Day 12 of 365 Days of Gym

Today is Day 12, and I should be at the gym in approximately 10.5 hours, where I’ll do a full hour of cardio.

So far, everything’s going according to plan. I took 2 rest days in the first week, as planned: Tuesday (Day 3) and Saturday (Day 7). This, the second week, I took Tuesday (Day 10 overall), and last night returned.

I’m still borrowing the use of a gym. I’m doing a series of upper body exercises, and have increased the weights on all four of them. I haven’t started any lower body. I’ve played racquetball at least twice, but rain canceled one of the planned racquetball days (we use outdoor courts; I instead went to the gym).

Some days, it’s hard to get motivated. And some days, I’m partway through the workout and thinking, “Maybe I can cut it short just today.” But I haven’t cut it yet. One hour at the gym, five days a week. That’s the rule.

Doing things like the elliptical walker, I am able to read magazines (GQ, right now), but not when I’m running (on the treadmill, for very short bursts of time; running is something I’ve got to work up to).

There’s a little tiny test I’m doing on the days I plan to do upper body workouts. I’ve always had difficulty with pull-ups. One time, and I really mean once, I was able to do a series of them. This was when I was at my lowest body weight, about a dozen years ago or more. Right now, I can do one-half of a pull-up. With hang time. Holding myself there, trying to pull just a bit further, this isn’t even something I’m officially tracking in my little black gym book. No, it’s something I try each time. The first pull-up will be a success story. The first series of ten will be, frankly, a first. As my strength improves and my body weight diminishes, I expect to soon be able to do this. These are, of course, unassisted, without the use of any mechanical or hydraulic or mystical assistance. Pure, utter, unadulterated strength–or, until I start completing the pull-ups, a lack thereof.

I am making progress. Another nine days before we consider it a “habit”.