Welcome to our Gym

Two and a half weeks ago I started a blog about trying to get ripped.  Has anyone noticed that I haven't done a single entry regarding my workout routine?

I thought I'd begin by introducing you to the Fisher home gym.  It is rudimentary, but proves the point that you really don't need a lot of expensive equipment.  A nice assortment of free weights is all you really require.  One of my first purchases for this area many years ago was the sit-up bench.  It's pushed against the wall on the far right because I NEVER use it.  Our "bench" is really a horizontal ladder covered with a pad I made for our garden bench.  I have pleaded with Mike repeatedly to buy a "real" one but he's really right.  It's perfectly functional for our current use.  I don't benchpress a heavy enough weight to require a safety catch yet & I also like to use the ball as a bench.

Ironically I have access to a wide array of professional grade equipment at the gym where I teach Zumba.  As it caters to bodybuilders, it is filled with everything you could want and a well built clientele that knows how to use it.  Ok, I understand the whole intimidation thing newbies experience when they go to a new workout facility the first few times.  Maybe when I really get a little "rip" or two I'll make my appearance on that workout floor.  I'm "Zumba girl" and bodybuilders really aren't that impressed.  Well that's what they want you to think anyways.... However they aren't too subtle about staring when they're taking rather lengthy breaks between their sets while we do our routines.  Let's not get sidetracked and get back to the focus of today's blog...

First off, I find keeping a record of your weight lifting routine to be mandatory.  How can you make sure you are progressing if you can't remember what weight & number of reps you did last time?  I'm still working on a better routine that focuses on specific areas.  My old practice was a hop/skip/completely random assortment of exercises.  Basically I'd decide on a number of exercises I was going to do and it was usually a really small one like ten.  Is it any wonder I'm not already ripped?  LOL  Also with the exception of abdominal work, I almost never did more than one set of anything.  You have to start somewhere & I'm the first to acknowledge that my workout routine needed some fine-tuning.

So today I choose three areas upon which to focus:

 Shoulders (Anterior, Middle & Posterior Deltoids) Traps & Abs

I did TWO reps of every exercise I selected & I did TWELVE different ones!  We'll get more specific later and maybe I'll even progress to a proper number of sets like three.