I am loving my workouts.  I met with my trainer on Monday.  We did a few basic strength/fitness tests.  I did wall sits, crunches, push ups and a plank.  It was awesome having her beside me, pushing me.  For example when I did the plank (which is horizontal to floor, with your toes and forearms on the ground and you hold that position) I wanted to drop at 35 seconds, but she pushed me to 1:02!

She worked out along side me on Tues, Wed and Fri.  She has set up 3 circuits for now.  One is lower body (which we used nothing by body weight), biceps/triceps/pecs and the third is back and shoulders.  We also do ab work every day and a warm up and then cardio.  I have been sore, but honestly, I think she has been just as sore. (She is just getting started and has not worked out much since a shoulder injury several months ago.)  It is a great feeling to push yourself to exhaustion and you have nothing else to give.

Yesterday I was solo at the gym.  As I did my cardio, I got to talking with a man who I see there a lot.  He has coached track for 35 years.  He was giving me all kinds of pointers.  He would make his students lay on their back with books on their stomach.  Then they would have to breath and make books go up and down.  This is to train them to breath all the way down to their stomach, instead of the shallow breaths.  He would have his runners hold marshmallows, not squeeze them.  It creates so much tension in the neck and shoulders with fists clenched and arm swing too big.  Amazing the difference it also makes when you open up your chest and run with proper posture.

I have also found an app (myfitnesspal.com) that allows you to put in exercise and food and it will track all of the calories, carbs, etc and let you know how much more calories you need to burn to stay on target!  My favorite food thus far is a salad (I know, pick your jaw up off the floor).  Just plain red leaf lettuce, a few almond slivers, hemp hearts, low fat homemade croutons and chipotle ranch yogurt dressing.  I have been baking broccoli lately and the boys like it.  Well, instead of baking for 15 minutes, I baked it for 30 and loved it.  Nice and crunchy, like my kale chips!

I just love the gym.  The trainer, the track guy and the gym owner have been conferring together on a plan for me.  I have my own personal cheering squad there!  JB has gone with me a few days and he rocks.  He sits in the far back corner watching a movie.  People don't even know he is there until we get ready to leave.

Today is the end of the quarter at school.  So we are going to get a hotel room tonight and let the boys swim.  I am looking forward to the hot tub!  Hope to get some pictures and of course try out the workout room.  Gotta burn off my biscuits and gravy that I will treat myself to tomorrow!!!!!