Determination

Well, I think that Adam and I have both determined that I'm going to make it...no matter what it takes. I'm referring to getting through winter in Ohio without missing training, and for him, I think he's determined to make dumbbells my friend instead of my enemy.

Very crappy day out, icy this morning, about 4 or 6 inches or so of snow this afternoon. It took me almost an hour both ways, when it normally takes a half hour or under...but I'm home now, safe and sound. You just have to know how to respect mother nature...just go slow and wave at the not smart people as they blow past you. Everything turns out A-OK.

Today was shoulder/back day. I did rows 80 lbs, and pull down rows, I think the same weight, maybe 100 lbs. (I'm not sure that's what they're called, but that's what I'm calling them.). Adam has added "tempo" to some of our exercises, where I have to count pulling the weight, hold it for a count, and then count pushing it back out. Holding the exercise always makes it tougher to do more. But definitely works the muscles more.

I'm pretty sure we went to the ever-lovely dumbbell shoulder press after that. I "refused" to do 30 lbs....but Adam won, of course. And once I got started, they were too light!!!! I did two sets of 12 and for the third set we went up to 35 lbs!! He asked me if I "wanted" to go up in the weight...like he really gives me an option. lol. But I obliged and said sure. I'm glad I did. I did fine with the 35's as well. One time, on the ninth rep I got a little shaky..but he just yelled to keep going, which was really good b/c if I break rhythm it's hard to start again...and he's right there ready to catch if I drop them. It also REALLY helps to have the strap that my friend Mary gave me when I visited her in Ann Arbor. It's helped give me a LOT of extra stability. So, I'm very grateful to have it when I'm doing exercises out of my chair.

Then I did these straight arm things on the cable...I'm not sure what they're called but I just pull my arm all the way across my body and out to the side, keeping it straight the whole time. I did the first set at 20 lbs and the next two at 30 lbs.

On my own was machine Shoulder Press (100lbs), Pull ups (8, 8, 7, 7), 4 wrist curls and side bends for abs.