About three months ago I bought an elliptical trainer and since then I use it
about 2 to 3 times per week. Most of the time, I am using an interval setting
that switches every 2 minutes between an easy setting of going almost flat and with
low resistance and a hard setting of going uphill with high resistance. The
program repeats the process for 30 minutes in total, with an additional 5
minutes of cool-down, but the latter can be neglected as it is only meant to
gradually get the body back to a normal “all day pace.” For me, the 30 minutes
of workout can be broken down into three equal parts of 10 minutes each,
whereby in particular the first and the last part are the most challenging
segments.
The First Third
This third can also be described as the third of quitting. Why? Well, because that's the time when I mostly have thoughts like “I can't do it today, I am too tired.” Getting into the groove is hard for me, I'm not warmed up yet, my muscles are not loose, and my mind is playing tricks on me. My thoughts circle around the remaining 20+ minutes, and my mind tries to persuade me that I can't do it today, that I am not in shape, that I should give up, that I should do it some other time! Once in a while, my mind wins and I stop the exercise. But most of the time I am pulling through this by knowing that the feeling will fade away when the next segment of the exercise begins.
The Second Third
Well, not much is to say here, as I'm in the groove! Things are working out for me, my energy is at peak, my muscles are loose and I enjoy the exercise while listening to music on my headphones. I'm thinking about how many strides I will be able to make, as I am always measuring my performance. Sometimes, my mind begins to wander, I'm thinking about work and about life in general, about Parkinson's and about all kinds of other things.
The Third Third
This is the third of agony! I am counting down each interval that I have already completed, and I am looking forward to the end. I am having a hard time maintaining my pace. By then I'm soaking wet and the sweat is running over my face, I am watching out that it doesn't run into my eyes as it burns and I can’t see anything for a few seconds. In addition, even during the easy interval does my heart rate not drop below 145 anymore (the high, btw, is about 170). This is also the time when I wonder if I can ever run on the street again. I used to be pretty good at running 5Ks, nowadays I wonder if I can even stay on my legs. Will I trip? Will I fall? Will I bruise my body and face? I'm scared of even trying! What gets me through it is the music in my ears and the knowledge that the session will be over soon. Also, looking at the strides I've already taken and calculating how many more I can accomplish helps me through this third. Once I reach the last few minutes things start to get better again and I pull out my last reserves. I know it is over soon, and I know I will feel great, and I know I will be proud of my accomplishment.
And then it's over! Minutes of winding down go by in no time, and I'm glad to get off the elliptical trainer. I am soon thereafter already looking forward to the next exercise session, and it is not long until the agony of the third third is upon me yet once again.
The First Third
This third can also be described as the third of quitting. Why? Well, because that's the time when I mostly have thoughts like “I can't do it today, I am too tired.” Getting into the groove is hard for me, I'm not warmed up yet, my muscles are not loose, and my mind is playing tricks on me. My thoughts circle around the remaining 20+ minutes, and my mind tries to persuade me that I can't do it today, that I am not in shape, that I should give up, that I should do it some other time! Once in a while, my mind wins and I stop the exercise. But most of the time I am pulling through this by knowing that the feeling will fade away when the next segment of the exercise begins.
The Second Third
Well, not much is to say here, as I'm in the groove! Things are working out for me, my energy is at peak, my muscles are loose and I enjoy the exercise while listening to music on my headphones. I'm thinking about how many strides I will be able to make, as I am always measuring my performance. Sometimes, my mind begins to wander, I'm thinking about work and about life in general, about Parkinson's and about all kinds of other things.
The Third Third
This is the third of agony! I am counting down each interval that I have already completed, and I am looking forward to the end. I am having a hard time maintaining my pace. By then I'm soaking wet and the sweat is running over my face, I am watching out that it doesn't run into my eyes as it burns and I can’t see anything for a few seconds. In addition, even during the easy interval does my heart rate not drop below 145 anymore (the high, btw, is about 170). This is also the time when I wonder if I can ever run on the street again. I used to be pretty good at running 5Ks, nowadays I wonder if I can even stay on my legs. Will I trip? Will I fall? Will I bruise my body and face? I'm scared of even trying! What gets me through it is the music in my ears and the knowledge that the session will be over soon. Also, looking at the strides I've already taken and calculating how many more I can accomplish helps me through this third. Once I reach the last few minutes things start to get better again and I pull out my last reserves. I know it is over soon, and I know I will feel great, and I know I will be proud of my accomplishment.
And then it's over! Minutes of winding down go by in no time, and I'm glad to get off the elliptical trainer. I am soon thereafter already looking forward to the next exercise session, and it is not long until the agony of the third third is upon me yet once again.
Ingo
