Wasting Time

I had every intention of getting to the gym early in spite of the miserable weather. I hate cold and wet. The neighbor's septic alarm has been ringing for hours, and luckily, we can't hear it inside our house. But these neighbors don't live here and only come up from the City every few weeks or so. There are occasional workmen busy expanding the tiny house into an oddly-shaped slightly less tiny house. But they're not here today. The alarm means the pump has flooded for their peat-moss septic system. We have the same system, and ours seems fine even though I slosh through 3 inches of standing water behind the house as I walk the dog. Yes, this is the wet in wetlands. NYC owns a lot of watershed property here.

After doing dishes and sorting laundry, and running sleeping bags through the washer, I settle down to make appointments. One for my shoulder and one for my son whose skin has defied all our home-remedy efforts to combat adolescent acne. I've read about taking zinc, drinking kefir and other probiotics, and limiting dairy and sugar. One article suggests the simple approach of... going vegan. Sorry!? Going vegan is NOT simple. And actually downright preposterous to ask of a 12 year old boy who loves sushi, chicken, ribs and salmon.

I've never met with either of these doctors and got their names from the provider page off my health insurer's website. The dermatologist isn't available during the upcoming Spring Break so I schedule for a day the week after. This gives us time to see if the Hibiclens might work. I read about it online and since it's an OTC skin disinfectant used in medical settings, it's been recommended to treat acne. My son is willing to try it, even as he combs his hair over his forehead to hide the angry red eruptions. As much as I dislike the idea of my son taking antibiotics for his skin, I don't want him to suffer from social anxiety or actual acne scarring. Adolescence is hard enough without skin issues.

Making an appointment for the orthopedist is much much harder. Every doctor belongs to a consortium which has instituted a maddening maze of phone-tree services. I'm redirected right back to the same exact robotic directory every time I make a selection. Eventually I discover that the doctor I'm trying to reach isn't even at this medical group. I try a different phone number and eventually speak to a human who explains to me that said doctor is actually a foot and ankle specialist. That info isn't on the insurer website.

The operator directs me to a different doctor who isn't listed on the website, but since I've seen other doctors within this group, the insurance should cover them all. The doc will probably recommend an x-ray although I don't think that will show ligament or tendon damage. But I already know my insurance covers that 100%. What it doesn't cover are MRIs. Which is what's probably needed for an accurate diagnosis. I have an appointment next week, on the same day as my glaucoma doc check up. (I'll find out if the Travatan® is worth $25/mos vs generic latanoprost at $10/mos or 3/$25 through the insurer's online delivery service.) At first I think I'll have to skip the gym, but part of me is trying to figure out if I can squeeze in 30 minute of cardio and a shower... ah, gym rats.

It's damn near noon by the time I get to the gym. The sun has finally broken through and the gym's not very crowded. Fine with me. I pedal 30 minutes on the cross-trainer, but my right ankle is off. A sore tendon (peroneus tertius) that comes and goes depending on how I adjust my foot. Mileage isn't great, but it's okay. I tell myself it's just a Cardio Day. No push ups. No pull ups. No crunches. But I do some planks and stretches. Then I grab DBs and knock out my deltoid supersets. I think my arms look great, but that's me. I can see my pecs and their striations flex when I do front DB raises, because the lighting is perfect. Arms look especially good during DB lateral raises, but they always do. ChattyGuy is spotting the Mayor. NewClient has been coming regularly and confers with GymOwner. No one's been using the Battle Ropes or the Kickboxing machine in weeks.

The Mayor and a few other people are also in the DB area. When I'm done, I do 30 minutes on the elliptical. I have to up the volume on my tunes because I can still hear the Mayor even though I can't see him. Turns out he's chatting with another dude while they're both on the stationery bikes in front and just to the right of me. Out of my line of sight, but not earshot. Ugh. I've never ever seen him on the bikes before. He's not a big cardio dude. Done. I don't even have time to stretch because I need to do groceries. At least my son will be home to walk the dog. The sun is blazing! Gym scale reads 110.2 lbs and it's not great. But not horrible.

Wednesday Cardio Day
6.54 miles

30 min x-trainer
Calories 140
Miles 3.91
Average Heart Rate 161

Bird Dogs 2 x 60s
Side Planks 2 x 60s

DB front / Lateral / rear
15/20/25 lbs x 12/12/15 reps x 3 sets

30 min elliptical
Program 3
Calories 299
Miles 2.63
5368 steps