Fitness Challenge - Week 3

TIME to introduce you to some new characters in my ongoing quest to lose the paunch in less than two months.

Tim from Global TherapiesThis is Tim, from Global Therapies. He's set up a sports massage in service in S&P, and it couldn't have been better timed.

The slight shoulder twang I felt at the end of my the last session turned into full-blown shoulder knack over the weekend, and I couldn't lift my daughter, let alone a kettlebell.

So Tim was called in to sort it out. By sorting out, I mean stretching, manipulating and generally correcting my muscles, some of which were in a bit of a mess.

"I stopped short of saying it was easy. But it wasn't horrible. Until the next day. Every part of me ached, and it moved down from my shoulders to my feet."

Massages are nice aren't they? Lavender oil, relaxing music, mood lighting. Not this one. It was painful. Very painful. But it was also very effective, and as well as curing my shoulder knack, made me feel more flexible.

Then there's my other new friend. A 50kg sandbag.

"It's time for a challenge," said Sean. "Everyone has to do it." My heart sinks when Sean mentions a challenge. To me, a challenge is three chin ups; to Sean it's probably wrestling a bear whilst in fancy dress.

I had to carry the sandbag around for ten minutes. I cold hold it any way I wanted, but I couldn't sit down, or put the bag down. Otherwise, I was up for punishment.

I hoisted it on my shoulders, carried it like a massive baby and strolled around the car park with it. The time seemed to stop. But I did it.

I was quite proud of myself. I stopped short of saying it was easy. But it wasn't horrible.

Until the next day. Every part of me ached, and it moved down from my shoulders to my feet.

But it was another good example of how varying the training keeps it interesting.

I'm working through more sets with heavier weights now - 'lift heavier, rest more' is Sean's advice. He also likes kicking me when I'm trying to do the plank, but I think that's more for his own enjoyment.

There's a good spirit in the gym too and I'm making new friends. Fat is falling off me too which is the main reason I'm here.

Enjoy my suffering by having a look at the videos below.

www.strengthandperformance.co.uk