Trade Offs

I went to the gym this morning knowing that I wanted to do my DB shoulder routine and needed time for that. So I cut my cardio down to 25 and knocked a few movements off the core and stretch. I was happy that there were actually not many people in the free weight area, and the few kids there had just arrived and seemed to congregate near the machines. Maybe they were waiting for their friends to wake up? By the time I'd done all my sets, there was a cluster of a half dozen boys and girls at the edge of the free weight area. Yep, time to leave. 

I snap a quick pix in the mirror just to make sure I don't have bald spots like my grandmother did. Gray hairs are readily apparent, but no glaring white scalp patches, thank goodness. The array of bug bites look like I have measles but just on my left shoulder. It's probably because I slathered that spot with skin cream once. Any area I apply too much lactic acid cream becomes a mosquito magnet. It happened to my elbow too. I've got to focus on just applying a light even layer.

The dogs didn't get to the park until after 11 and they seemed destined for another hot, boring session at 85F and not much of a breeze. No storm clouds but the low rumble of thunder every now and then. Weird. Then, two small dogs arrived. Things got lively and a lot of red dirt dust (the stuff you get when piles of wood chips break down over the years) got kicked up. My clean white dog was no longer. Especially after two more dogs showed up that my pups have met before albeit sporadically and some weeks ago. My brown dog doesn't like to lay in dirt holes to keep cool and instead plops down on the fake green surrounding the shed where we are all standing around. Just as well since it's his day to go to the dog wash.

The brown dog hates car rides. The white dog was upset to be left home. The brown dog whined and cried, paced and fretted the entire drive to the dog wash. (I keep all my pups secured to the backseat belt, having heard horror stories of dogs leaping out of car windows while stopped at traffic lights.) He was a bit skittish but calmed down and walked up the ramp to the bathing area without too much fuss. He wasn't happy and he sat with his tail to the corner, making it hard to wash the rear legs. But he got soaped and bathed and rinsed and toweled and blow-dried. And then we drove to the gas station before finally returning home. It's good for the pups to experience new things every once in a while. Just like people. As long as it's not scary.

29 July 2022
Humid Hot Friday

Precor elliptical #1
Program 2
Time: 20 min + 5 min cd (4110)
Distance: 2.06
Cal: 231
Avg Hr: 140, 200

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 25 x 2
Bird Dogs 60s x 2
Child’s Pose
Push-Ups 25

DB Incl Press s/s Lat Raise s/s Rev Inc Fly
10 lbs x 25/15/20 reps warm up
15 x 20/15/25 reps x 1
20/15/20 lbs x 20/15/25 reps x 3

Hot & Humid

I got to the gym at 8:50 today and left at 10:35. It's the showering and all that goes with it that seems to eat the bulk of my time. As much as I hate the idea of being "high maintenance," my ultra dry skin forces me to maintain a skincare routine that involves slathering a mix of glycerin and lactic acid cream everywhere except my face and throat. Those areas are too sensitive but I can't not moisturize. It's just a different cream with SPF15. Thank goodness there's no makeup to fuss with as well. Or hair styling products like spray and gel! Ugh.

And the hair, which I think is thinning! I have silky fine hair like my grandmother and she wore a hairpiece in her 60s to mask the bald spot on her crown. (Uh oh. Short people have a distinct disadvantage here.) My mother, on the other hand, had thick coarse hair that my grandmother likened to dead straw. (I'm not sure which is worse.) Towel dry, brush, braid, clip to the back of my head to keep out of my way! Ever pick up after your dog and your hair falls into your face, or worse?! My hair is literally baby fine, so it also has irritating cat fur qualities, like finding its way into your eyes, nose and mouth at inconvenient times. And wisping around your head like a hairy halo, making you look perpetually disheveled. Nice.

The skin cream most effective to treat my IV (ichthyosis vulgaris) is also an insect attractant. I've always been reactive to insect bites with large, itchy welts. The lactic acid cream acts like a dinner bell beacon. So I wear a hooded bug jacket and long pants, and socks and boots when I go the Bark Park. And that makes me hot and on the verge of being sweaty. (High body temps and sweat are also insect attractants. Ugh). I'm very envious of all those folks who traipse through the park with their pups wearing shorts, tank tops and flip-flops, and never seem bothered by blood sucking invertebrates. They could be like my son who says he doesn't get bitten, or if he does, it doesn't bother him. He's non-reactive to them.

I'm scratching a wee bite on top of my hand right now as I type. Most of my other bites have scabbed over which means they don't itch any more. I got a decent workout today with 30 minutes of cardio and some pull-ups, and most of my original core and stretch routine. I skipped the gym yesterday to have enough time to take one of my dogs to Suds Dog Wash, the self-service dog bathing facility. 

The place opened over a year ago and I've been meaning to go. There was a self-service dog wash closer to my house but it was part of the Pet Valu (a Canadian chain) that closed all US locations during the pandemic. This type of service is much easier on the budget since you wash your own dog but they provide the facility, an apron, shampoo, warm spray water, a hose dryer and a towel. (It was $22 for my dog yesterday, vs $48 for my old pup several years ago at a traditional groomer.) My pup is skittish and has a bad reaction to being crated so no traditional groomers for him! It definitely helped that he could walk around (on a leash) and sniff everything before I lead him into a stall and up a small ramp to the elevated bathing area. So much easier on the back (I've washed many a dog in an apartment bathtub and I do not miss those backaches), and there are two slip knot tethers (different heights at opposite corners) to secure the pup. 

The only issue I have is that I'm not tall enough to reach behind the dog for lathering and rinsing once he's pointed his backside into the far corner. Next time, I'll move the ramp to get closer to the nether regions. Still, he got soaped, lathered, rinsed clean, toweled, and even tolerated being blow-dried. Of course, his brother was immensely jealous at being left home. He'll get his adventure on the next trip.

28 July 2022
Humid Hot Thursday

Precor elliptical #1
Program 1
Time: 25 min + 5 min cd (4790)
Distance: 2.43
Cal: 2.69
Avg Hr: 138, 184-81

HGPU 23

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
Skip 10 one-leg hip thrust each leg
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 25 x 2
Bird Dogs 60s x 2
Child’s Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper body stretch
Eye yoga x 3

HGPU 22

Short But Sweet

The morning started refreshingly crisp (64F!) and bright sunny skies. Too bad it won't last as temps will reach into the high 80s by the end of the week. I got to the gym before 9 and proceeded with a slightly shorter cardio session, most of my standard core and stretch, and then a few sets of BB Tricep Extensions interspersed with Rip Skulls. 

I felt pretty good afterward although hands, wrists and elbows are always prone to overuse stresses. The dogs are bummed that there's no one at the Bark Park by the time we arrive after 11. But it's cool enough for them to run about and hunt for chipmunks, which they never actually catch.

The dogs desperately need baths so I'm thinking of skipping the gym tomorrow. After the park, one lucky canine gets to ride to a new adventure. The other one will stay home, no doubt extremely upset at being left behind. But there's no way I can handle both of them in a strange new place that might house other pups also being bathed.

26 July 2022
Crisp Sunny Tuesday

Precor elliptical #1
Program 3
Time: 25 min + 5 min cd (4818)
Distance: 2.44
Cal: 271
Avg Hr: 148, 190-81

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
Skip 10 one-leg hip thrust each leg
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 25 x 2
Bird Dogs 60s x 2
Child’s Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper body stretch
Eye yoga x 3

Skull Crushers / Rip Skulls
30 lbs x (12 reps each x 2) x 1
32.5 x 12 x 4 sets total

Just the Good Stuff

Today's forecast called for sporadic thunderstorms accompanied by possible hail, high winds and maybe a tornado. Sporadically. So I took the dogs to park earlier while it was just overcast and humid, and went to the gym a bit past noon. While it was pouring. I had to cut my gym time short because I'd scheduled a car appointment at the local Mavis for the annual NYS Inspection at 2 pm. The neighborhood Valvoline doesn't do inspections but the one at the crossroads of the county does. 

Or it used to do it regularly but now it only does it on certain days. And on the day I show up to ask, they have no customers in their two bays, but "Nope, we don't do them today. Come back tomorrow for an inspection." But at least they were nice enough to list two other places that also did inspections, one of them being the Mavis... This branch has good reviews so I'm okay with that.

I used to go to the local auto repair shop but too many questionable experiences have soured me on them: telling me that the check engine light code means I'll need a new engine and they'll order it from the dealership (I look it up and find that using an engine flush will probably work just as well so I get the Valvoline to do it, and the check engine light hasn't come on in over three years--no replacement engine needed); telling me I need 4 new tires but the only ones I can buy from them are Cooper Tires (not that these are bad but they don't carry any other brand); setting up a Saturday morning appointment online (and confirming via email) for a NYS inspection only to find when I arrive that they're not open on weekends... Ugh. Done with you. 

The shop would rather order brand new parts from the dealership and then charge a mark up with labor instead of making repairs. Which means that for big jobs like that, I'll go straight to the dealership because not only will it be cheaper (I called once and compared actual pricing), the dealership will also have loaner cars should the job require an overnight stay.

The gym was a bit emptier than I expected with just a smattering of teenagers and a few older folks. My sciatica seems better but not gone. The lower back is stiff most of the time, and I can't tell if I'm feeling the seam in my workout pants or that my coccyx is out of place when I'm laying on my back. It's uncomfortable, like I've sprouted the beginnings of a tail ridge that I roll over as I do the lower torso rotation. Well, at least most of my bug bites have stopped itching.

The only thing that pleases me is being able to do my two sets of pull-ups. Push-ups were also quick and easy. I skipped a few items for the sake of time. Tomorrow I won't have that excuse... And maybe I'll go to the gym in the morning and take the pups to the park afterward. Today, a cicada fell out of an overhead branch as I was walking the pups to the exit gate. It was dead so I took a few photos with my phone. And then one of my dogs ate it. Ugh. No wonder I don't let them lick my face.

25 July 2022
Stormy Monday

Precor elliptical #1
Program 2
Time: 20 min + 5 min cd (4110)
Distance: 2.06
Cal: 231
Avg Hr: 147, 198-84

HGPU 22

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
Skip 10 one-leg hip thrust each leg
Elbow Plank 60s
Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 25 x 2
Bird Dogs 60s x 2
Child’s Pose
Push-Ups 25

HGPU 22

Maybe Less is More

My impulse is always to add more when I need to make a change. It's reasonable when you spend time as a gym rat. Add more weight. Add more reps. More stretches. More cardio. Go faster. Go harder. Unless you're injured. Then you have to cut everything to the bone and only do the bare basics of what's not going to make anything worse. A lot of times that's just a matter of trial and error. It can really test your patience though...

My sciatica has been nagging me for the past several days. I'm starting to cut items from my gym routine to see if it helps. I realize that some things that have slowly crept into the core and stretch list might be creating problems. Like the very subtle sitting cross-legged and rolling the spine down from the head/neck until elbows are resting on the ground in front of your legs. It feels good at the time, but it's a bad stretch for people with lower back issues, like sciatica. 

The same goes for the one-legged hip thrust, although I had hoped that this movement might alleviate sciatic pain. I do feel that movement in my glutes and hips the same way I feel those rapid air squats in my quads. But my hamstrings are really sensitive and threaten to spasm without much provocation. Lemme see if my sciatica is any better this weekend.

I do manage my two sets of pull-ups although I felt disappointed in my core weakness during the first set. I had trouble keeping my torso rigid even with crossing my ankles. A floppy core makes pull-ups so much harder. The second set, although shy a rep, actually was the better set since I could keep my body straight. 

The fellow on the treadmill facing the Stretch Cage seemed surprised to see me pull my face up over the roof of the contraption. Very few people do pull-ups at the gym, and they're usually guys, and usually they do them on actual pull-up bars. I can't get my hands around those things, which means I can't get a reasonable grip. I'm not doing pull-ups to stress my forearms and elbows! But doing it my way, I will feel it in my lats a day later. Which means, to me, that it's effective and that's what counts. 

When I get back to my car, its thermometer reads 101F. Luckily, that's not the actual temperature but still, I'm happy to be inside with a/c. Not only do I use a sunshade on the windshield but I've also purchased some cheap beach towels to toss onto the leather car seats because damn those are hot! There's a sunglass holder over the rear view mirror but it's too close to the car roof so it'll singe your ears if you put them on right away. Now I leave my sunglasses in the cup holder to keep them a wearable temp. Pups went to the park earlier to play with some canine friends. Which meant I got to the gym later. It wasn't too crowded although the kids did start emerging as the day wore on. Glad I figured out how to plan my routine.

22 July 2022
Blazing Sciatic Friday

Precor elliptical #1
Program 1
Time: 25 min + 5 min cd (5000)
Distance: 248
Cal: 280
Avg Hr: 151, 207-94

HGPU 22

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
   Skip 10 one-leg hip thrust each leg
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 25 x 2
Bird Dogs 60s x 2
Child’s Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper body stretch
Eye yoga x 3

HGPU 21

Sciatic Thursday

Another hot day. Today I went to the gym first so I could access the free weight area unencumbered by teens and tweens. To give myself a skosh more time, I cut the cardio by 10 minutes. It's hot and humid and the a/c makes the gym tolerable, but not actually cold. I save pull-ups for tomorrow, when I'll go after the dog park, and the gym will be crowded. 

Today's not so bad at 9 am. I still have to stretch out in the "functional gym" area by the front door, but better than not having a place to do core and stretches at all. There are at least 4 other bodies doing various movements in this small space. But there are no mats hanging over the railing and I have to grab one from the Aerobics Room. There are only 3 women in the entire room waiting for the instructor. When class starts, the musics blasts throughout the gym and I click my earbuds louder to block out the annoying sound of screaming and cheering. 

My sciatica is bothersome today and no amount of stretching offers much relief. Worse, I got nailed by several biting insects inside my house last night while cooking dinner. One minute I'm scratching my right shoulder and the next moment my left shoulder has half a dozen welts from unseen, unheard tiny vampires. I actually take an antihistamine because the itching is driving me crazy. I have bites all over my fingers as well and scratching them offers no satisfaction. I take my wedding band off because somehow the nasty bugger bit me under there too and my finger is swelling painfully. Ugh.

I do manage to muscle my way through the DB shoulder workout though. There are only 2 other people in the free weight area at this time, but that'll change as soon as the kids wake up. The dogs go to the park at quarter past 11 where one little canine friend is basking in the shade. My dogs run a few laps and then spend the next hour laying on the picnic table or digging in the dirt. Tomorrow I'll take the dogs earlier when there might be a few more friends. I hope it cools off. Because I keep myself totally covered in a hooded bug jacket and long pants while at the park. There's usually a breeze and lots of shade, but sweat is still beading up on my face when I'm there. Temps hit 95F today in spite of a brief thunderstorm. Personally, I think the inventor of air conditioning should be beatified and made into a saint.

21 July 2022
Blazing Sciatic Thursday

Precor elliptical #3
Program 3
Time: 20 min + 5 min cd (4030)
Distance: 2.04
Cal: 228
Avg Hr: 145, 181-125

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
10 one-leg hip thrust each leg
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 25 x 2
Bird Dogs 60s x 2
Child’s Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper body stretch
Eye yoga x 3

DB Incl Press s/s Lat Raise s/s Rev Inc Fly
10 lbs x 25/15/20 reps warm up
15 x 20/15/25 reps x 1
20/15/20 lbs x 20/15/25 reps x 3

Tweens and Teens

I took the pups to the park at 10 this morning so they could see their friends but it didn't go as planned. A dog who doesn't get along with one of mine was still there even though I told her I was on my way and she had agreed to leave when I came. She did leave, but not before mine got all riled up. Still, my bigger dog became very aggressive through the fence with two other pups and I had to keep him on a tight lead until I could drag him off to a separate section of the park (the obstacle course "playground"). Luckily, the dogs chilled after a bit, two of the other pups left and my dogs hung out with a smaller beagle-shepherd mix that they're good friends with. Whew!

Which meant I got to the gym around noon, and on the elliptical at 12:15. Today I did a full session and was thoroughly drenched at the end of it. It's been horribly hot here: I started sweating just walking from my front door to the car about 30 feet away! There's no way I'd ever choose to live in a hotter, more humid place. I'm having trouble with summer temps in the "cool" northeast! I do not appreciate heat waves, and we're having one now. And the bugs still find me delicious, although, surprisingly, I didn't get bit once while on our road trip, nor did I need to use any insect repellent. Nope, not until I got home, and then I got bitten through my clothes, and all over my fingers. Ugh.

Coming in later also meant I could use the Aerobics Room to stretch and do core, as were several other people. But, it also meant that by 1:30, the free weight area was full of teens and tweens, aimlessly flowing from one station to another. It's not like they were all working out either. Instead, one guy would lay on the bench while 3 others spotted him and 6 more draped themselves over the surrounding equipment while chatting and staring at their phones. Ewww.

I opted to do a few minutes on the stair climber instead. I wish the Aerobics Room was colder because after push-ups and air squats, I was still flush-faced and drippy. Outside, my car thermometer read 92F although it was only 88F at the house. Still too hot. Tomorrow I'll hit the gym earlier just so I can actually push a few weights around. The dogs will go to the park later and there won't be anybody to play with. Maybe I'll take one of them to the local dog wash place in town, even though showers are in the forecast... I can't handle taking both of them for baths since I'm pretty sure this new experience will create a lot of stress for me and whichever afflicted pup gets to go first.

20 July 2022
Post Noon Blazing Wednesday

Precor elliptical #3
Program 2
Time: 30 min + 5 min cd (5914)
Distance: 2.94
Cal: 331
Avg Hr: 150, 205-91

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
10 one-leg hip thrust each leg
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 25 x 2
Bird Dogs 60s x 2
Child’s Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper body stretch
Eye yoga x 3

Matrix StepMill (L)
Manual 10 min
Speed 6 (52-55)
Steps 530
Floors 33
Cal 77
Hr 146

Just Gotta Move

After two days of relative inactivity (cleaning the kitchen and bathroom after being away for a week apparently doesn't count), my sciatica was making its unhappiness known. Off to the gym to do a slightly shortened cardio session, most of the core and stretch routine, and a few pull-ups. I rushed to get the pups to the Bark Park by 11 am but everyone from the morning group had already gone. We spent an hour lazing in the cool shade of the trees with the dogs occasionally racing each other through the dirt and weeds. In order to let the pups play with their friends tomorrow, I'll have to go to the park first, and the gym later. It's supposed to be in the low 90s so I'm very thankful for indoor a/c.

A week of college tours, hotel living and eating out and I worried about getting fatter than I already am. Well, I didn't gain any weight. But I didn't lose any either. So, I'll be thankful that this was a wash. But I am still working on dropping a few pounds so my clothes will be more comfortable, and I'll be less self-conscious. You wouldn't think it'd be so hard to drop 6-7 lbs but it's been very frustrating. At least I'm not any weaker. Push-ups and air squats were easy. The first round of pull-ups didn't feel too bad. And the second set is usually, but not always, weaker than the first. But at least I can still do them!

While at the Corning Museum of Glass, we saw a side exhibit extolling participants in a Netflix show we hadn't heard of: Blown Away. Once we got back to our hotel room, we immediately logged in and started watching. Of course, it's a competition in the same vein as Forged in Fire, Face Off, The Great British Baking Show... but with glass blowers. And some of them are amazingly talented. But the unintended take-away at the end of the show is that none of them are making a decent living at their art, and winning or even just being on the show, gives them marketability and a chance to sell their work. It's sad and discouraging for everyone who's at artist at heart. 

19July 2022
Sciatica Tuesday

Precor elliptical #1
Program 1
Time: 20 min + 5 min cd (4116)
Distance: 2.06
Cal: 230
Avg Hr: 163, 186 max

HGPU 22

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
10 one-leg hip thrust each leg
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 25 x 2
Bird Dogs 60s x 2
Child’s Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper body stretch

HGPU 20

Road Trip

I just got back from a week-long road trip to visit colleges with my son and husband. We made sure that each hotel we stayed at had free hot breakfast in the morning, and a gym and pool available to us. Sadly, we only used the pool once, and I didn't use the "hotel fitness room" at all, although my husband went down there a few times. 

I brought a yoga mat and spent a few minutes most mornings doing stretches and a few core exercises. My sciatica didn't bother me too much with all the distance driving, and there were some days when we walked for hours. Other days not so much. Through it all, I didn't need any bug spray, which was a pleasant surprise. But I seem to be allergic to something, maybe the hotel body wash or shampoo, which I sampled out of curiosity. My throat has a patch of angry irritation but no bug bite to blame and I'm slathering it with a variety of itch creams with varying degrees of appeasement.

Over eight days, we traveled hundreds of miles and stayed at five different hotels to cut our drive times down to a manageable 2 hours or less. Having scrambled eggs and oatmeal (with walnut, almond, cranberry and/or raisin toppings) with orange juice and good coffee goes a long way to start a busy morning. Some days the scramble eggs were replaced with veggie frittatas ot spinach/cheese crustless mini-quiches. I brought (and drank) a bottle of low-sodium V-8 juice, all my vitamins, and my eye drops. 

We drank lots of bottled water because while all the schools had fountains and refill stations, not all the water tasted good. The same with the hotels. The worst one was in Binghamton. While the staff was pleasant, the hotel itself seemed to be on the bottom of the list for supplies like towels, toilet paper, pillows... they even had a sign posted in the elevator asking patrons to be patient about the towel situation. Other hotels in our stay were much better. (My husband travels a lot so he had access to points for this chain.)

We had dinner at different restaurants, the most memorable being Dinosaur BBQ in Rochester NY. And most of the time I couldn't finish the meal and had to bring leftovers back to the room fridge. And left them there because we never had time to return to the hotel the next day once we were on our way to the next college tour. So, no lunch. Except for the last school that actually ended their campus tour with burgers, chicken, fruit salad and cookies! 

Other schools did give us SWAG bags with notebooks and water bottles. After all our registered tours were over, we became tourists and went to a few museums, like the Iroquois-Seneca Museum, which we happened to drive by one day and thought "Hey! Let's check this out." Our visit to the Corning Museum of Glass, however, was planned and fabulous. But now, we're tired.

11 July 2022 --13,816 steps

12 July 2022
Hotel Tuesday: --14,738 steps
Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
1-leg hip thrusts 10 each
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 25 x 2
Bird Dogs 60s x 2
Child’s Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Shoulder stretch
Eye yoga

 13 July 2022 --1,477 steos

14 July 2022  --11,854 steps

15 July 2022
Bare Min Friday --6,605 steps
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
30 Dead Bugs
1-leg hip thrusts 10 each
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 25 x 2
Bird Dogs 60s x 2
Swim at 10:30 pm

Saturday July 16
Skipped core/stretching to visit Corning Museum of Glass: --8,325 steps
 

Finishing the Week Strong

A hundred floors today after 30 minutes of climbing the stair machine. Whew! I skipped a few items on the core/stretch routine because I know that the DB Shoulders will take more time. Last week I cut the last set. Each "set" is actually 3 different sets of 3 different movements. Today I want to do the full routine. It's not very crowded, just a few regulars and a few kids, and no pompous, preening silver-haired dudes strutting about like prize roosters. 

Yesterday, I read an article in the NY Times regarding weight lifting as therapy. Well, duh. I could've told you that! I'm not kidding when I say that pushing weights has kept me sane and dispelled a lot of the stress and angst I've inherited from my childhood. (Yes, I had a generally fucked-up childhood with a lot of family drama and domestic abuse.) Click here to read the article.

There were no other pups at the Bark Park today. My dogs have been extremely happy to run about, maybe because in this hot weather I've allowed them to roam the grounds without their harnesses. I initially got these specifically because they have top handles, making the pups easier to grab in the event there's a scuffle. The harnesses that purport to circumvent leash-pulling behavior don't have handles so I've never invested in them. The dogs eventually walk decently after the initial 10 minutes of frantic sniffing and marking. Once home, they enjoy being hand-fed because they're spoiled and act like pampered toy dogs. It's the only way I can ensure that they actually eat. Left to their own devices, the food sits untouched in their bowls and they lose weight. So unlike any other dog I've ever had! 

Unfortunately, I got bit through my bug jacket today. That's so disappointing! The jacket hasn't been washed more than half a dozen times so the permethrin should still be good. The bug pants work though, as well they should since I just got these a few days ago! But I'm still covered in bites (sneaky bastards) and now carry an assortment of itch creams in my bag. I haven't resorted to taking oral antihistamines yet (I think that loratadine aka generic Claritin is safe for glaucoma patients)...

8 July 2022
Make It Count Friday

Matrix StepMill (R)
Manual 30 min
Speed 6 (52-55)
Step 1603
Floors 100
Cal 235
Hr n/a

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Bird Dogs 60s x 2
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 25 x 2
Child’s Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper Body Stretch

DB Incl Press s/s Lat Raise s/s Rev Inc Fly
  10 lbs x 25/15/20 warm up
  15 lbs x 20/15/25 reps x 1
  20/15/20 lbs x 20/15/25 reps x 3 sets

Plateau

Yes, I shortened my workout again just so I had time to do some shopping before heading home and taking pups to the park where they had a few minutes of playtime before their friends all left (because they'd arrived at the park much earlier). Got my cardio done, all the core stuff except for those one-leg hip thrusts which are so new that if I'm not actually staring at the list on my phone, I completely forget to do. Yup, forgot them today.

The second set of pull-ups was much harder today. Part of me says it's because I'm fatter. That's true. But part of me says it's because my arms are a little sore from yesterday's tricep workout, and I'm probably not 100% recovered from the pull-ups I did on Tuesday. Also probably true. Tomorrow I'll wrangle in some cardio, core and then, hopefully, do the shoulder DB workout. Because next week I won't have a gym at all to play in since we'll be visiting colleges. Summer road trip! (Let's hope we don't all kill each other by the end of it.) My sciatica isn't thrilled about spending long hours in the car but I'm hoping to be able to do the core and stretches in the hotel room (because none of them have gym spaces anymore due to the pandemic). And we've registered for a bunch of campus tours so we'll be doing a bit of walking. 

On a scarier note, my brother just got back from a family vacation in Hawaii and he promptly came down with Covid. For the third time. No one else in his family is sick, not even his 88-yr old mother-in-law. But my brother, who has a frail system, is on paxlovid and albuterol, at home resting and tells me this time it's really bad because his lungs are bleeding. I'm hoping he recovers soon, but it's likely that his illness might linger for a long time, especially with the new BA.5 variant and news that the current Pfizer booster doesn't work very well against it. However, a new Moderna booster vaccine might offer protection, once it's approved...

7 July 2022
Thursday

Precor elliptical #1
Program 3
Time: 20 min + 5 min cd (4082)
Distance: 2.05
Cal: 230
Avg Hr: 141, 197-84

HGPU 22

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
Skip 10 one-leg hip thrust each leg
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 25 x 2
Bird Dogs 60s x 2
Child’s Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper body stretch
Eye yoga x 3

HGPU 22

Concession Combo Mid-Week

It's nearly 9 before I actually set foot on the elliptical so I cut 10 minutes out of the routine just so I'd have time to do triceps. Less mileage, less calories burned, but still warmed up. There's a BodyPump class in the Aerobics Room at 9:30 which means I don't even bother going to that room. I grab a mat and plant myself in the "functional workout" area. A fellow shows up to dance around the body bag and a familiar woman stands on the other side with a mat at her feet. She's doing her own stretch and DB routine as well.

I have time to do a few sets for Triceps on a breaker bench that backs up to one of the two inclined breaker benches facing the DB area. A silver-haired muscle head struts by. I've seen him before but like everyone else, I pay him no mind. I'm very happy with my tunes and my routine. Of course, he has to choose the inclined bench directly backed up to my bench instead of the next one over, the one that backs up to the decline bench. Of course, he has to grunt and groan and slam his plates onto the bar. What a meathead.

I'm used to avoiding eye contact with people I don't want to interact with. And I don't want to interact with him. There's plenty of other women at the gym for him to preen in front of. He's not as regular as the other folks, but I'm sure that he'll pop up from time to time. Meanwhile, I like to admire some of the younger well-toned bods from afar. Like the fellow whacking the body bag. But you won't catch me trying to catch his eye. It's probably the introvert aspect of my personality. 

Check out this extremely informative video explaining introvert personalities: 

I'm excited that the bug-proof joggers I ordered finally arrived. They are extremely lightweight and fit almost too well. I wonder if I shouldn't have sized up. I definitely feel that way about the jacket I also bought: Ex Officio was having an awesome sale and I've been eyeing bug pants for some time, ever since I got bit right through the thicker knit pants I've been wearing to the dog park. The jacket is definitely snug, mostly because my arms and back are much thicker than the average woman my height and age. Right, and I'm damn proud of that.

6 July 2022
Late Start Wednesday

Precor elliptical #1
Program 2
Time: 20 min + 5 min cd (4026)
Distance: 2.04
Cal: 226
Avg Hr: 144, 186-90

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
10 one-leg hip thrust each leg
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 25 x 2
Bird Dogs 60s x 2
Child’s Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Gentle upper body stretch
Eye yoga x 3

Skull Crushers / Rip Skulls
30 lbs x 12 reps each x 2
32.5 x 12 x 6

Post Holiday Start

I thought briefly about coming to the gym yesterday morning, but realized that I'd much rather sleep in. So, after 3 days I'm back and struggling through cardio, although by the end of 35 minutes, I do feel much better. I can knock out pull-ups and do core and stretching in a small strip of clear space near the "functional exercise" space. There's no one using any of the stations at the Hoist "motion cage" although there's a gal doing deadlifts, and another older lady working with the gym owner. He's got her balancing on a Bosu while curling baby bells. Ugh. 

The gym is not very crowded but maybe because it's Tuesday, or maybe because it's a short week and a lot of folks went on holiday. Or that it's summer. It doesn't matter. I'm perfectly happy doing planks, dead bugs, sciatica stretches... And then I finish with another set of pull-ups. Done.

5 July 2022
Post Fourth Monday

Precor elliptical #1
Program 1
Time: 30 min + 5 min cd (5606)
Distance: 2.84
Cal: 315
Avg Hr: 139, 184-87

HGPU 24

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
10 one leg hip thrust each leg
Elbow Plank 60s
Quick Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 25 x 2
Bird Dogs 60s x 2
Child’s Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Gentle upper body stretch
Eye yoga x 3

HGPU 22

Combo Compromise

Knowing that it was going to be unseasonably hot today, I opted to hit the gym before taking the pups to the park. The Bark Park is wonderfully shaded by an assortment of trees, and there is decomposed wood chips and dirt for many pups to dig around and lay in if they need to cool down. We refill drinking bowls with fresh water as well. I also knew that I'd have to adjust my workout so I could do everything I planned. The compromise was to cut back the time spent on cardio, cut back on sets: one set of pull-ups, no eye yoga or pull-apart stretch bands, only 2 sets instead of 3 for the combo DB shoulder workout.

The shortened cardio got me warmed up but not exhausted and pull-ups felt surprisingly easy for the first dozen, in spite of my creeping weight gain! Maybe it was because I completely skipped the gym yesterday: dogs spent several hours at the park before I medicated them again for their annual trek to the vet. It's always very stressful for them, and for me because the dogs don't sit quietly enjoying the ride there. I do keep them secured to the rear seat belt and the window is partially open for them to enjoy all the passing scents. But one cries and paces and carries on like I'm ferrying him to certain doom. He just doesn't like car rides. The other one seems to enjoy the trip although neither are happy once at the vet's office.

I do my core and stretches in the "functional training" area reserved for kettle bells and CF-type workouts. There's enough space to lay on the mat-covered floor while a girl practices deadlifts and a fellow works the cable station attached to a heavy bag, an Olympic BB rack, and a bounce pad. It's one massive piece with 4 different faces and replaces several pieces of free-standing equipment. I've never used any of it.

Then I'm back across the gym to the actual free weight DB area. Most of the morning regulars have either left or are in the 9:30 BodyPump class in the Aerobics Room. I overhear women exclaiming that it's their favorite class. I'm very happy by myself, doing my DB routine. But I'm short on time and still need to buy milk and eggs and a few other things before I head back to the house to retrieve the dogs for park time. It's enough that I managed to get most of my routine done. And maybe I'll come back on Monday even though it's a holiday. The gym is open until 3 pm on the Fourth of July.

1 July 2022
Short Combo Friday

Precor elliptical #1
Program 3
Time: 15 min + 5 min cd (3370)
Distance: 1.68
Cal: 189
Avg Hr: 159, 192-97

HGPU 24

Crunches 60
Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch
60 Dead Bugs
10 one leg hip thrusts
Elbow Plank 60s
Child’s Pose
Cat stretch 12x
Fire Hydrants 25 x 2
Bird Dogs 60s x 2
Child’s Pose
Push-Ups 25
Air Squats 25
Upper body stretch

DB Incl Press s/s Lat Raise s/s Rev Inc Fly
10 lbs x 25/15/20 warm up
15 x 20/15/25 reps x 1
20/15/20 lbs x 20/15/25 reps x 2