The last couple of weeks of the semester Rachel decided that she wanted to get into better shape. She did some research on workouts, but focused mainly on those for women. Since we have a membership to Golds Gym, she wanted to spend the summer there. Her inspiration was her friend and coworker Tamara who is getting in shape for a Cabaret audition next year. Once the research was done and printed off, she stuck everything into an old three-ring binder. Now the real work begins.
Stating yesterday, Rachel and I have been going to the gym together. I am going for a couple of reasons. The first and foremost is that I am EXTREAMLY out of shape and need to get back to being healthy. The second, yet just as important is so I can cheer on my wife. See, the workouts that she found can all be done separately and individually. So instead of dragging the process out for weeks and weeks on end, I suggested that she alternate days of the week where she does a specific workout set. That made it so everyday she has some type of exercise set to do. That also means that she will struggle with some once her body is pushed outside is comfort zone. That's where I come in. Not only do I have experience being on the training end of things, but my education as a massage therapist makes so I know how specific muscle groups are being targeted. It doesn't matter if she is at home working or the gym, Rachel will be able to have my help if she needs it. At home I add the roll of personal trainer. Some of her workouts she doesn't want to do at the gym so she does them at home. There I help her keep her form so that her body doesn't find ways around the exercise when she gets tired. She says it really helps her out.
Well, for the last couple of days Rach has been doing her workouts and I have been helping her, but not really participating in them. Today was a different story. Today we went to the gym for two hours. Part of her schedule is cross-training. Any good athlete knows that in order to get the most of the body's effort all muscles have to be strong. Not just the main ones that are being used. Well, that is also true with getting back into shape. One of the options the workout set gave for cross-training was racquetball. Rach thought it would be fun to learn, so for 15 minuets we played racquetball. The remainder of the 15 minuets we played WITH the racket ball. After that we went to the treadmills. I realized that my body couldn't handle a hard interval set so I finished up the day in the pool making sure that my shoulder didn't freeze up from racquetball. Rachel learned that her body can handle two hours of moderate to high exercise, but not three hours.
Well, that was our day. I am VERY sore, but its the good kind of sore. Rachel has been working her abs and doing yoga at night. Last night she was in a lot of pain. It was almost to the point of tears. Today when she woke up she realized that the lower part of her abs hurt. I was excited because I am told those are the hardest muscles to work on a woman. Yay for sore muscles!!! Who knows how spending the time together working out will help not only our bodies, but also our relationship. Updates will follow. ;)
You know that Chamomile tea that we all pretty much hate to drink????? Well take 2 tea bags, put them into a pot on the stove with 2 quarts of water and 1 tsp of dried thyme--the kind you cook with is good. Bring to a boil in the morning, then let it sit for most of the day, or for at least for an hour. Then add that 2 quarts to bath water that is pretty hot--yes baby, the kind that turns your skin red--now soak!! Muscles will less sore for sleeping and will feel MUCH better in the morning. Love you!!
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