Muscle and Fitness Hers Forums - View topic - Back to it...

helenyeoman · Site Admin

Hey, Anne-Marie!

Do you have any YMCA's near you? http://www.ymcaeurope.com/ymca_netherlands.html

I found this link, but I don't know if it will be helpful or not. I love my little YMCA, and for $40 a month, I can go as often as I like, attend any classes, use the machines and free weights, swim in the pool and utilize the locker room and showers. They also have daycare and financial aid for those who are financially limited. I believe Personal Training sessions would cost extra, but that's not as necessary for me, haha!!!

I don't know if you have one near you, but you may want to check and see.

Good luck in your gym search!!!

Helen

guitargrl325 · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 9:02 am Post subject:

Hey Anne Marie I just wanted to tell you that you have inspired me to sign up for a 10 mike run up in north Carolina in two weeks!!! You are soooo inspiring!

guitargrl325 · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 10:34 am Post subject:

10 mile not mike....lol

Anne-Marie · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 3:11 pm Post subject:

BOO!!!

gg thanks for clarifying - i only spent a minute looking up mike-lengths lol!!! And like you said recently to someone else - me? an inspiration?? Don't you know about the recurring self-criticism in my head??? lol!!! but thank you so much. I guess we all need to be reminded we can achieve anything we want to... one angst-filled step at a time.....

Anne-Marie · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 12:21 pm Post subject:

So today I finally got my run in... was aiming for Thurs but with feeling a bit sick and even worse on Fri, I skipped it. Then Saturday we had J's cousin over, he's a pretty nice guy about the same age as us, and we had a good time and by the time he left I was pooped and ... no run.

Today was good though. New with the Learn to Run 10K Faster program is a warm-up jog and then steady-state running. In the Learn to Run program I just interspersed walking and jogging, or even steady-state jogging, so this is a new physical challenge. I notice that I do take it very easy on myself, like, I'm afraid to push in case it hurts, or is hard, or something. Meanwhile, I want to reach the goals that require some hurting!!! So while I was running I thought about that a bit, and I think I realized that of course I can do it, it's just hard. And that's ok. (I already knew, but hadn't 'got' it, if you know what I mean.)

So I did a 5 min warmup jog, 20 minutes of running... which was soooo hard the first 10 min, then got easier. I also noticed that running is actually easier on my upper body as I drive back with my elbows more, and my shoulders don't creep northwards as much. And then 5 min cooldown jog. EDIT: Just double-checked, and I ran 7k in that 30 minutes. That's AWESOME!

I'm hoping to check out that last gym tomorrow morning - but if not, I think I have pretty much decided on the 4 month/40 euros one near me. Being so close to home will help the transition to getting back to going to the gym, and also as the winter closes in, being so close is great to make it easier dealing with the dark. But I would prefer to check out the 4th one as I was surprised by how great #3 was, so maybe another positive surprise awaits! lol!!

Helen, I did check out the YMCA but it doesn't have a gym - or a location near me. It seems the focus is on the other YMCA activities... team building, summer camps for kids, that kind of thing. But thanks so much!

britbabe · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 12:31 pm Post subject:

Yay Anne-Marie, one more gym visit before you commit to the best one that suits you and a whole new workout world!!!
Very Happy

guitargrl325 · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:28 pm Post subject:

holy crap lady!!! 7k in 30 minutes!! You are speedy gonzalez! I feel good when I do a 5k in around 30 minutes and there you are busting out 7k in that time. I'm so proud of you!!! I think that's like a sub 7 minute mile-i'v never been able to keep up that pace for more than 0.25 mile and you did it for almost 4.5!. Just think, if you could keep up that pace for 3 more kilometers you would meet your goal of a 45 minute 10 K!!

Anne-Marie · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 3:42 pm Post subject:

gg - you're right... but now I'm not sure if i really did that... might have been less... I am using the bike route planner to figure this out since I run on bike/pedestrian paths instead of the road, so maybe there could be mistakes. And I thnk I am slow - I forget if I reported this earlier, but the other day I used MapMyRun to check out the 10K to see if I really ran it all... as I was confused by why I am still on the 6K list and during the race it was a bit confusing... and I think I ran more like 9K than 10... in 74 minutes. which would give me a 90 minute 10K. And ... OH NO!! Now I see what happened. I ran 3.5K, not 7. Somehow the program calculated an out-and-back, which is what I did, but I thought it was calculating one way!!! So, ummm... I have a ways to go to get to that 45 minute 10K lol!!!! I actually ran 1km per 11min... which would average out to 1hr50minutes for 10K!!!! Ok, I went from super-human to super-suck in one post!

On a more fun note: I just came back from trying out a recreational badminton club with my husband - Sundays from 6:30- 8:30, but we left at 8... 1.5 hours is long enough. It was sooo much fun!!! We've decided to join for a year, and it is pretty cheap, only 40 euros each plus I have to buy a racket.

guitargrl325 · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 4:35 pm Post subject:

not super suck missy!! 3.5K in 30 minutes is still good! you just started running a few months ago! it's taken me several years to get to a 10 minute mile pace(which is still not even considered "running" by some in the running community...lol) you are doing amazing! think about this: like 8 or 12 weeks ago you were only running for what a minute at a time and now you can run solidly for 30 minutes!!! that's an awesome acomplishment

gfraast · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:53 am Post subject:

wow, i missed a lot here!! hank reminds me of my cats, who always think i want to cuddle when i get down to the floor to do situps, push ups or whatever Laughing

you are doing great with your runs, as gg said, you just started some months ago!!
i have a link for you: www.fitnessfirst.nl - don't know if they have a club near you, or if they are in your price range, i just remember that i did train 3 monhts in one of their clubs in brussels, and i really liked it there!!

Anne-Marie · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:56 am Post subject:

Hey gfraast - thanks for the link. there is a club not very far, but it is too far for me (I want to keep my commute as short as possible, as in 10 minutes!!) at least for now.

I have decided to join that 3rd gym. I have not actually gone to the 4th one, but it is at least 15-20 minutes away, and given that it will cost me 40 euros extra over the course of 4 months to go to the one extremely close, I have decided that is worth it. Based on how tired (and lazy!) I feel in the winter with the early nightfall, and also given that I am starting a new habit, and plus that there is only a 4 month cost and not a commitment for an entire year, the close club is best for me.

I tried it out for free yesterday - yay love free stuff!! - and did a light warmup followed by 20 min or so of circuit-training (just on the machines nearby, no real plan, just working everything a bit. feeling it a bit today!). Then I joined a breakdance class. It was not at all what I expected!! I thought it would be an aerobics class with dance moves to hiphop music. Well, it was more like being a dancer learning the choreography for a show!!! I was not very good Sad

but had a lot of fun. The other thing I didn't expect is that the class goes for 2 hours, and since I had other things planned I just left after one hour. I decided though that I will try to do this class for the next four months as I decided not to join the gymnastics class (must join for a year, about 170 euros, can only do the one fixed class per week).

So... that's about it for yesterday. Still eating just ok and not 'perfect', but that's good enough for now.

lizzyb · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 4:59 pm Post subject:

Woot!! Congrats on the adoption!! (of a gym, before rumours start flying about, lol!!)
Sounds like a perfect fit to all your needs as well.....research certainly pays off!!

"....Still eating just ok and not 'perfect', but that's good enough for now."

~loving this part!! How many people allow themselves to say 'good enough, for now'? How refreshing!

Anne-Marie · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:59 pm Post subject:

Today was a great day - except I am up too late!!!

Got up without the alarm after a good night's sleep - fell asleep within 30 minutes or so which rarely happens - and had just a great day. I am testing out that goals/to-do list system Helen described in the thread I started about being organized, and so far, it is really helping!!! I feel like I have things to check off my to-do list, so get going - and not I have sooo many chores to do, so avoid! lol!!!

I went to school, went to the central station to get some photos taken for my monthly tram pass, had a ok-tasting donair for lunch, went grocery shopping, went out to do my job pretty fast instead of delaying, got home and had a snack, got organized - and got distracted so was running late lol!, went to the gym to sign up and pay the fee, did a mini-workout, J was home late and I was home 10 minutes later, made an amazing dinner, watched some tv, did my homework and now posting!

the workout: I have decided to do the RHC for the next 5 weeks. Week 1 is actually pre-workout, as I have not lifted for a long time and I decided that all I will do the first week is find equipment, and do 10 reps to see what my failure-weight is, or best guess.

The new gym is great!! It is huge and not crowded, so one of the guys who works in the weights area had plenty of time to spot me! Good thing too, those Close Grip Bench Presses are harsh!

Incline Bench Press 0-BB | 10
Bench Press 0-BB | 10
Decline Flye 3kg (l, incl) | 10
Bench Dip Feet up | 6
Close-Grip Bench Press 0-BB | 8
Lying Triceps Extension 5kg (mach) | 10

My secret code there is 0-BB = barbell, no plates; l, incl = the weight was too light and I accidentally did incline instead of decline flyes (eyeroll), mach = next time use the machine so I don't bonk myself on the head. Anything less than 10 means I failed before I got there. I was surprised that I was shaky for almost an hour later, quite a shock to my bod I guess!! Good for me that I took it easy, as I doubt my muscles find it easy at all!

I am not going to follow the cardio plan from RHC. I will continue to aim for 2 runs/week on my learn to run 10k faster program, I will try to take the streetdance class (which has just been cut to 1 hr as there is now a "clubswing" class right after), and I will take as many fitness classes as I want (or none if that's what happens). I'm also going to aim to add in a solid stretch session 2xweek as well. We'll see how it all fits in. J has offered to make some changes to make it easier for me to go to fitness classes, such as on Mondays try to be home by 5:00 so we can make/have an early dinner together, other days make dinner on his own or at least do some prep... so that's great.

I noticed that I was not hungry before dinner for dinner, but when it was ready man did I chomp it down. This may be connected to having my afternoon snack for once, as I also notice I was not hungry at all during the evening. Good! Evening is dangerous chocolatey time at my house! lol!

britbabe · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:54 am Post subject:

Wow Anne-Marie, look at you with the weight lifting yay!!
It'll probably take time to get used to it..!!
Are you using the RHC workout from Bon? Was there any Chest exercises in there? I don't think I saw any.. you may need to add some in?

Bon · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 3:07 pm Post subject:

Looks like you had a great first week at your new gym. Starting RHC I was a little shaky at first, too. Way to go Anne-Marie and keep going, you'll do great!