Full of head cold, but wanted to see what I could do at the gym. Was pleased with my efforts, but decided against doing the free weights. My heart was really racing. I suppose that is a sign of not being at full physical strength.

My heart monitor said that I exercised for around 52 minutes and was in the zone, above 112 bpm, for 26 minutes using 283 calories.

Treadmill - 10 minutes at 4.4 kph and 0% gradient

Abductor machine did 20 reps, twice fast, at 40 kg
Abductor machine did 20 reps, twice slow, at 40 kg

Leg press did 20 reps, two sets slow at 130 kg
Leg press did 20 reps, two sets fast at 130 kg

Rotex - 6 minutes at level 2, speed 115 - 125

Treadmill - 10 minutes at 3.0 kph and 8% gradient

Did not go to Body Pump on Thursday because of my cold.

Becky was back this week. Class started 15 minutes earlier at 9 45 am. Feeling really tired this morning. This cold has used up all my energy supplies. Went, but only gave it 50%. Glad I went, but did not feel any better afterwards. The spa was broken, so no chance to relax afterwards.

Not going next week as I will be away.

It is almost 2 weeks since I was at the gym. I did not go to body pump last Thursday as I was still suffering from the after effects of my cold and I was away at the weekend, so no aquafit or gym then.

Was pleased with what I achieved. I noticed that I had not been for a while and only did half of the resistance training with the body pump bar.

My heart monitor said that I exercised for around 89 minutes and was in the zone, above 112 bpm, for 33 minutes using 280 calories. I was interested at how much lower my heart rate was compared to the last two times and expect that it was higher then from fighting the start of my cold, before I felt the effects.

I was also interested to see that my resting heart rate is now below 50. When I got the heart monitor, about a year ago it was around 75.

Treadmill - 10 minutes at 4.4 kph and 0% gradient

Abductor machine did 15 reps, twice fast, at 40 kg
Abductor machine did 20 reps, twice slow, at 40 kg

Leg press did 20 reps, two sets slow at 140 kg - Up 10 Kg
Leg press did 20 reps, two sets fast at 140 kg - Up 10 Kg

Rotex - 8 minutes at level 2, speed 115 - 125

Using a body pump bar with 7 kg of weights
Upright rows - did 20 reps, four sets

Using a body pump bar with 12 kg of weights
Chest flies (overhead raises) - did 20 reps, twice as singles
Chest flies (overhead raises) - did 20 reps, twice slow (count of 2 up and 2 down)

Treadmill - 15 minutes at 3.0 kph and 10% gradient

Felt quite stiff today. Don't know if it was from the gym yesterday or from the stretching during the gardening. Suspect the latter as my visit to the gym today did not hurt the muscles. I did not have as much stamina as the day before, but was pleased with what I did.

My heart monitor said that I exercised for around 72 minutes and was in the zone, above 112 bpm, for 32 minutes using 335 calories. Less time in the zone than yesterday, but more calories used. Average heart rate was higher.

Treadmill - 10 minutes at 4.4 kph and 0% gradient

Abductor machine did 15 reps, twice fast, at 40 kg
Abductor machine did 20 reps, twice slow, at 40 kg

Leg press did 20 reps, two sets slow at 140 kg
Leg press did 20 reps, two sets fast at 140 kg

Rotex - 5 minutes at level 2, speed 115 - 125 - down 3 mins

Using a body pump bar with 15 kg of weights
Chest presses - did 20 reps, twice as singles
Chest presses - did 20 reps, twice slow (count of 2 up and 2 down)

Treadmill - 15 minutes at 3.0 kph and 10% gradient

Well, I missed another two Body Pump sessions through illness. This is only the third session I have attended this year. No wonder I am out of condition. I hope to be able to go regularly now and quickly build back up to my pre-Christmas level.

I used 4 kg weights throughout I used hand weights for the squat and shoulder track - 1.5 kg each.

Booked in for next week.

Well after being away last Saturday it was back to aqua fit this week. Becky was in fine fettle and made us really work hard. We could certainly tell we had been exercising at the end of 45 minutes.

There is a new aqua session starting on Sunday mornings. Don't know who will be doing it. Will wait to hear reports.

Glad to relax in the spa afterwards.

Booked in for next week.

Another week goes by. Did not go to the gym last Sunday as was still suffering the aftereffects of gardening on Saturday afternoon. I did however manage a 25 minute walk.

Still not fully fit again after my cold, but did do better than last time.

My heart monitor said that I exercised for around 100 minutes and was in the zone, above 112 bpm, for 42 minutes using 417 calories.

Treadmill - 10 minutes at 4.4 kph and 0% gradient

Abductor machine did 15 reps, twice fast, at 40 kg
Abductor machine did 20 reps, twice slow, at 40 kg

Leg press did 20 reps, two sets slow at 140 kg
Leg press did 20 reps, two sets fast at 140 kg

Rotex - 5 minutes at level 2, speed 115 - 125

Using a body pump bar with 7 kg of weights
Upright rows - did 20 reps, four sets slowish (count of 2 up and 2 down)

Using a body pump bar with 10 kg of weights
Bicep curls - did 20 reps, twice as singles
Bicep curls - did 20 reps, twice slow (count of 2 up and 2 down)

Using a body pump bar with 12 kg of weights
Chest flies (overhead raises) - did 20 reps, twice as singles
Chest flies (overhead raises) - did 20 reps, twice slow (count of 2 up and 2 down)

Treadmill - 15 minutes at 3.0 kph and 10% gradient

Two weeks on the trot. This week was much easier than last week and did increase my weights for 2 tracks. Will try to get back to using 5 Kg weights throughout next week.

I used 4 kg weights throughout and increased them to 5 Kg on the chest and bicep track. I used hand weights for the squat and shoulder track - 1.5 kg each.

Booked in for next week.

A very good session at aqua fit. Becky again made us work really hard, but did not find it quite so difficult as last week. Shows, like with body pump I'm getting back to full fitness. We could certainly tell we had been exercising at the end.

Glad to relax in the spa afterwards.

Won't be able to go next Saturday, will try to book in for the Sunday session.

Aha, Anne! Found you at the gym!! Those workouts sound punishing. While you are sleeping, you can dream of me powering along the Manawatu trim walking. At last I managed to perfect a technique so that I can go fast and not hurt my muscles so much. I feel baddly thinking of you in the gym with all those weights and that tyrant, Becky making you work so hard in the water. Today, it's 28 degrees. I tore through park lands, woods and garden settings along the river. We're on a river plain here, overlooked by a cliff face on the opposite side, topped by a lovely white observatory. If I want to, I can walk right out of town and vanish into the countryside. It wont always be like that, soon winter will come and it will rain and rain. You must be incredibly musclelly by now!

Did not go to the gym on Sunday as spent the time working in the garden. Exercise of a different sort.

Had a really good session it was the first time since 2 February that I completed all the exercises. Still lower on the rotex, but was able to increase my fast walk on the tread mill. Was pretty exhausted afterwards.

My heart monitor said that I exercised for around 107 minutes and was in the zone, above 112 bpm, for 47 minutes using 473 calories. Got my heart rate up to 142 at times.

Treadmill - 10 minutes at 4.5 kph and 0% gradient - Up 0.1 kph

Abductor machine did 15 reps, twice fast, at 40 kg
Abductor machine did 20 reps, twice slow, at 40 kg

Leg press did 20 reps, two sets slow at 140 kg
Leg press did 20 reps, two sets fast at 140 kg

Rotex - 5 minutes at level 2, speed 115 - 125

Using a body pump bar with 7 kg of weights
Upright rows - did 20 reps, four sets slowish (count of 2 up and 2 down)

Using a body pump bar with 10 kg of weights
Bicep curls - did 20 reps, twice as singles
Bicep curls - did 20 reps, twice slow (count of 2 up and 2 down)

Using a body pump bar with 12 kg of weights
Chest flies (overhead raises) - did 20 reps, twice as singles
Chest flies (overhead raises) - did 20 reps, twice slow (count of 2 up and 2 down)

Using a body pump bar with 15 kg of weights
Chest presses - did 20 reps, twice as singles
Chest presses - did 20 reps, twice slow (count of 2 up and 2 down)

Treadmill - 15 minutes at 3.0 kph and 10% gradient

Body pump was cancelled this week, so went to the gym instead. Did not do the full session, just 6 of the 9 elements, and was not as full of energy as on Tuesday.

My heart monitor said that I exercised for around 72 minutes and was in the zone, above 112 bpm, for 33 minutes using 342 calories.

Treadmill - 10 minutes at 4.5 kph and 0% gradient

Abductor machine did 15 reps, twice fast, at 40 kg
Abductor machine did 20 reps, twice slow, at 40 kg

Leg press did 20 reps, two sets slow at 140 kg
Leg press did 20 reps, two sets fast at 140 kg

Using a body pump bar with 7 kg of weights
Upright rows - did 20 reps, four sets slowish (count of 2 up and 2 down)

Using a body pump bar with 12 kg of weights
Chest flies (overhead raises) - did 20 reps, twice as singles
Chest flies (overhead raises) - did 20 reps, twice slow (count of 2 up and 2 down)

Treadmill - 15 minutes at 3.0 kph and 10% gradient

Could not go to my normal class on Saturday as had to drive to Newbury. A new class, 2nd week, has started on a Sunday, so went to this instead.

Lisa took the session. Pretty good session and she made us work quite hard. Not as good as Becky, but the best of all the others we have had take the class.

Apparently Becky will be away next Saturday, so not sure who will do her session. Booked into both Saturday and Sunday so can choose which I prefer.

Had a pretty good session, but just did 6 of the 9 exercises. Decided that the reason I am still lower on the rotex is that the leg press is taking it out of my legs. Did upright rows before I did the rotex today and that made it a little better. Increased the gradient on my final treadmill walk.

My heart monitor said that I exercised for around 69 minutes and was in the zone, above 112 bpm, for 31 minutes using 283 calories.

Treadmill - 10 minutes at 4.5 kph and 0% gradient

Abductor machine did 15 reps, twice fast, at 40 kg
Abductor machine did 20 reps, twice slow, at 40 kg

Leg press did 20 reps, two sets slow at 140 kg
Leg press did 20 reps, two sets fast at 140 kg

Using a body pump bar with 7 kg of weights
Upright rows - did 20 reps, four sets slowish (count of 2 up and 2 down)

Rotex - 5 minutes at level 2, speed 115 - 125

Treadmill - 15 minutes at 3.0 kph and 11% gradient - Up 1% gradient

No session last week as it was cancelled. Went to the gym instead. Decided to keep the same weights and found it relateively easy. We did some new tracks this week. The final abs track is much better and uses the legs rather than the shoulders.

I used 4 kg weights throughout. I used hand weights for the squat and shoulder track - 1.5 kg each.

Booked in for next week.