hot day in Vancouver

Strength training, day 2
15 mins treadmill, level 7

My shoulder is feeling so much better and I am feeling very happy about it.

It was a good workout this morning. Before I started regular strength training this year, I was resistant to reducing the cardio component of my exercise regimen even though I had read so many articles over the years about how strength training is a key part of any fitness regimen. Still, my brain refused to process the fact that reducing cardio would not necessarily mean fat gain. Now, almost seven months later, having closely stuck to a workout (interspersed with demoralizing injury hiccups) that alternates three strength sessions with three intense cardio sessions a week on alternating days, I am a convert. I have lost fat and gained a lot of muscle. Even though I have had to cut back upper body strength training due to my shoulder injury, I am much stronger than when I started. I did not believe it would be possible for me to lift some of the weights I was lifting before the injury. My core strength has also vastly improved because, even though I used to work my abs quite a lot, strength training overall has increased my balance and core muscle strength. I am loving how my body feels now and so I have no intention of going back to my cardio addict days.