Fitness Challenge - Week 5

BIG developments this week. I've graduated to the board.

The (white) board is where the training schedules for the big boys and girls live. So far, the training I've been doing has just been getting me ready to tackle these longer sets, comprising more exercises.

"I'm sure the girls from the electrical wholesalers next door think we're mad as they sit eating their sarnies and watching what we're up to."

Typically, the first set gets your body activated with something explosive, the second is about pushing and/or lifting as much as you can in a more sustained way, and the final set is about warming down, in an active way, with kettlebells for example.

It's hard - really hard - but I'm enjoying the added variety and I feel like I'm getting somewhere. Aside from watching my body shape change, it's satisfying to know I can lift heavier weights and do more reps.

It's hard - really hard

Sean and Zoran aren't letting me rest on any laurels of course - every time they see me looking anywhere approaching comfortable, they pile on more weight or demand one more round.

My body is starting to feel tired though. The first few weeks, I think the ardenaline was getting me through. Now, I'm starting to feel the aches and pains that little bit more. They seem to last until the next session.

That's where the other two elements I've already talked about - the sports massage from Global Therapies and the supplements from Myprotein - are really helping.

I've also got a new enemy. The prowler is a pussycat compared to bicep curls with a very heavy kettle bell. I hate them. I've got triceps now though.

We've worked in dumbell snatches now too, whipping eight, then ten, then 12lbs off the floor to ceiling in one swift move. Dumbells are featuring heavily actually, with stright-up shoulder presses too. Again, these are punishing after a few sets.

But my shoulders don't take as much of a beating as my quads. After a few sets pulling a sled along the car park, they feel so full of blood I can barely stand. I'm sure the girls from the electrical wholesalers next door think we're mad as they sit eating their sarnies and watching what we're up to.

I bet they can't throw a 5lb medicine ball as far as me though.

Follow Simon on Twitter @simonbinns.