I woke up this morning with sore abs, a soreness that didn't really go away. It hurt when I sneezed. It hurt when I breathed too hard. I didn't get a lot of sleep (Netflix sucked me in) and by the time I hit the late afternoon, I was pretty sure I was going to pass out in my chair.
Yet, I still had Day Three to look forward to and I was looking forward to it. In the previous two days of workouts I discovered some movements that were both challenging and (dare I say) fun. Sure, it's not exactly the most "manly" of movements, but they work. I can feel them working. I strain, I struggle, but I get it done. Admittedly, I still can't do it at the pace of the woman in the video, but I was improving.
Today was a total body workout day, and from what I read it was easier than the previous days stuff. I was looking forward to an easier day as Day Two killed me.
Day Three started out with our first video, which was a cardio workout. Cardio? I can do that in my sleep. Running, walking, jogging, what have you, I got it. This wasn't hard at all for me. It got my pulse up, as all cardio does, but I wasn't taxed at all. At least not physically.
Mentally, I was taxed. The movements in the video are profoundly embarrassing to do. Especially for a guy. I curled like a pussy cat doll (yes, I linked it) ... I attempted to anyway. I tried to get as low as she did and get my spine to cooperate, but let's be honest, I'm not that flexible. In body and in mind.
So, I did that ... and felt like a complete freak doing it. Sure, I was in my own room, away from anyone else, out of sight and mind, but that video made me pretty self-aware of my own movements. I was judging them as I went and it took me out of it. It's that type of Pilates video that makes me understand why a lot of guys don't give this a shot.
But, I got through that video and we moved onto the second video, where we were back to doing regular Pilates stuff. People on a mat (in my case, carpet and a bit of a concrete floor), doing movements that over the past two days I've become more comfortable with. This video started out kinda slow as far as challenges went. A lot was already covered in Day One and Two here, so I didn't come in unfamiliar with things.
Once we reached the midpoint of the video, however, we got to some new stuff. Mainly, Kneeling Side Kicks. Holy crap, these were hard. On one knee, the other leg parallel to the mat, your hand on the ground, the other arm bent behind your head ... muscles overloading with unknown input, secondary systems failing, pain, PAIN.
Who knew such a strange formation could elicit such a reaction? I was taken by surprise at how HARD it was to do the simple movements with one leg up and one arm behind my head. Just ten up downs with that one leg (little pulses as they call it), 20 circular movements (ten forward, ten reversed), and I was hurting.
Then we switched to the other leg. More difficulty.
By the time we reached the last workout of the video, the Double Leg Lift (two legs, together, straight up in the air making your body appear in the shape of an "L"), I was struggling. The last half of the second video kicked my tail and I lagged behind in the Double Leg Lift. I had to take a minute after to finish the exercises myself as I was just too spent to keep up. But I did finish.
Overall, I felt today was indeed "easier" in a lot of ways than the first two. Not because the movements were easier but because I was familiar with them. I had learned them in the last two days and that learning was painful, but worth it as it prepared me for today's workout.
But those Kneeling Side Kicks are a different beast all together. I did not know so many muscles could be worked in just one exercise. My arms, legs, side muscles (obliques I believe), and upper back were all feeling the burn there.
I would like to state, for the record, how I would rather run a mile than do that first video in front of anyone I know. No way. My body is not meant for that type of display.
Other than my wounded male self-image, the workout today was good.
Thanks for reading. See you for Day Four.
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