Gym

[redbird]

I was a bit tired and had a sore throat by mid-afternoon, but I also knew that my mood needed weight-lifting, so I went. It's a balancing act between the direct physical health of not pushing my body too hard, and the physical and mental benefits of lifting my mood by shoving metal around. I did have the basic sense to decline an invitation--addressed first to the entire weight room, and then one to me by a trainer who happened to be near me--to a push-up contest, which was supposed to be in one of the "studios" but wound up on the weight room floor.

I did 10.5 minutes of cardio warmup, while reading, and didn't think to check my heart rate.

Calf machine, 70 pounds, 3 sets of 12
Leg press, 250 pounds, 2 sets of 12; 240 pounds, 12. This was probably Too Much, from what my calves were saying shortly afterwards.
Tricep pulldown, 50 pounds, 15; 45 pounds, 10. It is much harder doing the "same" weight and doing it right. Maybe I should take it down to 40 for a bit.
Adjustable row, 80 pounds, 3 sets of 15
Back arch with 65-cm physio ball, 2 sets of 17.
Chest press, using a different machine, 30 pounds, 12; 35 pounds, 12.
Crunches, 18

Stretches

Comments

[crazysoph.livejournal.com]

It's a balancing act between the direct physical health of not pushing my body too hard, and the physical and mental benefits of lifting my mood by shoving metal around.

Ooh, yeah. Empathies, I know that balancing activity from the inside...

I did have the basic sense to decline an invitation--addressed first to the entire weight room, and then one to me by a trainer who happened to be near me--to a push-up contest,...

<rhetorical question>*tsk* why does everything have to be a pissing contest!</rhetorical question> I know, I "should" be more aware of issues like engaging our predator mechanisms in pursuit (!) of improved results, but... *shakes head*.

However, now that I've vented that, I can return to sensibility and ask, beyond judging your energy levels as not up to the contest, what else you thought of it.

Crazy(and grinning wanly)Soph

[redbird]

What I think is that it would have been just silly, if it hadn't been in the weight room and thus blocking access to some of the equipment--and occupying several trainers in keeping track of what each of the (four) contestants were doing.

Pushups have never been my thing, anyhow.

One thing this gym has done in the past is contests where people have to complete at least 4 of 6 (or similar) defined routines, and then are entered into a drawing for prizes. That seems healthier, because it's a fixed, defined goal rather than "I have to beat the other guy" sprung suddenly on people most of whom are not usually doing this as a competitive sport.