Strength Training

Before I left Green Mountain, I was given this advice from LynAnn, the fitness guru:

1. Do NOT stop strength training.
2. Cardio burns fat and makes your heart healthy and strong.
3. Stretch until your face falls off.

Well...I haven't been great at following these keys to success.  I have been doing my cardio in the form of aquatics and hikes with Joe and I have been stretching during aquatics classes....but I have totally neglected my strength training.  True that I have been strengthening my muscles in the pool and on my hikes, but I haven't concentrated on my various muscles.  And let's be honest, I really should be stretching way more.  My face is still intact.

I don't know what my mental block about strength training is, but I just never want to do it.  While at GM, I enjoyed it because I loved how strong it made me feel and I could do it well without having to lose my breath completely.  Is is possible that I just don't think it is worth it because I am not losing my breath?  It's not 'exercise' as is described in my mind (move until you want to pass out), so why waste the energy?  I don't think I actually believe that, but I certainly haven't made it an important part of my week.

The truth is, I like the way I feel after I complete my strength training.  Maybe I should be focusing more on what the end result could be with a few good months of strength?  Because really, I can eat better and do my cardio to lose weight, but if I am not strengthening my muscles, then I will likely have flabby skin and saggy muscles at the end of the day.  And how would that inspire me to keep going?

Yesterday I walked the steps at Red Rocks and did wall push ups on the planters.  Today, I went for a two mile walk AND I did my strength training.  Another step in the right direction.  This week, I will focus on my strength training.