Just posting an update on my progress in my exercise program. I joined Life Time Fitness in Woodbury, MN Oct. 31st. The first two weeks I did nothing but cardio. Week 3 I introduced some very light weightlifting. That first week of weight lifting I stayed at 135lbs on my bench just to work on form. The second week I put up 185lbs on bench but was shaky doing so. I was pretty close to my max at that point, which I honestly expected since it had been 6 years since I had last lifted. Tonight I decided to push things. For the last two weeks I have been benching 225lbs as my final set, anywhere from 3-5 times. It really was all I could lift. Tonight I jumped up to 245lbs, and found it surprisingly easy to lift twice. So I put on 265 for my next round, and put that up, though admittedly barely at that point in my workout. Not nearly what I used to lift, but impressive (to me anyhow) considering how short of a period I have been lifting.
As a point of reference, 6 years ago before enrolling in seminary I benched over 400lbs. I don't know the exact total of my bench max, as I had not maxed out for quite some time. My final working set of 5x5 bench was 395lbs. I did all this naturally, no andro, no bench shirt or anything of that sort. I also maxed my squat at 595lbs, and dead lifted 450lbs. My DL was always my weak point as I've had some minor lower back issues from time to time over the years. I always took my DL a bit easier than my other lifts because of this, and it held that development back.
I enjoy lifting weights, and honestly wish I had more time to do it. There is something about moving large steel plates that really gets me going. Now if I could only get just as excited about cardio so I could speed along my weightloss. I manage 30-45 minutes of cardio 4-5 times a week, but I am hoping to begin increasing the intensity of those work outs. I'd like to get to the point where I could play some pick-up basketball at the gym, but right now that is still a little ways off. I'd do fine in half court, but running full court I'm not sure how long I'd last. Oh to be young again!
Technorati Tags: weight lifting, pumping iron, gun show, bench press, Squat, dead lift, cardio, Life Time fitness, work out, exercise, weight loss
1 comment:
Chris: I took up running to augment my weightlifting 9 years ago (at age 43) and so enjoyed it that I stopped lifting and now just run. I've run over 30 marathons & ultramarathons, made a world of new friends and now can eat all I want and amaze my friends! GREAT cardio AND bone-building impact exercise.
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