New Releases and Rock Climbing

First things first – sorry I haven’t posted in forever. I’ve been working on another writing project that I’m very excited about and it’s been eating up all of the time I usually reserve for blogging. But it’s new release week at GoodLife and nothing brings me out of blogging hibernation like new Les Mills routines.

This week, I did BodyAttack 79 and BodyCombat 54. Both were awesome as usual but the most noteworthy new release was BodyPump 84.

There are so many things I love about this release but the highlight for me is the biceps track. Usually, this is my least favourite track in BodyPump because I’ve made very little progress in terms of how much I can lift for biceps. In almost every other track, I’ve been able to increase my weights a lot over the past 2.5 years but for biceps, I can only manage 7kg on the bar and even then I’m struggling.

In 84, the new innovation is that you use plates instead of the bar to do hammer curls and bicep curls. This makes it a lot easier for me to complete the track with proper form and I still get that satisfying burn by the end of it.

There are lots of other new innovations in 84 – new triceps move, clean and press in the warm up, power presses in the shoulder track – overall, it’s just a great release.

In other strength training happenings, I also tried bouldering (rock climbing without a harness) for the first time last weekend and got my behind handed to me.

I really thought I would be okay at it – I strength train regularly and I’m pretty good at planks and big girl pushups. But no. I. sucked. I couldn’t even complete the easiest climb there and that was enough to destroy my upper body for the next three days.

It was humbling to say the least but it was also a good reminder of what it’s like to be a beginner. I haven’t felt that way since the first time I tried running a few years ago. I remember feeling so frustrated with myself and discouraged that I was unable to keep up with my friend (I also pulled my hip flexor to add injury to insult).

I felt that way at the climbing gym watching everyone around me get to the top of the wall with seemingly little effort. But just as I eventually got a lot better at running, I intend to improve at bouldering (I’m going again tomorrow). Until then, I just have to remember that any time you place new demands on your body, you’re probably going to suck at whatever it is you’re doing, no matter how strong you are at other activities.

So that’s what I’ve been up to in 2013. Hope everyone is enjoying the New Year so far.

When’s the last time you struggled with a new physical challenge? How did you deal?

Have you ever tried bouldering? Please tell me you sucked at it and make me feel better  

Have you tried BodyPump 84 yet? What did you think?