Clean in an Instant

There's nothing as refreshing as stepping into a shower blasting away sweat and grime. I felt clean in an instant after my workout. But because it'd been so long, I'd forgotten my routine, and consequently, I'd forgotten my shower shoes (flip flops) so I had to wear my gym socks into the shower because I'm super paranoid about contracting athlete's foot. I'd also forgotten to bring actual shoes to change into. And stepping into the shower, I almost forgot to take off my mask! 

Luckily, I remembered at the last moment. And I always keep a spare pair of socks in my gym bag so I could put those on afterward and slip back into my sneakers. I did get a bit impatient when two other women came into the locker room, obliviously chatting. I needed to put some lotion on my face and you obviously can't do that wearing a mask, so I had to wait until they left. I used the yellow gym towel to wipe down the shower. It's not very big or absorbent but it's enough to pick up all the stray hairs. The water pressure makes it all worth it. 

The workout itself was routine. I couldn't access either elliptical but the Step Mill was unoccupied. I added an extra 5 minutes and increased the speed to 5 just for that time. Maybe next time I'll spend 20 minutes on the Expresso Bike. That's always a lot of sweaty fun.  

I recognize a few regulars like Little R and Bandana Man. There's maybe half a dozen people populating the entire gym. I would've thought Mondays would be more crowded, but we are here late morning. There's no lunchtime crowd. My husband and I do separate workouts but try to finish at the same time. It's nice having a routine again. And better now that I can shower immediately afterward instead of riding home sticky and sweaty. 

31Aug2020

Monday Again

Matrix Step

Speed 4 / 5

Min 20 + 5

HR 128

Cal 163

Steps 1069

Floors 66

Crunches x 2 x 60

50 scissors

50 Bicycles

Plank 60s

Bird Dogs 60s x 2

Pushups 25

Quick stretch

Smith inclined bench

Sticky Bar (30) x 15

+20 x 15

+40 x 15 x 3 sets

15 lbs DB raises supersets x 3

x 15 lateral standing

x 15 seated bent over

Rip Skulls

25 lbs x 12

30 x 12, 12

Finally Friday but...

My son had a case of cabin-fever and asked to visit the new "odds 'n ends store," i.e., the Ocean State Job Lot. Even though I had just been there the day before, my son wanted to see for himself all the various items for sale. He was ecstatic to find Cow Tales, a confection only previously available at Scout Camp. 

I was going to buy a $5 set of tube watercolor paints since it's something I've always wanted to try. I have a lot of watercolor paper and a few brushes at home, plus myriad how-to books, but no actual paints. My son stopped me and told me that the wooden art case he's had since grade school (a gift from my husband) contains several dozen watercolor pans that he's never used. He's more of a pencil and colored marker kid.

Back to the house where the husband is on a business call. He still wants to come to the gym with me, and then later, we'll have to retrieve his car from the repair shop. Again, the gym is open with just a dozen members scattered throughout the facility. I get on the Precor and finally select Fitness Program 1. It's been five months since I did this and I'm sure my cardio response will be abysmal. Wearing a disposable mask doesn't help, especially as I'm panting and the mask fabric gets sucked into my mouth each time I inhale. Yuck. 

The one person not wearing his mask correctly, because there's always at least one in every situation whether it's the grocery or the gym, is a middle-aged guy with the mask over his mouth and not his nose. Bandana Guy shows up later to huff on the elliptical. At least bandanas are washable even if they're not doing anything to protect everyone from his germs. Not sure if they actually protect the wearer since studies omit that info except when advising against wearing respirator masks with one-way air valves. Those protect the wearer but not people in your "corona zone."

The gym is crowded enough that there are at least two other people in the aerobic room when I get there to do abs and other floor movements. We are spaced far apart so it's not an issue. I'm not sure what's in the sanitizing spray each person is told to carry and use, but I spritz the mat with it before and after I drop my hoodie on it before I lay down. 

I do the bare minimum for Smith Deadlifts and Seated Cable Rows. I haven't done rows in months and the measly 70 lb selection feels a tad heavy. My biceps might actually be sore tomorrow from this! Walking Lunges finishes me off. The Seated Leg Curl machine has been taped off and is unusable, and I'm not comfortable with the Prone Leg Curl because of my glaucoma. The Stretch Cage is also off-limits so I can't even try pull-ups. 

However, as we're checking out, I ask Gym Owner about the showers. They haven't been taped off like they are at Edge Fitness in Connecticut. He says they are usable as long as you wipe them down afterward. Sold! I didn't bring my shower stuff (soap, towels, etc.) but will the next time I come, which might be as soon as tomorrow. Gold's Gym stopped charging the monthly fee in April, but I know they are resuming as people return to the facility. For $20 monthly, I want to be able to shower as well. 

We might go to the gym on Saturday and Sunday. The husband has dropped 7 lbs and doesn't want to lose momentum between his new meal plan and the exercise regime. He has a friend/coworker who has invested in a very specific weight loss plan and the friend is happy to advise my hubby as to what he can and cannot eat. It sounds a lot like a bodybuilder's cutting diet, which is mostly protein and a lot of veggies. It restricts fats and carbohydrates. The problem with a lot of current "keto" diets is that they allow too much fat and protein, and the body sees this excess as energy to be stored... as body fat. 

The new diet, according to my husband, forces the body to actually use the stored fat. Well, that makes sense. I'm not worried about this new eating plan because it forces him to eat a lot more veggies, and he has to cut out all pork products as well as deli meats. No cheese either. No peanuts but a few almonds are okay. I'd like to lose weight too but not nearly as much... I wonder how long this is going to take me. At least my big toe looks almost normal now. Almost. It's only been 9 months! 

28 Aug 2029
Day 4

Precor elliptical
Program 1
HR low 85 high 188 av 154
Min 35
Cal 316
Distance 2.84

Crunches x 2 x 50
50 scissors
50 Bicycles
Plank 60s
Bird Dogs 60s x 2
Pushups 25
Quick stretch

Smith Deadlifts
Bar (30) x 15
+50 x 12 reps x 3 sets

Seated Cable Rows
70 x 12, 12, 12

Walking Lunges
30 x 2

Like Your Own Personal Gym Except For...

The Blogger site no longer allows me to add new tags to my posts. I can select from previous tags if I choose, but I hadn't made any tags prior to the pandemic because, well, who knew it was going to last so long. And as we prepare for "back to school," we realize that it's still not close to being over. Are we prepared for the Second Wave yet? It's coming. As soon as schools open we will all hold our collective breaths and see because word from across the country where schools have already reopened (and closed), is not promising. 

Yesterday, the weather was wonderfully cool and dry. Perfect for mowing the lawn and trying to get some yard stuff done. We had to skip the gym because yesterday was also when we were told (with 30 minutes notice) that the 2019-2020 HS yearbooks were finally available. And it was Picture Day. We had made a midday appointment. Kids showed up for their yearbooks, but not photos. A huge empty gym set up with two photographers, colored tape on the floors denoting where to stand, and just one subject: my kid. It felt very safe and just a bit silly.

Today it's hot and humid, with a tornado watch for the area. The last storm that swept through on Tuesday knocked power out for over 12 hours, but at least we still had internet service. The gym is sparsely populated with people on a few treadmills and both Precors in use. I climb stairs for 25 minutes and sporadically look to see who else is present. 

A woman uses the seated tricep machine with her mask pulled down below her nose. That makes me wonder how much a machine's popularity affects the hanging aerosol of breath in each station. The StepMill is popular because it is literally the only one available. Later, the same woman comes by to chat with a big guy on one of the Precors. He's wearing a bandana, as is one other fellow on the treadmill. Those loosely woven cotton cloths only give the illusion of protection. Maybe wet they might keep cattle dust out of your mouth, but unlikely to protect you or people around you from aerosols. It makes me feel less safe today. 

I don't see Little R. Maybe he came earlier in the day? There are two senior guys, one of whom is following Gym Owner around the equipment. I'm still sweating quite heavily when I step into the aerobics room. I'm happy that absolutely no one else is in there. There's no one on the Smith, and by the time I reach the DB area, the two obese dudes (who might be brothers) have moved on to the Breaker benches. 

I'm unsure as to how much weight I can actually push/pull these days, so I start slow. It's a good start, especially since my glutes and hammies are still sore from Tuesday, and I don't even think I worked them that hard! 

Self-cleaning stickers!

27Aug2020

Day 3

Matrix Step

Speed 4

Min 25

HR 127

Cal 155

Steps 1004

Floors 62

Crunches x 2 x 60

50 scissors

50 Bicycles

Plank 60s

Bird Dogs 60s x 2

Pushups 25

Quick stretch

Smith inclined bench

Sticky Bar (30) x 15

+20 x 15

+30 x 15

+40 x 15 x 3

15 lbs DB raises supersets x 3

x 15 lateral

x 15 bent over

Rip Skulls

25 x 13

30 x 12, 12

Day Two

Day Two is the name of a classic Pilobolus dance. Not the sun-loving fungi Pilobolus, often found in cow dung, but the dance troupe. My husband and I used to visit the Joyce Theater in NYC annually to see them perform their fantastic acrobatic maneuvers. Founding member, Moses Pendleton then left to collaborate with another founder to create the world-acclaimed Momix Troupe. We've also enjoyed their antics as well. 

Today is the second day the gym has been open since it was forced to close in mid-March. There are a few more people working out, different from the ones I saw yesterday. Except for Little R. He was there yesterday, as were we. 

I'm happy to get on the only other Precor elliptical. It starts off clunking as I pedal but eventually the noise stops. Maybe because I'm pedaling a lot faster? This machine also reads HR through the handle. The other machine does not probably because the sensor is broken. They're the same machines, yet they're not. I do 25 minutes and switch directions every 5. I'm breathing so hard that fibers from the inside lining of the mask stick to my mouth and lips. It's distracting but there's nothing I can do. 

I glance around the gym and catch the guilty eye of a woman on the Leg Press. Her mask is around her neck. She sees me see her and pulls the mask back up to her nose. 

In the aerobic classroom, I grab two mats, spritz them with sanitizing spray, and then drop my hoodie on the section I place my head. Actual classes won't resume until September so I'm "safe." New evidence proposes that the virus is transmitted through aerosols which is lung vapor much tinier than the droplets expelled by coughing or sneezing. Aerosols can linger in the air for much longer than droplets (tiny amounts of saliva or other bodily fluids). That would explain infections transmitted by a room full of singers or loud talkers. Thank goodness I haven't seen or heard The Mayor these past two days. 

While I do my core exercises, people wander in to do a plank or some situps before leaving. It's 86F outside, the a/c is on, and I'm drenched with so much sweat that my mask is damp if not downright soggy. I'm not sure how effective a wet mask is but I'm assuming it's still better than no mask at all. 

I'm still sweating when I exit the classroom and check the Smith machine. I pass an empty room that used to be a closet of sorts. Now it houses something called a Styku and I have no idea what it is so I snap a quick photo to remind me to look it up when I get home. It turns out to be an expensive 3D-scanning machine that compares itself to a Dexa-scan for bodyfat analysis. There are a lot of Gold's Gym testimonials on the website so I wonder if the parent company has a deal with the company. List price is a ridiculous $10K so I hope the gym got a discount. 

At the Smith machine, I opt to do just a few Smith Deadlifts, starting first with just the bar. Then I add a 25 lb plate to either side and do three sets. Although this is far from heavy, I'm still sweating profusely. The mask is blotting everything running off my nose, but I have to push the mask to my chin in order to blow my nose. Getting hot and sweaty always makes my nose drippy on the inside as well. 

I glance over to the dumbbell area where my husband is doing single-leg lunges with his back foot on a bench. I do Walking Lunges halfway down the side of the gym and back. If there was a convenient space to stretch out I would use it, but I don't really favor the classroom and its slippery wooden floors. In the locker room, I peel off all my soggy gym clothes and replace them with clean dry shorts and shirt. Then I get on the scale. It tells me 118.6 lbs, which means getting on the scale with sweat-laden clothes costs almost a pound and a half. I'm relieved that I'm not actually 120 lbs, but 118.6 isn't much better. I really need to lose 10 lbs even though I've really only put on 6 lbs in the last year or so. Clothes will fit so much better at 108 than they do at 118 or 112. After all, I'm 60 and it's not like I'm going to grow any taller. 

My husband doesn't think that 10 lbs should concern me so much because he's got a lot more than 10 to lose. I tell him it's a matter of percentages. Ten out of 120 is a greater percentage than 10 out of 235. It's math! And you know there's a problem when you spend half your time adjusting your clothes every few minutes: sports bra band keeps rolling up and the sport-pants waistband keeps rolling down. My husband has decided to follow a new, somewhat stricter eating plan that eliminates a lot of the foods he's used to. He's very happy to have already lost 6-7 lbs in the first few weeks. I'd be ecstatic but that's me. 

Interesting detail

It's hard being on an eating plan with my husband because our natural inclination is to share. But I can't eat the same foods, and certainly not the same amounts that he does. The one good thing about the new plan is that it has eliminated most of the fats he frequently snacked on, like cheeses and deli meats. The most difficult aspect is that he's not allowed to eat any pork products, so no fried pork rinds or prosciutto or bacon. Or stir-fried pork rib ends, or spicy ground pork with the Ma Po Tofu. But I can always substitute ground turkey. 

Day 2

Precor elliptical
Manual
HR high 204 / av 156 / low 86
Min 25
Cal 228
Distance 2.04

Crunches x 2 x 50
50 scissors
50 Bicycles
Plank 60s
Bird Dogs 60s x 2
Pushups 25
Quick stretch

Smith Deadlifts
Bar (30) x 25
+50 x 12 reps x 3 sets

Walking Lunges
30 x 2

Reopening Day!

 Gyms in NYS finally got the okay to reopen as long as specific guidelines were met and local inspectors approved. My gym reopened today to one-third capacity as long as everyone wore a mask, practiced social distancing, and sanitized whatever equipment they used. Not really a problem. It's a soft reopening, much the way the new Ocean State Job Lot opened last week to no fanfare at all. 

Before the shut-down in March, the gym had been undergoing renovations and a new paint job. The gray paint makes the space darker, but the locker room is stunning with slate tiles replacing the gross carpeting. I'm bummed that I can't use the new shower stalls, not that they're taped off because I'm sure the staff uses them. The stall doors have a weird patch that says to Push Here as it is self-sanitizing. The sinks and soap dispensers are automated and the middle sink is gone (there had been three). 

Sadly, every other machine is taped off which means there are only two Precors and one Step Mill. The defunct Nexersys machines act as spacers between other cardio machines on the floor. The gym has maybe a dozen people at various stations. We sign in and sign out with our membership keycard so the staff can keep track of who has attended (for contact tracing purposes and to ensure that they are indeed at one-third capacity). 

When my husband and I sign in, we are given a small yellow towel and a bottle of spray sanitizer that is curiously cloudy. We return them when we check out. There's still bleach spray, paper towels, and big buckets of Gym Wipes throughout the area. I toss my bag into a locker. Even if I can't shower, I still want to be able to change my clothes afterward. When I work out, my clothes pick up that nasty workout stink from normal bacteria and fungi feasting on sweat and that's not at all pleasant. 

My husband and I warm up on the ellipticals. He goes off to use the dumbbells and I spend a few minutes on the StepMill where I can see what regulars have reappeared. I do a light workout because it's been a while. The last time I was sore was when I tagged along with a friend to the Edge Fitness Center in Danbury. I liked having such a great selection of equipment but the step mills were set up so your back was in the blazing sun, and as someone who is mostly a homebody, it's actually too far for me to consider convenient. 

The following week I went on a 6-mile hike with my son's Boy Scout Troop. Now, 6 miles is not a horrible long hike, except it was billed as a 4 mile easy, mostly level ground trek to Nuclear Lake. The next time I need to remember to bring my walking stick(s) no matter how easy the trail leader promotes it as. My hiking shoes held up fine, but I suffered a lot of pain suddenly just below my knee in the right leg. Not arthritis because it wasn't a joint pain. It didn't actually feel muscular either but more vascular or even nerve-related. It persisted sporadically and disappeared once I stopped moving. I still got twinges the next day when walking the dog. Then it was gone... 

An online search leads me to something called PAD, peripheral artery disease, which might be related somehow to my Raynaud's and the issue I have with compression and blood circulation. Thanks, mom. I also worry about spinal stenosis since I know my dad suffered from that, especially when going for long walks. Although he was prescribed fentanyl patches for the pain, he never used them. 

I'm not sure if what I suffered was from claudication since this is the first time I've ever experienced this sort of pain. Well, that's not true. It wasn't quite as bad as having shingles down my leg, which made me pause halfway across the parking lot of the doctor's office. But it was close. There are ways to determine if this is indeed PAD, but it would require going to the doctor and getting tests done. I think I'll just wait and see if this crops up again while I'm exercising. I'd rather spend my health insurance on a flu shot and maybe, now that I'm 60, the shingles vaccine. It's not going to hurt, and might actually provide some better protection against other cold-related viruses. Yeah, like coronavirus... 

Also, my blood cholesterol is not optimal at 203 (was 213 last year) and that might be problematic. I need to exercise more and eat better. Thank goodness the gym is open again. I don't mind getting sweaty in the air-conditioned environment even if I find it disconcerting to feel my mask fan against my nose and mouth because I'm breathing so hard. The paper mask blots sweat from my face, especially my nose, making the pale blue material blotchy. Everyone is wearing some sort of face covering. My husband opts for the gaiter he used on his ocean-fishing trip. He thinks I might find it more comfortable than the paper mask. I'm not convinced that it won't be hotter, especially around the neck. But at least that's washable. 

The bar of the Smith machine is sticky, but only when it's unloaded. Once I put a few plates on, the Smith behaves the way it should. RG BB Rows are not an issue. I finish with a light dumbbell superset for shoulders. The only area to stretch is inside the classroom, which has a few stationary bikes and some step equipment. I grab a pair of mats and use them for crunches and planks. There's no plans for in-person classes until September. Right now, Gold's is live-streaming their group exercise classes. Some members might not return. I'm okay with that. The other stretch area next to the storage room has been filled with a few sit-up boards, rendering it useless for stretching. 

I would've ended with a cool-down stretch but my hubs was eager to leave. His car is in the shop with a transmission problem. I plan to come back tomorrow. Not so sure about the hubs. He doesn't have any issue with the oven-like atmosphere in the garage. It was 86F today and too hot for me. The only plus is not having to wear a mask in my own house/garage but there's no point if it's so hot that you're in danger of fainting. Inexplicably, the stretch cage is closed. Perhaps because it's between two other machines, but what if there's no one using those stations? I'll need to ask... 

Still, I'm happy the gym is open. The gym scale tells me I'm a whopping 120 lbs, which is 8 lbs more than I was in March, and at least 10 lbs more than I'd like to be for my clothes to fit properly. I'm definitely back tomorrow.

24Aug2020
Gold's Gym reopens

Precor elliptical
Manual
Min 20
Cal 178
Distance 1.62 m

Matrix Step
Min 15
HR 150
Steps 630
Floors 39

Crunches x 2 x 50
50 Horizontal Scissors
50 Bicycles
Elbow Plank 60s
Bird Dogs 60s x 2
Pushups 25
Quick stretch

Smith Inclined Bench
Sticky Bar (30) x 20
+20 lbs x 15 reps
+30 x 15
+40 x 15

Smith RG Bent Over Rows
Bar x 25
+50 x 12 reps x 3 sets

10 lbs DB Raises supersets x 3
x 15 front
x 15 lateral
x 15 bent over

New Procedures for Old Routines

New York State has not indicated when gyms, movie theaters, and bowling alleys may reopen, even though Connecticut next door has been open for months without serious spikes in new infections. Over 1,500 gym and fitness centers, including dojos and martial arts centers in NYS have filed a lawsuit to force the state to establish guidelines to allow them to reopen. After all, just six miles away, gyms are open. Gyms in NJ are in a holding pattern, only allowing outdoor activities. I don't think I could abide by that. 

The heat and humidity make exercising in my garage more than unpleasant. I'm not going to risk heat sickness for fitness. So it is welcome news when a friend invites me to sample a workout at her new gym home in CT. It's a bit of a drive down the Interstate, but there is ample parking and the facility itself is spacious and airy. There are a lot of younger people and an elderly couple. In fact, the man is the only person not properly wearing his mask as it covers his mouth but not his nose. Figures. 

Every other machine is taped off. Signs are posted showing the correct and many incorrect ways of wearing a mask. Masks are required everywhere for everyone. There are ample cleaning stations situated throughout the gym stocked with disinfectant wipes dispensers, sprays, and paper towels. Cleaning crews continuously wipe down high-frequency areas. Every two lockers are closed to provide adequate social distancing during busy times. There's even a special wing with a key card entry only for women who don't want to work out in a mixed environment. I have no use for that, but the locker room is really nice. It's too bad I can't shower because after a few hours, I can actually smell the clothes I'm wearing. Not a good thing. 

I do three different cardio exercises for a few minutes. Actually, I didn't realize that there were two different versions of the Matrix StepMill, one old and resembling one at my Gold's gym, and one much newer. Because these machines have plate windows behind them, the glare of the afternoon sun makes reading the older console difficult. I also pedal on a Matrix bike for a few minutes. Otherwise, I have a choice of treadmills and other ellipticals. My knees and ankles are not eager to wrestle with the LifeFitness cross-trainers. 

Wearing a disposable mask isn't ideal when working out, especially during cardio when it is needed most, breathing deeply and rapidly. While I hadn't been bothered by the smell of my own breath, the hot humid air inside my mask made me sweatier. I perspire a lot when I exercise and wearing a mask prevents any cooling evaporation from occurring. My nose gets drippy. The only times I get to slide the mask down is when blowing my nose, or sipping from my water bottle. Although the fountains have been taped off, there is a bottle filling station which is something I'd not seen before. I wish my gym had that but it's doubtful the owner will install something so high-tech and expensive.  

10 lbs too much

Because it's been such a long time, I ease into a workout with a mat stretch and some core exercises. I warm up my shoulders with 10 lb dumbbells. There are weighted bars, assorted DBs, and kettlebells alongside the spacious stretch area which is carpeted in artificial grass (we bring our own yoga mats to use). Then I venture into the actual free weight area which has at least two Smith machines, several squat racks, a half dozen single flat benches, and several benches with barbell stays. There are two separate barbell racks with solid straight bars and EZ bars. I grab a 30 lb EZ bar to use for Rip Skulls. Even though the area is busy with men and women, turnover is quick. No one lingers. No one wastes time or hogs equipment. It's nice not to suffer the cliques glomming equipment. 

There is club music blaring over the speakers, but not so loud that my earbuds can't block it out. It's been a long time since I listened to my own workout mix. I can see why my friend really enjoys this place. She's been a member for over a year and is definitely reaping the benefits of a regular fitness routine. It's not the closest open gym -- I think there's a Planet Fitness in Danbury -- but this place definitely has a lot of things going for it. 

ps. I really hate how Blogger has "updated" their software with fewer controllable items.

12Aug2020
Edge Fitness Danbury CT

Matrix Step
Min 12:01
HR 144-138
Step 541

Mat Stretch
Crunches x 2 x 50
50 scissors
Plank 60s
Bird Dogs 60s x 2
Pushups 25

10 lbs DB raises
x 12, 15 front x 2
x 15 lateral x 3
x 15 bent over x 3
One-Arm Tricep behind head 20

Edge Smith inclined bench
Bar x 25
+20 x 15
+30 x 15 x 3

Smith RG Bent Over Rows
Bar x 25
+20 x 25
+30 x 25
+40 x 25

Rip Skull EZ bar
30 lbs x 12, 12, 11

Matrix Step
Minutes 10
Cal 59
Steps 382

Matrix Bike
5 min
HR 126
Distance 0.80