The new fitness toy done me in!
I had this bright idea on Saturday afternoon... I had time, the house was peaceful, so I thought I'd try out this new body weight style resistance workout with a brand new fitness toy I'd bought that arrived over the past week. Something called a TRX Suspension Trainer. I was itching to try it out!
photo courtesy of FitnessAnywhere.com
For one thing, it looked like it might make some bodyweight exercises, like push-ups, more easy for me to modify and do, hopefully without aggravating my bad shoulder as much, or my feet. Well, I'll have to see about that, but I think I can certainly use it for some exercises. It is supposed to be excellent for hitting your core. And I really need more strength work now.
I set up my shiny new TRX trainer anchored to the front door so I could see the TV, and started trying the All Body Express Workout DVD that came with the bundle. Well, the pace of the DVD was TOO FAST for me, I couldn't keep up. So it was like, stare at the DVD, do a few reps, then move on to trying to get set up for the next exercise. That's OK... you have to learn somehow. Some exercises I "got" quickly, some, I will have to work on.
I found I could not do all of the DVD exercises and I will need to modify others to my ability level. The tricep exercise... well, I have never felt my triceps like that in all of my life! It didn't SEEM like I'd overdone things with my legs. I tried the single-leg squats and quickly realized that was too advanced and went to normal squats assisted in balance by the trainer.
Well, all seemed reasonably well... until after the drive up to the Tri-Cities! Perhaps doing a new workout before sitting in a car for a chunk of time was not a good plan. Perhaps forgetting to stretch after wasn't ideal either! Perhaps I just did a few more squats than my body was ready for!
I noticed I was starting to feel stiff in the car and was a bit sore when we arrived at the restaurant, but by the time we got home again, I was so sore it was hard to climb up the porch steps! And it got worse! The true onset of my DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) came right about at 24 hours after the exercise. And it was BAD! WOW my thighs hurt! They burned, they felt swollen to the size of redwood tree trunks! I didn't sleep well.
Sometimes, you don't realize that what you are doing is that difficult at the time and BOOM! I guess I caused a bit of an "earthquake" to my muscles. The quad pain lasted TWO SOLID DAYS. I missed Monday's water aerobics.
Today, I am just normally sore... I managed to do my Nordic Track, and am feeling fine after that. I even remembered to stretch after. I'm hoping I come out of this with a little new muscle! Trying new workouts is good and even necessary, since the body will adapt and burn fewer calories if it only gets same old, same old all the time. I'll just be a bit more careful next time I hit something new though! Sometimes less is more!
Can't wait to play with the TRX again... sucker for punishment that I am!
I went to their site, that looks hard work!
It's tough... but it is also easy to modify most of the exercises to be possible for people who are not at all fit, such as myself.
Next workout I'll go slower and a little more cautiously. And I'll count my reps, so I have a good idea of just what I've done. Then if I get too sore, I'll know just where I need to back off. Or, if I don't feel worked enough after, I'll know where I need to increase reps.
Not so different than the first time you try a new weight exercise and aren't sure just how much you can lift.
Hey Cyn,
Let me share with you my fool proof way of heading off DOMS. You'll need some Tiger Balm. You can probably get it from a pharmacy. This works well before bed.
If you suspect you've overdone it, or at the first onset of soreness, have a bath, as hot as you can stand. Then slather Tiger Balm on to muscles. Cover up, eg. pyjama, leggings and t-shirt. Sleep. The Tiger Balm feels hot then cold and tingly. Takes a bit of getting used to, but not unpleasant. Be sure to wash your hands after applying and before rubbing eyes! If you do get it in your eyes, don't panic, relax, and the watering will stop in a few minutes. Won't do you any permanent harm but a bit scary the first time.
You should wake up in the morning good as new. Repeat if necessary, but once usually does it for me.
Next time I am over at the pharmacy, I'll look for it!
However, I managed not to overdo on my second try with the TRX. Sore, but not crippled.