So I’ve completed my first round of training. I don’t know all of the weights but my sessions were on the following machines (they may not be the exact machines but as close as I could guess):
Leg Press - This was usually the most difficult and painful part of my session because my knee just can’t support any level of compression. I tried so hard not to complain or wuss out but almost always required assistance in finishing. I think the weight was around 75 pounds.
Seated Leg Curl - I was far more successful on this although again, limited mobility sometimes kept me from flexing my legs all the way back. I actually liked this machine quite a bit because while it sort of felt easy, I knew I was still working it.
Row Thingy - This isn’t really an accurate depiction of the machine I was on but it’s close. I was on 80 pounds on this one.
I can’t find anything that looks like the chest thingy. Next time I’m there, I shall look again. One was a pulldown of some sort that’s all I remember. We’re still fine-tuning my new routine; one of the leg workouts I wouldn’t even try because just watching my trainer demonstrate it made my knee throb. The rest of it is very challenging and I’m seriously excited about it:
Assisted Chin-Dip - OK, so this is a former fat girl’s dream come true. I did chin ups. Me. Chin ups. Seriously. OH MY GAWD. Yes, it’s assisted but it was far from easy. And I did it, with relative, surprising ease. I felt my arms shaking and all of that but I couldn’t believe what my body was doing. To be honest, a couple of tears flew down my face when I realized that I was doing it…and doing it well. Nobody notice, I wiped it away and fobbed it off as sweat but it was pure tears of joy.
The rest I will have to look for next time I’m there. I have a new wicked brutal thigh/glut/ab machine that has me seated with my legs spread in a V and I open as wide as possible (yeah, I know, just hold back the jokes). The other is a strange contraption that has me standing and reaching out to these pulleys but I can’t find that machine yet either. I’ll get there.
I’m getting there. I really am.
If you’re in the Seattle area and are interested in giving the X Gym a try, please contact me. I have a couple of coupons that will give you four (FOUR!) free training sessions. This is a huge value and there’s no obligation. Even if you decide not to join (but you should!), you’re going to get enough education to do it on your own if you have the means. But only if you’re serious - I only have a couple of these coupons so if you’re not going to even commit to 4 sessions, don’t ask for one. But I highly encourage you to give it a try - it’s only 20 minutes, you don’t leave there coated in sweat and feeling nasty, and you see results…soon.
Things are going well in the rest of my world. I haven’t written about it because I don’t want to jinx things. But it looks like the three week prediction was a little premature…there may be a reprieve of sorts. The treatments continue and are getting more tolerable and less painful though I don’t like my arm resembling a junkie. Work continues to be a painfully difficult challenge but dammit I am not giving up. I’ve made some friends and am making a concerted effort to get out more, even if it’s just walking. I’m getting a little more rest - most nights it’s up to 5 hours now.
I’m gaining weight, to my dismay. My guess is that it’s a combination of premenstrual and the IV solutions that are administered with the various medications. No it isn’t muscle, I can tell the difference. But speaking of muscle, I’ve worn sleeveless shirts twice in a week now. Which is exciting.
There are continuing challenges and worries but I’m trying not to dwell on them. There are a few good things happening and I’d like to just look at those for a while and appreciate them.
I did make one recent desperately-needed purchase and I love them. My workout shoes were so old and worn out that there were no treads left on them whatsoever. When I sat on the ab ball or the pill ball, I had to brace my feet against the wall because just planting my feet on the ground would make me slide to the floor. I finally realized that I bought those shoes about 3 months after my WLS which is probably why they are threadbare. While I was certainly keeping budget in mind, there was no way I was going to skimp or get cheap crappy things - I’m taking this training seriously and even run/jog/walk a little and plan to step that up a bit and my feet need the right support.
I think I tried on 9 different pairs with prices ranging from $39.99 to $175. I deliberately didn’t look at price but focused on fit and comfort. To my delight, the ones I selected were very reasonably priced and the brand I wanted (Nike - gotta support our Pacific Northwest businesses). I’m not thrilled with the color but they are lightweight, comfortable, and well - I’m very happy with them.
