Day One in the Gym

Okay, morning wasn't too awful. A little achy, a little tired, a little worried about how today was going to go. Phil made breakfast, and I putzed around the house until time to go for my first session with Brooklyn, my Personal Trainer, at noon.

He's such a nice guy! Seems very caring, and almost more importantly he understands that if I push too hard or do too much, I'll have a setback.

Here are the exercises he had me do:

1. Brooklyn put an exercise ball between me and the wall. I leaned my back on the ball, and did squats. Not so bad!
2. Next we went to a machine with weights and pulleys. A little intimidating. He set the lifting thingy at 15 pounds, and had me sit down and pull some handles (attached to the weights somehow I guess) from my sides to the front until my hands overlapped. This was okay, and he had me do 12 of them. Then I rested and did 12 more. By the end of the second set of "reps" (repetitions?) my arms were shaking, and hurting a little. Brooklyn said that was good. So okay!
3. Back to where the mats and exercise balls are, I sat down on a mat and had a thing right behind me that looked like the top third of an ex. ball attached to a large disc. I leaned back on it, put my hands beside me head with my elbows out like wings, and did sit-ups (crunches?). Whew. Things were getting tough.
4. Now I was lying down on the mat, with my back flat, and the heels of my feet were up on top of an ex. ball. I had to lift my butt up off the floor, then (try to) roll the ball towards me, and not put my butt down! Holy smokes, that one was hard. I was fighting to do the last ones. I was glad to hear him say I could stop!!
5. Back to the machines, for some standing-up rowing (?!). Twenty-five each arm, rest, and twenty-five more. DONE!

Brooklyn recommended that I work with a Personal Trainer at least twice a week for a long while, since I have so far to go and so much to learn, but we can't afford it. I get three more sessions, then I'm on my own. So maybe Jason (son-in-law) can give me long-distance guidance once I have to say goodbye to Brooklyn.

I was a little shaky/achy walking out to the car, but mostly just tired. Thank goodness I had already  scheduled a massage for this afternoon! I had no idea how badly I would need it.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil 4:13