Today is just about exercise and my knee!

This is my new favorite machine - the Octane Fitness Xride xr6000 seated elliptical.  However, the gym currently only has one, and it's extremely popular, so if I can't get a turn on it I have to try other machines.  I have been instructed on the regular elliptical, the Arc Trainer, rower, a bike that has both arms and legs (so it's sort of like the Xrider but it goes around like a bike not an elliptical), and a really neat bike that is hooked up to something called Expresso where you can not only plug in different scenic routes (and also grade them to difficulty and distance) but also you enter your info on-line and you can match your prior performances to yourself, or get into races with other people... There is so much to do with the programs that I haven't figured it all out yet.

Anyway - would you say I have no excuse not to do cardio???  If I use the seated elliptical I can do an entire workout without taxing my knees (oh, and you can program it for upper body, all muscle groups, or legs in addition to "just" using it as cardio only) even if I do the leg programs.  If I can't get on that machine I divide my time between the bikes and Arc Trainer. I want to build up some endurance on the elliptical to add that to the melange of machines I use if I have to mix and match.

So I have had two orientations so far on the seated weight machines: Both the Nautilus circuit where you do one rep of each machine (the machines look like this):

or the Cybex circuit where the machines are similar but you do many reps.  Since I only just started I don't know which I prefer - but I imagine which circuit I choose will depend on which one has more people using it at the time and how much of a hurry I'm in.  Also I can mix an match (for instance the Cybex circuit has a leg press which I love, and the Nautilus circuit has a hamstring curl that is better for me than the Cybex one). 

My intention is to work the weight machines twice a week (I'm set up now with trainers on Wednesday and Friday mornings) and cardio 4-5 times a week.  The Y is so close and convenient to my home (and LITERALLY on the way to and from work) that I have no problem doing my weights in the morning and still going back in the afternoon for cardio if I don't have time in the morning.  Then at the end of the month I've joined a "biggest-loser" type team group where you work with a trainer (in a group) twice a week for an hour each time, with the point being weight loss as well as just exercise.  I don't watch BL and I hate the premise of it and so it's odd that I signed up for a team, but I am sure the Y won't have trainers yelling in my face and making me fall to the fall to do push-ups lol.

After just after a few visits I am already noticing that my knees/legs are so much stronger - I was able to walk up my front steps without holding onto the railing, and I was able to take it step-over-step.  I also notice that I'm not as aware of the knee as I usually am.  I'm starting to be more normal.

Besides the knee my goal is my daughter's wedding in September.  I already bought two dresses that are a bit snug - but there is a 90-day return policy so I will revisit them in May - maybe I can even go down a size from where they already are!

Have a great day everyone!  And don't forget - I'm doing the "first two bites" challenge starting tomorrow - anyone please join me!

Miriam