Push Days Are Good Days...

I'm getting to this later in the day than normal because I had to waste a good hour and a half waiting (in vain, it turns out) at the glaucoma specialist's office. The fact they had no water due to a burst pipe wasn't their fault, but continuing to admit patients they couldn't actually service (and charge the copay) was a great example of poor corporate management. That their computer records and indications did not match the nurse's plan of action remains to be explained.

So I got there at 1:45 for a 2 pm visual field test, was told "Oh no, you're just here for a chat with the doc and a pressure check", then waited until 3:19 pm whereupon I got up and left without having seen the doc but after being told repeatedly "You're next". Yeah, and the check's in the mail. I had a rendezvous with the school bus two towns away and just got back in time. Obviously, I'm shopping for a new specialist. I'm not comfortable trusting this establishment to perform eye surgery on me later this year. After all, they're my eyes!

However, I had a decent morning workout even if my cardio wasn't quite up to snuff. The Smith freed up quickly and I was on it in a heartbeat. I've been told that I can probably bench heavier given the ridiculous amount of repetitions I knock out afterwards on my drop sets, the reasoning being that power and energy spent on reps can be converted into straightforward power. But drop sets are easy. Heavier weight is not. It's a matter of muscular endurance which high reps promotes.

Today's Push Day Workout:
35 min cardio = 3.96 miles Bleah!
Smith Bench Press: 25 @ bar / 12 @ 95 / 10 @ 115 / 8 @ 135 / 3 x 6 @ 155 lbs / 12 @ 135 / 15 @ 115 / 25 @ 95 lbs (this last set was actually so easy I considered doing more than 25 reps)
Cage Stretch & Kicks
Seated Inclined Rear DB Raises: 6 x 15 @ 25 lbs
Lateral DB Raises: 3 x 12 @ 20 lbs
Lateral DB Raises SuperSet with One-Arm DB Extensions: 3 x 12 @ 20 lbs
Flat Bench Twisting Sit Ups: 125
Lower Ab Kick Outs: 100
Ab Crunch: 100
Tricep Cable Press Downs (the handle I like is attached to the inside cable tract and I decide to see how this pulley system feels. I admit that I'm worried it'll be harder than I'm used to, so I'm surprised at how easy this is. Apparently, these are weighted as if you're using both handles and the actual weight is half of what is stated on the plate, hence my 7 sets ramping up.): 12 @ 40 (as listed on the plate but it's not 40 lbs) / 12 @ 50 / 12 @ 60 / 12 @ 70 / 12 @ 80 / 11 @ 90 / 10 @ 100 (okay, now I'm a bit burnt so I quit)
Torso Twist: 2 x 25 @ 50 lbs
Mat Stretch

I suck down the last of my water, exchange my grips, headphones, elbow braces and towel for my stupid pink gloves. I do a Quick Start on the NexerSys and then an actual Beginner Follow Me round. Again, I manage to sound the buzzer a good dozen times because I'm either hitting or kicking too hard. Yep, good thing I only hit this thing AFTER I'm done with my regular workout! But it's fun and I'll be back at it on Wednesday.

The scale reads 110.8 lbs. I'm good. The Apple asks me how I like the boxing station and I tell her it's fun. She tells me that she's taken a kickboxing class so she knows some of the moves. "Ah, so you have the gloves then?" and I warn her that without gloves she'll hurt her knuckles. "Oh no, the gloves came with the class so at the end we just left the equipment there." "Well, P's suppose to have some gloves on order." Perhaps she'll try her hand at it. I'm hoping to encourage more women to enjoy whacking the NexerSys because I've only ever seen guys there.

B stops by briefly to say Hi before she leaves. She's a mess: her sciatica and forearms are acting up, she can't sleep and she hurts all over. I worry that age is catching up with her workouts. I see D later. Her torn rotator cuff is agony but she can't take the inactivity anymore so she's at the gym today, a gentle run on the treadmill. The Aleve she's taken isn't helping. One of the female "trainers" recommends Motrin, as do I. Then I mention arnica gel, and of course, DMSO2. She's willing to try anything at this point because the pain is making her crazy and depressed.

On my way out, I'm accompanied by D, Mo and her friend A. Mo tells me that she's waiting for me to bottle myself because she'd be game. "It's taken me 2 years to get this bod," I tell her. "Hey, I've been working out for over 10 and I still don't have that bod!" she replies. What she has is problems with her hips and knees, and no real desire to exercise any more than 45 minutes each day. Well, better than nothing!

I'm very happy that V never came knocking at my door. He doesn't make it to the gym today and I don't miss him. I do see most of the regulars like M, The Mayor, skinny Mustache, tall Pace, short Pace, PJ Pants, 5 o'clock, Loud Mouth... They are quieter these days. I can't help but feel that they really want me to acknowledge their existence. But I don't. I'm not the social butterfly that B is. I come to the gym to work out, and if someone's got great arms, I'll gaze from afar.