This week’s homework

Recently I mentioned that I have a new personal trainer at the gym. Well she is not entirely new as she trained me during the summer when my other trainer was on holidays. We get on well. I like her. Last Friday she gave me homework. Not physical exercises to do but thinking exercises. I have to come up with 3 goals for my training by Friday.

This is harder than I thought it would be.

I have been going to the gym on and off since 2007. Only once or twice a week (if that), but I have never had any firm fitness goals. Just wishy washy ‘I want to get fitter’, ‘I want to tone up’ goals. But now it is time to get serious and develop smart goals. My trainer wants me to develop 3 smart goals, one for cardio, one for strength, and a third (for fun).

My fitness levels have dropped since January when I wrote Exercise, a love hate relationship. A holiday in February, plus colds in March and May meant little time at the gym and a big drop in motivation to exercise. Strength exercises I could do in January with 5kgs were a struggle for me last Friday with 2.5kgs.

I have never been keen to run. I don’t really think my knees to handle it. I already have one clicky knee (most likely) caused by a meniscal tear so I don’t think running 5 kms would be a goal to set. But I do want to increase my cardio fitness. I can cycle 10 kms on a normal bike with Mr A okay but I do want to be able to ride more. I like the rowing machine. Maybe I should think of a cardio goal for the rower.

My leg strength is okay. I used to be able to leg press 100 kgs and I was able to single leg press 30kgs last week. My arms and chest are weaker though. Plus I’ve never been able to do a chin up, even assisted ones are a struggle. Maybe another goal could be chin up related.

I think the last goal should be ab related. Maybe a plank for a certain time period.

Okay I think I have the basis of my goals, now I have to make them smart.