Autumn Chores

Does it look like I'm 
wearing makeup?

I skipped the gym yesterday and spent the day doing a lot of laundry. A lot more than I had planned because I went to retrieve some sheets from a drawer I hadn't been able to access for at least a year (because my husband is a hoarder and creates huge piles that get in the way), and discovered that the mice had been having parties. Which meant all the sheets and pillowcases had to be washed (with bleach). I could access these drawers (finally) because the junk is now somewhere else in the house and/or garage because I needed room to get rid of the old bed and mattress. Maybe I should do this more often?

This morning, I bought big plastic totes to put under the bed with newly sanitized sheets and pillowcases. And then I went to the gym. I got there later than I'd like, but it still wasn't crowded. Although Wind Breaker was peddling away on elliptical #1. I hopped on #3. I didn't get great mileage and barely made it to 2.8 at the last second. And up until the last minute, I hadn't decided whether I was doing a full cardio workout with sets of pull-ups, or something else. Free weight area not horribly crowded, so it was a "mixed day" aka DB Shoulder routine.

I've always had a delayed heat response, so it wasn't until I was at a bench in the free weight area that sweat ran so profusely off my face and head that I had to mop up the "rain" with my hoodie. That was a response to the cardio some moments earlier! There's a mixed group of  kids, seniors, men and women populating the safety cages or using the DBs. I found an unused Nautilus bench and dragged it out of a squat cage because those side bars just get in the way for my purposes, and someone else (doing squats) can use it. Literally 5 minutes later, there's a guy doing squats there. By the time I'm done with my routine, most of the other folks have moved on and a new tide of users is washing in. The Odd Couple arrived, each doing their own thing as if they didn't know each other!

 

I was a little worried about push-ups since my arms eventually get tired after all those reps. But it wasn't a problem. Toes didn't tingle too much! Yaaay! I got my squats done as well, and then, I even endured 2 minutes of Wall Sits. They were painful (no surprise). I hope I see benefits! 

I might be more concerned than usual about sudden aging, maybe because of those weird brown spots under my eyebrows? I've been noticing the side effects of using the prescribed retinoid: my face is sensitive and seems a bit pink and slightly swollen. Cream and sunscreen both sting a little when applied. But it's too soon to see any fading yet... 

I read an article that says standing on one leg is an accurate test as to whether you're aging badly. We (us old folks) should be able to balance for 30 seconds or longer and if we can't, well, something's gone awry. I haven't done this yet... but I'll get around to it.

22 Oct 2024 11:40-1:38

Thursday — Mix

Brisk & Dry & Sunny

Brilliant Day — Timolol / sciatica

Precor elliptical #3

Program 1

Time: 30 + 5 (5454)

Distance: 2.80

Cal: 308

Avg Hr: 149, 179-84

New FB: 52-126

Incl DB Press s/s Lateral Raises s/s Rev Incline Flys

10 lbs x 25/15/25

15 lbs x 25/15/25

20/15/20 x 25/15/25 x 3 sets

20 Hip Bridges (tingle at rep 12)

Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Camel stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 30 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Push-Ups 25 (minimal tingle)

Arm rotations 20

Air Squats 25

Neck stretch / Eye yoga

Wall Squat 120 sec