Moving Forward

Late is better than never and the gym was surprisingly empty for early afternoon. I got on the elliptical I prefer and pedaled until I was drenched. Consequently, pull-ups were so much better today. I probably shouldn't have stopped at 19 but I had already predetermined how many reps I was willing to struggle through. Actually, the first 15 were fine. It was the last 4 that seemed a bit tenuous, but I probably could've eked out another rep. Oh well. 

The free weight area was unusually empty so I took the opportunity to push some weights. It's been a bit since I last did DB Shoulders and the bench that fits me (mostly) was readily available. Eventually, people started trickling in and by the time I got to the "heavy set", I was ready to do more cardio. Which means instead of 3 sets, I just did one "heavy" set and I put quote marks around that term cuz I'm going for reps. 

The sciatica was moderately painful and sitting backward on the inclined bench, even though this is the narrowest bench, put a lot of stress on my afflicted limb. My remedy? Do some Stair Master for a few minutes. My cheeks are bright red. That's not unusual for someone like me, but I'm a bit weirded out that this flush hasn't faded even when I'm not overheated. 

The Aerobics Room is cold and quiet. I do my routine and only skip the Bird Dog planks and Walking Lunges. Dead Bugs exacerbate my sciatica and that numbness and tingling doesn't dissipate. Even during arm rotations, my foot is numb and tingly and the calf is clenched. Well, at least my glute doesn't feel like I've been kicked, even during push-ups. Those were fine. Air Squats were fine. 

My husband has discovered fugly Sumo Oranges and now declares that they are so delicious that he's spoiled to eat any other citrus. They are pricey exotics with 4 fruits ringing in at $11.00. I've never spent that much on just 4 items of fruit, although they are big and juicy, sweet as tangerines but seedless, with a thick peel that easily falls away. It's like magic oranges. 

Meanwhile, I've stopped taking the niacinamide while I'm suffering from this erratic allergic reaction. (I also wonder if this sudden persistent cheek flushing is also part of an allergic reaction.) What if the niacinamide isn't actually what it says it's supposed to be? Ugh. 

I can't stop administering my glaucoma drops so I've been carefully blotting the afflicted areas with Ivizia cleansing eyelid wipes, dosing my eyes with Olopatadine HCl (generic Pataday) ophthalmic antihistamine drops, and gently applying Aquaphor healing ointment. But because this does not appear to be 100% effective, I'm looking at other ocular allergy drops, such as ketotifen fumarate (generic Alaway). 

3 April 2026 2:07-4:11

Sciatica is Still A Bear Friday

More Than Basics w sciatica

Precor elliptical #1 (2:44)

Program 1

Time: 30 + 5 (5422)

Distance: 2.78

Cal: 306

Precor HR: 152, 194

Fitbit: 43-142

HGPU 19

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

10 lbs x 25/15/25 (3:02)

15 lbs x 25/15/30 (3:10)

20/15/20 x 25/15/25 reps (3:20)

sciatica troublesome

Matrix StairMaster (R) (3:25-3:38)

Manual timer 11 + 2:12

Speed 5 (49-45) / 2 (36) / 1 (29)

Steps 576

Floors 36

Cal 87

Hr 119

20 Piriformis/Hip flex

10 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 (sciatica!!!)

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 30 x 2

Arm rotations 20 (foot tingling)

Push-Ups 30 (legs shoulder width)

Air Squats 25 

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Unanticipated Interactions

It's April and the past week has faked summer with temps hitting the 80s and then dropping into frost. Today, temps dropped 20 degrees within a few hours mid-afternoon. It has also been raining and yet our county is under a burn ban with a drought warning. Weird since there is mud everywhere. 

I've been puzzled by some facial swelling and peeling dry skin near my eyes but not symmetrically. Instead, the upper eyelid of my left eye and just under my right eye have been afflicted. I suspect that it's an interaction between one of my eye drops (I'm on three different ones) and either a new sunscreen (I was testing out two new ones that are both purportedly hypoallergenic), or two new additions to my supplements: niacinamide (in conjunction with calcium pyruvate for glaucoma) and red panax ginseng (for hypertension and cholesterol). 

I stopped taking the ginseng a few days ago but I'm still taking the niacinamide. I'm not even taking the recommended dose because that entails potential kidney damage and needs medical supervision. Niacinamide is a B3 vitamin that is supposed to aid mitochondria (power house of the cell) especially in sensitive nerve cells like the optic nerve. It's also supposed to not cause the dreaded "niacin flush" and yet today, after a vigorous stint on the elliptical machine, my face remains quite red... This doesn't usually happen. 

I'm happy with my Biore sunscreen but it is expensive for such a small tube. After reading sunscreen reviews, I started looking for the Banana Boat Light as Air specifically for my kid with the sensitive skin. Absolutely cannot find it on any store shelf but I don't really want to order a two-pack from Amazon if we can't try it first. I did buy sunscreen from Neutrogena, but it actually stung my face when I applied it. Bought sunscreen lotion from CeraVe, again a reputable brand. I suspect it's not the sunscreen. 

How weird would it be to have this type of allergic reaction from eye drops that I've been administering for months because something changed in my body when I added a new vitamin? 

Favorite old pants

Got to the gym after dropping off two pairs of new yoga pants to be hemmed. I finally found soft silky gym pants that mostly fit, they're just much too long and because they're not a straight cut, I can't hem them myself. The cost for professional hemming is what I paid for each pant, and even that is much less than buying these from a regular retail store. (I'm cheap; I buy my gym clothes at Marshall's.) Thank goodness the leggings craze is over. I hate leggings. They're basically thick stockings and I hate stockings. 

My favorite pair of gym pants is over 20 years old and sadly, the fabric is starting to fray at the waistband. I've made several repairs and the bulk of the fabric is perfectly fine, but once the waistband no longer holds the elastic inside, the pants won't stay on. These are the best pants I've ever owned and sadly, Land's End no longer carries quality items like this anymore. The new pants (one pair actually has pockets) both drape nicely without being clingy. Of course, they're black. It'll be much easier to say good bye to my old standby now. 

I got some new sports bras cuz they don't last forever either. One I bought just because I was intrigued by the one-piece molded neoprene front. No pads to slip into bra pockets. I wondered how comfortable it could be. Also, not horribly expensive. Win win. But what's with the latest sports bra trend -- corduroy texture? I have two pairs from two different brands (and styles) but with the same weird thickly ribbed pattern. 

I got to the gym too late to claim elliptical #1 so I started with the cross-trainer. It made my foot go numb and as hard as I pedaled, I really didn't feel very warmed up. The pull-ups didn't feel good at all and I know it's because I'm better if I start with the Precor elliptical. I did get to the Precor eventually, but only after doing the StairMaster for 13 minutes. 

In the Aerobics Room, I kept waiting for my cheeks to return to normal color, but they never did. I cooled down, but my face didn't. Weird, right?  The FitBit recorded a fairly high HR as well so it wasn't just that my face stayed flushed. Right now, as I'm typing this, my cheeks are still red and I'm not even warm. 

1 April 2026 1:33-3.30

Bizarre Allergic Wednesday

April Fools Basics

Life Fitness X-Trainer #5

(1:35-1:50)

Program Manual L1

Time: 12 (+3 min cool down) = 15

Distance: 1.45

Cal: 116

Avg Hr: n/a

HGPU 15 (not warmed up enough)

Matrix StairMaster (L) (2:05-2:18)

Manual timer 11 + 2:12

Speed 5 (45) / 2 (38) / 1 (29)

Steps 581

Floors 36

Cal 87

Hr 154

Precor elliptical #1 (2:25-2:50)

Program 3

Time: 20 + 5 (3908)

Distance: 2.00

Cal: 221

Precor HR: 155, 200

Fitbit: 45-177 ?!!!

Skip HGPU 16

20 Piriformis/Hip flex

10 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 (sciatica!!!)

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 30 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 30 (legs shoulder width)

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Sciatic Bear Outta Hibernation

It was over 70 degrees two days ago and perfectly summery. I cut down a nasty ailanthus (Tree of Heaven) sapling since it's a spotted lantern fly host and attractant, smells bad, and was growing much too close to my garage. It took me a bit since I was using a hand saw and I left a good three feet because I wasn't going to lay on the ground to do this. I might take a hatchet or axe and split the remainder to make sure this is a permanent removal. It's the tree in a movie (based on a book) my mom loved, called A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Oh well. Too bad it's an invasive species. I'm probably going to have to dig the roots out... 

My sciatica hasn't improved so I don't feel too guilty cutting my gym excursions down to just twice weekly. I almost didn't make it today and got there after 2 pm. Temps have dropped into the 40s, but the wet air makes it feel much colder. I'm surprised that the gym isn't very crowded, but it IS Friday, and the start of Spring Break for the local schools. 

I have a good "run" on the elliptical, and do even better with pull-ups, gaining a rep. I'm thinking I'm doing better cuz it's the afternoon, even though I'm starving. (I am just not a morning person at all.) Throughout all of this, my right glute aches like someone punched me. Thirteen minutes on the step machine and not only does the glute still ache, but the calf is tight and my toes are numb. I manage almost all of my routine in the Aerobics Room but skip the Bird Dog planks. Between the Dead Bugs and the push-ups, I've had enough sciatic pain for the day. Even Air Squats twinged a little. 

I saw an article about Pistol Squats and immediately reminisced about my 50s when I was stronger, lighter, and had fewer injuries. I remember doing a walking version of Pistol Squats when the gym had heavy two-inch thick mats that unfolded to several feet across. I could only do 3 or 4 per leg but it was still impressive, at least to me. I'd try this movement again if I didn't fear aggravating the already aggravated sciatic bundle. There's no way for me to know until I actually make the attempt, and I'm just not willing to take that chance. Yet. I am my own worst enemy. 

On Wednesday, I had a belated birthday lunch with a friend at a British tea shop two towns over. While I was disappointed that the Coronation Chicken (with South African curry spice) did not appear to have any curry spice, the cucumber salad and homemade zucchini walnut bread were delicious. And then I tried a pavlova, because I'd heard of it but never tried one before. Much much too sweet, but fun to nibble. 

27 March 2026 2:22-4:08

Sciatica is a Bear Friday

Basics w calf & toes sciatica

Precor elliptical #1 (3:02)

Program 2

Time: 30 + 5 (5402)

Distance: 2.78

Cal: 306

Precor HR: 1155, 190-77

Fitbit: 43-112

HGPU 19  Yaaay!

Matrix StairMaster (L) (3:20-3:33)

Manual timer 11 + 2:12

Speed 5 (49-45) / 2 (38) / 1 (29)

Steps 575

Floors 35

Cal 87

Hr 125

(Right Glute very sore)

20 Piriformis/Hip flex

10 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 (sciatica!!!)

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 30 x 2

    Skip Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 25 (legs shoulder width while staring at side mirror—slower & more sciatic pain)

Air Squats 25 (sore glute)

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Sciatica is a Bear

I could say sciatica is a pain in the butt too. It's getting progressively worse but still not as bad as it was last fall. I got to the gym late and unfortunately both viable elliptical machines were in use. I decided to give the Life Fitness cross trainer a spin, knowing that it's a poor substitute for the Precor elliptical. Fifteen minutes and I'm barely warmed up, alternating between the stationary and the moving handles so as not to tire my arms too much before pull-ups. 

Pull-ups are fine but the ache from my right glute down through the calf and into my foot intensifies with each rep. The foot is numb as I step off the Stretch Cage and head toward the Stair Master. This machine usually gets my HR up after the elliptical, but the cross-trainer is not quite as effective. (If I push harder to pedal faster on this machine, I wind up with shin splints.) Elliptical #1 is finally vacant so I hopped on that for 20 minutes plus a 5-minute cool down. Finally I'm so warmed up that I'm drenched. 

The Aerobics Room is cold and I get most of my routine done without any issues. It's only the Bird Dog planks and push-ups that make my glute ache and my toes go numb. I find push-ups especially painful as I've slowed my pace in order to correct my form. For some reason, I really need to focus on keeping my head up so my neck is aligned with my back and moving slower is a lot harder. I'm lucky I got 25 reps cuz those last five were quite difficult, especially with my entire right side from glute to toes screaming in protest. I think I might have to put Walking Lunges on pause. It's taken 3 days to get past the soreness and I'm not entirely certain it isn't aggravating that pesky sciatic nerve bundle. 

My only solace is that after years of not doing any bicep curls or rows, I still have biceps. A bit too much subcutaneous body fat, otherwise they'd be more noticeable, but they're overwhelmed by the triceps. I have big triceps, especially for a small woman. If I drop a few pounds and add some curls, maybe I can sport summer arms in a T-shirt... I might be a Senior Citizen but I don't have to look like one. 

24 March 2026 1:49-3:36

Sciatica is a Bear Tuesday

Basics w sciatica

Life Fitness X-Trainer #2

(1:52-2:07)

Program Manual L1

Time: 12 (+3 min cool down) = 15

Distance: 1.54

Cal: 116

Avg Hr: n/a

HGPU 18

Matrix StairMaster (L) (2:15-2:28)

Manual timer 11 + 2:12

Speed 5 (45) / 2 (38) / 1 (29)

Steps 591

Floors 36

Cal 89

Hr 111

Precor elliptical #1 (3:01)

Program 1

Time: 20 + 5 (3826)

Distance: 1.97

Cal: 216

Precor HR: 147, 179-77

Fitbit: 44-127

Skip HGPU 16

20 Piriformis/Hip flex

10 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 30 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2 (sciatica)

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 25 (legs shoulder width while staring at side mirror—slower & more sciatic pain)

Air Squats 25 (right glute sore)

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Happy Vernal Equinox

I didn't realize that today was the Vernal Equinox until I was informed at the dog park by the only other person with a pup. My dogs were quite ecstatic to have someone to zoomie with considering we've been "solo" for the entire week. Temps have risen to a pleasant mid-50s, and much nicer than the scorching heatwave engulfing the US southwest. It's likely that the area is on fire. Summer will certainly be interesting. 

I got to the gym late but it wasn't crowded so I was quite happy. But by 2:30, the HS kids had all arrived along with early shift adults. I got a decent "run" on the elliptical although my sciatica has been quite annoying. It didn't impede the pull-ups though, so that was good. I even got a second set in! And I added a minute to the Stair Master. It wasn't very noticeable which is promising. Guess I'll add another minute the next session. I still don't quite understand how the machine calculates the cool-down. I set the machine to show me time remaining and when the cool-down initiates, the console displays 2:12. Two minutes and twelve seconds. Isn't that weird?

The second set of pull-ups was slightly less than the first set but I expected that. Then off to the icy cold Aerobics Room. Other people wander in to do some quick stretches or a few DB curls. But no one ever puts their equipment away. It's rude and annoying. My sciatica is back to aggravation level during Dead Bugs and Bird Dog Planks. I do push-ups painfully slow so I can correct my form as I watch myself in profile in the wall mirror. I'm tired and only get to 25 reps. Good enough. But Air Squats were super easy. It was probably a mistake to add a simple runner's stretch to my routine. That's probably what's triggered the sciatica flare-up. Now it'll be weeks again before everything calms down. Ugh. Stupid, simple things like that wind up causing me a lot of pain. I should know better by now... 

20 March 2026 1:42-3:24

Vernal Equinox Friday

Basics w numb toes sciatica

Precor elliptical #1 (2:19)

Program 3

Time: 30 + 5 (5370)

Distance: 2.77

Cal: 304

Precor HR: 140, 184-75

Fitbit: 42-138

HGPU 18

Matrix StairMaster (L) (2:33-2:46)

Manual timer 11 + 2:12

Speed 5 (45) / 2 (36) / 1 (29)

Steps 580

Floors 36

Cal 87

Hr 116

HGPU 16

20 Piriformis/Hip flex

10 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 (sciatica!!!)

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 30 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 25 (legs shoulder width while staring at side mirror)

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Sciatic Persistence

The winds have been brutal for the past few days. Torrential rains yesterday. Today was bright and sunny and temps are dropping into the 20s tonight. The gym isn't very crowded and only a few people are wearing some semblance of green outerwear. My sciatica is a bit more troublesome today, mostly a clenched calf and some numb toes. It does not keep me from cardio, or from pull-ups. Actually, pull-ups felt fairly decent and I was happy with the rep count. 

Only one of the older Stair Masters is working. At speed 5, I'm working on my endurance. Today was 10 minutes with a 2 minute cool down, and it wasn't too bad. I'll add a minute each session until I'm comfortable with 15. The Aerobics Room was refreshingly cold and after a few minutes I needed to put my hoodie back on. Dead Bugs were easy but the Bird Dog planks still made my right foot go numb. Push-ups were okay but I noticed that my form really sucks: my head and neck are not aligned with my back and instead lean forward, making my face feel very close to the floor. I'll have to pay better attention next time. 

My kid is home this week for Spring Break. The dogs are very happy but lonely at the park as most of their friends have gone home to the city. It seems that a lot of dog park people bring their "grand pups" to play when they're dog sitting. This week there's no one to play with and the pups are bummed. Meanwhile, my kid made donuts for St Pat's with green buttercream frosting. 

I'm quite excited to discover we have a subscription to HBO cuz that means I can watch some movies on my list, like Death of a Unicorn and One Battle After Another. I'll still have to pay extra to watch Good Fortune cuz that's streaming on a different platform. And unfortunately, I don't have Apple TV, so that means I'm going to have to wait to see the next Keanu Reeves and Seth Rogan flick, Outcome. It looks promising though. Luckily, most trailers stream for free on YouTube. 

 

17 March 2026 1:35-3:13 

Late Windy Tuesday St Pats

Basics w calf sciatica

 

Precor elliptical #1 (2:13)

Program 2

Time: 30 + 5 (5326)

Distance: 2.76

Cal: 302

Precor HR: 151, 188

Fitbit: 42-144

HGPU 19

Matrix StairMaster (L) (2:25-2:37)

Manual timer 10 + 2

Speed 5 (45) / 2 (36) / 1 (29)

Steps 512

Floors 32

Cal 73

Hr 128

20 Piriformis/Hip flex

10 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 (sciatica!!!)

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 30 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 30 (legs shoulder width)

Walking Lunges 20 / 21

Neck Stretch / eye yoga

Winter's Not Done Yet

snowdrop flowers

So, it's snowing as I'm typing this. It was 80F two days ago and now it's 35 and the snow is sticking to the grass and shrubs, but not the roadway. Temps forecast to drop into the mid-20s so there's the danger of icy pavements. Dogs went to the park this morning and played with a canine pal in the pouring rain. We humans chatted in the shelter of the storage shed at the top of the hill. Yesterday, I found a clump of snowdrops (Galanthus) next to my basement doors. Hadn't seen those before! 

One of my pups came in occasionally to get dried off with an abandoned sweatshirt. People are always losing items at the park and they wind up forever unclaimed: jackets, eyeglasses, travel mugs. Some items are donated, like the portable heater and my electric water bowl, two benches, several metal water bowls, bug spray, first aid kits, pet wipes, assorted toys... 

I did make it to the gym. It was cold inside and not too crowded. Cardio was better than the previous day, but it's always like that. If I can maintain some consistency, I tend to see incremental improvements. Pull-ups were much better today, in spite of the horribly broken amount of sleep I got. I'd wake up every two hours then doze, then wake for a few minutes. It was quite disconcerting and the only thing I can blame it on was the cup of instant coffee I had yesterday. 

I don't normally drink Death Wish coffee but it was in the cupboard and I wasn't in the mood for tea, which has a lot less caffeine. It certainly tasted good.  Instant coffee isn't supposed to have a lot of caffeine either, but I should've paid more attention to the tiny print on the back of the sleeve: 300 mg caffeine. Yikes! No wonder I didn't get much sleep last night. 

And then because it wasn't crowded, I grabbed a bench and some DBs and proceeded to do my DB Shoulder routine. It's been a while, and the right anterior delt has been troublesome. It ached while I was laying in bed last night, and it's not happy when I'm constantly looping the leash over my head to keep my dogs from tangling me as they cross each other while in pursuit of interesting scents on our neighborhood walks. 

While I was quite flushed and sweaty in the free weight area, I soon cooled down and by the time I entered the Aerobics Room, I needed to put my hoodie back on for push-ups and air squats. Bird Dog planks and Dead Bugs are again the only movements that make my right foot numb and tingly, but that doesn't last so it's manageable. Tomorrow I see my glaucoma doc and I guess we'll discuss next steps... I get to see whether the doc thinks the "new" med (Alphagan P) is working. Cuz I really do not want an Ahmed shunt. I really think there's gonna be complications. And pain. 

Saturday is my birthday and I have nothing planned except to drive to the train station with my hubs later that night to pick my kid up (and maybe his roommate) since their ride decided to stay on campus for Spring Break. (That round trip Amtrak ticket is over $250!) Maybe I'll order a birthday pizza like last year: white clam pizza with bacon, spinach, & garlic.  

12 March 2026 1:03-3:06

Rainy Cold Front Thursday

Precor elliptical #1 (1:40)

Program 1

Time: 30 + 5 (5394)

Distance: 2.77

Cal: 304

Precor HR: 153, 182 max lol

Fitbit: 40-135

HGPU 18

Incl DB Press s/s Lateral Raises s/s Rev Incline Flys (slow & EZ)

10 lbs x 25/15/25 (1:57)

15 lbs x 25/15/30 (2:05)

20/15/20 x 25/15/25 reps

Set 1 (2:13); Set 2 (2:23); Set 3 (2:33)

12 Piriformis/Hip flex

10 Hamstring & foot flexing

DeadBugs 20 x 5 

10 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 30 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Arm rotations 20

Push-Ups 30 (so hard after DB presses)

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga