Elliptical

[darkemeralds]

Interesting discovery--or perhaps rediscovery, since I have vague memories of something similar happening ages ago: exercise feels good.

I know, right?

Rebecca The Dynamo Personal Trainer assigned me the homework of practicing my workout at least three times between last Wednesday's training session and next. So I went in yesterday and did my time on the machine--the Arc, I think it is. Like an elliptical. You put your feet in the step-things and the machine goes whoom-whoom-whoom and if you look at the crank part that's going around and around you get dizzy, but if you don't look you really almost feel like you're pedaling a bike or maybe cross-country skiing a little.

Anyway. The prescribed cardio workout is one minute at intensity level 30, and one minute at 48, keeping a pace of 100 strides per minute throughout, then repeat for a total of 25 minutes. Minute two is painful, minute ten starts to be boring, then something happens around minute twelve, and I think it's that zone thing that actual athletic people talk about. I'm pouring sweat, I'm breathing hard, the higher-intensity minute doesn't feel hard and the lower intensity one feels positively restful.

I felt so fantastic afterwards that I stayed and did as many of the weights and stretches as I could remember. Then I went back today and did it all again--and I felt fantastic again!

I'm beginning to see how this could become a habit.

Comments

[ruric]

This is why I used to love running with my old PT Gary.

It took a long time for him to get me into it - we started on a treadmill in the dead of winter and ventured outdoors in spring.

I always felt like death on wheels the first 10-15 minutes - couldn't get my breathing, stride or arms right (and running alone I tend to start too fast and blow out). But at the 10-15 minute mark everything just comes together and and I coudl run forever.

We started to run outside in all weather (memorable once in about a foot and a half of snow) and I absolutely loved it.

I'd love to build back up to that. Guess I shoudl start again soon - I might be up to speed by late autumn! *G*

[darkemeralds]

Well I can certainly understand why people get hooked on it. Good luck building back up, if you decide to re-start! Running is something I've never tried. I admire you for being able to do it.

[ruric]

Heh that should be "used to be able to do it"! *G*

I've been reading about your enthusiasm for Zumba and I admit I'm tempted to try it (I suck at co-ordination so that'll be fun).

My local gym also does Pilates and Body Balance classes which I want to get back into because I;m all in favour of things which strecth me out!

[darkemeralds]

I am absolutely loving Zumba. I'm crap at it, but it's so much fun that I don't even mind (and if you knew me well, you'd know how very much fun it has to be to make me not mind looking stupid).

I also notice that the more stretching and bending I do in the gym, the more things I can shake appropriately in Zumba class.