Notes To Self

Like most Monday's, I hit up Planet today for my start-of-the-work-week gym sesh. Oddly enough for a Monday, it was nice and quiet. Today's focus was on shoulders but I struggled to really push myself after an intense back & chest workout yesterday which seems to have irritated my lower back. Disappointing seeing as shoulders are usually one of my favs! Yesterday's workout was another stabilization-focused session which went great but I think it was the bosu ball deadlifts that did me in. I pushed myself to hold the 50 lb bar which was probably a bit much  :S

Anyway, I got to Planet nice and early, having left work in the afternoon to make a routine dentist appointment (no cavities of course!) so I was able to grab one of the good treadmills in the back with the built-in fans. I only did a 15 min warm-up today though (10 mins running). Note to self: Do not eat a protein bar immediately before attempting a run; stomach does not appreciate it!

So after my "run", I went upstairs to a nice deserted weight room where I did 3 sets of 8 front shoulder raises and the same for latteral shoulder raises. I followed these with 4 sets of leg lifts on the standing leg lift machine (2 sets front and 2 sets side-to-side). I tried to take my time on these because I wanted to grab the assisted pullup machine right beside it but that was a very popular machine tonight and I kept missing my opportunity between sets! So, I went over to the other side of the room and did 3 sets of 8 lat pull-downs. On my way back downstairs I saw that the pull-up machine was now vacant so I finished with a set of 8 pullups and then a set of 4 as that's all I could manage to push out by that point! Not a bad shoulder workout by any means, just not feeling really motivated today I guess. I think it may also have to do with the fact that Planet needs to replace all of its lights with wattage about 5x whatever it uses now. Now that its dark out at that time of day, its so much darker than usual inside that I want to fall asleep!

Venturing back downstairs, I went over to the mats and did front and side planks, each position held twice. I always count to 60 before switching positions but I've recently found that I am an overly fast counter and my "minute" is more like 30 seconds...ooops! Second note to self: purchase a watch for the gym! After some stretching and laying arched over a stability ball in an attempt to soothe my back (which did not work!), I was out the door and headed home. Third note to self: buy a heating pad. I always wish I had one when I have uncomfortably sore muscles but can never seem to justify buying one when I'm feeling fine! Tomorrow, unfortunately, has to be a rest day because of one of many inconveniently scheduled holiday parties this week. Looking forward to hitting World's hard on Wednesday!