Finding My Weaknesses

Normally during my rest weeks I stop all running but carry on with most of my resistance workouts and do a bit of cross training (or I try to). This time though I’ve decided to try a couple of yoga or Pilates classes rather than continuing my weight workouts, operating on the theory that a change is as good as a rest. So I went to my first Body Balance class last night. I’d say the biggest lesson I learned was I am not nearly as strong as I thought I was. My flexibility was good, and I was OK at balancing on one leg, but not so good at holding the poses, most of which involved a deep lunge or sumo squat while holding the arms out at shoulder height. I just couldn’t hold the poses for nearly long enough, or keep up with the variations, so had to stop and rest several times. Actually, I did better at the abs and back exercises, feeling the burn but able to keep up with the Pilates one hundreds and planks. At least I know what to work on when I put together my next weight routine!

I was planning on doing another class on Thursday, but given how difficult it was I’m not sure I will. That’s because the other thing I’ve started doing is a Park Run at the end of my rest week. Park Runs are free, timed 5 Km runs done in various parks around the country every Saturday morning. In London alone there are five or six different ones run in Richmond Park, Bushy Park, Hyde Park, etc. I like to do them once a month to track my progress, as they’re pretty low key – no fees, no need to sign up in advance – but you still get an “official” result and the feel of a race (lots of people, most of them faster than me). For it to be a valid test of my progress I don’t want to be too tired or muscle sore, so I might be better off taking two rest days before instead of one.

Then again, given how much chocolate I’ve had over the past four days, I might need all the exercise I can get!

The Score:

Calories:	Protein:	Carbs:	Fat:	Alcohol:	Fibre:
2441.86	130.21g	303.98g	80.94g	0	27.85g
	21%	50%	30%
Calories burned through exercise:		175

What I ate:

Time	Item	Amount
07:45	Vitamins - Centrum Advance A to Zinc, 400iu of Vitamin E, 1000iu Vitamin D3 and 500mg Glucosamine sulphate	1 each
	Cold water	200mL
	Whole Scrambled egg with 2 egg whites	3 eggs
	Mushrooms	100g
	in butter	5g
	Raw Tomato	98g
	Waitrose Love Life free from fruit scones	1 scone
	with Flora Light	2g
	St Dalfour Blackcurrant jam	16g
	Sainsbury's pressed apple and cherry juice	200mL
08:30	Black Tea	500mL
09:45	Raspberry and Echinacea tea	250mL
11:00	Plums	105g
	Irish Yoghurts Diet Fruits of the Forest	125g
	Brazil nuts	6g
11:30	Galaxy Minstrel milk chocolate Easter egg	50g
	Caffeine free Black tea with milk and sugar	500mL
13:30	Sainsbury's Lean steak	105g
	Mashed potatoes	175g
	with butter	5g
	Microwaved Cauliflower	98g
	Microwaved Broccoli	84g
	Bisto Best beef gravy	about 5g
	Skim milk	200mL
17:45	Muller rice pudding vanilla custard	190g
18:30	Body Balance exercise class
	Lemon Tea Nuun electrolyte tablet in water	750mL
20:45	Chicken fajita mix	165g
	Old El Paso Refried beans	135g
	Waitrose Cornish Quartz cheddar	10g
	Old El Paso Thick and Chunky Salsa	30g
	Galaxy Minstrel milk chocolate Easter egg	50g
22:00	Butterkist microwave butter popcorn	25g
23:45	Ellactiva Chocolate Calcium Chew	1 chew
	500mg Glucosamine sulphate	1 pill

Plus 500 to 1500mL of cold water sipped from a water bottle throughout the day.