but not make me feel sick. I am not a morning person, so I am not getting up earlier than I have to in order to cook something. I needed to find something convenient, Paleo and fast. I left that morning knowing I did this to myself, knowing I needed to figure out how to make it easier so early in the morning and knowing that I was coming back.
Wednesday morning I was feeling much better. I had two slices of turkey bacon and some apple slices on my way in. I was so ready for this workout...until I saw the board. RUNNING again! This time I would run 200 meters three times. Are you kidding me? OK, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. After all the other 2 exercises for the day are upper body. Once again, we started with a warm up and Jay explaining the exercises we would be doing. Vertical press and push-ups. Doesn't sound so bad. Three rounds of running, 21 presses and 12 push-ups. Just shoot me now. There is no way I can do 1 push-up, never mind 36. No turning back now, just get it done and go home and cry. I made it through all three rounds...the easiest part? Running. Who knew! Thursday was not a good day. My arms were VERY sore. I just kept telling myself, it will be fine. Friday will be lower body again and your arms will have plenty of time to rest. Oh how wrong I was.
Friday morning I was still pretty sore but I was so proud of myself for making it to the end of the week without quitting. I was feeling good food-wise. Making great choices, eating good and feeling good too. As I walk through the door, I immediately look at the board to see what I would be doing that morning and I almost turned right around. Row 200 meters, 15 dead lifts and 10 squats...times 3. I am so screwed! My arms cannot take this today. Not only that, but I was dead lifting 55 pounds! This is a joke right? Nope, no joke. After a lovely stretch, which felt pretty good but just reinforced the fact that my arms hurt, we got started. The first round wasn't too bad, the second round actually felt pretty good, but by the third round my arms were done. The only thing that got me through it was knowing it was the last round. Apparently, these are muscles I have not used in quite a while. My triceps were burning. My shoulders were feeling it too. I was not going to get much done that afternoon, maybe not all weekend. I was so glad I had the next 2 days off to rest.
As I type this, it is Saturday. My arms are still hurting pretty bad. I actually feel like they need to be stretched out but all the stretching isn't helping. I really want to go ride my horse this weekend but there is no way my saddle is going to make it on my horse. I probably wouldn't even be able to brush him, never mind get on him. I really hope Monday never gets here. I really hope this is all worth it. Stay tuned to find out how I fare in week 2. And if you happen to have a spare arm or two I could borrow, I would greatly appreciate it.
♥xoxo♥
Kay
Read part 1 here.
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