Arduous Progress

Program 1 troughs are difficult

Today is the first time in several weeks that I'm doing cardio the day after having done cardio. And although it was really difficult and I felt like I couldn't get my HR to where it should be, I still did better than yesterday. Which is even more remarkable (in my mind) because today I was back to Program 1, which is much more difficult than Program 2 or 3. At least to me. It helped that temps were a good 20 degrees cooler so the gym wasn't swampy (warm and humid). I still worked up a good lather. 

No pull-ups today, and no Senior class! The gym isn't crowded and I can access an Inclined Breaker Bench to do my DB shoulder routine. The anterior delts aren't bothering me so that was reassuring. I get all my sets done and head to the frigid Aerobics Room. I'm tired and tempted to skip a lot of the exercises, but force myself to do everything. Except the Walking Lunges. Because my knees hurt a bit doing Air Squats. And I'm tired. But I still do Wall Squats. Because that actually takes less effort than lunge walking back and across a room. 

I'm hoping cardio is even better tomorrow but I have no idea how it'll go. I'll also have another go at pull-ups. I have to say that I'm quite disappointed in losing reps here, feeling weak and awkward. Figuring this out might take some time...

18 April 2024 11:47-1:33

Gray Chilly Thursday

Precor elliptical #1

Program 1 (super hard)

Time: 30+5 (5706)

Distance: 2.87 (whew!)

Cal: 320

Avg Hr: 154, 182-81

Fitbit: 52-128

Incl DB Press s/s Lateral Raises s/s Rev Incline Flys

10 lbs x 25/15/25 warm up

15 lbs x 25/15/25

20/15/20 x 25/15/25 x 3 sets

20 Hip Bridges

Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

20 Hip Bridges & 10 one-leg

Quick Child’s Pose

Cat stretch 12

Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose

Fire Hydrants 20 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Push-Ups 25

Air Squats 25 (knees)

Arm rotations 20

    Skip Walking lunges 36 steps total

Neck stretch / Eye yoga

Wall Squat 90s (!!!)

Naked Wrist Day

I woke up and the FitBit on my wrist promptly alerted me to the fact that it needed charging. Unfortunately, I haven't quite determined a reasonable charging schedule for this wearable and rely on the device announcing its low battery status. It loses power more quickly the more often I sync my phone via its app with the wearable. So if I don't check my HR for the day, the battery lasts longer, but that defeats the purpose of wearing it, so...

That means the FitBit is on the proprietary charger today when I go to the gym. Cardio feels pretty good considering the gym is warmer than I'd like. No a/c yet since it's April. I'm satisfied but not happy with cardio--I imagine my HR is close to where it was on Monday, in the 125-130 range during peak exertion. Pull-ups absolutely suck lately. I feel weak and fat when I hoist myself up. While I'm glad I can knock out at least a dozen, I miss the way they used to be so much easier. Ugh. I'm sure I've put on a few pounds as well, and that's not a good feeling either. After hitting my early 60s, the metabolism has definitely slowed.

I toy with the idea of doing Seated Cable Rows, but both stations are occupied with women I recognize as "regulars" at this later time in the day. They're probably on a lunch break. I'm not the type to waste time waiting around for a station to open up so I go directly to the Aerobics Room which is humid and hot. Probably because Seniors not only don't generate much heat or sweat, but they're also cold intolerant. Probably because they don't generate much heat or sweat. I've seen them walking the treadmill with puffy coats on... 

Core feels routine and standard. When I exit the Aerobics Room, I see that both rowing stations are vacant, but now I'm too sweaty and tired to deal with the influx of HS kids that are entering the gym. I decide to add another set of pull-ups before I leave the gym, just to make up for the loss of Seated Cable Rows. Pull-ups are quick, and while I don't get as many as the first set, at least I get some done. I see some old men staring from their machines, probably because they can't do pull-ups themselves. I'm not concerned, but honestly, I should try and get to the gym earlier rather than later these days.

17 April 2024 12:17-1:39

Overcast Wednesday

Precor elliptical #1

Program 3

Time: 30+5 (5626)

Distance: 2.85

Cal: 317

Avg Hr: 157, 197-83

Fitbit: n/a low battery

HGPU 15 (well that sux)

(Both stations occupied)

Skip Seated Cable Rows

20 Hip Bridges

Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

20 Hip Bridges & 10 one-leg

Quick Child’s Pose

Cat stretch 12

Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose

Fire Hydrants 20 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Push-Ups 25

Air Squats 25

Arm rotations 20

Walking lunges 36 steps total

Neck stretch / Eye yoga

Wall Squat 90s (!!!)

HGPU 13 (sux more)

Blazing Monday

Temps reach into the mid-70s today, so it's unusually warm outside, especially for mid-April. The kamikaze bugs won't leave me alone at the dog park. There's a senior class at the gym, meaning the Aerobics Room is off-limits until 12:30, so I don't even drive over until it's nearly noon. The gym seems almost empty which is great. I'm struggling with my cardio, but it is better than last Friday. Of course, part of this is due to which program I'm doing. Friday was program 1, which is technically easier because it's less steep, but always feels more difficult. Programs 2 and 3 have greater inclines and are technically more challenging, but are somehow easier. At least for me.

I'm able to get my heart rate up, or at least better than last week. My blood pressure was good last night but hasn't hit that "normal" point and it's doubtful if it ever will. I know my GP will suggest again that I double the dose of Losartan to lower my BP. My glaucoma doc says that the new eye drops Timolol will take up to 6 weeks to show if it's effective in lowering my IOPs (as well as my BP). The right eye is scheduled for an SLT in a few weeks. We'll see how all the pressures are then. Meanwhile, I take my own BP readings every few nights, sometimes every day if I remember.

It's warm inside the gym and I'm completely drenched after cardio. The doors are all open for increased airflow. I'm sure that the gym doesn't want to kick the A/C on just yet. I manage a paltry 15 reps at pull-ups. I've felt stronger but not lately. Seated Cable Rows feel okay. I'm glad the biting flies haven't found me yet. There's a sign outside the Aerobics Room stating that this room wasn't available from 11:15 to 12:30 for the Senior Classes. It's 1 pm and the instructor is just wheeling out a stack of chairs. 

I want to study under 
this painter

Luckily, everything in my core routine feels fine. Hip bridges help loosen tightness from sitting all weekend. I'm happy that my trip to Buffalo didn't result in any sciatic flare-ups. Dead Bugs go quickly and effortlessly. Push-ups still bother my shoulders a bit but everything else seems okay, even Walking Lunges and Wall Squats. Back again on Wednesday. I don't want to go to the gym tomorrow and have to rush to make my class: I signed up for another 6-week course. There's another class I'd like to take after seeing that instructor's painting at the art center's member's show, but her class is on Fridays and I already have a full schedule for the next several weeks. Hopefully, she'll be teaching this summer or next Autumn. 

15 April 2024 11:52-1:33
Blazing Monday

Precor elliptical #1
Program 2
Time: 30+5 (5630)
Distance: 2.85
Cal: 317
Avg Hr: 151, 200-82
Fitbit: 52-134

HGPU 15 (well that sux)

Seated Cable Rows
50 lbs x 15
60 x 15
70 x 15, 15, 15

20 Hip Bridges
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
DeadBugs 20 x 5
20 Hip Bridges & 10 one-leg
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12
Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose
Fire Hydrants 20 x 2
Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Arm rotations 20
Walking lunges 35 steps total
Neck stretch / Eye yoga
Wall Squat 90s (!!!)

Cardio is a Struggle

I've never been a big cardio fan but in the past few years, I felt pretty good about myself. That is, until I started taking Timolol for my glaucoma. Since it's a beta blocker, it's supposed to lower IOPs, widen blood vessels, and slow heart rates. While I had a decent workout on Wednesday, I skipped yesterday and regret it today because cardio was a horrible uphill struggle. If I can trust my FitBit, my heart rate peaked at 122, not as high as it should be able to achieve. And I barely cleared 2.8. (I had planned to go yesterday but woke up with a terrible headache, probably due to the low pressure systems flooding the area with rain and high winds.)

I'm usually better if I work out successive days in a row, but skipping a day shouldn't set me back so drastically. Except it has. My shoulders don't feel stable and I only make 15 reps at pull-ups, with the last 2 a bit of a struggle. I fare better in the free weight area and get all my reps for all my sets. It's also noticeably humid and warm throughout the gym, everywhere except in the locker room. The cool air is refreshing and welcomed until I step out of the shower. Oh well.

I hope to get to the gym more often next week. We'll see...

12 April 2024 12:23-2:16
Rainy Friday (& I’m struggling uphill)

Precor elliptical #1
Program 1
Time: 30+5 (5528)
Distance: 2.81
Cal: 311
Avg Hr: 157, 188
Fitbit: 52-122

HGPU 15 (well that sux)

Incl DB Press s/s Lateral Raises s/s Rev Incline Flys
10 lbs x 25/15/25 warm up
15 lbs x 25/15/25
20/15/20 x 25/15/25 x 3 sets


20 Hip Bridges
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
DeadBugs 20 x 5
20 Hip Bridges & 10 one-leg
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12
Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose
Fire Hydrants 20 x 2
Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Arm rotations 20
Walking lunges 37 steps total
Neck stretch / Eye yoga
Wall Squat 90s (!!!)

The Year of the Dragon is Tumultuous

Last Friday's SLT was successful and my IOP dropped from 15 to 12. But I'll need to check in a few weeks to see if that lower number still holds. While I was waiting for the drops to work (anesthesia and dilation drops), the floor rumbled as if a large truck had passed. But no vehicle drove by. It was a 4.8 earthquake centered in New Jersey. Everyone's phone started buzzing with calls to and from friends and family, with announcements broadcasted on local news stations. Two hours later, the state sends an alert to everyone's phone warning of aftershocks and not to call 911 unless it's an actual emergency. Well, duh. But yes, people are stupid.

The nor'easter dropped a lot of rain and some trees went down. A woman was killed by a falling tree as she drove home on the highway. The skies cleared on Saturday but filled with clouds on Sunday. My husband wanted to drive to Buffalo to experience totality even though the forecast didn't look promising. We should've stayed home because we would've seen more of the eclipse, albeit a partial, than what we experienced in Buffalo. My kid took some vids of the campus celebrations. They had a cloudy view but could actually make out the sun through the clouds. Not us.

Actually, we would've experienced something in Buffalo, but my husband decided to drive to Binghamton (closer to home and less rainy) so wound up in a Home Depot parking lot, not seeing much of anything. Should've stayed home. Drove home afterward and got the dogs the next day. It was brilliantly sunny before and after Eclipse Day. Oh well. We have plenty of eclipse glasses for the next time. 

It's unusually warm and I'm hit in the face and ears by tiny kamikaze bugs. I finally made it to the gym today. After a week away, I'm having a hard time with everything. I woke up not feeling rested, and with a sore shoulder. Cardio is a struggle but better the longer I pedal. Pull-ups, on the other hand, really suck today. And Seated Cable Rows feel harder than they should be. 

The only things that seem easy today are Dead Bugs and Wall Squats. Push-ups have my shoulders complaining. Air Squats make me a bit breathless at the end. I feel slow and heavy. Still taking all my medications religiously. The SLT for the other eye is scheduled for the end of the month. Next month we get to travel to Buffalo to bring our kid (and all his stuff) home for the summer. I guess we should clean out the garage because I'm not sure where we're going to put that mini-fridge.

10 April 2024 12:22-2:02
Wednesday (after a week off)

Precor elliptical #2
Program 3
Time: 30+5 (5602)
Distance: 2.85
Cal: 316
Avg Hr: 159, 186-85
Fitbit: 51-132

HGPU 14.5 (well that sux)

Seated Cable Rows
50 lbs x 15
60 x 15
70 x 15, 15, 15
(Feels harder than usual)

20 Hip Bridges
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
DeadBugs 20 x 5
20 Hip Bridges & 10 one-leg
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12
Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose
Fire Hydrants 20 x 2
Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Arm rotations 20
Walking lunges 37 steps total
Neck stretch / Eye yoga
Wall Squat 90s (!!!)

Adapting Good and Bad

I wasn't expecting to have to clear slush off my car this morning so my dogs and I got to the park a bit later than planned. It was flurrying/raining enough that I wasn't worried that the problem dogs would arrive and crowd our park time. They belong to elderly and mildly disabled people who can't trudge up muddy hills, or control their canines because they use those idiotic spooling leashes. 

(Can you tell? I don't consider myself old. I wonder when that'll happen? When I'm in my 70s? 80s? Change like aging can happen quick! I'll probably be shocked.)

I skipped Tuesday doing errands but was game to go Wednesday in spite of the storm warnings. The nor'easter wasn't really going to be bad until later in the day. As it was, the storm toppled trees that killed a few people across Pennsylvania and New York. But my husband wanted me to be home for a package. Which ultimately didn't come. It was delivered this morning right after pups and I got home from the park. It's some sort of "telescope" for IOS and android phones, for use during the eclipse. There's no instructions and the packaging words are in French. We'll have to scan the QR code to find out how to use it. My husband spends a lot of time investing in kick-starters and sometimes they're worth it. Other times, not. Not sure what category this one will fall into.

I still need to run a few errands before getting to the gym so I arrive at noon. That's late! The mostly empty parking lot seems promising. I can get on the elliptical of my choice and begin the slow painful slog that is cardio these days. Eventually I'm able to pick up my pace and log a decent 2.85. I feel okay and get my reps for pull-ups as well. 

I'm taking all my medications so it seems my body has mostly adjusted. Which might be both good and bad. Good in that I'm overcoming the slowed heart rate to still muscle my way through cardio. Bad in that maybe I've overcome the purpose of the medications as well: what are my IOPs doing? I have no idea. But I can see my BP fluctuating between almost normal and definitely too high. Meanwhile, my pulse is noticeably slower. Not sure how this is happening. 

Because it's later than I normally come to the gym, there are different folks in the free weight area. A lot of fat middle-aged men interspersed with teen girls and boys. School is on break this week, and a few districts are closing this coming Monday for the eclipse. My kid's university has cancelled classes and set up viewing spots for their students and faculty. Unfortunately, my town hasn't cancelled classes but allows for parents to take their kids out of class for an excused absence. Well, that's kind of petty. Kids and teachers all want to partake in an event that won't come again for another 20 years! I'll be in my 80s!

It's freezing in the Aerobics Room and everything seems okay. Except push-ups are aggravating my anterior delts. They complained mildly during the Inclined DB Press section of the shoulder workout, but they really don't like push-ups these days. Otherwise, everything is routine, although I almost bailed on Walking Lunges. Because they suck. I even almost went past the 90-second mark for Wall Squats because they weren't horrible today, and I was reading an interesting online article. The parking lot is packed full when I leave and I'm sure they're not all at the gym. It's still sort of raining, but the sun peaks through and everything feels nicer. 

Tomorrow I have an SLT scheduled for my right eye. SLT= selective laser trabeculoplasty, a treatment to reduce IOPs (intraocular pressure) through laser pulses. In a few weeks, I'll have it done on the other eye. This is a procedure that works for most people and I had it done less than a year ago, so it's a bit upsetting that my pressures have started rising after several months at a lower pressure. Again, is my body just adapting to medications and procedures to maintain its own version of a detrimental status quo? Who knows 'cuz I certainly don't. I probably won't be at the gym again until sometime next week... slogging through cardio and then some.

4 April 2024 12:16-2:17

Spring Nor’easter Thursday

Precor elliptical #1

Program 2

Time: 30+5 (5618)

Distance: 2.85

Cal: 316

Avg Hr: 153, 192-74 (completely inaccurate)

Fitbit: 50-122

HGPU 17

Incl DB Press s/s Lateral Raises s/s Rev Incline Flys

10 lbs x 25/15/25 warm up

15 lbs x 25/15/25

20/15/20 x 25/15/25 x 3 sets

20 Hip Bridges

Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

20 Hip Bridges & 10 one-leg

Quick Child’s Pose

Cat stretch 12

Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose

Fire Hydrants 20 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Push-Ups 25

Air Squats 25

Arm rotations 20

Walking lunges 37 steps total

Neck stretch / Eye yoga

Wall Squat 90s

Back in the Dark Ages

The house lost internet service over the weekend so I wasn't able to post yesterday's workout until today when Verizon sent a crew and a bucket truck to replace the missing cables. No one knows where the missing lines went but there's been different crews on our road for the past several weeks installing wires to a newly rebuilt house (it burned down to the foundation a few years ago) in our neighborhood. Luckily we have a separate cell service and although we only get 1.5 bars at the house (4 bars at the park!), we could use the phone as a hotspot for other devices to at least stream YouTube... not quite the Dark Ages, but definitely inconvenient. 

Cardio was better but still a slog. I suspect I'm adapting to the new medication, but I don't know if this also extends to Timolol's IOP lowering abilities. Online, I read about other glaucoma patients who have had such severe reactions to Timolol's heart rate slowing effects that their cardiologist considered installing a pacemaker. WTH? Okay, not the case with me! 

My husband has created a new holder for my daily, preservative-free eye drops. It reminds me of Plankton (SpongeBob reference)! Now I have a holder for the Timolol, and one for the preservative-free, lubricating Systane drops (different size ampules). 

My pull-ups are better though. And Seated Cable Rows are the same. I'm at the gym late and avoiding running into the dozen or so Seniors who have signed up for the new fitness and mobility class (11:30-12:30). I see them exit the Aerobics Room, one on a scooter. I see the instructor carting out a dozen chairs. I've never seen chairs used in a fitness class before but these are also Seniors I don't recognize. I'm sure my gym has a contract with the local assisted living facility as well as one with a developmentally disabled group because I see these folks on the treadmill and other equipment. It's all good.

The instructor is still organizing and putting gear away by the time I enter the Aerobics room (a bit past 1 pm) and I'm surprised to see all the tiny plastic DBs strewn about the floor. I get my workout done, only the Walking Lunges making me worry about falling over. Even Wall Squats aren't horrible...

I have an SLT scheduled for Friday morning so no gym although I will take dogs to the park before my appointment. We had workmen at the house today, Tuesday, so no gym. But I'll likely be at the gym tomorrow. And Thursday. Forecast is for rain all week, but sunnier skies over the weekend, which is good because we're excited to view the eclipse.

1 April 2024 11:57-1:38

April Fools Monday (no home internet)

Precor elliptical #1

Program 1

Time: 30+5 (5594)

Distance: 2.83

Cal: 314

Avg Hr: 147, 182-118

Fitbit: 51-122

HGPU 17.5

Seated Cable Rows

50 lbs x 15

60 x 15

70 x 15, 15, 15

20 Hip Bridges

Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

20 Hip Bridges & 10 one-leg

Quick Child’s Pose

Cat stretch 12

Child’s Pose / Cobra Pose

Fire Hydrants 20 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Push-Ups 25

Air Squats 25

Arm rotations 20

Walking lunges 37 steps total

Neck stretch / Eye yoga

Wall Squat 90s (!!!)