Easy Does It

It’s been about 3 weeks now since I got cleared to work out again & I’ve been slowly getting back into a workout routine.

The first workout to come back into my rotation is 6pm spin.  My first class back was kind of a nightmare – I felt like I didn’t really get a workout at all because it seemed like as soon as  I started pedaling my heart rate would skyrocket.

Seriously, I barely broke a sweat during that class yet my HR topped out at 161.  Part of it was nerves – I was anxious going in to class knowing I needed to keep my HR under control.  The other part was that I hadn’t done any cardio in such a long time.

I may or may not have cried during class because I was so frustrated.  And I may or may not have had sore legs for 2 days after that class even though I didn’t think I was getting a good workout. 

Since then I’ve taken 6pm spin two more times & both classes have been much better.  I’ve kept my heart rate where my doctor wants it and feel much less frustrated.

I even broke a sweat!

Although the focus is totally different for me now, I’m still enjoying the classes.  It’s weird to really really focus on keeping my heart rate at a certain level instead of making my focus super steep climbs & super fast sprints.

I basically stare at my heart rate monitor 75% of the class.  Well, “stare” might be a strong word.  But let’s just say I glance at it at least once every minute.

I’m hoping the need to “check in” so much will pass as I get used to what it feels like to work at this level.  My “perceived exertion” radar is totally off right now & I’m sure it’ll take a pretty good amount of time to get used to what my new “max” should feel like.  (It scares me to think of just how high I must have been letting my heart rate get during workouts!  Before I would be sweating buckets & gasping for breath during spin class…and now at 145 bpm I feel like I’m just barely getting started.)

I’m also walking 2 times a week now as well – 2 miles a pop – and playing around with how fast I can walk before I hit 145-150 bpm.  But I’m just trying to enjoy being back on my feet a bit & am not worrying too much about how fast (or slow) I’m going.

I don’t want to do too much too soon (since I took so much time off), so for now I’m taking the “easy does it approach”.

Once my body gets used to being active 3 days a week again I’ll be adding in some more workouts – likely strength training and yoga – to bring myself up to at least 5 days a week.

WHAT ABOUT YOU:  Have you ever had to completely start over?  Did you ease back into things, or go whole-hog right from the beginning?