Dolls Fitness Challenge Diary (UPDATED - THE CHALLENGE) Sunday, 22 August 2010 16:13 Written by Carole

The only time I’ve got out of bed before 5.30am before is to catch a flight.  So the idea of this being a regular thing and to go and exercise was really beyond my comprehension.  The day just does not start that early!  I originally signed up for the EVENING Fitness Challenge but then the location switched (how could you!!?) so here I am, part of the MORNING JingAn team!  And actually, the getting up at the crack of dawn is the easy part.

WEEK ONE, SESSION ONE (Big Brother stylee voice, please)

5.45am, Jing’An Park, it’s a bit rainy, it’s hot and very humid.

First up – running.  Ok, I can do this!  I used to go running, well that was about 18 months ago now.  Next - push-ups.  These I can’t do.  I have jelly instead of muscles.  Skipping – I’ve not done this since I was a kid!  Oh, not like a schoolgirl, feet together you say …I hate skipping.

So, now we’re 30 minutes in (half way) and I’m almost throwing up, I’m dizzy and light-headed.  Some kind words of wisdom come my way – “you feel like throwing up?  Just do it”.  Eeek!  I really thought this is not for me, I can’t do this!

But I persevere - leg raises, squats, more skipping, sprinting, more skipping and / or walking up and down trying not to be sick - whichever I could manage at the time.  At last the hour’s over and I can drag my sorry ass back home.  I’m exhausted, drenched in sweat, purple-faced, nauseous, but not defeated!  Strangely I feel a sense of determination.  I’m determined to improve!

WEEK ONE, SESSION TWO

I’m not sure I’d call myself a convert just yet, but I’ve really enjoyed seeing Shanghai at this early hour of the morning.  I really love seeing a city before it wakes up properly.  The wet markets and dumpling sellers are just starting to set up, the old guys are out on their morning strolls - walking backwards, playing badminton, and tai chi sessions are already in progress.  Then we start our training which seems to attract fascination and annoyance in equal measure.

I’m still sore and stiff from the first session as we start our warm up laps.  This time I take Julia and Murat’s advice not to drink water during training.  It just sloshes around in your tummy and makes you feel sick.  I feel I’m starting to get into my stride this session.  Session one was all unco-ordinated flailing around with zero technique.  This time I’ve found a rhythm.  Sets of 10/15/20, with a small break in between instead of going and going until collapsing in a heap.  As I get stronger then the sets can get longer.  Still a ways to go though, after squats my thighs feel like jelly as I attempt to do sprints.  But I didn’t feel like throwing up until 15 minutes from the end.  That’s progress!!

WEEK TWO, SESSION THREE

I’m on civil terms with my skipping rope now, we may even become friends.  I’m getting the hang of push-ups, though I can still only manage a few decent ones.  I’m not getting the hang off leg raises.  Apparently I look like a tortoise rolled on its back.  Charming…  I’m so glad Julia thought session 3 was a killer, not just me then.  The number of warm up laps increased by 33%, some evil type of jumping squats were introduced as well as dips and running up and down big stairs punctuated with push-ups.  I was hoping to overcome my nausea by now but it was there, 15 minutes from the end again

WEEK TWO, SESSION FOUR

Well what happened this morning?  I was the last to finish push-ups, Murat “helped” me to do a proper push up and I collapsed, flat on my face!  I’m sure it’ll get easier…  My right tricep screamed out when faced with dips.  Not a pulled muscle, just a very annoyed sleepy muscle.  It’s ok now after some stretches.  The hand weights came out for the first time.  We had to hold them up with a straight arm while going from a lying position to standing and back down again.  Haha.  On the upside I didn’t feel sick and I now like skipping.  And we’re a third of the way through.  Woohoo!  Good in that there’s just four more weeks!  Bad in that the Challenge is looming and I’m not nearly ready!

WEEK THREE

I didn’t take my skipping rope on holiday, but I did do push-ups and dips in my tiny Tokyo hotel room one morning – this was my week three.

WEEK FOUR

Week four saw the temperature and humidity soar, even at 6am.  For some reason, it was also more difficult dragging myself out of bed and I cycled over to Jing’An Park feeling tired and grouchy.  However, this week I discovered that Lucozade is available in Shanghai.  I’ve been craving it since the start of the training and Gatorade just isn’t the same.  It’s at Mannings and has made me very happy!

Unfortunately, my knee’s been giving me jip this past week which is pretty frustrating as I can’t push it too far.  So I was let off the sprints and stairs.  More push-ups, crunches and skipping for me instead.  And it’s paying off; they’re coming on a treat!  I also managed to do about 20 dips before my triceps threatened to snap this week.

It’s true what they say about exercise letting off those happy chemicals in your brain.  By the end of the sessions grouchiness had turned into feeling great and ready to tackle the day ahead.

WEEK FIVE

This week is dedicated to our lovely audience and fellow early morning park dwellers.  I feel our training sessions are part entertainment, part exercise.  We have a small following in Jing’An Park.  A small crowd gathers every now and again and there’s the old Chinese guys sitting on a bench drinking tea and eating breakfast, watching as Murat puts us through our paces.

We need to place ourselves very carefully when skipping to avoid whip-lashing anyone, though it’s difficult when the old dears wander right into our midst and the tai-chi ladies inch closer and closer onto “our patch”.

Moving onto Jing’An Plaza and the dreaded steps, just by one of the metro exits, we provide an unexpected diversion for the early morning commuters.  Some of them take a pew for a while and watch before heading off again.  This week they got a spectacular circuit training display.

Round 1: one minute sprints, one minute jump squats and repeat - I never knew a minute could be so long.

Round 2: sprints up an incline, crab walk (walking side ways quickly in a squat position), run up and down two sets of steps, sprint to finish, repeat and repeat again.

Yes, I’m definitely making progress and feel stronger.  Four weeks ago, I could hardly do one push-up before falling flat on my face.  This week I managed 20 straight and… Murat said he’s proud of me!  Looking forward to the Challenge on Saturday!

THE FITNESS CHALLENGE FINALS @ CENTURY PARK

After 6 weeks of training the day finally arrived for the Challenge.  Luwan versus JingAn!  The circuit was a killer, but once that was over we got to chuck tennis balls at the trainers!  And I got a bulls eye, smack into Shane’s crotch!  Haha, what a shot!!  Followed by tug of war and a three-legged relay race.  Pretty hilarious!  JingAn team won out on the day, but a huge “Well done” to everyone.  We all made a great effort and really pushed ourselves.  Congratulations to the individual winners and thank you fellow team mates for voting for me!!

Most Improved – Kim (Luwan) and me (JingAn)

Most Dedicated – Alyce (Luwan) and Julia & Alona (JingAn)

Laziest** – Hilary (Luwan) and Flo (JingAn)

**renamed as Biggest Complainer / Most in need of a one-on-one training session!

It’s 5 o’clock on Sunday, and I don’t know about anyone else but I’m still in recovery.  Too many margaritas, far far too many…  Good fun though, especially the margarita fuelled push-up competition between Julia and Alyce and the tug of war outside Cantina.  That poor security guard didn’t quite know what to make of it all!  But OMG, my back!  I am wandering around like an old woman today.  Very stiff and sore which must be from the four rounds of tug of war.  Ah the joy of discovering yet more unused muscles!

Thank you so much to our trainers - Murat and Shane, Luwan team leader - Sayler, and Julia for all her amazing organising and crazy fitness obsession!

Here’s to the next Challenge… cheers!!

Comments 

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#13 New Challenge — julia 2010-09-26 17:43

Girls the new challenge will be beginning after the October holidays in three locations. Jingan morning, Xujiahui morning and Luwan night - if you are interested in joining please PM me and register for the event on the events page.

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#12 Challenge #3 — gwisz 2010-09-25 15:58

Hi Julia, I want to jump on board for the #3rd Challenge coming up in October! Look forward to more information on the training schedule and how to sign up!

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#11 More photos — elena 2010-08-28 14:10

Emily, great pics! Love the close ups.

There are more awesome photos from the Challenge and Post-Challenge drinks in the gallery http://www.shanghaidolls.org/gallery/category/33-dolls-fitness-challenge-2

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#10 Photo link — emily424 2010-08-28 08:04

Here are 90 of the photos I took that morning! http://www.emilyminor.com/DollsFitness/index.html

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#9 RE: Dolls Fitness Challenge Diary (UPDATED - THE CHALLENGE) — julia 2010-08-23 07:46

Carole thanks so much for writing this diary - I enjoyed reading all your updates...

We will start the Challenge #3 the week after the October holiday, but will still have open training in both locations until then if anybody wants to jump in and join the fun.

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#8 RE: Dolls Fitness Challenge Diary (UPDATED) — elena 2010-08-18 23:18

Kim, this sounds so familiar. Last Challenge in XJH we had locals who were coming every morning to watch and give advice and even scold lazy girls for being lazy or unfit. Taking photos was quite normal. Our sessions were also videotaped. Perhaps video can be find on tudou or maybe they even made a dvd and sell it infringing IP. Hehehe.

So the Challenge is almost over! Can't wait to see your physical achievements on Saturday!

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#7 RE: Dolls Fitness Challenge Diary (UPDATED) — kimh 2010-08-18 18:01

Hi Carole - I think we're providing the evening entertainment down here in Luwan. We usually have a wide range of people all joining in with the warm-up but they disappear pretty fast when we start on the sit-ups and push-ups.

We have to watch out when we do do our sprints as all the locals want to try our weights and roll on our mats. We're in constant danger from being hit by footballs and on Monday Jo got hit by a badminton raquet!! Some of the locals have been caught taking photos which we reckon will be uploaded to a new website - "Sweaty foreign Babes in Pain!"

See you Saturday

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#6 RE: Dolls Fitness Challenge Diary (UPDATED) — JennyG 2010-08-09 17:04

Hi Carole,

Well, I joined the Friday night Luwan session after it got suggested at book club! Definitely felt sick, even doing loads fewer sets than the other girls :(

Now aching like mad, particularly stomach and chest after lots of sit and push-ups, and have the next session in 2 hours - eek!

But feel like I've actually used my muscles for the 1st time in ages, which does feel good :)

'Enjoy' the rest of your sessions!
Jenny

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#5 RE: Dolls Fitness Challenge Diary (UPDATED) — elena 2010-08-08 22:56

The temperature is absolutely crazy even at 6am. I got myself dehydrated during my early morning run last week. Perhaps that was the reason I got the cold as well. Careful with the need. You might want to take glucosamin chondroitin supplements to help out your joints a bit.

Do you feel stronger/fitter by now? Do you notice any changes in your body?

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#4 RE: Dolls Fitness Challenge Diary — Nina 2010-07-21 17:32

Sounds like my experience Carole! But I'm in the night team so I don't need to get up early. Having our next session in about 2 hours, hope I'll see this challenge out to the end!

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