Picture Perfect.

I'm a real sap for those inspirational, good-hearted hero movies where some teacher or coach or neighbor or authority figure takes the 'broken' kid under their wing and takes the time to broaden the horizons of him/her farther than they ever would have imagined. I always end up crying at the end (like most everyone)...and then I go away wishing someone would enter my life who is as compassionate and understanding as the movie made the teacher, coach, etc. seem to be. Then I realize it's a movie and it couldn't have been as good and as easy as the movie made it seem. There's so much detail that doesn't get put in a 2-hour movie...nothing is that picture perfect. That's why they call it picture perfect...not real life.

Now, I'm wishing someone was around to make a pitch about a movie of my life, because my life has become that movie, and it is picture perfect and it is as good and as easy as the movie (at least on my end. ;) )

The dictionary definition of a Guardian Angel is: a person who looks after or is concerned with the welfare of another.

This weekend, Brian had me start hanging on his new ropes. I can't climb yet...one arm is not strong enough to hold my body weight while I let go with the other hand to reach up higher. But, I can hang and it's a start. It's excellent to help improve my grip also.

This weekend Brian also talked to the massotherapist that just moved into the upstairs at the gym. His name is Jesse. Brian talked to him about coming to watch while we stretch, so he can see how Brian works with me and can learn about where my sensation ends and I can talk to him and get to know him, so I won't be so apprehensive about starting with a new massotherapist. Brian's talked a lot with him and knows him fairly well from making plans for him to be the gym's massotherapist. Brian knows what makes me so nervous with new people, so, I know he's covered all my bases for me and I feel really great about it. Brian thinks of everything. :) He also knows when I need a good swift kick in the tail, which he also did this weekend, and I appreciated. Then he includes himself in my entire journey of making my dreams come true, which is what I needed most of all when I was out looking for someone new to train with.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean on on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." He most definitely has directed this path. And I had no other options but to lean on Him because I didn't understand, at all, why things were going the way they were when I began the search for yet another trainer last July.

Good day today :) We had a rough start. I really had trouble finding my groove on my bench drill. It took me a while to do all the sets. But, it worked out in the end. I had a little trouble with my right arm, so he didn't change my dumbbell weight. He introduced me to a new tricep exercise that worked very well. And we experimented with some new ab stuff.

Reverse Band Press - I had a very hard time adjusting to regular bench the last time we were done with a cycle of bands, so, he only used a mini-band. It doesn't have near the tension that a wider band does. So, it's much closer to the real weight, but it is still aiding me a bit. I worked up to doing 205 lbs. for 5 reps. It was kind of funny, I was a little disappointed in myself because the first time we tried it, I really misgrooved and could hardly lift it, and after that I could only get 3 reps. But, then I tried again after a water break and I got all 5 lifts. I was kinda bummin' because I actually didn't realize how much weight he had put on. I said "Should that have been easier for me?" and he said "No, it was 205.", and then he smiled. So, I felt pretty good about it after I figured out exactly what the weight was.
Dumbbell Bench Press - 45 lbs., 4 sets of 10.
Overhead Cable Tricep Extensions - I don't know what the weight was on this or on abs. I forgot to ask. I'll try to remember next week. I did like 3 or 4 sets of 10.
Lateral Raises - 15 lbs., 12. 20 lbs., 2 sets of 10. Lovin' the weight increase!!! I did well too. :)
My abs were seated crunches and I was pulling the cable from behind me, over my head. Did a couple sets of 15. We had to do a little experimentation, but it worked in the end.

I'm down to 122 lbs.!!!!! I need to be at 118 lbs. Getting closer! I've also started receiving sponsors for this year. I'm so grateful for that. Tomorrow I start school, so, Monday and Wednesday blogs are probably going to be late from here on out.