Another Week Down!

Hey everyone,

Thank you for the kind emails. Boyd said that he didn't mind what I posted about the workouts and the nutrition because it was custom made for me and he believes (as do I) that it is what will work best for me.

Today, we focused on strength. Every workout is different, and sometimes we focus on muscular endurance, sometimes we focus on strength, sometimes we focus on cardio, and sometimes he just kicks my ass all over his studio. Today, was a strength day.

Strength days are a bit different than many of the high intensity, high volume days we have done. On these days, we're working with heavy weights (relatively speaking) and we make sure that I am recovered completely between sets. These are the days to get stronger, and to be perfectly honest, I found today quite empowering!!! I love the high volume circuit days that we do, but this was a very nice and welcomed change of pace.

I'm already amazed - 3 weeks ago I seriously struggled with doing 20 body weight squats. Now, when Boyd Myers has you do a bodyweight squat, it isn't those sissy knee bends. It's slow downward, ass to the grass and back up. Doesn't sound like a big deal but if you have never gone down that far, you'll soon find out that it isn't to be taken lightly.

Today, I was squatting with weight. Same premise: slow down, ass to the grass and explode up. Considering it was the first time I've ever done free weight "ATG" squats, I was satisfied that I was able to do 75lbs for 8 reps. Boyd noticed a few issues with existing weaknesses (my hips, glutes, hams, lower back) and we will be spending a lot of time in the next few weeks making these weaknesses strengths.

Today was also a first for real barbell bench pressing. I'm 100% chick - I've always been the type to go into the gym and head straight for the machines. Boyd explained that unfortunately, most machines remove the weakest link from the equation, so our strengths become stronger and our weaknesses become weaker, causing more imbalance. Sure, they "feel" good, but they aren't helping. My upper body, like most females, is my biggest weakness, but I was able to bench press 55lbs and was pleased.

We finished off with dead lifts. Funny thing is that this may be the most basic of moves, as you are only lifting a weight off the ground. What can be more basic? Well, there are a LOT of things to remember (so let me see how well I learned my lesson, as Boyd repeated the directions over and over):
-butt down
-head up
-back straight
-weight close to me as possible
-PULL!

Boyd estimates that this exercise, while basic, requires up to 70-75% of the muscles in the body to activate. Compare that to 3% for a bicep curl, and you can see why these things are AMAZING!

We finished the workout off in the parking lot with some sprints. OMG! I haven't ran at full speed since I was a kid, and I had my doubts that I'd be able to do it. Of course, my legs were tired, but once Boyd told me the time to beat, there was no way I was going to fail. If you haven't sprinted in a while, I highly recommend it. On this day, I did 8 50 yard sprints and my legs DEFINITELY will be feeling it tomorrow!

Had someone told me that I'd be lifting weights like this I would've definitely argued with them and told them that "It wasn't what I wanted" but now I understand that there is a place for every type of training. While it isn't the way we train everyday, I know that I will be looking forward to the next strength day we have.

My nutrition is going extremely well. Of course, Boyd breaks out his red pen and while I want to stab him in the eye with it ;) (it isn't that bad, I promise), the nutrition isn't hard to follow, as long as you eat WHAT you are supposed to WHEN you are supposed to. The HOW MUCH just seems to fall into place.

The MEASUREMENTS... Well, I'm waiting for Boyd to email them to me, but:

I've ALREADY lost 3 1/4 inches on my abdominal circumference! I measured myself last night (before he did today) and was absolutely SHOCKED! To hear him confirm it was almost surreal.

I am more motivated right now that I have ever been. I am sleeping like a baby, and while I am still sore after most workouts, it is definitely tolerable.

On a side note, Boyd recommended a post-workout protein to me called "Nectar" and I have to be honest... I'm afraid I'm going to drink the whole jug this weekend! Talk about GREAT TASTE!

If you haven't checked out Boyd's blog at http://the-personal-trainer.com/blog I highly recommend you do so.

I am going mountain biking tomorrow for the first time ever, so wish me luck!!!!!!!!!

Jenny