Working out doubts

I've mentioned that I picked up the gym again. Signing up for a year-long package deal seemed a bit impulsive and ambitious, but maybe that was the right decision. For the first time, I have managed to break through the standard plateau!

See, just about any time I start a routine, I lose a pound or two, and then promptly begin building muscle mass, which causes the numbers on the scale to go up. After two weeks, I have some goals, but the month of paid trainer assistance runs out. I manage to make it a couple more times, but the numbers keep going UP. Five weeks after starting and only seeing HIGHER numbers, I get bummed out and quit.

This time around, I have made it, on average, 3X a week since Thanksgiving. Through the holidays, I have LOST 10 pounds and 14% body fat! I'm starting to see changes that Beloved has been enjoying. I've even picked up the pace a little: I have gone four times this week, and am contemplating a fifth.

Part of the motivation is that Beloved signed up for the Midwest Spartan Race. I haven't made the plunge, but I'm thinking about it. It scares the dickens out of me! Ironically, I don't know which is scarier: I fail and drop out, or I succeed and finish.

My personal trainer, "Brutal Billy" is all for it. He's confident we can add on to the current workouts to help me train. The Spartan site actually sends out Workouts Of the Day (WOD). Yesterday's WOD was:


Main Set:
Run 2-4 miles at 3mph.

2 minute plank
2 minute side plank (each side)
2 minute plank


I could only hold the plank for 1 minute each time, and my side plank for 30 seconds. Still...I could do it. Sweating through it at the gym last night, I was actually excited. If I could do half of the workout at my present, I might have a prayer of finishing the race in 5 months. Maybe I should sign up!

Then I got the WOD today and it is just TOUGH.

Clean and squat a log or sandbag (4-6 reps) -- should be heavy -- Maxed out by 6th rep
Recover, Repeat
Push press log or sandbag over head (4-6 reps) -- should be heavy -- Maxed out by 6th rep
Recover, Repeat
20 Full sit-ups holding log or sandbag over chest
Recover, Repeat
20 ballslams, 20 burpees
Recover, Repeat

Recovery time may be 2-3 minutes before you start your second set. The key is to build strength; so make sure you are ready to go all out for your second set.

GAH! I don't know if I can do even a quarter of that set! In point of fact, I'm scared to try. The last time I did burpees, my knee couldn't take it and I missed four days. I am struggling with doubts. I don't feel up to an intense workout three days in a row, and five times this week. That's okay, right?