36. Back to Basics

Despite the tabata routines, that I had enjoyed getting to grips with during the autumn, things still weren’t quite right. Some additional fine tuning was required.

Winter 2016/2017

For the first chat of the new year with Luke, at Luke Bremner Fitness, I shared my thoughts on the aims and goals I was setting myself for 2017. Briefly, these are:

• Continue to focus on the mid-section of my torso.
• Adjust my technique for arm-based exercises so they become less challenging.
• Retain at least one Tabata-based workout a week.
• Ensure we do “numbers” at the end of each workout programme so we can assess what progress, if any, that I'm making.
• Introduce a little Himalayan salt into my diet and monitor what effect it has on my well-being.

Taking everything into account, one week later Mr Bremner had produced a workout programme that focussed on my posture and position when executing exercises.

In addition Luke recommended that I booked an appointment with Matt at the Bodyworks Edinburgh to see if he could sort out my shoulder and back problem.

Within a few days Matt was assessing the capabilities of my arm motion, before he set to work. I’m not going to lie here, what Matt did was painful. Very painful! He concentrated on loosening my trapezius and rhomboid muscles, as well as working on my rotator cuffs. But by the end of the session he already saw visible improvements with my reach. 

Before leaving, Matt gave me a few exercises to do to aid my shoulder mobility. As these involved resistance bands and trigger point massage balls, I got into the habit of doing them daily at work. Two more visits and Matt felt that I was on track again.

Certainly I felt a new connection with my back and shoulders. At last I could “squeeze the pencil” that Luke had been encouraging me to do when I first started going to Luke Bremner Fitness. Lifting heavy objects in and out of high cupboards at home – something I’d complained about for ages – didn’t seem to be such a challenge. Most importantly, overhead pressing type exercises felt more natural to do, than they had before.

In summary, the prospects of me improving my workout techniques and increasing weights in the gym, suddenly looked very realistic indeed.