Good News, Bad News...

Pre-Workout

I have to wait for the auto insurance appraiser to look at my car before I can leave this morning. I'm definitely going to need a rental. I have such a hard time finding cars that I find comfortable, and that makes me squeamish about car rentals. I'm not a One Size Fits All kind of person, unlike my husband who is average height and weight for an American male. Eventually I do get to the gym, around 11:30 am. I'm wearing some cool leggings I bought a few years ago. They're kind of Halloweenie so I'm wearing them to work out even though they're not workout wear. I'm also wearing my knit Halloween Jack Skellington hat, although I won't actually wear it to exercise. I get waaaay too sweaty to wear a hat. And I don't understand folks who come to do cardio wearing jeans and a button-down shirt. Maybe they don't sweat?

I do 10 min on the elliptical just as I see Shaggy walking away from the CF station. His eyes are swollen and squinty again. The Nexersys machine isn't registering my kicks at the Beginner Level. It's a bit frustrating. I think it's because I have to hit the X with the tip of my toe, instead of the ball of my foot. It's not very kind to my toes even though I'm wearing leather trainers. I've decided to see how well the Saucony shoes will do, and have on sports anklet socks as well. It's a bit disconcerting because I feel as if my socks are always on the verge of slipping down into my sneaker. The Intermediate rounds go better except for the one round where the machine goes crazy and I can't quite figure out what combination it's calling for.

A young blonde guy with big gloves boxes the machine next to me, most probably sparring. He only does two rounds so I'm a bit disappointed. I don't think there's any warning buzzer that you're hitting too hard when you use the Sparring Program. I manage to blank the screen twice. People are chatting and lingering by the Mtn Bike simulator just to the right of me, and it's distracting. I score abymally for the first round of Advance Follow Me, but do better on subsequent rounds.

I've made it a habit to do the Step Mill after stripping off my gloves and wraps. There are two machines. I've only got a few minutes left when Maroon puts his gear on the other machine. But there's no lights, and it doesn't seem to work. Weird. There's no power switch at the base of the machine either. He gets one of the gals at the front desk and she can't figure it out. I motion to him that I've got 2 minutes left and he smiles and thanks me, then wanders off to a Cybex ab machine. One of the other trainers comes by to fiddle with the Step Mill, but just before he gets to it, the machine lights up. Weird. Poltergeists? Or bad wiring? You never know...

I stretch, knock out a few pistol squats (which I just realize I've forgotten to record) and then stretch out on the Mat. The leggings work fine except the tag on the back waistband is scratching me. Ugh. My socks are a tad too slippery as well. Sigh. I get on the scale before showering. The gym scale is up tad, reading 107.6. It read 107.2 on Wednesday. Maybe it's the Apple Cider Vinegar? I didn't take any last night. I've also finished taking the acid blocker, and I'm glad because I don't really think it helped with anything.

While I'm out, the doc calls and reschedules my endoscopy for 11 am instead of 1 pm. That's actually better for me schedule-wise because I can get my husband to drive me. He's due in Boston at 8 pm. But it also means I can't go to the gym like I'd planned because I can't have any water after 8 am. But if I recover quickly, I can still take my son to his kung fu class.

Friday Workout

Elliptical Training

Warm Up

Calorie :   96 CAL
Distance: 0.85 mile
Duration : 00:10:05

Kick Boxing

3 r Bgnr
6 r Intmd
5 r Adv
Lap/Rep :  14 Lap/Rep
Duration : 00:56:00

Step Machine

Calorie :   109 CAL
Lap/Rep :  46 Lap/Rep
Duration : 00:15:00

Photos posted for actual stats:

3 rounds Beginner

6 rounds Intermedaite

5 rounds Advance

The Lamest Excuse Ever...

That's my take on it. Having a bum gallbladder is the worst excuse ever for not doing pull ups. Yep. I can do them, but my gallbladder won't let me. Sigh. I tried again today and got to rep 8 before it was just too damn painful to continue. The soreness persists for hours afterwards. The gastroenterologist palpates my abdomen. When he presses directly under my right rib cage, I wince. Yep, it's the gallbladder. He consults with the radiologist who notes that the organ is slightly thicker now, indicating inflammation. The stones may or may not have passed, but the gallbladder itself isn't very happy these days. The GI doc gives me the card of the Surgeon who will perform the laproscopic surgery once the endoscopy confirms that nothing else is amiss. Oh boy...

Just to be safe, though, the GI doc orders an endoscopy because he doesn't want the surgeon to operate if I have ulcers as well. What?! I have enough digestive issues to warrant a closer look at the stomach, and esophagus. I also know he's trying to talk me into having another colonoscopy. I had one when I turned 50 and everything was fine. He thinks every 5 years is better than every 10 years. I disagree. Let's just fix this one thing first.

I did a "make up" workout because Monday's was abbreviated. Damn, seeing all these docs and taking all these tests take a big chunk time. Cardio felt pretty good although I know I'm tired because I only "saved" enough energy to power the machine for 22 minutes. Oh well. I'm still doing 6+ miles so I'm happy with that. I don't want to spend a lot of time doing push ups or planks so I only do one "full set" of each. I do a mere 3 sets of RG BB Rows and move onto to Seated Cable Rows, the One-Arm Seated Rows. I'm moving quickly, because, like Monday, I have a doc appt later in the day and I have things to do in the interim.

Today at the gym

I knock out just 3 supersets of DB Lateral Raises and Reverse Flyes. I know I used to do more reps, more weight, more sets when I only hit each body part once a week. I might go back to that eventually as it seems to have given me a fairly good strength base. I go for 30 more minutes of cardio because I plan to whack the machine on Friday. Tomorrow I'll be working in the candy kitchen, until it's time to pick my son up from school.

I don't feel at all bad when I attempt to do a few pull ups. But by rep 3, I know I can't do a full set. It's like I've been gutted with a fishing knife. Now even crunches are hard to do although I manage to concentrate on abs. I don't do a full stretch either. I'm just too tired. And sore. Tomorrow is the last day I'm taking the omeprazole, and I can't say that it's actually helped.

Monday will be interesting. I can't drink or eat anything at all after 10 am because the stomach must be totally empty for the procedure at 1:30. I plan to go to the gym, but usually I'm drinking water the entire time. I might just do some cardio earlier and then go home. They use a mild sedative so I'll need someone to drive me there and back. My main concern is getting home to meet my son at the school bus stop. If there's no parent there, the bus takes the child back to school and someone has to retrieve him. I'm hoping to be recovered enough to take him to his kung fu class later. I guess I'll find out when it happens...

The gym is ridiculously crowded today. I wish the Mayor would just shut up already. Doing Seated Cable Rows and creepy Mr PJ Pants sits down at the lat pull down station directly across from me. Ugh. I'm glad I've got my tunes, but they need updating. I have yet to purchase the new songs by Elle King and X Ambassadors. Not really sure I can work out to the Renegade song... but definitely Exes and Ohs. 

Meanwhile, while I was shopping for Halloween snacks (for my son's class party), I came across some Epic® gourmet jerky. My husband makes beef jerky at home. I'm partial to the fruity ones (beef flavored with dried cranberries and oj). I buy the Beef and the Bison just for us to sample later on, and we'll see if we agree with the reviewers at GearJunkie.com.

Wednesday Workout
(6.7 miles total cardio)

Elliptical Training

Steady State

Calorie :   138 CAL
Distance: 3.94 mile
Speed :    7.87 mph
Duration : 00:30:05

One Leg Push Up

Left : 50 Lap/Rep
Right : 50 Lap/Rep

Plank

N/A

Straight : 00:00:30
Elbow : 00:00:30
Straight : 00:00:30
Elbow: 00:00:30

Barbell Reverse Grip Bent Over Row

208.33

Set 1 : 55x25
Set 2 : 105x20
Set 3 : 125x20

Cable Seated Row

147

Set 1 : 45x25
Set 2 : 75x15
Set 3 : 105x12 Dam heavy!

Cable One Arm Seated Row

63

Set 1 : 30x12
Set 2 : 37.5x12
Set 3 : 45x12

Dumbbell Lateral Raise

28

Set 1 : 20x12
Set 2 : 20x12
Set 3 : 20x12 SuperSet with

Dumbbell Reverse Flyes

30

Set 1 : 20x15
Set 2 : 20x15
Set 3 : 20x15

Elliptical Training

Intervals

Calorie :   318 CAL
Distance: 2.76 mile
Duration : 00:30:02

  Cybex Torso Twist

Set 1 : 50x25
Set 2 : 50x25

Hammer Grip Pull Up

136.8

Set 1 : 108x8 Owie!

Crunches

Crunches : 25 Lap/Rep
Bicycle : 50 Lap/Rep
Crunches : 25 Lap/Rep

Magical Gallstones

I spoke to my doc this afternoon and it seems that the ultrasound reveals... nothing abnormal. No stones, no inflammation. The stones that were recorded back in 2012 have disappeared, and might've passed on their own. Preliminary lab results show a slightly elevated liver enzyme, SGPT (37 instead of 32) that might indicated a liver or gallbladder problem. I have an appointment to see the doc's husband, the GI doc whose office is literally across the street from the hospital where her office is located. I suspect I'll have to endure an endoscopy just to find out what's going on inside. Bleah. With my husband working out of town during the week, and a school-age child, it's going to be damn near impossible for me to schedule this, if it comes to that.

I have my usual yogurt with maple syrup, and cup of instant espresso for breakfast. I've got two more days before finishing the omeprazole. Can't really say it's doing anything great for me. I'm tired from being rudely awoken by massive heartburn at 4 am. At first I try sleeping upright but the pain doesn't dissipate. It's very insistent, radiating out through my diaphragm into my back, chest and abdomen. Ugh. I know what I have to do, so I wrap myself in additional fleece jacket, hat and socks and plod off to the kitchen to fill a tumbler with water. It takes two to empty my stomach. I try to figure out what the offending food item is but it's hard to say whether it's blackened kale or the chocolate coating to the Almond Joy bar I had for dessert. I'm relieved that at least it doesn't hurt to expel, unlike last time. I'm so cold I feel like a homeless person burrowing under three blankets, fully clothed in fleece, including my hat. I know I fall asleep because the alarm wakes me up at 7:15.

At the gym, all the cardio machines that I favor are already in use so I choose a LifeFitness cross-trainer because it's not near the door. Those machines are constantly subject to the chill of people entering and exiting. I briefly consider doing 5 rounds for each level, but fall back into my routine of 3 rounds Beginner, 6 rounds Intermediate and 5 rounds Advance. I think I'm actually improving, although it's hard to tell sometimes, based on numbers alone. I get a good burn to my lungs for some of the Intermediate and Advance rounds, and I'm drenched when I'm done. Shazam gets on the mountain bike (simulator) on the far side of the kickboxing machines. I like it better when there's no one around me to worry about accidentally knocking into, but I'm just happy to have a machine to whack the living daylights out of.

Since I'm only working one day this week, I'll be back at the gym tomorrow. I do have an appt at 2 pm but I should be able to get a full workout done, and still have time to run errands. Like pick up the police report for the accident, and drop off the dog licensing fee at the Town Clerk. And maybe even check out some last minute Halloween specials?

I see a few regulars. I can hear the Mayor though. I honestly don't know why he feels compelled to talk so loud as I don't think he's deaf like LoudMouth. Actually, LoudMouth has gotten a lot quieter. Maybe he got the batteries replaced in his hearing aids. Maybe he actually got hearing aids. I see R hovering protectively over his wife as they walk through the gym. She likes to exercise in the empty classroom. Soccer Boy is stretching on the Mat. There are a lot of fat middle age men here today. The women are in somewhat better shape. I see Towel Guy actually attempting real pull ups on the pull-up assist machine, and I think it's because he's seen me doing real ones on the Stretch Cage. Nothing puts a middle-age man to shame more than having some woman do something he can't. He looks like a cross between Hugh Hefner (in his better days) and Efrem Zimbalist Jr (from that old TV show The FBI), except he's always got a towel around his shoulders. Always.

My son tells me tonight that everyone has to bring nut-free snacks for a Halloween party on Friday. Well, I'm glad he left me time to go shopping!

Tuesday Workout

Cross Trainer

Steady State

Calorie :   42 CAL
Distance: 1.13 mile
Speed :    6.69 mph
Duration : 00:10:11

Kick Boxing

3 r Bgnr

6 r Intmd
5 r Adv
Lap/Rep :  14 Lap/Rep
Duration : 00:56:00

Step Machine

Calorie :   114 CAL
Lap/Rep :  48 Lap/Rep
Duration : 00:15:01
Photos posted for actual stats:

3 rounds Beginner

6 rounds Intermediate

5 rounds Advance
power and accuracy improving!

The Best-Laid Plans

I got up this morning, took an omeprazole pill with some water (which didn't sit well), fed and walked the dog, got my son up, dressed and fed before walking down to the school bus while it was a nippy 34°F. I had some green tea for caffeine, but no coffee since I can't drink it black and I'm due to see the doc for my annual at 11 am. But that's enough time to do part of a workout so off to the gym I go. 30 min on the elliptical, stretch the hamstrings, knock out most of my push ups and planks before time is up. I don't have time to do the One-Leg Push Ups. Oh well. I still have to change and shower and drive to my appointment. The scale says 108.2 lb which really surprises me considering I've actually been snacking a lot over the weekend. I even manage to have a small glass of sangria without repercussions.

The doc tells me it sounds an awful lot like my gallbladder, and reminds me that in 2012 I'd had an ultrasound showing some small gallstones. This explains my inability to eat fast food: I can't process the fat in it. Everything else is good, my BP is a weird 112/80 which is pretty damn close to what it was in HS (110/70). She's concerned about my weight loss though. That part doesn't really bother me. She sends me down the hall for a STAT ultrasound to see if my gallbladder is inflamed. If it is, I have to have surgery right away. What?! It's a good thing I haven't eaten since last night. The ultrasound takes a surprisingly long time because there are images of aorta, liver, stomach, pancreas and gallbladder, although it all looks like grainy black and white undersea footage from the '50s.

I go back to the doc's office and wait. She tells me that the report says my gallbladder appears normal. So no urgent surgical needs. She wants to see the blood work because elevated liver enzymes indicate gallbladder in spite of the ultrasound. It doesn't explain the odd soreness all along my right side, or why I feel pressure in my throat when the ultrasound tech presses on a certain spot on my liver. My doc says after the lab work she'll have a better idea of how to proceed, but she's leaning towards an endoscopy to see just what the heck is going on in there. Oh jeeze.

I'm not feeling great because I haven't eaten since last night but I have a few errands to run first. I stop at the bank, and then the tailor to drop off some clothes that need repair. It's 2:30 pm and there's a lot of traffic and especially school buses from the local high school and middle school. I wait to make a left turn onto a secondary road. A car at the stop sign on the secondary road is directly perpendicular to me, also waiting to make a left. I have right of way and I turn when it's clear. And he turns and hits my car. And keeps driving!

Door panel and wheel well

Inside door frame

Two different guys in different trucks tell me that they saw the whole thing. I pull over onto the shoulder and put my flashers on. I'm fuming so I get out of my car and start pacing, and cursing. A guy trails the other vehicle and makes him come back to the scene of the accident. It's a tiny old man with inch thick glasses, and good god, a walker. He looks like Moleman from the Simpsons. He had no idea he's hit me. Didn't see me. I'm incredulous. The "helpful" witness is a tad creepy, trying to "console" me by trying to hug me and pet my hair. I'm not a Yorkie! He reminds me of a chubbier, smoking Kripke from Big Bang Theory. And just as creepy. Yep. I text my husband and call the police to send an officer because I need a police report for insurance purposes.

Looks better than the other guy

Rear bumper out of alignment

My car has damage to the door panel, door frame and rear bumper. The other guy has smashed his headlamp and front bumper. He didn't know he hit me? He's 89 yrs old, and I hate taking away people's freedoms, but he shouldn't be driving. It was a bright sunny afternoon with good road conditions, and good visibility. I've seen Seniors drive through red lights, drive into the Exit Only, and one guy tried to PASS MY NEIGHBOR ON THE LEFT, WHILE SHE WAS MAKING A LEFT INTO A DRIVEWAY. And he's still on the road after he t-boned her car this summer.

When I get home I'm on the phone with the insurance company and then I have to meet the school bus. I only manage to eat the soothing yogurt and maple syrup after 4 pm. And then I make kale and pork for dinner. I saw a crock pot recipe for boneless pork roast that actually turned out pretty good: 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/2 cup water, sliced onions under and atop the pork roast that's been pan-seared. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Add carrots for the last hour. It's fork tender and tasty after 11 hours. I make my own BBQ sauce with ketchup, molasses and a touch of apple cider vinegar.

Now if only my abs would stop being sore. I'm tired of not being able to do pull ups, especially since I got so good at them! Tomorrow is whack the machine day, and I'm soooo looking forward to it.

Monday Abbreviated Workout

Elliptical Training

Perf Prgm1

Calorie :   294 CAL
Distance: 2.59 mile
Duration : 00:30:05

Regular Push Up

100

Set 1 : 100 Lap/Rep

Plank

Straight : 00:00:30
Elbow : 00:00:30
Straight : 00:00:30
Elbow : 00:00:30

Push Up

45

Set 1 : 45 Lap/Rep

Plank

Bird Dog

Left : 00:00:30
Right : 00:00:30
Left : 00:00:30
Right : 00:00:30

Dand Push Up

45

Set 1 : 45 Lap/Rep

Plank

Side

Elbow left : 00:00:30
Elbow right : 00:00:30
Straight left : 00:00:30
Straight right : 00:00:30

I Know It Aint Just Heartburn

Bacon Bourbon Caramels

I didn't have time to workout yesterday and the day prior as I can only do it when my son is in school. The past two days I've driven down to Chappaqua to work for a friend's gourmet caramel and toffee business (click to access the website). It's only a few hours, but between the drive time down there and back, and my son's after-school activities, there's no time for anything else until it's too late. Waaaay too late.

Today is Friday, and I won't be back at the gym until Monday, and that's going to be abbreviated due to the 11 am doctor's appointment I have for my annual. Of course, my stomach is still not right. I've been taking omeprazole magnesium for a week now, and I can't say that anything is better. I still get heart burn, and gassy indigestion when I'm hungry. My abs hurt under the ribs and down the right side when I do things like pull ups. But not always. So today I had to try at least one set. And it was truly quite painful, from under the rib cage down to just shy of my navel, but all on the right side. 15 reps was all I could handle, and the lingering pain affected the rest of my workout. I felt it during push ups, planks, and especially later, when doing Rip Skulls (Mark Rippetoe's version of skull crushers).

Well, it's a distraction to say the least. I was no longer bothered by my elbows when doing Diamond Push Ups, or my lower back when doing Dand Push Ups. Even One-Leg Push Ups were okay. I probably could've done more of those, but my abs were just too sore. I was very careful and slow about doing RG BB Rows on the Max Rack. But by the 7th set I'm a bit weary, so I stopped at 135 lbs. I have to keep myself more vertical than horizontal and the movement eventually comes to resemble BB Shrugs. Next time I'll do Cable Rows, just to mix it up a bit.

I keep my sets short for DB Lateral Raises superset with Reverse Flyes. 20 lbs is enough for reps. The Rip Skull really hurts my abs so I only do 3 sets. Sad when you're quitting the movement not due to muscle failure, but pain. Drag curls got a good pump going. I meant to drop the weight down for RG BB Curls but someone else had it by then, so I just sucked it up and grimaced through my sets. Done!

30 min elliptical doing Intervals. Halfway through and I have heartburn and a terrible gassy, full feeling. Oh yeah, I must be hungry so I take a swig of water and that quells the discomfort. The a good stretch at the Cage, and some Pistol Squats and a Mat Stretch. I've been here an awful long time and I still have errands to do! I get on the gym scale before showering: 108.6 lbs. Hmmm. Seems kind of odd. When I get home, and my hair is finally dry, I get on my home scale. Okay, that's a bit surprising: 106 lbs and 14.4% BF. I have photos of me at a 106 lbs several years ago after a traumatic death in the family. And I don't look anything like that scrawny 106 lbs. And I don't look anything like the 106 lbs back in 2012 when I finally dropped 20 lbs of fat. If anything, I feel as if I look much bigger now, for the same weight, and less body fat. Weird!

Friday Workout
(6.89 miles cardio total)

Elliptical Training

Steady State

Calorie :   142 CAL
Distance: 4.16 mile
Speed :    8.31 mph
Duration : 00:30:02

Hammer Grip Pull Up

BadAbPain :(

Set 1 : 112x15

Regular Push Up

100

Set 1 : 100 Lap/Rep

Plank

Straight : 00:00:30
Elbow : 00:00:30

Straight : 00:00:30
Elbow : 00:00:30

Diamond Push Up

45

Set 1 : 45 Lap/Rep

Plank

Bird Dog

Set 1 : 00:00:30
Set 2 : 00:00:30
Set 3 : 00:00:30
Set 4 : 00:00:30

Dand Push Up

45

Set 1 : 45 Lap/Rep

Plank

Side

Elbow : 00:00:30
Elbow : 00:00:30
Straight : 00:00:30
Straight : 00:00:30

One Leg Push Up

45

Left Leg : 45 Lap/Rep
Right Leg : 45 Lap/Rep

Barbell Reverse Grip Bent Over Row

202.5

Set 1 : 55x25
Set 2 : 75x25
Set 3 : 95x20
Set 4 : 105x15 Put on VGs
Set 5 : 115x20
Set 6 : 125x15
Set 7 : 135x15

Dumbbell Lateral Raise

28

Set 1 : 20x12
Set 2 : 20x12
Set 3 : 20x12
Set 4 : 20x12 SuperSet with

Dumbbell Reverse Flyes

30

Set 1 : 20x15
Set 2 : 20x15
Set 3 : 20x15
Set 4 : 20x15

Cybex Torso Twist

Set 1 : 50x25
Set 2 : 50x25

Barbell Reverse Grip Skullcrusher

56

Set 1 : 30x15
Set 2 : 40x12
Set 3 : 40x12 Hurts Abs

Barbell Drag Curl

75

Set 1 : 40x15
Set 2 : 50x12
Set 3 : 50x15 Too Easy?

Barbell Reverse Curl

83.33

Set 1 : 50x20
Set 2 : 50x20
Set 3 : 50x20

Elliptical Training

Intervals

Calorie :   314 CAL
Distance: 2.73 mile
Duration : 00:30:04

One Leg Bodyweight Squat

141.87

Set 1 : 112x8