A New Beginning

Credit for the blog name goes to Brian. He walked over to put my straps away and I grabbed my sheet to take it to the other room and at the top it said "Chelsi Figley New Beginning" How wonderfully appropriate, eh? And that's truly what it was. It was such a great day!!!!!!! I worked up to 135 lbs. on the bench and got 12 reps!!!!!! That's the most I've ever gotten...and Brian said he thinks I probably could have gotten 13. I was SO excited. It felt SO much better. I'm still not feeling 100%, but I'm definitely 85% or better. The weight wasn't near as heavy as it's been feeling lately. I even misgrooved a couple of reps early on, but was able to fight it out and keep going. And, when I got done and sat up on the bench, Brian said, "You know all this advice you get about being mentally ready?" I said "Yeah." And Brian said..."Well, they've never seen you look like you're going to fail for 3 reps in a row and fight each one of them out because you want to get another one. I'm never gonna question your mental strength." It was really great to hear him say that. He's the most important advice I need to be taking and it felt really good to hear that he thinks that part is in top shape.

Incline Bench - worked up to 125 lbs., sets of 8 until 125 lbs., then I got 7 (and a half)
Military Press - worked up to 120 lbs. First set was 10, second was 8 and 120 lbs was 7.
Blackburns - 5 lbs., 3 sets of 15 lbs.
Bosu Reach-Ups - 3 sets of 15.

I also got to work out YESTERDAY!!! Very light lat work. 35 lb. Dumbbell Rows, 4 sets of 12, and a scapula stretch between sets. Then Commandos in sets of 5 until we did 50 with proprioceptive stretching in between.

I lost 3 lbs. (And STILL got 12 reps today), even without doing cardio. So, Brian added some more calories to days that I'm doing cardio, and we're just going to have to play with my intake until we get me maintaining, because I really shouldn't be losing anymore weight.

Brian did a couple of my stretches one day, a couple weeks ago, on the decline bench, and it worked out pretty well. So, we did it again today, only today he did all the stretches up there, and it worked out VERY well. I rely on him pretty good to stabilize me while I'm getting up there, but, that's okay. The stretches felt like they were even more effective than they already have been, and it was a lot easier on Brian to stretch me like that.

He's definitely got me pointed toward the right track again. So glad he's so smart. Didn't take long....I expected much worse. He's a keeper! I'm glad he thinks I am too :)