Voice

For 7 days I am supposed to log some voice challenges for my voice therapist, and I'll log these up to twice a day through Thursday, which is 6 days from now.

I will continue to do these exercises, which include singing notes through a straw into water, lip trills, and remembering to take breaths.

Exercise

I'm terribly out of shape, especially when it comes to my core and lower body. However, I'm determined to make a change and go from (near) zero to hero.

I've developed a strategy for the next 7 days. I am going to target 3 different exercises, and do them every other day through Friday (a week from today).

Sit-ups

Right now I'm not sure how many sit-ups I can do without swinging. The last time I did sit-ups, I had to plant my feet under the couch and swing my arms a bit to get myself up. For the next 7 days, however, I do not want to swing.

Strategy

• Warm up with two minutes of jumping jacks.

• Start with 3 sets of the maximum number of sit-ups I can do without swinging my arms, even if that's just 3 or 4. Rest for 1-2 minutes between sets.

• Then do 3 sets of the 3-5 negative sit-ups.

• Try to add one more sit-up to each set every session or every other session. Log the results.

• Stretch.

• Once a week, log my maximum sit-ups.

Pull-ups

I can actually do 1 or 2 pull-ups on a good day (which isn't a lot, but not bad considering how out of shape I am, and considering my short arm).

Strategy

• Warm up by doing arm circles, stretches, and light rowing movements to warm up my shoulders, back and arms.

• Start with 3 sets of the maximum number of pull-ups I can do without jumping, even if that's just 1 or 2. Rest for 2-3 minutes between sets.

• Then do 3 sets of 3-5 negative pull-ups. To do this, I will jump up to the bar, then lower myself down slowly until I'm fully hanging.

• Try to add one more pull-up to each set every session or every other session. Log the results.

• Once a week, log my maximum pull-ups.

Push-ups

I can actually do at least 15 push-ups on a good day, and not too long ago I was upward to 30 (which is a lot, and shocking considering how out of shape I am, and considering my short arm).

Strategy

• Warm up with a 2 minute jog.

• Start with 3 sets of the maximum number of push-ups I can do without reaching total failure. Aim to leave 1-2 reps "in the tank" on each set. Rest for 1-2 minutes between sets.

• Then do 3 sets of 3-5 negative push-ups, lowering myself as slow as possible. Once lowered to the floor, I do not need to push-up to reset. I can use my legs.

• Try to add one more push-up to each set every session or every other session. Log the results.

• Once a week, log my maximum push-ups.

Conclusion

I intend to log the voice and exercise progress over the next 7 days. I'll assess from there how I will continue on.