gym update, part 2

i have been terrible about updating with my gym progress, but not terrible about going to the gym, so there's that! i went another 2 times after i wrote last and did the whole circuit again, with the exception of three machines that mitchell thinks i should skip. they were abs (he says i don't want to build that part up right now while i'm still losing a lot in that area, and that the other workouts i'm doing are working out my abs too), back extension and lateral raise (easy to hurt yourself if the form isn't totally perfect and best to do with a trainer or spotter until i am a pro at it). and ps, the back extension one hurt my tailbone so much with the way i had to sit and the movement it required that i'm not too sad to see it go.

so here's what i did on the circuit the first time, subsequent times and what i'm building from for the future.

--leg press - 50 lbs 20 reps 
--leg extension - 50 lbs 15 reps (increased to 20 reps)

--seated leg curl - 50 lbs 10 ..reps* (increased to 21 reps)
--glute - 50 lbs 10 reps each leg (increased to 12 reps)
--calf - 50 lbs 20 reps (increased to 80 lbs, 21 reps)
--back extension - 50 lbs 20 reps - eliminated
--chest press - 30 lbs 10 reps* (increased to 13 reps)
--overheard press - 30 lbs 10 reps*
--lateral raise - 50 lbs 15 reps - eliminated
--pulldown - 45 lbs 20 reps 

--row - 50 lbs 12 reps (increased to 15 reps)
--arm extension 40 lbs 10 reps*
--arm curl 10 lbs 15 reps (for some reason, could not do this the second and third times around - did 20 reps with no weight just to get used to the motion)
--abdominal - 50 lbs 10 reps - eliminated

* particularly hard 

just as i was getting into the groove, my 7 day free trial ended.  so i'm exploring a month-to-month membership since we're planning on moving after the summer.  

overall, even though i hated going to the gym, it was really great having it so close by, and i really did feel amazing afterwards and generally about the fact that i had done it. i think the circuit also makes it feel doable - it's one of those "tell me what to do and i'll do it" things that i tend to like, especially when something is new. of course the most valuable things are the things we learn on our own, but i know for me, i find that notion overwhelming when i'm at the beginning of something, so the presence of some guidance and direction goes a long way for me.

smart reader aimee pointed out that the feeling of being at the beginning of something is often what makes it feel so bad, and that without a regular gym routine, you're kind of always at the beginning of it. that thought hooks on to my feeling that i wasn't sticking with any one thing consistently enough to really get into the routine, and most really good gym people swear by routine.