Egads. I stepped up my weights today on my free weight routine. I can definitely feel it too in some areas. Surprisingly though, I didn’t have much trouble finishing my reps so I think I need to go up again soon. It’s been a while since the last time I bumped it up. To try and encourage me to do my full routine each week, I have a rule: I can’t go up in weights until I’ve done all three workouts for the week. Doesn’t sound that hard to do, I know, but I invariably miss one for one reason or another. Last week I did manage to get them all in though so this was my “reward”.
Here’s my routine, not that anybody really cares. Still, if you have a routine that works for you I’d always be glad to hear any suggestions. I’m happy with my weight, my goals are I’m trying to increase endurance/boost my cardiovascular system (which I feel is too weak in my opinion for my age), keep my back strong to fight my sceleosis, and also increase strength/build some muscle mass. So, on Tuesdays and Thursdays I do cardio. Either running with the dogs or lately it’s always been 30 minutes on the elliptical. M/W/F is free weights. I do the following with three sets of 10. Each workout I reverse the order of the routines I do:

• Bench press - 130


• Biceps - 30/arm


• Triceps - 55


• Lateral pull down - 75


• Fly - 30/arm

Followed by various crunches. I don’t do situps, I do various leg lifts/crunches. I hear different things about what is best, what doesn’t hurt your back, etc. I do leg lifts while on my back and side, then focus on lower and upper abs.

That’s all at the house on our weight bench and elliptical. I’ve had gym memberships in the past but I’m horrible about using them on a regular basis. I’ve found that only if it’s at my house and in the morning will I do anything with anything remotely resembling regularity. The only gym that ever worked for me was at A&M and that was because my friend Vic was there every day expecting me. If I know someone is counting on me to be there I’d go, but otherwise I just skip. At home it’s staring me in the face when I get up.

Finally I rock climb roughly once a week. It’s generally an anaerobic activity but it still manages to get your heart and breathing rate up a little and does do a fair workout on various arm and back muscles.