Day 2: Sunday, 2 July 2023
Consecutive days of exercise:
123 Days
Programs:
More of Yoga (Poses AM, Meditation PM) - Day 2/30
30 Days of Strength - Day 2/30
Power-Up (Post workout) - Day 2/30
Additional:
Back & Biceps - 5kg
Well, I don't know if today was an epic fail or an epic win. I skipped all my additional exercises (the Push-ups which I wanted to do) but for a good reason ... I wanted to do pull-ups so badly that it took me hours to do 4.
I woke up with a terrible headache, which was sinus related. I decided to do MoY since it was Poses. It would not do any harm. I also did Power-Up despite wanting to keep it as a Post-workout. I also did Strength Part I shortly after. I just felt I wanted to do the "easier" exericises early. And I am VERY glad I did. I then started my morning, and finished everything, and did Part II of Strength. So my part II consisted of the alternative or additional
Back & Biceps workout, to help me with my upper body strength ... I used 5kg dumbbells, and it wasn't as easy as I thought. Deadlifts, shoulder press, alt bicep curls and so on ... It was a nice workout, to be honest. I enjoyed it despite the slight headache I still had.
Well, and then it came to the To failure pull-ups. 3x sets. Oh, it wasn't 3 sets, and it wasn't 3 tries ... maybe 30.... 40... or more "sets" or tries.
I have done "a" (singular or maybe one or two - take note!!) pull-ups years ago... but I was then at my fitness peak compared to the past 3 or 4 years which my strength seemed to be going downhill!!!
I actually tried in the garage, the pole there, no luck. I just felt my arms would break off. Then I tried a table. No luck, still too high. Then I took 2 benches, and I put a metal pole between them. No luck. So I tried something similar but lower with wood, just thicker than a broomstick, and that was lower and easier to grip. I managed to do 4 pull-ups altogether ... but well, that was probably 4 hours later, since I had to wait for my arms or body to get some strength back, since all the trying just made my arms and upper body hurt and become sore. I don't know how I did it later with my "sore" arms. Yeah .... I would call this both an Epic fail, since this pull-ups is not for me ... yet. But I also want to call it an Epic Win purely because I didn't give up until I found a way to do them ... even if it wasn't even proper pull-ups. It was like the lowest of low pull-ups. It WAS a weird Pull-up.
As much as I was looking forward to this Strength program, I now dread the next Pull-up day.
Well... the positives that came out of today was: I know I didn't give up. I know I gave more than I had to - to proof to myself I could do it. My health, despite the headache/sinus this morning, is good - so I had no reason to stop, and yeah, doing it, felt good. I think I have the confidence to do 30 Days of Strength this month, although this program was probably not meant for someone like me to do. The program itself is fun.
I just wish there was an alternative for the pull-ups - for instance my Back & Biceps workout with the dumbbells instead of the 4 hours I spent on trying to do the pull-ups.
The back of my shoulders .... I don't know what that area is called, like sides behind my back and under my arms, even my chest, and on whole upper arm is burning and sore. Mmmh. This was quite something. At least I know for next time to do "tiny" pull-ups. LOL
Actually it was a row and not even a pull-up .... but please ignore that. I will just call it a pull-up to feel better about myself!! Otherwise I will have zero confidence left.
Thank you
@Fremen (sorry, your message came up only now for me - I am not sure if the issue is on my side!)