A Workout to Remember

Wow, I took advantage of a new member personal training session at New York Health and Racquet, and boy did it kick my booty!  I wasn’t expecting such an intense workout, so I had done the Physique 57 full body workout earlier that day.

Here’s a look at my full body strength workout:

Warm up: 5 minutes walking on high incline

First Circuit (3 sets of 12)

• Row on machine
• Dumbbell row with one knee on bench
• squat with overhead press

Second Circuit (3 sets of ten)

• Overhead press lying on bench
• Push ups on bench
• Step ups on same leg for 12, then switch legs

Third Set, not circuit, do all sets then move on to the next

• 3 sets of 10 squat thrusts, 10 seconds in between
• 3 sets of tricep pull downs
• 3 sets of squats with overhead press

Fourth set

15 of each of the above, no rest!

Fifth set

• 20 taps standing on bench, back  and to the side
• 10 bicep curls
• 10 of one more thing I can remember
• 3 times

Abs

20 bicycles, immediately flip and do 20 mountain climbers, repeat

• 20 double v sit ups, 20 double leg mountain climbers, repeat twice, no rest

STRETCH!

This was the best personal training session I have ever had.  It was over an hour, and I was pushed the whole time.  The main secret to the intensity was that there was very little rest.  SO it was much better than when I do strength at the gym on my own.  I had someone to keep me focused and I didn’t have to keep referring to a magazine.  Plus, Deb was a lot of fun to work with.  I truly wish I could afford to have a personal trainer even just once a week.   I think it would make a huge difference, but alas, that dream will have to wait for another day, and another job. 

I mentioned I joined New York Health and Racquet. 

The main reasons were:

• There are 4 locations within a mile walk of my apartmentone just 3 blocks away
• They have two brand new clubs close by with new equipment
• They have great class offerings
• The boy belongs and there is one right under his building, so it makes it easy to workout in the morning
• The pricing is expensive but doable, $90 a month for a month to month plan
• Not crowded
• The 23rd St and 21st and Park locations are really nice!

Things that could be improved;

• The lockers could have set yourself locks, so you don’t have to bring your own
• The 13th Street location could use some serious updating
• The AC seems hit or miss, I am not typically hot ever, but the gyms sometimes seem stuffy.

I tried out their newest location, 21st and park last night, here’s a peek:

Sorry the main cardio and weight area was too crowded for me to sneak a photo.  But it was nice and the machines overlook Park ave.

Free tampons on the right!

Who can’t judge a gym by its locker room?