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Community Corner

Fit at Fifty: The Finish Line

Lessons learned from shaking up a stale exercise routine.

A quick recap about this series:  I joined TNT, a structured exercise program with personal trainers in a group setting, in to “shake up” a stale exercise routine. 

Myl was increased upper body strength.  I challenged myself to achieving five seconds in the flexed arm hang. 

The results at the end of the 13 week-session? Let’s call them lessons learned:

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  1. It’s hard to get out of an exercise rut—both physically and mentally.  I whined a lot at class and at home.  I skipped more classes than I thought I would. 
  2.  Following directions is not my strength.  I loved my trainers, Brock, Chris and Shayla, but when they said “two more, Elizabeth!” my inner rebel said “no.”
  3. I have exercise ADHD.  During our sessions I was more interested in what was going on around me than in the task in front of me.

I learned new exercises to incorporate into my program.  I learned I could do crunches in my basemen as TNT required homework several days a week.

And what about the ?  I weighed 142 in January; this week I weighed 143.

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My body fat decreased from more than three percent.

And the flexed-arm hang results?  Not even close.  

But I’m not giving up. 

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